US1150110A - Automatic signal-operator. - Google Patents

Description

E. R. GILL.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL OPERATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. H1909. IIIzNEwED Aus. 24.1914.

1,150,1 10. y PfIIenIeaAug. 17,1915.A

5 HEEISSHEET 1. f Iz I y l A n i,

E. R'. GILL. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL OPERATOR. y APPLICATION FILED AUG-4,4909. RENEWED AUGK 24. I9I4. l 1,1 5G, l l 0, Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. R. GILL.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.4. 1909. RENEwED Aue. 24. 1914.

1,1 50,1 1 O. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. R. GILL.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL OPERATOR. APPLICATION FILED AuG.4 |909. IIENEwED Aus. 24. I9I4.

E. RqelLL. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL OPERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. |909. RENEWEKD AUG. 24. |914.

1,150; 10. Patented Aug. 1 7, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

IIIIIIIIII'I EDWIN R. GILL, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, Tb HALL SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL-OPERATOR.

,Specification of Letters Patent.

Appiication med August 4, 1309, serial no. 511,259. Renewed segua 24, 1914. serial No. 858,343.

vTo all 'wh-0m it may/concern Be it known that I, EDWIN R. UILL, a citizen of the4 United States, residing in the city of Yonkers, county of Westchester, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefullmprov'ement in Automatic Signal-Operators, of which the following is e Y plane 2-2 1n Fig. l, Fig. 3 'is a perspective a specification. e The present invention lation to automatic means for operating high speed selective signals for telephones, telegraphs andthe like, and it may be used wherever a succession of long and short elecl trical impulses is to be produced under circumstances permitting permutation ofd the order of such impulses.

Many devices have been whereby a number of signals at diderent points may be selectively operated over a themselves, and among these an entire class is recognized wherein a movable contact vpiece is impelled forward rapidly step by step, the mechanism being so arranged that pauses may be produced after any one step forward, and so that each pause will cause a signal to operate at only one station. By pausing after the appropriate forward step, v the operator is able to select whichever station he pleases 'and to call that station without disturbing any other upon the line. For convenience I shall refer herein to selective signaling means of this description as high speed signals.

i My present invention is not concerned with the particular construction of any high speed selective signal and I have not illustrated sucha signal herein, but its object is to supply means whereby merely depressing appropriate buttons and starting an automatic circuit breaker will produce a succession of electric impulses on a mainline including pauses so ordered as to cause those stations corresponding to the buttons de pressed to be called,'and no others. It is to be understood, however, that my devices may be put to otherv than the above uses without departing from the scope of my invention.

The present invention relates particularly to certain modifications and improvements in the apparatus described in my pending y application, Serial No. 458,204, filed October 17th, 19,08, now Patent Number 1,024; 444,;patented Apr. 23,1912, wherein certain broader claims are made.

has particular rey hitherto contrivedv single wire without interference among A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying- View of the escapement and the coperating armature ofthe arrester, Fig.` a is a section of the keyboard and switches, taken on the plane inFig. 2, Fig. 5 is a view of the preferred freeing device, Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same, Fig. 7 is a partial elevation of the same viewed oppositely to Fig. 5, Figs. 8 and 9 are details of the freeing device shown on a large scale, and Fig. l0. is a diagram f circuits of an entire ap paratus.

In my former application above meritioned there is described a combination of the following principal elements: First: A n

called the automatic arrester. Third: MeansV4 for selecting and determining the'parti'cular `positlons of the sender at which the arrester becomes operative, called the pause con troller. after an appropriately timed pause, the action of the arrester is discontinued and the sender is freed, called the freeing device.

My present invention comprises some vor all of these elements, but includes a certain improvement in the third element or pause controller, wherebyvthe same can be built up of sections which can be simply assembled side by side in such numbers as may be desirable in any given installation, the automatic restoration of all the keys in each section being accomplished by" a single agency for each section.

The invention also comprisesA certain changes in the other elements of the whole apparatus, whereby they are made practical in combination with the improved form of apparatus above named.

