Improved Apparatus for Electrically Illuminating or Displaying Letters, Figures, Designs, Pictures, Signals, and their like, principally adapted for Advertising purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Complete Connifi
Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1898
O
Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1858-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1696
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Electrically Illuminating or Displaying
Letters, Figures, Designs, Pictures, Signals, and their like,
principally adapted for Advertising purposes.
I, JOHN THOMAS GENT, residing at "Iviecliffe," Flushing, Falmouth, in the
County of Cornwall, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to the electrical illumination or display of letters, figures,
designs, pictures, signals and such like, and has for its object an improved
apparatus whereby the same can be effected at less cost and with a larger amount
of surety than is at present the case.
The invention particularly relates to that class of electrical illumination or
display in which a single letter or figure, or a design, is flashed from a cluster or
group of lamps at a time, to be afterwards succeeded by another figure, letter, or
the like, the said group of lamps being so arranged and combined that numbers
of them can be utilized or flashed and others left dark so as to comprehend all
the letters of the alphabet and various other figures and forms to be arranged.
It is in the apparatus for controlling the switching on and off of the group of
lamps that the invention resides, and the simple and sure way in which the same
is accomplished without any complication is the primary feature of the apparatus.
The said apparatus consists essentially of a switch board built up from wood or
any other suitable material, having a number of longitudinal independent grooves
or channels formed throughout the major part of its surface, the said grooves or
channels, which are rather shallow, constituting troughs for the purpose of receiv-
ing and holding mercury or its equivalent. A groove or channel is formed in the
switch board for every lamp or series of lamps in the display cluster or group, and
an independent electrical connection wire is taken from each of the said grooves
to each of the lamps, or series of lamps, in order to connect them up to their
particular mercury trough on the switch board. Provision is made for easily
disconnecting any lamp or series of lamps from the trough, and the latter is sup-
ported with its grooves horizontal in any suitable manner.
Mounted upon the sides of the switch board, so as to lie crosswise or transversally
to the grooves or channel containing the mercury and so as to embrace them all,
are a number of carrier rods or bars which are in communication with the electri-
cal source of supply. These carrier rods or bars are in number to correspond with
the number of different letters, figures, and designs which are desired to be
produced with the group or cluster of lamps, and each is made to be easily attached
to or detached from its mountings, and each is electrically connected to each other
and to the source of supply. Upon each of these carrier rods or bars are mounted
a number of contact pieces, (preferably of copper) which are adapted to dip simul-
taneously into the mercury troughs when released, and the arrangement of these
are such that the said contacts upon any rod or bar dip into the particular number
of mercury troughs which will make the circuit and flush a combination of lamps

page_text: in the cluster or group to form a particular letter, figure or design. These con-
tacts or contact pieces are, normally, withdrawn from the mercury troughs by a
weighted end, or its equivalent, which is attached to the part of the carrier rod
or bar which supports them, and they are released by a ratchet toothed lever or
pawl being freed from engagement with a stop or tooth on the part carrying
the contacts, so that on the pressure of a key or its equivalent to lift the said
pawl the whole of the contacts on the particular carrier rod fall simultaneously
into their respective troughs containing the mercury, and remain there for a
period whilst the combination is flashed to the lamps.
The contacts or contact pieces of any particular carrier rod are held in their
respective mercury troughs by the operator retaining pressure upon the key which
has released them, but immediately the contact requires to be broken the operator
gives the key a movement to clear the part it operates, and as soon as this is done
the whole of the contacts are withdrawn from their mercury troughs instantly and
together by the weighted ends as hereinbefore mentioned.
In breaking contact the end of the carrier bar, which is operated by the key,
automatically takes its place under the key again ready for the next operation.
It is understood that the hooked lever or the pawl releases and holds the carrier
bar upon which are arranged the contacts, that this bar has a part rotation in
making and breaking contact and, further, that a stop is arranged upon the
mechanism carrying the pawl in order that the carrier bar may not rotate sufficient
to dip the contacts too deep in the mercury troughs.
The making and breaking of contact may be through springs instead of weights,
but a quick make and break is required.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that there is no necessity in this apparatus
to couple any lamps in the cluster but if necessary this may be done.
