IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: I THOMAS ROBERT BRAILSFORD of No 41 Trinity Square in the city of London
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
SIGNALLING APPARATUS to be as follows:
"
This invention relates chiefly to electric signalling apparatus in which on
an electric bell being rung from one or other of a number of rooms or places an
indicator is at the same time moved to indicate from which room or place the bell
has been rung. But the improvements are also applicable to other signalling
apparatus.
In carrying out my invention I mount on an axis a disc or drum on which aro
marked the indications to be given and on the removing of a detent as hereinafter
described the disc or drum is caused to revolve by a weight or spring until the
required indication is brought into view by a corresponding part of the disc or
drum appearing through a perforation in the containing case, or at any other
desired mark,
From each room an insulated wire is led to the part of the building where the
apparatus is to be placed as is usual. In each room or place thero is the usual
contact apparatus by which such wire can be coupled to a main wire from one pole
of a battery. The ends of the wires from each room or place aro led into the
apparatus where by means of a spring or other suitable contact they press upon a
metal plate which surrounds the axis of the above named disc or drum or upon one
of the faces of the disc or drum itself; or upon any other suitable part of the
apparatus. This metal plate is in contact with one end of the coils of an electro
magnet in the apparatus, the other end of the coil being coupled with one end of
the coil of the electric bell magnet and the other end of the bell coil is coupled with
the other pole of the battery.
When contact is made in any particular room or place by the usual means the
current will pass through the main wire to the terminal spring contained in the
apparatus above described, thence through the metal plate or its equivalent through
the coils of the electro magnet; tho magnet will attract an armature attached to
the detent or its equivalent which being so attracted will release the disc or drum
and allow the same to revolve under the action of the spring or weight so long as
the current is passing through the coils of the magnet. The distance the disc
or drum is allowed to revolve so as to bring into view the required signal is
determined as follows:-
The plate on the axis of the disc or drum on which all the terminal springs press
is of the form of a right angled triangle or other suitable shape, upon one edge of

page_text: which all the terminal springs press when the disc or drum is at zero. The current
flowing through any one of the springs on to the plate will therefore be of a
proportionate duration with the length of time such spring remains in contact with
such plate, ceasing as the end of the spring breaks contact from the edge of the
said plate, as it revolves. In this manner the moment the metal plate on the axis
of the disc breaks contact with the spring through which the current is flowing,
the detent held by the electro magnet will be released and cause the disc or drum
to stop revolving and thereby shew the required indication.
The signal having been given in the manner above described the disc or drum is
replaced ready for another signal-by turning the same round to zero in the reverse
direction to that in which the disc or drum is caused to rotate by the action of the
weight or spring.
In connection with the indication before described the electric bell can be rung
as follows the attraction of the armature of the detent can be made to close thic
circuit of a local current through a battery and the bell in the case of a signal of
short duration; or the bell can be made to ring continuously until the indicator is
replaced through any suitable part of the apparatus closing and keeping closed
the circuit of a local current through the bell when the indicator is at any point
but zero.
A gong can also be made to sound by attaching a hammer head to the detent of
the indicator which hammer head will strike the said gong. upon the release of the
said detent.
A gong can also be made. to sound mechanically so long as the indication disc or
drum is revolving by a tilt hammer and toothed wheel fixed upon the axis or other
portion of the apparatus.
It will be obvious that instead of a revolving disc or drum a pointer or hand-may
be caused to revolve on a disc or dial, or the indications may be upon any suitable
_fabric_wrapped on a revolving roller or drum.
My improved electric signalling apparatus is applicable-generally_wherever
electric signalling apparatus is now employed.

page_text: I THOMAS ROBERT BRAILSFORD of N° 41 Trinity Square in the city of London
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
SIGNALLING APPARATUS" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates chiefly to electric signalling apparatus in which on an
electric bell being rung from one or other of a number of rooms or places an
indicator is at the same time moved to indicate from which room or place the bell
has been rung. But the improvements are also applicable to other signalling
apparatus.
