Improvements in and connected with Electrical Annunciators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electrical Annunciators.
A communication by HENRY BUCKNER HIGGINS, of Minneapolis, in the County
of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, United States of America, Expert
Accountant.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, and 31, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 relates to improvements in electrical annunciators, and consists
in the construction and combination hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a view of the annunciator, partly in plan, and partly conventional and
diagrammatic, and
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dial of the want indicator.
Figs. 3 & 4 details.
In the drawings A and B are the indicators, the markings of the indicator A
standing for tens, and those of the indicator B for units. C represents a want
indicator, and D a recording mechanism, E a signal bell, and 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
their respective magnets. The magnet armatures 15, 16 and 17, belonging
respectively to the indicators A, B and C, have their bearings filled with
insulation 18, and turn upou the posts or pins 19 between adjusting screws 21
and 23, 25 and 27, and 31 and 33 respectively fitted to the posts 20 and 22, 24
aud 26, and 30 and 32. These armatures are fitted with dogs 34, 35 and 36
respectively engaging the cog wheels 37, 38 and 39, which are operated by clock
work and connected by intermediate gearing (not shown) with the indicator
shafts 40, 41 and 42. The dogs are held normally in engagement with the cog
wheels by means of their tension springs 45, 46 and 47 attached to posts 48, 49
and 50, but upon the energizing of the magnets, the armatures are drawn toward
them against the tension of said springs, so as to disengage the dogs from the
wheels, and permit the clock work to drive the same. Within the indicators A, B
and Care arranged series of springs 51, 52 and 53 upon the pins 54, 55 and 56
respectively, which are fitted to the base of insulating material. The springs
normally bearing against the pins 57, 58 and 59 respectively are fixed to the
insulated conducting rings 60, 61 and 62, and are thrown out of engagement
with said pins by means of the arms 63, 64 and 65 in the operation of the
devices.
The bevel gears 66, 67 and 68 keyed respectively on the shafts 40, 41 and 42,
mesh with bevel gears 69, 70 and 71 respectively, the gcar 69 being mounted on
the sleeve shaft 72, the gear 70, upon the solid shaft 73, which turns within the
sleeve 72, and the gear 71 upon the sleeve shaft 74 also turning upon the shaft 73.
These three shafts 72, 73 and 74 carry respectively type cylinders 75, 76 and 77,
and form part of the recorder D. The indicator cylinders 78 and 79 are attached
to and carried by the type cylinders 75 and 76 respectively. Arranged in the rear
of the type and indicator cylinders is the tape wheel 158, and below the cylinders
and between them and the recorder magnet is the armature 80, which, on the
breaking of the circuit is drawn up by the spring (not shown) so as to press the

page_text: paper tape 81 against the type cylinder, by means of which there is imprinted upon
the tape the corresponding room number and the want. In order to insure distinct
printing of. the indications on the tape, the cylinders are provided with hollow
cones 82, with their bases outward and the armature with projecting cones 83
which enter the hollow cones 82, and thereby insure such position of the cylinders
as to present the face of the type squarely upon the paper.
At the central station, in addition to two series of push buttons of the return
call mechanism, are provided the main bell E with its gong 86, regulating post and.
screws 87 and 88, armature 89, and magnet 14, and the battery 90 for the
récorder D, and indicators A and B, and battery 91 for the recorder C, battery 92
for the bell E, and the battery 93 for the return call mechanism. At each point
from which a call can be sent is placed a combined bell magnet and push button F,
so constructed and electrically connected that when the circuit has been closed
therethrough by depressing a button 94, and the armature 95 has been drawn to
the magnet 96, the circuit is held closed by the prong 97 locking down the
button 94 until the circuit is broken at some external point, whereupon the magnet
is de-energized, and releases the armature 95, which is thrown back by its spring
against the screw 99, held in the post 98, and causing its hammer 100 to strike the
gong 101.
At each call station or point there is also a switch G, having a switch
arm 108, and a series of contact plates 102 corresponding and connected to the
springs 53 of the want indicator C, and also corresponding with the printed want
indications 103 on the dial 104 connected to the indicator C.
