US1459403A

US1459403A - Chaeles w

Info

Publication number: US1459403A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1923-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1940-06-19

Description

v J'ne 19, 1.923. 1,459,403

C. W. KECKLER ET AL.

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 2 2 1919 l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l, i* g M@ rammed Patented June 19, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. KECKLER, OF NEWARK, AND WALTER B. STRICKLER, OF EAST ORANGE,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO XVESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application led September 22, 1919.

T 0 all w hom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES W. Knorr- Lnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, and VALTER B. STRICKLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to signaling systems, but more particularly to such systems whereby indications may be automatically transmitted from one point to another.

An object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the position of a plurality of switches located at one station may be' automa tically indicated at a distant station.

In accordancel with a feature of the invention, means are provided at the switching and indicating stations, whereby a signaling device at the indicating station will be operated to indicate the open or closed position of power switches located at the switching station.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, means are provided at the switching station, whereby an automatic switch at the indicating station will be operated in s vnchronisinwith the one at the switching station, for controlling the operation of a signaling device thereat, to give a distinctive signal.

In accordance with a further feature o'f the invention, means are provided at the indicating station, and so arranged that after the automatic switches are returned to normal subsequent to having set up an indication, the false operation of the automatic switch at the indicating station is prevented upon the opening` and closing of the circuit connecting the two stations.

It is thought that a more definite understanding of the invention will be had from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the apparatus located at the switching station, and Fig. 2 shows that located at the indicating station.

Referring now to the particular embodiments of the invention, in Fig. 1 there is shown a power switch 4, a plurality of which'are employed, but for the sake of Serial No. 325,403.

it cooperates. These contacts are designed l to be only momentarily closed to permit the mechanism common to a plurality of switches to operate when another switch has been actuated. The power switches are merely provided with an additional contact so that, upon the opening or closing of these switches, a circuit will be momentarily completed through the respective contacts for effecting the operation of the switching mechanism. In the particular installation for which this system was designed, the power switches are motor driven, but the system is obviously also equally applicable to installations wherein the power switches are manually operated. Associated with each switch is a number of relays which function so as to cause the operation of other apparatus located at the same station for controlling the operation of a signaling device at the distant station. The apparatus shown in the dotted rectangle 7 is individual to each of the switches.

The other apparatus shown in Fig. l is common to a plurality of such switches as shown inthe rectangle 7, and includes an interrupter 8 for controlling the operation of the selector switch 9, together with a plurality of relays, the function of which will be more clearly described in the description which is to follow. The selector switch 9 is of the two level type, one of which has its terminals individually allotted to the contacts engaged in the open position of the switches 1i, and the other level has its terminals connected with the contacts engaged in the closed position of the switches il.

In Fig. 2 there is shown the apparatus at the indicating station and which may be connected with that at the switching station by a pair of wires, or by a single wire if a` ground connection is used as one conductor. A selector switch 10 is also employed at the indicating Station which is adapted and arranged to be operated in synchronism with the one shown in Fig. l. The apparatus Cil `oi these lamps is lighted at all times thereby indicating whether the power switch to which they are individual is open or closed, since lamp 13 is lighted in the open position of the switch 4, while the lamp 14 is lighted when the switch 4 is in either of the closed positions. A relay 44 is employed at n the indicating station which is energized upon the restoration of the switch 10 there at to normal, for opening the line connecting the two stations. This prevents the operation of the relay 32 due to the capacitance of the line and thereby prevents the accidental re-operation` of the selector switch 10. Vhile a plurality of batteries have been shown for convenience, it is to be understood that in actual practice a single battery could or would be employed.

