US1109950A - Signaling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

JLANDRN. SIGNALING APPARATUS. APPLIOA-TION FILED JAN.26, 1909.

' Patented sept.8,1914.

J 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A l' Q44 A (l 1 Ohm/L il, Wfomw Patented Sept. 8, 1914n 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

9. 0 9 l 1. l l I I l I I l l l I |I S6. l I 1 1 l 1| W2 .AN. NRA ,BAJ RWD DAUu NGN l AMW AAH wm P P A A ANDRBN SIGNALING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED Muze', 1909. 1,1 09,950, Patented Sept. 8, 1914 sHEBTs-SHBBT 3.

e 'Il ill.

A. ANDREN. SIGNALING APPARATUS APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 26, 1909.

1,109,950. Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

v @Zwaan/02 @ff/cine s s 61's; @aiya/.SV ne/:eu

UNITED sTATEs PATENT orrica.

y AUGUST ANDIizN, or BROOKLYN, NEW Yoan, AssIGNoa, BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TIoN or ILLINoIs signaling apparatus, more particularly"de scribed as electric signaling apparatus for elevators, and known in the latter art as flash signals.7

One of the objects is te provide` means l *whereby*` a signal 'once-given by awaiting person remains in force until the person has been takenas a' passenger. A further object .is` whereby an elevator car may pass a floor without disturbing any .signal already sent from the said floor.

. A still further -object is to prov-ide means whereby no action of a car operator is necessaryt maintain the existing condition of any given floor signals'wlien his car passes ,25 the-floor without stopping.

A'further object' is to provide means *fo-r automatically restoring the signal system to normal or inactive position when an elevator car'stops at a floor from which a sig- S'O-nal has been given.

For the attainment of these ends andthe accomplishment of other new and useful ob- 'ects, my invention consists in the `features ofA novelty in the construction,.combination and arrangement of the several partsheredescribed, and.

.claimed inthe appended claims.

inafter more completely It frequently occurs that it is inexpedient for a car operator to'stop 'the car for every 40 signal, and it has been found necessary to rovidel means for suspension of the restorf yingaaction'when a car operator passes a floor without attending to the signal.

One im,- provement herein described consists ob a' '45 means of selective restoration, which consists in keeping normally open the circuit 1 which.includes the common wire of the restoring magnets, until the stop signal receivesoperative attention from a: car 'op- .50 erator, and then automatically closing the restoring `magnet circuits by'the action.of the car operator taking on passengers. y In the accompanying drawings, Figure'l is a -diagramii iati c arrangement lof 'a flashsIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

to pro-vide means cars in thesame installation.y

` T ELEVATOR SUPPLY @L REPAIR COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A- CORPORA- Patented sept. s, 1914.

4 Appiieation ined January 2c, 19.09. seriai No. 474,275.

signal system embodying' my selective restoration device; Fig.' 2 is a diagrammatic arrangement of the same, including a supplementary source of current supply and motors with control system for operating'the elevator cars; and Figs. '3 to 8, inclusive, areA yvarious devices for automatically closing restoring magnet circuits in my selective restoration system. Switch 63 in Fig. '2 is also such a switch. Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrams of parts of the system. l y

Referring to Fig. 1, four floors of an installation o f two elevators are shown with corresp ondiiig up and down. push-button i switches ,B and B', and up and down ioor lamps A and A. The equipment foreach elevator' car is identical, -hence the descripi tion of one vwill suiiice ,for any,number of Each car C is provided with a commutator device, com. prising strip contacts J, J', segmental contacts K, K', and sliding contacts T moving in accordance with the movement ofthe car. Tlie'dir'ectional switches 11 and 12' also di- ',rectly' associated with the'coinmutator device are automatically operated bythe up or down movement of the car to their respective up or down positions.

to the contacts 14, 15,'therebycompleting a circuit to the .car signal4 lamp c. Restoring The magnet N when `energized,.dr aws up the contact bar 13 magnets' R 'areladapted to return the Apushbuttonswitches to their normal or y, inactive position. When a push-button Bor B" is operated, 'the'..movable contact 3 16 .connects with the fixed contact: 19, and is-held' in p ace by the armature memberf18, whichl latter member is subject to` theaction of' the/ spring 17 when thel contact 16 is operated.

