US1194931A

US1194931A - aveby

Info

Publication number: US1194931A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1916-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1933-08-15

Description

C. E. AVERY.

SIGNAL'BOX.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1915. 1,194,931.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I IN CASE OF FIRE OPENDOOR HND fij- PULL LEVER C. E. AVERY.

SIGNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3,1915.

Patented Aug. 15,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. E. AVERY;

SIGNAL BOX.

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w fi J W5 1 C. E. AVERY.

SIGNAL BOX. APucATlon man FEB a. 1915.

1,194,931. PatentedAug. 15,1916.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4. I5 125 7 2? ZZZ 1H JH 7 1| 2 fi' 1Z5 1 A, A 1% H Z 1 UNITED STATES CHARLES E. A VEBY, OF 'IRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO MANHATTAN ELEG- TRICAL'SU'EPLY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, -N. Y.,

A CORPORATION 01' NEW JERSEY.

SIGNAL-BOX.

Application filed February 8, 1915. I Serial Ili'o. 5,942."

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, CHARLES E. AVERY, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing-at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State .of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementi-n Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signal boxes and particularly to boxes for transmitting an electric signal, the object of my invention being to improve the construction as a whole and certain features of the mechanism in particular as set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective of the box casing, with the cover lid open to show the pull lever for operating the mechanism; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the box; Fig. 3 is a section through the wiring box which forms portion of the casing; Fig. 4 is a perspective of the signal box with the inner cover plate opened to showthe break wheel and testing devices; Figs. 5 and. 6 are plan views of the cooperating parts of a break wheel; Fig. 7 is a cross section through one of these ele ments; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the signal circuit contacts and testing devices; Fig. 9 is a plan view of these parts; Fig. 10 is a broken plan of the same in position for testing the operating mechanism without sending a signal; Fig. 11 is a perspective of the testing key; Fig. 12 is a plan of the box with the inner cover-plate opened to show the signal operating mechanism; Fig. 13 is a detached perspective of the mechanism parts mounted on spindle 93; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the stop mechanism to prevent oVerWinding of the operating spring; Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the operating spring relation to its detent; Fig. 16 is a plan of the stop plate for halting the break wheel after the signal has been given; Fig, 17 is a front elevation of the cam hub shown at the left hand end of Fig. 13; Fig. 18 is a detached perspective of-thls hub and the stop plate viewed from the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 19

is a section through the assembled mechanism on the line of the several spindles and showing the signal operating mechanism in a position of rest; Fig. 20 is a broken section showing the mechanism on spindle 93 Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

drawn to a larger scale and positionassumed during the mechanism; and Fig. 21 is asection on line 2121,Fig. 19. i

The present signal jbox, while primarily designed to control a circuit in which an electrically operated signal device is arranged, either adjacent or remote from th ox, possesses many features which may be utilized in mechanically operated si als. In view of the increasing prevalence o electrically operated signals, especially fire signals, in both factories, school buildings, large office buildings, etc., the invention has been illustrated in connection with mechanism for controlling such an electric signal circuit.

The casing and frame'.The casing may be of any suitable shape, but preferablyof generally rectangular form as shown. The body 25 of the casing isa box-like casting having lugs 26 projecting from the bottom for the reception of securing screws and side brackets 27 through which thespindle 28 passes. Pivoted' on the latter by lugs 29 is an inner cover plate 30 on the inner face of which the operating mechanism is mounted. This plate is normally locked in closed position by the key operated screw 31 there- PATENT OFFICE. A

operation ofasignaling a lug 34 of the outer cover. 1 On the exterior of the outer cover 33 is a suitable instructive legend, and the number of the signal which is rung from the box. This number is preferably impressed on an independent 1 disk' 36 held by a rivet 37 a countersunk seat in the cover. A marginal finger grip 38 is provided by which to open the cover when it is desired to operate the signal.

One corner of the box body is preferably i cut away to form an independent wiring box 39 which may be installed in advance of the main box containing the signaling mechanisms. Tapped bosses 40 in the opposite ends of this wiring box 39 receive the wire conduits 41. Temporary filler pieces 42 (Fig. 1) may be screwed into these bosses until the conduits are connected, or one of them may be permitted to remain in permanea y .Where the box forms a terminus m the conduit system. Lugs 43 receive screw bolts by which the wiring box is independently mounted on the wall or other support. The meeting faces of the casing and wiring box 39 lie in a plane at an angle of about v 45 to the bottom of the casing, so that it is possible to machine these faces to an exact fit, a practical impossibility where the box 39 is rectangular and there are two meeting from the dirt and possible injury incident to the completion of the building construction or to the wiring job when the installation is made in a building already completed. When the system is to be made ready for use the boxes 25 are assembled with the wiring boxes 39 by means of screws 50 passing through flanges 51 and taking into tapped holes 52 in the conduit bosses 40. Each

terminal strap

46, 47 also carries a

binding screw

53, 54, by which, after the

boxes

25 and 39 are thus assembled,

wires

55 and 56 are respectively attached to the

straps

46, 47. These Wires lead to a pair of cooperating

spring terminals

57 and 58 mounted through insulation on a boss 59 on the inner face of the base 30. The signal circuit which the mechanism controls may be either normally open or normally closed. The more common practice is to employ a circuit nor: mally closed and accordingly the

contacts

57 and 58 are here shown in engagement at their free ends.

The break wheeZ.To open the circuit and thus to operate the signal, I provide a break wheel 60 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow 61. This wheel has a series of peripheral teeth 62 which, on the rotation of the wheel, successively engage the free end 63 of the spring terminal 58 and depress it out of engagement with the coiiperating terminal 57. The circuit being automatically reestablished by spring contact 58 after each depression, it is obvious that the signal is operated to sound in accordance with the number of teeth on the break wheel. In the example shown the sig-' A group and three group as they succeed each other during the rotation of the break wheel.

The break wheel is ordinarily made from a metallic disk into the periphery of which the teeth 62 are cut or filed in accordance be obtained which a given installation may require. In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown two disks, one having five peripheral teeth and the other three. There may of course be as many teeth as are necessary and their pitch 'may vary as required. A stock of these may be readily made and kept on hand for building up the desired numbers. By arranging the two disks shown in such manner on their spindle 115 that the disk with three peripheral teeth comes first into engagement with the contact end 63, the box number 35 is sounded on the rotation of the break wheel. Any suitable means may be employed'for holding the disks rigid with relation to each other. I have here shown each disk provided on one face with teats 65 which take I into corresponding cups 66 on the meeting faces of the adjacent disk. The disks are preferably struck from sheet metal and the teats and cups 65, 66, may be made simultaneously with the cutting of the peripheral teeth 62 by suitable construction of the cutting dies. A nut 600 holds the disk rigid on the spindle 115 through the insulating connection 610.

T be testing deoices.It is a common provision of municipal fire regulations that signal boxes employed for the ringing of fire alarms shall be subject to tests to deterwhich may be operated by a key 68 without opening the inner cover 30 of the box. In the form here shown, this interrupter comprises a plate of insulation 67 freely mounted on apin 69 cast in one with or carried by the base plate 30. A hole 70 in the plate 67,

lying just outside the area of the pin 69, receives the tongue 71 of the key 68. The latter is of partially cylindrical form and may be passed through the arcuate slot 72 in the base plate 30 surrounding the base of the pin 69. It will be noted that the entering end of the key has an arcuate extent substantially as great as that of the slot 72 so that the key may" be inserted in only a Ill single position. The hole in the interrupter 67 is so positioned with relation to the slot 72 that the tongue 71 on the key registers therewith when the key is inserted. The shank of the key is however recessed at 73 to permit the latter to be rotated a;

