Improvements in and connected with Indicator Movements for Domestic and other Signalling Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Indicator Movements for
Domestic and other Signalling Purposes.
I, HERMANN OPPENHEIMER of 55 Redcross Street London, E.C. Electrical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In ordinary indicators as used for domestic or other signalling purposes, each
line is provided with a movement which on closing the circuit, makes the signal
appear behind the aperture of the glass or other transparent front, thus denoting to
the attendant from whence the call has been given.
In hotels or other large establishments, a combination of bell signals in connection
with the indicator has been resorted to, to denote which attendant has been called ;
for instance, when ringing once the waiter may come up, or wheu ringing twice the
chambermaid, or three times, boots.
This system however has the disadvantage, that while the signal remains visible
on the indicator until replaced, it does not mark the pre-arranged code, and if the
attendant is absent, he may on coming to the indicator ascertain that a call has
been given, but not for whom it was intended. In order however to avoid this,
I have constructed a movement whereby it is possible to mark perinanently (until
replaced) a signal denoting clearly who has been called, so that when the bell is
rung once, twice or three times, three different signals attached to the same
movement will appear, consecutively and remain visible.
In the accompanying drawing (Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4) i show an indicat or movement
which fulfils this purpose.,
.
Fig. 1. shows the movement in front view, and Fig. 2. in side view, with the two
bobbins R. R. the iron corc E. E. and at the bottom the armature A, which when
in normal position rests on the stop P. Such armature A is pivoted by means of
pointed screws S. S. (Fig. 3).
To the axis of the armature A is vertically screwed a fork-shaped lever G,
with the prongs H. h. in the form of a Grahams armature (Figs. 2 & 4). The
prongs H. h. touch alternately the pins s 1. 2. & 3. of the disc D. (Fig. 3) in
such a manner that when the prong H falls upon one pin, the prong misses the
other pins & vice versa.
On the axis of such pin-carrying disc D. there is a pinion T. which with its
toothed wheel, gears into the rack Z. which latter is guided by the frame-work at
slotted point F. F. and actuates by its own weight the said pinion and tends to revolve
the disc to the left (Fig. 3).
The axis of the pin carrying disc bas on its front, a light metal carrier K in the
shape of a cross, which is intended to carry various inscribed tablets. To the
frame-work of such movements is pivoted at the point C, an angle-piece W designed
to replace the rack Z after a signal has been given, and in order to re-establish
the normal state.
In Fig. 1. I show the front view of such movement, whereby the cross shaped
carrier for the signal is supposed to have a blank tablet at the point K. while the
three remaining arms are figured or inscribed.
The blank tablet of the cross shaped carrier is fixed to arm K which when in

page_text: normal position faces the aperture of the glass front, while the other three tablets
necessarily remain concealed.
The working of the movement is as follows:-
When the circuit is closed, the armature A is attracted by the iron core E. E.
moving the fork H. h. backward, i.e. when looking at Fig. 2. to the left. The
prong H releases the pins; the rack Z moves downward turning the disc D and
the signal carrier K in opposite direction to an ordinary watch hand, until pin s 1.
is caught by the prong h, thus arresting the movement.
When releasing the push-button, the current is interrupted, and the armature
with the fork H. h. goes back into the normal position as shown in Fig. 4. The
pin s 1. is again released by the prong h, rack Z and carrier K continue their
movement until the pin s 1. comes near the prong H and is arrested by it. The
carrier K has thus made a revolution of 90 degrees and the arm of the carrier with
the signal appears behind the aperture.
When pushing the press once, twice or three times consecutively, the above
described action is necessarily repeated in unison with the number of times pressed,
thus causing the arms of carrier K to appear in succession with the various
tablets 1, 2, or 3.
It will be seen that by means of this arrangement, i.e. when pressing the button
once, twice or three times, either waiter, chambermaid, or boots or any other three
different attendants may be called. In the same manner three different signals can
be given with the same indicator movement.
+
The replacing of the signals is done in the same manner as with ordinary
mechanical replacement indicators, whereby a replacing rod carrying pins at
proper intervals touching the replacing lever W when pushed from the right to
the left.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
Improvements in and connected with Indicator Movements for
Domestic and other Signalling Purposes.
1, HERMANN OPPENHEIMER of 55 Redcross Street, Barbican, London, E.C.
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 :-
In ordinary indicators as used for domestic or other signalling purposes, each
line is provided with a movement which on closing the circuit, makes the signal
appear behind the aperture of the glass or other transparent front, thus denoting
to the attendant from whence the call has been given.
In hotels or other large establishments, a combination of bell signals in
connection with the indicator has been resorted to, to denote which attendant has
been called; for instance, when ringing once the waiter may come up, or when
ringing twice, the chambermaid, or three times, boots.
This system however has the disadvantage, that while the signal remains visible
on the indicator until replaced, it does not mark the pre-arranged code, and if the
attendant is absent, he may on coming to the indicator ascertain that a call has
been given, but not for whom it was intended. In order however to avoid this, I
have constructed a movement whereby it is possible to mark permanently (until
replaced) a signal denoting clearly who has been called, so that when the bell is
rung once, twice, or three times, three different signals attached to the same
movement will appear consecutively and remain visible.