The energization of releaseinagnet 'R attracts the armature' member 18, and thus allows the contact member, 16 to fall by the weight of gravity and thus resume, its

original position. `The method of selective restoration 7 is here shown as' conditional upon the action of a car operator in Stopv ping the.car to,receive a passen er. This action will cause the operation wo a restor- C ing-switch, two, of which 'H and H' are "shown for each floor in Fig. 1,-'to correspond with the up and down push-button switches for each floor.

At the right of Fig. 2 only one switch H 'is shown at each floor, t is-controlling, all

ing switch:

therup and down restoring circuits of its car. fClosure of the restoring switch. may loe effected in various ways. The means may be varied to suit different machinery or i11- stallations without laltering the restoring devicesx Following are descriptions of some "of the various means for closing this restor- Fig. 3 represents a ycentrifugal 0r speed device of the well known automatic governor type, in which, when the speed of ro'- tation falls below a predescribed minimum, the rod falls, carrying the contact 21 kwith it and making the required connection. f. F igf4 represents a contact member 24 held up from the contacts 25, 26 by means of'the engagement of the lever 27 with one o'f the arms 22, 22 of the operating orcontrolling device 23. A spring or gravitation will cause the contact 24 to drop when the elevator car is stopped, and the dash-pot 28 will delay this closure long enough to insurethat time for taking -on passengers has v elapsed.

Fig. 5 shows a contact switch directly actuated by an electric controlling car switch. lVhen the handV lever'29 is in al neutralpositionas shown, the contact bar 30 makes connection between the fixed contacts 31, 32, thus making the desired connection.

Fig. 6 represents the wheel and lever device of a hydraulic elevator. Swinging the lever 33 to the right or left in the Operating positions causes the arm 34 to be respectively lower or higher than the central position, and it is onlyin this latter position that contact 35 isF pressed into engagement with contact 36.@ l

F ig.' 7 represents 'a Contact switch closed by the brake mechanism. When the brake operates, the arms 37 lare pressed inwardly toward each other, the pivoted lever 38 carrying contact 39 is forced downward, and

the desired connection is made between contact 39 and fixed contacts 40.

Fig. 8 represents a Contact closed by the action 'of the main valve of a yhydraulic elevator. To the valve vstem 41 which moves in the cylinder 45 is connected the arm 42 carryingthe contact member. 43. When the valve stem 41 assumes the stopped position, the contact member 43 makes connection with the fixed contacts 44, as shown in the figure.

These various means for closing a circuit are shown-and vdescribed in order that it may be evident that any convenient method may be adopted to render my scheme of selective restoration applicable to the various types fand kinds of elevators. In order that my invention may be` morereadily understood,`the action of the restoring switch H inI connection-with an ordinaryIash signal system, will be explained.

Referring to Fig. 1, let it be assumed that a car C is in the traveling downwar ly; a person at the floor marked 3 desiring to go down pressesthe button B on that floor, contact 'is made thereby, and when the car C nears the said floor the floor lamp A lights in the well known manner. The magnet N, preferably a low resistance series type, is included in the directional switch common wire, its action closing a circuit which lights the car signal lamp c. In this eXemplification two restoring switches H and H are shown for each floor, one (H) for the up-going car, and the other (H) for the down-going car, to correspond with the restoring magnets for switches B and B.' When the car op` erator opens the door to receive the waiting person, the switch H for floor 3 is operated, thereby completing a circuit through the corresponding restoring magnet R and returning the corresponding switch 18 to its normal position.

