Improvements in Electrical Indicating Apparatus, and in Couplings used in connection therewith as a System for Electrical Com- munication.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Indicating Apparatus, and in Couplings
used in connection therewith as a System for Electrical Com-
munication.
I, ROBERT STUART HAMPSON, of Guidebridge, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates to certain improvements in electrical indicating apparatus
and in couplings used in connection therewith, as a system for electrical com-
munication. The objects of my said invention are, firstly to produce an indicator
in which the flag, disc, pointer or other moveable indication is perfectly locked
at its normal or non-indicating position; enabling it to be used upon a train or
ship in which adaptation the oscillation or agitation of the base would in ordinary
indicators produce false signals or retard or prevent the exhibition of a proper
signal. And further, a secure mechanical and electrical connection between the
cars or carriages constituting a train or the like, or the several parts of a ship,
may be readily established and broken, and perfectly secured from deterioration
by dust or moisture when in use.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the indicating device as follows
that is to say;
An electro magnet is mounted on a suitable base, with an armature pivotted in
front of its poles in such a manner as to be capable of oscillation between said
poles, the rate of the oscillation being determined by a stop, against which said
armature is retained by means of a spring; the magnetic attraction acting against
the tension or torsion of said spring. The front or outer surface of said armature
carries a projection or catch upon which the flag or indicator carrier rests when in
its normal or non indicating position. The flag or indicator carrier is mounted
upon a spindle, or by pivots or the like, so that it is capable of partial rotation
whenever the catch upon the armature is withdrawn, which occurs each time that
the electro-magnet is energized by the passage of the current. A lever with two
separate arms is pivotted or suspended above the armature aforesaid in such a
manner that its lower arm may be moved by the armature when it is attracted by
the electromagnet. The upper arm of said lever carries a lug, catch, or pawl,
which engages with a projection or indentation upon the flag or indicator carrier,
and a spring attached to said upper arm serves to return the lever to a stop after
being deflected by the action of the armature. The absolute locking of the device
is attained by the combined action of the catch upon the armature engaging with
the arm of the flag or indicator carrier and also the interlocking of the pawls lugs
or indentations upon the arm of the lever. Thus, when the electromagnet is
energised by the transmission of a signalling current through its coils, the arma-
ture is attracted, withdrawing the catch from the arm of the carrier, and the con-
tinuation of the motion of the armature causes it to strike the lower arm of the
lever, the catch or the like in or upon the upper arm being then disengaged from
the catch of the carrier, allowing the latter to fall into its indicating position.

page_text: In constructing the coupling forming part of my said invention, I make one
half in the form of a metal box, having external lugs or brackets upon its base for
attaching it to the end of a carriage, car or the like. A base of insulating material
is attached to the bottom of the box, and inside it, and carries or supports the
requisite number of connecting blocks for the system of communication, one for
each line wire. At one end of each block is fixed a pair of springs at right angles
thereto, the upper ends of said springs each supporting a semi-cylindrical contact
piece, arranged so as to hold and engage with certain plugs hereinafter to be
described, thus making good electrical and mechanical contact. The lid of the box
is also formed of insulating material having openings opposite to the contact pieces
and blocks, and through which the plugs may pass. In order to protect these
apertures from the ingress of dust, dirt, or moisture when the contacts
are broken, I employ a shutter sliding under the lid, and having
holes in it to coincide therewith, when in the contact position, but
capable of motion similar to that of an oven ventilator in which a slight move-
ment closes the holes. A spiral or other spring is used to cause said shutter to
close automatically when the contact plugs are withdrawn. A plunger on the
side of the box acting upon a stud upon the shutter enables it to be opened for the
introduction of the aforesaid plugs. The other portion of the coupling consists of
a metal box having an extension at the bottom with a bell or trumpet mouthed
opening. Near the bottom is fixed a base of insulating material, carrying L
shaped metal brackets, the lower limbs of which form connection or terminal
blocks, to which the various line wires passing through the aforesaid bellmouthed
opening, and through holes in the base, may be connected. The vertical limbs con-
stitute the plugs herein before referred to. The plugs are made wedge shaped with
curved recesses below the edges to engage with the semicylindrical projections
upon the contact springs of the other portion of the coupling. Said plugs project
through the lid of the box, which is preferably made of insulating and weather
proof material.
