Improvements in Electrical Signalling Systems, applicable to "In " and "Out" Indicators and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Signalling Systems, applicable to "In "
and "Out" Indicators and the like.
We, EDWARD HOPSON OWEN, Attorney at Law, CHARLES NELSON WILLIAMS,
Horticulturist, and FRED HAMILTON DONALDSON, Electrician, all of Garvanza,
County of Los Angeles, State of California, United States of America, do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement referenece being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
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This invention relates, generally, to electrical signalling systems, applicable to
*In" and Out" indicators, and the like, and the chief object of the present
iuvention is to provide an electric annunciator or signal system, whereby a
person calling at the entrance, or some other part, of a building can, by simply
operating a contact device or push-button, obtain certain information from any
one of several more or less distant places or points.
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The invention also has for its object to provide novel means which enables a
person at a certain place or point to conveniently and instantly ascertain if any
one of a number of persons occupying apartments, offices, or rooms, at more or
less distant places or points, is present, or absent, that is to say, is "In" or Out"
etc., as the case may be, thereby saving to the owner of buildings, elevator service,
and other wear and tear, as well as time and labor to inquiring persons, and
occupants.
The apparatus or system comprises electro-magnetically operated signs or visual
signals in a circuit common to and each susceptible of being operated by a current
through any one of a series of switches at more or less distant points or places.
The switches are electrically connected with the electro-magnets of the signs or
visual signals, and with parts of contact devices or push-buttons corresponding in
number with the number of switches. The contact devices or push-buttons are
located in juxtaposition to the electro-magnetically operated signs or visual
signals and are in a circuit which includes an electric generator and the electro-
magnets, in such manner that any one of the switches may be adjusted to operate
any one of the signs or visual signals when the electric circuit is completed by
operating the contact device or push-button corresponding to the adjusted switch.
The invention is illustrated by the acompanying drawing, in which the figure
is an elevation of sufficient of an apparatus or system, to enable our invention to
be clearly understood.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention, wo
will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawing, wherein the
numeral 1 indicates a board or frame of any construction suitable for the purpose
in hand, and which for convenience of description we will term a "push-button-
board." This board is provided with a plurality of push-buttons 2, 3, 4, and 5,
cach composed, as usual, of normally separated parts, which can be placed in
electrical connection to complete the circuit, by simply pressing upon, or touching
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page_text: 66
the exposed heads, or outer ends of the push-buttons. The push-button-board is
arranged in juxtaposition, or proper relation to an annunciator signal box 6, con-
taining, as here shown, two electro-magnets. 7 and 8, electrically connected by a
conductor wire 9, with a battery or electric generator 10, which is electrically
connected by a conductor wire 12 with one part of the contact pieces or push-
buttons of the board or frame 1.
The signs
or visual signals 13 and 14, are
mounted upon armatures 15 and 16, each pivoted between the poles of one of the
electro-magnets, whereby the signs or visual signal devices will be moved or swung
into and out of view when the electro-magnets are vitalized and devitalized. The
push-button-board and the annunciator signal box are arranged in operative
conection with a plurality of switches 17, 18, 19, and 20, located at more or less
distant points or places, as for instance in apartments, offices, or rooms of
building. The switches, as here shown, are composed of switch-board's ou
supports, each provided with two contact pieces 21 and 22, and a switch-arm or
lever 23 having a knob or handle 24 at one end, and mounted on a pivot 25 at
the other end, whereby we provide what may be termed a two-point switch."
The contact pieces 21 of all the two-point switches are electrically connected by a
conductor wire 26 with one pole of one of the electro-magnets, and the contact
pieces 22 of all the switches are electrically connected by a conductor wire 27
with one pole of the other magnet, in such manner that all of the two-point
switches are common to and in the same circuit as the electro-magnets, so that
it is possible for any one of the switches to be set to operate any one of the signs
or visual signals, as will hereinafter appear. The pivots 25 of the switch arms or
levers 23, are electrically connected, respectively, with the push-buttons 2, 3, 4
and 5 by conductor wires 28, 29, 30 and 31, by which means the electric circuit
can be completed by operating any one of the push-buttons. The push-buttons
are located in proper relation to diacritical marks, which as here represented,
are composed of the names of persons occupying, respectively, the apartment,
offices, or rooms in which the two point switches are located. These switches
inay also be designated or distinguished by diacritical marks consisting of names
corresponding with the names placed on the push-button-board in proper relation
to the push-buttons. The two contact pieces of each switch are accompanie by
characters or words corresponding to similar characters or words on the signs or
visual signal devices 13 and 14, for the purpose of imparting information to the per-
son operating any one of the push-buttons. In the present instance, the contact
pieces 21 and 22 of each two-point switch are arranged in proper relation, respec-
tively, to the words "Out" and "In," and, therefore, the signs or visual signal
devices 13 and 14 are provided, respectively, with similar words. We wish it
clearly understood, however, that as regards the diacritical marks on the push-
button-board and the characters or words arranged with relation to the contact
pieces of the two-point switches, other characters, designs, figures, or words may
be employed without altering the spirit of our invention.
