Improvements in Electrically Illuminated Signs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1894
1005
7346
4 COE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Illuminated Signs.
1, GUY CAREY FRICKER, of 46 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in electrically illuminated signs.
for advertising and other purposes. According thereto a number of incandescent
lamps arranged to illuminate any required device, pattern or writing constituting
a sign, are used in connection with a rotary or other suitably controlled com-
mutator so constructed and arranged that the lamps will be switched in progres-
sively thereby either singly or in groups until the required number thereof are in
operation together, and whereby the lamps will be afterwards cut out and
extinguished either simultaneously or progressively as may be desired. The extent
of the field of illumination of each lamp or group of lamps, is limited by opaque
screens or boundaries in such a way that the effect of the progressive switching
in of the lamps will be to produce a progressive illumination of the sign or
screen placed in front of the lamps. Two or more sets of differently coloured
lamps may be controlled as above described in rotation by means of one
commutator.
בד
1
A 1801
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in Electrically Illuminated digus.
J, GUY CAREY FRICKER, of 46 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London,
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 has reference to improvements in electrically illuminated signs
for advertising and other purposes. According thereto a number of incandescent.
electric lamps arranged to illuminate any required device, pattern or writing
constituting a sign, are used in connection with a rotary or other suitably controlled
commutator so constructed and arranged that the lamps will be switched in pro-
gressively thereby, either singly or in groups, until the required number thereof
are in operation together, and whereby the lamps will be afterwards cut out and
extinguished either simultaneously or progressively as may be desired. The extent
of the field of illumination of each lamp or group of lamps, is limited by opaque
screens or boundaries in such a way that the effect of the progressive switching in
of the lamps will be to produce a progressive illumination of the sign or screen
placed in front of the lamps, thereby simulating the operation of writing, outlining
or drawing. Two or more sets of differently coloured lamps may be controlled, as
above described, in rotation by means of one commutator.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a sign adapted to be electrically illuminated
according to this invention, aud
Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line A, B of Fig. 1.
Figs: 3 & 4 are respectively end and side elevations, of a rotary commutator
for switching in and out of circuit the incandescent lamps used to illuminate the
said sign.
In the example shown, the sign comprises a casing 1 having a back or support 2
carrying incandescent lamps 3 arranged in trough-shaped channels 4 the shape of
which, as seen in front elevation, corresponds to that of the device, pattern or
writing constituting the sign proper which it is desired to display. In the drawing
a written form of the letter F is given as an example. The front 5 of the casing
is of sheet glass or other material provided the portions thereof immediately in
front of the channels 4, representing the sign proper are of a transparent or
translucent nature in order that the illumination caused by switching in the lamps
can be readily seen. The channels 4 may conveniently be formed of sheet metal
such as zinc, secured to the back 2 and subdivided of like material, into a number
of compartments each having opaque sides and back but open at the front and in
each of which there are located two incandescent lamps 3 the glass receivers of
which may be differently coloured so that the sign, or part thereof, will correspond
in colour with that of the lamp or set of lamps which is, for the time being, in
circuit. Or instead of the construction described, the device, pattern, or writing to
be displayed may be outlined by the two sets of incandescent lamps suitably
arranged on a signboard.
In either case the lamp terminals are connected by suitably arranged conductors
to a commutator by which they can be put in and out of circuit in the required
order. The commutator shown in Figs. 3 & 4 for this purpose comprises a
cylinder 6 of suitable insulating material such as hard wood, fixed upon an axle 7
mounted to rotate in bearings. 8 and partly covered by a metallic casing 9. This
asing is cut away so as to form an edge 9" that is arranged obliquely with
reference to the axis of the cylinder throughout the portion of its length over
which the successive connection with the two sets of spring contacts 10, & 10° are
to be made. On the other edge, not shown, the metal casing is cut away parallel
with the axis so that the electrical connection with all the said spring contacts of a
set will be broken simultaneously when the cylinder has rotated through a definite
angular distance. At the ends of the cylinder the metallic casing is carried
completely around the circumference of the cylinder as shown at 9° so that contact
pieces 11 will always be in electrical connection with the metallic casing.
The spring contacts 10 are electrically connected in successive order to one of
the terininals of the incandescent lamps constituting a set of lamps, and the spring
contacts 10 are similarly connected to one terminal of each of the remaining lamps
constituting the second set. The other terminals of the lamps composing each set
are connected by a common return to one pole of the source of electric supply, the
other pole of which is connected to the contact pieces 11.
In the
The cylinder 6 may be rotated by any suitable or convenient manner.
example shown its shaft 7 is driven by an electric motor 12 through suitable
reduction gear consisting of a train of wheels or worm gearing as shown at 13.
Assuming the cylinder to rotate in the direction of the arrows, then the action of
the apparatus is as follows:-The lamps connected to the spring contacts 10 will
be successively switched on as the oblique edge 9" of the metallic casing 9 comes
successively into contact with the points of the said contacts until the whole of these
contacts and the corresponding lamps have been brought successively into electrical
connection with the circuit through the contact pieces 11 and the metallic casing 9,
so as to simulate, in the example given, the operation of writing. After a further
angular rotation of the cylinder the parallel edge of the said metallic casing 9 will
slide from under the points of all said spring contacts simultaneously, and all the
lamps connected to these contacts will be extinguished together. By further

page_text: angular rotation of the cylinder 6 the spring contacts 10* on the other side thereof
will begin making contact with the said oblique edge 9 and the same cycle of
operations will take place in connection with the second set of lamps connected
thereto. Thus during a complete revolution of the cylinder 6 the two sets of lamps
connected respectively to the spring contacts 10 and 10 will have passed through a
cycle of successive and progressive illuminations, of a short period of complete
illumination, and of a period of extinction.
It will be obvious that I may employ the two sets of lamps to illuminate separate
devices or letters, in which case the said lamps would not be mounted in pairs as
described above, but one set of lamps in such a case would be mounted in the
compartments backing the facia of one device or set of letters, while the other set
would be mounted backing the facia of the other device, or set of letters. It will
also be obvious that the application of my invention is not limited to two sets of
lamps as by introducing a third set of spring contacts, I may, during one revolution
of the cylinder 6 operate a third set of lamps and so on.
Electrically illuminated signs according to this invention, are specially suitable
for display and advertising purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. An electrically illuminated sign in which a number of incandescent electric
lamps arranged to illuminate or represent any required device pattern or writing,
are brought automatically and progressively into circuit in such a way as to
simulate the operation of writing, outlining or drawing substantially as herein
described.
2. In an electrically illuminated sign, the combination with a number of electric
lamps adapted when in circuit to illuminate any required device, pattern, or
writing, of a rotary commutator constructed and operating substantially as described
and shown for producing automatic connection of the said lamps in such a way as
to simulate the operation of writing or of progressively outlining or delineating the
said device, pattern or writing for the purpose of display or advertisement as set
forth.
DL 11
1002
W. Lloyd Wise,
G. C. FRICKER.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.