Improved Means for Illuminating Advertisements and Samples or other Articles on Exhibition.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Illuminating Advertisements and Samples or
other Articles on Exhibition.
I, ARTHUR DOUGLASS, of 4 Danes Inn, Strand, County of Middlesex, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a device by which a current of electricity can be directed
automatically and periodically through different circuits, singly or in groups.
For the purpose of my invention, I employ a ring of ebonite wood, or some other
suitable good insulating material, this ring of insulating material is bored horizontally
with as inany holes of a determined diameter as shall correspond with the maximum
number of circuits which the apparatus is required to change direction. Into these
holes 1 fit silver, platinum, copper or any good conducting motal rods or bars of a
diameter to nicely fit the holes. Each rod or bar projects beyond the inner edge of
the insulating ring as far as shall be required but so that in no way shall any of the
rods or bars touch each other but be quite separately insulated. On the outer end
of each metal rod or bar is a terminal or any convenient device for clamping or
fixing the circuit wires to be acted upon. On the top surface of the insulating ring
and over each horizontal hole is another hole which is tapped and fitted with a
set screw for the purpose of clainping each metal rod or bar firmly when once
fixed into position or for temporarily removing a circuit out of action. All this
I call the distributor of the apparatus.
Now below or above this distributor is fixed in any convenient manner a clock-
work movement having a centre spindle which is continued up through the contre
hole of tho distributor and on the top of this spindle, I arrange horizontally a spiral
spring or arm carrying at its end a metal flag or plate of such a length or depth
that when the clockwork movement is in motion and the centre spindle revolves the
metal flag shall successively bear on the metal rods or bars of the distributor.
Arrangements are inade in the clockwork movement, so that at predetermined
periods the spindle carrying the horizontal spiral spring or arm with flag shall rise up
à cam plate, so that the metal flag while still revolving shall not be able to touch any
of the motal rods or bars on the distributor of the apparatus and also at predetermined
periods shall be forced back into its original position and again causing the metal flag
to touch and make metallic connection with the rods or bars on the distributing portion
of the apparatus.
The wheels, cogs, barrels, springs, pinions, arbors &c. in the clockwork movement
portion of the apparatus will be arranged according to the number of circuits to be
directed orchanged, the time required between the changes of direction of circuits, and
the time required for the apparatus to work without winding or attention.
The several circuit wires are arranged in connection with incandescent lamps fitted
in close partitioned chambers of a screen, on the face of which Play Bills, transparent
Photographs, Pictures, Prints, or the like, plain or coloured, can be placed for
exhibition purposos, these being illuminated periodically in any desired order.
The apparatus can be affixed to a wall, or as a hoarding be attached to vehicles, or
be carried as sandwich boards.
The apparatus prepared for transparent Photographs is specially adapted for
Photographers door, window, and show room, exhibition of samples or specimens.
Dated this 12th day of November 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Illuminating Advertisements and Samples or
other Articles on Exhibition.
I ARTHUR DOUGLASS of 4 Dane's Inn, Strand, County of Middlesex, Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 consists of a device by which a current of electricity can be directed
automatically and periodically through different circuits, singly or in groups.
For the purpose of my invention I employ a ring of ebonite or other suitable
insulating material; this ring is bored with as many holes of a determined diameter
as shall correspond with the inaximum number of circuits which the apparatus is
required to change direction. Into these holes I fit any good conducting inetal rods
of a diameter to nicely fit the holes. Each rod projects beyond the inner edge of the
ring as far as required but not to touch each other, being thus separately insulated.
On the outer end of each rod is a terminal for clamping or fixing the circuit wires to
be acted upon. On the top surface of the insulating ring and over each horizontal
hole is another hole which is tapped and fitted with a set screw for the purpose of
clamping each metal rod firmly, when once fixed, into position, or for temporarily
removing a circuit out of action.
This ring or distributor is fixed in any convenient manner to a casing containing
clockwork having a centre spindle which is continued up through the centre hole of
the distributor or ring and on the top of this spindle I arrange horizontally a spiral
spring and arin carrying at its end a loosely pivottod metal flag or plate of such a
length or depth that when the clockwork movement is in notion and tho contre
spindle revolves, the metal flag shall successively and intermittently bearon one of the
metal rods or bars of the distributor.
The spindle carrying the horizontal spiral spring or arın with flag can, at fixed
periods, rise up a cain plate so that the metal flag while still revolving shall not be able
to touch any of the metal rods or bars on the distributor; and also at predetermined
periods shall be forced back into its original position and again causing the metal flag
to touch and make metallic connection with the rods or bars on the distributing
portion of the apparatus.
