Improvements connected with the controlling of Shop Window Illuminating Electric Lamps and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1899-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
Improvements connected with the controlling of Shop Window
Illuminating Electric Lamps and the like.
I, WALTER DOUGLAS, of 14, Agnes Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, 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:-
This invention has chiefly for its object to effect economy in the consumption and
cost of electric current of electric lamps employed in shop windows, shop signs, and
the like, for illuminating them, where it is desired to put the lamps in and out of
illumination at certain times and where the shops are closed, or lock-up" shops.
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I effect this end by the employment of automatic circuit closing and opening
devices, in combination with a timing device or devices, such as clocks, as hereafter
described arranged and adapted to act at any desired and predetermined moments,
and close the circuit, and put the lamps in illumination at a certain hour, say for
instance, 10 o'clock, and to put them out of illumination say at 12 o'clock.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation shewing more or less diagrammatically
the timing devices, namely, clocks, and circuit opening and closing switches; Figure 2
shews the circuit switches in side view; and Figure 3 is a section illustrating lever
mechanisms which control the action of the switches.
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"3
Referring to the drawings, a a represent the faces of ordinary clocks; b are
the hands; and c is a winding drum operated and controlled by the clockwork,
on which the chain or cord d carrying the weight e is wound. f is a
disc on the clock by which the clock may be "
setting
"
set to release the drum c at a
given time, similarly as in an alarm clock; and through which, upon the time
for which the clock is "set" being reached, the drum is released or freed, and
the weight e allowed to fall. There is employed in connection with each of the
clocks, a switch or circuit opening and closing device, consisting of a revolving
bridge bar h, preferably of suitable spring form-supported from the foot-plate
or socket piece i, and having a hand operating head j, and contact pieces k, in
connection with which the bridge bar h works. The circuit wires are coupled
o the binding knobs ¹ of this device. m is a hole through the slate or board v,
on which the mechanisms are placed, through which the short end of two levers n
bass. These levers are fulcrummed at n¹, and are normally pressed inwards by
he springs n²; and in connection with the other ends of these levers n, the
veights e of the clocks are adapted to act.
One of the clocks and circuit switches is for closing the circuit and turning current
n, which say is that on the right hand side, and the other is for opening it, and turning
he current off. On each of the stems 1 of the switch bars there is a spring j2, one
nd of which is fastened in i, and the other in the bars h; and these springs are so
dapted as to tend normally to close the circuit, and bring the bridge h on to the
ontacts k on the on-side and to take it off such contacts, and so open the circuit
a the off-side. In the latter case, the bridge / would normally rest against the fixed
op o.
In action, assuming the circuit to be open, and the lamps out, the bridge h on the
[DOJ1

page_text: $6
on "side of the mechanisms would be held and kept open by the lever n, which is
pressed normally into this position by the spring n²; and the weight e of both
clocks would be wound up. When the time arrives for lighting the lamps, the "on"
clock will release the weight drum c, and allow the weight e to fall onto the lever n,
the effect of which is that it will withdraw the end of n from the bridge bar ½, and
this bar would be instantly moved onto the contacts : by the spring j¹; since the
other switch bar h is on the contacts, it being held there by its lever n, the whole
circuit will be complete and the lamps put in illumination. The lamps will be kept
in illumination until the time arrives when the other clock was "set" to release
its weight; and when this happens, this weight strikes its lever n and releases the
switch bar h, which then flies off the contacts due to the spring j¹, and is held in the
mid position by the stop o. This opens the circuit and puts the lamps out of
illumination, when the function of the apparatus is complete.
Of course, for putting the apparatus in condition for action, the clock-set devices f
bave to be adjusted to the times fixed upon when the lamps are to be put in
and out of illumination; the "on" switch bar h is moved off the contacts kc, and
held there by its lever n, and the "off" switch bar is moved so onto its contacts k,
and is held there by its lever n..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
clain is
1. In a mechanism for putting shop window illuminating and like electric lamps
in a lamp circuit in and out of illumination at required and predetermined times, the
employment of duplex clocks or timing devices, switches and controlling and releasing
levers, one set being adapted to close the circuit for putting the lamps in illumina-
tion, and the other adapted to open it subsequently, for putting them out of
illumination; substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. The mechanism for putting shop window illuminating and like electric lamps in
a lamp circuit in and out of illumination, at times required, particularly as herein set
forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of May 1800
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.