The operationv of the apparatus used in carrying out this invention is as follows: Let it be assumed that the power switch 4 is in its closed position, thereby momentarily engaging contact 6. Such. engagement es- 'tablishes an energizing circuit for relays 15, 16 and 17, and may be traced from battery A, through a contact of the power .switch 4, contact 6, left-hand winding of relay 15, contact of relay 18, and the windings of relays 16 and 17 in series, to ground. Relay 15, in operating, establishes a locking circuit for itself extending from battery B. through the right-hand normal Contact ot relay 19, left-hand winding oi relay 15, contact of relay 18, and the windings oi? relays 16 and 17 in series, to ground. Relays 16 and 17 are thereupon operated and in closing their contacts cause the operation of relay 20 over a circuit extending from battery C, through the contacts of relays 16 and 17 in multiple, winding of relay 20, alternate contacts of

relays

21 and 22 in parallel and the normal contact of relay 23, to ground.`

rIhe relays

21 and 22 have their windings normally in bridge of the open contacts of the interrupter 8, so that under normal conditions they are continuously operated. The energizing circuit for these relays may be traced from battery 30, through the winding of relay 32 at thel indicating station, left-hand normal contact of relay 44, see Fig. 2, windings of

relays

21 and 22 in series, winding of relay 31, see Fig. 1 and `the nter'rupter 8. Should the line at any time become open, short-circuited or a fuse blow at the indicating station,` relay 21A and 22 will release their armatures. owever, if any switches have been actuated during this period the relays individual thereto will be energized, but due to the open contacts of

relays

21 and 22, the remainder of the system remains inoperative until the operating circuit for the

relays

21 and 22 is again closed. An energizing circuit for relay 24 extends rom battery D, through the left-hand alternate contact of relay 20, and the winding of relay 24, to ground. A circuit including the windings of relay 25 is established upon the operation of relay 24 which extends from battery E, through the two windings of relay 25, and the contact of relay 24, to ground. The operation of relays 16 andV 17 also causes the energization of relay 34, the energizing circuit of which may be traced from battery C, through the alternate contacts of relaysI 16 and 17in multiple, winding of relay 34, and the contact of relay 23, to ground. The windings of relays 16 and. 17 are short-circuited upon the closure of the left-hand contact of relay 34, and 'thereupon release their armatures. Relays 34 and 20 are, however, maintained operated the first over a circuit extending from battery F, through the right-hand contact and winding of relay 34 and the contact of relay 23, to ground; the second over a circuit extending from battery F, through the right-hand contact of relay 34, winding of relay 20, contacts of relays 21 .lull

and 22 in multiple, and the contact of relay rsegment so as to prevent the false operation of relay 32. The release magnet 28 is, however, operated upon the energization of relay 2O over a circuit extending from battery D, through the left-hand alternate contact ot relay 26, and the winding of release magnet 28, to ground. The energization of release magnet 28 thereby attracts its armature which allows the contact maker 29 to be revolved under the power of the motor 27.

The interrupter 8, in passing over its contacts, makes and breaks a circuit which includes a 125 volt current supply 30, this circuit including the windings of marginal relays 31 and 32 and effecting their alternate operation and release during the actuation of the interrupter 8. These relays being in series open and close theirY contacts correlll) spondingly in response to the impulses caused by theinterrupter 8 in passing over its contacts.` The energization of relay 31 causes the operation of slow-release relay 36 over a circuit extending from battery (fr, through the contact of relay 31, and the winding of relay 32, to ground. Relay 36, in operating, causes the energization ofthe release magnet '33 over a circuit extending from battery H, through vthe contact of relay 36, and thewinding of release magnet 33, to ground. Incase the line should'be opened or short-circuited during the stepping period, relay 31 will'be released thereby causing the release of relay'36. Relay 36 will thereby cause the deenergization of the release magnet 33 of the selector and lrestore the selector switch 9 to normal. `The stepping magnet 35 is also controlled through the contacts of relay 31, the energizing circuitof this magnet extending from battery G, through the Contact ofrelay 31, and the winding of the stepping magnet 35 of the selector, to ground. Relay 32 (see F ig. 2) in opening and closing its contact,`due to the impulses of current transmitted over the line from rthe interrupter 8, effects corresponding changes in a circuit extending from vbattery I, through the normal Contact of relay 48, winding of stepping magnet 58, contact of relay 32, andthe right-hand contact of relay 44, to ground. The stepping magnet 58 is thereupon operated for stepping the selector switch, corresponding to the operation of relay 32. Since relays 31 and 32 are initially in'the same circuit, they vare correspondingly actuated and thereby cause the two switches l 9 land 10 Vto step in synchronism.