predetermined extent after insertion, that is to say, until the base of the recess 73 in the shank of the key comes to bear upon one end of the slot 72 in the base plate. Consequently, the motion which it is possible to give to the interrupter 67 is positively limited by the depth of the recess 73 in the key and the positive stop of the latter at the end of the slot 72 in the base prevents any disarrangement of the interrupter 67 and also prevents injury to the spring 74 by which the latter is returned to normal position against its stop 75. When rotated by the key 68, in the only direction which it is possible to operate the latter after it has been inserted in the slot 72, a nose 670 on the interrupter 67 engages the free end of the spring contact 58 and depresses the latter out of engagement with the coiiperating terminal 57. T-hesignal circuit is thus broken and the signal device sounded without operating the breakwheel. Thus no box signal is rung and there is no danger of alarm being caused by the single stroke of the signal bell which-results from ;this test breaking of the circuit by the interrupter 67.

.It would obviously be impossible to test the break wheel operating mechanism without ringing the box number unless the contact 63 be temporarily moved out of position in which the break .wheel would engage it during the rotation thereof on a test of the mechanism. To accomplish this, while at the same time maintaining the circuit closed, a second insulating plate 7 6 is mounted on a second stud 77 and having an aperture 78 for the reception of the tongue 71 of the key 68. An arcuate slot 79 surrounds the base of this stud in like manner as slot 72 for stud 69, and the tongue 71 on key 68 when the latteris inserted through slot 79, engages in hole 78 so that the plate 76 may be rotated thereby. On rotation by the key the nose 80 on the plate 76 rides on the arched free end of the spring terminal 57 and depresses the latter, carrying down with it the free end 63 of terminal 58 so that the latter lies out of the path of the teeth 62 on the break wheel and at the same time maintaining the circuit closed. In this position the break wheel may be rotated without opening the signal circuit and the test of the mechanism is thus silent. On the release of the key, the spring 81 returns the disk 76 to normal positiona'gainst its stop 82 while the contacts also resume their normal position. The arcuate motion of the key 68 is in this case also limited by the depth of the recess 73 therein and danger of disarrangement of the plate 76 or of injurious strain upon its spring 81 or the

spring terminals

57 and 58 is prevented.

The break wheel operating mechanism. In case of fire the signal is rung by a mechanism mounted within the casing and set -lar 87 engaged by one end of the return spring and also a hub 870 provided with a ratchet wheel 89. The gear 88 freely mounted on the hub, carries a pawl 90 pressed by spring 91 into engagement with the ratchet 89, thus receiving its drive through the latter on the downward movement of the lever 83 while permitting the ratchet to run freely beneath the pawl 90 on the upward return movement of the lever under the influence of its spring 85.

In mesh with the gear 88 is a pinion 92 pinned to shaft 93 and rigid with a ratchet 94. The latter is provided with as many teeth as may be desired, but having a predetermined relation to the stops 112 on the stop plate 107 hereinafter mentioned. A pawl 95 mounted on the cover plate 30 and pressed by spring 96 into engagement with the ratchet 94 holds the latter against reverse rotation, ,and consequently holds, through pinion 92, the gear 88 stationary during the return movement of the lever 83 underthe influence of its spring 85.

The heavy driving spring 97 coiled on spindle 93 is pinned at its inner end to the latter, while its outer end is wrapped on a pin 98 extending between the plate 99 on the one side and gear 100 on the opposite side. Rigidly supported from the cover plate 30 by pins 101 is an internally toothed ring 102. A pawl 103 pivoted on the hub of.

pinion 92 and located within the ring is normally held by its leaf spring 104 out of engagement with the toothed inner periph ery of the ring 102. A lug 105 (Fig. 14) '1' struck from plate 99 lies however. in the path of the pawl 103 and throws the latter outward into engagement'with the ring 102 on the rotation of the spindle 93 by the gear 88 beyond a predetermined maximum. Over-winding of the actuating spring 97 is thus prevented.

