Improvements in Electric Indicating or Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 13th May, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH T. MURRAY, of Newark, New Jersey,
United States of America.]
Improvements in Electric Indicating or Signalling Apparatus.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
My invention has relation to electric indicators of that class wherein a series of two
or more numbers or figures are indicated or caused to appear at a receiving station
through the medium of electro-mechanical devices and electric currents, such numbers,
figures or letters indicating the station from which the signal is transmitted.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation outlining the apparatus and the necessary electric
circuits, batteries, etc, and
Figure 2 is a detail view of a portion of the same.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a number of dials, discs, or similar
devices (arranged suitably in an indicator box or case) having the numbers 1, 2, 3,
4, etc. and operated each by an electro-magnet which, under the influence of a proper
electric current, will effect a step-by-step movement of the dial or similar device,
thereby successively bringing into view the numbers upon said dial, and by the
successive operation of the several dials, discs or other indicating devices of the series
present to view a number corresponding to the number of the station or alarm box
from which the signal is transmitted.
The particular mechanical construction of the indicator box forms no part of my
present invention and need not therefore, be more particularly described..
In connection with the indicator box above referred to I employ at the receiving
station certain mechanical and magneto-electric devices through the medium of which
the electric currents from the alarm boxes or signals (such currents being a succession
of "dots" and "spaces" produced by alternately making and breaking the circuit)
are caused to effect the proper operation of the indicator dials or equivalent devices

page_text: for the presentation of the desired combination of figures indicating the box or station
from which the signal is sent.
My invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of
parts of the receiving and translating apparatus, and further consists in the combination
therewith of the indicator box and the necessary electric circuits battery, etc., etc.
The devices for receiving the electric current transmitted from the signal boxes
comprise a clock-work or train of wheels actuated by a spring or weight and provided
with an escapement for controlling the motion of the clock-work, an electro-magnet in
circuit with the signal boxes and through the motion of the armature of which the
escapement devices are governed, a commutator consisting of several sections mounted
on a shaft to which rotary motion is communicated from said clock-work, one section
of the commutator being appropriated to each electro-magnet in the indicator box,
and suitable electric circuits contract points, batteries, etc.
Referring to the drawing A designates an electro-magnet of the ordinary construc-
tion communicating by a line with the signal or alarm boxes and by a wire y through
a battery z to ground.
B designates an armature secured to a tongue C pivoted at c, and provided with a
retracting spring F.
Upon the back of tongue C, is fixed a suitable contact d, insulated from the said
tongue and opposed to a contact d¹, on the end of a set screw D.
At or near the upper end of the tongue C is arranged a rod E having a rounded or
beveled head e that bears against the tongue C. Said rod is supported in fixed arms
or brackets F F and allowed free longitudinal motion therein, and at its end bears
against an arm g projecting from the side of a friction clutch or collar G which is
mounted on one of the shafts of the clock-work by means of which the commutator is
operated as will be presently described. This collar or clutch G is secured upon its
shaft with sufficient friction to move the rod E in its supports when the collar moves
with the train, but is sufficiently loose to permit of its being turned in the opposite
direction by the rod E when the magnet A. is energized.
H designates the escapement wheel of the train, and I the escapement anchor. The
latter is pivoted at i and is provided with a depending tongue i¹.
K designates a curved arm, pivoted at k and provided with an upwardly projecting
finger, which in a certain position of the arm touches the depending tongue i¹ and
stops the movement of the escapement, and a tooth ³ on its lower edges. At the end
of the arm K a depending lug 2 is formed beveled at one side as at and against this
beveled surface the head e of a rod impinges when moved back by the friction collar G,
thereby elevating the arm and stopping the escapement, as before mentioned.
M, N, O designates the several sections of which the commutator is composed and
which are mounted frictionally upon a shaft P which is one of the shafts of the train
before referred to. In figure 1 of the drawing the shaft P is represented, for better
illustration of the circuits, as being at right angles with the other shafts of the train
and it will be understood that the shaft P of the commutator and the shaft upon which
the toothed wheel R is mounted are one and the same.
The sections M, N, O of the commutator consist each of a metallic disc having such a
projecting lug m, n, o, at one point and occupying, say one corner of the periphery;
they are secured frictionally upon the shaft P and are arranged with their projecting
lugs at different points as seen in the detail view, Figure 2.
R represents a wheel or disc also secured upon the shaft P and formed with
teeth m, n, o, which align with the lugs m, n, o, of the commutator sections. These
teeth m¹, n¹,
are adapted to catch upon a shoulder c², on the tongue C when the
magnet A is not energized and also adapted to engage with the tooth ³ when the
arm K.is allowed to drop, but not with both simultaneously.
Arranged in proximity to the commutator are a series of brushes m², n², o², which
are secured upon an insulating base p, and have below them a piece of insulating
material which will permit of the brushes contacting with the lugs m, n, o, but will
limit their descent so as to prevent them from touching the sections M, N, O, at any
other point. The brushes m², n², o², are respectively electrically connected by

