Improvements in Electrical Signalling Apparatus and Circuits.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Signalling Apparatus and Circuits.
We, EDWARD HOPSON OWEN, Attorney at Law, CHARLES NELSON WILLIAMS,
Horticulturist, and FRED HAMILTON DONALDSON, Electrician, all of Garvanza,
County of Los Angeles, State of California, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
Our invention relates to electric signalling apparatus and circuits, our object
being to provide means for greatly facilitating and expediting communication
between a number of separate stations, or points, such as the rooms of an hotel,
and a main station, which may be represented by the clerk's office, or by any single
point to which all the separate stations are connected. Our purpose is to so connect
these stations that by the slight adjustment of a simple form of switch, the clerk
shall be able to ring, approximately simultaneous, the calls in every room com-
prised in the circuit, thus enabling him to give an effective alarm in case of fire;
while by the restoration of the switch to its normal position, any guest shall be
able to sound the call bell at the office, and, at the same time, indicate the particular
thing, or service, desired, as well as the number of the room from which the call
is sent.
Finally, we aim to provide an apparatus by which the bell in any room com-
prised 111 the circuit may be rung at any moment by the person
at the office, or main station. It is also one purpose of our invention
to materially simplify, cheapen, and improve electric signalling apparatus
of this type, and our invention consists in the novel features of
construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and then
particularly pointed out and defined in the claims which conclude this specification.
For the purpose of the following description, reference will be had to the accom-
panying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagram shewing the arrangement of circuits for a main station, and
two separate points, or line stations, and,
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modification of our invention, shewing
how the system is susceptible of being used in a building containing a large
number of apartments, without increasing, to an inconvenient or objectionable
degree, the diameter of the circle of contacts at. the main station.
The reference numeral 1 in said drawings indicates an apparatus adapted to be
arranged at some point, such as an hotel office, the room of a school principal, or
any point from which communication may be desired with a plurality of distant
points. The latter may be the several apartments occupied by guests, or the
rooms in which assistant teachers have their class-exercises. Said apparatus con-
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page_text: In the
sists of a base plate 2 upon which is placed a pivoted switch arm 3, two electrically
isolated contacts 4 and 4° with either one of which the switch-arm 3 may be
engaged, and a second arm 5 having one end pivoted at the centre of a circular
series of contacts 6, separated from each other by insulating intervals 7.
present instance, we have shewn twelve of these contacts, which are numbered
consecutively. The apparatus at this point is completed by a battery 8, a bell 9,
of any ordinary pattern, and a series of annunciator plates 10. The electrical
connections will be explained hereinafter.
Although we have shewn twelve contacts for the switch arm 5, and may use
auy number corresponding with the number of separate stations, we will illustrate
and describe only two of the latter, as any increased number will merely require
duplication of the circuits we are about to describe.
At each separate station, or point, the apparatus consists simply of a suitable
base plate 12 upon which are placed a series of electrically isolated contact plates 13
arranged in a circle about a central pivot 14 on which is mounted a switch arm 15.
Upon suitable plates 16, arranged close to the contact plates, are represented the
several communications, or wants, which may be signalled to the main office,
such for example as the word "Fuel" on one, the word Janitor" on another,
and so on.
Two of said contact plates at each station are left blank, or without
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any designation.
These blank plates are denoted by numerals 17 and 18. Near the plate 18, but
insulated from it, is a contact point 19. An electric bell B is also arranged at
each station.
The central pivot 14 of station No. 1 is connected by a wire 20 to the contact.
plate having the numeral 1 at the main station. A similar wire 21 connects the
central pivot of station No. 2 to the second contact plate at the main station, said
contact having the numeral 2. If more stations were shewn, each would be con-
nected in the same manner to the third, fourth, and succeeding contact plates.
Contact plates 17 at stations No. 1 and No. 2 are connected by wires 22 to one
terminal of the bell B and from the other terminal of the bell coil a wire 23 goes
to a line wire 23, which is common to all the stations, its end being connected to
the contact 4 at the main station. The second blank contact plate 18 is connected
by a wire 24 to a line wire 25 which goes to one terminal of the bell-coil at the
main station. From the contact 19, a wire 26 goes to a third line wire 27 which
is led to the circle of contacts 6.