Referring first to Fig. l0, theA main line upon which are connected all of the selective signals or other devices intended to'receive the impulses produced is shown at 10, and

Fourth: Automatic means whereby whenever brought together'.

the local relay controlling the main'circuit an insulated Contact piece 12 and a movable contact piece 13. This latter, as yshown,"

comprises a spring terminal which is controlled by clockwork, to the frame of which it is electrically connected. These two contacts are so connected to the battery 14 and the relay 11 as to close themain line circuit The operating clockwork comprises a main spring 15, which tendsl alwa. s to turn the main shaft 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow on the gear'wheel 17 (see Fig. 1). This; wheel is fast on the shaft 16, and, through a train of gears shown in dotted lines, it impels a coarselL/toothedA wheel 18. The spring terminal 13 c rries alinger 1'9, so placedv with relation to the wheel 18 that, as the latter turns with the arrow shown upon it in Fig. 1, said finger, and the terminal 13 with it, are raised by each tooth of the wheel 18 in succession, thus closing and opening the relay circuit at 12 at regular intervals. For the purposes of my complete system,.the wheel 18 should have two more teeth than the total number of selective signals for which the complete apparatus is designed. I 1

The motion of the clockwork is controlled-- in a well known manner by an escapement 20 comprising an extension 21 for a purpose de'- scribed hereinafter.

The main shaft'l can be turned by a handle 22 and carries with it an arc-shaped stop arm 23 against which a stop pin 24 on the wheel` 18 normally bears. In operating the i device, the handle 22 is turned oppositely to the arrow in Fig. 1, until the stop arm strikes the pin 25.. This frees the wheel 18, which turns with the arrow marked on it in Fig. 1, and ther movements of the various shafts are so related that, when the wheel 18 has made one revolution, the pin'24 again strikes the stop arm and stops the clockwork.

The frame of the clockwork -is fixed to a metal strip 26 which connects, by the fiat terminal 27 and wire 28, with the battery 14.

The insulated terminal or contact piece 12 is connected by wires 29, 30 to one side of the relay 11.

The mechanism and connections thus far described sulice .for producing a rapid succession of, electrical impulses on the main line. tively operating the type of signals heretofore mentioned, however, it is necessary to provide means whereby a long impulse is produced at the proper moment or moments for calling the desired station or stations. The automatic arrester is used for this purpose.

In order to make these useful in selec- In Figs. 1 and 3,I anelectro-magnet 31.,is

provided which controls a pivotedarr'nj ture 32, normally kept away fromthemagnet pole by the `springs 33. This armaturecarries a finger 34, so placed that, when the magnet is energized, the tip of said finger I catches the tip of .the extension 2 1 of the escapement and stops the clockwork. .The means whereby the action of the: arrester is i appropriately timed is termed the pause contr-oller. c v l In the improved form shown herein, the pause controller comprises a keyboard made. upl of sectional units, two of which are illus-- trated in Figs. .1, 2 and 4. These two units comprise nine selective keys and one Set button as indicated clearly in Fig.` 1.l It

so. 'Y

should be here explained that ordinarily only one fset button need be used, whatever the number of sectional units employed for a group of stations to be called.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 each selfsupporting unit is furnished with its own separate framework 36, which supportsl a row of tilting keys 37, mounted each on the end of a separate revoluble shaft 38. Each shaft is arranged to close a separate spring switch, preferably by means of a thimble 39,0f insulating material, against one fiat face of which bears one of a pair of contact springs 40, 41. These springs are omitted from Fig. 4.

lt will be seen that the shape of the thim! bles 39 is such that rotation of a shaft 38 will cause a corresponding spring contact 40 to move towardits appropriate spring 41 until contact is made, closing a circuit for a purpose described hereinafter.

The key marked set is shown at the bottom of Fig. 2, and it will be seen that the l.

thimble 39 on this key, instead of closing a circuit when turned, as described above, acts, on the contrary, to open a circuit by pressing the contact spring 42 away from the spi-ing 43. All the springs 4() in each sectional group are electrically united-as shown in Fig. 2, and, in that group which includes a set key, the spring 43 is electrically connected to all the springs 40. As shown in Fig. 10, a connnon wire 44, unites all the springs 40 in all of the sectional groups or unitsv which -are combined in any station.

As will be seen by inspection of the drawings, all the springs 40,`pressing upon the thimbles 39 when tilted, tend to return all the keys to the normal position shown in the drawings, and consequently means must be v 'provided for holding `the keys in closed cirgroup or unit. Each magnet 46 is provided with a coil of fine wire 47 the ends of which is connected by Wirev 51 with a contact spring 52- near the top of the unit, and a losecond spring 53 is adapted to make and break contact with the spring 52 at the proper time for energizing and denergizing the magnet 46, whereby the armatures 45 are all either held or released together.

