Improvements relating to Electric Signalling and similar Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1898--Accepted, 11th June,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Electric Signalling and similar Apparatus.
I, LUCIEN STEPHEN CRANDALL, of 62, Moor Street, in the City of Birmingham,
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:-
This invention consists of improvements relating to electric signalling and
similar apparatus, my object being to provide simple and convenient devices for
the ready and convenient control and operation of the signal or like appliances,
and to especially adapt the said devices for use with a monogrammic arrangement
of electric lamps such as described in my Specification No. 18636 of 1895 on
which Letters Patent have been granted to me.
In order that my invention may be the more readily understood I append here-
unto two sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is an elevation showing the display-frame with the monogrammic
arrangement of electric incandescent lamps thereon.
Figure 2 is an end elevation and Figure 3 a plan of my lamp controlling and
operating devices.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent three of the operating keys.
Upon the display-frame A I mount the incandescent electric lamps, represented
by the circles, in twenty distinct groups, each group constituting a monogrammic
element; the number of lights in each group can be varied as desired. As shown
at Figure 1, the groups 1 and 6 have each four lamps, the groups 2, 5, 7, 10, 16,
and 20 have each two lamps, the groups 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, have
cach three lamps, whilst the group 11 has ten lamps and the group 17 nine lamps.
The numbers on the lamps shown at Figure 1 indicate the group to which they
belong.
Each group of lamps has its own positive wire or lead and the whole of the
twenty positive wires are combined into the multiple lead as A¹ Figure 1, con-
nected with the controlling and operating box or frame as B (Figures 2 and 3).
Such box or frame is provided with twenty metallic plugs as C C¹ mounted on
the ebonite or other insulating rail D, and respectively connected with wires
as cd from the corresponding number of lamp groups on the display-frame.
Beneath the plugs C C I arrange in the box or frame B the metallic bar E,
such bar having a slot e cut through it to receive a key similar to the key employed
with a "Yale lock." Such key, as shown at Figures 4, 5, or 6, consists of a flat
strip or metal with a suitable head or finger piece and with tooth like pro-
jections as f from one side. Between the bar E and the plugs C C¹ I arrange con-
tact strips as F, the one end of each of such strips being secured to the plugs as
shown whilst the other ends stand just clear of the upper side of the bar E as.

page_text: shown at Figure 2. On the insertion and turning of the key within the slot e of
the bar E the projections f are caused to touch certain of the contact strips F.
With the key shown at Figure 4, which is made for signalling the letter G, the
projections of such key will touch the contact strips which are connected to the
plugs 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 20. As the bar E is in electrical connection through
the wire g with the battery or electric generator H a current will pass through
the strips to the said plugs and from thence to the lamp groups 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8,
10, and 20 with which the plugs are connected, and such groups, being thus
illuminated will display the letter G.
The whole of the lamp groups on the display-frame are connected to the one
common return lead A by which the circuits are completed.
With the key shown at Figure 5, which is made for signalling the letter E,
the projections are arranged to touch the contact pieces secured to the plugs 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 16, such plugs being in connection with the similarly
numbered lamp groups on the display-frame, and such groups being required
for the displayal of the letter E. In the same manner the key shown at Figure
is arranged for operating and controlling the lamp groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10,
14, and 18, by which the letter M is formed
I sometimes employ only the one operating box or frame B for the one display-
frame, but for the rapid display of a number of words I preferably employ several
boxes arranged as shown at Figure 2 or in any other convenient manner. Thus
for the display of the word " gem" the keys shown at Figure 4, 5, and 6 would
be inserted in position in the boxes B. Bi and B3 respectively. The key in B
would then be turned to display the letter G and subsequently turned back to the
out of contact position. The key in B would then in like manner be operated
for the display of the letter E, and finally the key in B2 for the letter M.
a word
But instead of making an announcement or display letter by letter as herein-
before described, am able, by the use of a multiple display-frames
with a controlling and operating box for each frame, to make
by word announcement or display. Thus if the three boxes B B B are
employed with three display. frames the three keys are first inserted in their
respective boxes; they can then be turned on simultaneously or practically simul-
taneously and thus the entire word will be displayed. By replacing the keys with
others of a different shape a different word or a figure or figures can be displayed.
Upon the head or finger piece of each key I stamp or mark the letter or figure
which it operates and controls upon the display board, and thus the attendant
can readily see that the correct keys are in the boxes before putting any of the
lamps in circuit.
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: -
1. In electric signalling and similar apparatus the operation and control of the
lamps by lock keys, substantially as described.
2. The improved operating and controlling devices for electric signalling and
similar apparatus, constructed and arranged substantially as described.
3. The combination with electric lamps for signalling and similar purposes, of
contact pieces which are placed in or out of circuit by the action of the lock keys
substantially as described and as illustrated.
4. The combination with the monogrammic grouping of electric lamps for
signalling and similar purposes, of operating and controlling devices actuated by
lock keys, substantially as described and as illustrated..
5. In electric signalling and similar apparatus the operation and control of the
lamps by lock keys' so constructed and arranged as to permit of a sight check of
the signal or announcement before display of the same, substantially as described
and as illustrated.

page_text: 6. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming the improved
electric signalling or like apparatus substantially as described and as illustrated.
Dated this 4th day of May 1898
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.