Adjacent the gear 100 but pressed away therefrom by the spring 106, is a stop plate 107 mounted freely on the shaft 93 but having a lost motion connection with the gear 100 through a pin 108 on the gear wheel taking into a slot 109 in the stop plate. The opposite ends of the spring-106 take into

holes

110 and 111 in the gear 100 and stop plate 107 respectively and the torsional efand geared at the ratio of five to one with the main gear 100 through the pinion 121 on the hub of gear 114. Spindle 115 thus makes five revolutions to one revolution of shaft 93. Bearing against the same face of the stop plate at a point radially inside the stop bars 112 is a hub 116 pinned to the spindle 93 and. provided with cam projections 117-118 spaced radially different distances from the spindle 93 and which, in the stop position of the mechanism, enter arcuate slots 119 and 120 respectively, also spaced different radial distances from the axis of the stop plate. In this stop position, the stop plate 107 is pressed away from gear 100 by spring 106 and the radial stop bars 112 lie in the plane of rotation of the pin 113 on the gear wheel 114 (Fig. 19) so that one of said stop bars is engaged by said p1n.' On the rotation of the shaft 93 by the pull down of the lever 83, however, the hub 116, turning with the shaft 93 (and in advance of the locked gears 100and 114, which are halted by the engagement of pin 113 on the latter with one of the stop bars 112 on stop plate 107) the stop plate is displaced longitudinally on the shaft 93 against the spring 106 by the

cam projections

117 and 118 on the hub 116, which projections ride out of the slots 119 and 120 against the face of the plate (Fig. 20). This longitudinal movement of the stop plate on shaft 93 carries stop bar 112 out of the path of the pin 113 and thus frees gear 114 which is now driven by spring 97 through gear 100. It should be pointed out that the length of the slots 119 and 120 is such and the inclination of the

cams

117 and 118 so predetermined that the engagement between pin 113 and thestop bar 112 is not broken until the spindle 93 has been rotated at least one fifth of a revolution. This insures the tensio'ning of the driving spring 97 sufliciently to drive the break wheel spindle 115 through a single revolution. It also insures the engagement of the pawl 95 with the succeeding tooth of the ratchet 94thus holding the spring 97 tensioned. It should be noted also that the position of this ratchet 94 on the spindle 93 is so predetermined with relation to the hub 116 and stop plate 107 that the stop bar 112 of thelatter is not withdrawn from engagement with the pin 113 on gear 114 until just after the pawl 95 has engaged the succeeding tooth of the ratchet 94. There is consequently no danger that the break wheel spindle 115 will be freed and start to rotate before the spring 97 has been put under and held at sufficient, tension to 'insure at least a single complete revolution of, spindle 115 and consequently the ringing of the complete signal at least once.

Inasmuch as the spindle 93 is held sta tionary duringthe operation of the signal, the stop plate, rotating with gear 100 through the engagement of pin 108 in the forward end of slot 109, gradually brings its slots 119 and 120 into register with the

cams

117 and 118 and is then pushed away from proximity to the gear 100 by the'expansion of spring 106 and into stop position where its bars 112 lie in the plane of rotation of the pin 113 on gear 114. The latter, turning at five times the speed of the stop plate, soon picks up one of the bars 112 by its pin 113, and turns the stop plate at increased speed in the direction of itsrota tion, and against the torsional action of the light spring 106, until halted by pin 108 which now bears at the rear end (with respect to the direction of rotation) of the slot 109. The mechanism is thus again locked in position. The break wheel 60 is of course so arranged on the spindle 115 that in this locked condition of the operating mechanism the break teeth are positioned to operate the signal device, (71. 6. break the circuit) in proper sequence when the mechanism is again set in motion.

