US1026779A

US1026779A - Annunciator or indicator.

Info

Publication number: US1026779A
Application number: US59053210A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willard S Woodruff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-11-03
Filing date: 1910-11-03
Publication date: 1912-05-21
Anticipated expiration: 1929-05-21

Description

W. S. WOODRUPF.

ANNUNGIATOR 0R INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

1,026,779. Patented May 21,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

QVi-tweobc o V {J mve 11 10 a g 5 M0144 J W. S. WOODRUFF.

ANNUNGIATOR 0R. INDICATOR.

- APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. S. WOODRUPP.

ANNUNGIATOR 0R INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

1,026,779. Patented May 21, 1912;

" 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' a woe Mo "wi l'nezbe I W. S. WOODRUFP.

ANNUNGIATOR OR INDICATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED not. a, 1910.

1,026,779. I Pa en ed May 21, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

. E I I I y 3// Z .1 ,0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD S. WOOlDRUFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ANNUNCIATOR OR INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 3, 1910. Serial No. 590,532.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLARD S. VVooo- RUFF, a citizen of the United States, and

resident of New York, borough of Brooklyn,

county of Kings, and Stateof New York, have made a new and useful Invention in Annunciators or Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is directed particularly to improvements iii-electrically cont-rolled annunciators or indicators of that type in which predetermined numbers, letters or and fall by their own weight into view; secopd,to provide an apparatus of this nature iii which cont-rolling electroinagncts shall be relatively closely assembled and their armatures and releasing attachments so devised,

and arranged as to surely effect the release of any of the numbers, letters, or characters and in any desired order; third, to provide an apparatus of this-nature in which there shall be utilized a plurality of sets of indieating numbers, letters, or characters so located or arranged with relation to each other and their controlling clectromagnets that two or more like combinations of individual numbers may be displayed simultaneously; that is to say, so that when any definite compound number, embracing two or more of such indicating numbers, letters or characters, are released they Wlll appear on opposite or adpicent sides of the apparatus so as to give a wide range of observation; in

other words, so that persons located difi'erent-ly with relation to the apparatus may simultaneously see a like indication or call; fourth, to provide an apparatus of this nature in which the controlling and operating mechanism proper t'or releasing and setting the individual numbers, letters or characters may be located at a definite point, as on the street, in a field, stadium, race-track, or the like, and the electrically operated controlling mechanism at a relatively distant point, both sets of apparatus being connected together by detachable conductors in the nature of a compound cable provided with switch plug connections atboth ends and all so arranged that the apparatus may be absolutely portable and set up for use anywhere; fifth, to provide an apparatus like that disclosed in the drawings which is Patented May 21, 1912. I

especially applicable for use in carriage and cab call service at theatres, public halls and pr vate residences in densely populated cities, the compact and portable nature of my improved apparatus making it especially v useful in this particular.

Prior to my invention electrically controlled annunciators or indicators had been devised in which indicating numbers were located upon the surface of rotatable disks or wheels journaled upon a stationary shaft, there being as many numbers on the surface of each disk as it is desired to combine with other numbers for the purpose of making a relatively large number of calls; as, forinstance, with a combination of ten disks and a combination of numbers running from 0 to 9 upon the surface of each disk it was possible to give a relatively large number of indications. Such an apparatus, however,

.while simple in its structure and mode of operation is open to the objection that where number disks of relatively large surface area are necessitated, as for instance in field service or generally in outdoor service where it is desired to give indications at relatively long distances, combinations of disk indica tors of this nature necessarily make the apparatus unwieldy and cumbersome, because of the relatively large dimensions of the disks carrying the numbers to be exposed. My improvement is designed to overcome this objectionable feature, in that I can amass a large number of indicating numbers, letters or characters upon disks of relatively large superficial area and in a relatively very small space, as will be appreciated on reading the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, reference to which is-now had for a full and clear understanding of the invention.

Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the circuit cont-rolling relations of my improved apparatus as operatively connected with a push-button board or keyboard and a li1nthe apparatus, illustrated in Fig. 2 as seen "dicating a paratus at the outl ing point I such swi-tch'plug apparatus at eachend of the cable forthus effectually making the a parat'us, as awhole, absolutely portable.

or annunciator disks, the edges of four'su'ch 1 disks beingshown in position. Fig. 9 is a release view takenthrough Fig. 9 on the line ZZ- 1 and as seen looking thereat from left to I I as i that the outer face of such disk is painted thin light conveying fabric widely different mains; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the indicating apparatus illustrating its I bottom of the drawing, the central atop por- 5 is a'detail plan view of a switch plug apparatus, illustratlng connections for one fiend of a'cable'containing insulated conduc- 't-hereat from the bottom" toward the top 0 so larged' plan view of one of the upper ends .upper end of one of the number disks show- "locking rod which holdsit in its upper or concealed position. Fig. 12-is an enlarged for starting the motor and the circuit connections running from the motor to a street main-or a trolley or other power .service portable nature by disclosing the fact that it is slidably sustained upona portable I standard. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of looking thereat from the top toward the tion being broken away at the sides to better illustrate'certain features of the operative parts of the controlling or releasingelectromagnets. Fig. 4 is an end elevational view as'seen looking at Fig. 2 from left to right.

tors running-between the keyboard apparatus actuated by the operator, and the im where the, atter is located, there ing one ig. 6 is a sectional view taken through Fig. 5 on the line X-X and as seen lookin the'drawing; and, Fig. 7 is a Silliilfll' sectional view of the receptive ":5? the apparatus for the switch plugs at eachend of the cable and'is particularly illustrated in sectional view on the line YY at the upper left hand side of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enof the grooved guide-ways for the number greatly enlarged plan. view illustrating the manner of adjustingthe guides for the locking or sustaining lugsor ears of the indica-tingnumber disks, so that they will surely assume their locked position when lifted to their u per limit and with like certainty be when their corresponding release magnets are energized. Fig. 10 is a sectional medium, such as white silk or other very in color from the black face. i

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 represents thebase of the apparatus which is preferably rectan lar form and detachably suppo by thumbscrews, as shown in- Fig. 2, upon a standard 2 adapted toslide vertically in a portable base 3,. 4 being a locking in for looking it at any desired'height. vhile I have illustrated thispa'rt' of the apparatus as being sustainedupona portable base,such as a tripod, it will be understood thatfor. use in connection withhotels, theaters or buildings generally in cities'where large numbers of vehicles are to be called, it maybe permanently secured. i

to the top of a permanent post, such .as a.

lamp-post, or 'may be secured in any pre- 1 ferred way, de ndent upon the nature of the use to whic itisto' be, ut.

The reference numerals our 6-6, 6-6,

-3' gnate pairs a of vertically disposed members secured at their lower ends directly to the base 1' and in parallel relation with each other and 7-7, 7--7, rep resent pairs of horizontally disposed members extending lengthwise and parallel with the base, the first pair being a proximately midway between the base andt e top' of the apparatus and'the second pair located on the tops of the members 6-6, 6-6.

8, 8, 8, 8, represent fourinterconnected metal trusses secured between the members.

6- 6, 6-6 etc., and 9--9 are parallel wooden members located closely ad acentto each other and securedto the'aforesaid trusses, the vertical members 6-45, 66,.ho1-izontal members 7-7, 77, 9-9 and trusses 8, 8 constitutingas a whole the ent-iresupport ing frame of the apparatus; 10, 10 being conducting bars constituting a part of the return circuit of the controlling generator secured at the inner edges of the

members

9, 9, which are made preferably of wood or other insulating material.

.11, 11 are number or character disks made preferably of rectangular structure and of relatively thin lightsheet metal, the numbers or characters indicated beingstenciled or cut out, as illustrated in Fig. 2, where two numbers are shownas 5 andfi. It will be noted that the central number disks between .5 and 6 have been left out in l l this view for the purpose of avoiding confusion and better illustratin other parts.

Each one of these number dis s is provided with a lug or ear 12 and an opening 13, said lug or car as thus constructed constitutingthe means for simultaneously guiding it ,to its proper u per or concealed position, and also 7 .for enab ing it to be held by the operative or control parts of the corresponding electromagnets, as will be described later on. It will be noticed that the lugs or cars for the disks of like number are located relatively closely to each other when assembled so that these disks in their upper or suspended position cover each other, while the lugsare disposed in offset relation to each pact-x and especially economical" as to space (see'. Fig:.' 3)- The bars117 are. of different lengths wherebyqtheirshouldered;ends- 18* -are disposed in' ofis'et relation-for; engaging 1 '""'witlilthe oitsetting'lugs12 ofthe-di'sks.

