IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, FELIX BENEDICT HERZOG, of New York in the County of New York, and
State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In Letters Patent of the United States, No. 289,834 issued to me December 11,
1883, and entitled Telephone Signaling apparatus, I have described an automatic
signaling apparatus (which in this and contemporaneous applications I have called
а "latent signal transmitter") applicable to many different uses, (such as telephone-
exchange service, district telegraph and private circuits, hotel annunciators, etc.)
the main feature of which is, that the transmitter may be properly set by a person
desiring to signal to a distant point, and is so constructed that the desired signal
is not transmitted at the moment of setting the instrument (as is the case in
instruments of the kind known as "transmitters ") but the apparatus retains the
signal as set in a "latent" condition ready to be released until it is released,
directly or indirectly, from a distant station by the person who is to receive the
signal, at the moment he wishes to release it and is ready for it, and then the
instrument being released the signal it is set to transmit is automatically trans-
mitted to such receiving operator. These instruments as there described are
capable of being set so as to transmit only one and two alterable signals or series of
signals, and enable the sender to convey to the receiver any desired information
(within this limit of two series).
The object of my present invention is, first, to provide such a "latent signal
transmitter," so constructed as to have a greater capacity to transmit signals for
many uses to which it is applicable; more especially for use in Telephone
Exchanges, so that it can be readily set by any unskilled person to transmit
various combinations of impulses or signals to enable the sender to transmit
numbers containing units, tens and hundreds, for example, and which shall be
reliable in its operation, and very simple and cheap in construction. In its use in
telephone exchanges it serves general purposes: The first is: It is particularly
intended to enable the telephone subscriber before leaving his office to set the
apparatus so that a calling subscriber may be automatically informed, not only of
the hour and minute of his intended return, or of a number representing in a coɖo

page_text: .
the place to which he has gone (as described in the above named United States
Patent No. 289,834) but may be informed at the same time of both of these sets of
information, which would not be done by the former instrument described in the
patent referred to. The second purpose for which instruments of greater capacity
as herein described are to be used, is, to enable subscribers to indicate by the
instrument the number of another subscriber with whom they wish to speak, and
having set it.at this number to have it remain as set until it is released by the
central operator, when it will transmit the desired signal without any further need
of oral communication between calling subscriber and operator.
In this application I mean to claim broadly such a "latent signal transmitter" of
of greater capacity as hereinafter described.-
:
I shall explain the best form of my invention with reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a front view of my transmitter box.
Fig. 2 is a front view of its internal mechanism, showing the front of the box
removed; and
Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the middle of the box, showing a side view
of the transmitter-mechanism.
The transmitter box consists simply of a square or otherwise shaped box large
enough to contain the transmitter, and made of wood or metal; but the front or
face of the box, through which is cut a semi-circular slot, should be metal.
I have shown the face and sides made in one casting with the back in a separate
piece, to which the transmitter is screwed. The mechanism of the transinitter
I construct as follows (see Figs. 2 and 3). It consists of the arbor D., actuated by
the clock spring E, and carrying the ratchet disc F., fixed to it, and the loose
gear-wheel gearing with the pinion g. and gear-wheel G., which drives the
escapement H., this clock-work being mounted in a frame formed of a front I. and
back plate J., this part of the mechanism being old and in very common use. The
clock-work escapement I control by means of an electro-magnet L., whose
armature N. is pivoted in the frame of the instrument and carries a finger n.
which when the armature is back interferes with the escapement pendulum K. and
locks it.