In order to time the speed of the signal properly the gear 114 is meshed with a pinion 122 on the hub of gear 123 which engages a verge 124 on spindle 125. The latter carries an oscillating regulator 126, the

weighted arms 127 of which may be adjusted on pivot 128 closer to or farther from the axis to speed up or retard the oscillation of the verge which thus forms a governor for the mechanism. A second regulator, if needed, may be mounted on the hub 129 which is tapped at 130 for this purpose.

Operation-The operation of the break wheel mechanism will be readily understood from the foregoing description. Upon the pull down of the lever 83 the spindle 93 is rotated through the gear 88 and pinion 92. .The relation of the gears is such, in the con-. structions illustrated, that upon a complete stroke of the lever 83 the spindle 93 is rotated slightly in excess of four-fifths of a single revolution. It consequently passes four teeth of the ratchet 94 beneath the:

mass

slots forces the stop plate longitudinally of the spindle against the action of spring 106 and the engagement between pin 113 on gear 114 and the stop bar 112 on plate 107 is broken thus permitti the mechanism to operate. Simultaneous y with the escape of the pin from the bar 112, the stop late 107 is rotated backward to the extent 0 slot 109 by the torsional action of spring 106. The gear 100 is now driven by the main spring 97. Its relation to pinion 121 is as five to one. Consequentlyon the rotation of the gear 100 through four fifths of a revolution, the spindle 115 will be rotated four times and the signal thus repeated four times by the break wheel 60 thereon. Obviously the pin 113 on gear 114 cannot engage any of the bars 112 on the stop plate 107 during the first three revolutions since they are held out of the path of revolution by the cam lugs 117 and 118 which during this interval are bearing against the face of the stop plate. As the fourth revolution of spindle 115 begins however, the slots 119 and 120 on the stop plate come opposite the

cams

117 and 118 on hub 116 and under the pressure of spring 106 the stop plate 107 is forced gradually to the left as the cams enter the slots, and the bars 112 are thus brought into the plane of rotation of the pin 113 on gear 114. As the latter completes its fourth revolution therefore, the pin 113 thereon picks up one of the bars 112 and moves the stop plate ahead (in the direction of its rotation) against the action of spring 106 until halted by the impingement of the end of slot 109 against pin 108. The mechanism' is then again locked. .While the lever 83 is normally pulled down its full stroke and the mechanism operated as described, it may happen that the lever is pulled down less than a full stroke, say a half stroke. This rotates the ratchet 94 two teeth past the pawl 95, and the hub 1116 two-fifths of the way around the stop plate 107. The latter will be displaced by the cams and free the pin 113 so that the mechanism is free to operate; but the stop plate has now only a fifth of a revolution to turn before the slots 1181l9 begin to register with the cams 116117 and it will be displaced by spring 106 into engaging position by the time pin 113 comes around on its second revolution.

Should the operator pull the lever down less than suificient distance to move a tooth of the ratchet 94 past the pawl 95 the signal mechanism will not be operated, since as .above explained, the mechanism is so timed lever would be halted at once by the stop pawl 103 which strikes against the-pin 105 on the disk 99 and is thrown outward into engagement with the toothed inner periph cry of ring 102 before pawl has overrun another tooth ofratohet 94. This also halts the hub 116 before its

cams

117 and 118 reach slots 119 and 120 in stop plate 107 and thus prevents their entr into the latter, an occurrence which woul result not only in the immediate halting of the mechanism but also in the permanent overtensioning of the sprlng 97. The latter is obvious since the cams can rise out of the slots only in that direction of rotation which places the spring 97 under tension and they enter the slots again as soon as overtaken by the stop plate when the latter is driven by the spring 97. Of course, after the spring has partially unwound, it is possible by operating the pull lever, to a ain tension it to the full extent permitted y the stop pawl 103 and pin 105. But the latter again serve to halt the lever before the spring has been overtensioned or the cams 117-118 enter the slots 119120.

