US1291473A - Auxiliary time-key for selective railway signaling systems. - Google Patents

Description

' M. F. GEER.

' AUXILIARY TIME KEY FOR SELECTIVE HAILWAY SlGNALING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION nuao JULY 23. ms.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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M. F. GEER.

AUXILIARY TIME KEY FOR SELECTIVE RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23. 1915.

1,291,473. I v Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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M. r. GEER. AUXILIARY TIME KEY FOR SELECTIVE RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED IULY Z3, I9I5- 1,291,473. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE F. GEER, OF IRONDEQUOIT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed July 23, 1915. Serial No. 41,527.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE F. GEEK, a citizen of the United States, and a resldent 'of the town of Irondequoit, in the county of ing system electric impulses corresponding to the telegraphically received standard time impulses for announcing correct standard time daily at every substation of the railway line. As by this invention this service is assured by use of a single time key the invention also is an improvement upon the time announcing system or devices described and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,121,823, granted to M. F. Geer, on December 22nd, 1914, which shows a manually operative switch for closing motor-generator circuits, a manually operative time key providing only for sending over the selective signaling telephone line certain negative impulses corresponding to the received telegraphic time impulses, and a push button device assuring circuits giving final necessary positive impulses which restore all time indicating substation selector devices to normal condition for resuming selective signaling. The present invention thus includes a novel construction of one time key device operatively combining all three last above named functions, and not requiring watchful attention of the operator or train despatcher at the central station.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecifica-tion, and in which: V

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved time key with a few front parts broken away; Fig. 2 is a front view of the complete key; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the key; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front vertical section on the line a-a in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on the irregular line bZ) in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a diagram indicating the electric circuits involved in the operation of apparatus at a central station or train despatchers oflice and including the time key, one of a group of calling keys used in selective railway signaling, a motor generator, a line relay and the incoming time wires; there also being indicated the telephone line wires and two selector devices in circuit therewith at two sub-stations; each selector having a bell announcing a call from the central station and also the time indications transmitted therefrom. Figs. 1 to 5 are drawn about twice normal size. The time key frame comprises a front plate 1, a back plate 2, and interposed spacing bars all suitably fastened together. By and between the frame plates 1, 2, is sustained a gear train 3, and a coiled spring 4, connected to a shaft 5, which is extended forward and fixedly carries the finger-hold or head 7 by which the time key is primarily actuated. A lower gear train shaft 8 preferably carries the movable parts of a centrifugal brake or speed governor device 9, located at the rear face of the frame. An intermediate shaft 10, of the gear train fixedly carries a locking wheel 11, having a part adapted for engagement by a suitable latch device to lock the ear train at rest after the wheel 11 has made a partial clockwise revolution. This latch device may be the illustrated arm 12, carrying a fixed pin 13, adapted to enter a hole 14, in the wheel 11, and fixed to a rod 15 having a head or push-button 16 and movable endwise in the frame plates 1, 2. The pin 13 has one sliding bearing in the frame plate 2, and is normally pressed to the face of the gear wheel 11, and into its alined hole 14 by a suitable spring 17, forked at one end around the pin 13, and bearing on a collar, 18," fixed to said pin, the other end of the spring bein fixed to the rear frame plate 2. The sha t 5, having the head 7, fixedly carries a segmental contact 19, and also has a fixed radial stop'pin 20 adapted to coact with a radial stop pin21 fixed to the gear train shaft 10, carrying the stop wheel ll. The shaft 10 also fixedly carries three succes- .time key A, at the central station.

sively operating contacts 22, 23, 24, the ones 22, 24, lying rotatively in the same plane and therefore adapted to coact with the same resilient contact 25 held to an insulating block 26, fastened to the front frame plate 1. The second acting contact 23 is adapted to engage another resilient contact 27 fixed to the block 26, which also fixedly carries a third resilient contact 28, adapted for engagement by the above named segmental contact 19,011 the shaft 5. The first operative contact 22 is shown having two teeth, the first slightly longer at its acting end or face than the other, and the next 0perative segmental contact 23 has a still longer acting face and the segmental acting face'of the last operative contact 24 is longer than that of the contact 23, whereby the frequency and duration of certain hereinafter named electriccircuits is regulated or controlled.

