US1808167A

US1808167A - Timing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1808167A
Application number: US315720A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond M Hicks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-10-29
Filing date: 1928-10-29
Publication date: 1931-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1948-06-02

Description

June 2, 1931. R. M. HlcKs TIMING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1928 Ik@ Alli-TT wm Imm wm W Ik w O E TM N N R Ed O vn u, T N0 T W .M um /ww h Patented June 2, 1931 PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND M. HICKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY TIMING APPARATUS Application filed October 29, 1928. Serial No. 315,720.

This invention relates to Vtiming apparatus and more particularly to electrical circuits and apparatus for giving visual or other signals to numerous operatives at .predetermined intervals.

Although not limited thereto, the invention' is particularly adaptable for use in connection with the method of .timing the use of electrical circuits such as telephone I lo lines, as described and claimed in the patent to:Jesse L. Boynton, No. 1,664,873, issued April 3, 192s.

The objects of the invention include the provision of apparatus ofthe type indicated, which is dependable in operation and relatively simple in construction.

Y Further and more specific objects, features and, advantages will more .clearly `appear from the detailed description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specii-.

cation.

The drawing schematically illustrates circuit arrangements and accompanying de.

vices as comprising one embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing an incandescent lamp is indicated at '10 which may be of any suit- Y 4,Utable type such as is usedas indicating lamps on 'telephone central ofiice switchboards. One-of-suchlamps may be located at each of numerous operatives? positions on the switchboard.` vOne terminal of each of such Y l135 lamps may be connected to battery 'and ground as indicated at 11,'and the other terminal 12 may beV connected to one of a plurality of lead wires as at 13. For eX- ample,if the switchboard is provided with 4o 72 positions, 12 of the lead wires 13 may be provided, each lead wire running to 6 of the lamps connected in parallel. The manner' in which Vthe lamps for the various successive positions along the switchboardV may be connected with the various wires 13, is indicated in the drawing. For example, the lower wire is indicated as being connected to positions '1, 4, 7,110, 13 and 16. Ac-

cordingly,.when.a ground connection is, ap-` plied tothis wire, the lamps V10 at these positions will be flashed for giving a signal to the operators at such positions. The circuits hereinafter described are so arranged that the wires 13 are divided intofthree groups, each group beingenergiz'ed successively, with the result that the signal lamp at each position is ashed at regular arbitrary predetermined intervals, but the signal lamps at adjacent positions on the switchboard are arranged to be yflashed at different times. For instance,- when the lamp at position 4 is flashed, the lamps at positions 3 and 5 will not be flashed, but at a predetermined time after the flashing of the lamp at position 4, the lamp at position 5 willbe flashed and at a later interval the lamps at positions 3 and 6 will be flashed. Accordingly, when a signal is given'to a certain operator, indicating that i certain steps must bet-aken to control overtime pay` ments, for example, on the telephone lines under her control, she may readily attend to such duties and if Van excess number of telephone calls should occur at kher position at that time, the operators at theadjacent positions will be free to assist inmal{ing p are under the control of relays' at'14, 15

and 16, each of such relays having four make contacts as at '17 connecting the corresponding. four lead wires'13to a ground as at 18 when one of said relays is energized. Each of the relays therefore controls the energization of four of the connection wires 13, which in turn control the flashing 01524 lamps arranged at the various operators positions in the manner indicated in the drawing, the current to the circuits ot these 24 lampsbeing divided between four of the contacts 17 in order tol minimize deterioration of the contacts. 'i

One terminal of each ofthe relaysl 14, 15' andV 16 maybe connected to battery and ground as at 19, the other; terminals respectively running tocam operated switches as at 20, 2l and 22 arranged to operate rthe relays successively according to a predetermined cycle of operation. From the

switches

20, 21 and 22, circuits are continued by a connection wire as at 23 to another cam operated switch as at 24, thence by a connection wire 25 to a pair of make contacts as at 26 on a relay 27, thence to ground 28. The relay 27 may be connected as indicated to a busy back flashing circuit7 or other suitable source ofcurrent which is intermittently supplied Aat Asuitable f-requency'xto give the desired flashing eiect at the lamps 10. A pair of contacts is provided .at .26 "in order to insure dependability of operation.

It will be observed that the function of the relays 14, 15 and 16Vaccording to time intervals depending upon :the manner of oper` ation of .the cam Voperated switches'd20, 21,

VandI 24.

