US1255026A

US1255026A - Elevator signaling system.

Info

Publication number: US1255026A
Application number: US1765415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry G Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-03-29
Filing date: 1915-03-29
Publication date: 1918-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1935-01-29

Description

H. 6. LEE.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICKTION flLED MAR. 29. 1915.

1 ,255,026. Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

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. APPLICATIONVFILED MAR. 29. 1915. 1,255,026, Patented Jan'.29,1918:

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ATTORNEY H. G. LEE.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED M Afl.29. I915.

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. {ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED mm. 29. 1915.

1,255 ,026 Patented Jan. 29, 1 918.

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I rm/Mr HARRY Gr. LEE, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

Application filed March 29, 1915. Serial No. 17,654.

T 0 all echo/2'1, it may concern:

Be, it known that I, HARRY Gr. Lnn, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Tacoma, in the county of Pierce, State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevator Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices and electric circuits for use in operating elevators in o'tlice and other buildings and has for its objects to provide means whereby, irrespective of the number of elevators operated in the building, any elevator will receive a signal when approaching the floor on which a passenger. is waiting; whereby when an elevator has reached the said floor and is traveling in the desired direction, the signal is canceled; whereby the direction of motion of an approaching elevator is indicated on each floor, but receding elevators are not thus indicated; and whereby the elevator operator may cut his cage out of circuit if he does not wish to stop at any floor as, for instance, when his cage is full, thus causing the signal to act on the next following elevator. Other objects are to provide a c0mpact and easily inspected apparatus, which is simple and effective in its action, and cheap to make and install.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms. circuits and arrange ments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my apparatus and its electric circuits, showing it equipped for three elevators traveling five stories, one such elevator being shown starting down from the fifth floor, another starting up from the first lioor, and the third amproaching the third floor on its way clownward; Figs. 2, 3 and a are respectively, front, side, and rear elevations of the controlling board; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the elevatorsignal switch, signal circuitbreakers, and floor-light circuitbreakers Fig. 6 is a similar view of the reversing switch; and Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the floor-magnets. i

Similar numerals and letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

This apparatus consists of the following parts, each of which will be separately described and then their connecting circuits will be described. and their operation briefly stated: On each floor of the building there will be provided a pair of push buttons, the up button to be pushed to stop the uptraveling car'while the other or down button is to be pushed to stop the downtraveling car; also opposite each. elevator shaft a pair of lights are mounted, preferably one above the other, the upper light to be lighted when the upward moving car is approaching that floor while the lower light is lighted when a downward movingcar is approaching the floor. On each elevator car there is a light which will be lighted when the car is one floor distant from the floor on which the signal button has been pressed to stop a car traveling in its direction; and a switch by means of which its connections may be broken. In the engine room, or other suitable location, is mounted the controlling board on which are secured the sets of floor magnets, there being one pair fewer than the number of floors at which stops may be made; a reversing switch for each elevator, and operated thereby; a floor-signal and floor-light circuit breaker for each elevator, and operated thereby; and an elevator-signal switch, and operated thereby.

Referring to the drawings, the elevators are indicated by the letters X, Y and Z respectively, and each is provided with a signal light and a cut-out switch in the car; with a pair of floor-lights at each floor of the building, adjacent; to its shaft; mechanism (not shown) whereby the elevator is operated; an elevator-signal switch 400 operated by said elevator-operating mechanism in accordance with the position and direction of motion of the elevator in the shaft; a pair of sets of circuit-breakers 200 having separable contacts, one set being in the up circuits and the other in the down circuits, and set in motion by and with the elevator-signal switch 400; and a reversing switch 100 governed by the direction' of motion of the elevator. A single controlling board is provided for all the ele vators, said board having two sets of floormagnets 7 mounted thereon, one for the up circuits and the other for the down circuits.