.F or the purpose of operating the switch 52,53, means are supplied which are operative Whether one or more of the -keys in any one unit or group are tilted. In the preferred form shown I' use a sliding rod 54 extending past all the shafts 38 and carrying an insulated arm `55 upon which bears the spring 53, so that when the rod 5 4 is lifted contact will be made between the springs 52, 53. The rod 54 also carries lifting arms 56 which project over the thimbles 39 and lie normally upon the upper flat surfaces. Owing to this construction, the turning of any one thimble 39 by tilting a key 37 raises the rod 54 and closes the con-A tact at 52, 53. The weight of the rod 54 and the resiliency of the spring 53 act with the tendencies of the springs and 42 to return the keys to normal.

The line setting means governed by the key marked set are not indispensable to my invention but arepreferably employed, and, when used, the springs 40 in'all the combined units are normally connected,

through the springs 42, 43, to the ,movable member of the selecting switch which forms partofthe pause controller, in a manner and for a purpose described hereinafter.

The shaft 57 of the toothed wheel 18 preferably carries the movable member of the selecting switch. This is a spring arm A58 4arranged so that its tip passes into the spring- Jaw contacts 59,60 placed in a circle around the shaft 57 as a center; and the arm 58 is so placed that it touches said contacts at the same time that a corresponding tooth of the wheel 18 is acting to close the relay circuit at 12, 13. There is one contact 59 connected electrically to each contact spring 41 in the combined units, and in addition one contact 60 connected to all the springs d 40 by the wires 61 and 44 (see Fig. 10).

The wheel 18 hasone tooth corresponding to each spring-jaw contact 59 and one for the contact 60.

' The arm 58 normally bears at its opposite end upon va metal ring 62, savewhen the tch 63 insaid ring is reached. The ring 6 u'isjconnected bythe wire 64`to the spring Y contacts 53 in all theassociated units.

shown in. Fig. 10, the magnet 31 of the pauses produced thereby, a freeing device must be employed, and for'this purpose I refer to use the apparatus shown in Figs. 5

. to 9 and in diagram in Fig. 10.

A Here the casing 7 0 incloses a framework 71 supporting a horizontal shaft 72 carry` ing a ratchet wheel 73 which is normally impelled in the directlon of the'arrow in Fig. 7 by the spiral spring 74. The electromagnet .7 5 (omitted from Fig. 6) acts through the armature 76, bent spring .77' and wire 78' to operate an impelling lever 79. An impelling pawl is pivoted to the end of the lever 79 and is so placed that, whenever energization of the magnet 75 permits the lever 79l to move downward, said pawl will move the ratchet Wheel 73l one tooth forward. When the impelling pawl 80 rises, the retaining pawl 81 on the pivoted arm 82 acts on the teeth of the ratchet 7 3 to prevent return to normal under the inand its driving parts should be substantially as follows: Vhen the wheel is at normal and before any call is begun, any rapid impulses "should produce only aback and forth mo- The inclination of tion through the space of one tootlLr'lVhen.

'a call is to be begun, a pause during an impulse (the magnet 7 5 being energized) should prepare the wheel for action. Thereafter every impulse, whether including a pause or not, should cause the wheel to move forward one step without backward move'- ment, and this should continue until as many steps have been taken as there are selective calls in the particular system to be operated, after which the wheel should return to its original or normal position, in readiness for a new complete'operation.

Fig. 8 shows the normal position-fof the wheel 73 and lever-82. In this position the lever, 82 is supported in anielevated position with the pawl 81fout of engagement,.due.to

the fact that the catch 84 rests on the hook .85` which is fixed to the revolutie shaft 86 2. The movement (see Fig. 6). This engagement, between. the catch 84 and the hook 85 is permitted by the Atail piece 86 of the hook bearing on the flattenedl part of the hub 87, fixed to the .shaft of the wheel 73 the distance of one toothA does not cause suliicient movement of the hook 85 to liberatethe le.- ver 82 and' drop the pawl 81 upon the wheel,

' and therefore any. numberV of quick movements of the impelling pawl 80 merely produce quick back andforthmovement of the l wheelv 73.