` The selector switches 9 and 10 advance, step by'step until the selector switch' 9 completes a circuit with contact No. 100 which is associated with the apparatus individual to the power switch 4. A circuit is thereupon established extending from lbattery d, through the winding of relay 18, left-hand normal contact of relay 19, right-hand alternate contact and wi'ndingof relay 15, contact No. 100 on the lower level of the seing,` opens at its contact the energizing circuit of relays 2O `and 34 which are thereupon released. The releasel of relay 20 causes the deenergization of relay 24 which in turn causes the release of relay 25. Relay 40, in operating, opens at its contact the energizing circuit of relay 31, which is released, cutting -out the interrupter 8 from the loop circuit and establishing another loopcircuitA through its alternate contact which includes circuit causes the operation of relays 41 and 42, the energizing circuit thereof extending from one side of battery 30, through the lwinding of relay 32, left-hand normal contact of relay 44, contact of relay 37, the windings of relays 42 and 41 in series, and thel alternate contact of relay 40, to the other side of this battery. Relay 45 is. operated upon the energizati'on of relays 41 and 42 over a circuitextending from batteryL, through the contacts of relays 41 and 42 in multiple, right-hand alternate contact of relay 38, and the winding of relay 45, to ground. The instant that selector switch 9 moves from its normal position, an energizing circuit for relay 46 is established extending from battery M, through the winding of relay 46 and the Contact 47, which is closed as soon as selector switch 9 moves from its normal position, to ground. Au energizing circuit for relay 39 is established upon the operation of relays 45 4and 46, extending from battery N, through the contact of relay 46, winding of relay 39, and the contact andl winding of relay 45, to ground. The operation of relay 39 is, however, prevented'due to the previous operation of relays 41 and 42, which also connects a source of battery supply to the winding of relay 39 upon the operation of relay 45, the circuit of which may be traced from battery, through the contacts of-relays 41 and 42fi'n multiple, right-hand contact of relay 38, Contact of relay 45, to the winding of relay 39. In practice a common source of battery supply is used so that a low resistance path is placed around the winding of relay 39 when relays 41, 42 and 46 are operated, thereby diverting sufcient current so as to prevent its operation. It is, therefore, evident that relay 39 is prevented from operating as long'as relays 41 and 42 are operated,tdue to the short circuit placed around the winding of this relay.

The operation of relay 32 in closing its conta-et completes the following circuit extending from battery I, through the normal Contact of relay 48, the windings of relays 49 and 50 in parallel, contact of relay 32,

and the right-hand contact of relay 44, to ground. Relay 50 is of the fast-to-operate and slow-toirelease type, and accordinglyv operates in response to the first impulse, due Vto--the'operation of relay y32, whiley relay -49 is slow-acting vanddoes not operate until relay 32 is operated for an appreciable length of time. The new loop circuit pro` vided upon the;v operationA ofY relay 40,'at the.. sending station maintains relay 32 continuously energized, thereby causing the operation of` relay 49. When relay 40 operates, relay 32 holds up and relay 49 is thereby energized and applies negative battery O to its contacts, vwindings of relays 51 and 52, switch arm and -contact 10() of switch10, winding of. polarized relay 12,

`left-hand armature and Contact of relay 54,

resistance 55, and the off-normal contact 56 `'of the selector switch 10 to ground.` Relays 51 and 52 and the polarized relay 12 are thereby energized over the circuit just traced. The Contact 56 is closed as soon as the selector switch` 10 moves from its initial position yso that release magnet 57 is operated as soon as this Contact isv closedy over a circuit extending from battery P through the right-hand contact of relay 54,

winding of release magnet 57, and the contact 56 to ground. Relay l2, in operating,