'The.- ,verticalldisposed members 6-43,.

i ."theouterrpairs' of such-.meinbersrhaving said grooves of such tnaturwas clearl'yaindicated.

14, the arrangement being. 'such' .that# these 'freeslidingsiaetiomfromthe-bottom of'the ap 'mratusitov a conoealed positionat the top, ass illustrated in Fig.) 2,1 it-beingzt.understood l th'at irtther-actual instrument. these f disks are normally.- located behind ani'opaque surface'in acase. i 15,15,123, are p'airsjof electromagnetssecured to the

trusses

8, 8, 8,8, as illustrated j =-25Figs; 3-and-4,-. all in- =a common. plane near "the "top .-,of the apparatus," there being one {such eectromagnetfiioreach numbervdiska .These' electrom'a etsy arefprovided ':with the usual armature. evers{1t 3 '16; 17-, 17 ,being locking rods- 'pivotally".supported at theupper ends of eachof such armature levers and eachprovided with a beveled locking shoulder 18 at its free end ildapbed. to hold its corresponding number 'disk 11 in its 86-- uppr or concealed 'positionby reasonof its frictional orlockingrelation in" connection with its corresponding lug or ear 12. when it extends through the opening 13, .as will be clearly apparent on inspection 'of'Figs. 10 and 11. 19 and 20 are pairs of metallic bars which y are connected together and. to horizontally disposed bars 25, -extending across the entire apparatus at the-top thereof (see Figs. 4, 9 and 10)- there being one pair of such.'bars' for each of the six sets of electromagnets shown in Fig. 3. The bar 19 is" provided with diagonally disposed notches 21 and the bar 20 is provided with correspondingdiagonally disposed slots 22 have ing beveled shoulders (see Fig. 10) it being the function of these corresponding notches and slots to act as guide-ways for the holding 111,953 or cars 12 when .they are forced 55 upward into their concealed locked position,

as will bedescribed in connection with the;

description of the mode of operation. The bars 20 at their opposite ends are provided -with slots 23 and the bars 19 at their op- 0 posite ends are provided with adjusting

screws

24, 24 for adjusting the widths of the openings through which the lugs 12 are to pass.

It will be apparent on an examination of 6 the central portion of Fig. 3 of the drawings other,- such an arrangementbeing very-comf lll the? enlarged view Fig. 8,: by the number'- numberfdiskswhem iir-ipositionrwill have a:

' T A AI LE coPv that the lo'cking rods '17 connected =-to the; armature leverslfi varyin-length from left/ '72: to right and from rightto left respectively. incbothwse'ts, and on an examinationofFi-gi; 9. that the guide way openings between the bars-:19 and 20 are correspondingly. disposed, I and-'also-rthat 'the lugs- 12. arearranged in .likemannersothat bysuch dispositions I.

am enabledZ to closely suspend a relatively largenumber of number disks :in-La relw 5 *tively small r spacebothlongitudinallyi and 4 all. of these-parts are. correspondingly ar- 'ranged j In; the-correspondingparts-of the apparatus-illustrated .in Fig. 3, there. being 3 in this figure-"ofthe drawings thirtysix of the controlling magnets .15} and with the-number disk'sfiand operative parts all..-oorrespondingly assembled, so that all'of- 'th'ese parts-being. arranged in'duplicate the r seinecombination number will be displayed on opposite sides ofltheapparatus) at the sametimeafterwtheproper numbers of the combinationhave been-released; j

127, 27 are-horizontallydisposed lifting bars which normally; rest upon rubber butters- 28, .285, 28*:28,.there": being one such lifting b'arzateach' end of theapparatusand' v operativelyconnected at their opposite ends through: links 29,- 29: and turn buckles B0, 30-

9s withfour chains

31, 31, 31', 31- running up 1- ward and over pairs of

pulleys

32, 32 atthe" opposite sides and ends of the apparatus and inward through additional pairs of

pulleys

33, 33 where they are connected 'to two single chains running over additional pulleys 34, 35-and then to a single chain downward-to the upper end ofa link 136 i I which in turn is connected to .ao'counterweight 37 at the end "of an arm-39 carried i by a gear-wheel 40 journaled upon a shaft in the top of a standard 41 secured. to-the' base. 1, said gear-wheelbeing in mesh-with" a worm 42 carried by a shaft 43 connected to the armature of an electric motor M normally out of circuit; I