In a modified form the contacts may be worked vertically, or up and down,
by a single movement of a bar carrying them, so that all on the one bar shall
dip at once.
Dotad thin 7th
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Apparatus for Electrically Illuminating or Displaying
Letters, Figures, Designs, Pictures, Signals, and their like,
principally adapted for Advertising purposes.
I, JOHN THOMAS GENT, residing at "Iviecliffe," Flushing, Falmouth, in the
County of Cornwall, 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 pertains to the electrical illumination or display of letters, figures,
designs, pictures, signals and other similar devices, and has for its object an
improved apparatus for switching on and off the various lamps or series of lamps
in the groups or clusters which will accomplish its work with a larger amount
of security than is at present the case, and which can be constructed and laid
down in connection with an illuminating plant, and operated, at less cost than
those apparatuses at present in use.
The invention particularly relates to that class of electrical illumination or

page_text: display in which a single letter or figure, or a design, is flashed at a time from a
cluster or group of lamps, the said single letter or figure to be afterwards succeeded
by another letter, figure, or the like. In this case the group of electrical lamps,
which are controlled by the apparatus, are so arranged and combined that
numbers or series of them can be utilized and flashed and others left dark at any
time, and in this way the said group of lamps can be made to comprehend the
illuminating means of all the letters of the alphabet and various other figures
and forms which may be arranged; each letter or figure, as may be required, to
succeed the previous one.
It is in connection with the apparatus for controlling the switching on and off
of the lamps in group that the invention resides, and the simple and sure way in
which the said switching is accomplished is the primary feature of the invention's
success.
The said apparatus, which is practically a switch board, is characterised by a
number of independent grooves or channels containing mercury, or its equivalent,
which are each coupled up to a lamp or a series of lamps in the group and also
in communication with the electrical supply, a number of carrier rods or bars
also, either directly or indirectly, in electrical communication with the source of
supply, and which carry a number of contact pieces or contacts which are adapted
to dip into and leave the grooves or channels containing the mercury automatically
and quickly, and a holding and releasing mechanism for the purpose of controlling
the automatic movement of the said contacts and ensure them a quick make
and "break" in the illuminating circuit.
"
In order that the invention shall be clearly understood, annexed herewith are
sheets of drawings showing the best practical way known at the present time of
carrying the invention into effect, the said sheets of drawings representing, in
constructional detail, only a single switch board with a very limited number of
devices for display. In the said sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a top side plan of an
apparatus capable of flashing ten letters, figures, or their like, in a group or
cluster of lamps, the one to succeed the other. This view shows the general
dispositions of the grooves or channels containing the mercury, the carrier rods
or bars and the contacts carried by them, and the holding and releasing mechanism
for the last named. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken irregularly
through Fig. 1 upon the dotted line AB, and illustrates the holding and releasing
mechanism of the contact bars, and also how electrical connection is made from
each mercury groove or channel to a lamp or series of lamps in the group or cluster.
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section upon the dotted line C, Fig. 1, and D, Fig. 2,
and shows generally the dispositions of the parts characterizing the improved
apparatus. Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification of the holding and releasing
mechanism, and Fig. 6 sets forth how a number of switch boards or apparatuses
according to this invention can be arranged in pile and connected up each to a
group of lamps, so that practically any word or combination of figures can be
flashed.
In describing the invention in connection with the figs. of the drawings, the
switch board a which is built up from wood or any other suitable material, is
preferably in the form of a shallow rectangular frame composed of sides a² and
ends a³, and within its confines is horizontally arranged a number of longitudinal
and independent grooves or channels a, the said channels comprehending the
major part of the switch board's surface. These grooves or channels, which are
preferably only shallow and which are spaced by divisional webs a, constitute
troughs for the purpose of holding and receiving mercury or its equivalent. Such
a trough is provided upon the switch board for every lamp or series of lamps in
the display group or clusters, and an independent electrical connection wire is
taken from each of the said troughs to each of the lamps or series of lamps in
the cluster in order to connect the said lamp or series of lamps to its particular
trough upon the switch board. This electrical connecting up is shown in the
drawings as in the form of a conducting peg protruding into a mercury trough

page_text: and being connected by a wire 2 to a terminal to which latter is attached the
wire from the lamp or series of lamps in the group or cluster. This is clearly
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and gives provision for easily disconnecting any lamp or
series of lamps in the group from the mercury troughs.