It will be noted that while the mechanism will not operate until the lever has pulled the ratchet 94 at least one tooth past the pawl 95, and the pin 113 escaped the stop plate 107, there is then no way in which the proper operation of the signal can be inter ered with. At least one complete signal .will be properly given. If the lever is pulled farther it-merely further tensions the spring (without in the meantime stopping the mechanism) and sets the stop mechanism in position to operate later. Moreover, it is not necessary to release the lever to free the mechanism. Once the pin 113 has escaped the stop plate 107, the signal is given however the lever is thereafter operated and whether it is released or not.

The lost motion engagement between the gear 100 and stop plate'107 through pin 108 faces made with such fineness as to be 1mpossible from a manufacturing standpoint since the rengagement of the stop pin 113 with the stop bar 112 would have to take lace at precisely the exact point of release. y rotating the stop plate backward slightly, after the escapenof the pin 113, the reengagement between the pin and bar takes place in advance of the exact stop po sition, while the latter is still accurately determined by the stop end of the slot 109 meeting the pin 108 on gear '100.

Variat1ons in the details of constructio will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and the mechanism shown is to be regarded merely as an illustrative embodiment of what I claim as my invention.

I claim as my invention 1 1. Means for providing a built-up operating rotor for a single signal-contact couple, comprising a plurality of operating units, each having a different number of peripheral teeth, said teeth being of similar form and spacing for each unit, in combination with means for securing aplurality of said units together in such relation that the desired number of teeth for the signal are ar ranged to operate in sequence upon the contact couple. r

2. Means for providing a built-up operating rotor for a single signal-contact couple, comprising a plurality of operating units, each having a different number of peripheral teeth, said teeth being of similar 'form and spacing for each unit, in combination with means for securing a plurality of said units together in such relation that the desired number of teeth for the signal are arranged to operate in sequence and in spaced groups upon the contact couple.

3. Means. for providing a built-up operating rotor for a single signal-contact couple, comprising a plurality of operating units, each having a different number of peripheral teeth, said teeth being of similar form and spacing for each unit, in combination with means for securing a plurality of said units together in such relation that the desired number of teeth for the signal are arranged to operate in sequence upon the contact couple, said means comprising interlocking teats and cups on the juxtaposed faces of the operating units.

4. A signaling device having a built-up operating rotor for a single signal-contact couple, said rotor comprising a plurality of operating units each unit being provided with a single group of peripheral teeth of similar form and spacing, said units being secured together in such relation that the teeth on the respective units operate in sequence upon the contact couple to effect the desired signal number,

5. A signaling device having a built-up operating rotor for a single signal-contact couple, said rotor comprising a plurality of operating units each unit being provided with a single group of peripheral teeth of similar form and spacing, said units being secured together in such relation that the groups of peripheral teeth are spaced apart circumferentially to operate at spaced intervals upon the contact couple whereby a desired signal number comprising a plurality of digits is effected.

6. A signal device having a built-up operating rotor for a single. signal-contact couple, said rotor comprising a plurality of shape, each unit havin a single group'of ing and having teats and cups on its opposite faces to cooperate with like elements of a juxtaposed unit whereby the units are held against relative rotary displacement in assembled position, saidteats and cups having a predetermined relation to the peripheral teeth to insure lateral kinterlock between juxtaposedunits invarious relative circumferential positions of the peripheral teeth groups.

7. An electric signaling device comprising a pair of spring contacts in the signal circult, an operating wheel for intermittently displacing one of said contacts to operate the signal circuit, in combination with means independent of said wheel for displacing said contact to operate said signal circuit to test the same.

8. An electric signaling device comprising a pair of spring contacts in the signal circult, an operating wheel and means for rotating the same to intermittently displace one of said contacts to operate the signal circuit, in combination with means independent of said wheel for displacing said contact out of thepath of said wheel While maintaining the signal circuit in its original condition whereby the wheel rotating means may be silently tested.