In the diagram of Fig. 6, the letter A generally indicates the hereindescribed improved time key, the letter B generally indicates one of a group of calling keys used at a central station in electric railway signaling, and such as is shown, described and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,105,766, granted to M. F. Greer and R. C. Leake on August 4th, 1914. C indicates a battery, and D indicates an electromagnet which may close a circuit through the battery which starts a motor generator indicated at E, F. G indicates a pole-changing line relay. II, I, indicate two telephone line wires with which areshown connected two selector devices J, K, at two respective sub-stations, each selector having a responsive call and time bell L, said selector being of the general type shown, described and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,118,120, granted to M. F. Geer and R. C. Leake, on November 24th, 1914. M indicates an electromagnet energized from the incoming time wires N, 0. All parts indicated at A, B, C, D, E, F, G, M, N, O, are arranged at the central station, and the selector devices, such as J, K, are arranged one at each sub-station of a railway where correct standard time is to be indicated daily under control of the operators The circuits involved in operating the time key and directly associated apparatus are as follows: The first circuit is from positive battery C, by wires 30, 31, 32, to engaged contacts 19, 28, wires 33, 34, 'coil 35 'of magnet D, and wires 36, 37, 38, to negative battery.

The second circuit is from positive battery bywires 30, 31, 39, brush 40, of motor E, andthrough its armature to brush 41, and wire 42, to point 43, and a branch circuit flows from wire 39, through wires 44, 45, motor field coil 46, wire 47, to wire 42, and another branch circuit flows from the junction of wires 44, 45, through wire 48, fixed and engaged contact and armature 54, 55,

and wires 37, 38, to negative battery.

The third circuit is from positive battery by wires 30, 31, 32, 56, to engaged contacts -22, 25, to diagrammatic conductor 57, and

wires 58, 59, to coil 60, of positive magnet pole 61, of relay G, and thence. by wires '62, 63, 38, to negative battery. 7

The fourth circuit is from brush 64, of generator F, its armature and brush 65, wire 66, a pivoted contact arm 67, movable by the head68, of therelay armature 69, which simultaneously moves another pivoted contact arm 70. When this armature is attracted by energized positive magnet pole 61, to make the fourth circuit, the arms 67 70, are respectively engaged with contacts 71, 72, and the fourth circuitthus isby wire 66, t arm 67 contact 71, and wire 73 to line wire H, and thence by wires 74, to and through the positive magnet coils of allthe selector devices such as J, K, at all substations and thence by wires 7 5, to the other line wire I, and by contact 72, arm 70, wire 76, generator field coil 77 and wire 78, to generator brush 64.

The fifth circuit is from positive battery by wires 30, 31,32, 56, engaged contacts 23, 27, wire 79, contact 80, attracted time-wire magnet armature 81, wires 82, 83, to the'coil 84, of negative magnet pole85, of relay G, to wire86, and wires .63, 38, to negative battery.

The sixth circuit is from brush64, of generator F, its armature and brush 65, wire 66, pivoted contact arm 67, which now is moved by energized negative relay pole 85 and armature 69, to acontact 88, on line wire I, while the contact arm 70, now engages a contact 89, on line wire H, and the sixth circuit thus is by wire 66, to arm 67, and contact 88, to line wire I, and thence by wires 75, to and through the negative magnet coils of all'the selector devices such as J, K, and thence by wires 74, to the other line wire H, to contact 89, arm 7 0, wire 76, generator field coil 77, and wire 78,.to gen erator brush 64.

The'seventh circuit is from positive battery vbv wires 30, 31, .32, 56, to engaged contacts 24, 25, and thence through wires 58, 59,.to coil 60, of positive magnet pole 61, of relay G and by wires 62, 63, 38, to negative battery.

The eighth circuit is a final time key circuit necessarily following the shifting of rela armature 69, by the prior made seventh circuit, and is similar to the above named fourth circuit made through the generator F and the positive coil 60, of the relay G.

In the diagram of Fig. 6 a spiral spring 90, on'the push rod 15, is substituted for the plate spring17, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, of the drawings, and a weight 91, hung from the shaft 5,- is'substituted for the spring 4, of Figs. 1 and 3, for rotating the shaft 5, counter-clockwise, and suitablecondensers 92, and impedances-93, are introduced between and in the line wires H, I.

