US1120995A - Signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

G. E. BEACH.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 23, 1914.

1,120,995. Patented Dec. 15,1914.

WITNESSES: S lNVENTOR qayww THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO" WASHINGTON D, C

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFlCE.

CLARENCE E. BEACH, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE 0. KNAPP,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1914. Serial No. 813,892.

cation.

My invention relates to series circuit alarm systems, in which there are a plurality of signal transmitting stations and a plurality of signal receiving stations on the same circuit. In a system of this kind it is often desirable to secure selective response of the various receiving devices depending 1 upon the wish of the person in charge at the transmitting station.

An object of my invention is to provide in a series circuit switching mechanism associated with certain receiving and transmitting stations whereby said circuit may be adjusted, so that upon the operation of one of such transmitting stations all of the receiving devices in such circuit will not be responsive to such operation, but the associated receiving devices (as for example, those on the same floor or in the same building) and certain otherreceiving devices (as for example, those provided for the local fire department) will be responsive thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a series circuit, switching mechanism associated with certain receiving and transmitting stations whereby said circuit may be adjusted, so that upon the operation of one of such transmitting stations the associated receiving devices (as for example, those on the same floor or in the same building) will be the only receiving devices responsive thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a series circuit, switching mechanism consisting of a single switch associated with certain receiving and transmitting stations whereby said circuit may not only be adjusted by means of said switch, so that upon the operation of one of such transmitting stations the associated receiving devices (as for example, those on the same floor or in the same building) and certain other receiving devices (as for example, those provided for the local fire department) will be the only receiving devices responsive thereto, but whereby said circuit may also be adj usted, by means of said switch, so that upon the operation of one of such transmitting stations, the associated receiving devices (as for example, thoseon the same floor or in the same building) will be the only receiving devices responsive thereto, and whereby said circuit may also be adjusted, by means of said switch, so that upon the operation of one of such transmitting stations all receiving devices in the entire system will be responsive thereto, including those provided for a city fire department and those on other floors or in other buildings.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a series circuit apparatus in conneo.

tion with certain receiving devices whereby the response of said receiving devices may be selectively cotrolled from transmitting stations located at a distance therefrom without running any extra wires between said receiving devices and said transmitting stations which may be a long distance apart,

Another objectof my invention is to utilize 'means provided for the purpose of receiving certain signals for indicating a decrease in the strength of the source of current supply to a point inconsistent with the best operation of the system, without interfering with the use of such means for indicating the signals for which it is intended, by causing a single stroke bell to sound a multiplicity of strokes instead of only the usual single impulse, which might easily be missed.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide non-interference mechanism at the various stations, so adjusted that a fire signal has the right of way over a floor or drill signal and will not be interrupted thereby,

'but on the other hand, the floor or drill signal will be interrupted and the fire signal transmitted to the fire departments without interference.

Another object of my invention is to provide nonsinterference mechanism which may be adjusted as between fire signals afii'ecting only the floor or building and the local fire department and fire signals afiecting the entire system including the city fire department so as to enable the exercise of choice between possible interference at the local fire department station and a correct signal on the affected floor or a correct signal at the local fire department station and possible interference on the affected floor, giving the right of way to the signals considered to be of most importance in any particular location.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing a circuit supplied with energy by Each controlling station is provided with switch mechanism which includes the switch arm 2 and the contacts 3, and 5 with any one of which said arm is adapted to en gage. At controlling station J the pivot of arm 2 is connected to the main circuit at junction 6. One terminal of the resistance 7 is connected to contact 3 and one terminal of the resistance 8 is connected to contact 5. The other terminals of resistances 7 and 8 are connectedtogether and then to the main circuit at junction 9. At controlling station li the pivot of arm 2 is connected to the main circuit at junction 11. 'One terminalof the resistance 8 is connected to contact 5' and the other terminal of said re sistance is connected to the main circuit at junction 10. Contact 3 is connected to an intermediate point on resistance 8. At both stations contact a is blank. At controlling station J the switch arm 2 is shownrin engagement with contact 4, this being the positionin which all receiving devices will be operated by a transmitting station associated with this controlling station, while at controllingstation K the switch arm 2 is shown in engagement with contact 3, this being the position in which only the associated receiving devices will be operated by a transmitting station associated with this controlling station. At station J the value of resistance 8 is such that when the shunt circuit through it is closed, the current in the rest of the system will be decreased to such an extent by the opening of the shunted contact springs that magnet'13 will release its armature to open the circuit of the gong 12 associated therewith at station C while the current is not decreased to an extent suiiicient to permit the retraction of the armatures of the gongs at stations F, G and H. Resistance 8 at station K is of similar value. The value of resistance 7 at station J and of the right hand portion of resistance 8 at station K, is so low that when the shunt circuits including them are closed, the current in the rest of the system will be so little decreased by the opening of the shunted contact springs that the gongs in the rest of the system will not respond. The value of these resistances must be high enough so that the portion of the total current flow which passes through the path shunted by these resistances will be suflicient to cause operation of the devices therein.

