Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for Exhibiting and Changing Advertisements, Signs, and the like Devices.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for Exhibiting and Changing
Advertisements, Signs, and the like Devices.
ARTHUR DOUGLAS DOUGLASS, 12, Astey's Row, Essex Road, Islington, London, N.,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I may briefly describe my invention in the following manner.
On a board of a determined size and shape, I trace out the form of the letter A, and
on the lines of this tracing I fix electric lamps in such a manner that when current
is passed through them, they distinctly exhibit the letter A. On the same board I
then trace out the letter B of the same size as the letter A I then fix electric lamps
on the lines of the tracing, as in letter A using such of the lamps of the letter A as
conveniently can be used, to form the letter B. I then trace out each other letter of
the alphabet on the same board and of the same size, and fix lamps on the tracings
as before, using such lamps from one letter to form parts of another as conveniently
permit of so doing. I now collect up all connections from the lamps forming the
letter A and convey them to suitable terminals which I mark "terminal A" the like
from lamps forming the letters B, C, D, and so on until I have connected all to their
respective terminals. Now I have a number of these boards placed side by side and
I desire to form a word on these boards, I have only to convey current to such
terminals on each board, as will conduct the current to the lamps forming the
required letters to produce the word determined on. Say for example PEARS is the
word I desire to exhibit, I have five boards filled as hereinbefore described. On
board 1 I connect my electric supply to terminal P, board 2 to terminal E, board 3
to terminal A, board 4 to terminal R, board 5 to terminal S, thus spelling the word
PEARS, as desired. Now it follows that I can by directing the current to different
terminals on each board, spell any word of 5 letters that I choose, and by adding
more boards, any word or words containing as many letters as there are boards placed.
Now it is proposed to alter the direction of the current, to the different boards and
terminals, by automatic apparatus which I may roughly describe as follows.
each board of the whole sign, shall be provided a roller made up of sections, each
section having holes bored round its circumference, into these holes can be inserted
pegs or lugs. The sections are to be clamped onto a spindle, to revolve, and when
revolving the pegs or lugs shall act on lever switches controling the direction of the
current to the terminals of each letter.
For
The pegged rollers may also be used to operate "magnetic circuit closers" or
relays, the circuit closers or relays acting directly on the letter terminals.
The numbers 1 to 0 may also be traced on each board, and so exhibited in like
manner to the letters of the alphabet.
Sant 1st 1908

page_text: Improvements in Electrical Apparatus for Exhibiting and Changing
Advertisements, Signs, and the like Devices.
I, ARTHUR DOUGLAS DOUGLASS, of 12, Astey's Row, Essex Road, Islington, London,
N., 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 :-
.
I may briefly describe my invention in the following manner.
On a board of a determined size and shape, I trace out the form of the letter A,
and on the lines of this tracing fix electric lamps in such a manner that when
On the same
current is passed through them, they distinctly exhibit the letter A.
board I then trace out the letter B of the same size as the letter A, I then fix electric
lamps on the lines of the tracing as in letter A using such of the lamps of the
letter A as conveniently can be used to form the letter B.
I then trace out each other letter of the alphabet on the same board and of the
same size, and fix lamps on the tracings as before using such lamps from one letter
to form parts of another as conveniently permit of so doing.
I now collect up all connections from the lamps forming the letter A and convey
them to suitable terminals which I mark "terminal A," the like from lamps forming
the letters B, C, D, and so on until I have connected all to their respective
terminals.
Now I have a number of these boards placed side by side, and I desire to form a
word on these boards, I have only to convey current to such terminals on each board,
as will conduct the current to the lamps forming the required letters to produce the
word determined on. Say, for example PEARS is the word I desire to exhibit, I
have five boards fitted as hereinbefore described, on board 1 I connect my electric
supply to terminal P, board 2 to terminal E, board 3 to terminal A, board 4 to
terminal R, board 5 to terminal S, thus spelling the word PEARS as desired.
Now it follows that I can by directing the current to different terminals on each
hoard, spell any word of 5 letters that I choose, and by adding more boards, any
word or words containing as many letters as there are boards placed.
Now it is proposed to alter the direction of the current to the different boards and
terminals by automatic apparatus which I may roughly describe as follows.
For each board of the whole sign shall be provided a roller made up of sections,
each section having holes bored round its circumference, into these holes can be
inserted pegs or lugs. The sections are to be clamped on to a spindle to revolve and
when revolving, the pegs or lugs shall act on lever switches controlling the direction
of the current to the terminals of each letter.
The pegged rollers may also be used to operate " magnetic circuit closers," or relays,
the circuit closers or relays acting directly on the letter terminals.
The numbers 1 to 0 may also be traced on each board and so exhibited in like
manner to the letters of the alphabet.
My invention is shown on the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 face view of one of my boards with the outline of all the necessary
letters of the alphabet and of numerals, also of partitions and compartments which
enable any letter or numeral to be selected for exhibition, or of being defined by the
aid of electric glow lamps, one of which is arranged in each compartment.
Figure 2 section of such a board through the line a, a, of Figure 1.