Directly in front of the front plate I. is a revolving arm M. attached to the
arbor D. and carrying at its free end a contact spring or brush m. which sweeps
over the periphery of the concentric metal sector P. rigidly fixed to, but insulated
from the frame by rubber-bushed screws, as shown, so as to leave sufficient space
between it and the front plate for the arm to sweep over the entire teeth of the
sector. On the arbor D. are centered three arms Q, R. and S. so as to turn freely,
and at the end of each arm is formed a circular are numbered as shown and pro-
vided with knobs, A. B. and C., by which the arms may be set as required. The
arbor D. projects through the face of the box, and has attached to it the crank d.
by which the spring is wound up and the instrument set ready to transmit its
signal as shown in the drawing. The arm Q. is placed in front the arm R., behind
it, and the arm S. immediately behind the arm R. On the rear side of the arms Q.
and R. are fixed blocks q. and r. of insulating material which projects slightly
above the face of the teeth directly in the path of the contact spring m., so that
when the contact spring reaches one of the arms the brush is held off the periphery
of the sector P., traveling over the space of two teeth and consequently at that
instant two impulses in the signal are omitted. The third arm S. carries a finger s.
against which strikes the pin O., in the end of the traveling arm M. so that the
arm M. is stopped when it fetches up against the arm S. wherever that may be set.
The arms and R. each carry a little index or pointer which points to the
numbers marked on the next arc immediately behind it, and a third pointer t.
pointing to the numbers on the first arc is attached to the front of the box.
Suppose now, it is desired to have the box transmit the signal 270, for example:
The clock-work is first wound up by turning the crank d. which sets the arm M.
carrying the contact-spring, in the position shown ready to transmit a signal.
The

page_text: knob A. is then set so that the pointer t. points at 2 on the first arc, and the
arm Q, occupies the position shown, Fig. 1, the knob B. is then set. so that the
pointer carried by the arm Q. points to 7 and the arm R. is in position shown,
the knob C. is then set so that the pointer carried by the arm R. points to 10 and
the arm S. is in the position shown. When now the instrument is released by
means of the electro-magnet L. the brush m. carried by the arm M. sweeps over
the face of the teeth first making two breaks in the circuit, followed by an interval
equal to two breaks, then seven more breaks followed by another interval equal to
two breaks, and finally ten more breaks when the traveling arm M. fetches up
against the finger s. and is thereby stopped with the brush m. in contact with one
of the teeth, the breaks and not the makes being counted in reading the signal, or,
if preferred, this could be reversed, and the makes count. The relative advantage
of the two methods being determined by the character of current and the exchange
system used. In the same way it is only necessary to set the arcs at the desired
numbers in order to have the instrument transmit automatically any desired signal
composed of three figures or less. If it is desired to have the instrument capable
of transmitting more figures than this, other arms precisely like R. may be added
to any desired number and the capacity of the instrument indefinitely increased.
If it is desired to transmit only a single number up to twelve the first are may be
employed alone, in which case the other arms R. and S. would be moved close up
to the arm Q. so that the interval blocks q. and 7. would be in contact and the
brush m., after having sent the desired number of impulses would travel over
these blocks in succession and be stopped by the finger s. as soon as it has left the
block r. and again close the circuit through one of the teeth of the sector.
..
In order that the arms may remain locked when set in any position each arm is
made springy so as to be capable of being bent slightly inward by pressing on the
knobs and is provided with a. lug V. which springs into the notches cut in the
metal arc X., which is a circular strip of metal attached to or cast on the inside of
the box front. As the arms are in different planes, the lugs V. are. made corre-
spondingly deeper on the rear arms, so that their front edges which engage with
the notched arc are all in the same plane. There are as many notches in the arc
as there are teeth on the sector P., one notch corresponding to each tooth, and they.
are so arranged that the lugs V. drop into them when the interval blocks q. and r.
cover exactly two teeth and the finger 8. on the third arm S. stands so as to stop
the traveling arm M. with its spring m. on one of the teeth. In setting the
instrument, the arm Q. is first set by pressing in the knob A. which, slightly bends
the arm and frees the lug V. from the teeth, and, as this arm rests in front of the
other two it also pushes inward the others and unlocks them, so that the arm Q.
can be set as desired, and will carry with it the other arms, if they happen to be
set close up to it, and if not the arm Q. may be set independently without moving
the others. The second and third arms are then set one after the other in the same
manner, but as the second arm lies behind the first, and the third behind the second
either of these may be unlocked and set without affecting the ones in front of it.