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The annunciator, or signal apparatus, or system described and shown is sus-
ceptible of use for many purposes unnecessary to specifically mention, but we will
now describe one special use for which the system or apparatus is well adapted,
and for which it was particularly designed, to wit: to enable a person calling at
the entrance or other part of a building, to conveniently and instantly ascertain.
if the occupant of any one of the apartments, offices, or rooms, in the building,
is absent, or present, or "In " or Out". For this purpose, it is only necessary
for the caller to press upon, or operate the contact piece or push-button on the
push-button-board which is designated, or distinguished by the name of the
person called upon. For instance, assuming that Smith occupies room No. 1,
and a caller desires to ascertain if Smith is, or is not present in his room, and
assuming that Smith has adjusted his switch-arm, or lever to make contact with
the contact piece 22 for the purpose of advising a caller that he is "In," or
present in his room, the caller simply operates the push-button 2, which completes
the electric-circuit through the conductor 26, the pivot 25, the switch-arm or

page_text: lever 23, the contact piece 22, the conductor wire 27, the electro-magnet 7 and
the battery. The electro-magnet 7 is thus vitalized and instantly attracts the
a: mature 15, which swings the sign or visual signal device 13 into view, and as
this sign or signal device bears the word "in," the caller obtains the desired
information and, if desired, proceeds to the room of Smith.
The number of contact pieces or push-buttons and switches may be increased
to any required extent for the purpose in hand.
While we have illustrated and described an annunciator containing but two
visual signal devices (bearing the incriptions "In" and "Out") and have indi-
cated but two contact points on the switches, electrically connected with the
visual signals, we desire to have it understood that we are not limited to this
number of visual signals and contact points on the switches, as it is obvious that
they may be correspondingly increased in number, without affecting the principle
and spirit of our invention. If desired, an ordinary call bell, one or more, may
be introduced into the circuit, to be used, for instance, to indicate to the user the
position of his switch, but as this is obvious, we do not consider it necessary to
illustrate the same.
The details of construction of the various parts may be modified without altering
the spirit of our invention, and, therefore, having now particularly described and
ascertained the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the same may
be performed, we declare that what we claim is:-
1. In a signalling system, the combination with a suitable support of a plurality
of pushes and push button contacts arranged upon said support and associated
with marks, or words, which identify each one of a series of distant
points, a series of separate wires, one from each push button being led
to one of the distant points, a series of switches at said points, each switch con-
sisting of a conducting arm, to the pivotal support of which one of the separate
wires is led, and two contact pieces each of which is associated with a different
character, or word, two independent wires, each of which is common to the contact
pieces associated with the same word or character, two series of branch wires, one
series connected to one contact piece at each point and to one of the two wires,
and the other series to the second contact piece and second wire, a signalling
apparatus having signals responsive to both the contact pieces at the distant points
and a source of electric energy, substantially as described.
2. In a signalling system, the combination, with a suitable support, of a
plurality of pushes and push-button contacts, a series of separate wires one from
each push-button to one of a series of distant points, a series of switches at said
points each comprising a conducting arm to the pivotal support of which one of
the separate wires is connected, two contact-pieces on each switch base with either
of which the arm can engage, two or more independent wires having branch con-
nections to all the contact-pieces on one side and the other to all those on the
other side of the switch arm, two or more independent signalling devices each
comprising an electro-magnet and a visual signal operated by it, the winding of
each magnet being connected to one or the other of the independent wires, and a
generator of electric energy connected to each of the push button contacts, sub-
stantially as described.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent, 78 Fleet Street, London, and
5A Market Street, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicants.