Electrical Devices for Selecting and Operating Mechanical " Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
CUMLELE
Electrical Devices for Selecting and Operating Mechanical
"
Apparatus.
We ROBB MACKIE of 402 Greenwich Street New York U.S.A. and ELECTRIC
SELECTOR & SIGNAL COMPANY of West Virginia U.S.A. a corporation duly
organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia 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:-
Our invention relates to an apparatus for selecting and operating mechanical
devices by the use of an electrical transmitting instrument. The transmitter
consists either of a telegraph key or an automatic device by which a series of
impulses is sent over the line. The selecting apparatus consists of a device which
responds to a predetermined series of impulses sent by the transmitter and by its
operation prepares a device adapted to perform mechanical work for receiving the
impulses from the transmitter, by which the desired mechanical work is performed.
It will be seen that this device may be employed for many purposes such as the
operation of semaphores on railroads from a distant station, a number of semaphores
being arranged on the same line and each being provided with a selecting instru-
ment and a mechanical device for operating the semaphore by means of impulses
received from the transmitter. When a predetermined series of impulses is sent
down the line it will cause the selecting instrument, which responds to that
predetermined series of impulses, to operate that one only; preparing the
mechanical device in connection therewith to receive impulses from the transmitter
and perform its work, while leaving all the other semaphores upon the line
unaffected. Instead of a semaphore there may be substituted an electric lamp
with its mechanical cut-out or any other device which it is desired to operate from
a central station and to arrange a number of them upon the same line.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a side elevation of the
receiving instrument.
Figure 2 illustrates an end elevation of the receiving instrument forward of the
magnet and showing the cylinder and brushes.
Figure 3 is a view of spring bolt and its semi-cylindrical casing.
Figure 4, a view of cylinder spread out on a plane showing position of brushes
and the direction of current when lamps are in circuit.
Figure 5, a view of cylinder spread out on a plane showing position of brushes
and direction of current when the lamps are out of circuit.
Figure 6, a side view of part of the apparatus showing the spring bolt which has
just passed the end of casing and is beginning to throw out locking bar.
Figure 7 is a diagram showing two sets of lamps in main circuit; arranged to be
cut in or out of circuit by the receiving instrument located in an independent
circuit operated by impulses thereon. In this figure the lamps to the left are in
circuit and those to the right are cut out.
Figure 8 also a diagram showing two sets of electric lamps in independent
circuits, and receiving instruments operated by impulses from the main line, as in
Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a view of the lower part of the apparatus showing a modified
structure by which the. cut-out or other device may be operated by a crank on the
end of the shaft.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of the apparatus.
Figure 11 an end view of the same taken on line - Figure 10.

page_text: Figure 13 a view illustrating the course of the electrical currents.
Figure 14 an enlarged view of cylinder, pawl and brush as constructed for
working the mechanical devices to the end by electrical impulses.
Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 illustrate views of the positions of sector,
cylinder and brushes at different stages of the operation.
Figure 21 is an end view of the lower part of the apparatus showing pawl, sector,
and cylinder with modified form of an actuating mechanism for the mechanical
device to the left.
"
Heretofore it has been known that a selecting apparatus may be constructed for
working out a series of predetermined impulses in which there are two sets of
electro magnets with their armature levers and means for shunting the current
from one set to the other to return the combination sector to its starting point.
So far as the operation of working out the combination of a selecting instrument
is concerned, my invention does not seek to introduce any new feature, but with
such a receiving instrument, we combine a mechanical device or devices, and use the
instrument as a selecting device whereby the mechanical device is brought into
co-operation with or subjected to the control of the impulses from the transmitter.
Thus for example, a series of semaphores having mechanical devices for exhibiting
a safety signal and for reversing it to show a danger signal is connected with one
of these instruments; the operator first sends out the proper sequence or com-
bination to select the semaphore he requires, the selecting instrument completes the
phase represented by its arrangement of impulses; the effect of this is to subject
the mechanical devices to the impulses from the transmitting instrument by which
they are operated; so in a series of motors for driving machinery, one of these
selecting instruments may be used to operate mechanical devices to turn off or
restore the current to the motors. And the invention is illustrated in the drawings
to turn a cylinder and operate the mechanical device whereby an electric lamp may
be lighted or extinguished; and a modification of the mechanical device is shown in
Figure 9, for operating such devices by means of a crank.
Thus from the beginning to the end of the work everything is under the control
of the transmitter.
