Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 17th Jan., 1899
I, FELIX BENEDICT HERZOG, of No. 1123, Broadway, New York, County and State
of New York, U.S.A., Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates especially to that form of signaling apparatus in which the
terminals of several outgoing lines are grouped together, each controlling a separate
indicating device. This is commonly called an annunciator." It has special
reference to an annunciator which shall be exceedingly small for a given number
of indications, very simple, delicate, reliable, and not easily put out of order.
The invention consists, essentially, in submerging in a suitable bath a number
of contact-terminals under conditions which will enable the circuit differentiation
at the distant end to be observed at the annunciator by means of the electrolysis
which takes place in the solution and is as to some of its effects visible at the
observed terminal.
Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 a side view in
section, of one of many forms in which this invention may be operated.
A tank of suitable insulating material-such as porcelain, glass, or rubber A-is
covered by a plate of transparent material, such as celluloid or glass P, and a
soft-rubber continuous band or gasket B is placed between them in such manner
that when pressure is applied by means of the screws V these will press a sash Y
against the glass and compress the rubber gasket, thus making a water-tight tank
with a transparent front. This tank is filled as far as may be necessary with a
fluid Q, the details of which will be described hereinafter. The tank is suitably
mounted in an outer box R¹, the front of this having an opening through which
the glass plate may be seen, and around the edges of which opening are placed the
holes in which the screws V operate whenever the apparatus is made up. The
bottom of the tank is pierced in a number of places, and each hole is plugged up in
a suitable manner-as, for instance, by means of the soft-rubber elastic plug J.
Through this plug passes a fine wire of platinum J, and this wire supports a
platinum disk F on the glass side of the tank, and on the other side the wire is
directly or by means of an intermediate conductor X connected to suitable terminals
or binding-posts N. From each binding-post a line leads to the controlling-point,
(herein supposed to be an ordinary push-button circuit-closer.) The disk F may
be fastened directly against the tank or the plug within which its supporting-wire
is embedded, or there may be an intermediate device, such as a small glass cup or
bulb G, as shown in Fig. 2. This bulb of course has a small hole under the
platinum plate, so as to permit the supporting-wire to pass through the bottom of
the tank but the front side of the bulb is open, so that the solution within the
tank is at all times in contact with the plate.
The operation of the parts described is as follows: One or more of the disks or
plates F form one terminal of the battery (preferably considered as the common
wire) and the other plates lead to different distant points. The solution is so

page_text: made up that it will conduct the current from the co-operating battery and will
at the same time be decomposed by its passage. This decomposition may be in
part or wholly visible by reason of the appearance of bubbles of various gases or by
reason of the change of appearance of one or the other electrode, whether this
change be due to a chemical action in which the electrode is itself affected or to
a change in the electrolyte seen at the electrode as a deposit. There are many ways
in which the solution and electrode may be combined to produce effects which
differ according to the commercial requirements, such as permanency of
deposit, delicacy, rapidity of deposit, varying resistance effect of the deposit, and
many others, but for the sake of simplicity only one form will be described at
present. The solution is one containing iodide of potassium, the electrodes are of
platinum, and as a result with a suitable battery the circuit-closure at the distant
station will be followed by the instantaneous appearance of the brown stain
characteristic of iodine upon the one electrode operated and the appearance of
gas-bubbles upon the common wire electrode.
As thus far described the apparatus and method disclose an operative and very
useful device. The next step in meeting ordinary commercial requirements
for an annunciator of the accepted type is to make the stain last longer than it
would under the conditions described, in which, owing to the greater specific
gravity of the free iodine deposited, the stain will quickly disappear, in part
slipping down into the solution and in part being carried upward by a stream of
gas disengaged by secondary action from the water while the iodine is in process
of decomposition. I have devised two ways of securing a stain of satisfactory
duration. The one is by increasing the specific gravity of the solution in any
suitable manner, such as by the addition of glycerin, and the other is by con-
fining both the iodine which is dropping off and that which is carried upward
within the individual cups or bulbs G. In practice it is easy by varying the depth
and shape of the cups, the strength of current, and the specific gravity and strength
of the solution to adjust these factors so that the stain will be visible all the way
from, say, fifteen seconds to fifteen hours.
As thus far described the invention is perfectly operative; but a still further
improvement is to combine with the solution an element which shall produce as
nearly as possible a balance between the electric decomposition and appearance of
color and a chemical recombination which shall at all times keep the solution in
its normal condition. This I do by adding hyposulphite of sodium or any other
suitable material.