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The contact plates bearing designations of the several calls, such as Janitor"
and so on, are connected as follows: the first by a wire 29 to a wire 30 common to
all the line stations, its end being connected to the annunciator containing a like
designation at the main station. Thence by a wire 31 and a connecting wire 32
to the contact 4ª on the base. The second contact plates at the line stations which
may bear, for illustration, the word " Janitor," are connected by wires 33 to a
separate line wire 34 which goes to the proper annunciator 10, and thence by a
wire 31 to the wire 32. The remaining contact plates at the line-stations will
have similar connections to separate line wires, the latter being carried to the
proper annunciators and from the latter to the wire 32.
The switch arm 3 is connected by a wire 35 leading to a line wire 28 which is
connected with one pole of battery 8, and the arm 5 has a wire 36 going from its
pivot to the other pole of the battery.
By placing the switch arm 3 upon the contact 4, and then turning the switch
arm 5, a full revolution, thereby sweeping it over all the contact plates 6, the
operator at the main station can ring all the bells included in the circuit, and can
repeat the call rapidly, or slowly according to the rate of speed at which the
arm 5 is turned.
The apparatus can receive signals from the several line stations, when the
switch arm 3 rests against contact 4. To ring a line station bell, the switch
arm 5 must be turned until it rests on the number corresponding to the station,
and the switch arm 3 shifted to bear against the contact 4.

page_text: If any one at a line station desires any of the supplies, or services, designated
upon the contact plates 16, the switch arm 15 at that station is turned until it
rests upon the proper contact plate. This rings the bell at the main station by the
passage of the arm 15 over the contact point 19 and plate 18 in line with said
point. For example, if station No. 2 wants a janitor, the switch arm 15 is turned
until it rests on the contact plate having the word "Janitor" upon it. The atten-
dant at the main office being notified by the sound of the bell that some line station
is making a call, he turns the switch arm 5 until it arrives upon a contact plate 6
where the annunciator-drop bearing the word janitor" is thrown up. This
informs him what is wanted, and by looking at the numeral corresponding to
said contact-plate, he learns the number of the line station that sent the call.
"
This apparatus is especially adapted for hotels, schools, offices, stores,
steamships, and in fact for all places having a series of more or
less widely separated points with which communication is desirable.
Any number of such points can be included in such a system by merely
increasing the number of contact plates 6 at the main station, to equal the number
of line stations, and including as many annunciator drops as there are separate
calls or messages upon the contact plates at each line station. It is extremely
simple and involving no complicated apparatus, it is hardly possible that it should
get out of order. It has, also, the advantage that by a partial turn of the switch
arm 5, the operator at the main station can tell not only what is wanted, but from
what station the call is sent, both being denoted by closing a single circuit.
Moreover, a simple shift of the arm 3 and a single turn of the arm 5 will ring
an alarm, or sound the bells at all the line stations, which is a valuable feature in
case of fire in an hotel, school, or other building, or to signify the hour of dismassal,
or close of working hours.
In Fig. 1 of the drawings, there are shewn but twelve segmental contacts 6 in
the switch mechanism at the main station, one contact for each apartment or room,
and although it is possible to greatly increase the number of segmental contacts
in one circle to adapt the system to a larger number of apartments or rooms, this
is undesirable, owing to the proportionate increase in the size of the segmental
ring which would render it inconvenient in use. Therefore, to adapt the system
for a large number of apartments, say 75 or more, we employ at the main station,
the modified form of switch, illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings which is adapted
for use in a building having several floors on each of which is a comparatively
large number of rooms, say three floors with twentyfive apartments or rooms on
each floor, numbered respectively, for convenience, from 1 to 25 inclusive.
In the figure representing the modification, the switch devices in the apartments,
rooms, or sub-stations, are not represented as they will be the same as described
with reference to those parts in Fig. 1, and the same remarks apply to the switch
lever 3, the contacts 4 and 4ª, and the annunciator plates 10.