Referring first to the push-buttons on which may connect with either of two contacts2 and The contact 2 is connected by the wire B to the circuit H joining the down main magnet armature for that floor with the floor-signal circuit-breaker 200 for that floor, while the contact 3 is corre-' spondingly connected by the wire C to the corresponding up circuit H. On the first floor I provide only a single up button but I connect said button to the down side cable B, while on the top, or in this case the fifth, floor I provide a single down button which is however connected on the up side cable C.

The fioor-lights -1 are also illustrated diagrammatically. The circuit D for each light passes from the proper part of the reversing switch 100, through the circuitbreaker magnet 30', in series, through the light a then through the floor-light circuitbreaker 300 to the main line.

The signal lights 5 on the elevator cars are also indicated diagrammatically in the drawings. The circuit E for each car leads from the main line, through the signal light 5, to the elevator signal. switch 100. The elevator cut-out switch 6 on the car is of any of the well known forms suitable for the purpose and is connected by the wires F on one side to the main line and on the other side to the reversing switch 100 for that 3211'.

The floor magnets '7 (Figs. 2 and 7) are mounted on the control board 8. These magnets are in two sets, one set controlled by the up push buttons and the other set by the down push buttons. All the mag nets are similar and are connected to corresponding circuits; therefore a description of one will be understood to apply to all. The magnet '7 which is energized when the up button on the first fioor is pushed is the down magnet marked for the first floor, but the up buttons on the second, third, etc., floors energize the corresponding up magnets 7. Similarly the down button on the top floor energizes the up magnet 7 marked for that floor but the other down buttons on the fourth, third. etc, floors energize the corresponding down magnets 7. One terminal of each such magnet 7 is connected to the negative bus-bar 9, while the other terminal thereof is connected to the circuit G which passes therefrom through the respective floor circuit-breakers 200 of the different elevators in series and back by the circuit H to the armature contact 10 of said magnet. The armature 11 of each magnet 7 has two contacts, 10 and 12, thereon the one, 10, connected as above, while the other, 12, is connected by the circuit I to the reversing switch 100. Said

contacts

10 and 12 are adapted to engage contacts 13 connected to the positive bus-bar 14: when their respective magnets are energized.-

One reversing switch 100 (see Fig. is nrovided for each elevator, said switch consisting of a pivot bar 15 suitably supported and carrying insulated contact fingers 16 thereon, there being as many such fingers on each pivot bar 15 as there are spaces be tween the floors of thebuilding, said fingers 16 being electrically connected by the circuits J to the respective segments of the elevator-signal switch 1-00. The fingers 16 are adapted to contact with the respective terminals 17 of the circuits 1 leading to the armature contacts 12 of the respective up or down floor-magnets 7 as above described. The said terminals 17 on the up and down sides of the reversing switch are arranged in rows, one on each side of the central pivot 15, and in corresponding positions thereon so that each finger 16 will engage a terminal 17 when it is in either position. It will be noticed that the first up floor-magnet 7 is marked for the second floor and that the first down magnet 7 is correspondingly marked for the first or lowest floor, and that the first finger 16 of the reversing switch engages either of the contacts 17 for these two magnets 7 according to whichever position itmay be in, and that correspondingly, the next higher finger 16 can engage either the third up or the second down contacts 17, and so on, thus lighting the signal light 5 in. the elevator at the mo ment when the arm of the elevator signal switch has reached the place corresponding with the floor above, if it is traveling clownward, and when the arm has reached the place corresponding with the floor below if it is traveling upward. The corresponding terminals 17 of all the reversing switches are connected together in parallel by the circuits I. An additional finger 18 is also mounted on said pivot bar 15, said finger 18 being adapted to engage the up or down terminal 19 of the circuit D which passes through the circuit-breaker magnet to the up or down floor-lights 4, and said finger 18 is connected by the wire F to the main electric line through the cut-out switch 6 in the elevator cage. Each pivot bar 15 has a grooved wheel 20 mounted on its end and a belt 21 passes over said wheel 20 and is operated by the elevator as hereinafter described. This belt 21 is comparatively loose and slips freely on said wheel 20, so that when the elevator reverses its motion it reverses the motion of the belt 21 and this causes the pivot bar 15 to turn and raise all the

