US1775949A - Electric-sign controller - Google Patents

Electric-sign controller Download PDF

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Publication number
US1775949A
US1775949A US416585A US41658529A US1775949A US 1775949 A US1775949 A US 1775949A US 416585 A US416585 A US 416585A US 41658529 A US41658529 A US 41658529A US 1775949 A US1775949 A US 1775949A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contacts
electric
lamps
circuits
thermal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US416585A
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English (en)
Inventor
Stafford Wilfred
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of US1775949A publication Critical patent/US1775949A/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/004—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes to give the appearance of moving signs
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H37/00—Thermally-actuated switches
    • H01H37/02—Details
    • H01H37/64—Contacts
    • H01H37/66—Magnetic reinforcement of contact pressure; Magnet causing snap action
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S200/00—Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
    • Y10S200/27—Thermal magnetic snap

Definitions

  • This invention relates to means for control- I ling a plurality of electric circuits in a oer-- vices, or the like, may be operated automatically in sequence.
  • the invention is particularly designed for automatically switching on a number of electric lamps in a desired sequence, switching ofi substantially simultaneously, switching on again, and so on.
  • con ed spelling electric signs can be worked in a simple manner, i. e. where electrically-illuminated letters can be successively switched on to spell out a word, name or phrase.
  • the invention further relates to that type of controlling means of the above class wherein a thermally-actuated switch (in which movement is brought about by the expansion and contraction of a bimetallic strip or equivalent thermal element under the influence of an electric heating element) carries a line of contacts which can be closed on to fixed points as the switch pivotally moves.
  • the contacts control the lamp or other circuits, and one contact controls the make-and-break of the heating element.
  • the present invention is designed to pro vide a practical .form of such a type by ensuring that the maximum electric load in the control is not carried through any one 'pair of contacts, and certainly not through the make-and-break device of the thermal switch if.
  • the total electric load for the whole control is distributed to avoid any single pair of contacts carrying more than. the fraction required for the particular circuit, and thus, in conjunction with the quick simultaneous break, there is no possibility of dangerous and damaging sparking no matter how many lamps or other devices are employed.
  • Figure 1 is an elevation of the automatic switch device, showing typical wiring for 7 nine lamps (wherein, for example, two are p on a common line.)
  • Figure? is a side sectional elevation of one of the pairs of contacts.
  • the device illustrated (apart from the lamps 1 to 9) is adapted to be built to occupy avery small space and it can be mounted directly on the back of a sign casing containing the lamps,
  • the lamps, leads and terminals of common circuits are designated by similar numerals 1 to 9 inclusive.
  • a movable switch member 0 On an insulating baseboard a is pivoted at b, at one end, a movable switch member 0 in the form of a lever lying more or less horizontally across the baseboard.
  • This carries a plurality of springy contacts d slidable in an insulating block 6 and having lower contacting extremities which can be pressed up against the coiled springy electrical connecting wires f.
  • the reaction of the springs f is against the rigid baseboard a so as to avoid compression strains from the springs coming upon the pivoted switch member when the latter is closing.
  • the movable lever c and its contacts (1 co-act with a complemental set of contacts g adjustably carried in a fixed switch member 72. mounted on the base a underneath the contacts 01.
  • the contacts 9 re spectively form pairs with the upper complemental contacts (1 is the circuits 1 to 7.
  • the last lamp (or lamps 8 and 9, in this example, which are commonly Wired for simultaneous control) are preferably under the control of contacts 2' and j at the remote end of the lever c, and contact 2' need not necessarily be springy.
  • the screw designated is is an adjustable limiting stop for the upward movement of the lever a.
  • a soft iron block Z is fixed to the lever 0 and arranged to be attracted by a permanent magnet m, so that the thermal unit on heating will gradually store up potential energy until sufiicient is available to overcome suddenly the magnetic retaining power, and thus instantaneously jerk up the lever 0, giving a. substantially simultaneous break for all contacts.
  • This quick break is assisted by mounting the magnet movably if desired. For instance, an advantageous arrangement is to fix the magnet m to a lever n pivoted at 0, said lever n at the other side of the pivot being linked to the top switch lever 0 by a link p.
  • magnet m and block Z break apart, each moving at the same time in opposite directions.
  • the thermally expansible member is conveniently a bi-metallic strip 9 of a springy nature, fixed at r to the baseboard a above the member a, and having its free end linked at s to the said member 0.
  • This strip q is heated electrically by a circuit controlled by contacts on the arm 0, preferably in series, as illustrated, with the last lamps 8 and 9.
  • the electrical leads from the main are in? dicated by the letters t and u, and it will be seen that the total electric load is distributed independently through the contacts and circuits 19 to avoid excessive sparking at any point.
  • the sign is first switched on by a main control tumbler or other switch inthe leads to t or u.
  • thermal element 9 cold
  • the arm a is down and held by gravity and magnet m. All lamps are illuminated, the element 9 is gradually warming via the current through contacts 8 9, and after a pre-arranged period (dependent upon strength of magnet, expansib-ility of element 9 and so forth), the element g, which has been tending to expand, and, owing to its arcuate shape, to bend and straighten out, builds up sufficient energy to overcome the retaining powers of ,arm a and springs up, breaking all circuits, suddenly and practically simultaneously, including that of the heating element around strip g itself. Thereupon, the strip gradually cools and assumes its normal position, arm 0 lowering under its original influences, and contacts again being made gradually in sequence 1 to 9. After contact is established at 8, 9, the strip g is again heated and the cycle repeated.
  • the circuits 19 may control single or groups of lamps. Alternatively, or addition ally, other electrically-energized devices may be operated in a desired sequence by this automatic control. Obviously, ofcourse, any suitable plurality of contacts or-lamps other than 8 or 9 could be employed.
  • An automatic thermal switching device for controlling a circuit to a plurality of electric devices, making circuit in a pro-arranged sequence and breaking in substantially simultaneous manner, comprising a base, a movable switch member pivoted thereon, a fixed switch member secured to, the base, a plurality of contacts carried by the pivoted switch member, a complemental set of contacts carried by the fixed switch member, a thermal expansible and bendable strip secured at one end to the movable switch element, an electric heating element wound around said thermal strip and included in I each lamp or group of lamps, and a complemental set of contacts along the fixed switch member forming pairs with their movable complements and fed from the main, a bimetal thermally .expansible and bendable strip secured to one end of the base and linked at the other end to the movable'switch element, an electric heating element wound around said thermal strip in series with the WILFRED STAFFORD.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
US416585A 1928-08-20 1929-12-26 Electric-sign controller Expired - Lifetime US1775949A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB23873/28A GB323206A (en) 1928-08-20 1928-08-20 Improvements in electric sign controllers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US1775949A true US1775949A (en) 1930-09-16