In Figure 2, the numeral 37 indicates a dial ring bearing numerals from 1 to 25,
or other characters which designate the numbers of the rooms on each floor of
the building. The rotating switch lever 38 is of insulating material, and is
pivoted, as at 39, and concentric with the pivot or hub of the lever are arranged, as
here shewn, five circular rings 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44. The rings 40 and 41 are
continuous, but the rings 42, 43 and 44 are segmented, or subdivided into segments
separated one from another, by interposed insulating material, substantially the
same as described with reference to the segmental contact pieces 6, Fig. 1. The
five rings referred to, are supported upon a non-conducting base. Any of the seg-
mental contact pieces constituting the ring 44, is adapted to be electrically con-
nected with the outer solid ring 41 through the medium of a metallic contact
plate 45 having contacts 46 extending through the switch lever to make electrical
engagement with said rings 41 and 44, and any one of the segmental contact pieces
constituting the ring 43 may be electrically connected with the solid ring 40 by
a metallic contact plate 47 having contacts 48 extending through the switch-
lever to make electrical engagement with said rings 40 and 43, while any one of the

page_text: segmental contact pieces constituting the ring 42 may be electrically connected
with the pivot or hub of the switch lever by a metallic contact plate 49, also having
contacts extending through the switch lever to make electrical engagement with
the pivot or hub 39 and the ring 42. The switch lever contains an orifice 50
which, in the normal position of the lever, exposes a character on the dial ring,
such as the letter "R" to indicate that this is the position of rest, or the normal
position of the switch lever. The orifice 50 also serves to expose the numbers on
the dial ring when the switch lever is turned. In the position R of the switch
lever electrical contact is established between the hub 39 and ring segment 42
from which a wire 50° is taken to a line wire common to all the rooms, and from
the point 19, Fig. 1, in the electrical apparatus in each of said rooms, a branch
wire is taken to and united with said line wire. The numbers on the dial ring
designate the rooms on every floor and the three circles of segmental contact pieces,
indicate, respectively, the rooms on the three floors. The radial lines of the contact
pieces in the segmented rings coincide, respectively, with the numbers on the dial
ring, so that the one dial ring co-operates with all of the segmented rings. The
segmental contact pieces in ring 44 are respectively electrically connected by inde-
pendent wires 51 with the pivots 14, Fig. 1, of the switches in the respective rooms
on one floor; the segmental contact pieces of ring 43 are respectively electrically
connected by the independent wires 52 with the pivots 14, Fig. 1, of the respective
room switches on another floor; the segmental contact pieces in ring 42 are simi-
larly connected by independent wires 53 with the pivots 14, Fig. 1, of the switches
on the third floor.
In juxtaposition to the dial ring, at the main station, is also arranged a secondary
switch mechanism composed, essentially, of a disc divided into quadrantal spaces,
one of which is subdivided into three segmental spaces or quarter circles 54, 55
and 56. The quarter circle 54 is electrically connected by a wire 57 with the
continuous ring 41, and the quarter circle 55 is similarly connected by a wire 58,
with the continuous ring 40, while the quarter circle 56 is connected by the wire 59
with the pivot or hub of the switch lever 39. At any proper points on the
wires 57, 58, and 59, are arranged comparatively small indicators 60, 61 and 62
which may be of any form preferred, such, for example, as the solenoid type, by
which suitable indications will be given when the wires are charged. The inner
quarter circle 56 is connected by a short wire 63 with the undivided quadrantal
space 64, and the other quarter circles are similarly connected with the quadrantal
spaces 65 and 66.
A switch lever 67 is pivotted centrally of the secondary switch
mechanism and is designed to be operated by the attendant or person at the main
station. This lever is, in the position shewn, in contact with the quadrant
rings 54, 55 and 56. In the operation of the modified arrangement, the attendant
or clerk at the main station is notified by the bell, or audible signal, that an
occupant of some room desires something. The attendant or clerk then turns the
switch-lever 38 and when it reaches the segment corresponding to the number of
the room from which the call came, the visible signal in the annunciator box,
herein before described with reference to Fig. 1, will be moved into position for
inspection, and, at the same time, one of the indicators 60, 61, or 62 will be actuated
to indicate the particular floor from which the call came.