It is evident that some action of a car operator, preferably that of opening the elevator door, is necessary to operate the restoring switch H or H. Therefore, if for any reason, it. is ineXpedient` for a certain car operator to stop at a given iloor, the passing of that floor will not prevent the signal from appearing in subsequent cars until some car stops at the iioor,x or until some car operator gives the attention demanded by the signal. Fig. 2 illustrates how this same object may be accomplished in substantially the same way as previously described, butdiffering in some of the details. The motor G receives current from the supply means and and an auxiliary source of current supply B is provided for energizing the releasing magnets M and restoring magnets R. The commutator device comprises two sets of strip and segmental contacts' for the up land the down travel of the elevator car; F, L, J, K being the up contacts and F, L', J, K the down contacts, and the up 'and down directional switches 11 and 12 are automatically operated by the commutating device. `Follower contacts t and t', not shown in Fig. 1, are for the purpose of closing circuits to the restoring magnets R when the elevator car stops at a given floor. A switch WV in the car controls the operation of the motor G, the magnets E and E being suitably arranged to close connections to the motor G in thewell known way to reverse the direction of rotation. The magnet la. is also included in the common wire of the two magfnets E and E and is energized whenever either of the latter is energized; thus the contact 63 makes connection with the fixed contacts 64 when the magnet z is denergized, thus permitting a circuit to be closed through the contact t or t of the commutator device, and through the restoring magl upper portion of its trip,

net R correspondingto the floor. where the.

vstop is made. K a' A single restoringswitch H is shown at each floor in connectio-n with the signal apparatus for the other car C (Fig. 2), in

which the operation of the same is similar to that rof the restoring switches shown^ in Fig. l, with the. exception that only one switch is employed for both up and ldown l@ travel ofthe car, the follower or t of the.

l commutating device connecting with the proper restoring magnet R when the car'is stopped. Observe that, as theswitches I-I are fin parallel, each one' performs .for its l5 car exact-ly the same function as the switch 63 performs for the car at the-left, z'.' e'. it

keepsfopen the restoringcircuits ofthat ear While the car is running The magnet N,

preferably of the low resistance type, is ineluded in series in the common wire for each of the floor lamps, and is energized when they are lighted, thereby closing a circuit to the car signal lamp `c as previously described. n y y 2,5, Figs. 9- and 10show (diagrammatically) the circuits of the elevator at the left of Fig.

` 2. 'Referring to Fig. 9, assume that the car is at rest somewhere .in lthe shaft. Now if the operator wishes to ygo down he throws 3a his lever IV as shown,'so'as to energize the motor-controlling.magnet ET This, we will assume `will cause the elevator, start down. Closing push-button switch B energizes the down setting-magnetM, which releases its pivoted lever 50 and closes the connection between the source of power and the down lamp A: When the moving brush -T strikes that lamps stationary contact, it closes the circuit by way of circuit-shifting 4o switch 12 and lights the lamp.` At the same time it energizes magnet N, which closes a local'circuit and lights the lamp C in the carf Throwing operators leverNV has also 'fclosed the ,circuit through magnet h, which hasnopened thesw'itch 63 which controls vthe.

restoring circuit-s'for that car. At themiddle of the figure isshown the restoring circuits.y When theoperator throws hislever,

`VV to the cent-ral position to stop his car, the

magnet h is` denergized, closing switch 63. The circuit is then closed from the source of power by way of circuit-shifting switch 11 fto stationary bar L and moving brush t',

, and as this will touch restoring contact F when the carv is at the floor, the down lrestoring magnet R will be energized. This .of ,course will raise contact lever 50 and break the circuit through floor lamp A', and also d'energize magnet N which controls the car light, thus restoring the car and floor signals to their normal condition. Circuit-shifting switches 11' and 12 are of course thrown from one side to the other as thevcar reverses its direction of movement.

