IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND INDICATING SIGNALS AND ORDERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE AS A NEW MECHANICAL MOTION TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Francis Joel, of Bridge Chambers, Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Signal Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND INDICATING SIGNALS AND
ORDERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE AS A NEW
MECHANICAL MOTION TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st June 1878, and dated the 6th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Francis Joel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th February 1878.
HENRY FRANCIS JOEL, of Bridge Chambers, Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, Signal Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
AND INDICATING SIGNALS AND ORDERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE AS A NEW MECHANICAL MOTION TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
This Invention relates to what are known as pneumatic signal bells, and to indi-
cating apparatus to be used in connection therewith, a part of which improvements
is applicable as a new mechanical movement in cases where an intermittent changing
of a reciprocating into a circular motion is required for any purpose; also to an
improved electric indicator for use in connection with electric signalling apparatus.
According to one part of my said Invention I employ a continuous ringing
pneumatic signal bell action consisting of a rotary hammer having hinged strikers
fast on the axle of a pinion into which gears, when moving in one direction only, an
eccentric segment of a toothed wheel which imparts the requisite rotary motion to
the strikers for ringing the bell, but which segment is so centred or hung that on
its return stroke its teeth will be withdrawn and disengaged from the pinion,
leaving the pinion and strikers free to continue their revolutions, whilst the seg-.
ment is returning in readiness for the next impulse. The segment is loosely centred.
to a lever which works on a fixed centre situate above the loose ceutre of the seg
ment, the lower end of the said lever carrying a stop which bears against one side of
CD 671

page_text: the segment when in its normal position. This lever is actuated by the inflation of
an air bag or bellows, as is well understood in connection with pneumatic signalling
apparatus, but from the fact of the segment turning when moved in one direction
upon the fixed centre of the lever (from which the arc is struck), and upon its loose
centre (of shorter radius), when returning or making its back stroke, it follows that
whilst the segment will be in gear during its former motion, it will be disengaged
from the pinion teeth during its back motion, leaving the striker free to continue
its revolutions.
I am aware that a toothed quadrant gearing into a pinion, and actuated by
an air bag or bellows has been used for ringing a pneumatic signalling bell, but
such an arrangement necessitated the use in combination there with of a ratchet
wheel, pall, and spring (which I dispense with), to enable the striker to revolve
during the time the segment (which constantly remained in gear with the pinion)
made its return or back stroke, and therefore I lay no claim to such a combi-
nation of parts. The same arrangement of duplex centres of motion is equally
applicable to the working of the spring hammer of a striking gong, the first
movement by tending to raise the hammer head, bringing it against a stop piece
which arrests it, the hammer escaping owing to the flexion of the spring
virtually shortening the shank when it is suddenly released and strikes the gong,
whilst the return movement by tending to. draw down the hammer head, allows it
to pass freely under the stop in readiness for the next stroke.
It is obvious that the peculiar combination and arrangement of duplex centres
with toothed or friction eccentric segment and pinion may be applied to other
purposes where a ratchet and pall motion is now used, the obviating the necessity
for the pall and ratchet wheel greatly simplifying the construction and action of
the mechanism.
I simplify the construction and action of the indicating apparatus for displaying
the order tablets of pneumatic signalling or communicating apparatus by causing
the compression of the air to first act upon a piston in a short cylinder which
elevates the tablet; then to pass through an opening exposed by the movement of
the piston into a branch pipe leading direct to the air bag or bellows of the bell.
A cylinder and piston with an air pipe is required for each tablet, but a single bell
may be used in connection with the entire series, or if preferred, each tablet may be
connected with a separate bell. The tablets, which work loosely upon a rocking
spindle, are reset by the attendant, who, by the action of a pusher or equivalent
arrangement, partially turns the spindle, and through the intervention of projecting
pins working in slots in the loose bosses of the tablets causes any one or more of
them to be readjusted. This arrangement of cylinder and sliding piston is equally
applicable for imparting a step-by-step movement to the indicator on the dial of an
engine room telegraph, or other like communicating apparatus, the outward move-
ment of the piston working a double or single pall lever, and turning a ratchet
wheel carrying the pointer or indicator, whilst allowing the compressed air to pass
to the signal or call bell.
The inflating bellows may be worked by a lever connected to a crank pin in a small
toothed pinion which gears into a larger toothed wheel carrying the actuating handle.
On turning the handle from one order to the other on the dial of the sending instru-
ment, the bellows will be compressed, and will inflate the air bag of the indicating
apparatus.