Family

ID=10202687

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US416585A Expired - Lifetime US1775949A (en) 1928-08-20 1929-12-26 Electric-sign controller

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US1775949A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE372667A (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR702721A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB323206A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2537710A (en) * 1948-10-20 1951-01-09 Frank J Schroeder Electric cigarette lighter
US3099729A (en) * 1960-07-26 1963-07-30 Nick F Leo Electrical relays
US3110789A (en) * 1959-11-19 1963-11-12 Robertshaw Controls Co Thermally actuated cycling switch
US3204060A (en) * 1959-12-29 1965-08-31 Philco Corp Snap-action magnetic switch employing a flexible bimetal switch arm

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5008983A (en) * 1989-12-18 1991-04-23 Heins Ralph C Portable cleat

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2537710A (en) * 1948-10-20 1951-01-09 Frank J Schroeder Electric cigarette lighter
US3110789A (en) * 1959-11-19 1963-11-12 Robertshaw Controls Co Thermally actuated cycling switch
US3204060A (en) * 1959-12-29 1965-08-31 Philco Corp Snap-action magnetic switch employing a flexible bimetal switch arm
US3099729A (en) * 1960-07-26 1963-07-30 Nick F Leo Electrical relays

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR702721A (fr) 1931-04-15
BE372667A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB323206A (en) 1929-12-20

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