US1077948A - Circuit-closing device. - Google Patents

Description

W. W. ALEXANDER, DECD.

E. T. um, ADMINISTRATOR.

CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE. PPLIoATIoN IILED Hmm. 1911.

CDLUMM PLANoaRAPM ca .wAsHlNroM n.9.

UNITED STAT s 'PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ALEXANEE'R, OF DENVER, )COLOR/ADG; EDWARD T. KEIM, ADMINIS- TRATOR OFSAID ALEXANDER, DECEASED, ,ASSGNOBL BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, k'LIT-,O THE EROTECTI E SIGNAL MNUFACTURING iCoMPANY, A CORPORATION `07F COLORADO.

Cinema-CLOSING m'izvrcn.`

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

' Applica-mamesFebruary 21,1911. semaine. s035893.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it 'known that 1, VILLIAM WV, ALEXAN- DER, ac'itizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the'county of Denver and State of Colo-rado, have invented cer tai-n new and use-ful mprovements in Cir,- cuit-Closing Devices, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to circuit closing devices for signaling apparatus and more particularly to instruments of the type shown and described linmy .applications for Patent Numbers 570,615 and 598,640 tiled in the United States Patent 'Oitice respectively on July 6, 1910 and December 21, 1910.

In the circuit closing instru-ments shown and described in .the above applications, one vibratory bar, supported in a hermetically sealed casing, carries two contact-blades .and an interposed tongue which through the instrumentality of an appliance which retards the movement of the latter, are brought in contact during the vibratory movement of the bar. Y

lt is the object ,of the ,present invention 'to simplify the construction ot' the above described instruments without deterioration to the pract-icability or eiifectiveness thereof, by the vvprovision of two` vibra'tory bars which being mounted to vibrate along substantially parallel lines, 'have ditierent degrees oit -vibratility and carry electric contacts one of which extends in 4the path `of the other.

When, in the operation olf my invention the equilibrium of the vtwo elements is disturbed, they will, under the influenceof forces of restitution, yvibrate12th-rough ampli-AA tudes of unequal length, by reason of lthe difference in their degrees of sensitiveness,`

with the result that, while in motion, they will repeatedly pass each other and thus bring the electric contacts in engagement to intermittently close the normally open electric circuit of which they are the terminals.

lVhile my invention is adapted to be effectively employed for various purposes, it is more particularly designed for use in connection with a railroad track, to be actuated by the jarring motion of a passing train or engine, and audibly or visibly announce the approach thereof at a crossing, station or other remote point along the railway.

In the accompanying drawings, in the opposite head 6. upon the bar 10, respectively 'between and at Referring to the drawings by numerals, 2.

designates .the preferably cylindrical casing whlch may be provided with clamps 3 or other means for kfastening' it to a rail 4.'

The ends of the casing are hermetically closed :by means of heads 5 and 6 which are provided with 'binding' screws, 7 and 8 to connect with the vconductors of electricity of the circuit inwhich the signaling instrument is located. The two heads are insulated from the casing 2 and they are constructed to conduct .in connection with ,parts secured upon their inner surfaces, `the electric fluid from the respective binding screws to the normally-separated `contacts which are associated with the two vibratory elements 7 `and S ,disposed within the casing.

'The elements above referred to, are respectively composed of rigid 4bars 7L and 8a which ,carry at one of their extremities poises 7c and 8F and whose opposite ends are attached tothe .ends of springs 7d and 8d which at their outer extremities are rmly secured upon a bridge V9 -supported upon a Adat "bar 10, which, 'being connected with the head 5, extends longitudinally through :the casing and terminates in proximity to the Three `,posts 12 erected opposite sides of the members 7lL and 8a, and connected at their upper ends by means of a cross-piece *13, arepro-vided to guide the elements 7 and 8 during their vibratory motion.

To ditt'erentiate the degrees of vibratility of the two elements, the poises 7 C and 8C vare in the construction shown in the drawing, made to differ in weight but it will be readily understood that the same object may be equally effectively accomplished by other means, as for example by reducing the length of one of the elements, by varying the position of one of the poises relative to the other or by providing springs 7d and 81 of diiierent degrees of resiliency.

Rigidly secured upon the member 7a of the element 7, is a contact 14 which by means of the said member, the corresponding spring 7d and the bridge 9 to which the latter is attached, is constantly maintained in electric communication with the head 5 and the therewith connected binding screw 7. lated, preferably flexible, blade 15 which when the parts are in their positions of rest, extends in spaced relation above the contact 14:, and which is connected with the head 6 and the corresponding binding screw by means of an insulated wire ltrwhich is laced thro-ugh apertures in the bar 10, and which for clearness of illustration, has been represented in the drawings by a dash-dot line.

To limit the period during which the signaling instrument is actuated by the intermittent closing of the circuit in which it is loca-ted, a leaf-spring 17 is secured upon the bridge 9 at a point below the point of connection of the adjacent member 7d ofthe more sensitive one of the two vibratory elements, t-he opposite end of the said leaf spring bearing against the under surface of the said member 7d, to check its movement, by sliding contact therewith.

vWhen by a shock or jar imparted to the support with which the casing 2 is connected, the equilibrium of the two elements 7 and S, is disturbed, their vibratory movements through arcs of different amplitude, will cause them to repeatedly pass each other and thus bring the contacts 14 and 15 intermittently in engagement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is 1. In a circuit closing instrument, two vibrato-ry elements of different degrees of vibratility, and a contact blade on one of said elements, extending in the path of the other element, the said blade and the last mentioned element being electrically connected with opposite sides of an electric circuit.

2. In a circuit closing instrument, two vibratory elements of diiferent degrees of vibratility, and electric contacts connected Copies of this patent may be obtained for The other element, S, carries an insu-I respectively with the said elements, to engage during the vibratory movement thereof.

3. In a circuit closing instrument, two vibratory elements of different degrees of vibratility, an electric contact secured to one of said elements, and a contact blade connected with the other element and eX- tending in the path of the said contact to engage therewith during movement of the said elements.

4. In a circuit closing instrument, two vi.

bratory elements of different degrees of vibratility, each including a rigid member, a resilient member, at one end thereof, and a poise at the opposite end of the same, the two resilient members being supported at corresponding ends, to vibrate along substantially parallel lines, and normally separated electric contacts connected with the respective elements to engage during vibratory movement thereof.

5. In a circuit closing instrument, two corresponding vibratory elements, each including a rigid member, and a resilient member connected therewith at one of its ends and supported at its opposite end, oppositely disposed electric contacts connected with the respective elements, and poises of different weights secured in corresponding positions upon the said rigid members.

6. In a circuitV closing instrument, the combination with a casing adapted to connect with a suitable support, of two vibratory elements of different degrees of vibratility supported within the same, and elec tric cont-acts connected with the respective elements to engage during vibratory movement thereof, in electric communication with a circuit outside the said casing.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. ALEXANDER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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