The @am Operated 'Switches 20, 21322 arid i 24 respectively maybe controlled by cam lll) members 29,r 30, 3l and 8,2- Gam member' 32 may be mounted to rotate with a shaft 33 to 'which in turn rotational movement may be intermittently imparted as. :by @i magnet34 operatively vassociated with the shaft as by a paw-l and armature member 35 and ratchet 36. The circuit of magnet 34 may ybe intermittently.energized at intervals to 'impart the desired speed of rotation to may be connected in the usual electric clock circuit so as to receive Aone impulse during every six seconds. The ratchet v36 may for' @example be provided .with ten teeth, in

which event ,thecam 32 will revolve at the rate 'Of Op@ IGyplutop per minute.'

A gear .box .as .at 37 maybe' associated with the ,Shaft 3 3 for driving' va shaft 38 carrying the V,

cams

29,30 and31. The gear shaft 38 and. the cams carried thereon to revolvel at the rate of one-tenth revolution perminute. l

The cam 32 may be provided' with a raised portion 39 for engaging the switch 24 to close the samj'e during Substantially one- -third of the time of each revolution of the cam 32. Each of the ca ins 29,30 and 31 may be provided with a' pair of raised portions Vas at 40 for `engaging thev corresponding cam switches to` cause the same to close twice during each revolution of said cams,

'the closing period in each case being, 'for example, approximately one-*twentieth of the period of one revolution. The raised portions 40 on the several'camsl are placedl i in angular positions such that during the first 2O second interval of eachof three succeeding'minutes, the .three relays 14 15 andY 16 respectively will operate to flash 'the cor- @Spending sieurs pflamps ,fer peripds 0f 20 seconds. During the succeeding two minutes none of the lamps will be flashed. Thereafter the cycle kof operation may be repeated so that each of the signal lamps on the switchboard is caused to flash for a period of 2O seconds once during every live minutes. -The raised portion 39 on the cam 32 is placed atan angular posit-ion, such that the switch 20 makes contact before switch 24 closes, and also so that switch 20 moves to open position `only after switch 24 has broken the circuit.`

Switches

21 and 22 are .also preferably arranged to cooperate with switch 24 in like manner so that the operating circuit of

relays

14, 15 and 16 may be finally fniadwpr broken by the relatively rapidly 'operating .Switch 24, .the relatively slowly

operating switches

2Q, 21 and 22 actuating only when their circuits are deenergized.A Itmay 4be noted Vthat switch 24 at times may 'operate when the rela-y Wis deenersiretl; ,SQ that yl)rtkinjs .0f the circuit will not always occur at the contacts ofswitch`24 when the `same operates. The life of the conr'acts of switch 24 `is thereby ,considerably prolonged. c f

It will be observedit'hat the )above described arran ement, the operatingycurrent necessary or the numerous lamps is p "thermore, `wli-ile therelati'vely 'slowA moving the shaft 33. For example,l the 'magnet 34 contacts for controlling Ythe', lamp relays are of ar'cing at sucli contacts is eliminated -by reason of the control eifected by the relatively rapidly moving cam operated'switch and the flashing relay.' The circuits and .der vices are therefore arranged to v.provide 4dependable operation over a relatively long 'period of years. Y

While the invention has been described ,in detail with respect to a ypreferred .embodiment of the'same, it will be understood those skilled in .the art, iafter understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications may be made without .departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, andit is intended therefore in the appended claimsto cover all such changes and modifications. s y c n 'i What is .claimed asv ,new and ,desired t0 lbe secured by Letters Patent of the. United VStates is:

Acomprising several .Contact dey-ces respectively .for preparing .Cirtuits forcoptrcllna Several: grQupS pf. lamps. siittessvel-yf and and for breaking such current before the latter moves to open circuit position.

2. A lamp flashing circuit arrangement comprising several contact devices respectively for preparing circuits for controlling several groups of lamps successively, and an additional and relatively more rapidly moving contact device for establishing a current in a circuit running to any one of said first named contact devices, and for breaking such current before the latter moves to open circuit position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of groups of electrical signaling devices, said groups being divided into subgroups, a multicontact relay controlling operating circuits for each of said groups and having a contact individual to each subgroup, rotatable contact devices respectively for preparing circuits for controlling said relays, and an additional and relatively more rapidly moving contact device for establishing a current in a circuit running to any one of said first named contact devices and for breaking such current before the latter moves to open circuit position.

4. In apparatus of the class described for use in connection with a series of switchboard operators positions, an indicator lamp at each of said positions, means to flash said lamps in predetermined sequences, pluralities of the lamps respectively at separated positions being flashed concurrently, said means comprising a clock controlled circuit, a rotatable element controlled thereby, a plurality of rotatable Aswitch devices, means operatively connecting said rotating element to rotate said switch devices as a group at a rate slower than the rotation of said element, a flashing circuit, and multi- Contact relay means operating under the control of said flashing circuit and through said switch devices whereby each of said pluralities of lamps is flashed in succession once during each cycle of movement of said switch devices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

RAYMOND M. HICKS.