Upon a main line or independent circuit there may be erected a series of these
receiving instruments each of which may be connected with mechanical devices for
operating an electric lamp, such lamps may be numbered and as each receiving
instrument responds to a predetermined arrangement of impulses the mechanical
devices connected with the one selected will be first subjected to the operating or
controlling impulse from the transmitter by working out the predetermined
arrangement of the receiving instrument, and when thus prepared other impulses
are transmitted which operate the mechanical devices. Now the line need not be
confined to lamps, as it may have in the same circuit, motors or semaphores and
their respective mechanical devices and each of these may have its own number,
and all of them may be thus subject to the control of the transmitter, and any one
may be selected and operated at will.
Ordinarily these receiving instruments are operated to the end, and close a local
circuit or release a mechanical device operated by a weight or spring which when
run down is again restored by hand. Or again, to call a station operator who
responds to the call and performs some work to enable the transmitter to proceed
with some other electrical work. These instruments are therefore not under the
control of the transmitter, but require additional and other aid to perform their
work.
The receiving instrument is constructed upon a suitable base A, provided with
the uprights B, which constitutes the frame-work of the apparatus. Suitably
journalled in these uprights is the shaft a', and secured to this shaft so as to rotate
therewith is the sector C supported by its arms c', which has a normal forward
movement (from right to left) imparted by a spring or weight as c³, or other
suitable motor, and a backward movement returning it to starting point, imparted
by the armature lever of the magnet which will be fully explained.

page_text: An electro-magnet D, shown in Figure 1, receives the impulses from the trans-
mitting instrument and acts upon its armature lever d', attracting it to the pole of
the magnet, when the circuit is closed, and is in turn retracted by spring when
opened; thus giving to this lever a movement responsive to the transmitted
impulses. A series of these impulses is selected to suit the particular receiving
instrument and the impulses thus sent, work out the combination upon the instru-
ment chosen, by means actuated or carried by the armature lever d' and moving
with said lever; for example, the particular sector as shown at e' in the drawings,
represents the following combination: a dot, an interval, two dots, an. interval, a
dot, an interval, two dots, an interval, a dot, an interval, two dots, an interval, a
dot; it will be seen that between each dot and dash of the above combination there
is an intervening space; as the armature lever is drawn toward the magnet pole it
actuates a pin as ds, which touches upon the keys of the combination, impedes its
normal progressive movement forward, and holds it until the lever is again lifted,
so that the sector takes a fresh start forward with each impulse; at the same time
the armature lever is arrested by the keys and is thus prevented from attaining its
full stroke; when however, the finger descends through one of the spaces or when
the combination is entirely worked out the armature lever obtains its full stroke
and throws the sector back to starting point, in the following manner :
Suitably
mounted so as to vibrate with the shaft a' is a collar a³, this collar is provided with
a projection as a³, which is slotted so that the rod a may pass easily through the
slot, whose other end is attached to the armature lever d, and vibrates therewith;
the upper end of this rod is provided with the shoulder a, which may be an
adjustable nut as shown in the drawings or the collar and rod may be rigidly con-
nected and the armature lever slotted. As the lever vibrates and its full stroke is
impeded by the keys, this rod slides up and down through the slot in the
projection a; but when the armature lever is released and drops upon the magnet
pole, the shoulder a³, catches the projection a³, and throws the sector back to
starting point.
It has been said that the armature lever would be left free to return the sector
to starting point when the combination had been worked out, and this statement is
ordinarily true but in our apparatus we propose to make use of the mechanism of
the receiving instrument to perform mechanical work after the combination is
worked out and hence we have provided means for catching and holding the
sector; so that it may not he returned to starting point until this work is
accomplished. It may be said therefore that in my apparatus the combination is
used to set the receiving instrument, to receive other impulses to perform this work
and this is done by the following devices: 61 is a rod pivoted at 6, its upper end is
provided with a socket as shown at 6. Upon the shaft a' and secured to it or
to the hub of the sector is a projection which when the sector is at its
starting point is in the position shown in Figure 6; the end of the rod is held
against the projection by the spring ; as the sector moves forward the top of the
rod is pushed out by the projection 6, until it comes opposite to the socket 6³,
into which it drops when the sector has reached the end of its forward course, thus
holding the sector in position and setting the instrument to receive the additional
impulses for the mechanical work; this position is shown in Figure 1; the armature
lever d' does not as yet obtain its full stroke because its stroke is limited by the
projection a, and collar a', and will not obtain its full stroke until the mechanical
movements are given, but it has sufficient movement to do this work which is
accomplished by the following means. Upon a shaft as E, suitably journalled in
the frame, we have placed the cylinder e', upon which the black spaces are insula-
tions and the others, conductors, and on the same shaft E, a ratchet wheel e²,
operated by a pawle, actuated or carried by the vibrations of the armature
lever d, as shown in the drawings, (Figure 1), this pawl is pivoted to a rod et,
suspended from the armature lever, and its lower end is normally pressed toward
the ratchet by the spring e, the pawl, however, has an arm es, which projects above
its fulcrum, and during the forward movement of the sector the upper end of this.