pelling pawl 80. For this purpose I prefer to. employ the following means: Upon 'y a shaft 88 there is fixed a lever 89, to the outer extremity o fwhich is pivoted a framework 90 carrying a pair of inertia wheels 91 fixed to a short shaft 92 resting upon the inclined track 93. These wheels 91 are held near the upper end of the track 93 by the arm 94 fixed on the shaft 95, to which is also fixed the lever 79 which carries the impelling pawl 81. Thus each time the impelling pawl 81 is depressed the wheels 91 begin to roll slowly down the track 93, and whenever the -pawl 80 rises the arm 94 causes the wheels to V slide quickly back up the track 93. If the impelling lpawl 80 be depressed long' enough, the wheels 91 will roll down far enough to permit fthe framework 90 to hit the lever 96. This lever is fixed to the revolu'ble shaft 86 to which the hook 85 is fixed. This action pushes the hook 85 away from under the catch 84, thus releasing the pawl 81 and permitting it to fall upon the wheel 73. After this, as the wheel progresses step by step under the linfiuence of the impellingpawl 80, the catch 84 does not at any time rise high enough to rest upon the hook 85, which, moreover, is held out of engaging position by the rounded portion of the hub 87. It follows therefore that, whether the forward impulses follow each other lquickly or with intermediate pauses, the wheel 73'will move forward until the inclined tooth 97 comes in contact with the pawl 81. The inclined face of said:

'tooth' will cause the lever 82 and pawl 81 to move laterally so as to release the wheel. The spring 74A (see Fig. 6)v at once returns the wheel to normal, at the end of which re-- turn movement, the lifting catch 98 on the wheel 73, acting upon the inclined forward face of the lever 382', raises the catch 84 onto the hook 8 5, and the inclinedpin 99 on the wheel causes return lateral -movement whereby the pawl 81 is restored to the plane ofV ped in some cases, but, where a wheel with many small teeth is used, I have found it advisable to use the construction shown. It will thus be seen that, by beginning with a long impulse the wheel 73 may be progressed any predetermined number of teeth, pauses being made at any desired intervals. The object of the entire freein device is to cause the opening of a norma ly closed circuit at intervals selected at will by making pauses or long impulses at proper intervals. For this purpose a iixed contact piece 100 is connected to the frame of the machine, which is itself connected to the binding post 101 (see Fig. 10). A movable spring contact 102 is fixed to an insulating piece 103 on the shaft 88 which turns with the lever 89. The tension of the spring 102 is such that it does not actually leave the contact 100 until the wheels 91 have rolled down the track 93 a. distance corresponding to a prearranged in- 'terval of pause during depression of the impelling pawl 80. The movable spring terminal 102 is connected by la fine iexible connection 104 to the insulated bar 105, connected by wire 106 to the binding post 69 (see Figs. 6 and 10).

In Figs. 8 and 9 are shown certain minor details of improvement. One. of these is the guide piece 107, lprovided with two upwardly extending arms, ,between which plays the lower or working end of the impelling lever 80. These arms serve to control the movementsof the lever with relation to the teeth of the wheel 73, yand their position can be accurately 'adjusted in any given instrument by means of the screw 108, upon which the guide piece is pivoted. The pawl 8O is pivoted to the lever 79 as shown in Fig. 9, andv is provided with an arm 109- "7 3 withy many ne teeth is used.

In operating the system so far described in connection with selective stations signals of the type above referred to, any one or all of the stations on the line may be called successively by oneoperation.

Supposing it were desired to call stations 1 and 4, for instance, and to leave all other stations undisturbed. The operator will first push forward lthe two keys numbered l and 4 and no others and then turn the handle 22 as far as itwill go to the right and release it, The main spring 52 revolves the shaft 57,-the arml 58 and the toothed wheel 18. During movement of the clockwork, the cir-'- cuit-closing positions of the keys 1 and 4 are preserved by the armature 45'being attracteration.

ed by the magnet belonging'to the group to which these keys belong. The circuit of this magnet is closed by upwardmovement of the sliding rod 51," whereby Contact is l the finger 19 so as to produce the first contact .at 12, 13. At the moment these contacts occur current passes from battery 11 by wire 28, machine frame,` contacts 13, 12, wire 29, to magnet 75 iii the freeing device, and back to battery 11. rlhe impelling pawl .8O