The clockwork movement portion of the apparatus will be arranged according to the
number of circuits to be directed or changed, the time required between the changes
of direction of circuits and the time required for the apparatus to work without
winding or attention.
The several circuit wires are arranged in connection with incandescent lamps fitted
in close partitioned chambers of a screen on the face of which Play bills, transparent
Photographs Pictures, Prints, or the like (plain or coloured) can be placed for
exhibition purposes, these being illuminated periodically in any desired order.
The apparatus can be affixed to a wall, or as a hoarding, be attached to vehicles, or
be carried as sandwich boards.
The apparatus prepared for transparent Photographs is especially adapted for
Photographers door, window and show room, exhibition of samples or specimens.
The drawings will explain my invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the distributor ring attached to but insulated
from the casing in which the clockwork can be arranged.
Figure 2 is a plan elevation of the ring.
Figure 3 is a perspective detached view of the cam plate.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of compartments in which incandescent lamps are
arranged somewhat after the arrangement indicated at Figure 5 by which sixteen
different play or other bills can be illuminated these being pasted or otherwise
fastened on the front of each compartment.

page_text: According to Figures 2 and 5 one systern of arranging my invention is shown for
exhibiting sixteen bills.
A is the distributor ring of insulate material. B B are rods of good electrical
conducting metal arranged radially and horizontally through said ring A, with their
ends projecting inwardly, and with terminals C at their outer ends to which the
several wires D. D, are connected, for connecting them with the lamps E.
F is a spindle operated by clock work and the top carries an arm G at right angles
encircled by a coiled spring at the end of which a small metal flag H hangs.
This spindle F is in connection by wire I with one pole of the battery J the other
pole of the battery being in connection by the wire K with the lamps for completing
circuit.
L is another spindle operated by the clock work carrying at its lower end the cam
plate M shewn detached at Figure 3.
The two spindles L. F. are rotated at proportionate speeds and as the lower end
of the spindle F which is kept in contact with the cam M by the spring R rides in the
lower part of the cain, the flag H wipes itself over and in contact with the
inwardly projecting ends of the rods B in succession, the spring to which the flag is
attached permitting it to yield for that purpose, so that a short duration of dark-
ness ensues between the time of the flag leaving one of the pins B and touching the
next pin in succession, during which time the lamp which is in circuit with the
respective pin is lighted and the play or other bill exhibited.
The cam M shown on the drawing is timed for say eight hours, for the spindle F
to be in the lower part of the cair, after which it is raised up the ridge of the
cain; and the flag H being also raised above the level of the rods B for say sixteen
hours, such as when the illumination of the advertisements are not required.
Each rod B is fixed in position in the ring A by screw pin N but by loosening
any of said screw pins N any of the rods can be withdrawn out of range of the
metal flag H so that fewer of the exhibiting bills would be illuminated.
The incandescent lamps E, are enclosed in separate compartments P and the play
bills or other advertisements indicated at Q are pasted on the front and capable of
being renewed as desired.
It will be observed by the arrangement of the circuit wires that the play or
other bills are not necessarily exhibited in numerical order neither is it necessary
that the battery J and insulated ring A be affixed to the exhibiting frame, as those
appliances can be fixed to a house at a distance therefrom; the exhibiting frame alone
being within view of the public.
This arrangement would be advantageous with frames exhibited as hoardings
affixed to a wall or otherwise, but when attached to vehicles, or when carried by
men, the battery and clockwork with the insulated ring A and its appurtenances,
could be within the framing on which the play bills are placed. The same may be said
with regard to exhibition screens, such as those used by Photographers for exhibiting
samples or specimens of their art or skill.
It will thus be seen that the arrangement described or any other arrangement in
which my make and break system of electric currents can be adopted is available in
every conceivable situation for the purpose of automatically and periodically effecting
changes of advertisements and the like, the duration of time of each exhibit being
governed by the length of time that the flag H is in contact with one of the
rods B.
Having now particularly described 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 system of automatically and periodically effecting changes of advertise-
nents and the like by illumination electrically as set forth, and substantially as
indicated by the annexed drawings.
2. The means and appliances indicated at Figures 1. 2 and 3 by which an
electrical make and break in succession can be automatically effected, when employed

page_text: in connection with the exhibiting of advertisements and the like periodically, as set
forth.
3. The particular construction or arrangement of the ring A. rods B, flags C.
arın G. spindle F and cam M operated by clockwork as and for the purpose
described.
•
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said A. Douglass.