page_text: arm is in contact with a cross-bar e³, secured to the arms of the sector and forms the
arc of a circle whose centre is the shaft a'. When the combination has heen
worked out, the end of the pawl arm e, escapes the end of cross-bar³, and allows
the pawl to be thrown into engagement with the ratchet about the time the pro-
jection has entered the socket, and has locked the sector and set the machine
for mechanical work. Another set of impulses are now given by the transmitting
instrument which operates the armature lever of the magnet which impart a
rotating movement to the shaft E, and the cylinder e'; resting upon this cylinder
are a set of brushes 1, 2, 3, 4, and the operation of the device will be readily
understood by looking at Figures 4 and 5. Let us suppose the cylinder begins its
movement with the brushes contacting with the cylinder as shown in Figure 5;
the current then is from the generator F, through brushes 2 and 3, back to the
generator, the cylinder is turned step by step until the opposite side is reached
when the brushes are all upon the conducting spaces; the current is now from
the generator F, brushes 2 and 1, lamps ƒ³, brushes 4 and 3, back to generator,
the lamps are now lighted and when this occurs the armature d¹ is released,
obtains its full stroke and throws the sector back to starting point, and this is
accomplished as follows: On the shaft E, is secured a hollow bar H, to revolve
with the shaft and is provided with two spring bolts h', impelled outwardly from
the centre; and attached to the frame is a semi-cylindrical casing ³, arranged
as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6, within which the hollow bar H with its spring
bolts are turned, and confined, until one of them has passed the end of said
casing h³, when it is impelled forward by its spring striking the end of the locking-
barb, and releasing the sector; the armature lever being free to attain its full
stroke returns the sector to starting point in the manner already described, the
bolt which has thus performed its work remains thrust out until it reaches the
inclined plane h, and is returned to its place by its own movement on this plane.
The operation of extinguishing the lamps is performed by a repetition of the
same impulses, viz.: a series of combination impulses to set the receiving instrument
and hold it in place, then a series of impulses to perform the mechanical work in
turning the cylinder, and when these are finished the other or opposite spring bolt
releases the sector and the armature lever throws it back.
The cogged segment k, pinion k', and ratchet k³, illustrate parts of a retarding
device, which may be used with a pendulum escapement; or a dash pot may be
substituted, or any other of the well known means for retarding may be used to
steady and regulate the forward progressive movement of the sector and need not
be further described.
We do not limit ourselves to the particular construction or operation of the parts
of the instruments; for example, the transmitting instrument may be the ordinary
telegraph key or an automatic device constructed for the purpose; or any of the
combination receiving instruments may be used as well as the Hatch; a mechanic
may readily substitute other specific means for locking the instrument or for releasing
it, and cranks, excentrics, worms, or other mechanical instrumentalities may be
introduced for performing the mechanical work, but we believe we are the first to
conceive and carry out in a practical apparatus (of which we have shown and
described one form) a plan for operating a receiving or selecting instrument and
by means of impulses from the transmitting instrument pick out and select any one
of a series of mechanical devices, and by means of the impulses subject this device
to other impulses from the transmitting instrument, which actuate the mechanical
devices and perform mechanical work.
The apparatus shown in Figures 10 to 21 has the same general object as that
heretofore described; that is to say, it is provided with selecting devices which set
into position to receive electrical impulses, a device for performing mechanical
work. This mechanical work as shown and illustrated in the drawings, results in
the lighting and extinguishing of a series of electric lamps, but it will readily be
seen that it may be used for any other work to which it can be applied.
It will be understood that upon an electric circuit there may be erected a series

page_text: of electrical lamps, telephones, telegraph instruments or signal stations to each of
which there is connected one of the receiving instruments and each receiving instru-
ment is arranged to receive and respond to its own special and particular series of
impulses and no other, which is usually made by transmitting a series of dots and
dashes of the Morse alphabet or its equivalent of dots and intervening spaces.