44 is a rotatable arm secured at one end ofthe shaft which supports the-gear-

wheel

40 and 45 is a circuitbreaking pin carried. I at the free end of said arm. v

46 and 50 (see Figs. 1 and 2) are .eontroL- ling magnets for placing the motor M in circuit with the current mains W', Wot the I Q street service or other source of relatively high potential energy and 47 and -51 are'HO ass? AVAlLABLE COPY 53 is an individual push-button for eiiectafterfthe-numbers have been properly dis-- ing the restoration of the number disks played.

' 54illustrates the casing of a switch plug terminal embracing an insulating base 55 for the conducting plugs 56 electrically con-' neeted to the ends of the individual conductors of the cable C. 57 is a similar insulatingbase secured directly to one end of the apparatus as'illustrated in Fig. 4 and adapted tosbe""electrically connected with the circuits of the system through yielding

terminals

58, 58. these conductors and terminals being illustrated diagrammatically in Fig.1 of the drawings;

59, 59 represent four metallic standards secured directly to the top of the base 1 and -connectedtogether at their tops by cross means of support for three electric lamps bars, as shown, said parts constituting 1, 1, 1, which lamps are secured directly to a transverse strip of insulating material, 38, and also for translucent glass plates 60, the llfiups being located between the plates as clearly shown in Fig. 4 so as to disclose the released number combinations of numbers number disks.

on opposite sides, aswill be more clearly a house circuitor trolley circuit or other source of electrical power supply operat-ively connected through branch conductors '21:, 20, running in multiple relation to the

lamps

1, 1, 1 and to the motor M, but normally open in the motor branch at the con tact point of the armature 47. u. #1 21:

etc., 'w 7.6 w etc., represent the respective sets of conductors running from the controlling battery B to and through the controlling magnets 15 when the proper'eirunits are closed at the key-board, there being illustrated a sullicient number of circuits upon this figure of the drawings to ef- 'fectthe display ofany combination of numbers which may be utilized from the 18 push buttons shown on the key-board 52,

magnet 50 to make electrical contact from it being understood that the necessary magnets and operative circuit connections for those circuits represented by the letters 71: to 'H inclusive are identical. in nll respects: to those disclosed at the upper end of Fig. 1.. 7' being a common return circuit for all of the circuits crmnccted to the wudiuatiug bars 10. 10 at the top of the apparatus and to the negative pole of the batter-v B.

I will now (l(:-f 'l.l the owl-alien of the apparatus as disclosed in th drau ngst-- Suppose for lllStIll'lt't'. :l dcsu-wl to main- 3 display of the number 7100 on both side: of the apparatus simultaneously; that is t( say, the front and rear of theapparatu: illustrated in Fig. 2, in which event tht numerals 1 0 0 will appear wher dropped from their concealed position it the manner hereinafter described. The op erator first pushes the unit button in the top row and indicated by the numeral f1 vstood that unit disk No. l on the left of the front face, as seen looking at' Fig. 2, will be released and will fall-t0 its lower or exposed position, and also that the similar unit disk Nofil on the rear of the apparatus will be released and fall to its lower or exposed position, it being obvious that-the numbers on that side will read from left toright to a person who can view it from that side only; while the numbers on the front side will also read from left to right to a person on that side. The operator next pushes the first tens r button marked 0 in the second vertical row and closes in a similar manner the circuit through the central conductor .10 to the upper and lower

central magnets

15, 15, thus releasing the tens number disks 0 on opposite sides of the apparatus. -He then closes the last or hundreds push button marked O through the upper conductor 20 and energizes the upper left hand and lower right hand magnets 15, releasingthe last 0 disks so that on both sides of the apparatus the number is exposed, being readable fromleft to right from each of the respective sides; After at: alarm has been sounded either through ah electric gong qpcratively controlled by a push-button on the key-board and circuit through the battery B, or by a born. or in any preferred manner designed to attra t the attention oi the party to be called. the operator restores the six disks thus (b-op .=ed by operating the push-button 53.; rousing the contact at the end of the armature 51 oi the battery B through the magnet 50 by way of the conductor in through magnet 46,