The receiving stations C, D, E, F, G and ment' including the magnet 13 and the switch 1 l which is connected in the circuit of gong 12 at that station and is controlled by said magnet.

Magnet 13 is so adjusted that it will allow its armature to be retracted to open the circuit or its associated gong 12 whenever the current is decreased by a break in the circuit in parallel with either resistance 8. The relative resistances of the magnet 13 and the magnet of the gong 12 associated therewith should preferably'be such that when these magnets are in parallel and the current flow in the circuit is decreased to a predetermined value such as might jeopardize the ellicient operation of my system but not as greatly reduced as would be the case if the entire line current was forced to pass through one of the resistances 8 through'the separation of its associated contact springs 17 and 18, said magnet 13 will permit its armature to retract sufiiciently to break the circuit through gong 12 associated therewith and thereby permit said gong to sound, but in view of the increased current strength through magnet 18, said magnet would upon the breaking of the shunt through I.

gong 12, be suliiciently energized to again attract 1ts armature and thus close the shunt through said gong and thus'vibrate'said armature so long as such current decrease continues.

At the transmitting stations A and B typical transmitting mechanism is shown,

including the signal wheel 15, the signaling lever 16, the contact springs 17 and 18, to-

gether with the non-interference magnet 19,

and the armature structure 20 controlled thereby said armature structure acting to When the switches are in the position shown in the drawing, the circuit is as follows: from source 1 to station C, passing through this station by two paths, the first path comprising magnet 13, energizing this magnet and causing it to attract its armature to close switch 14: completing the second path through switch 1 1 and gong 1.2, energizing the magnet of the gong; thence to junction 6, through gong 12 at station D, through contact springs 17 and 18 and magnet 19 at station A, through gong 12 at station E, to junction 9, to junction where the circuit divides into two paths, first through sections F, B and G to junction 11 and second, from junction 10 to controlling station K, through right hand portion of resistance 8, to'contact 3, to switch arm 2, to junction 11; here the two paths join and the circuit passes through station H and back to source 1. The current normally flowing over this'circuit energizes the magnets of all the gongs 12. It now the signal wheel at station A is rotated the action of contact springs 17 and 18 thereat will be to open and close the circuit above traced and all the gongs in the entire system will respond.

When the switch arm 2 at station J is placed on contact 3, the stations D, A and E are shunted by resistance 7 and the rotation of the signal wheel 15 at station A will cause the response of only the gongs at stations D and E associated therewith, the value of resistance 7 being, as already explained, such that while this shunt is closed the separating of the springs 17 and 18 will not cause the other gongs to sound.

VJhen the switch arm 2 at station J is placed on contact 5, the stations D, A and E are shunted by resistance 8 and the rotation of the signal wheel 15 at station A will cause the response or the gongs at stations 1) and E associated therewith and also of the gong 12 associated with magnet 13 at station 0, the value of resistance 8 being, as already explained, such that while this shunt is closed, magnet 13 will release its armature to open the circuit of the gong 12 associated therewith at station C whenever the springs 17 and 18 are open, while the current is not then decreased to an extent suliicient to permit the retraction of the armatures of the other gongs.

The operation of the switch mechanism at controlling station K is similar to that of station J, the value of that portion of resistance 8 connected between contact 3 and junction 10 being approximately equal to that of resistance 7 similarly connected between contact 3 of station J and junction 9. Either method may be used, the distinction being immaterial to the operation of my invention.