When a series of impulses other than the predetermined arrangement belonging to
a selected receiving instrument are transmitted, it generally operates the sector of
the receiving instrument a few steps and there it is either stopped or thrown back
to the starting point; in such cases the receiving instrument is thus non-operative.
But when the receiving instrument receives its entire predetermined arrangement of
impulses from the transmitting device, and when these are given, the sector or
wheel passes to the limit of its movement and closes a local circuit, releasing
mechanically operated devices, to ring a bell or perform other similar duty: When
the sector has thus passed to the end of its stroke it is usually immediately
thrown back to zero, or to its starting point, ready to begin work again when
required.
In connection with such a receiving and transmitting instrument we have placed
a mechanical device or apparatus to be operated by the electrical impulses imparted
after the receiving instrument has responded and thereby perform mechanical work;
this may be done by using the main line circuit or by establishing an independent
circuit within which is placed the lamps, telephones, or other devices.
In our invention the sector or wheel of the receiving instrument (though
responding as do those heretofore mentioned to a predetermined arrangement of
electrical impulses, whereby the sector of the receiving instrument is caused to pass
through its entire movement), is not immediately returned to its starting point, but
is provided with means to stop the sector at the end of its stroke, prevent it from
returning back to its starting point, and thus hold it in position to receive other
electrical impulses required to operate the mechanical devices connected therewith;
and when this is accomplished the last operating impulse to the mechanical device,
or an additional impulse given by the transmitter, releases the sector of the receiving
instrument and throws it back to its starting point or to zero.
The receiving instrument is constructed upon a suitable base A, provided with
the uprights B, which constitutes the frame-work of the apparatus. Suitably
journalled in these uprights is the shaft a¹ and secured to this shaft so as to rotate
therewith is the sector C supported by its arms c', which has a normal forward
movement from right to left imparted by a spring or weight as c², or other suitable
motor, and a backward movement returning it to starting point imparted by the
armature lever of the magnet, which will be fully explained.
An electro-magnet D, shown in Figure 10, receives the impulses from the
transmitting instrument and acts upon its armature lever d', attracting it to the
pole of the magnet when circuit is closed, and is in turn retracted by spring d
when opened; thus giving to this lever a movement responsive to the transmitted
impulses. A series of these impulses is selected to suit the particular receiving
instrument and the impulses thus sent work out the combination upon the sector of
the instrument chosen, by means actuated or carried by the armature lever ; for
example, the particular sector, as shown in Figure 10 of the drawings, represents
the following combination: a dot, a space, two dots, a space, two dots, a space,
three dots, a space, a dot, a space, two dots, a space, three dots. The intervals in
the above combination may be said to represent dashes; they are also spaces
between which the finger or pin as c, on the end of the armature lever may pass ;
as the armature lever is drawn toward the magnet pole, it actuates this finger,
which acts upon the keys of the combination, impedes its normal progressive
movement forward, and holds it until the lever is again lifted, so that the sector
takes a fresh start forward with each impulse; at the same time the armature lever
is arrested by the keys and is thus prevented from attaining its full stroke; when
however, the finger descends through one of the spaces or when the combination is
entirely worked out, the armature lever obtains its full stroke and throws the sector

page_text: back to starting point, in the following manner. Suitably mounted so as to vibrate
with the shaft a', is a collar a²; this collar is provided with a projection as a³, which
is slotted so that the rod a', may pass easily through the slot; the lower end of this
rod is attached to the armature lever and vibrates therewith; its upper end is
provided with the shoulder a³, which may be an adjustable nut as shown in the
drawings; or a collar and rod may be rigidly connected and the armature lever
slotted. As the lever vibrates and its full stroke is impeded by the keys, this rod
slides up and down through the slot in the projection a³, but when the armature
lever is released and drops upon the magnet pole, the shoulder a catches the
projection a³, and throws the sector back to the starting point.
