US1068387A - Electric signaling. - Google Patents

Description

F. B. HERZOG, .DEGD.

11. 2311200, BXEOUTRIX.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZO, 1889.

1,068,387, Patented July 22, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD..WASHINGTUN, D. c.

t me.

FELIX BENEDICT HERZOG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.; HENRIETTA HERZOG- EXECUTRIX OF SAID FELIX BENEDICT HERZOG, DECEASED.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22", 1913.

Application filed July 20, 1889. Serial No. 318,181.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FELIX BENEDICT HER- zoo, Ph. D., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Signaling, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a system of electric signaling, which includes transmitters at sub-stations, so organized that two or more may be set in operation at approxi mately the same time in such manner that no interference will result between them when such stations are connected together by only a single wire.

Various inventions have hereto-fore been made, claiming to prevent what is known in the art as interference if several boxes are pulled at the same moment; but I believe that before my invention no apparatus has ever been constructed whereby three or more, or practically an indefinite number of, stations on the same single circuit may be operated at approximately the same time, and operated in the same manner, as far as the operator is concerned, whether any station is at that moment being operated or whether it is not being operated, and in which each signal operated will be correctly receivedat the central station, and in which if a number of these signals are set practically at the same time or within the same limits of time, all of such operated signals will be correctly received at the central station in sequence.

There are various apparatus which make it possible for a subsequent signal not to interfere with a prior signal, and in which, if several are set, then under certain conditions two signals will come in correctly; but for the best results this is not satisfactory, and my object is to construct a system in which the operator can have absolute concorrectly received, notwithstanding the contemporaneous actions of other operators at their stations. I have devised various forms of mechanismfor achieving this result, and do not wish to confine myself to the form now chosen for illustration.

The drawing shows a diagram of the elements comprised at one of the substations as connected with the elements located at the central station; the first named comprising typically a break wheel and spindle NV (or an equivalent) driven by a motor (not shown) and normally restrained from operation as set forth below; the central office lncludes the signal receiving and controlling means also described below.

As herein shown, the break wheel has a number of teeth, characterizing its location ates with a spring-actuated train in any suit able and well known inanner, as, for instance, in the manner shown in my Patent The apparatus is set by the operator when he rotates the spindle clock-wise, and any suitable device may be used to cause or permit the separation of the contacts S and S which rotates the wheel, to press together the springs S and S so that they shall be closed at all times, excepting when this wheel has been rotated clock-wise in setting it;

the spring S being arranged to move away from its mate S when said pressure is re- ;moved (suitable insulation preventing electrical contact between the said spring S and .the ground Q, at the impinging pin P or otherwise being provided) or an arm may be used, as in my said patent No. 315,941, excepting that therein the normal position of the springs is reversed; or this separation jmay be produced in any other suitable manner. shown on the wheel W are all insulated there- .from. There is also a suitable magnet lV lwit-h adjuncts by which, at the proper in- :stant subsequent to the setting the trans- It is to be noted that the three pins mitter may be released or caused to operate.

A transmitter of this general character I "call a Teleseme. fidence that the signal he transmits will be The apparatus shown in the figure repre sents one box, and there may be any number of boxes strung along the line, the last box terminating in a ground, or, if desired, in a return circuit, but such return circuit is in no wise to be considered as negativing the description of the system as employing only a single wire between stations, because the final return wire does not cooperate separately, and hence is not led into the various boxes or buildings from which the opera- .tions take place.

and is mounted upon a spindle and cotiper- The mechanism at the central or receiving station comprises means whereby currents of the two polarities may be separately sent to line, and also a device such as is shown in my Patent No. 696,140, the function of which is as described hereafter that the rupturaof the circuit at any sub-station results in a break of the line at a point located at the main station, said break continuing until after the operation at the main station has resulted in causing the release of the operated box by means of a current of opposite polarity.

