Improvements in Electrical Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1890-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Signalling Apparatus.
I, EUGÈNE DUCRETET of No. 75, Rue Claude Bernard Paris, Scientific Instrument
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention consists chiefly of
any suitable number of metal plates of convenient size and shape, placed one above
the other and insulated from each other. Each of these plates is placed in a direct
and permanent connection with the signal they are intended to set in operation at a
given moment. The electrical signal may be single or multiple, according to the
combinations it is desired to obtain. The signals may consist, according to circum-
stances, of incandescent lamps, fireworks, bells combined with visible signs and the
like. In fact any electrical plant may, by means of the present invention be actuated
at a distance, whether it has for its object to attract attention by sound or light
i.e. whether it be a system of calls or of signals simple or combined as the case
may be.
The apparatus may thus act electrically, at a distance, upon (opaque, coloured or
uncoloured) screens, producing the required signals by intercepting or restoring the
rays of light of any convenient lamp, with a fixed light; the screens being adapted
to be brought to rest by hand after the signal has been received. The said metal plates
thus placed one above the other, but insulated from each other, are when in course of
manufacture, perforated together so as to make the holes in each exactly correspond
with those in the other plates, as regards their situation, the intervals between them
and their diameter, which is such as to allow a peg to fit them exactly. This peg
passes through all the plates to the collecting plate. The said plates may be fixed
immediately under an upper guiding plate. Washers of ebonite or any other insulating
material are provided for insulation and the whole is firmly attached together by bolts.
The apparatus is enclosed in a caso at the bottom of which auxiliary resistance coils
may be provided said coils being rolled upon slate or any other refractory material.
These auxiliary resistances may, however, be also disposed outside of the case if
desired.
To obtain the various combinations of electrical signals, at a distance, which com-
binations are indicated by figures engraved upon the lid of the combiner opposite tho
holes provided for the insertion of the peg, it is only necessary to tightly insert the
peg into the desired hole. Thus a contact is made between the collecting plate and
the plates corresponding to the signals it is desired to produce electrically at a
distance.
The holes in the plates, which, in this combination, must not be in electrical com-
munication with the peg, have an opening somewhat larger than the peg or are lined
with a ring of insulating material. Some of the said holes are thus isolated from the
peg while others touch it.
The size of the various parts the number of plates, as well as the number of
combinations may be varied indefinitely.
In some cases the holes for the peg may be arranged in a line whilst in other cases
they may be arranged diagonally. This arrangement involves the use of the whole
surface and results in apparatus considerably reduced in size even for currents of great
intensity.
In using the combiners herein described no mechanism such as shafts, cranks or
contact springs is necessary nor are any removable pieces required except one peg for
cach apparatus. For series of signals, two or more different apparatus may be operated
in conjunction with one or more pegs, one for each apparatus. The working is always

page_text: regular and safe, none of the parts being in motion. No sparks are caused by making
or breaking contact between the plates; the interruption of the current always
taking place between the lower collecting plate and the peg.
The, peg is made of metal throughout its length without any insulated portion; the
said peg is provided with tongues of variable heights, exactly corresponding with
those of the plates thus securing a perfect contact between the pin and holes. Other
means, ensuring this contact may be used; but that obtained by means of the spring-
tongues is the most simple and efficient one. The reverse arrangement may be adopted,
a rigid rod without springs or elastic portions may be used, while the holes may be
provided with springs instead. This arrangement, though as efficient as the former is
more expensive.
The preceding description indicates the main features of the improved apparatus
for electrical signals with sufficient clearness; it consists as above mentioned, of metal
plates insulated from each other and arranged one above the other, their number
depending on that of the signals; the surface of the plates is provided with holes the
number of which depends on that of the combinations it is desired to obtain, which
are thus formed beforehand.
A single metal peg passes through all the plates and finally reaches the lowermost
one, termed a collecting plate; a plate or band conveys the current to the peg, and to
the plates with which the said peg is in contact; the holes which are to avoid the
contact, being simply made wider or lined with an insulating ring.
