Analogous Purposes
Year: 1885

page_text: Analogous Purposes.
[Communicated from abroad by Frederick Edward Lyster, of London, England,
but at present residing at the City, County, and State of New York, in the
United States of America, Electrician, and George J. Schermerhorn, also of
New York, aforesaid, Lawyer.]
ענטע JUL
I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of 23
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL
SIGNALLING APPARATUS FOR HOTEL AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES A communication
to me from abroad by Frederick Edward Lyster of London, England, but at
present residing at the City, County and State of New York in the United States
of America, Electrician and George J. Schermerhorn also of New York aforesaid, i
Lawyer; and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the Invention is to place in each guest's room an instrument
whereby he can at pleasure signal to the hotel clerk his various "wants" and in
so combining and connecting the various instruments with means for releasing
them and receiving the signal controlled by the hotel clerk or receiving person,
that if desired, the mere act of setting any guest's instrument, automatically
operates an annunciator at the receiving end, so as to inform the clerk that the
particular instrument has been set, and that thereupon this clerk as soon as
prepared to receive the signal, can by making certain connections, introduce &
receiving instrument release the guest's signal instrument, and thus receive the
guest's signal at pleasure.
.
By this invention if two or more guests should happen to set their instruments at
the same time or before another had finished sending its signal, it is impossible
that the signals should interfere with each other, however many may be set at
once, because each instrument retains its signal when set until the clerk is ready to
receive it, when he releases and receives the signals one after the other, of those.
transmitters which the annunciater shows to have been set.
The Invention further consists in an arrangement applicable to any circuit
whereby the act of setting the signalling instrument (releasing its own circuit

page_text: when there is a battery in the circuit) is prevented from releasing the instrument
(so that it will not remain set,) but on the contrary, the instrument can be set and
will remain so, even though the circuit be closed at the time of setting. It consists
furthermore, in an arrangement by which, when a circuit is closed in the guest's
room it remains closed until it is opened by the action of the clerk, thus making it
impossible to restore the annunciator drop to its normal condition without having
noted the number, and so obviating a source of much confusion. This opening of
the circuit, moreover, is so arranged as to serve as a return signal to the guest, and
to indicate to him that his call has been noted.
It is preferred however to use the machine as shown in Figure 4, where the
guest is required to set the machine and operate the push button separately in this
case the numbers in the annunciator can be restored by the clerk though he should
not have released the instrument set and corresponding to some number dropped in
the annunciator.
"
The object in so doing is that the instrument is capable of further extension in
the direction of usefulness and enables the guest to set and reset his machine
without dropping the flap in the annunciator corresponding to his room, and the
guest is thereby enabled to use that portion of the dial referring to the hours and
half hours for the purposes of securing privacy, or recording on the dial the "hour
of his return or "the hour at which he shall be called in the morning" or other
information which the clerk shall discover only when it shall be necessary to do so
by closing the circuit at the receiving end of the circuit and releasing the
instrument and not in answer to the dropping the number in the annunciator
corresponding to the guest's room, which is the method of operation when the
guest sets his instrument to a "want" requiring immediate attention.
I shall continue to describe the invention chiefly as applied to hotel purposes
but it will be evident that it is equally applicable to telephone exchange systems
or other circuits.
In the accompanying Drawings,
Figure 1. is a view of the improved dial or signalling apparatus with two of the
"want" columns filled up with "wants" as specimen columns.
Figure 2 is a front view of a signalling mechanism or transmitter.
Figure 3 exhibits the same with one side of the frame removed.
Figure 4 is a top view showing the upper portion of the mechanism with the
break wheel, push botton, electro magnet and spring contact and other parts.
Figure 5 is a section showing band with notches and spring and other parts.
Figure 6 represents the hôtel system provided with automatic signalling
instruments for the guest's room and receiver for the office and arranged to be
operated according to the present invention.
Figure 7, represents the screw attachment whereby the hand can be raised and
lowered on the shaft in its revolution.
The invention consists of a dial plate A, and dial B, Figure 1 together with all
the details of hand, stops and columns as shown.
"
The dial B has the various " wants of a guest at an hotel printed on its face in
radial columns, a hand D to point to or indicate the "want" and stops G¹, G¹ to
arrest the hand according to the position in which it is set on the dial. Upon the
dial plate or front of the box the dial B is fixed, the circumference of which is in
the diagram divided into 25 equal arcs of which 13 are drawn as radial columns,
which contain 8 or more words or figures, and may be colored or plain.
