US1972289A - Automatic transmitter key for distress signals - Google Patents

Description

p 1934. L. E. CHAUVEYAU 1,972,289

AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER KEY FOR DISTRESS SIGNALS Filed May 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR LOU/.5 L. f. CHAUVfAU BY/ -M ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1934. 1.. 1.. E. CHAUVEAU AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER KEY FOR DISTRESS SIGNALS Filed May 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LOU/5 L6. OWN/V54 AUl/C/L/ ATTORNEY slightly to the left of the Patented Sept. 4", 1934 PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC TRANSMITTER KEY FOB DISTRESS SIGNALS 1 Louis Lucien Eugene Chauveau, Paris, France Application May 20, 1929, Serial No. 364,617

- France May 19, 1928 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements upon apparatus disclosed in British Patent No. 803,839, and objects of these improvements are (l) to insure stopping the automatic signal- 5 ling apparatus in a definite position corresponding to the end of the signal, and (2) to allow of and cause the transmission automatically by said apparatus of another signal as contemplated at the present time by international radio committees.

In what follows, a description is given of one of. the improvements here disclosed by way of example and by reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 of which gives a schematic illustration of an automatic signalling system of the type disclosed in said above referred to patent including improvements the present invention; while, 1

Figure 2 illustrates a modification 0! the arrangement 0! Figure 1.

Signalling apparatus or the type involved here includes, see Figure 1, a location plate LP, a

code drum CD, an identification disk IND, an

S. O. 8. disk S03. and a distributor BA.

: The location plate, which serves to transmit the position of the device which is sending the signal, comprises a series or conductors No-Nn'corresponding respectively to the digits 0-9. Placed at right angles to these conducgo tors are 9 conductive guide bars Rl-RB, each of which carries a contact K adapted to contact also with the conductors; the guide bar R1 corresponds to the hundreds, R2 to the tens" and R3 to the units" of the longitude degrees v respectively, and R4 to the tens and R5 to the "units" of the longitude minutes respectively. Rr-Ra correspond respectively to the "tens and units of degrees and minutes of latitude. The location plate is shown in plan in Figure 1 and, plan in said figure in end elevation also.

Theloeation plate is-associated with a switch 81 adapted to contact with either of two contacts North and South and a switch S2 to con- 5 tact with either of two contacts East and West.

To indicate the position the different contacts K must be moved along their guide bars so as to contact with the conductors'appropriate to the members corresponding to the position of the 5 ship and the switches 51 and 3: must be made to contact with the appropriate contacts. The position set up on the location plate as shown in Figure 1 is 036 42' West 59 25' North.

The code drum CD comprises an insulated s5 drum T mounted on a shaft 8 driven by a small are 14 brushes, 09 and N. S. E. and W., ar-

' seen that each of the brushes one rotation of the drum, the conductors so as'to reproduce in Morse code motor M through gearing D. This gearing is such that the drum makes one revolution in four seconds which corresponds to a slightly less duration than the manually operated 8. O. S. signal.

Around the'periphery oi the drum '1 are arranged two metallic members P1, P2 shaped as shown and electrically connected to the shaft A.

In contact with one generatrix'oi the drum 66 ranged with respect to the members P1 and P2.

The brushes are fixed and the drum being rotatable in the direction of the arrow F, it will be o 9 will, during contact with parts of 7a the corresponding digit, for example, the brush '4 makes contact equivalent to 4 dots and a dash, brush 7 two dashes and three dots, etc. Similarly the brush S which corresponds to South will 15 contact for periods equivalent to 3 dots, the brush W corresponding to West making contact equivalent to a dot and 2 dashes.

The identification disk IND comprises a metallic disk having portions corresponding to the name of the ship in Morse code. The space between these portions is -filled with insulating material and the disk is mounted on a shaft at one end of the drum CD. A brush I makes contact with the circumference of the disk. The identification disk is separate from the drum '1 to facilitate construction, the disk, of course, varying "for difierent ships. The S. O. S. disk is formed similar to the indicating disk but is provided with portions corresponding to the S. O. S. signal; a brush SO contacts with this disk which is so mounted at the end of the shaft as to be easily detachable, so as to allow it to be replaced by code message disks, corresponding to a predetermined signal.

The distributor comprises a brush BA fast with a ratchet wheel R. The main shaft Bearries a cam CA. I

At each revolution of the drum T the cam CA advances the ratchet wheel R one tooth through a connecting rod B1 and pawl CL. A counter pawl CCL holds the ratchet wheel in its positions. This arrangement is such that after each revolution of the drum the ratchet wheel R and brush BA advance one step. The brush BA is displaced across a series of 17 contacts or a commutator with 17 segments Ll-Ll'l. The first three contacts or segments are connected to the brush S0 of the S. 0. 8. disk, the next five are connected to the bars R1Rs respectively, the no are insulated. 1

contact L9 is connected to the switch 82, contacts Lit-L13 are connected to the bars Eta-Re respectively, contact L14 to switch S1, and contacts L15 and Lm to the brush I of the identification disk. The purpose of L11 will appear hereinafter.

