US1397421A - Electric signal - Google Patents

Description

H. M. HOPKINS.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED on. 25. me.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.-

IN l/E/V TOR RICHARD M. HOPKINS, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0. AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. A vC0R?OBATION 01 NEW Jnnsnv.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

Patented not. is, 1921.

Application filed October 25, 1918 Serial No. 259,616.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RICHARD M. HorKiNs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rutherford, county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in electric signals. The invention seeks to provide a signal that shall be small, compact and simple in structureand reliable in operation, and that may be operated by comparatively weak current. It is especially designed for indoor use as part of a supervisory signaling system, wherein it is desirable to indicate the condition of some device in such system which controls the signal operating circuit.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein the signal is shown in its preferred form. In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the signal with the semaphore in the position to indicate danger.

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with the semaphore moved to the left to give a safety or O. K. indication.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, the parts being shown in the same position as Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation looking from the left of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the particular features shown in the drawings, 1 is an electromagnet having a soft iron angle piece 2, rigidly fixed to the rear end of the core of the magnet. One part of the angle piece 2 extends forward parallel to the axis of the magnet and terminates in proximity to the pole piece 5 of the magnet. Rigidly secured to the forward end of the angle piece 2 by means of a screw 4 is a U-shaped bracket 3 which is also fixed to the front face of the pole piece 5 by a screw 6. The armature 7 is mounted on a pin 8 pivotally fixed in the bracket 3 and in the lug 9 secured to one end of the bracket. The armature is preferably in the form of a comparatively slender rod and the axis of its pivot is parallel to the axis of the magnet. The armature is provided with a spring 10 which tends to move the armature away from the magnet. This spring is attached at one end to the armature at a point below its pivotal pin 8 and is attached at its other end to an adjustable screw 11 passing through a lug 12 fixed on one end of the bracket T he armature is so located that when its upper end is attracted by and moves toward the pole piece of the magnet, its lower end is attracted by and moves toward the then magnetized forward end of the iron piece 2.

13 is a disk fixed on the front face of the bracket by means of the screws 1% and projects below the magnet. This disk preferably carries the letters 0. K. and, when exposed to view, is designed to'give a safety indication. phore 15 carried by an arm 16 pivotally mounted on a pin 17 carried by the bracket 3 and projecting forward from the upper edge of the bracket. The arm 16 of the semaphore extends above the pin 17 and is provided with a slot 18 at its upper end to receive a pin 19 fixed to the upper end of the armature 7. l

When the magnet is deenergized, the up per end of the armature is held by its spring 10 away from the pole of the magnet and against the projecting end of the screw 4 which acts as astop for the armature at this time. The semaphore 15 is in alinement with and covers the disk 13 to indicate danger. This is the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1. When the magnet is energized,

the pole piece 5 becomes one pole of the magnet and the lower end of the angle piece 2, Fig. 3, becomes the other pole. The upper end of the armature is therefore attracted by and moves toward the pole piece of the magnet and the lower end of the armature is attracted by and moves in the opposite direction toward the end of the angle piece 2. This arrangement of the angle piece thus augments the magnetic attraction of the armature. In response thereto, it moves readily against the pull of the spring 10 and the semaphogre 15 is thereby moved to the left to uncover the disk 13 as indicated in Fig. 2. Convenient means may be provided to arrest this movement of the armature. Such means may be in the form of a positive stop or in the form of contacts against which the lower end of the armature strikes. Both of these means are shown in the drawings.

20 is a bracket secured to the angle piece 2 at the rear thereof and carries the spring of the armature by means of the screw 25.

"When the magnet is energized, the lower end a of the armature, in its movement to the left,

causes the insulating plug 24: to strike con-' tact 23 and move it from connection with contact 22 into connection with contact 21f If this movement of the armature is not arrested by the contact 23, when it strikes contact 21, it will be arrested by the proof amagnet having a projecting pole piece;

jecting end of the screw 25 coming in contactwith the lower face of the angle piece 2.

It will be seenthat although the signal, as a whole, is small and compact, its structure is nevertheless simple and rugged and not easily deranged and may be made'at' a comparatively small cost. It will also be seen that the signal is eflicient and reliable in operation for which only a comparatively weak current is required.

What I claim is:

l. In an electric signal, the combination of a magnet having pole pieces; a bracket supported by the magnet in proximity to the pole pieces; an armature pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and between the poles on said bracket on an axis parallel to the pole pieces; and a semaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axis parallel to the pole pieces and positively actuated by the armature.

2; In an electric signal, the combination of a magnet having a projecting pole piece; a bracket supported by the magnet in proximity to the pole piece; an armature pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axis parallel to the pole piece; a semaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket mechanism interconnecting the armature and the semaphore whereby the armature positively actuates the semaphore; and a fixed signal disk carried by the bracket arranged to be covi ered and uncoveredby said semaphore.

3. In an electr1c signal, the comblnatlon a bracket supported by the magnet'i'n proximity to thewpole piece; a soft iron angle piece fixed to the end of the magnet opposite the pole piece and'having its forward end in proximity to said pole piece; an armature pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to the pole piece with its opposite ends subject to attraction by said pole piece and by said soft iron angle piece, respectively; and a semaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket and actuatedby the armature. V

a. In an electric signal, the combination a'soft iron angle piece fixed to the end of the magnet opposite the pole piece and having its forwardend in proximity to said pole piece; a bracket supported by the magnet; Van armature pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axis parallel to the pole piecephore pivotally mounted on said bracket and actuated by the armature.

5. In an electric signal, the combination of a magnet having a projecting pole piece; a soft iron angle piece fixed to the end of the magnet opposite the pole piece and hav ing its forward end in proximity to said pole piece; a bracket fixed to one end of said angle piece and to the pole piece; an armature in the form of a rod pivotally mounted on said bracket on an axis parallel to the pole piece with itsopposite ends Subject to attraction by said pole piece and by the forward end of the angle piece, respectively; a spring tending to move the armature away from the magnet; a semaphore pivotally mounted on said bracket and connected with the armature by a pin and slot connection; and a fixed signal disklarranged to be covered semaphore.

Th1s specificatlon signed this 23rd day of October, 1918. Y

RICHARD M. HOPKINS and uncovered by said

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