The operation of the mechanism at station C is as follows: When the armature of magnet 13 is retracted, all of the current in to attracted position, magnet 13 is'shunted by the magnet of the associated gong 12 and therefore receives only a portion of the total current. Hence it follows that while magnet 13'may be strongly energized while attracting its armature, when the shunt circuit is closed at contact 14, the energization of magnet 13 is decreased and said magnet is thereafter in condition to release its armature upon a very slight diminution of the current. The operation of the mechanism at station C will make known a gradualdeterioration of the battery by the continuedretraction and attraction of the armature of magnetj13 and the'consequent continuous ringing of the gong 12 associated therewith. If a trans mitting station should be operated even under this condition, the alarm would still be satisfactorily received.

The operation of the non-interference mechanism under the condition of more than one box being pulled at or about the same time will now be described. When two controlling stations have their switch arms 2 on contact 3 at each station, a transmitting station associated with one controlling station may be operated to transmit its alarm to the receiving stations associated therewith, and at the same time a transmitting station associated with the second controlling station may be operated to transmit its alarm to the receiving stations associated with said second station, without either intertering with the other. If the controlling stations have their switch arms 2 on their respective contacts 4, thus forming the usual series circuit, the non-interference magnets operate, in the manner well known in the art, to give the control of the circuit to the transmitting station which first has the line open while another has it closed. 11 one controlling station has its switch arm 2 on contact 3, as for a floor drill signal, and another controlling station has its switch arm 2 on contact a, as for a general fire signal, the fire signal has the right of way and will hold back the floor signal if the floor signal is operated while the tire signal is being transmitted, while ifthe fire signal is operated while the floor signal is being transmitted, the floor signal will be interrupted and the gongs formerly responding thereto will thereafter respond to the fire signal. If one controlling station has its switch arm 2 on contact at and another controlling station has its switch arm 2 on contact 5, the result obtained when two boxes are operated at the same time will depend upon the adjustment of the non-interference armature and either of two effects may be obtained, as follows: If the non-interference armature is adjusted so as to be retracted at a comparatively high value of the current passing through its magnet and two stations are operated under these conditions, the station first having its contacts open while another has its contacts closed will obtain control of the line. Vith the same adjustment of the armatures, and two controlling stations each having their switch arms 2 on their respective contacts 5, the result will be the same, one station taking and holding control of the circuit.

In either of the above cases, it transmitting station whose associated controlling station has its arm 2 on its contact'5 was the one' which lost control of the circuit, there might be one or two blows upon the gongs associated with that controlling station and the rest of the signal from that station would be lost, while the local fire station C would receive a correct signal from the station which prevailed. If, on the other hand, it is deemed that the importance, under these circumstances, of assuring the im mediate transmission oi the signals, from both such stations to their respective groups of gongs outweighs the importance of assuring the receipt of the distinctive signal of one of such stations at station C, the noninterference armatures should be adjusted so that they will be retracted only at a con paratively low 'alue oi the current passing through their magnets, then it the transmitting stations of two controlling stations each having their switch arms 2- on their respective contacts 5 were pulled, both stations would operate station C. With this adj ustment, the operation of a transmitting station whose associated controlling station had its arm 2 on its contact would stop a transmitting station whose associated controlling station had its arm 2 in its contact 5 and t'ansmit its own signal, thus at station C and the stations associated with the second controlling station, a partly transmitted signal might be interrupted to give the more important fire signal right. of way.

In the use of non-successive transmitting devices with my invention, preference may thus be exercised through the adjustment of the non-interference magnets either to insure the transmission of a complete fire signal to the receiving devices provided for the local fire department or to the receiving devices on the affected floor. 7

If so-called succession transmitting devices are employed, the non-interference armatures should be adjusted so as 'to be retracted at a comparatively high current value and in this event, while the more important signal would always be given right of way and a less important signal of one of two equally important simultaneously started signals would be delayed, no signals would be lost.

It is obvious that in utilizing my inven' tion other stations similar to any of those I have described may be located at any desired point in the circuit.

What I claim is:

1. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving de ice H responsive only to relatively large current changes, a receiving device C responsive to relatively small current changes, a transmitting device, one or more other receiving devices, two resistances, and means for connecting either resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving devices, so con structed and arranged that when one resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause said relatively small current change and when the other resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause a current change less than said relatively small change.

2. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device H responsive only to relatively large current chan es, a receiving device C responsive to relatively small current changes, a transmitting device, one or more other receiving devices, two resistances, and means for connecting either resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving devices.

3. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, an electro-inagnet, a shunt to said electro-magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving device is rendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a transmitting device, one or more other recei ng de *ices, resistance, and means for connecting said resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving devices, so constructed and arranged that when said resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause said relatively small current change,

A series circuit including a current source, a transmitting device so connected in said circuit as to be adapted to formulate a distinctive signal consisting of a series of relatively small current changes in the current flow through saic, circuit, and an electrc-magnet, a shunt around that portion of the series circuit including only said magnet, a receiving device in said shunt responsive only to comparatively large current changes, and a switch in said shunt adapted to be so controlled by said electro-magnet as to render said receiving device responsive to signals so formulated by said transmitting device, said current source and said shunt being connected through said series circuit only.

In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to said electromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a

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switch in said shunt controlled by said electromagnet, a transmitting device, other re ceiving mechanism, a resistance, and means for connecting said resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving mechanism. v

G. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to said electromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electromagnet, such construction and arrangement that said receiving device will be responsive to relatively small current changes, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, a resistance, and means for connecting said resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving devices.

7. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to said electromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electroniagnet, such construction and arrangement that said receiving device will be responsive to relatively small current changes, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, two resistances, and means for connecting either resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving devices.

8. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to said electromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electramagnet, such construction and arrangement that said receiving device will be responsive to relatively small current changes, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, a resistance,

and means for connecting said resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and sald other receiving devices, so constructed and arranged that when said resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause said relatively small current change.

9. In an electrical signaling system, an electromagnet, a shunt to said electromagnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electromagnet, such construction and arrangement that said receiving device will be responsive to relatively small current changes, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, a transmitting device, other receiving devices, two resistances, and means for connecting either resistance in shunt to said transmitting device and said other receiving devices, so constructed and arranged that when one resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause said relatively small current change and when the other resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause a current change less than said relatively small change.

10. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, an electro magnet, a shunt to said electro-magnet, a

receiving device in said shunt, a switch in 1 said shunt controlled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving-device is rendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a plurality of transmitting devices, one or more receiving devices associated with each transmitting device, and means whereby each transmitting device may be operated either to cause response of all the receiving devices or only of its associated receiving devices and said receiving device responsive to relatively small current changes.

11. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, an electro-magnet, a shunt to said electro-magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving device is rendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a plurality of transmitting devices, a resistance and one or more receiving devices associated with each transmitting device, and means whereby each transmitting device and its associated receiving devices may be shunted by the associated resistance, so constructed and arranged that when said resistance is so connected said transmitting device may cause response of its associated receiving de vices and said receiving device responsive to relatively small current changes.

12. In an electrical signaling system, a receiving device responsive only to relatively large current changes, an electromagnet, a shunt to said electro-magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, a switch in said shunt controlled by said electro-magnet whereby said receiving device is rendered responsive to relatively small current changes, a plurality of transmitting devices, a resistance and one or more receiving devices associated with each transmitting device, and means whereby each transmitting device and its associated receiving devices Y may be shunted by the associated resistance.

said movable member to connect arelatively high resistance from said one side to the other side of said transmitting device and said associated receiving devices, and a second contact cooperating with said movable member to connect arelatively low resistance between said sides, said movable member being arranged to open its circuit When disengaged from both of said contacts.

14:. In a signaling system having a normally closed series circuit including an electro'magnet, signal transmitting devices and such circuit connections that said transmitting devices may be partially shunted out Without shunting said .electro-magnet, a shimt'around that portion of said series circuit including only said magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, and a switch in said shuntcon'trolled by said electro magnet.

15. In a signaling system .having a normally closed series circuit including an elec- .tro-magnet, signal transmitting devices and such circuit connections that said transmitting devices may be partially shunted out Without shunting said electro-magnet; a shunt around that portion of said series circuit including onlysaid magnet, a receiving device in said shunt, and a switch in said shunt controlled by said electro-magnet, all so proportioned and adjusted that said receiving device is rendered responsive to the current changes incident to the operation of Copies of this patent may be obtained 10: five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11.0.

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