From the spring contact supports 54, 55, and 56 of the indicators A, B and C
extend respectively the series of wires 105, 106 and 107. The wires of the
series 105 and 106 extending from the indicators A and B are numbered "0"
to "9" inclusive, to correspond with the markings upon the type and indication
cylinders, and their corresponding springs 51 and 52. Branches from each wire of
the series 107 of the indicator C are exended to each call station or point, and are
there connected to the corresponding contact plates on the dial of the switch G.
As shown in the drawings, room "93" is shown connected with the apparatus and
the want is "cards." The occupant first rotates the arm 108 on the dial G to the
corresponding "0" plate, thereby making a circuit in which the current will flow
from the battery 91 through the wire 109 to and through the magnet 12, so as to
energize it and draw to it the armature 17. This disengages the dog 36 from the
cog wheel 39, permitting the want indicator C to operate and the short circuiting
arm 65 to revolve. From the magnet 12, the current flows through the wire 110
to the arm 108 and "0" plate on the dial G, from said plate through the
"0" wire of the series 107, the "0" spring support 56, the spring 53, pin 59, the
metallic ring 61 of the indicator C, and the wire 111 to the opposite pole of
the battery 91. When, in the course of its revolution the short circuiting arm 65
strikes the "0" spring, the current will be short circuited, thus de-energizing the
nagnet 12, and allowing its armature to be drawn away from it by its spring 47,
and causing the indicator C to instantly stop with its needle pointing to the
indication cards," and the type cylinder 77 presenting the type "cards
récorder tape and armature 80 and 81.
"
to the
The person calling having set the arm 108 of the dial G upon that plate of
the series 102 corresponding to the desired want, then pushes the button 94, thereby
closing the circuit through the battery 90, the wire 112, the recorder magnet 13,
the wire 113, the magnet 10, the wire 114, the ring 60, the "9" post 57, the
spring 51, its support 54, the. "9" wire of the series 105, its branch 115, the
magnet 96, the point 116, the wire 117 to the push button, thence through
the branch 118 of the "3" wire of the series 106, the "3" support 55, the
spring 52, the pin 58, the metallic ring 61, the wire 119, the magnet 11, the
wires 120, 121, and 122 to the opposite pole of the battery 90.
Upon the making of this circuit the armatures 15, 16 and 80 of the indicators A
and B and recorder D are drawn to their magnets thereby permitting the starting
of each machine. When the short circuiting arm 63 of the indicator A arrives at

page_text: and touches the spring 51 in circuit (in this instance "9") the current from the
recorder magnet 13 is switched through the wire 123 and the arm 63, thereby
short circuiting the magnet 10, and stopping the machine with the indicator
cylinder showing "9" and the printing cylinder presents "9" to the tape 81 and
nrmmature 80.
1. J
When the short circuiting arm 64 of the indicator B in its revolution touches
the spring 52 in circuit (in this instance "3") the current from the spring to the
battery 90 is switched through the arm 64, the wire 124, the post and screw 20
and 21, armature 15, and wires 121 and 122, (if the indicator A is still running,
but if not, to the point 125, wire 126, bell magnet 14, armature 89 screw and
post 88 and 87 and wires 121 and 122) to the battery 90. Upon the first vibration
of the armature 89 of the bell E, the last described circuit through the magnet 96
at station 93 is broken. Thereupon the armature 95 is drawn back by its spring,
and its hammer 100 strikes the gong 101, indicating to the person calling that the
call is completed. Also upon the breaking of this circuit, of which the windings
of the recorder magnet form a part, the armature 80 of said magnet is released and
its spring presses the paper tape against the type upon the cylinders 75, 76 and 77,
thus imprinting the call and call station. A return call is given by the attendant.
by pressing the "9" push button of the series 84 connected with the wires from
the indicator A, and the "3" push button of the series 85 of the indicator C,
thereby closing the circuit from the battery 93 through the wire 128, the "9"
push button of the series 84, the "9" wire of the series 105, the wire 115, the
windings of the magnet 96, the point 116, the wire 129, the armature 95, the screw
and post 99 and 98, the wire 130, the plate "3" of the dial G, the wire "3" of
the series 107, the depressed push button "3" of the series 85 and the wire 131 to
the battery 93.