`removes, a short-circuit from around lamp 14 and .places a shorteircuit around lamp 13, thereby extinguishinglamp 13 and lighting lamp 14. `Relays 51 and 52, in operating, establish an energizing circuit for relay 48 vwhich extends from battery Q, through the alternate contactsI of relays 51 and 52 in multiple and the right-hand winding of relay 48 to ground'. A locking circuit is established upon the operation of relay 48 extending from battery through the alternate contact and left-hand winding of this relay, `right-hand normal contact of relay 59, and

the contact 56 of selector switch 10 to ground.` vThe circuit including the winding of relay 54 extends from battery through the alternate contact of relay 48, winding of relay 54, and the right-.hand contact of relay 44 to ground'. The release magnet 57 is deenergized upon the operation of relay 54 and causes the selector switch 10 to be restored to normal.

As soon as the selector switch 10 returns to normal, slow-operating relay60 is operated over a circuit extending from battery through the alternate cont-act and winding of relay 48, normal contact of relay 59, winding ofrelay 60, .and the right-hand contactuofv relay44 to ground. The operaerating-'opens at 'its left-hand normal contact the energizing circuit of relays 41 and 42which are momentarily released. In order thatrelay 32 will not be energized upon the release Qf relay: 44, due to any charge that might, have accumulated n. the r- Spective, conductors, a shunt Circuits Placed about the winding of relay 32. Thus, upon the deenergization of relay 44, current is prevented from traversing the winding of this relay, as Contact 68 is completed before contact V69- isv broken. Therefore, any charge which might have accumulated on the conductors extending between the two stations., passes through this shunt circuit so established, thereby preventing the momentary operation of relay 32 and the subsequent operation of the switch 10 for the giving of a talse indication.

Relay 44, in operating, momentarily opens the linel loop at itsl left hand contact including the windings of relays 41, and 42 at the switching station, which arey momentarily released removing the short-.circuit` from about relay 39, whichy thereupon operates. The holding circuit for

relays

23,40, 38, and 18 is broken upon the` operation of relay 39, causing in turn the releasel of re-l lays 38, 15, and 18,. rI .lhe release of relay 38 first opens at its leftrhand contact the energizing circuit of the release magnet 33,

which allows the'selector switch 9 to return to normal; second, opens the original energizing circuit of relay 45 which prevents the short-circuit from being reestablished around the winding of relay 39 when relays -41 and 42 are again operated. Relay 39, in

operating, closes at its alternate contact the energizing circuit of relay 37 which extends from battery through the right-hand winding of relay 37, alternate Contact of relay 39, and the windings of

relays

40 and 23 in series to ground. Relays 40 and 2,3 are thereupon maintained operated. The operation of relay 37 opens at its contact` the short-circuit from around the resistance 62 and prevents thek reoperation of relay 32 when relay 44 momentarily opens and closes the loop circuit.l When the selector switch 9-returns to normal, the energizing circuit for relay 46 is broken, thereby causing the release of this relay and the opening of the holding circuit of relays 39 and 45. These relays in releasing, cause the release of

relays

37, 40 and 23.

The operation of thel` system having been traced for the condition when the power switch 4 is in its closed position, let it now be assumed that the power switch 4 is in its open position. The contact of the power switch 4, as shown in the drawing, will thereby be momentarily in contact with contact whieh causes the operation of

relays

19, 16, and 17 over a circuit ext-ending from Y battery through the Contact of the vpower windings of-A relays 1 6 and 1,7 in series to ground. The operation of the remainder of the system is the same as described for the closed position and the switch indication until the contact arm reaches segment No. 100 is identical. The battery being now fed through the winding of relay 18, left-hand normal contact ot relay 15, right-hand alternate Contact and winding of relay 19 through segment No.` 100 and selector wiper arm on the upper level of the selector switch 9, left-hand winding of relay 37,