As already described, the electrolytically-produced signal may be arranged to
last any desired length of time within proper limits, and the effect of the gradual
change due to the chemical combinations referred to will be that inspection of the
device will often clearly show the relative order of several calls or operations, or
if the circuit-closures be of varying length this also will be indicated. The various
terminal plates are suitably numbered in some way, such as by having the numbers
painted or in some other way affixed to either the bottom of the tank or on the
front glass or on individual strips, (shown in section as D', Fig. 2). No. 8, for
instance, shows a stronger deposit than No. 9, and hence the circuit-closures of
uniform duration it is evident that No. 9 was operated considerably earlier than
No. 8. The operation is so uniform that for any given solution and plant an
operator accustomed to the effect can infallibly detect and note a number of
gradations in color, &c., and hence in time of operation.
In order to make the device still more perfect, I have designed various forms of
agitators by means of which the fluid can be quickly circulated, with an accom-
panying disappearance of all indications. The form I prefer is the blower shown.
In this a tube D is inserted in the solution, and by means of the bulb T and the
small holes Z air is pumped into the solution, and after rising in the shape of
bubbles it passes out through some suitable vent-hole, such as C₁. It is a great
desideratum to have the air-bubbles wash every part of the tank, and I have found
it necessary for the best operation of the particular form of blower herein shown to

page_text: make the openings of the bulbs which are over each platinum terminal large enough
to admit of free circulation of the liquid within the bulb when the entire liquid in
the tank is circulated. In a tank of the proportion shown it is difficult to get the
air-bubbles as far from the side in which they enter as is desirable unless the air-
holes Z are graded with respect to size, the smallest being nearest the bulb, and the
largest at the greatest distance therefrom. Suitable valves of ordinary construction
are in the bulb T. (These are not shown.) In order to make a more continued
flow or circulation, a second bulb T" may be added, and this bulb alone will be
compressed by the operator, the bulb T operating merely as an equalizer.
There are various other details of construction, such as the provision whereby
insulating material such as cement or wax R of suitable composition is poured on
the under side or back of the tank, and supporting-plates O of insulating material
are arranged for the various binding posts, and a cork or plug E is fitted to close
the hole through which solution is admitted into the tank, rubber collars W
making the connections around the ends C and C" of the tube airtight.
The intermediate connecting plates 0 are used to support the binding posts N
and with them form a combination which serves to lessen the danger of straining
the platinum wires J in the event of undue or accidental tension upon the line
wires; and when used, these plates may be fastened to the back of the tank A, or
to the sides of the outer casing R¹ and, if more convenient, they may be shaped
so as to be practically embedded in the cement R which would thus serve as an
improved form of protective backing supported by the said plates () in place of
the backing ordinarily provided for the outer case R¹.
The clamping screws V are preferably hidden by an ornamental sash frame R"
(Fig. 1), fastened on in any suitable manner, so that it may be readily removed
when the screws are to be tightened or loosened as circumstances may require;
and at the top of the front of the enclosing case R' is placed a removable piece R
specially adapted to tighten the top of the gasket. This piece R is formed with
holes through which pass the washers W of the air tubes C¹ and C and these
hold the said piece R in place against the action of the screws when these are
tightened to compress the gasket. When it is desired to open the tank so as to
gain access to the discs to remove any dirt which may have found its way into
the solution, or to make changes in. the numbers etc., the fluid is first removed in
any suitable way-as, for instance, by inserting a suction or syringe tube at E;
then the screws are loosened sufficiently to free the glass, and then the upper
piece R is lifted out of the way, whereupon the glass may be slid upward and out.
I also prefer to make the upper wall A of the tank removable so as to make it a
simple proceeding to extract any floating foreign matter which may accidentally
have found its way into the tank-as during the filling thereof.
Of course it will be seen that it is not essential that the bulbs be used, nor that
the tank be used, as the terminals may be just as well arranged so as to drop into
the tank or reservoir, such as, for instance, would be the case if the various
terminals were inserted in a bottle or jar of glass, in which case, if they were
inserted from the top, they might be visible from every side, nor is the agitation
necessary by means of a blower of air. I have obtained good results by shaking
the receptacle itself. When desired, a bell may be arranged in series with a
common wire. If desired, there are various forms of solution such as the one
described, in which, while the circuit remains closed at the distant station or in
any other way as long as current is flowing through a plate, then if the direction
of current be reversed the stain made by the flow in one direction will be dissipated
by the reverse flow. If the tank be arranged horizontally, then the stain will last
very much longer if the individual cup or bulbs be used.