The operation is as follows :A current of, say, plus polarity is normally flowing through the line, and in those stations in which the machine is not set, this current flows through the shunt C, 101, S, S 115 116 and out to the next stations, and at the last of these it makes a suitable return but on breaking the shunt at the contacts S, S when teleseme is set, the current innuediately flows through the relay M. M. through one of the two branches as the case may bethat isthrough magnet M. and 108 or through the shunt 107, armature of relay, 100 and from where these branches unite through switch lever S, K, 117 and out, and if the armature of relay is making contact with T, it will be drawn to T, thus opening the shunt around magnet M. This magnet is then energized and the armature A is attracted, and this frees the switch lever S so that this breaks contact with K and hence breaks connection with the line beyondthus cutting out all chance of interference from operations at more distant stations, and, of course, breaks the main circuit, and in this line, located at the central station, is a magnet, which, upon this deenergization of the line, operates suitable mechanism to permit this break to continue, as, for instance, by dropping the hinged bar 26 shown down upon the pair of contact springs 26, so as to separate these and thus break the circuit until the bar is replaced, that is, until, for the purpose of the operation of the system, as described hereafter, it is again closed. As the result of this break at central, the armature A of the box described falls down on the top of the switching lever S and this completes its circuit through the teleseme to earth; wire 118, magnet M, 119, brush 106, tooth of wheel, arbor, 109 and earth; it being noted that the break wheel and the adjuncts of the gearing are so related that when the teleseme is in a set conditionthat is, in condition where the detent holds it ready to be released by the usual teleseme mechanism in telesemes of this type, the break spring 106 rests upon a conducting tooth whereas when the teleseme has been released as described below, a suitable arrangement arrests the wheel in such a position that this brush will rest between two teeth thus leavingthe teleseme on open circuit. But, upon setting the teleseme, the circuit, although completed at the sub-station, is open at the central station by action of the circuit breaker referred to above, and, therefore, the teleseme does not release. The central operator, when the mechanism operates to show him that the line has been broken at the central station (as described), presses a key, which sends to line a current of opposite to normal polarity. This immediately attracts armature of relay from T to T, thus short-circuiting magnet M, the armature A of which is, therefore, not attracted, and, hence, remains in contact with the ground branch containing the teleseme. The current, therefore, passes from switching lever S through armature A, through teleseme to earth, and is of suitable character to cause the teleseme to be released; now, just before the teleseme reaches its normal posit-ion of rest, the armature A of the magnet M being attracted, a suitably adjusted extension catches in the pin P in the face of the break wheel, and holds the break wheel in that position. This, of course, produces a pause in the signal, which continues as long as the circuit is made, and thus notifies the central that the teleseme has reached this final stage of its operation. Central, on receiving this pause, simply lifts his hand from the key, and the circuit is broken, whereupon the detent falls out of the way, and the teleseme then continues its return motion to Zero, replacing the switching lever S, (the pin P, rocking this upon its pivot), and also remaking the shunt circuit through springs S, S, and at the same time breaking connection to earth at two points, namely, by the teleseme running down so that its contact brush rests between two teeth and thus leaves an open circuit; and by the armature A falling into its normal position, (the tip of the armature A being insulated.)

The means just described effect, first, that the more distant telesemes are again connected to the main line and second that an unmistakably recognizable division is produced between the operation of successive boxes.

The central operator, after taking his hand from the key as above, replaces the circuit-breaking mechanism. This makes circuit again with a current of the first described polarity, and at all those sub-stations at which telesemes are set, the armature A will be attracted, but as the circuit will be immediately broken again as the switching levers S are tripped, the drop in central will fall back again. Now, as the switching levers, when tripped, break the circuit to the line beyond, it follows that the station nearest the central, in which the switching lever has been tripped, will be put in circuit through its completed ground branch and will be released when the central station operator upon repeating the routine described takes the next step and sends a minus current to line.

It is evident that no station lying between the station just designated and the central station can interfere with the circuit while the said teleseme is being released, because the current, which is the only one that can reach the teleseme magnet to release it, also draws the armature of relay M M toward T, and, therefore, closes the shunt around magnet M; thus rendering M unenergizable, and, therefore, the switching lever S in all other boxes is mechanically blocked and cannot be operated to connect in the ground branch containing the teleseme and its releasing magnet. Of course, no substations beyond the substation in which the teleseme was being released could interfere, as they are cut out by the switches, S, S and S" during the entire period of operation of any and all telesemes located at points nearest the central.

It is to be noted that the plus current is the normal condition of the circuit when at rest, but when any action takes place this current is of only momentary duration and that its function is, as to the central station, to inaugurate the circuit changes thereat (and in some organizations incidentally to inform the operator there of the set condition of a teleseme) and, as to the control of the telesemes, to raise the armatures A so that they shall permit such telesemes as may have been set, to be ready to establish their respective ground connections upon the return of said armatures following the break in the circuit which succeeds the momentary plus current. Such ground connection will not, however, be established until after its switching magnet M has been operated to lift A and subsequently caused to drop it when the plus current has been followed by a break succeeded by the minus current whose function it is to energize M and release the teleseme.