In the middle of the dial B is mounted or pivotted the hand 1 (or two or more
independent hands as may be desired). This hand is formed with notches E. E
(see also Figure 5) corresponding in number with the number of words in each
column. The hand D runs through the spindle F in which is a spring K³
(Figure 5) which presses on the upper part of the hand and against which it may
be moved to and fro through the spindle as may be desired, the notches E, E, and
spring K enabling this movement of the hand to be arrested at equal distances,

page_text: without trouble, the hand may also be moved to the right or left over the dial as
may be desired either by the raised knob X or the spindle F. The irregular part
G₁, Figure 1 is a casting screwed or otherwise fastened to the surface of the dial
plate and is arranged so that it acts as a regulator for the hand in its return (after
being set, and released) according to the position of the word or number in the
column to which it was set.
Each of the 13 or more radial columns are filled with words and figures, the
figures as they appear in the drawing Figure 1, referring to the hours and half
hours of the day and the words representing many of the
" wants " of the hotel
guest in the average hotel. The pocket V is arranged to contain a blank card to
be filled out by the guest when he desires to use the column headed "Special"
which is a column intended for his special wants and to be filled out on the blank
card with those " wants " he shall himself determine upon, and which are not to be
found elsewhere upon the dial. The push button Y. is placed within the circum-
ference of the dial and is used to operate the ordinary annunciator and thus
indicate the room to the clerk in which the guest has set his instrument. It is
evident that by the use of the screw in the cap attached to shaft F to raise the
hand above the casting G¹ in the process of turning beyond the semi-circumference
the capacity of the dial to carry and indicate wants can be doubled.
This is fully shown in Figure 7, where is the shaft, D the hand, Q cap with
screw, A dial-plate, Y₁ slot and pin attached to shaft F.
It is evident the dial and arrangements thereon may be used for other purposes
such as calling up subscribers in Telephone Exchange Systems and Messenger
Systems so-called; the impulse and breaks being read as figures instead of being
considered with reference to words as in the hotel use and by proper modification
can be made to transmit figures of any number of digits.
The Invention further consists of the use of a register or visual indicator in
combination with the above which is placed in the office of the hotel the former
being one of the ordinary ink registers, the latter a box consisting of as many push
buttons or spring jacks as there are drops in the annunciator, and with numbers on
the buttons or spring jacks corresponding to the numbers in the annunciator and
to the rooms in the hotel, these buttons are represented in the drawing Figure 6,
by the spring jacks M and the plug t the operation of closing the circuit being in
this case the object to be attained together with convenience to the operator.
The receiver T, Figure 6 consists of a dial C, Figure 6, the words and figures
on which correspond exactly with those found on the dial in the guest's room in
order and numbers. A hand P and a mechanism consisting of an electro-magnet
and a step by step movement whereby the impulses received from the instrument
in the guests' room are conveyed to the hand P which rises one space at each
impulse until the impulses cease: when the word or figure on which the hand P
stands shall correspond with the word or "want" to which the instrument was set
in the guest's room. There is also provided a bell J which also beats the impulses
and which may be counted if found more convenient, so many beats corresponding
to a certain "want." If the ink register be used a diagram is provided of the dial
in the guest's room.
Each want numbered as to the position of its column in the series of columns
and the position of the "want " in the series of "wants" on that column, the
want being known by counting the impulses received on the tape connected with
the register, and looking for the corresponding want on the diagram and if desired
both methods may be employed one or other indicating, as may be desired, by the
use of a "switch."
Behind the front of the box A is fixed the clockwork transmitter Figures 2
and 3 which consist of the spindle F, carrying the hand D or hands mounted in
a suitable frame and having screwed to it the clock spring J¹ and ratchet disc E¹
and carrying the tooth wheel G which gears into the pinion H, on the spindle of
the escapement wheel I. The ratchet disc E¹ has exactly 25 teeth so that as the
hand D is turned to the left in setting it, the pawl g drops behind a new tooth

page_text: each time the hand D passes over one of the radial divisions B of the dial, so that
when the hand is let go the spring J tends to revolve the spindle F, and conse-
quently the tooth wheel G, but actual revolution is prevented by the pawl K¹ on
the armature L, which when the armature is drawn back engages with the teeth of
the escapement wheel I and thereby prevents its revolution.