It
It has been said that the armature lever would be left free to return the sector
to starting point when the combination had been worked out, and this statement is
ordinarily true, but in our apparatus we propose to make use of the mechanism of
the receiving instrument to perform mechanical work after the combination is
worked out and hence we have provided means for catching and holding the sector;
so that it may not be returned to starting point until this work is accomplished.
may be said therefore that in our apparatus the combination is used to set the
receiving instrument, to receive other impulses to perform this work and this is
done by the following devices: b¹ is a rod pivoted at 6, its upper end is provided
with a socket as shown at 6. Upon the shaft a', and secured to it or to the hub of
the sector, is a projection. Viewing Figures 10 and 15, the sector is shown at
its starting point, the projection is shown to be out of the socket b³ in the arm b';
the end of the rod is held against the projection by the spring ; as the sector
moves forward the top of the rod 6 is pushed out by the projection 6* until it
comes opposite to the socket, into which it drops when the sector has reached
the end of its forward course; thus holding the sector in position, and setting the
instrument to receive the additional impulses for the mechanical work; the
armature d' does not as yet obtain its full stroke because its stroke is limited by
the projection a³ and collar a³, and will not obtain its full stroke until the mechanical
movements are given, but it has sufficient movement to do this work which is
accomplished by the following means.
Upon a shaft as E, suitably journalled in the frame, I have placed the cylinder e¹,
and on the same shaft E, a ratchet wheel e, operated by a pawl e³, actuated or
carried by the vibrations of the armature lever d', as shown in the drawings, this
pawl is pivoted to a rod et, suspended from the armature lever, and its lower end is
normally pressed toward the ratchet by the spring e, the pawl however, has an
arm e, which projects above its fulcrum, and during the forward movement of the
sector the upper end of this arm is in contact with a cross-bar c, secured to the
arms of the sector and forms the arc of a circle whose centre is the shaft a³.
When the combination has been worked out, the end of the pawl arm e, escapes,
and allows the pawl to be thrown into engagement with the ratchet about the time
the projection has entered the socket, and has locked the sector and set the
machine for mechanical work. Another set of impulses are now given by the
transmitting instrument which operate the armature lever and the pawl e to turn
the cylinder e¹ to shunt the current to the coils of another magnet F, which latter
be called an operating magnet as it is intended to perform the mechanical work
when the receiving instrument is set and held for this purpose. Viewing Figure 10,
it will be seen that the cylinder e¹ is constructed in the form of two semi-cylinders
with their faces put together so that the peripheral curve of each will project over
the other on one side; thus formed the cylinder shows an abrupt depression as e',
on each side, and this formation answers two purposes, to provide a drop for brushes
upon the insulating material e³, and also to furnish the means for throwing out the
socket in the end of the arm b', to disengage it at the proper time from the
projection, and allow the sector to be thrown back to its starting point by
the full descent of the armature lever d¹.
may
Figure 13 illustrates the course of the current through the magnets. Supposing
the brushes g, when the combination impulses begin, to be resting upon the metal

page_text: surface of the cylinder; the current then starting from the binding posts at the
bottom of the figure is to magnet D, thence to coils of magnet F, at which point we
have provided the loops, the coils of the magnet F having a greater resistance
than the loop, the current proceeds to the first brush g, across the metallic surface
of the cylinder e¹, to the other brush g, thence to the loop, which as in the first
instance has less resistance than the coils of the magnet F, and thence to the other
binding post. The above is the course of the current during the time the com-
bination impulses are transmitted to set and hold the sector for further impulses, it
also follows the same course when the next succeeding impulses are sent to turn the
cylinder by means of the pawl and ratchet e³ and e, and the current is shunted by
the brushes 9, dropping upon the insulated material e; in this position the current
cannot jump from one brush g to the other, and consequently it takes the following
course: From the binding post to coils of magnet D, thence through coils of
magnet F, thence to the other binding post; it has thus required a series of com-
bination impulses to operate the receiving instrument, set and hold its sector, and
then another series of impulses to shunt the current to an operative magnet to
perform mechanical work, and when this is done the current is now through both of
the magnets D and F, and the impulses thus sent may be said to have set the instru-
ment to receive other impulses to do the mechanical work required and return the
receiver to its starting point.
The mechanical work may be of any character required but we have shown
and illustrated in the drawings the instrument known as the Wood cut-out for arc
electric lamps.
The magnet F is provided with an armature lever 1, and the usual spring for
returning it when the current is opened, on the end of this armature lever is hung
the pawl which reciprocates with the lever and engages with the ratchets f
on the wheel, so that the impulses transmitted when the magnet F is in circuit
turns this wheel.
