Improvements in and relating to Electric Call Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1802
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Call Apparatus.
I GRAYDON POORE of 35 Oak Hill Road, Putney in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to electric call
apparatus and has for its object to render such apparatus more convenient, rapid
and practically useful to the public in what capacity soever it may be employed.
According to my improvements I construct my apparatus upon what has now
become known as the "automatic" or "coinfreed principle, so that by the
insertion of a proper coin an operator can transmit a predetermined signal (for
example to procure a messenger) from any one of a number of stations on the
same electric circuit to another station, for example from a call station to a central
station.
The mechanism I adopt may consist of any suitable type of electric call
apparatus to which I apply or with which I combine a locking appliance of suitable
kind freed by the action of coin and adapted when so freed to operate, or release
and operate, or allow to be operated, directly or indirectly the transmitting
mechanisin and so transmit or allow to be transmitted any given predetermined
signal.
any suitable
With such a coin freed electric call apparatus I may combine
appliance for delivering by the action of the coin writing materials or other goods
previously stored in the apparatus, in which case I make provision for the recep-
tion and security of the written message.
By these means an operator can either simply call a messenger to the call
station, or he may both call and obtain materials whereupon to write his message
if desired, and leave a written message for the attention of the messenger
answering the call.
Dated this 8th day of May 1891.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Call Apparatus.
1 GRAYDON POORE of 33 Oak Hill Road. Putney in the County of Surrey,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to electric call
apparatus and has for its object to render such apparatus more convenient, rapid,
and practically useful to the public in whatsoever capacity it may be employed.
According to my improvements I construct my apparatus upon what has now
become known as the "automatic" or "coin freed principle, so that by the
insertion of a proper coin or equivalent an operator can transmit a predetermined
signal (for example to procure a messenger) from any one of a number of stations
on the same electric circuit to another station, for example, from a call station to
a central station.
The mechanism I adopt may consist of any suitable type of electric call apparatus
to which I apply or with which I combine an arrangement of locking appliance of
suitable kind freed by the action of coin and adapted when so freed to operate, or

page_text: release and operate, or allow to be operated, directly or indirectly the transmitting
mechanism, and to transmit, or allow to be transmitted any given predetermined
signal.
With such a coin freed electric call apparatus I may combine any suitable
appliance for delivering by the action of the coin or equivalent writing materials
or other goods previously stored in the apparatus, in which case I make provision
for the reception and security of the written message.
By these means an operator can simply call a messenger to the call station,
or he may both call and obtain materials whereupon to write his message if
desired, and leave the written message for the attention of the messenger answering
the call.
I will now fully describe my invention in reference to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate two types of apparatus by which it may be carried
into effect.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a simple electric call apparatus with which is
combined a suitable locking appliance adapted to be freed by the action of a coin
or cquivalent, and also an appliance in which writing materials are stored for
delivery on receipt of the coin or equivalent, and the pulling out of a slide; and a
locked receptacle for the message when written if required.
In
In the electric call apparatus D is a rotary disc loose on its axle and suitably
mounted, the rim of which is in frictional contact with a fixed electrical contact C
in connection with the line wire at P; the other a return conductor. N may be
carried from the axle as shown, or from any suitable part of the mechanism.
the rim are provided a number of points or spaces d,d, of predetermined lengths
which on revolution of the disc will make or break the circuit for periods corre-
sponding to their lengths. B is a pinion fast on a pawl wheel 6 and is a pawl
centred on disc D. Engaging pinion B is a rack K fixed to and receiving motion
from slide M with handle m or otherwise, and the whole is enclosed in case A.
The locking appliance is illustrated as consisting of the tumbler T centred on
end of a bar fixed to rack R; t is a rack normally locking tumbler, t' a shelf
for clearing tumbler therefrom a is the money slot aud . an inserted coin.
The appliance for storing writing materials consists of column W, and w are the
cards or other materials the lowest of which rests in a recess m' in slide M.