page_text: are in circa oy a wife Gough a battery TO GO Contact C on set screw and the
commutator shaft is electrically connected with the stop d on armature tongue C by
a line C.
OPERATION.
Let it be supposed that the signal or alarm boxes in circuit with the lines are
capable of transmitting a current with "long" and "short" breaks or interruptions,
and that the receiving apparatus is at its normal position, the tooth m¹ on wheel R
resting on the end of armature tongue and let it be supposed that the signal "365"
is to be transmitted and indicated. The circuit being closed at the box and a current
sent over the line the armature is attracted and the contacts d d brought together thus
completing a circuit through line 6 commutator section M, brush m², line m³, indicator
magnet l, line 4, local battery 3 to contact d¹. The indicator magnet being thereby
energized moves the dial one step, bringing the figure "1" into sight. At the same
time the rod E is forced back against and slightly turns the friction collar G and
simultaneously allowing the lower K to drop the clock-work there upon turning the
commutator. Before the commutator has turned sufficiently to break circuit between
the section M and the brush m² the tooth engages with the tooth n on wheel R
thereby stopping the train. When the parts have assumed the above described
position the alarm box mechanism breaks the circuit again, such break being however,
very short in duration and only allowing the points d d to separate and break the
local circuit through the indicator magnet and thereby advancing its dial one step.
Another break is now made at the signal box, this time of sufficient duration to enable
the armature tongue to assume its normal position. The dial of magnet is advanced
another step and the figure 3 is displayed and remains so until the signal
" 365" is
complete.
The movement of the tongue C to its normal position permits the rod E to be
pushed forward by the clutch collar G and the head e of said rod contacting with the
beveled surface of the lever K raises the latter thereby allowing the wheel R to turn
until the tooth n¹ rests on top of the tongue C; and immediately afterward stopping
the clock-work by the contact of tongue and finger k¹.
The movement of the wheel R has brought the lug on commutator section N into
contact with its brush n² and the magnet 2 of the indicator box is ready for action.
The current through main line is again made and broken the required number of
times in the manner before described and the figure "C" is caused to appear by the
action of indicator magnet 2. After figure has been indicated the tongue C is
returned to its normal position thereby preparing the circuit for indicator magnet 3;
by the movement of the dial of which the figure "5" is caused to appear in the
indicator box thereby completing the signal "365."
The operation of the indicator magnet 3 has brought the tooth m¹ into contact with
the tongue C and the apparatus is now ready for the reception and translation of
another signal, (the indicator dials or similar devices having been manually restored to
normal.)
While I have described but three indicator magnets and the apparatus is arranged
to operate that number, it is obvious that I can increase the number by increasing the
teeth on wheel R and correspondingly increasing the number of commutator sections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent I declare that what 1 claim is:
1st. In an electric indicator, the combination with an indicator box and the signal
actuating magnets thereof, of a clock-work, a commutator having separate sections,
each section being appropriated to one of said signal actuating magnets, and an electro-
magnet in circuit with a signal box and means substantially as described whereby the
energizing of said maguet will allow the clock-work to move the commutator and

page_text: establish a circuit through one of its sections and the magnet connected therewith, as
set forth.
2nd. In an electric indicator, the receiving and circuit establishing device comprising
a clock-work, a commutator moved thereby, an electro-magnet adapted to govern the
movement of the said clock-work, and contacts and circuits connected to the armature
of said electro magnet and leading to the commutator, whereby the movement of the
armature will establish a local circuit through said commutator, substantially as
described.
3rd. In an electric indicator, the combination with a clock-work, an electro-magnet
governing the motion of the same, and a commutator movable by said clock-work, of
a toothed wheel on the commutator shaft the teeth on which contact with the armature
tongue of said magnet in certain positions of the same, and thereby limit the move-
ment of the commutator substantially as described.
4th. In an electric indicator, the combination with a clock-work mechanism, a
pivoted lever engaging the escapement of the same, an electro-magnet having a pivoted
armature, a commutator revolved by said clock-work, a toothed wheel on the commu-
tator shaft engaging with the pivoted lever and with the pivoted armature, a friction
clutch arranged on one of the shafts of the clock-work train and a rod adapted to be.
engaged by said friction collar and bearing against the armature and pivoted lever, all
constructed and arranged substantially as described.
5th. In a receiving and translating device for electric indicators, the combination
with a commutator through which local circuits are established to the indicator devices,
of a train of gearing and its motive power controlled by an electro-magnet which
responds to interrupted electric currents and maintains said commutator in a certain
position while the main line circuit is rapidly broken and re-established, and causes it
to assume a new position when said main line circuit is broken for a longer period,
substantially as described.
Gth. In an electric indicator, the combination with the movable commutator and the
toothed wheel R of the clock work mechanism, the electro-magnet A, movable
armature C, friction collar G, rod E, and lever K having tooth and finger kall
constructed and arranged, substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of March 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.