Summary.

1st. Conditions when only one teleseme has been set prior to beginning of operations at eentral.Current is normal (plus) and relay breaks short circuit 100 around magnet M so that this lifts its armature A to free lever S therefore at the first instant of operation the main shunt S, S is broken but branch 117 still connects circuit to its final return at last station and upon attraction of A as described this second branch is broken at K and hence circuit is broken and central oflice apparatus breaks the circuit permanently thereat while armature A falls back and locally grounds the -set teleseme-- this condition continuing until subsequent &

control by central. Upon release of the teleseme all parts are restored as described.

2nd. Conditions when several telesemes have been set prior to beginning of operations at eentral.Tl1e normal current is plus i for the first teleseme to be setafter this has been set there is no currenthence other telesemes will operate as follows:-lhe first branch 115 to more distant stations will be broken mechanically when stress of pin P is removed from S but the second branch 117 will remain closed (thus preserving continuity) until a plus current is sent from central whereupon at all stations which have not been set the circuit is shunted around all magnets through S, S but in all set telesemes their respective magnets M will simultaneously lift their armatures A thus permitting all levers S to fall under said armatures thus in each case breaking the circuit beyond and hence the main circuitand hence causing the magnets A to drop back and complete the grounds through the respective telesemes-hence only the nearest teleseme will be left in operative circuit and hence ready to be released upon the readmittance of current (which will be minus). Upon this readmittance the magnet M will be short circuited by its relay thus preventing its breaking the ground branch and the magnet M will release the teleseme. The provision for a final pause prevents premature connection of the next more distant teleseme which by the arrangement described is connected in by the reclosing of the breaks at S, S and S K mechanically, during the cessation in current controlled from the central. Thereafter the above described operation is repeated for each set teleseme with the result that the set teleseme which at each such operation is nearest central is again the first to be released.

3rd. C'ond-itions while telesemes are being set during manipulation at central (following the setting of the first teleseme set). A: Telesemes beyond this first set teleseme are all cut ofi' by bothpaths S, S and K, S and Will not be in circuit again until end of its operation. B: Telesemes nearer central may happen to be set while current is plus, minus or absent (while central drop is down;) if set when current is plus, magnet M will attract its armature and lever switch S" will be carried under armature A ready for local ground through teleseme to be established when current is broken and armature A falls back; teleseme is ready to be released by next minus current; also connection beyond will have been broken through both paths-at K and at S, S therefore irrespective of the relative time of setting, the nearest teleseme to central which has been set prior to the admission of the minus current will be the first to be released, and no act at any more distant station can interfere with its operation; (Z1) if set when the current is minus (2'. 6. while a. more distant teleseme. is being released) its operation will be postponedits magnet M will be short circuited (be cause its relay will be attracted to T) and armature A will remain as a block to lever S and no ground will then be established nor will line beyond be broken and hence no interference is possible with a more distant teleseme which is being released; if set when no current is in line (2'. c. after central drop has fallen) the same results will follow.

The armature A of magnet M controls the final pause and also the usual teleseme detent unless otherwise constructed.

The circuit breaking drop at the central station should be sufiiciently quick in its operation, and should be so constructed that when the central operator replaces the drop, he cannot hold it up; this adjustment or any other suitable adjustment) is called for so as to prevent. premature partial release of a teleseme, which may be in a set condition at the instant of the completion of the operation from a more distant station, and therefore when thereafter the plus current is in line. This possible release of the teleseme by a plus current might be avoided by any other suitable adjustment. The proper manipulation by the central operator, to prevent this accident when using the species of replacing device chosen for illustration, is to raise arm 26, not by grasping and lifting it, but by giving the end a sudden flip upward with the finger, so that the initial force of this flip may sufiice to raise the arm high enough for the armature hook to enter the slot which is supposed to be cutin the arm 26 according to the well known construction of similar magnetic drop devices.

The receiving operator receives a signal which consists of makes and breaks by means of any suitable apparatus, for instance one controlled as by a magnet C of my said Patent 696.140.

It may be noticed that the result of the operation of the system described will be that the various boxes operated will be noninterfering and will operate successively, and that the boxes contain elements for a signal transmission pro-per, and also elements acting to postpone this transmission when any other box is operating, and also .means whereby it several of such boxes are postponed because some other box is operating, these postponed boxes will begin to operate, not at the same time (the result of which would be that they would mutually mutilate their respective signals) but one at a time, producing an orderly successive delivery.