In a suitable frame the shaft H is journalled to which the ratchet wheel ƒ is
secured, and on the same shaft is placed the cog wheel ', so that this wheel is
turned with the shaft. The bars, ³, are provided with teeth to mesh with the
teeth of the cog wheel ', and pivoted to the bar is the connecting rod /*; the
lower end of this rod is provided with a slot as 7, within which plays the crank
pin e', whose crank is attached to the shaft E; it will be noticed that as the
connecting rod travels up or down there is a lost motion given by this slot and the
connecting rod does not act upon the shaft E to turn it until the crank pin touches
either the top or bottom of this slot; the upper ends of the bars h³ ³, are joined by
the cross beam h, and projecting above this is the rod I, suitably guided as in the
bracket the rod I is broken away, it is intended to be connected with a
mechanical device such as the Wood arc light cut-out, the construction of which is
well known and need not be described further than to say that such devices
ordinarily have a reciprocating movement impelled by hand or suitable power
for a certain distance, and the instrument then makes a sudden jump the rest of the
distance, and this occurs in both directions whether in lighting or extinguishing a
lamp; it will therefore be seen that the ratchets e³, on the wheel e' and the cogs on
the wheel, co-operate together and with the slot in the connecting rod *, to
provide for the effect of the jump in the cut-out device. When the current is
shunted as above described, the ratchet wheel is turned by the armature lever fr
and its pawl: let us suppose that the shaft H is thus turned in the direction until
the upper end of the slot in the connecting rod b, is about to contact with the crank
pin e when this occurs the bar 68 has also been lowered, its rack passing by the
open space between the end of the teeth on the wheel ; whilst this is proceeding,
the cylinder el is standing still, because the pawl e had passed to the end of the
ratchets on the wheel e, when the shunting of the current was completed. The
jump of the cut-out instrument now occurs which brings down the arms ³, ³, still
further turning the wheel h¹ until it presents its first tooth in position to mesh with
the upper tooth of the bar h³, and thus prepares it to impel the bars in the opposite

page_text: direction when required; at the same time the connecting rod has turned the
crank, which accomplishes two results, viz.: the cylinder el has been turned
about one-quarter of a revolution, returning the brushes g to the conducting part
of the cylinder e', thus cutting out the magnet F, the projection e', on the cylinder
has thrown out the lower end of the bar, releasing its socket from the
projection, thus setting free the sector and allowing the armature lever d¹ to
attain its full stroke to throw the sector back to its starting point, the instrument
is now ready to begin over again and receive its several series of impulses, to
work its combination, shunt the current, operate mechanical devices and return to its
starting point.
The different positions of the parts whilst this work is performed is shown in
the diagrams, Figures 15, 16, 17 and 18.
As already described the position of the sector at the starting point is that
shown in Figure 15; at this point the impulses begin to work out the combination;
in Figure 16, the combination is nearly completed and the projection on the
shaft a', is about to fall into the socket in the end of the locking-arm, the upper
end of the arm of the pawl lever is about to be released by passing the end of the
sector, and the position of the cylinder is such as to present the depression e³ to
the lower end of the locking arm so that it may have room to retreat and to allow
the socket ³ to fall over the projection 6. In Figure 17, the socket in the end
of the arm has caught the projection &, the arm e of the pawl has passed the end
of the sector, the pawl has entered into contact with the ratchet e³, and the
apparatus is now ready to receive the impulses for shunting the current and when
these are given, the brushes 9 drop upon the insulating material, as shown in
Figure 18, and the current is now through both magnets.
Upon the cylinder e', we have placed the catch e, and have combined therewith
the stop e, which is lifted from the catch by the pin e, in the pawl rod e', which
lists the stop from the catch e, when the pawl and ratchet are working and drops
into the catch to hold the cylinder stendy during the jump of the cut-out device,
and prevent the jump from throwing it too far.
Having now described the construction of the apparatus and the method of
operating it in connection with the jump of a Wood cut-out, I will now describe
means for operating mechanical devices to the end by use of electrical impulses.
Figures 19 and 20, illustrate means which may be employed to work out
mechanical movements by impulses to the end; it will be seen from these, figures
that the ratchet is an entire circle; the movements in working out the combination
are the same as those already described, and when the impulses begin for shunting
the current, the brushes 9 are in the position shown in Figure 20; when completed
they drop upon the insulating material as shown in Figure 19; it will be seen
also from these figures that the insulating material is extended around the surface
of the cylinder in order that the current may remain shunted until the mechanical
work is completed and when this is done an additional impulse or two will cause
the projection e' to release the sector and permit the full throw of the magnet to
return it to starting point. On the shaft E, we place a crank which attains its
full upward throw when the mechanical impulses are completed for doing a special
work and its full downward throw for the mechanical work when again put to use
for this purpose.