4 is thus depressed, and the depression is prolonged so as to produce action of the retarded mechanism which trips the hook 85, by the following means. Contact between the arm'58 and the spring-jaw (3() closes a cirf cuit starting from battery 118, bywires 112 and 28, to shaft l57 and arm 58, contact (30, wire 61, wire) l--t and wires connecting all the springs 10, by springs 13, 12 at the set key, wire 67, post (i5, magnet 31, post (i6, wire (i8, post (Si) on the freeing device,`

contacts 102, 100, post 101. and back to battery 113. The 'magnet 31, being thus energized, acts by armature 32 and finger 34 to arrest the clockwork, so that a prolonged contaetis prmluced at 12, 13, thus permitting the wheels ill iii the freeing device to roll down the track ill-l far enough to trip the hook so as to prepare the freeing device7 'for progressive movement of the wheel 73, At the saine time, or a little later, contact is broken at 10() and 102, thus deenergizing magnet fil, ,and permitting the clockwork tocontinue its forward movement. ln the nieaiitiinta a branch circuit is closed from battery 14, by wire 28, machine frame, contacts 115, 12, wire 29, fwii'e 30, relay 1l, and back to battery 14. This '.'loses the niain line circuit to all tlieselective calling instruments, and the interval being a prolonged one,A all of said instruineiits are. prepared in a well known manner for forward movement;I and appropriate opwork now brings the arm 58 into contact with the first spring-jaw 59, and current flows from battery 111-, by wire 28, arm 58, contact 59, wire 114springs 41, 4,0, ofkey No. 1. by wires connecting all springs 40 to springs iii and -l2,`by wire (S7, to magnet 31 as before and back to battery. At the same time prolonged action of the freeing device magnet 75 takes place as before due to circuit through lil and 12 and the wheel 78 moves forward another tooth. A long iinpulsc is again sent over the line, and that selfurther movement of the clockleetive instrument which is arranged to operate on prolongation of the first impulse produces a signal. 'T he clockwork being released by action of the freeing device as bcfore, contact occurs successively at the second and thirdspring-jaws 59. connected as shown to springs 4:1 at keys 2 and 3, but, as said keys have not been tilted,- the magnet 31 is notenergized and thc only result is pro,f: ,1"essA forwardbyonemore tooth of the wheel'73 in the freeing-device7 and of the corresponding wheels in all the selective instruments along the line. lVhen the "aian-58-reaeliesthe fourth contact 59, the

arrester magnet 31 comes again into play These are owing to the position of key No. 4, andthe operation above described for number 1 is repeated` The enti-re revolution of the arm 58 is completed, and, just as the arm 58 reaches the last contact 59, the 4opposite end of said arm reaches the notch 63, whereby circuit is broken through all the magnets 46 which happen to be energized. This .releases all the tilted keys, 'which at once returnlto normal, in preparation for another operation. The arm 58 then advances to the nornial position shown, the same being in contact with the ring 62 preparatory to again u'sing the entire apparatus. In this position the arm remains, the pin24 having struck the arm 23. 1

It will be seen that the number of teeth on the wheel 73 in the actual freeing `device" shown is considerably greater than the number of contact points-59. In practice the number of teeth counting from normal position of the Wheel 7 3 around to the beveled tooth 97 should be equal in number to the contacts 59, but a fewer number of the latter contacts have been shown in Fig. 10 as it would unduly complicate .the drawing'to sli-ow therein more than two groups or sectional units;

The use of the cset key is to bring all 'selective instruments on the main line with certainty to normal or initial position when there is` reason to suspect that one or more of them have been accidentally displaced. This may be done without operating any signal as followsz- The set key is tilted, being held by itsl Vappropriate magnet 4G asbeforc described.

'lhe handle 22 is then turned o1' released as before. As the arm 58 reaches each springjaw in its path, there is no action of the arrester magnet 31, because its circuit ris brokenr at 42, 13.V The closures of circuit produced at 12. 13 are therefore all quick ones, 21nd in case any selective instruments on the line are vaccidentally advanced at the commencement of the operation beingf'iescribed, such instruments are carried trithe` enel o f their allotted movement Where-theyf automatically.return-to normal.4 Any fur- 'ther impulses reaching such instruments after return to `normal'will not cause further progression in them, owing tothe fact Ithat a prolonged or retarded initial impulse is necessary to svtart them.

'Just before the end of the operation above last "described the arm 58 again reaches the notch', and the set key is released by deenergizing its magnet, as above described in the case of normal operation.