winding of relay 38, normal contact of relay 39, andthe windings of relays and 23 in series to ground. The operation of relay 37 opens the shunt around the resistance 62, and prevents relay 32 from holding up when relay 40 operates for establishment ot the loop circuit. The open contact of relay 32 now causes the release of relay 50, and since the selector switch 10 has been advanced to seize contact 100 in the manner previously described battery will be applied to the winding of relay 12 in the opposite direction-to that for the closed position, so that the armature thereof will remove the shunt circuit from around the lamp 13, and again place the shunt around the lamp 14, causing the eXtinguishment of the lamp 14-and the lighting of the lamp13 as described for thc closed position. The energizing circuit for relay 12 extends from battery through resistance 63, left-hand contact and armature of relay 54, winding of polarized relay 12, contact 100 and the switch arm ot the selector switch 10, windings of relays 52 and 51 in series, resistance 53 and the back contacts y of relay 5 0 to ground.

- InA cases where several switches have been operated simultaneously in such sequence that the selector will be behind in transmitting indications, relays 16 and 17 will again be energized the instant contact 48 is broken and the selector will search out each switch by clearing those connected to the lowest numbered segments first.

Should the line at any time become shortcircuited, relay 32 will operate and remain operated until the short-circuit is removed` The operation otrelay 32 causes the energization of stepping magnet 58 as previously described to eiiect the operation of the selector switch 10. A circuit is established upon the connection of the arm of the selector switch 10 with contact A which extends from battery through the contact ot' relay 49, windings of relays 51 and 52 in series, contact arm, and contact A of selector switch 10, and the right-hand winding of relay'59 to ground. yRelay 59 will operate and open the circuit for relay 60 which opens the energizing circuit for relay 61. Relay 48 will lock up in the usual manner and release the selector switch and at the same time establish a locking circuit 'for relay 59, which extends from battery through the alternatewcontact voit' relay `letthand contact and winding of relay 59 to ground. Relays 48 and 59 will remain operated under the control ot relay 32 which will not be released until the short-circuit is removed for restoring the system to norparatus will function in the usual manner.l

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. A signaling system comprising a first and a second station, a plurality ot switches located at said rst station, a rotary interrupter operative upon the actuation or" one ot saidswitches, a loop circuit, an automatic selector sw-itch at each of said stations, means in the loop circuit operated by said interrupter for driving the automatic selector switches in synchronism, a signal device at the second station individual to each of the switches at the first station,I and means responsive upon the connection of the automatic selector switch with a desired one of the contacts thereof for causing the operation of said signaling device to furnish a distinctive signal.

2. A signaling system comprising a tiret and a second station, a plurality oi mechanisms at the lirst station, an automatic selector switch at each of said stations, a signaling device individual to each of said mechanisms and located at the second station, apconnecting link circuit terminating` at each of said stations, a rotary interrupter operative in response to the actuation of one of said mechanisms, means responsive to the operation of said interrupter tor driving said automatic selector switches in synchronism, and a relay at the second office individual to each ot said mechanisms energized upon the seizure ot the line associated therewith to cause said signaling device to furnish a distinctive signal.

3. A signaling system comprising a First and a second station, a plurality of mechanisms at the first station, a signaling device individual to each of said mechanisms and located at the second station, an automatic selector switch at each station, a loop7 circuit connecting the two stations, asrelay in each end of the loop circuit for controlling the operation oit said automatic selector switches, means for intermittently operating said relays, means responsive to the connection of the automatic selector switch at the first station with a line associated with an actuated one of 'said mechanisms, means operated upon the operation of said second mentioned means orcausing said signaling device to furnish a'distinctive signal, and a relay operated due to the restoration of the automatic selector switch at the second oflice to normal, to momentarily open the loop circuit for preventing the 1re-operation ot the automatic selector' switch of the second station.` K

4. A signaling system comprising a switching and an indicating station, a plurality of mechanisms at the switching station, an automatic selector switch at each of said stations, a signaling device individual to each of said mechanisms and located at the indicating station, a connecting link circuit terminating at each of said stations, a periodically rotating interrupterloperative upon the actuation of any one of said mecha-- nlsms, a pair of relays in said link circuit operated upon the rotation of said interrupter for driving said automatic selector switches in s'ynchronism, and means operative upon the seizure of a line associated with an actuated mechanism to cause said signaling device to furnish a distinctive signal.` y