"
The signal transmitter device consists of a circular metallic disc M¹ (Figures 2
and 4) attached to the spindle F, the periphery of which is serrated or notched to
correspond to the desired signal, and has bearing upon it the leaf spring n mounted
on the insulated support N. The disc M¹ may of course be formed to transmit any
desired signal; but for simplicity its circumference is divided into 25 equal parts
and notches or spaces are cut at such divisions with the exception of the 25th
which is left blank as shown, so that when the disc arrives at that point in its
revolution it will omit to break the circuit and transmit any impulse. Of these
24 notches cut in the disc M' thirteen on one side of the blank space are to transmit
one series of impulses or indicate the column of the dial A on which the "want
appears; and of the remainder 9 refer to the stops G, G¹, whereby the hand on its
return is arrested according to the position of the eight words or figures in the
column on the dial A Figure 1 together with the fact that the hand D is made
longer or shorter according to the position of the word to which it is made to point
on the column; and thus the number of the column and the position of the word
on the column are indicated by two sets or series of impulses separated by a space
or impulse of twice the length as represented in the dial A Figure 1. by the 2 arcs
between the first column and the arc before the first stop and on the disc M¹ by
the blank space: and since the main line circuit is made through the spring (n)
and the periphery of the disc M¹ Figure 2, the circuit will be broken 24 times in
one complete revolution of the disc. The clock spring J¹ is already wound up
sufficiently to carry the hand D through about one complete revolution, so that the
revolution of the hand D continues after passing the zero point Figure 1; or
dividing line of the first column on the dial A, until it meets one of the stops or
obstructions formed on the casting G1 which prevents further revolution.
It will now be readily understood that when the hand D is turned to the left to
any desired column it will carry the disc M¹ around with it and wind up the clock
spring J, the toothed wheel G remaining stationary and its pawl g dropping behind
a new tooth of the ratchet E as the hand passes over each division of the dial.
The hand is then let go, and remains stationary until the projection K¹ is with-
drawn from the escapement teeth I, by the electro-magnet O.-(the armature L,
when arranged as in Figure 4, being drawn back by the action of gravity; but
when as seen in Figure 3 is drawn back by the spiral spring S) whereupon the
clock work is released and the disc M' and band D continue to revolve after passing
zero until the hand D fetches up against one of the stops of the casting G¹, G¹.
Thus if the hand has been set at the word Bath" in one of the columns B of
dial A Figure 1 the disc M¹ would have broken the circuit 4 times in the first part
of its revolution, before the hand reached zero or the dividing line of the first
column, and would have broken the circuit 5 times more after passing zero and
fetching up against the 5th stop with an interval between the two sets of signals,
to distinguish the number of the column from the position of the word in the
column.
"
It is evident therefore that nothing is required to be done but to set the hand to
the desired word or figure and that when the clock work is released by the electro-
magnet O the disc M' will first transmit a set of impulses indicating the column
and then a set indicating the position of the word in the column, the two being
separated by any desired interval.
It is obvious that the disc M¹ and the disc B may be formed to transmit any
desired signal or set of impulses or to indicate signals with any degree of accuracy.
As already stated, the releasing pawl K' which is normally drawn into the teeth
of the escapement I by the retractile spring S Figure 3 or by gravity Figure 4, is
withdrawn from the said teeth by means of a current through the electro magnet O

page_text: sent over the main line from the calling station-but as this electro magnet is
connected in the main line circuit which is broken every time a notch in the
disc M comes under the spring n, it is obviously necessary to prevent the armature L
from dropping back and stopping the escapement each time the disc M¹ breaks the
circuit.
This result is secured by forming an elbow P¹ on the upper end of the arma-
ture L, which elbow projects through the front metal frame q of the instrument
and rests against the periphery of the transmitting disc M¹ as shown in. Figure 2.
The point at which the elbow P¹ bears upon the disc is so arranged with respect
to the position of the circuit breaking spring (n) that whenever the circuit is
broken through the spring n, and the attraction of the electro-magnet O ceases, the
elbow P' and pawl K₁ are held forward out of the way of the escapement I, by
one of the teeth of the disc M³, which does not permit the elbow P¹ to drop into
one of its notches until it has again closed the circuit through the spring n. The
edges of the elbow P' are bevelled, as shown, so that when the disc M' is set back
by hand, the teeth will automatically force the elbow P' out of the way so as not
to interfere with its revolution.
The divisions on the dial A Figure 1 should of course be so arranged that when
the hand D points to either of them one of the notches on the disc M¹ and not one
of its teeth, shall be under the elbow P₁, so as to allow the pawl K' to engage
with the escapement I and hold the clock-work in that position until released by
the electro-magnet.