9. An electric signaling device comprising 'imperforate sheet metal units struck to 10. An electric signaling device compris ing a contact device in the signal circuit, an operating wheel for intermittently engaging said contact device to operate the signal circuit, in combination with means independent of said wheel for engaging said contact device to operate the signal circuit to test the same.

11. An electric signaling device comprising a pair of normally closed contacts in the signal circuit, a rotatable break wheel adapted to intermittently engage and dis-7 place one of said contacts to open the signal circuit, a plate of insulation adjacent said contact and detachable key means for moving said plate into engagement with said contact to displace the same and thereby open the signal circuit independently of the break wheel.

' 12. An electric signaling device comprising a box-like casing, a pair of normally closed contacts in the signal circuit mounted within said casing, a break wheel adapted to intermittently engage and displace one of said contacts to open the signal circuit, a plate of insulation mounted adjacent said contact and apertured to receive an actuating key, a key way in the casing and a detachable key adapted to be passed through said key way in the casing and having a lug to engage said aperture in the said plate to move the latter into engagement with said contact and displace the latter and open the signal circuit.v

13. An electric signaling device comprising a box-like casing. a pair of normally closed contacts mounted within the latter and arranged in the signal circuit, a plate of insulation pivotally mounted adjacent said contacts and apertured to receive a key, an arcuate key way in the casing and an arcuate key insertible through said key way into engagement with said plate and rotatable in said key way to move said plate into engagement with one of said contacts to displace the same and thus open the signal circuit.

14. An electric signaling device compris-' ing a box-like casing, a pair of normally closed contacts mounted within the latter and arranged in the signal circuit, a plate of insulation pivotally mounted adjacent said contacts and apertured to receive a key, an arcuate key way in the casing and an arcuate key insertible through said key way into engagement with said plate and rotatable in said key Way to move said plate into engagement with one ofsaid contacts to displace the same and thus open the signal circuit, said key having an arcuate extent at its entering end substantially coextensive with the key way in the casing and having in its shank a" marginal bay limiting, by its depth, the extent to which the key may be rotated in the key way.

15. An electric signaling device comprising, a pair of normally closed spring contacts in the signal circuit, a break wheel adapted to intermittently engage and displace one of said contacts to open the signal circuit, a plate of insulation mounted adjacent the cooperating contact and means to move said plate into engagement with the latter to displace both contacts out of the path of the break wheel.

16. An electric signaling device comprising a pair of superposed spring contacts in the signal circuit, and a break wheel having-teeth adapted, on the rotation of the wheel, to intermittently depress thelower contact out of engagement with the coiiperating contact, in combination with means independent of the break wheel for depressing said lower contact to open the circuit to test the latter.

17 An electric signaling device comprising a pair of superposed spring contacts in the signal circuit, and a break wheel having\teeth adapted, on the rotation of the wheel, to intermittently depress the lower contact 'out of engagement with the cooperatlng contact, in combination with means for depressing the upper contact to move movable into engagement with one of said contacts, a casing" inclosing said contacts and plate and key means passing through said casing into engagement with said plate and serving to move the latter into displacmg engagement with said contact.

19. In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member,'a spring-driven mech'anism for rotating said member, and a tensioning lever therefor, said mechanism comprising a winding spindle to which the end of the driving spring is fastened, an operative connection between said spindle and the tensioning lever, a stationary stop member, a pawl rotating with the winding spindle and means for throwing said pawl into engagement with said stop member after.

the driving spring has reached predetermined tension.

20. In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member, a spring-driven mechanism for rotating said member, and a tensioning lever therefor, said mechanism comprising a winding spindle to which the end of the driving spring is fastened, a pinion fast on said spindle and operatively connected to the tensioning lever, a pawl pivoted on said pinion, a stationary internally toothed rin surrounding said pawl, and means for t rowing said pawl into engagement with the stop member after the driv ing spring has reached predetermined tension.

