Improved Apparatus for Use in connection with Electrical Advertising Signs and Display Boards.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
Improved Apparatus for Use in connection with Electrical
Advertising Signs and Display Boards.
I, FREDERICK BROWN, of Melbourne House, Queens Road, Birmingham Road,
Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improved apparatus for use in connection with electrical
advertising signs and display boards, whereon are arranged a number of lamps
in groups and clusters from which are formed letters, figures, signals and such
like.
The apparatus according to this invention is an electrical switching apparatus
of the kind comprising a rotating drum, or a number of them, carrying a series
of contacts which are brought progressively into rubbing connection with a
stationary contact, or a number of them, for the purpose of making circuit of a
predetermined number of lamps on the display board which will light up an
arranged device, and it is in the construction and fitting of the contacts of and in
connection with the said drum, or drums, wherein this invention resides.
In carrying the invention into effect the periphery or circumference of the
drum, or drums, is, or are, fitted with a number of detachable conducting bars
or strips, each connected up in the circuit and formed so as to comprehend suffi-
cient lamps in group to display a letter, word or similar device when it is in
electrical connection with the stationary contact.
The bars or strips are so fitted to the circumference that they can be detached
easily and quickly and others substituted which will flash a different signal, even
while the said drum is rotated; suitable rubbing parts being formed upon the
said bars. A practical form of fixing the said bars to the drum is by forming
bifurcations upon the drum, into which the ends of the bars fit wedge-like.
The fixed contact is preferably a number of thin rods, each connected to a
different group of lamps on the display board, and the bars or strips are the keys
for the combined use of these contact rods as they may be desired.
In a sign formed of say ten display boards, ten of such drums and contacts
would be used, one for each board, but the said drums can be rotated either col-
lectively or independently so as to flash the word formed letter by letter or at
once, and remove it in the same manner.
Such an apparatus can be either worked by hand or by a small motor, the
set pieces to be flashed in turn depending upon the number of contact bars fitted
to the circumference of its drum."
1000

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Use in connection with Electrical
Advertising Signs and Display Boards.
I, FREDERICK BROWN, of Melbourne House, Queens Road, Birmingham Road,
Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is an improved apparatus for use in connection with electrical
advertising signs and display boards, whereon are arranged a number of lamps
in groups and clusters from which are formed letters, figures, signals and such
like.
The apparatus according to this invention is an electrical switching apparatus
of the kind comprising a rotating drum, or a number of them, carrying a series
of contacts which are brought progressively into rubbing connection with a
. stationary contact, or a number of them, for the purpose of making circuit of a
predetermined number of lamps on the display board which will light up an
arranged device, and it is in the construction and fitting of the contacts of and in
connection with, the said drum, or drums, wherein this invention resides.
In carrying the invention into effect the periphery or circumference of the
drum, or drums, is, or are, fitted with a number of detachable conducting bars
or strips, each connected up in the circuit and formed so as to comprehend suffi-
cient lamps in group to display a letter, word or similar device when it is in
electrical connection with the stationary contact or contacts.
The bars or strips are so fitted to the circumference that they can be detached
easily and quickly and others substituted which will flash a different signal, even
while the said drum is rotated; suitable rubbing parts being formed upon the
said bars. A practical form of fixing the said bars to the drum is by forming
bifurcations upon the drum, into which the ends of the bars fit wedge-like.
The fixed contact is preferably a number of thin rods, each connected to a
different group of lamps on the display board, and the bars or trips are the keys
for the combined used of these contact rods as they may be desired.
An apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated in the
accompanying sheet of drawings; Fig. 1 being a side and longitudinal elevation;
Fig. 2 an end elevation; and Figs. 3, 4 and 5 views of detailed parts. The
apparatus of the figs. comprises only one drum carrying conducting bars or strips,
but it will be obvious that any number may be applied as one apparatus.
The drum a is mounted upon upright brackets, a², of a suitable base a³, so
as to rotate freely either upon or with a shaft at, the said rotation being either
intermittent or uniform, and being effected from a suitable source.
The peri-
phery or circumference of this drum has fitted to it at equi-distant parts a number
of bifurcations c, taking the form of open tube lengths c², longitudinally dis-
posed upon the drum for its full length. Such an open tube length is shown in
detail in Fig. 5. These bifurcations are capable of detachment from the peri-
phery of the drub and are suitably connected up in the display board circuit.
dare conducting bars or strips (not shown in position in Fig. 1), adapted to
be slid into the bifurcations c from the drum's ends, the open tubes being open
also at their ends for the purpose. These conducting bars or strips are pre-
ferably built up in sections, d, as clearly shown by Fig. 4 and some of these
sections are dummy ones, as shown in said Fig. 4, distancing only the active ones.
The said sections are lettered or marked in a suitable way, so as to be distinctive
to the person in charge of the apparatus, and each is made to control the circuits

page_text: of a certain number of lamps on a display board by making a contact with fixed
contacts e, taking the form of thin rods, es, adjustably attached to a bracket
arm e standing out from the base a of the apparatus, the said contacts &² being
within the path of the projecting bars or strips d when they rotate so that a
rubbing contact between the two is ensured. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that
the fixed contacts e are arranged in groups upon the framing of the apparatus
throughout the entire length of the drum, the electrical connections thereto being
made in a suitable and well known manner.
In working the apparatus, if set pieces are required to be switched-up on the
display boards a one length bar or strip, comprehending in it sufficient points
of contact to engage the necessary fixed contacts e is slid into position within the
bifurcations c upon the drum, but if changing matter is required to be switched-
up on the display board the conducting bars or strips are built up by the sections,
each of the latter being slid into the position required, if necessary, with inter-
viewing dummies as shown, in Fig. 4, by m.
Such an apparatus can be either worked by hand or by a small motor, and if
a number of drums and contacts such as described compose it they may be suit-
ably coupled and driven from the one source.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. An apparatus for switching on and off circuits in electrical illumination,
comprising a combination of fixed contacts e, movable conducting bars keys or
strips d carried by a rotating drum or drums, said bars or strips being detach-
ably fitted to the said drum, and electrical connections, substantially as described.
Second. In electrical illumination, the combination of a rotatable drum a,
bifurcations c fitted at distances apart upon its periphery or circumference, detach-
able conducting bars keys or strips d (built up either in one piece or in sections)
which engage said bifurcations, fixed contacts e, and electrical connections, for
the purpose substantially as described.
Third. An apparatus for switching on and off circuits in electrical illumination,
constructed arranged and fitted in the manner, substantially as set forth in
Figs. 1 to 5.
Dated this 10th day of December 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11. Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also at Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.