The general operation of coacting parts of the time key A, is as follows: The attendant or train despatcher at the central station turns the button 7 clockwise from the normal resting position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, for about ninety degrees, thereby likewise turning shaft 5, until its pin 20, strikes a stop pin 94, in the frame plate 1. This shaft movement first'engages the segmental contact 19, on shaft 5, with the fixed contact 28, and the respective contacts 22, 23, 24, on shaft 10, subsequently successively engage their respective fixed contacts 25, 27, as shaft 10 is being rotated clockwise one full revolution by the gear train 3, after the attendant releasesthe button 7, and while this button and the shaft 5 and contact 19 are being turned counter-clockwise by the spring 4, said counter-clockwise movement of shaft 5, and clockwise movement of shaft 10, and its contacts 22, 23, 2 k, temporarily stopping when the latch pin 13, enters the approaching hole 14, in the clockwise turning train gear wheel 11, and thus locks the gear train at which time the second acting contact 23 still engages the contact 27'. WVhen the push button 16, later is manually pressed inward the shaft 15, and arm 12, withdraw the pin 13, from the hole 14, of gear 11, thus allowing further and final short counter-clockwise movement of shaft 5, which disengages the segmental contact 10 from spring contact 28; and also allowing further and final clockwise movement of shaft 10, which engages the contacts 24, 25, and causes the pin 21, of shaft 10, to stop against the end of the pin 20, of shaft 5, and all coacting parts again have assumed normal inoperative positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The operation of the time key with more special reference to the electric circuits is as fol-lows: From two to five minutes before the known time at which thetelegraphic time indicating impulses begin to arrive at thecentral station over the wires N, O, the attendant or train despatcher gives the button 7 and shaft 5 a. quarter turn clockwise and need not give further watchful attention to assurefautomatic and correct announcement .of true standard time at every sub-station. Almost immediately after beginning this clockwiseturning of shaft 5, its segmental contact 19, rides against and under the contact 28-, thereby making the first hereinabove named circuit through the magnet D, and attracting armature 55, to contact 54, thereby making the second hereinabove named circuit which starts the motor generator E, F, some little time before the two teeth 22, on the shaft 10, now rotating clockwise, successively engage the contact 25, to twice close the third hereinabove named circuit. The delay in closing this third circuit after starting of the motor-generator by the second circuitprovides for generation of suflicient energy to assure that when the third circuit is twice closed and the positive pole 61 of relay G, is thereby twice energized and attracts the armature 69, thereby twice making the hereinabove named fourth circuit, the current flowing from the generator F, in said fourth circuit will be amply strong to actuate the selectors such as J, K, at all the sub-stations. The fourth circuit when thus twice made through the initiative of the two teeth on contact 22, sends two corresponding positive electric impulses through the line wire H, and wires 7 1, to twice actuate or pick up the positive sectors of all the selectors, as J, K, thereby certainly adjusting the selectors to assure later operation of their negative sectors one tooth or stop for each electric impulse sent into the central station through the time wires N, O. The impulses sent out over the line wire H, and through the selectors J, K, by the fourth circuit return by the line wire I, to the motor generator E, F. Immediately the second and last tooth '22, leaves the contact 25, the segmental contact. 23, engages the contact 27, thereby intermittently making the hereinabove named fifth circuit as often as the armature 81, is attracted by the magnet M, when it is energized'by'impulses sent over the time wires N, 0. Each closing of said fifth circuit energizes the negative magnet pole 85, of relay G, therebynttracting its armature 69, and sending by the now made hereinabove named sixth circuit a corresponding negative impulse over the line wire I, and through wires 75, 7 4, to pick up the negative sectors of all the'selectors, as J, K, one tooth or stop for each time wire impulse until the last tooth is advanced by the pawl coupled to the selector armature, and all later negative time wire impulses will simply move this pawl without advancing the sector. All impulses sent over the line wire I, through the selectors -J, K, by the sixth circuit return by the line wire H, to the motor generator F, F. After the shaft 5, had been turned clockwise one-quarter around and the shaft head 7, then is released by the attendant, and during the counterclockwise return movement of the shaft by the spring 4, the contacts 19, 28, remain engaged thereby maintaining the second motor generator circuit for sending either positive or negative impulses over the line wires H, I, and correspondingly actuating the selectors J, K, a s'above described.

