An Improved Apparatus for Signalling by Electricity.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1887
Complete Left, 13th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 27th Apr., 1888
An Improved Apparatus for Signalling by Electricity.
We HAROLD HUMBOLDT SLATER, Fellow of the Chemical Society and Analytical
Chemist of 36, Wray Crescent, Tollington Park in the County of Middlesex, and
ARTHUR SAMUEL NEWMAN Electrician of 14 St. John's Square Clerkenwell in the
County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object to provide means whereby a number of signals or
indications may be transmitted from a distance and is suitable for use as a house
indicator or ship telegraph or for any purpose where a number of distinct signals are
required to be given and where electrical or mechanical replacement is not desirable.
For this purpose in carrying out our invention the current driving an electric
engine or motor is automatically broken shunted or switched by a commutator or
contact breaker driven directly or indirectly by the aforesaid electric engine or motor
whereby the engine or motor may be caused to come to rest after having made any
number of revolutions or any part of a revolution the desired resting position being
determined by the position of a spring or springs resting on the aforesaid commutator
or contact breaker.
The pointer or indicator is fixed to the spindle which carries the commutator or
contact breaker and revolves with it.
The line wires are connected to the springs resting on the commutator or contact
breaker.
When a current is sent through a line wire it traverses the spring to which the line
wire is connected and arrives at the.commutator or contact breaker which being in
connection with the engine or motor causes the same to revolve and drive the com-
mutator or contact breaker and pointer or indicator until a certain point of the
D
01

page_text: commutator or contact breaker is brought to the resting position of the spring when
the current is automatically broken or shunted from the engine causing it to come to
rest leaving the pointer or indicator at the required position.
The number of springs and line wires corresponds with the number of distinct
signals or indications to be given by the apparatus.
Each spring rests on a different portion of the commutator or contact breaker and
causes the engine to come to rest leaving the pointer or indicator in a different position
from that caused by any other spring. The same spring always produces the same
effect, and leaves the pointer in the same position.
The transmitting instrument may consist of the required number of pushes or a
switch arm and the required number of studs, or any suitable means may be
employed.

page_text: We HAROLD HUMBOLDT SLATER Fellow of the Chemical Society and Analytical
Chemist of 36 Wray Crescent Tollington Park in the County of Middlesex and
ARTHUR SAMUEL NEWMAN Electrician of 14 St. John's Square London 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 :-
This invention has for its object to provide means whereby a number of signals or
indications may be transmitted from a distance or a number of individual signals
given from several different places and is suitable for use as a house indicator or ship
telegraph or for any purpose where a number of distinct signals are required to be
given on the same receiving instrument but all worked from one battery common to
all and where electrical or mechanical replacement is not desirable.
For this purpose in carrying out our invention the current driving an electric engine
or motor is automatically shunted or switched by a commutator or contact breaker
driven by the aforesaid electric engine or motor whereby the engine or motor may be
caused to come to rest after having made any desired part of a revolution the desired
resting position being determined by the position of a spring or springs resting on the
aforesaid commutator or contact breaker such current when so shunted or switched
being then passed through the alarm bell coil and ringing such bell so long as the
current is maintained.
The point or indicator is fixed to the spindle which carries the commutator or contact
breaker & revolves with it.
The line wires are connected to the springs resting on the commutator or contact
breaker.
When a current is sent through a line wire it traverses the spring to which the line
wire is connected and arrives at the commutator or contact breaker which being in
connection with the engine or motor causes the same to revolve and drive the com-
mutator or contact breaker and pointer and indicator until a certain point of the
commutator or contact breaker is brought to the resting position of the spring when
the current is automatically broken or shunted from the engine (to the bell coils)
causing it to come to rest leaving the pointer or indicator at the required position
attention to which is caused by the ringing of the alarm bell aforesaid.
The number of springs and line wires corresponds with the number of distinct
signals or indications to be given by the apparatus.
Each spring rests on a different portion of the commutator or contact breaker and
causes the engine to come to rest leaving the pointer or indicator in a different position
from that caused by any other spring. The same spring always produces the same
effect and leaves the pointer in the same position.
The transmitting instrument may consist of the required number of pushes or a
switch arm and the required number of studs or by separate pusher in a number of
separate rooms corresponding line wires being led to each push or any other suitable
means may be employed.

