Improved Means for Displaying the Names of Stations or Stopping- places, Advertisements, Programmes, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Displaying the Names of Stations or Stopping-
places, Advertisements, Programmes, and the like.
I RICHARD WENTZKE, Engineer of 12, Merovingerstrasse, Cologne, in the
Province of Rhineland and Kingdom of Prussia 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:—
The indicator represented in annexed drawing has essentially the following
arrangement.
It consists of two chambers a a, lying one above the other, being only separated
by a horizontal partition band open at their longitudinal sides. These chambers
are filled with plates of metal, or some other substance, on which are inscribed the
names of different streets, stations etc., the plates being all at right angles to the
horizontal partition band one close behind the other. In front of the. two open
longitudinal sides of the chambers a a, there move in the lateral guide-cheeks ⚫
and the slides c and d which are provided with a slit. This slit is as large as the
section of the chambers and has on both sides a connecting metal strip g (Fig. 1).
On the exterior sides of the strips g, opposite to the edge of the slide, the slit
widens in a vertical direction in order to allow the plate-springs p, which are
fastened to the top and the bottom of the chambers by screws and which only
serve to move on the plates from one division into the other, to pass through the
slides at this point and to hold fast the plate in the slit. On the outer side the
slides are each provided with a spring q, at the two ends of which there are little
plates 91, which enter through corresponding slits of the slides into the interior of
the chamber and when the slides move up and down they press the plates forward
until the foremost is caught by the springs of the opposite side and is carried along
by the corresponding slide. At the same time, however, the other slide presses
out a plate from the second chamber, which is seized by the first slide and carried
into the first chamber. Thus, for example, the carrying over of the plates from
the one chamber into the other is simply effected by the slide d (Fig. 2) in its
ascent pressing forward the plates of the chamber a₁ by means of the spring q until
the foremost one enters into the slit of the slide c which is simultaneously moving
downwards, whereupon guided by the spring p it is taken along in the ascent of
the slide and slips into the division a. At the same time, however, during which
the slide d moves upwards, the slide c, as already stated, is carried downwards,
and each slide presses by means of its spring 9 the plates one at a time into the
slit of the other slide that takes them into the other chamber.
This simultaneous motion of the one slide downwards and of the other upwards
is effected by two drums i fixed on the axles l. Over these rollers an endless band
or tape is fastened to which the slides c d are secured by the holdfasts o, so as to
be compelled to take part in the motion when the band is moved up or down about
the drums. During this motion of the slides the plates, which are pressed by
plate-springs p into the slit of the corresponding slides, are carried over from the
one chamber into the other by means of the springs 9 of the opposite slide.
When the slides are moved backwards no plates are carried along, the springs q
now not being able to press any plates forward, but as soon as the slides are at
rest, the corresponding slit is immediately filled with a new plate which will be
carried into the other chamber whenever the apparatus again set in motion.
The apparatus is contained in a little box which allows the names inscribed on
the plates to be seen on one or both sides by corresponding holes r, according as
the plates are inscribed on one side only or on both. This indicator may be used

page_text: for many purposes; thus in tramways in order to mark important junctions or
stopping-places. A little bell in connection with the apparatus may call the
attention of the public whenever the plate changes. In concerts also and dances etc.
the apparatus may be used for making known the programme or order of dances etc.;
also for showing successive advertisements.
If such indicators were placed in each compartment of a train and all set to
work by an electric motor from the locomotive the public would always be informed
in due time of the name of the following station, without it being necessary to call
it out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
⚫ claim is :
Indicator in which the indicating plates contained in two chambers a a, lying
one above the other and open at their longitudinal ends are successively changed
"by two slides which move up and down before the open longitudinal sides of the
chambers, being each provided in such a manner with a slit of the sectional size
of the chambers and with springs a that by the spring of the one slide the plates
are pressed one by one into the slit of the other slide and are carried by it into the
other chamber, so that all plates alternately appear and disappear successively on
the one side of the apparatus with their front-side and on the other side with
their back.
Dated this 15th day of February 1894.
For RICHARD WENTZKE,
B. Brockhues,
Attorney.