Almost immediately after the contacts 23, 27, are engaged to make the fifth circuit the &

latch pin .13, automatically enters the hole 14, of train gear 11, thereby locking the gear train 3, thus stopping the counter-clockwise turning of shaft 5, and the clockwise turning of shaft 10 and itsthree contacts when the contact 27 rests upon a central or intermediate portion of thecsegmental contact 23, to thereby certainly maintain the fifth circuit during'sending of any required number of negative impulses by the sixth circuit through the selectors J, K. As. each time Wire impulse is negatively sent over the telephone line I ,,H, to actuate the negative sectorswof the selectors,other circuits through the generator,.the wires H, I, and two finally engaged contacts located in -.the selector casing, are closed through the wires 1, 1 to sound thebell once for each time vwire impulse. These momentary impulses begin about two minutes before the hour at which standard time is tele-graphically received, say at 11 oclock a. 111., and the impulses succeed each other at one second intervals until fifteen seconds before 11, when they cease until exactly 11;o clock, when one impulsej is received which indicates the exact hour of 11a. m.,- which thus will be indicated or announced by one easily distinguishable stroke of the bell L,at each and every sub-station alonga railway line. It also is customary to send time impulses each second for two minutes after the exact hour. 7

After completion of the time announcements at all sub-stations the attendant cat the central station may at his early convenience restore all parts of all substation selectors to normal operative positions for resuming selective railway signalingthrough the respective calling keys 3. Thistheattendant accomplishes by simply pressing the button head 16 of shaft 1,5,thereby withdrawing the latch pin 13, from hole 14, of wheel 11, which unlocks the gear train 3, and allows the spring 4 to resume counterclockwise rotation of shaft 5, and clockwise rotation of the contact carrying shaft 10. The first effect is to disengage the now-turning contact 23 from contact 27 thereby breaking the fifth vcircuit made through the coil 84, of the negative magnet pole 85, of relay G, and thus also making it impossible to disturb later operation of the selective signaling system 'by any impulses which may mistakenly be sent over the time wires N, 0. Immediately after breaking of the fifth circuit by disengagement of contacts, 23, 27 the contacts 24, 25, are engaged thereby making the hereinabove named seventh-circuit through the positive relay coil 60, and attracting armature 69, to move its head 68, to the left and thus make the hereinabove named final eight time key circuit by which one necessary final positive impulse is sent over the line wires H, I, to and through all sub-station selectors, as J, K,

and when this eighthcircuit is ,broken by disengagement of contacts 24, 25,; thecoacting parts ofthe selectors at all sub stations automatically hack 1' gravital-ly to normal positions' in readiness for ope-ration ofthe selective railway signaling system ,over the telephone line wiresH, I. Theifirst circuit is last broken by disengagement 0f the contacts 19, 28, just riorto the engagement of stop pins20, 21, as the time key parts resume normal inoperative positions shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings. v V The operation of coacting parts of the selectors is more fully expla ned ,in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,118,120; and-thong erationof selectors relatively to a time ,an nouncing system is shown, ,described and claimed in the aforesaid'United States Patent No. 1,121,823; and the operation of an individual calling key relatively to selectors in a selective signaling system is shown, described and claimed in the aforesaid United States Patent No. 1,105,766. V

A quite brief reference tothecircu'itsin- -volved when one of the calling keys B, is

operated atthe'central station, will nowbe made in order tomore clearly explain the interrelations of the selective railwaysignaling andtimeannouncing systems. The calling key B, has one shaft 94, carrying a segmental contact 95, adapted to a line wire contact 96. Another shaft 97 fixedly carries three contact '98, 99, 100, respectivelyadapted to line wire contacts 101, 102, 103. Aside from the fact that the contact 99, carries three teeth instead of one segmental contact face, therespective parts 94, 95,96, 97, 98,

.99, of the calling key B, are substantial duplicates of the parts 5, 19, 28, 22 23,24, of the above described time keyA, and opcrate in substantially similar manner rbllt with partly different'electric circuits, as follows: A contacts 95, 9 6, engage there is formed a ninth circuitfrom positive battery C, through wires 30, 104, 105, 106, contacts 95, 96, wires 107, 34, magnet coil 35 and wires 36, 37 38, to negative battery. The closingof this circuit attracts armature 55, thereby making a tenth circuit which is similar to the above described second circuit and starts the motor generatorE, F, and shortly after this tenth circuit is made, the two teeth 98, engage contact 101, thereby twice making an eleventh circuit which flows {from positive battery by wires .30, 104, 105,, 107,

contacts 98, 101, wires 10,8, 109 and thence as in the fourth circuit bywires 59, relay magnet coil 60, and wires 62, 63, 38, to negative battery. ,Making thi eleventh circuit caused relay magnet pole 61, to attract armature 69, thereby twice making atwelfth circuit through generator E, similar to the above named fourth circuit, andsending two positive impulses by the telephone wires H,