page_text: Figure 3 side elevation of apparatus by which the opening and closing of the
electric circuit is effected.
Figure 4 elevation of drum and contact pieces by which the electric connections
are made on the drum being revolved.
Figure 5 plan of contact pieces.
Referring to Figure 1, A is one of the boards, of which there may be any
number all alike with partitions B so arranged as to form compartments each for
containing an electric glow lamp for lighting up the selected alphabetical letter or
the numeral of each of the series of boards that would in combined order con-
stitute among themselves the desired word. As an instance, the words " DOUGLASS
PATENT SIGNS" would require 19 boards for the combination, each having the
respective defined letter electrically connected with its terminal.
The board A is preferably glazed at the front, as at C, as a protection from the
weather and ensuring diffusion of light, and the partitions may be of silvered glass or
reflective metal to add to brilliancy of exposure. The lamps D are affixed to the
board A by sockets of the usual kind, these having the conducting wires E attached
by the screw buttons F, a plate & secured to the board A serving for the return
current of all the lamps of each board.
H is a drum with studs I of slats J affixed lengthwise of the drum H by holes K, K, and
set screws, which studs as the drum is rotated intermittently by the ratchet wheel L
and pawl M bring the studs to bear upon the fingers N of keys P which are in balance
and strung upon a rod Q. The keys P' by their rod Q are adjustable as to amount of
depression by a regulation of their carrier bar R in the slots of the standards or
uprights S, S, on which the drum H is carried, and as the studs depress the fingers N,N,
the opposite ends T of said fingers which are in metallic connection with one pole of
the battery T are raised, they make contact with metallic ends of fixed pieces U for
completing the circuit. The degree of rotation of the drum H is under control of a
lever V by which the pawl M is actuated, said lever being slotted for movement by a
bolt W which is adjustable in the slot X of the disc Y the position of the bolt W
determining the degree of travel of the lever V and consequently through the pawl M
the degree of rotation of the drum H. The disc Y can be operated by any kind of
power, manual or other, preferably by an electric motor driven by the same current
which furnishes the light.
Each board may have a separate drum, or any number of wires from different boards
can be connected to the respective terminals and the lamps lighted up to indicate
the selected word, as by the example Figure 4.
The several drums can be driven from the same motor if all the shafts are coupled
up, such as by the coupling sleeve Z, there represented or otherwise.
Since each board contains all the necessary letters of the alphabet and all the
necessary numerals, it will be easily understood that any word can be spelt from the
one board, and also any arrangement of numerals, each being shown or reflected
separately and in succession, and where a drum is provided with slats and studs for
acting on the fingers by duplicating the conducting wires therewith, any quantity of
the same signs or readings can be simultaneously exposed on, say, four sides of a
square building, or on four separate buildings, or separate signal stations from a single
drum, but when words have to be shown en-bloc and made up from letters of several
drums, as first explained, more than one drum must be employed.
In preparing for the words "DOUGLASS PATENT SIGNS," 19 boards would be
required for the representation, thus

page_text: WASHINGTON, a word of ten letters would require 10 boards, and so on in propor-
tion, but if one board only be provided for spelling any word, the studs on the drum
would be so arranged as to light up only those compartments of the board as would
give the desired result, thus, to illustrate the letter F the lower tail strip of E would
be omitted. P would be represented by the down stroke and upper loop of B or of R,
the numeral 8 could be represented by the letter S, consequently 24 letters and
7 numerals would be indicated on 31 boards to represent probably the longest word
that would be required as a sign.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A sign board on which all the necessary letters of the alphabet and the necessary
numerals are indicated by compartments, in each of which an electric glow lamp can
be put into circuit for lighting up any letter or numeral in succession, as shown at
Figure and as specified.
2. A sign board, in the face of which, compartments are so partitioned off as to
constitute collectively all the necessary letters of the alphabet and all the necessary
numerals for grouping and exposure to represent separate letters or separate numerals
by the aid of electrical glow lamps.
3. A sign board having the face partitioned off to form compartments for containing
electric glow or incandescent lamps put into circuit and made to represent letters or
numerals in successive order to spell a word or to give figures, as specified.
4. The system of indicating words or figures electrically as signs from several
boards having compartments interchangeable with each other and having compart-
ments which collectively contain all the necessary letters of the alphabet and all the
necessary numerals, from or by which any required letter or numeral may be selected
and illuminated.
5. In combination with a board having compartments for electrical glow lamps
and by which letters of the alphabet and numerals either for single exposure to spell
a word, or for exposing a word by employment of several boards which are fac-similes
of each other, the letters forming the desired word from said several boards being
controlled by a revolvable drum or drumns provided with studs to bear on and depress
balanced fingers to establish electric contact, as specified.
6. In combination with a board or a series of boards on each of which the necessary
letters of the alphabet and all the necessary numerals are represented by compart-
ments in which electric glow lamps are fitted and having their conducting wires so
grouped and secured to different terminals as to expose any selected letter or letters,
or numeral or numerals, the contact being effected by studs on a revolving drum
actuated intermittently by ratchet and pawl from a prime mover, as specified.
7. In an electrically illuminated sign, the combination with a series of glow-lamps
arranged upon a single board to form different letters or designs, by a suitable
selection of part of said lamps, of a drum having a plurality of studs in two or more
series, each series projecting from the face of the drum in parallelism to the axis, a
series of fingers pivotally arranged on a rod, a series of metallic pieces with which
said fingers contact when operated by the studs on the drum, a series of circuit
terminals connected to said metallic pieces and to the lamps, and a battery having
one pole connected to said lamps and the other to the pivoted fingers, substantially
as described.
8. In an electrically illuminated sign, the combination with a series of glow-lamps
arranged to form different letters or designs, of a drum having two or more series of
studs arranged in parallelism to its axis, a series of pivotted fingers so arranged that
said studs may engage their ends as the drum revolves, a series of metallic pieces
arranged near the other ends of said fingers, a series of circuit terminals connected to
said metallic pieces and to the lamps, a battery having one pole connected to said lamps
and the other pole to the pivotted fingers, a pawl engaging a ratchet on one end of

page_text: the drum, a slotted pawl-carrier, and a disc having a pin adjustable in a radial slot
in said disc and engaging the slot in the pawl-carrier, substantially as described.
FIL cil of Tunn 1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Arthur Douglas Douglass.