The use of such a distributor has the advantage that the brush BA is stationary during the transmission of signals; contact thereof is therefore assured. The displacement of a brush of one contact over another takes place only at the end of each revolution at a moment when no signal is sent for the developed height of the metallic member P1 is less than the developed periphery of the drum T and'the cam CA is set at an angle such that the displacement of the brush BA takes place at the end of the revolution when all the brushes of the drum and disks The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Imagine the apparatus including the board BB, the disk BA, drum CD, etc., to be set as shown and that contact L11 is out. The motor M is connected to the source of energy connected with terminals C1, C2 and drives the shaft S in the directionof the arrow.

nected, as shown, by way of M1 to the negative lead C2 of the source while theshait S is connected by way of M2 and MN to the positive terminal of the source. The cam CA actuates the connecting rod B1, the ratchet wheel R ad-. vances one step, and the brush BA contacts with the contact Ll. In these conditions the brush S0 of the S. O. S. disk is connected to the contact while the disk itself is connected to the terminal M2 through the shaft A. The S. O. 8. signal is therefore transmitted once from a radio transmitter, not shown, during the first revolution of the drum CD. 'At the end of this revolution the cam CA again operates the connecting rod B1, brush BA passes to contact La and again connects the brush SO, and the S. O. 3. signal is transmitted at second time during the second revolution. At the end of this revolution the brush BA passes to contact In and the S. O. 8. signal is transmitted a third time.

At the end of the third revolution, the h BA passes to contact L; which is connected to the bar R1 whose contact is in contact with brush 0 of the drum T through-the conductor No.

Thus, during the fourth revolution, the digit 0 is transmitted via terminals Mz'and MTN. At the end of the fourth revolution, the brush passes to L5 which is connected to R2 whose contact is in contact with N3 connected to brush 3. Thus during the fifth revolution, the digit 3 is transmitted via the terminals M2 and MN to the radio transmitter.

. Thus the transmission continues, the brush ad= 'vancing one contact at the end of each revolu= tion, the bars R1 and R9 and switches S1 and a are successively put into contact with the terminal M2 by the distributor and appropriate conductors and drum T. The position signal is thus transmitted.

At the end of the fourteenth revolution, the brush BA passes to the contact L15, the brush 1' is connected to the terminal M1, the disk IND being connected to the shaft S and terminal M2. The name will thus be transmitted during the fifteenth revolution, the same operation occurring during the sixteenth revolution.

It will thus be seen that a complete rotation (except for one step) of the brush BA corresponds to 16 revolutions of the drum T and correctly The brush BA is con-' aeraase transmits the distress signal via the terminal M2.

In order to insure that the motor M, code drum CD, etc., stop at the desired position, that is, when a complete set of calls have been sent out by a complete rotation of the brush A of the distributor, the energizing cirhit for the call device may be connected as shown in Figure 1 and may include the control devices and improvements now to be described.

In the device 01 the patent a source of energy has one terminal connected to the motor directly and the other terminal adapted to be connected thereto by way of one pole of a double pole switch, the other pole of which connects the brush BA to one side of the radio transmitter apparatus, the other side of the radio transmitter apparatus being connected to a brush on the code drum shaft.

In the present application the two-pole circuit-breaker disclosed in the patent is replaced by acingle-pole reversing switch I and as the terminals C1 and C2 are connected with the poles of the source, as shown in Figure 1, the brush EA will be directly united with theterminal M1, the latter being associated with the negative pole of a coon source not shown, and terminal M2 with the manipulating key relay MN causing transmission from the radio equipment.

' described hereinbeiore.

When the apparatus is used merely for the transon of distress signals including the name of the vessel and the position thereof, as described hereinbei'ore, that is, exclusive or the new =1 ill-1 hereinafter to be mentioned, terminal G is tly united with the negative pole of the source, and tels A and FN are united between each other as shown in Fig. 1.

e operation of the assembly is then as fol"- lows. Shifting the reversing switch I to the right into the g or operative position on contact MA. coil 1 of relay GA is energized through the circuit from the positive terminal of the source to Cl-MA--1-G tothe negative teal of the source. The relay GA being thus excited causes the closing of its contacts. The relay GA is blocked (guarded) by its contact G2 which completes the circuit through i from the positive tel of the source to C1 toterminal 8 of G1, G2 winding 1, G to the negative terminal oi the source, while the motor M is fed by way of contact 4 of G1 through the circuit 01, 4, M, (32, with the result that the motor is started up and the apparatus is rendered operative to key a radio transmitter, as described hereinbefora The motor will continue to run as long as the reverser switch 1' remains in position on MA, and if, at some instant or another, the said switch is placed in the stop position on contact AR,

Ll,7, winding 2 will be energized by the source through a circuit including 2, A, FN, Ln, M1, the source Cl, G1, 3, AR and 2, and since both windings l and 2 are then simultaneously energized, though in-opposition, the apparatus will come to a stop because the armatures 3 and 4 open breaking the motor circuit and the circuit to the windings 1 and 2. It will be noted that this device makes it possible to cause the stopping of the apparatus in a definite position, i. e., a position corresponding to the instant when brush or wiper BA slides over the contact stud L17.