In carrying out my invention I mount on an axis a disc or a drum on which are
marked the indications to be given and on the removing of a detent as hereinafter
described the disc or drum is caused to revolve by a weight or spring until the
required indication is brought into view by a corresponding part of the disc or
drum appearing through a perforation in the containing case, or at any other
desired mark.
From each room an insulated wire is led to the part of the building where the
apparatus is to be placed as is usual. In each room or placo there is the usual
contact apparatus by which such wire can be coupled to a main wire from one pole
of a battery. The ends of the wires from each room or place are led into the
apparatus where, by means of a spring or other suitable contact they press upon a
metal plate of the form of a right angled triangle or any other suitable shape which
plate surrounds the axis of the above named disc or drum or they may press direct
upon one of the faces of the disc or drum itself, or upon any other suitable part of
the apparatus. This metal plate is in contact with one end of the coils of an
electro magnet in the apparatus, the other end of the coil being coupled with one
end of the coil of the electric bell magnet and the other end of the bell coil is
coupled with the other pole of the battery. Or the end of the coil of the detent
magnet may be taken direct to the battery the bell being rung by any of the
methods hereinafter described.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, represents a
sectional side view of an electric signalling apparatus constructed according to my
invention and in which the axis or drum is provided with a single plato; figure 2,
is a similar view to figure 1, but shewing the drum provided with two plates;
figure 3, front elevation of the same. Similar letters in all the figures represent
similar parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figure 1.
a, is the disc on which are marked the indications to be given and b, is the axis
or drum on which the disc a, is mounted, the said axis working in a suitable
frame A; c, is a notched disc on which bears the detent d, on the removal of which
the disc a, is caused to revolve (by a weight or spring not shewn in the drawing)
until the required indication is brought into view by a corresponding part of the
disc a, appearing through a perforation in the case of the apparatus or at any other
desired inark. e, e, e, are the insulated wires leading from each room to the part
of the building where the apparatus is to be placed as usual; f.f, f, are the usual
contact makers or apparatus in each room or place and by which contact makers
the wires e, e, e, can be coupled to the main wire g, from one pole of the battery h;
i, is the metal plate which surrounds the drum or axis b, of the disc «, and j, j, i,

page_text: are the spring contact makers which press upon the plate i, and are connected to
the wires e, c, e, the ends of which are led into the apparatus from each room; k, is
the electro magnet with one end 2, of the coils of which the metal plate i, is in
contact through a screw (shewn in dotted lines) and the frame A; the other end m,
of the coil of the electro magnet k, is coupled with one end n, of the magnet of the
electric bell o; the other end p, of the bell coil being coupled up with the other
pole of the battery.
The operation of the improved apparatus is as follows:—
When contact is made in any particular room or place by the usual means such
as by pressing on the push pieces f, the current will pass through the main wire g,
to the corresponding terminal spring j, contained in the apparatus, thence through
the metal plate i, or its equivalent through the screw (shewn in dotted lines) the
frame A, and through the coils of the electro magnet k, and thonce by the wire 7',
through the bell o, to the other pole of the battery h, the magnet will attract an
armature q, attached to the detent d, or its equivalent which being so attracted will
release the notched disc c, and allow the disc a, and drum b, to revolve under tho
action of the spring or weight so long as the current is passing through the coils of
the magnet. The distance the disc a, and drum b, are allowed to revolve so as to
bring into view the required signal is determined as follows:-
The plate i, on the axis or drum b, of the disc a, on which plate all the terminal
springs press is as hereinbefore described of the form of a right angled triangle as
shewn (or other suitable shape) and upon one edge of the plate i, all the terminal
springs i, j,j, press when the disc a, is at zero. The curront flowing through any
one of the springs j, onto the plate i, will therefore be of a proportionate duration
with the length of time such spring 1, remains in contact with-such-plate-i-ceasing
as the end of the spring breaks contact from the edge of the said plato as it
revolves. In this manner the moment the metal plate i, on the drum or axis b, of
the disc a, breaks contact with the spring-7; through which the current is flowing
the detent &, held by the electro magnet k, will be released and cause the disc a, to
stop revolving and thereby shew the required indication, at the same time causing
the bell o, to ring so long as contact exists between the springs j, and the plate i, by
reason of its being included in the same circuit as that of the indicating apparatus.