fingers

16 and 18 off their

terminal contacts

17 and 19 and swing them to the contacts on the other side of the line. When they thus engage the said

contacts

17 and 19 on the other side of the switch, the

The 'circuiii-breakers 200 for the floor-signals for each elevator are illustrated particu-' larly in Fig.5. The gear 22 on the back of the board 8 meshes with the gear 23 which is actuated by the elevator mechanism. The above-mentioned belt 21 engages and 1s driven by a grooved wheel which is mounted on the same. shaft assaid gear. 2o and-turnsv zontal bar 28, so that the position of the,

board 27 on the bar 28 will change with the motion of the elevator, A double; row of in-- sulated sprnig contacts 29 are mounted adjacent each edge of said board 27, saidcontacts 29 being arranged 1n pairs and touchmg each other adJacent their ends.

each floouma net 7, those for the up. magnets being arrai'iged on one side or edge. of the board 27 and those for thedown mag: nets 7 being arrangedv on the. other; side, or edge of the said board. The wires K from said spring contacts 2.9 connect. to the corresponding contacts 29 for the .adjacentelevators so that all the contacts 29. for one floor,

nia net 7 are connected to ether, in series and one end of said series is connected by the,

circuit. G to one terminal of said floor magnet 7, while the other endofthe series is connected by the circuit H to. the armature ll ot' thesaid floor magnet? A pair. of magnets 30 are mounted below. said spring contacts 29 and. are provided with suitable insulating shoes 31 secured to their; ari'uatures 32, each such shoe 31 being.- adapted, when its respective magnet 30-.is

energized, to pass between the spring contacts 29 tornnng a palr, as 1t moves there past and thus separate them and break-thecircuits G, i and H. These circuitbreaking magnets 30 are mounted in the circuit D connecting the reversing switch terminals 19 with the up or down floor-lights 4, respectively.

The floor-lights circuit-breakerEOO is also when thearmature is down, and said conis electrically. connected to the; negative side of the nia in line. As shown in. the drawings, the circuit-breaking contacts 3% for the down side are not placed directly ductor o5 One pair of such contacts 29 are provided. for;

over-those on the up side but arearrangcd so that the lights abovethe floor which the elevator is passingarelightedif it is going upward bntthose below it are lighted .it' it is going down.

The elevator signal switch too is also illustrated inEig. 5. It consists of an.a.r1n

36 secnredto the spindle 37' of"tl e,abovementioned gear 23, which is actuated by the elevator mechanism. This arm 36 has a brush 38 thereon inconstant, contact with an inner; ring39 and with a series-of segmental insulatedcontacts 40, one such segmental con-v tact 40 being providethfor each space between floors. The said inner ring 89 is electrically, connectediby the circuit E to the signalalamp 5 in the elevator cage while the said segmental contacts 40 are each connected to different fingers 16 of the above-described reversingswitch 100 (Fig. 6) by the circuits; J. 3

e. willnow briefly follow the. action of.

the various parts and circuits:The positlve main line-1s connected to the ,conn'non wire ,tA-l foral l the floors, and at each floor said current passes through the, push-.buttmi switch, when the. button is. pressed, to either of two cables or groupsot wires B or C ,"the one leading to the up circuit H and the other leading to the down circuit H. These wires lead individually from their; respective floors to the properv circuit H. andthence'; to the proper pair of spring1c0ntacts29 in the circuit-breakers 200 for. one elevator, and'then by the circuits K through i all the. corresponding contacts 29 of the other elevators in. series, and thenv pass intoanother cable or group, of wires G, and thus to their respective floor-magnets 7 and thus to thenegative bus-barv 9. As scon'as'the circuit is' thus completed through oneof the push buttons, the corresponding floor-magnetv 7- is energized and the'armatur e 11 thereof is raised:

so that itscontacts 10 and12engage thetwo fixed contacts 13 'on the positive bus-bar 14;. The current; then flows. through one, such contact 10' andtherefrom through the cable 1 H to the corresponding. spring-contacts. 29 ofthe circuit-breaker 200; thence through the circuits K and the corresponding contacts-29 ofthe other circuit-breakers 200 in series, and thence by the circuit- G? through the same floor-ma-gnet f, thus holding the armature '11 in such contact al.-.