5. A signaling system comprising a switching and an indicating station, a plurality| of mechanisms at the switching 'station, an automatic selector switch at each i of saidstations, a signaling device individual to each of said mechanisms and located at the indicating station, a connecting link circuit terminating at'each of saidstations, a periodically rotating interrupter having ya plurality of open and closed segments opertive in response to the actuation of any one ofsaidmechanisms, means responsive to the operation of said interrupter 'for driving said automatic selector switches in synchronism, 'and arelay at the indicating stationk individual to each of said mechanisms energi'zed'upon the seizure of the line associated therewith'to cause said signaling device'to furnish a distinctive signal.

n 6.v A4 signaling system comprising a switching and an indicating station, a plurality of mechanisms at the switching station, a signaling device individual to each of said mechanisms andl located at the indicatin station, a normally closed connecting lin circuit terminating at each of said stations in a relay, an yautomatic selector switchat each of said stations, a rotary interrupter Ireleased upon the actuation of any one of said mechanisms for intermittently energizing said relays, means responsive to the operation of one of said relays to operate said `automatic selector switch at the'switchings'tation to seize a line associated with an actuatedone ofsaid mechanisms, means at the indicating stationresponsive to the operation of 'the relay ther-eat to operate thisv other automatic selector `switch to seize n line associated with a signaling device individual to the mechanism whose line lhas been seized, and lmeans operated upon `the seizure of said line to operate said signaling device to furnish a distinctive signal.

7 A signaling system `comprising a switchin and an indicating station, a plurality o mechanisms at the switching station, a signaling device individual to each of said mechanisms and located at the indicating station, an automatic selector switch at each station, a loop circuitconnecting the two stations, a relay `in each end ot the loop circuit for controlling the operation of said automatic selector switches, means for intermittently operating said relays, means responsive to the connection of the automatic selector ^rswitch at the first station with a line associated with an `actuated oneof said mechanisms, means operated upon `the operation of said secondmentioned means for causing said signaling device to furnish a distinctive signal, and means operateddue to the restoration of the automatic lselector switch at the 'second ofiice'to normalto `momentarily open "the loop circuit for preventing the re-operation of the-automatic selector switch at the indicating station 8. A signaling system com rising a switching and an. indicating statiomaplurality of mechanisms at the switching'station, a signalin device individual to said mechanisms an located at the indicating station, an automatic selector switch at each station, a loop circuit connecting the two stations, means in each end of the loop ycircuit vfor controlling the operation of said automatic selector switches, 'a periodically rotaryl interrupter for intermittently "operating said "means,`ineans responsive t'o the connection of the automatic Aselector switch at the switching station `with aline associated with an actuatedA one of said mecha.- nisms, a relay operated upon'the operation of said second mentioned means for causing said signaling device to furnish'a distinctive signal, and a relay operated due to therestoration ofthe automatic selector switch at the indicating station to normal tomoi'nentarily open the loop circuit yto prevent'the re-operation of the automatic selectorswitch at the indicating station.

9. A'signaling system comprising a first and asecond stationafplurality of power switches located at the first station and provided with contacts, a signaling'de'vice-'at the second station individual to eachof said power switches, a normally closed loop circuit connecting thetw'o stations, an automatic selector 'switch at Vthe `rst "station having a plurality of groupsof lines ylea'c'ling to the contacts representing 'fthe open 'and closed positions of said power switches, a

iso

Second automatic selector switch at the second station, means to operate said automatic selector switch at the first station to seize a line in one of said groups, means to operate the other of said automatic selector switches to seize a line associated with a signaling device individual to the mechanism Whose line has been seized, and means to operate said si naling device in a distinctive manner.

n Witness whereof We hereunto subscribe 1 our names this 17th dayof September A. D.,

CHARLES W. KECKLER. WALTER B. STRICKLER.