Many changes may be made in constructions above described without departing from my invention and I do not limit myself to details herein shown and described.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. A device of the class described comprising in combination an automatic sender adapted to normallyproduce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender, a group ofkeys adapted to control the operation of said arrester, and an electro-magnet associated with said group and adapted to hold any plurality of said keys in a predetermined position to which they may be successively moved, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination an automatic sender adapted to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automaticlarrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender, a number of groups'of keys.

adapted to control the operation of said arrester, anv electro-magnet associated-with each of said groups andveach adapted to hold in a predetermined position to which they may be successively moved any plui' rality of its own group, and an electric circuit for controlling said magnets and having a separate branch including the coils of each magnet, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described com-- prising in combination an automatic senderA adapted to-normally produce a succession of' rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender, a group of keys adapted to control the operation of said arrester, an electromagnet associated with` said group and adapted to hold any one of said keys in a predetermined position, a circuit for said magnet, and an automatlc circuit breaker in'said cu'cuit adapted to move with salda sender, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described lcom-llo prising in combination an automatic sender adaptedto normally produce a succession of rapid electricl impulses, .an automatic arrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender, a group of keys adapted to control the operation of said arrester, an electro-magnet associated with said group and adapted to hold any one of said keys in l i vapredetermined position, a circuit for said magnet', a rotary arm adapted to move with said sender and a plate along which said arm moves when rotating, said arm and plate both being in said magnetcircuit, and said plate being shaped so that said arm breaks contact with it at one point, substantially as described.

6'. A device of the class described comprising in combination an automatic sender of rapidly recurring electrical impulses, an automatic arrester therefor, a group of keys and corresponding circuit closers, an electro-magnet for holding said keys, a series of contact points electrically connected to said circuit-closers, a contact plate electrically connected to the coils of said electro-magnet, and a contact arm adapted to move with said sender 'and placed so that one of its ends sweeps over said series of contact` points and its opposite end sweeps along said contact plate, substantially as de' scribed.

7. A device of the class described comprising in combination a toothed wheel intended to be advanced a predetermined dis,- tance, means for returning the same to normal, a retaining pawl for said wheel, a pivoted lever thereformounted so as to be movable laterally', means on the wheel adapted to move said. lever laterally, means on the Wheel adapted to ac't upon said level' to raise said pawl yand lever when the wheel returns to normal, and a second means on said wheel adapted' to move said lever and pawl laterally toward said wheel, when the latter returns to normal, substantially as described.

8. A device of the class described comprising in combination a toothed Wheel intended to be advanced a predetermined distance, means for returning the same to normal, a retaining pawl for said wheel, a pivoted lever carrying said pawl, a hook adapted to engage said lever, and means moved directly by said wheel for controlling the position of said hook, substantially as described.

9. A device of the class'describcolrF prising in combination a toothed wheel intended to be advanced a predetermined distance, means for returning the same tonormal, a retammg pawlfor said wheel, a plvoted lever carryingsaid-pawl, a hook adapted to engage said lever and having a tail pieceextending past the shaft of said Wheel and a attened hub fixed to'said wheel and souplaced as to control the engagement of said hook With said lever on rotation .ot said wheel, substantially as described.

10. A device of the kind described comprising in combination an automatic sender adapted; to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to control the operation of said sender, a group of movable keys adapted to control the operation ofsaid arrester, and a single means associated 'with said group and adapted to hold any plurality of said keys in a predetermined position to which they mayl have been successively moved.

11.- A device of the kind described, com prising in combination, an automatic sender -adapted to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester vadapted to control the operation of said sender, a groupot' movable keys adapted to controlhth'e operation of said arrester,

' a single means associated with said group and adapted to hold any plurality of said keys in a predetermined position to which they have -been successively moved, and mea-ns for rendering said last named means operative, controlled by the movement of any key.

v12. `A device of the kind described comprising an automatic sender adapted-to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to control the operation of said sender, a group of movable keys adapted to control the operation of saidn arrester, and a single means associated'with said group and adaptedto hold any one or plurality of-said keys in a predetermined position to which rthey may be successively moved.

1B. A device of the kind described, comprising in. combination, an automatic sender adapted to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses," an automatic arrester adapted to control the operation of said sender, a group 'of movable keys adaptedito control the operation of said arrester, a single means associated with said group and adapted to hold any plurality of said keys in a predetermined position to which they may be successively moved, and means for rendering said last named means operative, controlled by the movementof any key.