I, to each of the selectors, as J, 'K, of the signaling system for twice picln'ng up their positive sectors. After the contacts 98, 101, are disengaged the three teeth of contact 99 successively engage the contact 102, thus thrice making a thirteenth circuit flowing from positive battery by wires 30, 104, 105, 110, contacts 99, 102, wire 111, and thence as in the above named fifth circuit by wire 83, relay magnet coil 84:, and wires 86, 63, 38, to negative battery. Making this thirteenth circuit caused relay magnet pole 85, to attract armature 69, thereby thrice making a fourteenth circuit through the generator F, similar to the above named sixth circu it, and sending three negative impulses by the telephone wires I, H, to each of the selectors, as J, K, for thrice picking up their negative sectors. After the contacts 99, 102, are disengaged the segmental contact 100 engages the contact 103, thereby making a fifteenth circuit from positive battery through wires 30, 104, 112, contacts 100, 103, wire 113, wire 109, and thence as in the above named seventh circuit through wire 59, coil 60, of positive magnet pole 61, of relay G, and by wires 62, 63, 38, to negative battery. The sixteenth circult 1s a final calling key circuit necessarily following the shifting of relay armature 69, by the prlor made fifteenth circuit, and is similar to the above named fourth and twelfth circuits, and sends a single positive impulse by the Wires H, I, to each of the selectors, as J K, of the signaling system for once and. finally picking up their positive sectors.

As the first calling key contact 98, has two teeth and its second contact 99, has three teeth, the calling key will cause transmlssion of first two positive and then three negatlve impulses over the telephone line which sets the respective positive and negative selector arms properly in line at the one partlcular sub-station whose selector responds to a two-three impulse code, and the last posi tive impulse imparted by engagement of the contacts 100, 103, will therefore cause the selector plunger to close the contacts at that particular sub-station and establish clrcults necessary for thereat operating the signal or switch or other devices. After breaking of the final sixteenth circuit by automatic separation of the contacts 100, 103, the parts of all the selectors of the signahng system are automatically returned by gravity to initial operative positions ready for the next call of the train despatcher at the central station. It will be remembered that when the train despatcher uses one of the calling keys B adapted to communicate only with one particular sub-station, the bell L, at that sub-station will alone be sounded, but when the tim'e key A, is used the bells L at all the sub-stations will be sounded simultaneously to responsively indicate by corresponding electric impulses sent over the telephone line the standard time impulses received at the central station over the telegraph line.

Although I have particularly described the construction of one physical embodiment of my invention, and explained the operation and principle thereof; nevertheless, I desire to have it understood that the form selected is merely illustrative, but does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a combined time announcing system and selective signaling system, in combination: a pair of line Wires; a plurality of selectors connected across said line wires; a time signal controlled by each selector; a time calling key comprising a manually movable member; means for returning said member from its operated position to its normal position; circuit closing means operated by said member during the first part of its return movement for sending impulses of one polarity over said line Wires; a time circuit for sending impulses of an opposite polarity over said line wires; other circuit closing means operated by said member and closed in an intermediate position of the return movement of said member for automatically connecting said time circuit to said line wires; means for holding said member in said intermediate position and said other circuit closing meansin its closed position; manually operable means for releasing said last mentioned means; and a third circuit closing means operated by said member during the final part of its return movement for sending an impulse over said line wires of the same polarity as sent by said first mentioned circuit closing means.

2. In an individual calling key, in combination: a manually movable member; means for returning said member to its normal po sition after having been moved manually;

circuit closing means operated by said member; a pair of line Wires; a circuit automatically connected to said line .wires by said circuit closing means; means for arresting the movement of said member in a circuit 'closing position; means for releasing said position to its normal position; circuit clos- -mg means operated by sa1d member for sending impulses of one polarity; a normally open time controlled circuit for sending impulses of an opposite polarity; means operated by said member at an intermediate point in'its return movement for automatically closing said circuit; and manually re leasable means for. arresting the movement ofsaid member at said intermediate point in: its return movement.