Any bell in any room may be sounded by setting the switch 67 to the proper
floor, then setting the switch lever 38 on the segment connected with the desired
room and setting the two-point switch 3 on the contact 4. It will be observed that
the several undivided quadrantal divisions 64, 65 and 66 are designated with
relation to the several floors, by suitable words or characters, such, for example,
1st Floor," "2nd Floor," and so on, which may conveniently be placed upon
another continuous annulus.
as
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The switch levers in the office or main station as well as those in the separate
stations or rooms are shewn in the drawings in their normal positions, and it is
obvious that they must be returned to such position after communication has been
made.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same may be performed we declare that we
claim:-
1. An electric signalling apparatus having at a central station a call bell, a
battery, a switch arm and contact points for the switch arm, one connected to an
annunciator and to a branch connected with other annunciators, and the other
contact point to a line wire having branches to the line stations, a series of circu-
larly arranged contacts, a switch arm co-operating therewith, a series of contacts
at each line station, and a switch-arm co-operating with the contacts at each line
station, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. An electric signalling apparatus, consisting, of apparatus at a central station
comprising a call-bell, a battery having one pole connected to the bell coil and to a
switch arm, two contact points for said arm, one connected to an annunciator and
to a wire having brauch connection to other annunciators and the second contact
to a line wire, having branches to all the line stations, a series of circularly
arranged numbered contacts, an arm to sweep the same, a like series of contacts at
each line station, the first connected through a line wire and through a bell coil
at a line station to one of the contact points at the main station, the second through
a separate line and bell-coil at main station to one pole of the battery, and the
remainder to line wires leading to the annunciators, a switch arm to sweep said
contacts, its pivot being connected to a corresponding numbered contact at the
main station and a contact post in line with the second contact at each line station
connected by a line wire to one pole of the battery, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a battery, and bell coil, of a wire from one pole of the
former to one terminal of the latter, a line wire from the second terminal, a series
of line stations having each a series of contacts, the second thereof connected by
branch wires to said line wire, a contact post in line with said contact, a separate
line wire connected to said post at each line station and to the second pole of the
battery, a switch to sweep said contacts, a series of annunciator drops at the main
station, having different communications, line wires connected by branches to
the similarly designated contacts at the line stations, a series of numbered contacts
at the main station connected to the switch arms at the line stations, a switch arm
for said contacts connected to the line wire from the second pole of the battery, a
bell for each line station having its coil connected to the first contact and to a line
wire, a contact point at the main station connected to said line wire, a second
contact point connected to all the annunciator drops and a switch arm connected
to the bell coil and battery, substantially as described.
4. In an electric signalling mechanism, a call receiving apparatus for a main
station, comprising two independent switch arms, the first having two contact
points one of which is connected to a line wire having branch wires to call bells
at the line stations, and the other to a series of annunciators having messages on
their drops, a circular series of numbered contact plates, each of which save one
is connected to a switch arm at one of the line stations, and a battery having one
pole connected to the second switch arm which sweeps said contact plates, and its
other pole to a line wire which includes a call-bell at the main station, and to the
first switch arm, said line wire having branch wires to contact posts at the line
stations.
5. In an electric signalling mechanism, a call-sending apparatus consisting of
a series of contact plates arranged in a circle, the first plate wired through a
branch line, line wire and local call-bell to a contact post at a main station, the
second through a separate branch, line wire, and call-bell at the main station to
one pole of a battery, a contact post in line with the second contact plate and
connected through a third branch and line wire to the other pole of said battery,
the remaining plates having calls and connected through branch and line wires
to annunciators having like calls on their drops, and a switch arm to sweep said

page_text: contact plates having connection through a branch and line wire to one of a series
of numbered contact plates at the main station, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of September 1897.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.