It will be understood as above described that the transmitter is set by means of
a hand on the outside of the box fixed to the break wheel spindle, and the instru-
ment may be provided with a second or more hands for limiting the revolution of
the other hand, if so desired.
I will now further explain the invention as applied to hotels. D'D' Figure 6
represent separate signal instruments constructed as I have described, one being
placed in each guest's room. Each instrument is connected by a separate wire
with the Receiving Station or Clerk's Office, and each circuit leads through a
separate spring jack M, and an annunciator N₁ after which the circuits join and
lead through a battery R, to the ground or return circuit whatever that may be.
In a separate circuit is placed a battery 81 which should be at least two or three
times as strong as the battery R and also a sounder T. This circuit is connected
at one end with the ground and at the other with the plug t one side of which is
insulated as shown. The keys K, K, represent the push button." The apparatus
is represented as in its normal condition, and all the separate circuits are open at
the guest's instrument; a notch in each break wheel being under the contact
spring, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
25
When any guest sets his instrument, it closes the circuit and drops the aunun-
ciator drop, corresponding to that instrument and room, thereby making the clerk
aware that, that instrument has been set. The armature of the electro-magnet O,
is provided with two retractile adjustments, one being a sliding weight provided
with a set screw on its free end, and the other a spiral spring connected to the
other end of the armature. It is preferable however to avoid the use of springs in
such instruments as far as possible, and it is therefore preferred to adjust the
retractile force of the armature by sliding the weight in or out. This adjustment
is made so that the strength of the ordinary battery R, which is in circuit when
the instrument is set is not sufficient to overcome the weight of the armature and
release the escapement, and therefore when the instrument is set it remains so
without being released by the battery R, which is sufficiently strong to
operate the annunciator. Thus when a guest sets his instrument it closes
the circuit and the circuit remains so closed until the clerk opens it again
by his action in releasing the signal, for the reason that the notches in the
break wheel M¹ Figure 2 are so arranged that when the break wheel is set at
any point by hand it rests with one of its teeth in contact with the circuit breaking

page_text: spring n. The annunciator may be provided with a continuous ringing arrange-
ment to call attention, but in any case will prevent the drop from being raised
inadvertently before the number is noted, as if so restored, it will drop back again
until the circuit is again opened at the room by proper means. The clerk thereupon
inserts the plug t in the proper spring-jack and the battery S¹ being much stronger
than the battery R overcomes the retractile force of the armature and so causes the
guest's instrument to be released and transmit its signal with the strong battery
and circuit. This signal is received by the clerk on the Receiving Instrument T,
for which purpose a sounder or electric bell may be employed to sound, or a visual
indicator, or a register to record the signals received.
By this arrangement the Clerk is enabled to know when any guest has set his
instrument, but the signal so set does not come in until he is at leisure and ready
to give it his attention. He then releases and notes. In case two or more
instruments should be set at the same time, there is no possibility of the signals
interfering with each other, as the instruments are released in succession at the
will of the Receiving Clerk.
It is to be noticed that the introduction of the plug t in any circuit disconnects
the corresponding annunciator, since the under side of the plug is insulated, and
leaves the other sides of the insulator circuits intact, so that should any other
guest sot his instrument while another signal is being received, it will be shown by
the annunciator.
When the clerk releases any latent signal instrument, the guest is informed of
the fact by observing the hand of the instrument or by the noise of the clock-work
in unwinding and is thereby assured that his "wants are being attended to.
وو
In order to make the releasing electro-magnet of each guest's instrument less
liable to respond to the current of the annunciator battery when the instrument is
set, these electro-magnets are made of relatively low resistance compared with the
electro magnets of the annunciator, that is to say, they are wound with much
coarser wire and are of lower resistance. The ordinary battery R may then be
quite weak and will still be sufficiently strong to operate the annunciator without
danger of releasing the guest's instruments when they are set. When the plug t is
inserted the comparatively high resistance annunciator electro magnet is cut out of
circuit and this difference combined with the extra battery S', will cause the guest's
instrument to be released without fail and send in its signal.
In the drawing Figure 6 I have shown two separate circuits provided with
guest's signal instruments, but of course, any number can be worked in precisely
the same manner. The spring jacks may be inserted before or after the circuit has
entered the annunciator, and any form of spring jacks, or of circuit changing
devices M or of annunciators may be employed.
The signal may be received, sounded, indicated or recorded in any desired
manner. Magneto generating machines or currents derived from dynamo circuits
may be employed instead of the batteries indicated.