The signal having been given in the manner above described the disc a, and
drun b, aro when the signal is being attended to replaced ready for another signal
by turning the same round to zero in the reverse direction to that in which tho
disc and drum are caused to rotate by the action of the weight or spring. This
is effected by turning a knob or button u, in front of the disc a, as shewn in the
drawing or by means of a pendant cord.
Figures 2, and 3, shew the arrangement of apparatus I employ when it is
required that the bell o, shall continue to ring after pressure has been removed
from the usual contact maker in the room or place. In this case I provide on the
axis or drum b, a second metal plate, insulated from the plate i, and from the
axis; on the said plate , bear two spring contact makers, and 1, the spring j',
being coupled with the main wire from the battery and the spring, com-
municating through the wire 8, with the end p, of the coil of the bell magnet The
other end n, of the coil passing direct to the battery h; the wire 1, when the disc a,
is not indicating is insulated from the plate i, by bearing on an insulating stud t,
upon the said plate. When contact is made by pressing the buttons f, the disc
will be operated in the manner hereinbefore described when referring to figure 1,
the drum b, in revolving will remove the insulated stud t, from under the spring
which will then be in electrical contact with the plate i, and the wires, and
will therefore be in communication and the current will flow continuously from
the battery through the main wire g, and through the springs ¹, and ³, onto the
bell o, and thence back to the battery h, and will thus cause the bell to ring
continuously after pressure has been removed from the buttons f, until the disc a,
be replaced to zero.

page_text: It will be obvious that by uncoupling the spring j', from the main wire g, of the
battery the bell can then be caused to ring as long and as often as the contact
makers f, are pressed, when the springs j, as the drum b, revolves, bear upon the
plate i¹.
In connection with the indication before described the electric bell can be rung
as follows; the attraction of the armature of the detent can be made to close the
circuit of a local current through a battery and the bell in the case of a signal of
short duration.
A gong can also be made to sound by attaching a hammer head to the detent d,
of the indicator a, which hammer head will strike the said gong upon the release of
the said detent.
A gong can also be made to sound mechanically so long as the indication disc a,
and drum b, are revolving by a tilt hammer and toothed wheel fixed upon the axis
or other portion of the apparatus.
It will bo obvious that instead of a revolving disc a, a pointer or hand may be
caused to revolve on a disc or dial, or the indications may be upon any suitable
fabric wrapped on a revolving roller or drum.
My improved electric signalling apparatus is applicable generally wherever
electric signalling apparatus is now employed.
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:-
(1) An electric signalling apparatus in which a disc or drum bearing the
indications to be given is caused to rotate by a spring or its equivalent on tho
removal of a detent in the manner described and shewn until the required indication
is given.
(2). In an electric signalling apparatus an axis or drum carrying an insulated
metal plate so arranged that when contact is made by any suitable means such as
that described and the said axis or drum is thereby caused to revolve, contact shall
continue with the said plate only during sufficient time to allow the required
indication to be given substantially as herein before described and represented in
the accompanying drawing.
(3). In an electric signalling apparatus the combination of parts for operating
the indicator with the arrangement whereby a bell is caused to ring for given or
measured lengths of time substantially as herein before described and represented in
figure 1, of the drawing.
(4). In an electric signalling apparatus the combination of parts for operating
the indicator with the arrangement whereby a bell is caused to ring so long as
contact is maintained in the room or place from which the signal is given and as
often as the said contact is re-mado substantially as herein before described.
(5). In an electric signalling apparatus, the combination of parts for operating
the indicator with the arrangement whereby a bell is caused to ring continuously
until the indicator is replaced substantially as herein before described and
reprosented in figures 2, and 3 of the accompanying drawing.
(G). The improved electric signalling apparatus horeinbefore described and
represented in the accompanying drawing.