contacts

49 and 48 to the starting point. 'hen the magnet 50 is energized it obviously energizes the armature 5i and holds the circuit closed. When the magnet 46 was energized the armature 47 was drawn to it, forward contact so that a circuit was closed from the current mains \V, W through thr restoring motor M, thus starting the motoi in oj'ltlelllon. As the armature ot' the motel rotates it drives the screw 42 and hence the gear-wheel 40 meshing therewith in the direction of the arrows (see Figs. 1 and 2); consequently, the counter-weight 37 passes to the left and carries with it the link 36 drawing downward the chains 31 over the pulley 34, which chain, acting through the interconnecting branches thereof and over the

pulleys

34, 35, 32 and 33, lifts the horizontally disposed'lifting bars 27 carrying with them the three exposed number disks that had been dropped by the operation above described. As the counter-weight 37 moves to the left it aids in the lifting of the number disks and finally when the lugs 12 of the disks reach their upper limit they are guided through their guide-ways or

slots

22, 22 between the

adjustable bars

19 and 20, ultimately being locked by the locking shoulders 18 at the outer ends of the rods 17 carried by the armatures 16 of the releasing magnets 15. At the instant that the number disks were thus restored in their locked concealed position the locking pin-45 on the rotating arm 44 interrupted the motor circuit at the circuit breaking arm 48 and the apparatus assumed the position shown in Fig. 2 with the motor normally out of circuit and the push-button 53 in its normal or released position, owing to the denergizing, of the magnet 50.

- It Wlll be understood that in view of the fact that the number disks 11 are painted black on their outer surfaces and are covered on'the inner surfaces with white silk or equivalenttranslucent material, as shown in .Fig. 12, the numbers displayed will be.

equally visible at night by reason of the light from the electric lamps 1, as well as in the day time by reason of the contrast of the white and dark surfaces. It will also be apparent that any compound number of such number disks and operating or controlling appliances may be assembled in the manner disclosed, it being only necessary to increase the numbers of such appliances in a, manner which will at once be obvious in 'view of the illustration and description hereinbefore made.

I do not limit my invention to the especial details of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described, as obviously a number of the features thereof may be materially departed from and still come within my claims hereinafter made, the essence of my invention lying in the construction of an appliance in the manner described so that great compactness of parts is bad and speed 0 in the operation thereof is attained, and

that the apparatus may either be portable or stationary, in accordance with the necessities of the use to which it is to be put. Nor do'I limit myself to the operation of the indicating apparatus hereinbefore disclosed electrically, as a number of the features thereof embody such generic principles that in the case of portable devices where the operator is located upon the street, or in the open, the individual numbers may be released manuallyby mechanical means, or directly by hand, and reset by rotating the motor shaft manually, this method of control being obviously within the scope of a number of the claims hereinafter. It is also obvious that for outdoor use in such places as race-tracks and the \like, where grandstands are of relatively great length, the apparatus might be so constructed as to give simultaneous indications on adjacent sides thereof; that is to say, the apparatus might be placed'with one of its corners toward the center of the grandstand, so that people looking in each direction toward the adjoining faces could have a proper View of the numbers indicated said weighted lever and the movable memher, and electrical means for restoring said weighted lever to normal position, substantially as described.

2. An annunciator or indicator comprising a suitable casing; a plurality of character disks mounted to have vertical movement in said casing; devices for holding the disks individually in raised position; electrically controlled means for actuating the holding devices individually to selectively release said disks; and means for raising the released disks comprising a vertically movable bar, 'a weighted lever fulcrumed in the casing, a flexible connection between said weighted lever and the vertically mov--.

able bar, an electric motor connected to actuate said lever, and a device associated with said lever for automatically cutting off the motor current, scribed.

3. An annunciator or indicator compris-' ing a suitable casing; a plurality of groups of character disks, said groups disposed in opposite pairs in said casing, the disks of each group arranged in close vertical relation; vertically disposed guide-ways in said casing provided with grooves within which said disks have vertical movement; a plusubstantially as dever whereby to move said bars to raise the released disks; an clectricmotor mounted in the casing; and a gearing between said 15 weighted lever and the motor whereby to restore said Weighted lever to normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 2 two subscribing Witnesses.

in WILLARD S. \VOODRUFF.

Vvitnesses:

. G. J. KINTNER, F. KEATING.