Such being the arrangement, the signals or combinations of signals are indicated
by figures engraved on the lid of the case and it is only necessary to insert the peg
into the proper opening to obtain at a distance the signal or series of signals required
one after the other.
A double lid, attached either by a hinge or a sliding pin, may be provided, if
necessary, to close all the holes of the lid at once.
The apparatus may be provided with a commutator to shunt the current from one
group of signals to the other, by means of the same apparatus.
Dated this 7th day of October 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Signalling Apparatus.
I, EUGÈNE DUCRETET, of No. 75 Rue Claude Bernard, Paris, Scientific Instrument
Maker 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 relates to apparatus which serve to combine at will, two electric
signals with great rapidity and without difficulty, by the action of a single movable
piece for establishing the contact of all the signals in a single movement always
ensuring the certain operation of the apparatus which is represented in the
accompanying drawing, in which,
Fig. 1 is an elevation, the exterior side being partially removed so as to show the
interior arrangement of the apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the latter.
Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the electrical connections of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 a side elevation showing the external arrangement.
Figs. and 5* show diagrams of the connections between the apparatus and the
signals.
The apparatus chiefly designed for use in the navy enables the lighting, from a
distance, of signal lights placed in the rigging or masts of the ship (or on suitable
posts, pillars or the like on land). The said apparatus also enables the immediate

page_text: Say anogenier co
Tor each group of your amps.
In order not to burn the lamps in the combinations which comprise only one, two
and three lighted lamps it is expedient to shunt the current into the auxiliary
resistances each representing the resistance R of a lamp; the current thus always
passes through four equal resistances R.
Accordingly the signal comprises three of these auxiliary resistances when there is
only one lamp alight; two auxiliary resistances for the signals of two lamps;
one resistance for the signals of three lamps; none for the sigual of four lighted
lamps.
"
The employment of dynamo electric machines having compound windings obviates
the use of these auxiliary resistances, the difference of potential at the terminals
of the Compound" dynamo, and consequently that at the terminals of the lighted
lamps, being substantially constant, the velocity of this machine being kept constant.
The improved apparatus enables the rapid and certain realization of these combina-
tions. It comprises essentially a series of metallic plates A B C D placed one above
the other and the number of which depends upon that of the lamps or signal lights.
These plates are perfectly insulated from each other and firmly secured to the upper
plate H of slate or thick ebonite, or as in Fig. 1 which shows a type of apparatus for
four lamps.
Each of these plates is put in direct and continuous communication with the
respective lamp or signal which will be lighted from a distance at the desired moment,
as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 5", which are diagrams showing these connections for the
passage of the current.
R represents the source of electricity at disposal, and SS, S S¹ lamps or signal
lights, the combined lights of which constitute the signals, which signals are inscribed
or represented upon the apparatus itself (see Fig. 2). The peg F made entirely of
metal is provided with a series of springs for ensuring a perfect contact of the said
peg with the collecting plate L+ and the plates BCD in connection with the
lamps of the apparatus so as to produce the desired signal by the simple insertion of
the peg into a hole in the apparatus.
These signals are independent of each other and can be of various kinds; in the
present case they are given by incandescent lamps provided with white and coloured
glasses.
Example Figs. 5 and 5" represent an apparatus for giving a white, red, white, red,
signal.
All the metallic plates A B C D, and those corresponding to the auxiliary resist-
ances and also the collecting plate L+, are superposed and insulated from each
other; and those plates forming the desired combination are so constructed that all
their holes are bored together in order that they shall correspond with each other and
be the same distance apart and so that they shall be of the same diameter as the
peg F which must pass through all the plates in order to come in contact with the
collecting plate I*.
I

page_text: "
Of course in this simultaneous drilling operation holes are made into which the
pin must pass with great friction in order to establish the contacts corresponding
to the combination, the wider holes in the plates, to which are to be left out of
the combination, having been previously pierced, thus permitting the pin to pass
into them without making contact.
Fig. 5 shows the supplementary plates R R R in connection with the auxiliary
résistances R4 R5 Rº.
