US142224A - Improvement in pmeuiviatig signal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

W. FOSTER, lr.

Pneumatic Signal Apparatus. y NO 142,224. PatentedAugust26,873.

, WILLIAM rosrnn, Jn., or New vonk, n. Y.

MPROVEMENT EN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,22, dated August 26, 1873; application filed April 28, 1873.

To all 'whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM FOSTER, Jr., of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Signal and Telegraph Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a pneumatic signal and telegraph apparatus, showing the application of my improvements; and Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference denote correspondingparts in the several figures of the drawings.

The pneumatic signal and telegraph appa! ratus may be stated, in general terms, to consist in a system of clockwork, or other proper gearing, arranged within a suitable frame or case, abell or other signaling device connected with the gearing, and a valve operated by atmospheric air to trip or unlock the gearing for sounding the bell. My invention has for its object to improve. the operation and eficiency of such apparatus, whereby it is adapted for communicating signals from long distances with certainty andaccuracy. To this end it consists in the combination of the tripping orr unlocking mechanism, signal-gearing, and an adjusting-nut, spring-lever, and disk for regulating the pressure of the air-chamber, as is hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, A is a case, made of any suitable form and size, to contain the gearing B and bell G, the latter being arranged to receive the blows of ahammer, D. The arm of this hammer is made angular in shape, and pivoted at or near its angle to the frame of the gearing, so that its shorter arm, e, shall' extend downward beside the gearwheel F,.and within the path of the stops g attached to said wheel. H is the valve, composed of two circular pieces of leather or other flexible non-elastic material, secured together at their edges so as to form an airspace, I. The valveis arranged within a chamber, J, in the upper part of the case A, and may be secured in place in any convenient manner. In this example of my invention I have shown it resting upon the bottom of the chamber J 5 but it may be suspended therein, or secured to any other part, as preferred. It may also be made of one piece, although,y for economy of construction, I prefer to employ two pieces, as above described. In order to render the valve air-tight, I coat, saturate, or otherwise treat it with glycerine; this substance being employed because it is non-evaporating, and will not, therefore, permit the valve to leak after long-continued use. K is the air-tube,arranged in the top of the oase A so as to communicate with the interior of the valve; It is composed of metal or some lexible material, and extends to a point remote from the apparatus, and constitutes `a line of communication from one point to another. L is a fiat spring, hinged at one end within the chamber J, so as to extend diametrically across the top of the valve and connect at the opposite end with a screw-rod, m., which rod passes through it to receive a setnut, n, as shown. A button or disk, O, is secured to the under side of the spring, bearing directly upon the valve, for the purpose of forming sufficient bearing-surface to lift the spring when the valve is iniiated. The red extends downward through the bottom of the chamber J, and connects with one arm of an angular lever, P, pivoted to the frame of the gearing. The opposite arm of this lever is bent outward at the end to rest against a pin, q, projecting laterally from the face of the gear-wheel It. The lever P is also connected with an arm, S, extending to the gear-wheel F, where its bent end enters one or the other of the notches formed in a disk, T, secured to said wheel or to its axle.

Vhen the various parts are in the positions shown in the drawings, and liereinbefore described, the apparatus is out of operation. If, however, air is suddenly forced into the tube K, or moved therein by any suitable means, the valve will become inflated, lift the spring L, and, through the medium of the connecting-rod m, throw the lever P and rod Sont of' contact with the stop q and notched disk T, thereby allowing the gearing to operate. As this proceeds, the pins g upon the gearwheel F trip the arm e of the hammer to sound the bell. A sudden puff or movement i' the nir through the pneumatic tube is suflieient to operate the tripping mechanism and unloek the gearing, when the valve instantly resumes itsformer position, and drops the tripping mechanism into the proper positions to arrest the movement of the gearing lby contact with the next set of stops on the Wheels F R. Any desired number of stops may be arranged on these wheels; 4iout I prefer to einpioy two or three only for eacinso that the gearing may continue its movements after the tripping mechanism has been lifted and reset, thereby insuring certainty of action.

The force of air required to lift the veive is determined by the adjustment of the set-nut ai, which may be effected through an opening in the top of the case, es shown. The valve may, therefore, he mede sensitive to the slightest movement of the air, end. this capability mense adapts the apparatus for signaling from long distances.

Instead of making the piece L elastic, it maybe made rigid, and Weighted to beer upon the valve.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The combination of the tripping or unlocking mechanism, constructed as described, signai-gearing, and adj usting-nut u, spring-lever L, pneumatic valve H, and disk 0, substaniiaicilly as set forth, and for the purpose speci- The above specification of my invention signed by ine this 18th' dey of April, A. D. 1873.

Witnesses: WM. FOSTER, JR.

E. A. ELLsWoRTH, FRANK MALorsAY.

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