page_text: In the drawing filed with my Provisional Specification of 4th Jan. 1895., I
show (Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4) an indicator movement which fulfils this purpose.
Fig. 1 shows the movement in front view, and Fig. 2. in side view, with the two-
bobbins R. R. the iron core E. E. and at the bottom the armature A, which when
in normal position rests on the stop P. Such armature A is pivoted by means of
pointed screws S. S. (Fig. 3).
To the axis of the armature A is vertically screwed a fork-shaped lever G, with
the prongs H. h. in the form of a Graham's armature (Figs. 2 & 4). The
prongs H. . touch alternately the pins s 1. S 2., & s 3 of the disc D. (Fig. 3) in
such a manner that when the prong H. falls upon one pin, the prong h. misses the
other pins and vice versa.
On the axis of such pin-carrying disc D. there is a pinion T. which with its
toothed-wheel, gears into the rack Z. which latter is guided by the frame-work at
slotted points F. F. and actuates by its own weight the said pinion and tends to
revolve the disc to the left (Fig. 3).
The axis of the pin-carrying disc has on its front, a light metal carrier K. in
the shape of a cross, which is intended to carry various inscribed tablets. To the
frame-work of such movements is pivoted at the point C, an angle-piece W
designed to replace the rack Z after a signal has been given, and in order to
re-establish the normal state.
In Fig. 1. I show the front view of such movement, whereby the cross-shaped
carrier for the signal is supposed to have a blank tablet at the point K while the
three remaining arms are figured or inscribed.
The blank tablet of the cross-shaped carrier is fixed to arm K which when in
normal position faces the aperture of the glass front, while the other three tablets
necessarily remain concealed.
The working of the movement is as follows:-
When the circuit is closed, the armature A is attracted by the iron core E. E
moving the fork H. h. backward, i.e., when looking at Fig. 2. to the left. The
prong H releases the pin s; the rack Z moves downward turning the disc D and
the signal carrier K in opposite direction to au ordinary watch-hand, until pin s 1.
is caught by the prong h, thus arresting the moveinent.
When releasing the push-button, the current is interrupted, and the armature
with the fork H. . goes back into the normal position as shown in Fig. 4. The
pin s 1. is again released by the prong h, rack Z and carrier continue their
movement until the pin s 1. comes near the prong H and is arrested by it. The
carrier has thus made a revolution of 90 degrees and the arm of the carrier with
the signal appears behind the aperture.
When pushing the press once twice, or three times consecutively, the above
described action is necessarily repeated in unison with the number of times pressed,
thus causing the arms of carrier k to appear in succession with the various
tablets, 1, 2, or 3.
It will be seen that by means of this arrangement, i.e. when pressing the button
once, twice or three times, either waiter, chambermaid, boots or three different
attendants may be called. In the same manner three different signals can be given
with the same indicator movement.
The replacing of the signals is done in the same manner as with ordinary
mechanical replacement indicators, whereby a replacing rod carrying pins at
proper intervals touching the replacing lever W when pushed from the right to
the left.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction and use of an indicator movement, carrying a disc, which
actuated by a rack and pinion and governed by a double pronged fork, revolres

page_text: according to the number of times the circuit is closed, thus showing consecutively,
various signals behind the aperture of an indicator glass front, substantially as
described and for the purpose as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of September 1895.
HERMANN OPPENHEIMER.