The cogged segment K, pinion k', and ratchet ³, illustrate parts of a retarding
device, which may be used with a pendulum escapement, or a dash-pot may be
substituted, or any other of the well known means for retarding may be used to
steady and regulate the forward progressive movement of the sector and need not
be further described.
We do not wish to confine ourselves to the specific devices employed in the
operative parts of this instrument; for example, when the phase of the receiving
instrument is completed, a mechanic could devise a number of means for locking
the receiving instrument and unlocking the same, other than these specifically
shown and described, the device shown in this application is simply to illustrate

page_text: one practical way of doing this work, leaving it to the skill of a mechanic to devise
other and modified forms, again the current need not be shunted to the coils of the
operating magnet in the manner herein described as any electrical expert may in
his discretion adopt other means for this purpose, the order of operating the parts
of the device may also be reversed; for example, the spring or weight for
imparting the progressive forward movement to the sector, may be substituted by
a magnet and the spring be used for the reverse movement, or two magnets may be
used, one for the forward and the other for the reverse movement without changing
the invention. Nor do we wish to limit our invention to the shunting of the current
to and from the second pair of magnets as it is evident that wherever necessary
the operating magnet may be placed in a local circuit which can be opened and
closed by the revolution of the cylinder in the same manner as its operation is
already shown in the description and drawings. We believe we are the first to
conceive and carry out in a practical apparatus the working of a selecting
instrument by electrical impulses, thus preparing the same to receive other impulses
and perform mechanical work with these impulses, and also to return the instrument
to starting point when this work is completed and thus prepared to be again
operated by the transmitting instrument; and such inventions we wish to claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument of a
mechanical apparatus advanced into position by an impulse or impulses from said
transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument adapted to respond to a pre-
determined arrangement of impulses, and devices for connecting the transmitting
instrument operatively with the mechanical apparatus, said devices actuated
by the selecting instrument in responding to its predetermined arrangement of
impulses.
2. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument, of a
mechanical device advanced into position by an impulse or impulses from said
transmitter, a preparing or selecting instrument having a wheel, bar, or sector
provided with a representation of a predetermined arrangement of impulses, and
means operated by the transmission of said predetermined arrangement of impulses
to operate or control the movement of said wheel, bar, or sector, and devices
operated by said wheel, bar or sector in responding to its predetermined
arrangement of impulses to connect the transmitting instrument operatively with
the mechanical apparatus.
3. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument, of a
mechanical apparatus advanced into position by an impulse or impulses from said
transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument responding to a predetermined
arrangement of electrical impulses and thereby connecting the transmitting
instrument operatively with the mechanical apparatus.
4. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument, of a
mechanical apparatus having two or more phases of operation, and mechanism to
advance the same into phase position alternately in response to an impulse or
impulses from said transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument provided with
means responding to a predetermined arrangement of electrical impulses from said
transmitter, devices operated thereby to bring the mechanical apparatus and the
transmitting instrument into responsive co-operation, devices responding to an
additional impulse or impulses from said transmitting instrument to actuate the
advancing mechanism of the mechanical device to one of its phase positions, and
means responding to a repetition of said impulse or impulses to actuate said
advancing mechanism to produce an alternate phase.
5. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument of a
mechanical apparatus having two or more phases of operation, and mechanism to
B

page_text: advance the same into phase position alternately in response to an impulse or
impulses from said transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument provided with
means responding to a predetermined arrangement of electrical impulses from said
transmitter, devices operated thereby to bring the mechanical apparatus and the
transmitting instrument into responsive co-operation, devices responding to an
additional impulse or impulses from said transmitting instrument to actuate the
advancing mechanism of the mechanical device to one of its phase positions, and
means for restoring the selecting instrument to its starting point operated by an
impulse or impulses from said transmitter.
6. In an electric selecting apparatus an impulse transmitting instrument in
circuit with an impulse receiving instrument adapted to respond to a fixed
combination of electrical impulses to complete its phase, in combination with
locking means responding to the transmitted impulses to lock the receiving instru-
ment when its phase is completed and a spring bolt for unlocking the receiving
instrument when required.
7. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument, of a
mechanical device operated by an impulse or impulses from said transmitter, a
selecting or preparing instrument adapted to respond to a predetermined arrangement
of impulses to complete its phase, means operated by said selecting instrument in
responding to its predetermined arrangement of impulses to thereby bring the
mechanical device into responsive co-operation with the transmitting instrument,
means responding to an additional impulse or impulses from said transmitter to
operate the mechanical device after the phase of the selecting instrument is
completed, locking devices operated by said selecting instrument to hold said
instrument until the mechanical work is completed, and means responding to an
impulse or impulses from said transmitting instrument to unlock the selecting
instrument and restore it to its starting point.
8. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument of a
mechanical device operated by an impulse or impulses from said transmitter, a
selecting or preparing instrument having a wheel, bar or sector, provided with
a mechanical representation of a predetermined arrangement of electrical impulses,
means operated by the selecting instrument in responding to its predetermined
arrangement of impulses to thereby bring the mechanical device and the transmitting
instrument into responsive co-operation, and a single magnet responding to said
transmitting instrument to operate or control the selecting instrument and actuate
the mechanical device.
9. In an electric selecting system, the combination with an electrical impulse
transmitting instrument, of a number of mechanical devices each of them having
one or more phases of operation and advanced into phase position by an impulse or
impulses from said transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument arranged in
connection with each of said mechanical devices and each of said selecting
instruments adapted to respond to a predetermined arrangement of impulses and to
no other, means operated by each of said selecting instruments in response to its
own predetermined arrangement of impulses to thereby bring the mechanical device
with which it is connected and no other into responsive co-operation with the
transmitting instrument.
10. In a selecting system a receiving instrument adapted to respond to a fixed
combination of electrical impulses in circuit with an impulse transmitting instru-
ment in combination with locking means for locking the receiving instrument to
prepare it for future electrical impulses, means for shunting the current to an
operating magnet, mechanical devices, and means for operating the same by
impulses of the transmitting instrument through the coils of the operating magnet.
11. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument of a
mechanical apparatus advanced into position by an operating magnet responding to
an impulse or impulses from said transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument
controlled by a magnet responding to a predetermined arrangement of electrical

page_text: impulses and thereby bringing the coils of the magnet of the mechanical device
with which the receiving instrument is connected and no other into circuit with the
transmitting instrument.
12. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument of n
mechanical apparatus advanced into position by an operating magnet responding to
an impulse or impulses from said transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument
controlled by a magnet responding to a predetermined arrangement of electrical
impulses, and means operated by the receiving instrument to shunt the current to
the coils of the operating magnet of the mechanical device with which said
instrument is connected.
13. The combination with an electrical impulse transmitting instrument of a
mechanical apparatus advanced into position by an operating magnet responding to
an impulse or impulses from said transmitter, a selecting or preparing instrument
controlled by another magnet responding to a predetermined arrangement of
impulses and thereby bringing the operating magnet of the mechanical device with
which the selecting instrument is connected and no other into circuit with the
transmitter and devices responding to an additional impulse or impulses from the
same transmitter to restore the selecting instrument to normal position.
14. In an electric selecting apparatus, an impulse transmitting instrument in
circuit with an impulse receiving instrument adapted to respond to a fixed com-
bination of electrical impulses to complete its phase, the receiving instrument
provided with two magnets and their armature levers, one to receive the com-
bination impulses and operate the receiving instrument to the completion of its
phase and lock it in position to receive other impulses and the other to perform
mechanical work actuated by impulses from the transmitting instrument in com-
bination with means for shunting the current to the coils of the latter magnet.
15. In an electric selecting apparatus, an impulse transmitting instrument in
circuit with an impulse receiving instrument adapted to respond to a fixed com-
bination of electrical impulses to complete its phase, the receiving instrument
provided with two magnets and their armature levers, one for working out the
combination, and the other for performing mechanical work, in combination with
means operated by the armature lever of the first magnet for locking and holding
the receiving instrument when its phase is completed, means for shunting the
current to the operating magnet, means for performing mechanical work operated
by the latter, and means for restoring the receiving instrument to its starting
point when the mechanical work is completed.
16. The above described method of selecting and operating a mechanical device
which consists in placing said device in combination with a selecting instrument
adapted to respond to a predetermined arrangement of electrical impulses, and an
electrical impulse transmitting instrument, and then transmitting a predetermined
arrangement of impulses to said selecting instrument and thereby bringing the.
selected mechanical device into operative connection with the transmitter, and then
transmitting an additional set or series of impulses to operate the mechanical
device.
D1 1902