US1770829A - Signaling system - Google Patents

Description

y 15, A. E. BAILEY, JR I 1,770,829

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 24. 1927 a Flgl; 25 4 Inventor: Allen EBaileg Jrt.

. His Attorney Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES ALLEN E. BAILEY, JR., OF SGHENECTADY, NEW YQRK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL 1 TRIC COMPANY, A CQRIORATION OF NEW YORK H PATENT, OFFICE, I f

Erne- SIGNALING SYSTEM Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,245.

My invention relates to signaling systems and has for its object the provision of simple,

reliable and efiicient means for transmitting a plurality of indications.

My invention is particularly usefulin driving a plurality of indicating members from a remote control station such as might be used in the transmission of orders or indications, for example the transmission of orders for 1Q the control of a blast furnace and the blower therefor.

In carrying out my invention in one form, I provide a plurality of indicating members, consisting of index hands, at both the transmitting and receiving stations so arranged that one hand of each group constitutes a driving hand for the remaining hands of that group, together with an operating connection between the driving hands of the two groups. v

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in section of a signaling system embodying my invention; while Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of the indicating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the indicating members, however, occupying different positions than inFig.1. I

Referring to the drawing, in one form of my invention I provide a plurality of indicating members at the sending and'receiving stations, three index hands 10, 11 and 12 of graduated lengths being provided at the transmitting or sending stationiand a similar set of three index hands 13, 14 and 15 of graduated lengths being provided at the receiving station, which may be and probably issome distance from the transmitting station. As shown, the outside hands and 13 are the longest of the two sets, the middle hands 11 and 14 being of intermediate length, and the hands 12 and 15 being the shortest. In the transmitting station one of the outside hands, as shown the longest hand 10, is secured to a shaft 16 which may be turned by means of a knob 17 to any desired position. The remaining two hands 11 and 12 are each rotatably mounted on a sleeve 18 which is suitably sup- 50 ported, as for example, on a glasscover 19.

The shaftl6 extends through the sleeve 18 which may constitute a bearing for the shaft whereby allthree index hands rotate about a common axis.

Driving means is provided between the out side hand 10, which constitutes a master or driving hand, and the hands 11 and 12, this means comprising projection 20 onthe hand 10 which extends upward into the path of the hand 11 but is far enough removed from the axis of the hands so thatfit will not engage the hand 12. Projection 20 is also pref-w erably short enough so. that the hand 12 would in any case pass over it without touching it. A similarprojec'tion 21 on the hand 11 is positioned nearer the axis of the hands so as to be in the path of the shortest hand 12.. As seen in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the hand 11 is behind the projection 20 and the hand 12 is behind the projection 21. As thus arranged when thehand 10 is rotated by means of the knob 17 in a clockwise direction the two hands 11 and 12 will be carried with it.

In the receiving station the hand 13 is mounted on a shaft 22, while the hands 1 1 and 15 are pivotally mounted for independent rotation on a pivot pin 23 which is suitably supported, for example, on the glass cover 24;

for the instrument. These hands arelikewise mounted for rotation about a common pivot axis. Similar driving connections are provided between the hands. 13, 14: and 15 in the receiving station, comprising projections 25 and 26 secured to the hands 13 and 14; respectively. The projection 25 isin a position to engage the hand 14 but it will not engage the hand 15, while the projection 26 is in a position to engage the hand 15.

-The shafts 16 and 22 are operatively connected together in a suitable mannerso that when the'shaft 16 is turned by the knob 17 the shaft 22 will be turned in synchronism therewith. This connection is shown as com: prising an electrical system for transmitting angular motion comprising? a transmitting device 27, the rotorof which'is secured to the shaft 16, and a receiving device 28 having its rotor secured to the shaft 22. Any suitable electrical system for transmitting angular motion may be used, although preferably an alternating current system is used in which the transmitting and receiving instruments are similar in construction, each being provided with a field winding and with a polyphase circuit armature winding physically similar to a three-phase Y-connected armature winding. One of the windings, such as the field winding, is mounted on the rotor member and the field windings of the two instruments are energized from a common source of alternating current supply. The armature windings of the two instruments are connected together by means of three conductors 29. Such a system is described more fully, for example, in Patent No. 1,612,117,

to Hewlett and Willard, dated December 23, 1926.

concentrically mounted with the hands in the transmitting station is a stationary dial 30. As shown in Fig. 2 this dial is marked with three sets of indications which are concentric with eachother and just below the ends of the hands, respectively. In other words, the hand points to the outer indications, the hand 11 to the intermediate set of indications, and the hand 12 to the inner set of indications. A similar dial 31 is provided in'the receiving station with which 00- operate the-hands 13, 14: and 15. It will be understood that the two dials are so arranged that when the hands in the two stations are driven in synchronism they will give the same indications.