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:
cantoale containing a transparent electrolyte

page_text: and a series of electrodes located therein, visible therethrough, and corresponding
to a series of substations; separate lines connecting these electrodes to the
various substations; a circuit-controlling device located at each substation and
adapted to control the flow of current through its own line and electrode; the said
electrode and electrolyte being relatively so constituted that variations in the
current passing through any one or several of the electrodes, will produce, in the
annunciator, electrochemical reactions of a character adapted to vary the appearance
of each of these electrodes and thereby locate the operating substations substantially
as described.
2. An annunciator comprising the receptacle containing a transparent electrolyte
and a series of electrodes located therein, visible therethrough, and corresponding
to a series of substations; separate lines connecting these electrodes to the various
substations; a circuit-controlling device located at each substation and adapted to
control the flow of current through its own line and electrode; the said electrodes
and electrolyte being relatively so constituted that variations in the current
passing through any one or several of the electrodes will produce, in the annunciator
electrochemical reactions of a character adapted to vary the appearance of each of
those electrodes and thereby locate the operated substations, together with a
device, located at the annunciator station, and adapted, when operated, to restoro
the original appearance of those electrodes, substantially as described.
3. An annunciator comprising a receptacle containing a transparent electrolyte
and a series of electrodes located therein, and visible therethrough; means adapted
to control the flow of current through the several electrodes; the said electrodes
and electrolyte being relatively so constituted that variations in the current passed
through any electrodes will produce, in the annunciator, electrochemical reactions
adapted to change the appearance of those electrodes; together with means for
agitating the electrolyte and thereby restoring the normal appearance of the
electrodes, substantially as described.
4. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through one or more electrodes; materials entering into
the relative composition of electrodes and electrolyte adapted when a current is
passed through them to produce and locate at the corresponding electrode a sub-
stance acting to change the appearance thereof; together with means, controlled
at the annunciator and adapted to remove the substance at will, and restore the
normal appearance, substantially as described.
5. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through any electrode; and a solution comprising materials
which co-operate with the electrode to produce and locate at the electrode upon the
passage of a current through it, a substance which changes the appearance of the
electrode together with means for agitating the solution without moving the
annunciator; and thereby hastening the dissipation of said visible substance,
substantially as described."
6. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through an electrode; and a solution comprising materials
which co-operate with the electrode to produce and locate at the electrode upon
the passage of a current through it, a substance which changes the appearance of
the electrode; together with means for agitating the solution through air-pressure
and thereby hastening the restoration of the normal conditions, substantially as
described.
7. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through any electrode; and a solution comprising materials
which co-operate with the electrode to produce and locate at the electrode upon
the passage of a current through it, a substance which changes the appearance of

page_text: the electrode, together with means for agitating the solution by the passage of air
through a duct leading from without the annunciator to a point within the solution,
substantially as described.
8. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte; a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through one or more electrodes; materials entering into the
relative composition of electrodes and electrolyte adapted when a current is passed
through then to produce and locate at the corresponding electrode a substance
acting to change the appearance thereof; together with means added for the
purpose of retarding the time of dissipation which is characteristic of the relative
composition of electrodes and electrolyte selected to produce said coloring substance,
substantially as described.
9. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte; a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through one or more electrodes; materials entering into the
relative composition of electrodes and electrolyte adapted when a current is passed
through them to produce and locate at the corresponding electrode a substance
acting to change the appearance thereof; together with an additional substance
added in solution to the electrolyte and adapted to increase its viscosity and thereby
to retard the time of dissipation characteristic of the coloring substance and co-
operating elements, substantially as described.
10. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough; means
for sending a current through one or more electrodes; materials entering into the
relative composition of electrodes and electrolyte adapted when a current is passed
through them to produce and locate at the corresponding electrode a substance
acting to change the appearance thereof; together with a mechanical obstruction
placed between adjacent electrodes and adapted to limit the free circulation of the
electrolytic solution; substantially as described.
11. The combination, in an annunciator, of a receptacle containing a transparent
electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough means
for sending a current through one or more electrodes; materials entering into
the relative composition of electrodes and electrolyte adapted when a current is
passed through them to produce and locate at the corresponding electrode a sub-
stance acting to change the appearance thereof; said substance being deposited on
the electrode and having a tendency to leave it; together with a mechanical
projection or irregularity in the annunciator placed where it will catch the deposits
as they leave the several electrodes and detain them in recognizable proximity to
their respective electrodes; substantially as described.