In other words, any arm may be unlocked and set without unlocking those in front
of it, but it will unlock all those behind it, and consequently it is only necessary to
set first those in front.
I have shown the mechanism of the transmitter secured to the back of the
transmitter-box, but it may evidently be secured to the front, leaving space for the
sweep of the setting arms between it and the front; and as the notched arc X. is
attached to this plate and the lugs V. engage with it, it might be desirable to
support the clockwork in this way, so as to have the entire mechanism rigidly
fixed to the same base. During the transmission of the signal, which is composed
of breaks in the circuit, the armature N. of the electro-magnet would drop back
and lock the escapement and stop the clock-work, unless some device were pro-
vided to hold up the armature during the intervals of no magnetism. To accomplish
this, I mount upon the arbor D. a semi-circular sector Y. on the periphery of which
bears an arm y. fixed to the armature N. This sector is fixed to the arbor so that
i

page_text: when the instrument is set, it allows the arm y. and armature N. to drop back and
lock the escapement, as shown; but when the armature is drawn up and the
instrument released, the revolving sector Y. comes under the end of the arm y. and
thus supports the armature during the breaks in the circuit. The instrument
therefore continues to run down when once released until the completion of the
signal for which it is set.
-
To prevent the numbers from being visible on the face of the instrument after
it has been set, I provide a flap or cover U. which is hinged to the face as shown so
as to drop down by gravity, or a spring, and cover the numbered arcs or dials, thus
preventing any observer standing by from seeing what number the instrument has
been set to transmit.
I do not limit myself to the details of construction herein shown. These may
be changed in various ways without departing from the feature of my invention
which is to construct a "latent signal transmitter" to transmit three or more
variable sets of signals..
It is manifest that any form of actuating mechanism or clock-work may be
employed in my transmitter to drive the signal-sending device, and the electro-
magnet may be arranged to control the movement of this device in any desired
manner, whether with a closed or an open circuit. It is also evident that the dials,
arcs or indicating devices by which the instrument is set may be marked or
graduated in any desired manner, and the sector P. provided with an arrangement
of teeth to correspond. It is also evident that instead of a fixed sector and moving
the
brush the relative motion may be reversed; instead of counting the "makes
breaks" in the circuit may be counted; the relative advantage of, the two
methods being determined by the character of current and the exchange system
used. It is also evident that the signal-transmitting device, may be modified in
various ways without departing from my invention.
"
"
My instrument may be placed in any circuit, and used to transmit signals for
any purpose. It may be employed in telephone exchange systems, the subscriber
setting it at any time to indicate the hour he expects to return or when he can be
Been; and the instrument being released by the central office at the same time that
the central office calls such subscriber; it thus apprises the central office of these
.facts as fully described in my hereinbefore mentioned patent of December 11, 1883.
Another use is as follows: The subscriber can set his instrument to operate as a
call and transmit to the exchange the number of the subscriber with. whom he
desires connection; in which case the subscriber will set his instrument.
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. The combination with an electric circuit of a "latent signaling transmitter"
'for transmitting over the circuit three or more variable signals or sets of impulses,
signal determining devices whereby the automatic signaling mechanism can be
Bet to transmit said signals in any desired sequence, a motor for actuating said
signaling mechanism; and means for releasing said motor, substantially as set
'forth.
2. The combination in a "latent signal transmitter" of a traveling contact maker,
a motor, a number of contacts swept by said traveling contact maker and one or
more adjustable interval producing devices, substantially as herein before set forth.
; 3. The combination in a "latent signal transmitter" of a series of contacts and
a contact maker movable with respect to each other and two or more interval
producers, differently spaced from the series of contacts, and adjustable with
relation to each other together with a motor, a detent therefrom, and a locking
device to prevent the detent from re-obstructing the motor after it has once been
started by the current over the circuit, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth.