The invention is equally applicable by proper modifications to telephone exchange
systems, or other circuits each subscriber being provided with a signal instrument,
and the system being arranged as described, so that any subscriber can set his
instrument at any time and can signal either automatically by the act of setting
his instrument or afterwards that his instrument has been set, thereby informing
the receiving operator at the central office that an instrument is waiting to be
released and transinit automatically its signal.
The signal instruments may be constructed in any desired manner, and to
transmit a single signal or group of signals which may be variable or not as
required in the uses to which they are applied.
Instead of having the setting of the instrument automatically call the receiving
operator, it may be done at any time by the guest himself, either before or after he
has set his instrument, by his simply closing the circuit by an independent key as
before stated.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is
1. The combination of a dial with radial columns containing words or figures,
with a notched hand and spring, or two or more independent bands, and a stop
arrangement whereby two or more sets of signals may be set for transmission and
released over an electric circuit substantially as described.
2. A dial with radial columns, a notched hand, or two or more independent
hands or indicators and stop arrangement in combination with an internal
mechanism in an electric circuit whereby numbers or signals may be released and
transmitted automatically over the circuits substantially as described.
3. The combination of a dial with hands and stop arrangement and push button
for operating the annunciator or calling instrument at the receiving end of the.
circuit, such push button being placed within the boundary of the dial and.
connected with the internal mechanism of the dial, substantially as described.
4. A dial with hands and stop arrangement and an internal mechanism with
two batteries of unequal strength and the device for releasing the signalling
instrument and receiving the signals, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a dial with hand and stops with a screw attachınent
connected with a shaft whereby the hand can be raised and turned over the whole
circumference of the dial clear of the stops, and the caparity of the dial thereby
increased substantially as described.
6. A signal transmitter placed in a circuit and provided with electro magnetic
releasing mechanism so constructed and adjusted that it may be released by a
current of a certain strength in combination with a receiving or indicating instru-
ment and a battery included in said circuit, said receiving instrument being
adjusted to respond to the current from said battery, but said battery not being
sufficiently strong to release the transmitter and a second battery arranged to be
introduced into the circuit and having the necessary strength to release the
transmitter, substantially as described.
7. A circuit closing instrument in a normally open circuit provided with electro-
magnetic releasing mechanism so constructed and adjusted that it may be released
so as to re-open the circuit by a current of a certain strength sent through the
circuit, in combination with an aununciator and battery included in the said
circuit, said annunciator being adjusted to respond to said battery, but said battery
not being of sufficient strength to release the circuit closing instrument, and a
second battery of the necessary strength to release said instrument, whereby the
setting of the instrument operates the annunciator and keeps the circuit closed
until the instrument is released and caused to reopen the circuit by means of the
current of greater strength derived from the second battery, substantially as
described.
8. A signal transmitter placed in the circuit and provided with electric magnetic
releasing mechanism so constructed and adjusted that it may be released by a
current of a certain strength in combination with a receiver and a battery included
in said circuit, said receiving instrument having its electro-magnet wound so as to
be of relatively high resistance compared with the releasing electro-magnet of the
transmitter and adjusted to respond to the current from said battery, but said
battery not being sufficiently strong to release the transmitter, and a second
battery arranged to be introduced into the circuit and cut out the receiver or
O annunciator and having the necessary strength to release the transmitter.
9. Two or more signal transmitters placed in separate circuits connected with
the hotel office, or other receiving station, each transmitter being provided with
electro-magnetic releasing mechanism constructed and adjusted so that it may be
released so as to transmit its signal by a current of a certain strength sent from the
central office, in combination with an annunciator and battery at the hotel office or
other receiving station, normally included in the transmitter circuits, but said

page_text: battery not being sufficiently strong to release the transmitters and a signal
receiving instrument at the said office or station, and a battery of sufficient strength
to release the transmitters and circuit connecting devices placed at the said office
or station, whereby any of the transmitters may be set and the annunciators
operated without releasing the transmitters and the receiving operator is enabled
to increase the current strength in any transmitter circuit, and thereby release that
instrument and receive its signal at pleasure, substantially as described.
10. The combination of the signal transmitters D', D¹ having their armatures
adjusted to respond only to a current of a certain strength and separate circuits
connecting them with the hotel office or other receiving station of the switches M
annunciators N¹ and battery R of insufficient strength to release the transmitters
but of sufficient strength to operate the annunciators N1 and the receiving
instrument T and the battery S¹, of sufficient strength to release the transmitters
substantially as described.