The action of establishing contact is as follows:-The shutter is drawn aside by
the plunger in one half of said coupling, thus exposing the holes, the plugs of the
other half are then passed through and engage with the springs as herein before
described, the lids of the two boxes forming the coupling being then brought into
close proximity.
In the operation of disconnection, a pull suffices to part the boxes by withdraw-
ing the plugs, the shutter then automatically closing the holes.
.
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, London, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Electrical Indicating Apparatus, and in Couplings
used in connection therewith as a System for Electrical Com-
munication.
I, ROBERT STUART HAMPSON, of Guidebridge, in the County of Lancaster,
Electrical Engineer, 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 relates to certain improvements in electrical indicating apparatus
and in couplings therefor, as a system for electrical communication. The objects

page_text: of my said invention are, firstly to produce an indicator in which the flag, disc,
pointer or other moveable index is perfectly locked at its normal or non-indicating
position, thus enabling it to be used upon a train, tramway vehicle or ship, in
which adaptations the oscillation or agitation of the base would, in ordinary indi-
cators produce false signals, or retard or prevent the exhibition of a proper signal.
And, secondly, the provision of a secure mechanical and electrical connection
between the cars or carriages constituting a train or the like, or the several parts
of a ship, which may readily be established or broken, and may be perfectly secured
from deterioration by the action of dust or moisture when in use or otherwise.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1 is a view of
the mechanism of the indicator. Figure 2 upon the same sheet shows the method
of coupling two sections, shown as a coach compartment and buffet, but equally
applicable to any other adaptation. Figure 3 Sheet 2 shows the arrangement of
electrical connections in a coach or carriage with five compartments, in connection
with a buffet car in the centre of the train. Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the
coupling, and Figure 5 the end elevation of the fixed part W thereof. Figure 6
is a back elevation of the same, showing the shutter in situ. Figure 7 is an
external elevational view of the coupling when closed, this being drawn to a
smaller scale than the other figures on Sheet 3.
Similar letters of reference are used to denote like parts throughout the several
drawings.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the indicating device as follows,
that is to say: An electro magnet A is mounted upon a suitable base B, Figure 1
Sheet 1 with an armature C pivotted in front of its poles, so that it may oscillate,
the rate of said oscillation being determined by a stop a, against which the arma-
ture C is retained by means of a spring h, the magnetic attraction of A acting
against the tension or torsion of said spring b. The front or outer surface of the
armature C carries a projection or catch c upon which the flag or indicator d rests
when in its normal or non-indicating position. The flag or indicator d is mounted
upon a spindle e, or by pivots, or the like, so that it is capable of partial rotation
when the catch e upon the armature C is withdrawn which is when the magnet A
is energised by the passage of an electric current. A lever D is pivotted at f above
the armature C so that an end g projects, and is moved whenever the armature C
is drawn towards the poles of the magnet A. The upper end of said lever D carries
a lug, catch, or pawl h, (shown in dotted outline) which engages with a projection
or indentation i at the back of the flag d. A spring k is attached to the lever D to
keep it normally against the stop 7. The absolute locking of the device is attained
by the combined action of the catch c holding the indicator flag d and also the
interlocking of the lug, pawl or the like with the projection i upon the flag d.
This position is shown by Figure 1. But when a signalling current is caused to
energise the electro-magnet A, the armature C is attracted, withdrawing the catch c
from the flag d, and the continuation of the motion of said armature C causes it
to strike the projection g, the catch h upon the arm I then being disengaged from
the projection allowing the flag d to fall into the indicating position as shown by
the dotted outline. A pin m upon the spindle e is then brought into position in
front of a slide E, which is kept up by a spring F. A projection G upon E engages
with the pin m, and upon the depression of E the flag d. is brought to its normal
position and locked as hereinbefore described. I may, however use any other
means for restoring said flag to its position as aforesaid.
