Patent GB-191102819-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism from a Distance.
Inventor: BLOXAM ARTHUR GEORGE
Filed: 1911-02-03
Granted: 1912-04-03
Abstract: 2819. Bloxam, A. G., [Russische Akt.-Ges. L. M. Ericsson & Co.]. Feb. 3. Mountings.-Relates to electrical apparatus for controlling machinery, such as gun-elevating mechanism, from a distance, and comprises a transmitter having means for indicating the movement desired and the position of the machinery, a receiver having a similar indicating- means and automatically effecting the control of the motor operating the machinery or its controller, and also means whereby an independent control may be interpolated. This last may consist of means, brought into action manually or automatically, by which the machinery may be moved into certain definite positions, or of an independent manual control at the receiving station. The transmitter handle 73, Fig. 2, moves a pointer 79 over a fixed scale, which is marked according to the functions of the machinery, by means of a worm-gear 76. It also operates a drum 98 which transmits current impulses to two magnets of a motor 14 in the receiver. The commutator switch operated by the drum 98 may take different forms according as the motor 14, Fig. 8, is operated directly by the current impulses or through relays. As shown in Fig. 13, for use with relays, it comprises a spring-controlled lever 94 which is intermittently moved into contact with a contactspring 96 or 97 by a cam-surface 92 according as the drum is turned clockwise or counter-clockwise respectively. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 12, the motor magnets are directly energized, and the cam-surface 202 is adapted to interrupt the connexion between pairs of contacts 203, 204, and 205, 206 respectively, which are normally closed. The magnets of the motor 14 have armatures 86, Fig. 2, carrying pawls which, when simultaneously attracted, lock two ratchet-wheels 87 connected by a differential gear to the pointer 18 of the receiver, the scale of which corresponds to that of the transmitter. The pointer is thus not affected by vibration. The current impulses from the transmitter cause one or other of the intermittently-excited electro - magnets of the motor 14 to operate its ratchet-wheel step by step as long as the transmitter is in motion, thus repeating the transmitter indication at the pointer 18 on the receiver. The receiver pointer 17 indicates the position of the machinery, and this indication is repeated at the transmitter pointer 80 by current impulses from a commutator 67, which, with the pointer 17, is geared to the machinery operated. These current impulses operate a motor 85, similar to the motor 14, which actuates the pointer 80. The whole of the mechanism of the transmitter is hermetically sealed. The receiver is adapted to control a motor driving the machinery, or a controller therefor, in the following manner. Surrounding the dial 16, Fig. 8, is a conducting rim 5 to which the pointer 17 is attached. This rim is insulated and connected to one terminal of the electric supply. Diametrically opposed to the pointer 17 is a gap 27 in the rim 5, and projecting rearwards from the pointer 18 is a lever 11 which carries a spring-controlled pivoted member 23. This normally extends into the slot 27 but is adapted, according to the direction in which the lever 11 is moved by the transmitter, to complete a circuit between the rim 5 and one or other of two contacts 19, 20 on the lever 11. These circuits actuate one or other of two relays 268, 277, Fig. 12, which control the direction of movement of the motor 1 that drives the machinery or its controller. The rim 5 follows the movement of the machinery, which is stopped when the gap 27 comes into register with the member 23; at this moment the pointers 17, 18 at the receiver and 79. 80 at the transmitter coincide and correspond to the position of the machinery. Means are provided for bringing the machinery to any desired position independently of the transmitter, these consisting of further switch sets similar to that carried by the lever 11. These additional devices 35, 40 are arranged in suitable positions around the exterior of the rim 5 with their pivoted members in contact therewith. All the switch sets are connected to a commutator 64, Fig. 9, which may be operated at will either by hand, or automatically. Thus, while the machinery is moving according to orders electrically transmitted to the receiver as described, it may at any time be caused to take up a given position by manipulating the commutator 64 so as to render the desired additional device operative for the time being. For example, a gun the elevation of which when firing is determined by the setting of the transmitter may be caused, when brought forward after recoil, to actuate the commutator 64 so that the gun is made to move to a position suitable for loading; the closure of the breech may re-set the commutator, whereupon the gun will be returned to the correct elevation for firing. By using a movable switch set, the control of the mechanism may, in a similar manner, be taken over by a person at the receiver as indicated in Fig. 12. The movable handle carries, in addition to a pivoted lever 292 in contact with the receiver rim 245 and cooperating with switch contacts 290, 291, a spring-controlled lever which governs switch tongues 217, 220. When the handle is not grasped, these tongues close upon contacts 214, 215 which place the member 260 in the lever 11 in operation, but, when the handle is seized, they engage contacts 219, 222, which put the member 292 into circuit, the machinery then following the movement of the receiver handle independently of the transmitter.