4. In combination with a "latent signal transmitter" having a contact maker
and a series of contacts movable with respect to each other; two or more interval

page_text: producers and a limiting stop, the interval producers and the stop being adjustable
with respect to one another, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
set forth.
5. The combination in a "latent signal transmitter" of a signal-transmitting
mechanism and two or more signal limiting and controlling devices, substantially
as described, whereby the entire signal transmitted is divided up into three or more
groups of impulses or signals, substantially as and for the purposes herein before
Bet forth.
6. The combination in a "latent signal transmitter" of a fixed toothed trans-
mitting plate, a contact brush, driven by the motor and sweeping the transmitter,
two or more interval producers, means for setting the interval producers with
respect to one another, and indicators to indicate how the signal is set, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth.
7. The combination of the arbor D. driven by the clock-work, the electro-magnet
whose armature locks and releases the clock-work, the fixed sector P. traveling
arm M. attached to the arbor D., and carrying the contact brush m. one or more
arms Q. provided with interval devices and carrying numbered or marked ares
or dials, and the arın S. constructed to limit the movement of the arm M.
substantially as described.
8. The combination of the arbor D. driven by the clock-work, the electro-magnet,
whose armature locks and releases the clock-work, the fixed sector P., traveling
arm M. attached to the arbor D., and carrying the contact brush m. one or more
arms Q. provided with interval devices q., and carrying numbered or marked arcs
or dials, and the arms. S. constructed to limit the movement of the arm M. and the
arm or crank d. attached to the arbor D., substantially as described.
9. The combination with the arbor D. and clock-work driving the same, of the
metal sector P. fixed to the frame, the traveling arm M. attached to the arbor D.
and carrying the contact-brush m., the arm or crank d. attached to the arbor D.,
one or more arms Q., provided with interval devices q. and carrying numbered or
marked arcs or dials the arm S. also provided with a dial and constructed to limit
the movement of the arm M., a suitable frame and means for exposing the dials
or arcs, substantially as described.
10. The combination with the arbor D., and clockwork driving the same, of the
metal sector P, fixed to the frame, the traveling arm M. attached to the arbor D.
and carrying the contact-brush m., the arm or crank d. attached to the arbor, one
or more arms Q. carrying interval-blocks q. and numbered or marked arcs or dials
the arms S., also provided with a dial and constructed to limit the movement of
the arm M. locking devices for the arms, and the box enclosing the mechanism
provided with an opening exposing the dials, substantially as described.
11. The combination in a variable "latent signal transmitter" of a motor
mechanism, an electro-magnet whose armature controls the motor, and a holder
arranged and operating to retain the detent in its retracted position until the
transmitter has completed its signal, whereby when the clock-work is once released
by the electro-magnet, the instrument continues to run whether the circuit remains
closed or not, substantially as described.
12. The combination with the "latent signal transmitting" mechanism, the
motor therefor, the detent for holding the motor when the transmitting mechanism
is set, and the electro-magnetic releasing device operated from the receiving station
to effect the disengagement of the detent from the motor of a holder to prevent the
detent from re-obstructing the motor at the recurrence of the normal condition of
circuit after the signal has begun to transmit, which holder is guided by a guiding
surface having on it one depression and protuberance, substantially as described.
13. The combination with an electric signal transmitter box and dials or
indicators according to which the instrument can be set to transmit different
signals, of a cover or flap for the indicators, so as normally to hide the signals
from view, substantially as described.

page_text: 14. The combination, with a transmitter box and dials or indicators by which
the instrument can be set to transmit different signals, of the cover or flap U. of
the box so arranged as automatically to hide the dials exposed to view after the
signal has been set substantially as described.
15. In a "latent signal transmitter" the combination with motor and a releasing
device, of a signal determining device and an independently operative "starting
lever" or "pull," substantially as described.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Applicant's Agent.