The main current is arranged to be brought to the switch board by being
connected up to one or more of the troughs containing the mercury, and in Fig. 1
of the drawings this is shown applied to the troughs d, conducting pegs, d,
leading from a terminal, being the medium of passing the main current into the
troughs from the main wire d.
Mounted to turn or oscillate upon bearer bars e, e², attached to the switch board
longitudinally, and arranged so as to lie crosswise or transversely to the mercury
troughs, a, and also so as to embrace all the said troughs, are a number of
carrier bars g, which are in communication with the electrical source of supply
through conducting pieces g², g³, carried by them, always dipping into the mercury
troughs d, which are connected to the main current. These carrier rods or
bars are in number to correspond with the number of different letters, figures,
and designs which are desired to be produced within the group or cluster of lamps
controlled by the switch board, and each is in electrical connection with each other
and supplied with a weight or its equivalent, i, at one end and a holding and
releasing mechanism, m, at its other end. The last named, and its action, will
be hereinafter more fully described. Upon each of these carrier rods or bars, g;
are fixed a number of contact pieces g, (preferably of copper) which are adapted
to dip into the mercury troughs simultaneously when the rods or bars carrying
them are released and turned or oscillated, the latter being automatic by means
of the weights i. The arrangement of the contacts upon any rod or bar are such
that, as they dip into a particular number of mercury troughs, a set combination
will be instantly flashed in the group or cluster of lamps to form a desired letter,
figure or design: The carrier rods or bars are journalled in the bearer bars, e, e²,.
by their shanked ends, e³, e, passing therethrough.
The contact pieces g are normally withdrawn and held from contact with the
mercury troughs by the holding and releasing mechanism m, the last named being
applied at the end of each of the shanks, e, of the carrier rods or bars g.
The said holding and releasing mechanism consists of a lever-key m², a lifting
rod or plate n, a jointed pawl or catch o, and a tumbler s, the last named, which
has a stop or a tooth, 2, and also a stop shoulder, 3, upon it, being carried upon
the end of the rod or bar g. The pawl or catch o is carried upon and by the rod
or plate n, and has a tooth o2 and an outstanding projection o³ upon it, the former
to engage the stop or tooth 2 of the tumbler, and the latter to rest upon the top
edge of the rod or plate n. The rod or plate n, which is adapted to have a rising
and a falling movement from the lever-key m², is suitably attached to the frame
part of the switch board adjacent to the tumbler, and is provided with a projecting
pin, n², and a spring, n³, the first named to form a stop to the part rotating move-
ment of the tumbler by coming within the path of its stop shoulder, and the
latter to exert a pulling down tendency upon the said rod or plate, so as to bring,
through the pin n³, the tumbler back to its normal position, and consequently
the contacts out of the mercury troughs quickly, and ensure a quick break in the
illuminating circuit.
It is to be understood that the quick "make" in the illuminating circuit,
consequent upon the dipping of the contacts, is made by the weighted end i, but
the moment of releasing the tumbler by the tooth o3 of the pawl o is not until
the projecting pin n² has travelled some distance from the tumblers stop shoulder s³.
In the lifting movement of the rod or plate n the pawl or catch o travels upon and
with it and has no movement, but it holds the tumbler until its tooth o² is free or
clear from the tumbler's stop or tooth 2. On the downward movement of the rod
or platen the pawl or catch o lifts on its joint, in order that it may again engage
the stop or tooth s² of the tumbler.
The key lever m², through which the rod or plate n is lifted, has connected at

page_text: its inner part, m³, a jointed arm or limb m', adapted to move horizontally in one
direction within the said lever's end but to move only with the lever m in the
other direction. The nose end, me, of this jointed arm or limb is adapted to come
underneath the lower edge of the rod or plate when the latter is in its normal
or down position, and to remain under the said lower edge while the plate n is
lifted. When the contacts of the particular bar or rod y have been allowed to
dip in the mercury trough the necessary period, a horizontal or side movement of
the key lever m², while pressed down, frees the nose end m³ from the plate n and
releases the latter; in consequence of this the plate n is pulled down by the
spring 3, and the contacts quickly withdrawn from the mercury troughs.