page_text: And in order that this invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
practice we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings which show its application to a house indicator to give distinct
signals from six separate rooms or points.
Figure 1 shows an external plan view of a receiving instrument and alarm bell.
Figure 2 is a similar enlarged view of such apparatus with front casing and bell
removed.
Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail plan view of the commutator.
Figure 4 is a view of Fig. 3 in elevation.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 the front is of glass or other suitable
material and colored black with the several parts cut out as shown while a white disc
or indicator x is mounted on the axis of the commutator and as it is moved round (as
hereinafter explained) comes under one or other of the pointers or open parts 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6 and so gives the indication from whence the signal came.
In this Figure 1
however we have reversed the colors showing the front white and the disc or indicator
black and showing the signal at No. 1. Other contrasted colors may be used if
desired.
Referring to Figure 2 the circuit is completed (when a signal is sent from any one
of the rooms or points through one of the line wires a, b, c, d, e, or f,) through one of
the leads or wires a, b, c, d, e, or f, thence through their respective springs or
contacts 5, 6, 1, 2, 3 or 4 to the lower part m of the commutator (which is insulated
as shown in Figure 4 by insulating material p from the upper part o of the commutator)
and thence passing down the axis through the motor coil n and wire / to the battery
(not shown) thus completing the circuit.
The operation is as follows:-
Supposing the signal to come from No. 4 room (fline wire) the current passes in
to the apparatus through the wire f and thence through the spring contact piece 4
(Figure 2) through the lower part m of the commutator and thence through its axis
to the coil n and battery (not shown) and so completes the current.
Now as soon as the current passes through the coils n and contact breaker n¹ it
attracts the armature j and breaks contact with n' and by continuation of these motions
causes the armature j to vibrate much in the same way as the ordinary trembling bell
movement. This arinature by its end or pawl k engages with and actuates a ratchet
wheel w rigidly mounted on the axis of the commutator which axis also has the signal
disc firmly secured thereon.
The motor or engine movement now quickly revolves the ratchet wheel w and axis l
carrying round the commutator and disc aforesaid until such commutator or contact
breaker arrives at the point or position shown in Figure 3.
A part or recess & is cut out of the lower part m as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and
when this recess comes round under the spring 4 the latter falls out of contact with
the lower part m and against and into contact with the upper part o of the commutator
and the motor therefore instantly stops (and consequently the disc & also comes to rest)
the current being shunted through the upper part o of the commutator and thence
through the fixed contact spring g¹ to the wire g which leads through the bell coil
and thence to the battery.
The signal is now stationary at No. 4 Figure 1 and the bell continues to ring as
long as the person signalling keeps the circuit up.
When this operation is over the attendant or messenger does not require to touch
this apparatus the last indication remaining until the next signal is given when a
similar operation occurs in respect of each of the other numbers or if the next signal
should come from No. 4 room again in that case the disc or indicator will not move
the current going directly through the bell coils so giving the alarm and consequently
indicating to the attendant that it is No. 4 room again signalling..

page_text: It will be obvious that the number of signals on one instrument can be varied
either more or less than the number of 6 as shown for the sake of example.
Also the details of construction may be varied without departing from our invention
as for instance the commutator or contact breaker Figure 4 may be constructed with
the larger disc or part m on the top and the smaller part o underneath the spring
contact pieces being arranged so as to act to shunt the current as before described.
The essential points of a motor for the purposes of this invention are that it must
be self starting and prompt in both starting and stopping.
This apparatus is capable of a variety of modifications and applications for instance
in some cases if desired a relay battery may be used where a very powerful bell or
alarm is required in which case the current is shunted through the relay and thence
to the bell coils instead of to the bell coils direct or the current may be shunted by
the aforesaid commutator to actuate clock work or other apparatus where any movement
or intermittent motion is required to be given in fact this invention may be adapted to
a great number of analogous applications to those described.
By this apparatus we are enabled to give a number of signals on one apparatus
from several different points while only using one battery for the whole of the
circuits.
It will be obvious that the indications on the receiving apparatus may be given in a
variety of ways as any suitable indicator can be mounted on the axis land so caused
to revolve and give external indications in any suitable manner.
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 :-
1st. In apparatus for signalling by electricity a commutator consisting of the
parts m and o suitably insulated at p arranged to act in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described and represented in the drawings annexed.
2nd. In apparatus for signalling by electricity the combination of the commutator
with the apparatus described so that the current causes such commutator to revolve
in one direction only until the spring contact piece down which the current is passing
falls into the recess s and thereby shunts the current from the motor to the bell coil
and rings the bell substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and represented
in the drawings annexed.
3rd. The arrangement construction and combination of parts forming our improved
electric signalling apparatus whereby signals can be sent from a number of different
rooms or points to the same receiving apparatus giving indications thereon and then
ringing the electric alarm bell with one battery only in circuit the current being
automatically shunted substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and represented in the drawings annexed.
4th. The improved general arrangement and construction of electric signalling
apparatus substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 15th day of February 1888.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.O.,
Agents for the Patentees.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.O.,
Agents for the Patentees.