In lieu of compressing the inflating air bag or bellows of pneumatic signal bells
by the pusher hitherto adopted, and which does not always act with certainty owing
to its too slight action when not pushed well home, I propose to substitute therefor
the well-known lever bell-pull action, such as is commonly used for ringing ordinary
house bells. On the inner side of the said lever there is fitted or formed in one
piece therewith a cylindrical or scroll cam, the acting edge of which is inclined or
made with a spiral, and operates against a lever which works on a fixed fulcrum at
one end, whilst its free end acts upon the bellows. On pulling down the handle,

page_text: the cam pushes forward the said lever and compresses the bellows, which are rein-
flated or expanded by an internal spring, or otherwise. In some cases the handle or
pull may be disposed so as to drawn downwards and outwards from the wall, the
scroll can being then dispensed with, as the inner end of the pull will act directly
upon the bellows or air bag.
In order to avoid any strain upon the rosettes of the push button of pneumatic
bell apparatus I fix a metal ring into the rosette, such ring having an internal screw
thread made therein, which screws on to a screwed hollow boss fixed to the casing
and through which the push button works, by which arrangement all strain in
working the push is taken off the rosette.
My improved electric indicator consists of a horse-shoe permanent magnet
mounted on a fixed centre a little below the centre of gravity. When in its
normal position, its north and south poles are attracted by the sides of the
cores of a small electro-magnet, such cores being connected by a cross bar and
enclosed by coils. The terminals of one coil are connected to the push battery
and bell, whilst those of the other coil are connected severally to the adjusting
button, and to the reverse pole of the battery.
The order tablet is carried by a light arm projecting downwards from the
centre of the horse-shoe magnet. When at rest, the cores and cross bar form an
armature to the magnet, which tends to maintain its strength.
From the fact of the magnet being centred slightly below its centre of gravity,
the necessity for a counterweight is obviated, and the sensitiveness of the arrange-
ment is increased. Moreover the use of two cores connected by an iron bar enables
both the cores to operate upon the two limbs of the magnet simultaneously, which
also adds to the sensitiveness by multiplying the power of the current.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Francis Joel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
August 1878:
HENRY FRANCIS JOEL, of Bridge Chambers, Queen Victoria Street, in the City
of London, Signal Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
AND INDICATING SIGNALS AND ORDERS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE AS A NEW MECHANICAL MOTION TO OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES.".
My said Invention relates to what are known as pneumatic signal bells and to
indicating apparatus to be used in connection therewith, a part of which improve-
ments is applicable as a new mechanical movement in cases where an intermittent
changing of a reciprocating into a circular motion is required for any purpose.
My said Invention also relates to an improved electric indicator for use in con-
nection with electric signalling apparatus.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of my Drawings is a side elevation showing a portion of my
Invention applied as a new mechanical motion, and illustrates also a continuous
ringing pneumatic signal bell action, consisting of a rotary hammer a, shown in
dotted lines, having hinged strikers fast on the axle of a pinion b, into which gears
a spur wheel c, shown in dotted lines fast on the axle d. This axle carries another
pinion e, into which gears when moving in one direction only an eccentric segment f
of a toothed wheel, which imparts the requisite rotary motion to the strikers for
ringing the bell, but which segment is so centred or hung at g that on its return
stroke its teeth will be disengaged from the pinion, as shown in dotted lines, leaving
the pinion and strikers free to continue their revolutions whilst the segment is
returning in readiness for the next impulse. The segment is loosely centred at g
to a lever h, which works on a fixed centre i situate above the loose centre of the
segment, the lower end of the said lever carrying a stop k which bears against one
side of the segment f when in its normal position. This lever is actuated by the
inflation of an air bag or bellows, as is well understood, in connection with pneu-
matic signalling apparatus; but from the fact of the segment turning when moved
in one direction upon the fixed centre i of the lever h (from which the arc is
struck) and upon its loose centre g (of shorter radius) when returning or making
its back stroke, it follows that whilst the segment will be in gear during its former
motion it will be disengaged from the pinion teeth during its back motion, leaving
it free to fall into its normal position whilst the strikers continue their revolutions.
I am aware that a toothed quadrant, working on a single centre only gearing into
a pinion and actuated by an air bag or bellows, has been used for ringing a pneu-
matic signal bell, but such an arrangement necessitated the use in combination
there with of a ratchet wheel, pall, and spring (which I dispense with) to enable the
striker to revolve during the time the quadrant (which constantly remained in gear
with the pinion) made its return or back stroke, and therefore I lay no claim here
to such a combination of parts. The same arrangement of duplex centres of motion
is equally applicable to the working of the spring hammer of a striking gong, as
shown in side elevation and front view at Figures 2 and 3, the first movement by
tending to raise the spring hammer f, working on the same system of duplex
centres i and g, bringing its head against a stop pin 7 which arrests it, the hammer
escaping owing to the flexion of the spring shank, virtually shortening such shank,
when it is suddenly released and strikes the gong, whilst the return movement
draws down or disengages the hammer head and allows it to pass freely under the
stop in readiness for the next stroke.