12. An annunciator comprising a receptacle containing a transparent electrolyte
and a series of electrodes located therein, visible therethrough and corresponding to
a series of substations; separate lines connecting these electrodes to the various
substations and by way of these to one pole of a generator; a circuit-closer located
at each substation and operating to send a current of one polarity through its
own line and electrode; the said electrode and electrolytes being relatively so
constituted that current passed through any electrode will produce, in the
annunciator, chemical reactions of a character adapted to vary the appearance of
that electrode; and a common return from the battery connected with an additional
electrode whereby the operation of several of the circuit-closers at the same
time will cause a current of one polarity to pass through the several electrodes and
thence through the common electrolyte to the common return; substantially as
described.
13. In combination with the containing vessel and fluid electrolyte, the visible
electrodes surrounded by the open bulbs immersed therein, substantially as
described.
14. The combination of a base-plate supporting a number of electrodes, a trans-
parent front plate, an elastic packing as a gasket between said front plate and a

page_text: suitable backing, means for fastening the plate and backing with the gasket
between them so as to make a water-tight cell adapted to contain an electrolyte and
means for removing the front plate whereby access is given to the electrodes for
purposes of repair or inspection without moving the wires connecting the same to
external circuits, substantially as described.
15. In combination with an annunciator comprising a receptacle adapted to con-
tain a fluid electrolyte and a series of electrodes located therein and visible there:
through, an electrolyte comprising a solution of iodide of potassium, and a fluid of
greater density than water added to the dissolving fluid so as to retard the dissipa
tion of the iodine liberated during the operation of the annunciator, substantially
as described.
:
16. In combination with an annunciator comprising a receptacle adapted to con-
tain a fluid electrolyte and a series of electrodes located therein and visible there-
through an electrolyte adapted when decomposed by a current through one of
the electrodes to indicate said electrode by changing its appearance; said electrolyte
being less viscous than glycerin and having added to it glycerin or its equivalent
so as to retard the dissipation of the products of electrolysis which have changed
the appearance of the electrode; substantially as described.
17. The combination of a suitable receptacle and an electrolyte therein; and co-
operating therewith, a support of insulating material normally submerged and
bearing a series of electrodes each of which comprises a conductor one end of which
extends into the solution and the other end of which is protected from the solution
by the support; and in contact with the ends, which extends into the solution, a
metallic plate substantially as described.
18. In an electrolytic annunciator the base-plate consisting of insulating material
perforated, a plug for each perforation, conductors passing through the plugs,
fastening-pieces adapted to attach the outer ends of these conductors to the support-
ing-plate and a mass of insulating composition, over this.
19. An annunciator comprising a receptacle containing a transparent electrolyte
and a series of electrodes located therein, visible therethrough and corresponding
to a series of substations; separate lines connecting these electrodes to the various
substations; means at these substations for sending a current through the corre-
sponding electrodes; the said electrodes and electrolyte being relatively so con-
stituted that on the passage of current electrochemical reactions will be produced
and vary the appearance of that electrode; together with means controlled at the
annunciator-station and adapted to restore the original appearance by the reactions
following a reversal of the current from the direction of flow which produced the
original change; substantially as described.
20. In combination, in an annunciator comprising a receptacle adapted to contain
a fluid electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein, and visible therethrough,
and the electrolyte comprising a solution containing, first, a comparatively-colorless
ingredient, adapted and acting to co-operate with other ingredients to produce and
locate at an electrode suitably connected with a distant current-controlling device,
a comparatively-colored substance, as the result of the electrochemical action of a
current passing through the circuit, the electrode and the solution; second, an
ingredient co-operating chemically with the resultants of the said electrochemical
action to maintain the normal condition and appearance of the solution, sub-
stantially as described.
21. In combination, in an annunciator comprising a receptacle adapted to contain
a fluid electrolyte, a series of electrodes located therein and visible therethrough
and the electrolyte comprising a solution containing, first, a comparatively-colorless
ingredient, such as iodide of potassium, adapted and acting, to co-operate with
other ingredients to produce and locate at an electrode suitably connected with a
distant current-controlling device, a comparatively-colored substance, such as
iodine, as the result of the electrochemical action of a current passing through
the circuit, the electrode and the solution; second, an ingredient such as glycerin
for increasing the viscosity of the solution, so as to retard the dissipation of the

page_text: coloring substance; and third, an ingredient such as hyposulphite of sodium, co-
operating chemically with the resultants of the said electrochemical action to
maintain the normal condition and appearance of the solution, substantially as
described.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.