"
While the indicator B is in operation its armature 16 will be turned to the right
closing a circuit from the battery 92 through the wire 132, post 28, screw 29,
armature 16, wire 133, wire 120, wire 121, post 87, screw 88, armature 89, wire 134,
windings of magnet 14, wire 126, wire 135, post 26, screw 27, insulated strip 43
carried by the armature 16, and wire 136 to the battery 92, thereby causing the
bell E to ring, and notifying the attendant that the call has been received. In the
drawings there is also shown in dotted lines, an alternative plan of wiring and
connections by which upon the depression of the push button 94 the circuits are
closed as follows: Through the battery 90 to the wire 112, recorder magnet 13,
wire 113, magnet 10 of the indicator A, wire 114, ring 60, "9" post 57,
"9" spring 51, "9" support 54, "9" wire 105, branch wire 115, magnet 96,
point 116, push button 94, wire 118, "3" wire 106, "3" support 55, "3" spring 52,
"3" pin 58, ring 61, wire 119, magnet-11, wires 120, 121 and 122 to the opposite
pole of the battery. This circuit is changed by the short circuiting arın 63 of the
indicator A touching the "9" spring 51 to close the circuit through the wire 123,
arm 63, as in the first described arrangement of parts. But when the: short
circuiting arm 64 of the indicator B touches the "3" spring 52, the current is
switched through the arin, the dotted wire 140, dotted wire 141, and if the
indicator is running; the post 30, screw 31, armature 17, dotted wire 142, and
wires 121 and 122 to the opposite pole of the battery. If the-indicator C is not
running, and the indicator A is running, the circuit is from the end of the wire 141,
through the wire 142, post 20, screw 21, armature 15, and wires 121 and 122 to
the battery. If the indicator A has also stopped the circuit from the wire 141 is
through the wire 143, bell mechanism E, wire 144, post 22, screw 23, armature 15,
and wires 121 and 122 to the battery. It will be seen that the last named circuit
which includes the main bell is never made except when the three indicators have
each completed their indications, and their type cylinders are in position for
recording. Necessarily upon the first stroke upon the main bell this circuit is
broken, thereby releasing the bell and push button armature at the call station,
and permanently breaking the circuit. This last break releases the recording
machine armature which then presses the paper tape against the type cylinder.

page_text: In this alternative plan of wiring, although the arm 108 at the call station is
first set, the apparatus cannot start until the main circuit has been made by
.depressing the push button, and the armature 96 is therefore drawn to the magnet,
thereby closing the circuit in which the current flows from the battery 91 by the
wire 145, post 146, screw 147, extension 148 on the armature 95, armature 95,
wire 149, arm 108, "0" plate 102, "0" wire 107, "0" post 56, "0" spring 53,
"0" post 59, ring 62, wire 150, windings of the magnet 12, and dotted wire 151 to
the battery 91. The return call system in this alternative wiring is the same as
above described, and the advantage is that cach and all of the machines must have
completed their indications before the recorder armature is released and the
impression made on the machine.
The magnet push button F consists of the opposite conducting poles 153 and 154
insulated upon the windings of the magnet 96. When the push button 94 is
.pressed into contact with these poles connection is made through them and then
maintained by the "V" shaped conducting piece 155 mounted upon the bottom of
the button 94, being held between the poles by the drawing of the armature 93 to
the magnet 96, and thereby inserting the end of the prong 97 through the
Chole 156.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In an electrical annunciator, the combination with one or more call indicators
and a want indicator, all operative conjointly by any one of several circuit closers
and adapted to give a combined indication, of the return calls in circuit partly in
common severally with the indicator circuits and operative only when the indicator
circuits are broken.
2. In an electrical annunciator, the combination with a plurality of indicators
operative conjointly and simultaneously by any one of several circuit closers, of
the common recording mechanism operative by the breaking of the indicator circuit
when all of the indicators have made their indications.
3. In an annunciator, the combination of the plurality of call and want indicators
having their controlling magnets in series, and operative conjointly by means of
any one of several circuit closers, and the recorder mechanically connected
therewith, and having its printing magnet in series with the magnets of said
indicators.
4. In an electrical annunciator, the combination with a plurality of indicators
all operative conjointly and simultaneously by any one of several circuit closers
and adapted to give a combined indication, of the automatic means for holding the
. circuit closed until all of the indicators in the circuit have made their indications,
and then resetting the operated circuit closer ready for another operation.
Dated this 4th day of November 1805