LfIn-an individual calling key, in combination: amanually operated member; means for returning said member to its normal position after. having been operated normally, a pair of line Wires; circuit closing means operatedby said member; other c1rcuit closing means closed in an operated position ofsaidg: member; means for locking saidhmember in an operated position and for holding. said-last mentioned circuit closing means,- closed; a. time. circuit automatically connected .to' said line. Wires by said other circuitclosing,means; means for releasing saidl member; and a third circuit closing means operated by said member When it is released.

5. Inandndividual calling key, in combination a-manually movable member; means for returning said. member from its operatedQp'ositionto itsnormal position; a gear Wheel operated by said member; a circuit closing, means operatively connected to said gearufor sending: electrical impulses in one direction, a circuit for sending impulses in an opposite. direction; a second circuit closing meansoperatively connected to said gear forautomatically closing said circuit; a detent coactingwvith said gear for arresting themovement' otsaid member and for holdingsaid secondcircuit closing means in its closed condition; means fOnreleasing said member; anda: third circuit closing means operatively connectedto said gear for sending aiinalimpulsein the same direction as saidifirst mentioned. circuit closing means.

6. Ina combined time announcing and selective signalingisystem, the combination withalineacircuit ofa selective signaling system,. o a time-circuit adapted to control current impulses in the line. circuit and normally disconnected from the line circuit to permit use otthe line circuit i Without inter ference, a calling key, and: means. operated automatically bythecalling key for establishingoperative connection between said time. circuit and saidline circuit.

7. In ;acombinedtime announcingand sclectiye 1 signaling system, a the combination with a linecircuit, of a time circuit adapted to control cur-rent impulses in: the linecircuit, a calling key, a motor-generator for proyi'iiliing' electrical energy a for the current impulses in the-line circuit, and means operated-automatically by the calling key for setting;saidmotor-generator into operation and for establishing anoperative connection between-f said timer-circuit and said line' c-ircuit; 7

7 8.: Inacombineditime amiouncing and selective-:si-gfialing system, the combination with; a-line circuit, of: a-tirne'circuit adapted to control current impulses in the line circuit of a predetermined polarity, a calling key, circuit controlling means operated by the calling key for establishing an operative connection between said time circuit and line circuit during the first part of its movement and for subsequently causing current impulses in the line circuit of opposite polarity to'the impulses controlled by the time circuit during the later part of the movement I of said key, and manually releasable means for automatically stopping the calling key after the first part of its movement.

9. Ina combined time announcing and selective signaling system, the combination with a line circuit, of selectors connected to said line circuit and adapted to be stepped up and restored by characteristic impulses sent over the line circuit, a time circuit for causing impulses in the line circuit suitable for stepping up the selectors, means for causing an impulse in the line circuit suitable for restoring the selectors, a callingjkey for automatically rendering said time circuit and said means successively efl'ective during different ranges of movement of said calling key, and manually operable means for controlling the range of movement of said calling key.

10. In a combined time announcing and selective signaling system, the combination with a line circuit, of'selectors connected'to the-line circuit'and adaptedto respond to the polarity and number of impulses sent over the line circuit, said selectors being conditioned byan impulse of one particular polarity to bestepped up by impulses of opposite polarity and being restored by an impulse of the particular polarity, a time circuit adapted to control the sending of impulses of said opposite polarit'y over the line circuit, a manually operable calling key, manually releasable means for stopping the calling key at an intermediate point in its movement, circuit controlling means operated by the calling key during the first part of its movement for rendering the time circuit effective to send its current impulses over the line'circuit, and other circuitcontrolling means operated by thecalling key during the last part'of its movement for ticular. polarity to be stepped up. by iinpulses of opposite polarity and beingfre stored by an impulse of the; particularpolarity, normally inactivemeans for supplying electrical energy to theline circuit,,.a relay.- for controlling the polarity of the electrical connection between said means and the line its movement, circuit controlling means 10 circuit, a time circuit adapted to be conoperated by the calling key during the first nected to the relay and cause impulses of part of its movement for connecting the said opposite polarity to be sent over the line time circuit to said relay, and other circuit circuit, a calling key, means operated by the controlling means operated by the calling calling key for operating said normally inkey during the last part of its movement for 15 active means during the movement of said controlling said relay to send impulses of key, manually releasable means for stopping said particular polarity over the line circuit. the calling key at an intermediate point in MAURICE F. GEER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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