IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TYDIGUODS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Curren, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC
TYDIGUODS"
Sealed the 28th April 1876, and dated the 14th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Curren at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1876.
JAMES CURREN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC INDICATORS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention is applicable to electric indicators used for hotel, restaurant,
domestic, or other purposes, and the object of the Invention is to enable the operator
to repeat the same signal or order several times without the person receiving the
signal or order having to set the apparatus for each "repeat." For example, sup-
posing the person sending the signal desired to order "six steaks," under the
present arrangement he could only order one at a time, and the person receiving the
order would have to set the machine fresh for each repeat, whereas according to my
Invention he could order any required number at once by simply pressing the
button a corresponding number of times.
The sending apparatus is a stand or tablet, having a certain number of buttons,
one for the bell to call attention, and the others each one for a separate article, say,
chop and chips," "steak," "pale ale," " stout," and so on. Pressing on either of these
buttons makes contact and completes the electric current along the corresponding
wire in the usual manner, and removing the finger breaks contact. The receiving
instrument contains a bell and as many electro-magnets as there are buttons in the.
sending apparatus, the connection between the two being made by means of wires
in the usual manner.
Each electro-magnet when excited attracts its own armature; the first one rings
Each of the other armatures consists of a
the electric bell in the usual manner.
lever mounted on a fulcrum at the centre, and having at the end furthest from the
magnet a catch, which takes into the teeth of a ratchet wheel, and allows one tooth
to escape for each movement of the armature, that is, one tooth for each pressure of
the finger on the corresponding button of the sending machine. The ratchet wheel
is fixed on a spindle carrying a cylinder placed with its axis horizontal, and having

page_text: a number of facets cut longitudinally upon its periphery, the number of these facets
(say ten) corresponding with the number of teeth upon the ratchet wheel. These
cylinders are all mounted behind a tablet having several oblong openings, each
corresponding with the central facit of one of the cylinders. Each facit of each
cylinder bears the same word but a different figure; for instance, the first facit is
marked "1 steak;" the second, " 2 steaks," and so on to the tenth, which is marked
"10 steaks." Round the spindle of each cylinder is wound a coiled spring, which
has a constant tendency to turn the cylinder so as to show the last facet, and hence
each time the armature moves it escapes one tooth and turns the cylinders one-tenth
of a revolution. Each order can therefore be repeated (say) ten times, or any less
number, and the person after receiving the complete order must then turn the
cylinder back to zero, and it is ready to commence again.
In some cases I make both sending and receiving tablets with movable labels, so
that they can be altered to corresponding with the bill of fare of the day.
It will of course be evident that the same arrangements may be applied to a
variety of other indicating purposes of a like nature.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Curren in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th August
1876.
JAMES CURREN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC INDICATORS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention is applicable to electric indicators used for hotel, restaurant,
domestic, or other purposes, and the object of the Invention is to enable the operator
to repeat the same signal or order several times without the person receiving the
signal or order having to set the apparatus for each "repeat." For example, sup-
posing the person sending the signal desired to order "six steaks," under the
present arrangement he could only order one at a time, and the person receiving the
order would have to set the machine fresh for each repeat, whereas according to my
Invention he could order any required number at once by simply pressing the
button a corresponding number of times.
"
The sending apparatus is a stand or tablet having a certain number of buttons,
one for the bell to call attention, and the others each one for separate article, say,
chop and chips," "steak," "pale ale," "stout," and so on. Pressing on either of
these buttons makes contact and completes the electric current along the corre-
sponding wire in the usual manner, and removing the finger breaks contact. The
receiving instrument contains a bell and as many electro-magnets as there are
buttons in the sending apparatus, the connection between the two being made by
means of wires in the usual manner.
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a plan view of one electro-magnet and its
adjuncts, and Fig. 2 is a section of the same, it being understood that the receiving
apparatus contains as many repetitions of this mechanism as may be required, that
is, for each article.
Each electro-magnet a, a, when excited attracts its own armature b, b; the first
one rings the electric bell in the usual manner. Each of the other armatures
consists of a lever b, b, mounted on a fulcrum c at the centre, and having at the end
furthest from the magnet a catch d, which takes into the pins of a catch wheel e, e,
or into the teeth of a ratchet wheel, and allows one pin or tooth to escape for each
movement of the armature b, b, that is, one pin or tooth for each pressure of the
finger on the corresponding button of the sending machine. The catch wheel c, e,
turns loosely on a spindle f, f, carrying a cylinder g, g, placed with its axis hori-
zontal, and made either plain or having a number of facets cut longitudinally upon
its periphery, the number of these facets (say ten) corresponding with the number

page_text: of teeth upon the catch wheel. This catch wheel prevents the cylinder from turning
in one direction by means of the ratchet 1, 1, leaving it free to revolve in the
other when the machine is being set back to zero. These cylinders are all mounted
behind a tablet h, h, having several oblong openings, as at i, i, each corresponding
with the central facet or portion of the circumference of one of the cylinders. Each
facet or central portion of each cylinder bears the same word but at different figure;
for instance, the first is marked "1," the second "2 steaks," and so on to the tenth,
which is marked "10 steaks." Round the spindle of each cylinder g, g, is wound a
coiled spring (not seen in the Drawing), which has a constant tendency to turn the
cylinder g, g, so as to show the last facet or portion of the circumference, and hence
each time the armature b, b, moves it escapes one pin or tooth, and turns the
cylinders g, g, one-tenth of a revolution. Each order can therefore be repeated
(say) ten times, or any less number, and the person after receiving the complete
order must then turn the cylinder g, g, back to zero by means of the button k, k, or
otherwise, and it is ready to commence again.
In some cases I make both sending and receiving tablets with movable labels, so
that they can be altered to correspond with the bill of fare of the day.
It will of course be evident the same arrangement may be applied to a variety of
other indicating purposes of a like nature.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention the novel construction
of electric repeating indicator, as herein-before described and illustrated by the
Drawings annexed, consisting of the combination with the armature of an electro-
magnet, of a catch wheel, and spring cylinder, constructed and operating substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Curren, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of August, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witnessed by
JOHN HUGHES,
Clerk to Geo. Davies, C.E.,
Patent Office,
4, St. Ann's Sq.,
Manchester.
JAMES CURREN. (L.S.)