I have describedonly one form of mechanism, but I have devised various other forms, and I consider any form of mechanism, which includes the elements recited, as coming within the scope of my invention.

In the following claims I mean by the words single line a system in which only one wire passes through each station on its way from the station on one side and on its way to a stat-ion on the other side thus excluding wires which may pass from the first to the last station of a series without passing through each intermediate station and also excluding local ground or other local connections.

By the term succession or successive or equivalents whether in connection or not in connection with the words non interference I mean that the signals of several operated boxes or stations are received in sequence and not merely that one signal is not interfered with by the operation of another.

By the terms simultaneous, or approximately simultaneous, or partly simultaneous time limits I desire it understood that I mean to cover as included within my invention such operations or settings of two or more boxes as will take place not merely where the starting lever or other equivalent element-s is operated within the same fraction of a second in two boxes but where such a lever is started to be set on the second box before the first box has entirely finished its operation of transmission in constructions which but for my invention would produce interference under similar conditions of operation.

hat I claim is:

1. A single line signaling system comprising a receiving station and a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with characteristic transmitting elements and with mechanism cooperating with the system and acting both to prevent the signal from a station subsequently set from interrupting the signal transmitted from a prior operated station and also to enable the complete signals of all stations set within partly simultaneous time limits to be received sucressively without confusion, substantially as described.

2. A single line signaling system comprising a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with characteristic transmitting elements constructed to be set by the signaling operator under all conditions, and mechanism cooperating with the system and acting both to prevent the signal from a station subsequently set from interrupting the signal transmitted from a prior operated station and to enable the complete signals of all stations set within partly simultaneous time limits to be released only one at a time, substantially as described.

3. A single line signaling system comprising a receiving station and a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with characteristic transmitting elements constructed to be set by the signaling operator under all conditions, and mechanism cooperating with the system to give precedence if it has not operated to a station nearer to the receiving station and subsequently set and to prevent a nearer station frominterfering after commencing to transmit a characteristic signal, substantially as described.

4. A single line signaling system comprising a receiving station and a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with characteristic transmitting elements and with a mechanism cooperating to prevent the transmission of the characteristic signals from a near station after a more distant station has begun to transmit its characteristic signal and has reached a certain stage in its transmission, and in which the nearer stations will thereafter separately transmit their signals, substantially as described.

5. A single line signaling system comprising a receiving station and a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with characteristlc transmitting elements and with a mechanism cooperating to prevent the transmission of the characteristic signal from a near station after a more distant station has begun to transmit its characteristic signal and has reached a certain stage in its transmission and to thereafter separately permit the transmission of signals from the near stations in the order of their distance from the receiving station but only after stations still beyond the said distant station if such have been set, substantially as described.

6. A single line signaling system comprising a receiving station and aplurality of transmitting stations each provided with characteristic transmitting elements and with a circuit controlling mechanism to prevent local operation from affecting the signal which at that moment may be received at the receivinostation from any other station and mec anism cooperating with mechanism at the receiving station to enable its own signal to be properly received as the result of the first act of setting in any simultaneous operation of three or more stations and Without mutilation by the normal operation of another station, substantially as described.

7. A single line series signaling system having a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with a signaling device and means for preventing while transmitting the interfering operation of another station comprising an electro-magnet, a normally closed shunt around the electro-magnet, means for breaking the shunt before any main circuit interruptions can be produced, and a break in the main circuit and a local ground controlled by the magnet, substantially as described.

8. A single line series signaling system having a plurality of transmitting stations each provided with a signaling device and means for preventing while transmitting the interfering operation of another station comprising an electro-magnet, a normally closed shunt around the electro-magnet, means for breaking the shunt before any main circuit interruptions can be produced, and a break in the main circuit and a local ground controlled by the armature of the clectro-magnet through intermediate devices, substantially as described.

9. A series of signaling stations each having a signaling device, a controlling electromagnet, a local circuit including the signaling device and magnet, and a switch in the local circuit organized to mechanically hold the armature of the magnet in an abnormal position during the operation of the signaling device, substantially as described.

10. A single line series signaling system comprising a receiving station and three or more signaling stations each having a signaling device and electro-magnet-ically controlled means for preventing while transmitting the interfering operation of another station and for so controlling the operation of the several stations .that when one or more is set on either side of a prior operated station, the first operated station first completes its operation, and subsequently those set stations nearer to the receiving station operate thereafter and at the completion of their operation the farther stations operate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, this specification is signed in the presence of two Witnesses on this 19 day of July, 1889.

F. BENEDICT HERZOG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

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