21. In a signaling device, a driving spring, a winding spindle fast to the inner end of said spring, a stop ring serrated on its inner periphery, a pawl rotating with said winding spindle in the planeof said stop ring, and a member driven by said spring and having a projection adapted to engage said pawl to throw it into engagement with the stop ring and thereby halt the winding spindle.

22. In a signaling device, a driving spring, a winding spindle fastto the inner end of said spring, a stop ring serrated on its inner periphery, a pawl rotating with said winding spindle in the plane of said stop ring, and a member driven by said 'spring and having a projection adapted to engage said pawl to throw it into engagement with the stop ring and thereby halt the winding spindle, together with means motion connection therewith in the direction of rotation and a driving element for the signal-operating member having means to temporarily engage said stop plate.

24. In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member, a driving spring therefor, and an escapement mechanism controlling the operation of said driving spring, said mechanism comprising a member driven by the spring, a stop plate having a lost motion connection therewith in the direction of rotation and a driving element for the signal-operating member having'means to temporarily engage said stop plate, together with means to move said stop plate out of detaining position.

25. In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member, a driving spring therefor, and an escapement mechanism controlling the'operation of said driving spring, said mechanism comprising a member driven by the spring, a stop plate having a lost motion connection therewith in the direction of rotation and a driving element for the signal-operating member having means to temporarily engage said stop plate, together with cam means to move said stop plate-out of detaining position.

26. In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member, a driving spring therefor and an escapement mechanism controlling the operation of said driving-spring, said mechanism comprising cooperating gears driven by said spring, a rotary stop plate having a lost motion connection and moving with one of said gears and a detent on the other gear axlaptedto temporarily engage and be detained by said stop plate.

27 In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member, a driving spring therefor, a pair of gears in the driving connection, and an escapement device for the same, comprising a rotary stop plate connected with lost motion to and moving with one of said gears, a detent on the other of said gears to temporarily engage said stop plate, means to wind said spring and means to displace said stop plate out of detaining position after the spring has been tensioned to a predetermined extent.

28. In a signaling device, a rotary signaloperating member, a driving spring therefor, a winding pindle for said spring, a gear mounted on said spindle an driven om said spring, a stop plate mounted adjacent said gear, a spring normally pressing said(plate away from said gear, a cam on the spin le for displfiing said plate toward said gear in opposition to the action of said spring, and a member in the driving connection engaging said stop plate when in normal position to halt the mechanism.

29. In a signaling device, a driving mechanism comprising a driving spring, a gear driven thereby, a stop'plate having an escapement connection with said gear and means. for establishing rengagement between said plate and gear at a point in ad- Vance of the point of escapement.

30. In a signaling device, a driving mechanism comprising a driving spring, a gear driven thereby, a stop plate having hmited freedom of oscillation, means for displacing said plate out of engaging position and means for oscillating said plate, thus freed, to such position that the rengagement between the same and said gear will occur at a point in advance of the stop position.

31. In a signaling device, a pair of electrical contacts in the signal circuit, a rotary member for operating the same, an operating mechanism, a box-like casing inclosing said parts, said box being open at one corner, an independent box adapted to receive wire conduits, an insulating base carried thereby and having terminals thereon for the line wires of the signal circuit, and independent terminals for connection to the contacts within the main box, together with means tosecure said main and corner boxes in assembled condition.

32. In a signaling device, a pair of elec trical contacts in the signal circuit, a rotary member foroperating the same, an operating mechanism, a box-like casing inclosing said parts, said box being open at one corner, an independent box adapted to receive wire conduits, an insulating base carried thereby and having terminals thereon for the line Wires of the signal circuit, and independent terminals for connection to the contacts within the main box, together with means to secure said main and corner boxes in assembled condition, the meeting faces of said boxes being inclined to the base thereof and lying in a plane.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. AVERY.

' Witnesses:

RODNEY L. MARCHANT, WILLIAM Anna.