The corresponding circuits for the up direction will be evident. The diagram is equally correct for the circuits' of the car at the right (for its commutator is exactly the same) except that in thediagram switch 63 represents any one of the switches H, and magnet h isxomitted. i

-In Fig. 10 I have shown a more simplified diagram of the .restoring circuits for -two floors.

for example, and R2 and R3 thedown and upl restoring'magnets for the next floor. X L"represents the switch 63'lof Fig. 2, or any of the switches of Figs. 3 to 8, or any, one

'switch Hof carC of Fig. 2. 11a is the circuit-shifting switch 1l orll. Then the car is running, switch' X is open. t and t ^are similarly moved by the car to `selectively control the restoration. When the switch X closes it will .close whatever-restoring circuit has been selected by the moving brushes t, t.

LThe motor G is shown with the pulley sheave 66, about which passes the cable 65. The cable 65 supports the car C and the In this figure R, R are the down f and up restoring magnets for the first floor,

weight F in the ordinary well known manner.- The switch S is for cutting out the signaling system f or any elevator by preventing 'signal lamp c from beinglighted. The mag.-

net N is also cut out thereby and the floor signal lamps A and A for the particular elevator car `will not be lighted. "`l

. I desire not to be limited tothe exact details as herein set forth, as it is evident that various changes may be made' by those skilled inthe art 'without departing `from the spirit and scope of my invention; but

What yI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. In an elevator car signaling apparatus, the combination of a signaling device, means for automatically and selectively restoring the signal, and a centrifugal governor operated by the car and controlling -saidrestoring means.

2. In an elevator` car signaling apparatus.l the `combination cfa signaling device, and means for automatically and selectively r'estoring a signal governed by the stopping of a ca r. L v

3. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, ,signaling means, means for setting the same, up and down restoring circuits, ka normally` open switch, and means controlling the'same governed by the stopping ofthe car, and circuit-shifting switch izo -mechanism connecting said first switch with said circuits alternately.

4. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, signaling means, means for setting the same., up and down restoring circuits, a lnormally open switch, means controlling the same governed by the stopping of the car, circuit-shifting` switch' mecha- ,n ism connecting said first switch with said f vatOrs, the combination of signalingstations,y

circuits alternately, and means operated by the car and adapted to select the proper restoring circuits.

- 5. In signaling apparatus, the combination' of devices for signaling a car to stop at a station, means for automatically restoring the device to its norma-l position governed by the stopping of the car, and circuits and a signal for another car whereby/a car passing the station does not prevent the cars follovving from receiving the stop signal.'

6. In electric signaling apparatus for ele-- signal devices in the cars, means for causing signals from said stations to appearin the cars only as they approach the corresponding signal station, and va device, for automatically causing the signal to disappear when a car lstops at the station from which the signal is sent.

7. In elevator apparatus, the combination'l matically denergizing the signal in a car when that car stops in response toda signal.`

9. In an annunciator system for moving cars, a plurality of electrically operated sigA nals, circuits for said signals7 circuit holding j devices for saidrsignal circuits`P releasing means for said holding devices and mechanism governed by the stopping of a car at the point designated :by a signal lfor contro-lling said releasingmeans. p s 10. The combination with a movable car,

'a station indicatingsignal and .means for operating said signal, of means governed by 1 stopping said car at the station designated by said signal forn canceling the same.

l1. In a signal system for a movable car, a plurality of signals, meansforoperating said` signals and means Uoverned byv stopping said, car forv 'indepen l entlycanceling the saidsignals. Y- l j i, The combination with a movable car, of a station designating signal, means for operating said signal and means for cancel'- linglsaid sig-nal, said latter means comprising a normallyineflective member moved in accordance with the movement of said car, and a device coperatingvvithj said-member governed by the stopping of'said car.