though the push. button may be no longer.

pressed, and thence to the negativebus-bar 9. The current .also fiowsthrough the otherarmature contact 12 by the circuit 1? to. the correspondingterminal 17' on the up. or down side. asthe -case,-may-.be, ofeach' oi. the reversing switches 100 in parallel,-'. and ii any of thcelevators is mov ngan the said direction-,the current flows through the fingerlti-whlch is in contact with, that. particular terminal 17 and passes by the circuit J therefrom to the proper segment 40 of the elevator-signal switch 400, and when the arm 36 of said switch moves into contact with the said segment 40, then the current flows therethrough to the circular ring 39 and thence by the circuit E to the signal light 5 in the elevator cage, and thence to the negative main line. When any one of the elevators reaches the floor on which the push button has been pressed and is traveling in the right direction, the shoe 31 of its circuit-breaker 200 passes between the contacts 29 and thus breaks the circuits G, K and H and demagnetizes the floor-magnet 7, thus breaking the circuit I at the contact 12, thus killing the cor responding contacts 17 of the reverse switches 100 of all the elevators, the circuits J of each elevator, the segment 40 of each of the elevator signal switches 4:00, and the signal light 5 and its circuit E of that elevator, and restoring the apparatus to its normal uncharged condition.

The current for lighting the floor lights 4 for each elevator, passes from the positive main line by the wire F, through the cutout switch 6 on the elevator, thence to the finger 18 on the reversing switch 100 for that elevator, thence through the up or down contacts 19 and by the circuit D through the circuit-breaker magnet 30, the up or down magnet 30 as the case may be, thence through the up or down floor-lights 4 in parallel on each floor, thence to the spring contacts 34: of the floor-light circuitbreaker 300 and through the conductor plate 35 thereof to the negative main line. It is evident that when the cut-out switch 6 is turned to break the circuit F, that neither of the circuit-breaker magnets 80 will be energized and that therefore the circuits G, K and H of the signal system will not be broken by that particular elevator cage as it passes the floor on which one of the buttons has been pushed; also the floor-lights 4 for that elevator will be darkened and will not indicate that the elevator is approaching. The elevator cage X in Fig. 1, is indicated as traveling downward with its cut-out switch 6 thus turned. It is also evident that if an elevator cage is traveling upward, the down side of the reversing switch 100 being dead, none of the down lights 4 will be lighted (except the top light which is wired as an up light) and that all (or any desired number) of up lights 4 will be lighted in advance of the ele vator cage, but that as soon as the cage has passed a floor the conductor plate 35 of the floor-light circuit-breaker 300 leaves the contact 34 for that floor and thus cuts out the light thereon so that none of the lights on the floors from which the cage is receding are lighted. The up light of the first nasaoec floor is wired as a down light and therefore shines as the cage is approaching it downward, and the down light on the top floor is wired as an up light for a similar purpose.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an elevator signaling system in a building having a plurality of floors, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a plurality of circuits each including a manually operated signal switch positioned on one floor intermediate between the terminal floors and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; a plurality of alternate circuits, one for each said first circuits and each including a contact switch adapted to be closed by the action of a current in said electromagnet, one end of each alternate circuit being connected to the corresponding first circuit between the manually operated switch and the electromagnet therein and the other end thereof being connected to the same side of the source of electric energy to which said manually operated switch is connected, whereby when said manually operated signal switch of any of said first circuits is closed an electric current will energize the electromagnet of said circuit, and whereby when said electromagnet is thus energized said alternate circuit is closed and the current for said electromagnet flows therethrough; a plurality of circuit breakers one positioned in each of said first circuits between the source of electric energy and said electromagnehwhereby when said circuit is broken by an elevator said magnet is demagnetized and said contact switch is opened; and elevator operated means for operating said circuit-breakers in succession at positions corresponding with the successive floors of the building.

2. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a circuit including a manually operated signal switch and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; an alternate circuit including a con tact switch adapted tobe closed by the action of a current in said electromagnet, one end of said alternate circuit being connected to said first circuit between the manually operated switch and the electromagnet therein and the other end thereof being connected Lame-3o tacls positioned within the circuit between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, said contacts being normally in contact with each other but being adapted to be separated and thus to break the magnet circuit and open the contact switch; means operated by the elevator whereby said spring contacts are moved in one direction or theother ona definedpath in proportion to the motion of said-elevator; a circuitbreaker control-circuit connected at its ends to said source of electric energy; a switch in said control-circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said circuit is closed when the elevator is travelingrin one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; a second-electromagnet in said control-circuit; and a circuitbreaking shoe mounted on and controlled by the armature of said second electromagnet and adapted to enter the path of motion of said springcontacts when said second electromagnet is energized to separate said contacts and break the said magnet circuit, but to be withdrawn therefrom when said control-circuit is broken by said elevatoroperated switch.

3. An elevator signaling system in a build ing having a plurality of floors comprising, in combination, a source of electric energy; a series of indicating lights, one on each floor intermediate between terminal floors of the building; parallel light-circuits, each having'a common terminal and an independent terminal, said independent terminals being grouped adjacenteach other, said common terminal being connected to one side of the source of electric energy; anda sliding contact operated by the elevator and adapted to engage simultaneously a plurality of said independent light-circuit terminals and connected to the opposite side of the source of electric energy, and arranged whereby said floor-lights are lighted when said elevator is approaching the respective floors but each light is darkened when the elevator has passed the floor on which it is positioned.

4. An elevator signaling system, in a building having a. plurality of floors comprising, in combination, a source of electric energy; a series of indicating lights, one on each floor intermediate between terminal floors of the building; parallel lightcircuits, each having a common terminal and an independent terminal, said independent terminals being grouped adjacent each other; a direction switch connected to one side of the source of electric energy and to the coninirm terminal of said parallel. l1ght-c1rcu1ts, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; and a sliding contact operated by the elevator and adapted to engage simultaneously a plliirality of said independema light-circuit terminals and connected to the opposite side of the source of electric energy, and arranged whereby said floor-lights are lighted when said elevator is approaching therespecti ve floors but each light is darkened when the elevator has passed the floor on which it is positioned.

In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; or a signal-light-circuit connected at its ends to opposite terminals of said source of electric energy and including a signallight positioned within an elevator; of an electro-magnetically operated contact switch within said circuit and. means for controlling said switch; a direction switch in said circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said circuit is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; and a floor-switch in said circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said circuit is closed when the elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at alloth'er positions, whereby said 'signaldight is lighted in the elevator when said three switches are closed but is darkened when any of said switches is open.

6. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a magnet circuit including a manually operated signal switch and an electromagnet, the ends of saidcircuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy, said electromagnet controlling a signalflight circuit to close itwhen the electromagnet is energized; spring con.- tacts positioned within the first circuit between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, said contacts being normally in contact with each other but being adapted to be separated and thus break the magnet circuit and open the signal-light circuit; a circuit-breaker-control circuit connected at its ends to said source of electric energy;

a switch in said circuit-breaker-control cireuit, said switch being operated by the elevator. whereby said circuit'is'closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; a. second electromagnet in said circuit-breakercontrol circuit; a circuit-breaking shoe mounted 011 and controlled by' the armature of said second elec troinagnet; and means operated by the elevator wherebysaidspringi contacts and said circuit-breaking shoe are given a relative motion and whereby when said second electromagnet is energized and said shoe is thus moved into the path of relative motion ofsaid spring contacts said shoe will separate said contacts as they move therepastand break the said magnet'circuit.

7. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a magnet-circuit, including a manually operated signal-switch and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; a signal-light circuit connected at its ends to opposite terminals of said source of electric energy and including a signal-light positioned within an elevator; a contact-switch within said signal-light circuit and operated by the electromagnet within said magnet-circuit, whereby when said magnet is energized said contact-switch is closed; a direction-switch in said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; and a floor-switch in said signallight circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at all other positions, whereby said signal-light is lighted in the elevator when said last three switches are closed but is darkened when any of said switches is open.

8. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a magnet-circuit including a manually operated signal-switch and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; a signal-light circuit connected at its ends to opposite terminals or said source of electric energy and including a signal-light positioned within an elevator; a contact-switch within said si nal-light circuit and operated by the electromagnet within said magnet-circuit, whereby when said magnet is energized said contact-switch is closed; a directionswitch in said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it 1s traveling in the opposite d1' rection; a floor-switch in said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at all other positions, whereby saidv signal-light is lighted in the elevator when said last three switches are closed but is darkened when any of said switches is open; and an elevator-operated circuit-breaker positioned in said magnetcircuit between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, whereby when said magnet-circuit is broken by an elevator said electromagnet is demagnetized and said contact-switch is opened and said signal light circuit is broken.

9. In an elevator signaling system, the

combination. with a source of electric energy; of a magnet-circuit, including a manually operated signal-switch and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy;an alternate-circuit, one end thereof being connected to said magnet-circuit between the manually operated signal-switch and the electromag' net and the other end thereof being connected to the same side of the source of electric energy to which the manually operated signal-switch is connected; a contactswitch within said alternate-circuit and operated by the electromagnet within the magnet-circuit, whereby when said magnet is energized said contact-switch is closed; a signal-light circuit connected at its ends to opposite terminals of said source of electric energy and including a signal-light positioned within an elevator; a second contact-switch within said signal-light circuit and operated by the electromagnet within said magnet-circuit, whereby when said in agnetcircuit is energized said second contact-switch is closed; a direction-switch in .said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; a floor-switch in said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at all other positions, whereby said signal-light is lighted in the elevator when said last three switches are closed but is darkened when any of said switches is open; and an elevator-operated circuit-breaker positioned i between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, whereby when said circuit is broken by an elevator said electro magnet is demagnetized and both said contact-switches are opened and said alternatecircuit and said signal-light circuit are broken.

10. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a magnet-circuit, including a i'nanually-operated signal-switch and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals oi the source of electric energy; spring contacts positioned within said magnet-circuit between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, said contacts being normally in contact with each other but being adapted to be separated and thus break the magnet-circuit; a circuit-breaker-control circuit connected at its ends to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; a direction-switch within said circuit-breake1 control circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said circuit is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; a second electromagnet in said circuit-breaker-control circuit; a circuit-breaking shoe mounted on and controlled by the armature of said second electromagnet; means operated by the elevator whereby said spring contacts and said circuit-breaking shoe are given a relative 1notion and whereby, when said second electromagnet is energized and said shoe is thus moved into the path of relative motion of said spring contacts, said shoe will separate said contacts as they move therepast and break the said magnet-circuit; a signal-light circuit connected at its ends to 0pposite terminals of said source of electric energy and including a signal-light positioned within an elevator; a contact-switch within said signal-light circuit and operated by the electromagnet within said magnetcircuit, whereby when said magnet is energized said second contact-switch is closed; a second direction-switch in said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; and a floor-switch in said signallight circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at all other positions, whereby said signallight is lighted when said last three switches are closed but is darkened when any of them is open.