14. In a device of the kind described, a plurality of switches, a key for each switch, an electro-magnet for holding any plurality of said keys in a determined position to which they may be successively moved, a circuit for said magnet, and ameans for controlling said circuit controlled by the movement vof any one ot said keys.

plurality of keys, an armature connected to each key, a magnet common to the armatures, a circuit including the magnet, a switch for the magnet circuit adaptedA to be mechanically operated l*by any one of said keys, and Aan independent circuit controlled by each of said keys.

17. 1n a device of the kind described, a

vplurality of keys, an armature connected to each key, a magnet common to the-armatures, a. circuit including the magnet, a switch for the magnet circuit adapted to be mechanically operated by any one of said keys, and automatically operative means for breaking the magnet circuit.

18. ln a device of the kind described, a plurality of keys, an armature connected to each key, a magnet common to the armatures, a circuit including the magnet, a switch for the magnet circuit adapted to be mechanically operated by any"one of said keys, and manually operated -means for breaking the magnet circuit. V

19. .ln a` device' of the `kind described, aV

plurality of keys, an armature connected to each key, a magnet common to the armatures, a circuit including. the magnet, a switch for the magnet circuit adapted to be mechanically operated by 'any one of said keys, automatically operative means for breaking the magnet circuit` and-manually operative means for breaking' the magnet I' circuit.

20.' ln a device of the kind described, automatic sender ot' electrical impulses, automatic arrester therefor, a group keys and corresponding circuit closers, lectro-magnet for vholding said keys, a series of contact points electricallyconnected to said circuit closers` a contact plate electrically'connected to the coils of said-electro-magnet, and hav-ing. a cut-out portion, and a contact arm adapted to move with said sender. and placed so that one of its ends sweeps over said Series of contact points and its vopposite end sweeps along said contact plate, excepting at the cut-out portion, substantially as described.

21. ln a device of the kind described, a plurality of keys, armatures moved by the keys respectively, a magnet common to the armatures, a circuit including the, magnet, a switch for the magnet .circuit movable upon movement of any key, and a spring circuit closer controlled by each key respectively, said springs urging said several keys to movement.

22. ln a device of the kind described, an

ofv

automatic sender adapted to normally produce a succession of electrical impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender, a group of keys adapt- 'ed to control the operation of said arrester, a

spring circuit closer controlled by each key respectively, said springs urging their several keys to movement, an electro-magnet associated with said group of keys, and

adapted to hold any one of said keys in a predetermined position, a circuit for said magnet including a movable contact, and a movable member operatively related to said contact and movable by any one of sa1d keys.

23. A device of theclass described, comprising 'in combination an automatic sender adapted to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender, -a number of groups of keys adapted to control the operation of said arrester,'an electro-magnet associated with each of said roups and each adapted to hold in a pre etermined position to which v they may be successively movedany plurality of keys of its own group, an electric circuit for controlling said magnet and having a separate branch including the coils of each ma et, substantially as described,4 and automatically operative means for controlling said circuit.

24. A device of the class described, comprising in combination an automaticsender adapted to' normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses, an automatic arrester adapted to interrupt the action of said sender,y a number of groups of keys adapted to control the operation of said arreter, an electro-magnet associated with each of said groups and each adapted to hold in a predetermined position to which they may be successively moved any plurality of keys ,of its own group, an electric circuit for controlling said magnet and having a separate branch includingthe coils of each magnet, substantially asA described, and manually if operated means for controlling said circuit;

25. A device of the class described, comprising in combination an automatic sender 'adapted ,to normally produce a succession of rapid electric impulses', an automatic arrester adapted to interru t the action of v said sender, a number o groups of keys adapted tok control the operation ofsaid arrester, lan electro-magnet associated with each of said groups and each adapted tov hold in a predetermined position to which they may besuccessively moved any plurality of keys of its own group, an electric circuit for controlling said magnet and having a separate branch including the coils of each magnet, substantially as described, automatically operative means for controlling said circuit, and manually operated.

means for controllin said circuit.

l 26. ln 'a device o the kind described, a n

to each key, a slidable rod extending past 80 each of said keys and having a plurality of fingers, one for engagement with the aforesaid portion of each key, a magnet common to said armatures, and a circuit for said magnet including a movable contact operatively related to said rod.

In witness whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of-two witnesses.

EDWIN IR. GILL.

Witnesses:

CURTIS P. GATELY, E. A. HENNESEY.

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