International radio commissions at the present time are contemplating a preliminary alarm signal more particularly suited for the actuation of receiving selectors. This signal would consist of twelve dashes each lasting four seconds, and being separated by intervals of one second. Hence, this alarm signal would take one minute. and it should be sent out before the distress signal proper. The second improvement and object of the present application concerns the addition to the apparatus constituting the object of the main application of a device adapted to insure the dispatching of the said alarm signal.

This device comprises (see Figure 2) a distributor DS directly mounted upon a. shalt B revolving at the rate of one rotation per minute, the said shaft being driven by a motor (not shown). This distributor DS comprises twelve conducting contact studs separated by insulating intervals or spacers. This distributor is rotated under a brushor wiper bl. The assembly is disposed in such a way that the time of contact '1 between wiper hi and the contact studs will be four seconds separated by intervals of one second. This device is therefore suited to send out the alarm signal.

Upon the shaft B is also mounted a cam CA 1 having a notch wherein engages a lock or pawl VR which stops the movement. The cam CA further bears a small contact PC which in the course of rotation of the shaft comes to make contact with a brush b2. The contact PC has a definite position being so chosen that it will strike the brush 112 only at the end of each rotation of CA and US a slight instant before the notch in the cam comes to be placed before or in front of the lock or latch VR.

The lock VR is kept engaged in the cam by the agency of a spring 1', and disengagement therewith is accomplishable by an electromagnet DV when the latter is energized. The said electromagnet DV when actuated opens the circuit of the winding 1 of the blocking or holding relay GA at C3. A stopping relay ART is engaged by closing of the contact PC, and the brush b2 so as to interrupt the circuit of DV and thereby liberate or release the lock VR.

The operation of the assembly is as follows:

' The connections are established as shown in Figure 2. It is noted; the wire PM to A in Figure l is omitted. In giving the operation it will be assumed that the arm BA has been moved during previous operation to rest on contact L11 and the motor M is at rest. When the apparatus is in the stop or inoperative position, that is to say, when BA is positioned upon the contact stud L17, terminal FN is associated with the negative pole through circuit FN, L11. M1, C3, and, with the contact of ART being at rest, DV is likewise connected with the negative pole through circuit DV, FN, L11, M1, C2. When the reversing switch I is closed upon the running position MA, terminal R is united with the positive pole and the electromagnet DV is rendered operative through circuit DV, FN, L11, M1, source C1, MA, G2 and DV; the latter thus pulls up the pawl or look VR, and the cam CA and the distributor thus released are caused to rotate. The result is that the keying electromagnet MN is energized by way or studs DS, the shaft B, and brush bl. Hence, this electromagnet causes the sending out of the alarm signal.

At the end of rotation of DS and of cam CA, the contact stud PC passes on the brush b2, the electromagnet ART is energized by circuit PC, 112, ART, R1, G2, MA and C1, and it interrupts the circuit of DV whereby the lock VB. is released, so that the latter comes to engage in the notch of the cam CA and stops the transmission of the alarm signal. At the same instant the contact PC passes beyond the brush b2. However, the relay ART remains still energized by way of its working contact wk, which has moved to the left so that ART receives negative current by way of terminal FN, L17, BA, M1, C2 and the negative terminal of the source.

During the sending of this signal by the distributor DS and associated circuits the motor M has remained at rest because winding 1 of GA has remained unenergized since the contact Ca has been held open by the energized winding DV. Since winding 1 is unenergized contacts 3 and 4 are open and the motor circuit is not complete nor is the holding circuit for winding 1.

After ART has operated and after the circuit of DV has been broken, the contact 03 has been closed, the electromagnet GA is excited by its winding 1, GA operates, closes holding circuit contact armature -3 and motor circuit contact 4, and the motor is revolved; the brush BA then passes from contact stud L17 to stud L1, and ART comes to rest because the circuit R, MA, C1, the positive terminal of the energizing source, M1, BA, etc., back to ART, is broken at L11. The motor turns and the distress signal is sent out in a way as described hereinbefore and in the patent.