Figure 5 shows a simple apparatus (without the addition of these resistances) for a
dynamo electric machine with a constant potential and a "Compound winding."
Fig. 5, possesses a special distributor I serving according to the position of the
bolt Ve Vo which is pushed to R or S (Figs. 1, 5ª and 2) to include in the
circuit a group of lamps S. 1, 2, 3. 4 or another group S₁ 1, 2, 31, 4. To
the head of the signal lights S in Fig. 5 and between S S¹ of Fig. 5 can be
added a lamp having a stationary light actuated by a simple commutator outside
the apparatus. This lamp which is of a different colour to that of the signal
lights (for example green) indicates in space the position of the lighted lamps so
as not to confuse them with other signals.
A special independent commutator can be interposed for producing at will inter-
mittent signals.
This arrangement which does not present any great difficulty will be sufficiently
understood from the following description, and it consists in the main circuit an
ordinary cylinder or other commutator from the moment when it may serve for cutting
off or for deviating the current so as to extinguish the signals for a given time, and to
light them again with equal facility by actuating it in the opposite direction to that
of the movement which was imparted to it for extinguishing the signals.
The distributor I has sliding contact-pieces without a breakage in the continuity, to
ensure a perfect passage of the current. This distributor can be applied to other
types of the apparatus.
As above stated these figures are given by way of example, the construction of the
apparatus can be varied as regards the number of plates, holes and consequently the
combinations engraved upon the said apparatus likewise and similarly in the case of
the auxiliary resistances, but the present description is sufficient for all the types, as
it answers to the different details which can be united in a greater or less number.
The pole of the source of electricity is fixed to the + terminal (the side P¹ of
the apparatus); the pole to the terminal; this terminal communicates with
the one which receives the return conductor of the lamps. A cable having 5 wires
serves for the distribution in Fig. 5; one of 9 wires serves for that in Fig. 5".
-
Fig. 2 shows all the signals which can be produced; they are engraved upon the
top of the holes. The .peg F is introduced into the hole corresponding to the signal
to be produced. A single peg is used; the second one F¹ is a reserve peg.
This peg can be introduced slowly or rapidly as desired; it conducts the current
from the collecting plate L+ (Fig. 5 and 5) to the other plates which correspond to
the lamps entering into the combination; the other plates, provided with a wide hole
have no contact with the peg F.
The peg F and the reserve peg F are made of hard inoxidizable nickeled metal;
they must be kept very clean; for this purpose they may be wiped with a slightly
greasy leather, before being put into their tubes M M placed in front of the
apparatus. A stop notch fixes these pegs F F¹ at the bottom of the tubes M M
(Fig. 4).
The signal having been given the peg F is rapidly removed from the signal hole
in this manner the spark is avoided between the conical extremity of the peg and the
collecting plate L+. The other plates are always protected against any spark.
When not in use the pegs are put into M M', and the cover K lowered (Figs. 3
and 4), and fixed upon H by means of the knob V; so that it cannot pass from, its
socket.
The auxiliary resistances are enclosed in the case SO of the apparatus; they are
made of German silver wire of a suitable diameter according to the constants of the

page_text: lamps this wire is wound upon hobbins R R R* (Fig. 1). made of incombustible
material; cach layer of the wire is insulated with cardboard or cloth of amianthus.
The whole can be placed outside the combiner, but it is preferably put in the interior
of the case S O.
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
The herein described apparatus for electrically signalling consisting essentially of
metallic plates insulated from each other and superposed, the number of which plates
depends upon that of the signals to be produced from a distance, the surfaces of these
plates, which are of optional form and dimensions, are perforated with holes the
number of which depends upon that of the combinations thus made beforehand, the
whole being set in operation at will by a metallic peg; provided with springs,
traversing all the said plates in order to extend to the last completing the entire
circuit, the plates being moreover provided with holes outside the contacts of this peg
for the signals not entering into the combination and the apparatus having furthermore
additional commutators, the whole substantially as hereinbefore described and ropre-
sented in the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 21st day of June 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.