On the key lever m³ being released by the operator of the switch board it auto-
matically regains its lifting position, in respect of the plate n, by the action of a
spring me and a movement of the arm or limb m*.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the carrier rod and its contacts on the extreme right hand
corner is shown in the position flashing the combination in the group of lamps.
In the modification Figs. 4 and 5 the holding and releasing mechanism for the
carrier bar is somewhat different from that previously described. In this
arrangement a pusher rod ; when in its normal position, as shown, holds the said
carrier bar so that it shall not turn by its projecting end j coming within the
path of a portion 93 of the said bar, but the said bar is released when the end
of the pusher rod is taken free of the portion g2 by a movement of the rod j in
the direction of the arrow; a cut away part g³ in the said carrier bar g allowing
of this.
The carrier bar is taken back to its normal position after its contacts have dipped
by a released spring, or by hand, or by any other suitable means but this means
forms no part of this invention.
In Fig. 6 a pile of switch boards, à, constructed as described, are shown, which
comprehend and control six clusters or groups of lamps-one for each-so that
any word of six letters can be flashed in the groups. This fig. is mainly intended
to show, in diagram, that a pile of switch boards can be controlled so that contact
can be broken on the switch board simultaneously. To do this wo is a rod or bar
moved by some element, and w¹, w³, w³, w, w³, and 6 rods which bring into
operation the means for lifting the contacts out of the mercury troughs and
breaking the flashing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion 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 lamps in electrical illumination
as described, characterised by a number of non-conducting grooves or channels
containing mercury, or its equivalent, which forms a terminal within the circuit,
conducting carriers (independent of each other) having upon them contacts which
are either directly or indirectly connected to the circuit, and which said carriers
are each arranged so that the contacts thereon dip into or leave the said grooves
or channels simultaneously and together, and a holding and releasing mechanism
capable of giving a quick and semi-automatic
and "break," substantially
as set forth.
"
make
Second. In electrical illumination as described, an apparatus for switching on
and off lamps in groups, or clusters, consisting of a number of non-conducting
grooves or channels containing mercury or its equivalent which forms a terminal
within the electric circuit to all the lamps in a group, conducting carrier rods or
bars having upon them contacts and being arranged transversely to the grooves
or channels as aforesaid, and so that each is independent of the other and shall
carry contacts sufficient to flash a combination in the cluster, by their dipping
into the said mercury simultaneously on the rocking of the carrier rod, and the
holding and releasing mechanism capable of giving a quick and semi-automatic
movement to each carrier bar, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Third. In electrical illumination as described, a switch board having in its
combination a number of non-conducting grooves or channels at containing
mercury which forms a terminal within the electric circuit, conducting carrier
rods having contacts upon them to dip simultaneously into the channels
containing the mercury, and which can be rocked independently of each other
within suitable bearings, and which are also in electrical connection with the
circuit, and a holding and releasing means comprising a tumbler having a stop
or a tooth 2, a pawl or catch having a projection o², and a traversing rod or
platen carrying a projecting pin n² and the pawl or catch, as aforesaid, and being
acted upon in one direction by a spring, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In electrical illumination as described a switch board having in its
combination a number of non-conducting grooves or channels, a, containing
mercury which forms a terminal within the electric circuit by pegs. c and
terminals 3, conducting carrier rods having contacts upon them to dip
simultaneously into the channels containing the mercury and which can be rocked
independently of each other within suitable bearings, and which are also in
electrical connection with the circuit by parts d³, d, g, and g³, and, a holding and
releasing means comprising parts-s, 2, 3, and i; 0, 0, and o³;
and m³, m³, mt, m³, and ms, as set forth.
and n³
Fifth. In an apparatus for switching on and off lamps in circuit characterised
by the parts claimed in the preceding claims, the general arrangement and com-
bination of the parts set forth in Figs: 1, 2, and 3, and also in Figs. 4 and 5.
Dated th 10th day of Luna 1900
Dated t 1941
Luna 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,"
Also of Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
..