At the end of the distress signal the brush BA comes to be positioned again upon the stud L17. The electromagnet ART is then at rest, the relay DV is energized, and this causes the breaking at contact 03 of the circuit of GA and results in the stopping of the motor M. At the same time the cam CA is unlocked so that DS and CA can rotate and the alarm signal is sent out again, and the same cycle is repeated over and over again; indeed, as long as the reversing or throw-over switch I is in the operating position MA, the alarm signal and the distress signalwill be sent out successively and alternately.

Sometimes it is desired to interrupt the signalling operation, that is, to stop signalling after the alarm signal has been sent out and the distress signal has been sent out. To do so, some time after the arm BA leaves the contact L11, but before it reaches the contact L11, switch I is shifted to the left hand position contact AR.

When the circuit breaker I is shifted to the position AR the motor circuit remains complete because the relay GA is held in the contact closing position by winding 1, which is energized by the circuit: minus terminal of the source, closed contact 3 of GA, terminal C1, and the positive terminal of the source. The motor circuit at this time is from C1, through the closed contact 4.- of GA. the motor winding, and back to C2.

If thecircuit through the winding 1 is open actuated.

the contacts 3 and 4 of GA will be open and the motor circuit will be broken.

The contact C3 is open when DV is energized. DV is energized when BA reaches L17 because the following circuit through DV is completed: positive terminal of the source, C1, holding contact 3 of GA, R, the winding of DV, the contact of ART, which is closed, terminal FN, contact Ln, arm BA, terminal Ml, terminal C2, and the minus terminal of the source.

It will thus be seen that this relay, DV, is energized when BA becomes positioned upon contact Ln with the result that the motor M is arrested with BA staying in this position. After the opening of C3 the keepers of GA open the contacts 3 and 4 and DV ceases to be energized since its circuit is broken at 3. All of the relays become deenergized and the entire apparatus comes to rest. The locking means VR drops into the notch in the disk CA, preventing rotation of the disk and the distributor B8.

In this arrangement, therefore, alarm signals followed by distress signals may be sent out continuously and insequence by merely starting the i apparatus as described hereinbefore, and leaving the switch I in contact with contact MA, or a single alarm signal followed by a single distress signal may be sent out by moving the contact I into a position bearing on contact AR some time after the distributor DS has stopped rotating and the motor M has started to rotate so that arm BA has left contact L17. It follows, of course, that any desired number of the signalling operations may be completed in sequence before the apparatus is stopped. t

It will be understood that this invention may be used separately or in combination with the device in the above referred to patent.

I claim:

1.111 an automatic electric distress-signal transmitter apparatus, a distributor comprising a plurality of contacts, a rotatable wiper adapted when rotated to make contact with the contacts, means for forming electric circuits each corresponding to a signal, each of said circuits passing through a contact of the distributor and the wiper, an electric motor for driving said wiper and causing said wiper to bear on all of said contacts in cyclic order, a rotary keying device, a plurality of electric circuits corresponding to supplementary signals, said circuits each including a contact adapted to be closed by retation of said keying device,-means for driving the keying device and simultaneously stopping the motor, and for driving the motor and simultaneously stopping the keying device, and means for stopping the movement of the assembly of the system when the wiper is in a definite position independently of the time when the control means of the said means for stopping have been 2. In an automatic electric distress-signal transmitter apparatus, a distributor comprising a plurality of contacts, a rotatable wiper adapted to make contact with said contacts, means for forming electric circuits each corresponding to a signaLand each of said circuits being closed through a contact of said distributor and the wiper, an electric motor for rotating said wiper and causing said wiper to bear on each of the contacts in cyclic order, an energizing circuit for said motor, a rotary keying device, an electrical circuit periodically broken to form supplementary signals, said circuit including a contact adapted to be intermittently opened and closed by rotation of said keying device, a rotational body integral with the keying device, an electrical line, means on said body for closing and opening the circuit of said electrical line in a definite position during rotation, a relay associated with a contact on said distributor, a second relay associated with said line, means for stopp s rotation of said body immediately after the opening of the said line, the second relay and stopping means being controlled by said relay associated with said distributor, said second relay associated with said electrical line being ed to open the circuit of the first relay, 2. third relay-whose energizing circuit is 10() controlled by the first relay, said third relay controlling the circuit of the said electric motor, a starting switch, a potential source, means for connecting one pole of the potential-source with the 1 first and the third relay at the same time to energize the same when the switch is positioned upon a certain or definite contact, and means for maintaining energization of the third relay between the times when the switch leaves the said contact and the instant when no and said driving means when said automatic signals have been sent including a distributor driven by a motor and arranged to complete a circuit when said distributor reaches a predetermined position of rotation, as. second relay connected with said circuit and having means to deenergize said first 111.; ed relay and deenergize said driving meansresponsive to the operation of said second relay, means for sending out an alarm 1 when said driving means is inoperative, and means-responsive to the termination of the alarm signal for rendering said driving means operative and acting to again energize the first relay.

Images