For purposes of illustration we will presume that a train is composed of six
corridor coaches and one buffet car, this being placed centrally with three coaches
on each side of it. Fixed in the buffet car are two electrical indicators, one for
the front portion of the train, and one for the rear portion, each of which will
indicate the number of coach requiring attention. In addition to this is fitted in
the corridor of each coach a separate indicator, the flags of which correspond to
the number of compartments, which clearly shows the number of the '

page_text: compartment requiring attention. Figure 2, Sheet 1 shows the general
arrangement of the electrical connections. Suppose a passenger in one of
the rear coach compartments presses the push button H, the current passes through
wire n to the double springs and contact in the coupling I (between the coach and
buffet car) through wire o to the battery J, and thence by wire p to bell terminal
and through the bell magnet coils and contacts to terminal r, and by wire s to
indicator magnet coils A¹ in the buffet car. Thence by wire t through the coupling
contacts in I and wire u to indicator magnet coils A in the coach, and by way of
wire to the push H, thus completing the circuit. Both indicator magnet
coils A A' are energised, and the flags dd released so as to afford simultaneous
indication in both the coach and the buffet car. Figure 3, Sheet 2 shows the
general arrangement of the wires from pushes H to local indicator A and coup-
lings I. It is understood that the buffet indicators merely indicate the number of
the coach in the front or rear, and the indicator in each coach indicates the com-
partment signalled. Two pushes H are preferably placed in each compartment.
The arrangement of the wires are clearly shown, so that by reference to Figure 2,
Sheet 1 and the foregoing description, no further reference need be added.
In constructing the coupling forming part of my said invention, I make one
half W Figures 4 and 7 Sheet 3, (forming the socket) in the shape of a metal box,
having external lugs or brackets K K' upon it for attaching it to the end of a car
or the like. A base L of insulating material is attached inside the socket W, and
supports the requisite number of connecting blocks M M M M, one for each
line wire of the system of communication. At one end of each block is fixed a
pair of springs N parallel to each other, and each supporting a semicylindrical
contact piece O. The lid P of the socket W is also formed of insulating material,
having openings Q opposite to the contacts O. This is shown more particularly
by the end view Figure 5. In order to protect these apertures Q from the ingress
of dust, dirt, or moisture when the contacts are broken, I employ a shutter R
sliding under the lid P, and kept closed by a spring S, Figures 4 and 6, holes T
being formed in it corresponding to Q. Said shutter may be opened against the
tension of the spring S by a push U, similar to the movement of an oven ventilator.
The plug portion of the coupling consists of a metal box having a trumpet mouth V,
and an insulating base w carrying L shaped metal brackets al all 21, the lower
limbs of which form connection or terminal blocks, to which the various line wires
pass through the opening V and are connected. The vertical limbs x are made
wedge shaped, with curved recesses below the edges to engage with, and conform
to the projections or contacts O. Said limbs x project through the insulating
cover y of the plug X sufficiently to ensure contact, so that when together the two
parts W and X of the coupling join as shown by Figure 7.
The action of establishing contact is as follows; The shutter R is drawn aside
by the push U, exposing the holes Q, and the contacts x on X are then brought
through engaging with the contacts O as hereinbefore described on parting the
two halves Wand X, the shutter R automatically closes the apertures Q by the
action of the spring S.
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:
First. In an electrical indicator for signalling purposes the combination of a
flag d and locking devices chi D, with an electromagnet A and armature C to be
connected and operated substantially as herein described and shown by the
drawings.
Second. A coupling formed of two parts W and X with spring contacts O and
plug contacts with a guard shutter R, operated substantially as herein described
and shown by the drawings.
Third. In a system for electrical signalling or communication the combination
of indicators and couplings as referred to in the preceding claims, with a bell,

page_text: battery and pushes, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth with
reference to the appended drawings.
Dotad this 5th dox of Tanu 1908
FREDK. WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, London, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.