13. The combination with -a movable car, of signals, means forpperating said signals. and means for canceling said signals, said latter means comprisinga normally inelective member moved in accordance with the movement of said car, and a device coperating With said member controllable by the movement of the car.`

14. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a car, electrically-operated signaling means, means for operating the same comprising a passengers-button at each floor and mechanism corresponding to each button and set thereby, restoring mechanism comprising a selecting device moved corre' spondingly with the car whereby the restoring lmechanism is adapted Yto restore'all said passengers-button-set mechanisms in succession and correspondinglyvvith the movement of the car, a normally-open switch controlling said restoring mechanism and rendering it incapable of accomplishing the restoration of any of said;passengers-button-set mechanisms7 said switch being controllable bythe operator of the car and adapted when closed n to put said restoring mechanism in condition plish the restoration of each of said buttonset mechanisms.l

15. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, a car, signaling means, means Jfor operating the same comprising a passencorrespo-nding to each button and set thereby, restoring mechanism adapted to restore said passengers-button-set mechanisms individually, a switch controlling said restoring such that the selecting device may accomgers-button at each floorv and mechanism mechanism and when open rendering it incapable of accomplishing the restoration of any of saidpassengers-button-set mechanisms, and means operated by the starting and stopping of the ca'r for opening andv i 4 closing said switch.

16. In any elevator signaling. apparatus iny combination, a car, signals at' the floors, circuits for the same, means for operating the slgnals comprising a passengers-butrton at cession as tlie car travels, means operating to limit the signals given to those corresponding tolthe' direction of movement of' the car, and a single signaling device carried by the car and operated by'each of said floor signal c ircuits. 1

17. Inan elevator signaling apparatus in combinatiom a car, signals at the floors, circuits for the same, ,means for operatingv the signals' comprising a passengers-button' at each door and a commutator operatin automaticallyto close thefsignal circuits 1n suc- I cession as the car travels, means operating tol limit the signals given to those correspondleach licor and a commutator operating auto- .maticallyto close the signal circuits in sucing tothe direction olf-movementl of the car,

Aand a singlesi'gnaling device'carried by the .car and a magnet for operating the same energized by'each of said floor signalcir-`r cuits.

18. In an elevator signaling apparatus in combination, signaling' means, means for setis running at full speed, 'a centrifugal gov-v setting the same, up and :down restoringlcir-` l cuits, a Yswitch normally open` While' said car ernor controlling'the same governed by the starting and stopping of' the car, and circuit shifting switch mechanism connecting said rst switch with said circuits alternately.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed my twosubscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses 1914:, upon the application of vAugust .provement in Signaling Apparatus,

Stations; samev page, line 28, after the may conform to thegcord ot the case [smh] 'iCoireetons ign Letters Patent No. 1,109,950E

ERLEL. AUSTELT, H. BRADY.

i It is hereby certied'tliatin Letters Patent 'No.1E 1,1095950, granted September 8, y A Andreu, ofllrooklyn, New York, for an imi. errors appear in the printed specification reduiring correction las follows: )Page It, line 17, for the vtord t"staton read l) i Word. same insert the Word when; and that the said Letters' Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same in the Patent @meel ,l Signed'andsealed dips-29th day ot September, A., D., 1914.-

R. lF. Wl-llTEHEAD,

Actvlng Commissioner of Patents.

@USQLMMEPQE l,l09,950.-A'tg`us AAndra, Brooklyn, SrsNALrNo APPARATUS: Patent dated September .8, 1914. Disclaimer led Junel 21, 1922, by the assignee,

levator )Supplies Company, im. Enters this disclaimer: p 1(1) as to claim 14,0 every 1 normally open switch? now called for in the i combination of ele'mentstherein claimed, `except suchas controllable indirectly by the ca r operator and closed automatically through operationot some car mechamsm which 1s operatedin the routine running of the car, and i @(2) as to claimsQ to 5' inclusive and 9 to l2 inclusive, eve

Ty means OI mecha;

n'isrn therein specified as governed by stopping the car except such as, after it hasoperated and caused the cancellation for one floor. requires, before it can again accomplish the s1gnal-cancell1ng function'for Yanother floor, some action of mechanism which takes place in consequence of the 1017er@ Gazette Jem er, 192e] y act of stopping the car.

y accesi ANniniN.` ,y c.

Images