In the operation of the signaling system, to

- give a desired set of indications, the knob 17 in the transmitting station is turned for a complete revolution in one direction or an other, for example, in a clockwise direction, whereby it picks up the driven hands 11 and 12. It will be understood that the master hand 13 in the receiving station is driven in synchronism with the hand 10 through the electrical driving connection between them whereby the hands 14 and 15 are pickedup in the receiving station. The hand 10 is now turned in a clockwise direction to the position in which it is desired to leave the short hand 12, after which the hand 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction for a complete revolution at which time it engages the hand 11 but leaves the short hand 12 in the position in which it was set. The hand 10 is now turned in a counterclockwise direction until the hand 11 is set in its desired position at which point the hand 10-is reversed and rotated in a clockwise direction until it is set to give its own desired indication. It will be understood that the directions of rotation may be reversed throughoutif desired. Since the hand 13 in the receiving station has moved synchronously with the hand 10, and three hands in the receiving station are now set to give the same indications. stood that the hands 11, 12, 14 and 15 are se- 1 cured to their pivots with suflicient friction It will be under-- clockwise direction therefore, the hand 11 will be substantially above the hand 10 when it is picked up by the projection and the hand 12 will be substantially above the hand 11 when it is picked up by the projection 21, and the hands may be set one above the other if necessary to give the required indications. If the knob 17 is turned in a counterclockwise direction however to initially pick up the hands, it will be observed that the hands will not be directly above each other due to the positions of the projections, as previously described. It iscontemplated therefore that the hands will be picked up by a clockwise rotation of the knob 17. The projections and 26 on the hands 13 and 14; are similarly arranged.

The specific markings on the dials shown in Figs. 2 and 3, are especially adapted for the control of a battery of blowers for a plurality of blast furnaces. It is contemplated that there will be eleven blowers which may be connected to any one of eleven blast furnaces. The receiving dial and the mechanism associated therewith will be located in a convenient place for observation by the operator of the blowers, whereas the transmitting dial 30 and associated mechanism will be located in a remote control station. With the hands in the positions shown it will be noted that the blower operator is directed to start (hand 13) blower 6 (hand 15) which blower is to be connected to furnace 2 (hand 14) While I have described my invention as embodiedin concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the patent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, thescope of which is set forth in the annexed claims. I

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

' 1. A signaling system comprising a plurality of hands in a sending station one of which constitutes a driving hand and the others driven hands, driving connections between said hands whereby said driven hands may be set in any desired positions by moving said driving hand, a similar set of driving and driven hands in a remote receiving station, similar driving connections between the hands in said receiving station, and an operating connection between said driving hands.

2. A signaling system comprising a plurality of hands of graduated lengths, driving means for one of said hands, driving con nections between said hands whereby they may be set in any desired positions by said driving means, a transmitter of angular motion connected to said driving means, a receiver of angular motion connected to said transmitter, a second set of hands of graduated lengths associated with said receiver, and a driving connection between said receiver and one of the hands of said second set.

3. A signaling system comprising three hands having a common axis of rotation, a driving connection between the middle hand and one outside hand providing independent movement of the middle hand throughout substantially a complete revolution, a driving connection between said middle hand and the other outside hand permitting independent movement of said middle hand throughout substantially a complete revolution, driving means for one of said outside hands, a motion transmitting device connected to said driving means, a similar set of hands located 1 set.

remote receiving station, projections on the middle and one outside hand of said second set, a receiver of angular motion connected to said transmitter, and a connection between said receiver and one outside hand of said second set.

5. A signaling system comprising a shaft, means for turning said shaft, a transmitter of angular motion driven by said shaft, a plurality of hands of graduated lengths arranged side by side and having the same axis as said shaft, a rigid connection between one outside hand and said shaft, connections between the middle hand and said outside hands permitting independent movement of said outside hands through substantially a complete revolution, a second set of three hands located in a remote receiving station, a pivot support for the middle hand and one outside hand, a receiver of angular motion connected to said transmitter, a driving connection between the other outside hand and said receiver, and driving connections between said middle hand and said two outside hands permitting independent movement of said outside hands throughout substantially a complete revolu-' tion.

6. A signaling system comprising three hands having a common axis of rotation in a sending station, a driving connection between the middle hand and one outside hand providing independent movement of the middle hand throughout substantially a complete revolution, a driving connection between said middle hand and the other outside hand permitting independent movement of said middle hand throughout substantially a complete revolution, driving means for one of said outside hands, a similar set of hands located in a remote receiving station, similar driving connections between said hands and an operating connection between said driven outside hand in said sending station and one of the outside hands of said receiving station.

7 A signaling system comprising a shaft, means for turning said shaft, a plurality of hands of graduated lengths arranged side by side and having the same axis as said shaft, a rigid connection between one outside hand and said shaft, connections between the middle hand and said outside hands permitting independent movement of said outside hands through substantially a complete revolution,

a second set of three hands located in a remote receiving station, a pivot support for the middle hand and one outside hand, a shaft operably connected with said first shaft, a driving connection between the other outside hand and said second shaft and driving con nections between said middle hand and said two outside hands permitting independent movement of said outside hands throughout substantially a complete revolution.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of October, 1927.

ALLEN E. BAILEY, J R.

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