page_text: It is obvious that the peculiar combination and arrangement of duplex centres
with toothed or friction eccentric segment and pinion may be applied to other
purposes where a ratchet and pall motion is now used, as will be seen on referring
to Figure 1, where the arrangement is shown as applied to driving machinery
through a strap and pulley with fly wheel m, thus obviating the necessity for the
pall and ratchet wheel and greatly simplifying the construction and action of the
mechanism. The rotary hammer a may, if desired, be fixed on the axle d.
I simplify the construction and action of the indicating apparatus for displaying
the order tablets of pneumatic signalling or communicating apparatus, as illustrated
in front view and section at Figures 4 and 5, by causing the compression of the
air to first act upon a piston a in a short cylinder b, which elevates the tablet c
through the rod or pusher a¹, then to pass through an opening d, exposed by the
movement of the piston into a branch pipe e, leading direct to the usual air bag or
bellows of the bell. A similar cylinder and piston with air pipe e is required for
each tablet, but a single bell may be used in connection with the entire series; or,
if preferred, each tablet may be connected with a separate bell. The tablets which
work loosely upon a rocking spindle fare reset by the attendant, who by the action
of a pusher g, or equivalent arrangement, partially turns the spindle f, and through
the intervention of projecting pina h working in slots i in the loose bosses of the
tablets causes any one or more of them to be re-adjusted.
As a mechanical modification of the before-described cylinder and piston arrange-
ment I sometimes propose to use the peculiar combination or arrangement of parts,
shown in elevation and plan at Figures 6 and 7, wherein the usual bellows a
perform the function of the piston a in the previous arrangement, a¹ being the
pusher hinged to the bellows, and formed with a hook or catch at k for retaining
the tablet when re-set after it has been thrown over by a pin 7 on the side of the
pusher af is the rocking spindle, and the pin working in the slot in the boss,
as previously described. The signal bell is at the same time actuated directly from
the bellows through the intervention of the lever m and arm n, carried by the
rocking shaft O, the lever arm n being connected to the rod p which is made to
actuate the bell mechanism in any convenient and well-known manner.
The herein-before mentioned arrangement of cylinder and sliding piston a is
equally applicable for imparting a step-by-step movement to the indicator on the
dial of an engine room, telegraph, or other like communicating apparatus, as shown
applied to the receiving instrument of such apparatus in Figure 8, the outward
movement of the said piston a and pusher a¹ working a double or single pall lever
(a single lever q being shown in the Drawing) and turning by means of the pall q¹
a ratchet wheel r, carrying the pointer or indicator 8 whilst allowing the com-
pressed air to pass to the signal or call bell by the pipe e; t is a controlling wheel
acted upon by the arm and roller u centred on the same axle as the lever q, for
controlling the motion of the indicator a weight wor a spring acting as the con-
trolling agent.
.
The inflating bellows of the communicating apparatus may be worked by a lever
connected to a crank pin in a small toothed pinion, which gears into a larger
toothed wheel carrying the actuating handle. On turning the handle from one
order. to the other on the dial of the sending or communicating instrument the
bellows will be compressed, and will inflate the air bag of the indicating apparatus.
It is obvious that bellows may be substituted for the piston pusher and cylinder,
in which modification the weight w may be made to strike a signal bell on its
return movement.
In lieu of compressing the inflating air bag or bellows of pneumatic signal bells
by the pusher hitherto adopted, & which does not always act with certainty
owing to its too slight action when not pushed well home, I propose to
substitute therefor in combination with a cam the well-known lever of the bell-
pull action commonly used for ringing ordinary house bells. Figures 9 and 10
(Sheet 2) illustrate this arrangement. On the inner side of the said lever a,
which may be fitted to work either right or left handed, there is fitted or formed

page_text: in one piece therewith a cylindrical or scroll cam b, the acting. edge of which is
inclined or made with a spiral and operates against the lever c, which works on a
fixed fulcrum d at one end, whilst its free end presses against the bellows or air
bag e. On pulling down the handle a the cam b pushes forward the said lever c
and compresses the air bag e, which is re-inflated or expanded in the well-known
manner. The lever a and scroll cam bare restored to their normal positions by
the spring f
Figure 11 illustrates the application of the last-mentioned arrangement to an
electric pull. a is the lever or pull; f is an insulated spring bearing upon
insulators g, g', and making a rubbing contact so as to complete the circuit with
an electric bell when the lever a is pulled over.