61
E is a desk provided for the purpose of writing the message, e the posting slot,
el a locked receptacle, and the whole is enclosed in the frame A to which may be
added for convenience the hood H. Such being one apparatus for our purpose the
operation is as follows. To transmit a signal simply calling a messenger the
operator inserts the coin or equivalent at slot a and pulls slide M by handle m,
the inserted coin X then raises tumbler T clear of locking rack t and releases
the slide, the outward movement of which withdraws rack R rotating pinion B
and pawl wheel. The pawl during the outstroke thus drives the disc D through
one revolution during which the points or spaces d d pass over the fixed contact C
and so alternately break and complete the otherwise uninterrupted current running
round the electric circuit PN; the special characteristics of the points or spaces dit
constitute and form the predetermined and distinguishing signal which is tele-
graphically transmitted and mechanically denoted and recorded if required by any
suitable receiving instrument at the receiving station, from whence a messenger
will be despatched to the particular call apparatus thus identified. In a com-
bination such as is illustrated where writing materials are provided, to avoid
detaining the operator until the arrival of the messenger, the former may take
the writing materials lying upon the slide and write and deposit his message in the
locked receptacle e¹, and the messenger on arrival will unlock and obtain the
written message for delivery.
In further illustration of the useful combination of known mechanisms to effect
my novel purpose I have shown in front elevation in Figure 2 a well known
telegraph signalling apparatus which also by stored power is intended to prevent
the signals of different instruments on the same electric circuit interfering with

page_text: one another (and which is fully described in the Specification accompanying
Letters Patent No. 3361 A.D. 1876). With this is combined an apparatus for
coin freed machines (such as is described in Specification accompanying Letters
Patent No. 10231 A.D. 1887,) but here no slide or storage appliance is combined.
In the above combination the operating handle M of the signalling apparatus is
normally locked by the arm T of the coin lever L engaging in the stop in the
cam wheel t. In operation the weight of a coin or equivalent . inserted through
money slot a and falling into bucket Z serves to depress same to the dotted
position shown, thereby removing the arm T from engagement with stop in cam
wheel t, which may then be operated by the handle to perform its duty of
operating the transmitting apparatus, or storing power for use when the line is
clear, as the case may be.'
During the forward stroke of handle M the cam on wheel T pushes back the
arm of lever L sufficiently far to bring the pin of the tumbling part of
bucket Z against the fixed stop 2, when the coin falls out and by the action of
weight W all the parts are returned to normal locked positions.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of the forms
of apparatus shown in the drawings or to any particular or special form or forms
of apparatus, as any kind or type of same may be substituted and employed which
will produce the same or an analogous result; for example, a slide may be dispensed
with and the weight of the coin acting on a lever or otherwise may be utilized to
make and break contact and transmit the signal in any known manner; or, the
simple act of pushing the coin through the slot may be utilized to operate
adjacently disposed an internal lever or levers serving the same purpose; or
the coin action may serve to release previously wound clockwork adapted to
operate in the required manner a message disc such as D or an equivalent
device and by the same action in each case, to free a goods container or not, as
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A new kind of electric call apparatus whereby on insertion of a coin or its
equivalent operators transmit or can transmit from call stations on the same
electric circuit a predetermined signal to another point mechanically and tele-
graphically denoting thereat that a messenger is required at the point of
payment.
2. The combination with any suitable electric call and transmitting apparatus of
an arrangement of coin freed locking appliance, whereby an inserted coin or
equivalent serves to operate or to release and operate, or to allow to be operated
directly or indirectly the transmitting apparatus, and so to transmit, or allow to
be transmitted, telegraphically any predetermined signal.
3. The combination with coin freed electric call apparatus of suitable construc-
tion of an appliance for storing writing materials or other goods and delivering a
sample thereof on receipt of the coin and operation of a slide or equivalent
and a receptacle for receiving the written message if required substantially as
set forth.