11. In an elevator signaling system, the combination with a source of electric energy; of a i'nagnet-circuit, including a manuallyoperated signal-switch and an electromagnet. the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; an alternate-circuit, one end thereof being connected to said magnet-circuit between the manually-operated signalswitch and the electromagnet and the other end thereof being connected to the same side of the source of electric energy to which the manually-operated signal-switch is connected; a contact-switch within said alternate-circuit and operated by the electromagnet within the magnet-circuit, whereby when said magnet is energized and contactswitch is closed; spring contacts positioned within said magnetecircuit between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, said contacts being normally in contact with each other but being adapted to be separated and thus break the magnet-circuit: a circuit-breaker-control circuit connected at its ends to the opposite terminals ot the source of electric energy; a directionswitch within said circuit-breaker-control circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said circuit is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; a second electromagnet in said circuitebreaker-control circuit; a circuit-breaking shoe mounted on and controlled by the armature of said second electromagnet; means operated by the elevator whereby said spring contacts and said circuit-breaking shoe are given a relative motion and whereby, when said second electromagnet is energized and said shoe is thus moved into the path of relative motion of said spring contacts, said shoe will separate said contacts as they move therepast and break the said magnet-circuit; a signal-light circuit connected at its ends to opposite terminals of said source of electric energy and including a signal-light positioned within an elevator; a second contact-switch within said signal-light circuit and operated by the electromagnet within said magnet-circuit, whereby when said magnet is energized said second contact switch is closed; a second direction-switch in said signal-light circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but is open when it is traveling in the opposite di rection; and a floor-switch in said signallight. circuit, said switch being operated by the elevator whereby said switch is closed when the elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at all other positions, whereby said signal-light is lighted when said last three switches are closed but is darkened when any of them is open.

12. An elevator signaling system in a building having a plurality of elevators, comprising, in combination, a source of electric energy; a magnet-circuit, including a manually operated signal-switch and an electromagnet, the ends of said circuit being connected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; a plurality of elevator-operated circuit-breakers within said magnet-circuit between the source of electric energy and said electromagnet, one said circuit-breaker for and operated by each said elevator, whereby said magnet-circuit may be broken by any of said elevators; a plurality of parallel signal-light circuits, one for each elevator, connected at their ends to opposite terminals of said source of electric energy, and each including a signal light positioned within its elevator; a common contact-switch within all said signallight circuits and operated by the electro-. magnet within the magnet-circuit, whereby when the magnetcircuit is energized said contact-switch is closed; a plurality of direction-switches, one for each elevator positioned within the signal-light circuit for that elevator, said switch being operated by its elevator whereby said switch is closed when its elevator is traveling in one direc- Ici tion but is open when it is traveling in the opposite direction; and a plurality of floorswitches, one for each eleator positioned within the signal-light circuit for that ele- 'ator, said switch being operated by its elevator whereljiy said switch is closed when its elevator reaches a predetermined position but is open at all other positions, whereby the signal-light in any of said elevators will be lighted when said last three switches are closed in any of said parallel signalliglit circuits but is darkened when any of said switches is open.

13. An elevator signaling system in a building having a plurality of floors, comprising, in cmnbination a source of electric energy; a plurality of magnet-circuits one for ach floor of the building, each including a separate electroniagnet therein, the ends of each said magnet-circuit being con nected to the opposite terminals of the source of electric energy; a plurality of manually operated signal-switches one in each said magnet-circuit whereby said circuit may be closed and said magnet energized; a floor-switch, having an elevatoroperated arm and a plurality of contact sectors one said sector for each floor of the building a plurality of contact-switches each operated by one said electroinagnet, whereby when its GlGClJI'OIDHgIlGt is energized it is closed, one side of all. said contactswitches being connected to one side of the source of electric energy; a plurality of sector-circuits, each connecting one of said contact-switches with one of the contact sectors in the floor-switch; a plurality of directionswitches one in each said sector-circuits, said switches being simultaneously operated by the elevator whereby all said switches are closed when the elevator is traveling in one direction but are open when itis traveling in the opposite direction; a signal-light circuit connected at one end to the elevatoroperated arm of the fioorswitch and at the other end to the opposite side of the source of electric energy from said contactswitches and including a signal-light positioned within the elevator; and a plurality of elevator-operated circuit-breakers, one in each said magnet-circuits, whereby the elevator may break each of said magnet-circuits in succession as it travels.

HARRY G. LEE.

Vitnesses S. CoNRoW, E. H. ROBBINS.

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Washington, I). G.