In some cases the handle or pull a may be disposed so as to draw downwards
and outwards from the wall, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the scroll cam b
being then dispensed with, as the inner end a¹ of the pull will act directly
upon the bellows or air bag, the spring of restoring the parts to their normal
positions.
•
In order to avoid any strain upon the rosette of the push button of pneumatic
bell apparatus I fix a metal ring a (see Figures 14 and 15) permanently into the
rosette b, such ring having an internal screw thread made therein which screw's
on to a screwed hollow boss fixed to the casing, and through which the push
button d works, by which arrangement all strain in working the "push" is taken
off the rosette.
My improved electric indicator is shown in front and side elevations at Figures 16
and 17; it consists of a horse-shoe permanent magnet a mounted on a fixed centre
b a little below its centre of gravity. When in its normal position its north and south
poles are attracted by the sides of the cores c, c¹, of two small electro-magnets d, d²,
such cores being connected by a cross bar e and enclosed by coils. The terminals of
one coil are connected to the "push" battery and bell, whilst those of the other coil
are connected respectively to the adjusting button and to reverse pole of the
battery.
The order tablet fis carried by a light arm 9 projecting downwards from the
centre of the horse-shoe magnet. When at rest the cores c, c', and cross bar e form
an amature to the magnet.
From the fact of the magnet being centred slightly below its centre of gravity
the necessity for a counterweight is obviated and the sensitiveness of the arrange-
ment is increased. Moreover the use of two cores connected by an iron bar
enables both the cores to operate upon the two limbs of the one permanent magnet
simultaneously, which also adds to the sensitivness by multiplying the power
of the current.
The dotted lines in Figure 16 show the position of the tablet and magnet when
operated upon by the coil d on closing the circuit at the press button. The
tablet is reset electrically by the reversed action of the other coil d'.
I lay no claim generally to the use of a permanent magnet in combination with
electro-magnets.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect; I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of the eccentric segment of and duplex centres i and g
with the wheel or pinion e when arranged and caused to operate as a new
mechanical motion for converting reciprocating motion into a circular motion,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figure 1. of my
Drawings.
Secondly. The application and use to and in the ringing of continuous sounding
pneumatic bells of the said mechanical movement, as herein-before described, and
illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 of my Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly. The application and use of the said mechanical movement for actuating
a single striking pneumatic bell, as herein-before described, and illustrated by
Figures 2 and 3 of my Drawings.
Fourthly. The peculiar arrangement of pneumatic signalling or communicating
apparatus wherein the compressed air is first caused to act upon a piston in a short
cylinder in order to display the tablet and then to pass through an opening in the
piston into a branch pipe leading to the air bag or bellows of the bell, substantially
in the manner herein-before described, and illustrated by Figures 4 and 5 of my
Drawings.
Fifthly. The mounting the order tablets on upright or nearly upright arms which
are pushed over when required to be displayed by the direct action of a pusher
worked either by a piston or bellows, as herein-before described, and illustrated by
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 of my Drawings.
Sixthly. The so arranging the pusher with its lateral pin and hook as that it shall
serve to set or display the tablet, and also to retain the same when reset, as herein-
before described, and illustrated by Figures 6 and 7 of my Drawings.
Seventhly. The application of the herein-before described cylinder piston and
pusher for imparting a step-by-step motion to the indicator or pointer of an engine
room or other like telegraph and sounding a bell, in the manner herein-before
described, and illustrated by Figure 8 of my Drawings.
Eighthly. The arrangements for compressing the air bag or bellows of pneumatic
bells by the direct action of a lever and cam working parallel or at right angles to
the wall or surface to which it is attached, substantially in the manner herein-
before described, and illustrated by Figures 9, 10, 12, and 13 (Sheet 2) of my
Drawings.
Ninthly. The combination of the internal screwed metal ring a and the screwed
hollow boss and bridge piece c with the rosettes of the push buttons of pneumatic
signalling apparatus, in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described, and
illustrated by Figures 14 and 15 of my Drawings.
Tenthly. The application and use in an electrical indicator of a horse-shoe
permanent magnet pivotted below its centre of gravity in combination with two
electro-magnets, caused to act substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described, and illustrated by Figures 16 and 17 of my Drawings...
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Francis Joel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY FRANCIS JOEL. (L.S.)
Witness,
EDWIN P. ALEXANDER,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
14, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.