US1834349A - Telegraphic receiving apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Y5. TELEG RAPH Y Dec. 1, 1931.

R D SALMON TELEGRAPHIC RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed July 22. 192'? 2 search Shee Ls-Shea t l Dec. 1, 1931. R. D SALMON TELEGRAPHIC RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed July 22. 19?? 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGINALD DENNIS SALMON, OF CROYDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CREED AND COM- PANY LIMITED, A COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND TELEGRAPHIC RECEIVING APPARATUS Application filed July 22, 1927, Serial No. 207,709, and in Great Britain September 3, 1928.

This invention relates to telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind embodying a motor from which parts of the apparatus are operated during the reception of signals. In some construction of such receiving appa ratus, the motor is automatically brought into action by the armature of a relay on the receipt of the first or starting signal and is maintained in action during the receipt of succeeding signals by the intermittent action of the armature on mechanism that is driven from the motor and is constantly tending to stop the motor but is prevented from doing so while signals are being received but will do so When the receipt of signals ceases for a predetermined time, the object being to prevent waste of energy in the motor when signals are not being received. With such arrangements however, work has to be expended by the relay on the starting and stopping mechanism during the whole time signals are being received. In other arrangements, a relay acts upon the receipt of the first or starting signal to release starting and stopping mechanism and enables operative parts of the receiving apparatus to be connected to a continuously running motor, the starting and stopping mechanism being adapted to disconnect the operative parts of the apparatus from the continuously running motor after the receipt of signals has ceased for a predetermined time. In such arrangement however, energy is being continually wasted in the motor during the cessation of signals, unless the motor is stopped by hand controlled means.

N ow the present invention has reference to a construction of telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind first referred to, wherein the motor and a driving shaft of such apparatus are started automatically by action of a relay on the receipt of the first or starting signal, are caused to continue in operation while succeeding signals are being received, and are stopped automatically after the receipt of signals has ceased for a predetermined short period, the relay being inoperative on the motor starting means after the receipt of the first or starting signal. In this Way no energy is wasted in the relay to maintain the circuit of the motor closed during the receipt of succeeding signals and no energy is wasted in the motor after the cessation of signals for the predetermined period.

Means for automatically starting and stopping the motor in the manner described for the purpose mentioned can be variously constructed.

In one construction of telegraphic receiving apparatus, embodying the present invention, there are associated with a relay responsive to electric signals and a motor for operating a driving shaft of the apparatus, spring controlled motor starting and stopping means (hereinafter called for brevity, a trigger device) that is under the control of the relay and of a movable part of the apparatus adapted to be connected to the said driving shaft under the action of received signals and trigger restoring means arranged to be actuated from the driving shaft when the same is in operation and adapted to restore the trigger device from a motor starting position to a motor stopping position after the cessation of signals for a predetermined time, and to hold it in that position against the action of spring means. The arrangement is such that normally the trigger device is held in a position in which the motor and driving shaft are stationary and that upon the receipt of the first or starting signal, the armature lover of the relay acts to disengage the trigger device from the trigger restoring devices and permit it automatically to be moved by spring means into a position to bring about the starting of the motor and driving shaft and in which the armature is inoperative upon it during the receipt of succeeding signals, and the trigger restoring means is then set in operation by the driving shaft and endeavours to restore the trigger device to its normal position but is prevented from doing so by the aforesaid movable part of the apparatus until the receipt of signals has ceased for a predetermined time.

Usually the motor Will be an electric motor the starting and stopping of which is directly effected by an electric switch under the control of the trigger device. In an arrangement of this kind, the trigger device, when actuated by the relay, on the receipt of the first or starting signal, causes the closing of the motor switch, which is then held closed during the receipt of subsequent signals, but brings about the opening of the switch in a very rapid'manner, after the receipt of signals has ceased for the predetermined period.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 shows in plan, telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind herein referred to provide with one arrangement of means according to the invention for automatically starting and stopping such apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the said means detached from the telegraphic receiving apparatus. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of such means as seen from the left hand end of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the said means as seen from the inner side thereof. Fig. 5 shows in horizontal section, and more or less diagrammatically, portions of such means together with associated parts of the telegraphic receiving apparatus. Fig. 6 is an end view of part of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a cross section corresponding to the line VIIVII of Fig. 5.

In the example shown, the automatic starting and stopping means are shown applied to telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind described in the specification of Patent 1,639,213 to F. G. Creed. The electric switch used in the automatic arrangement shown comprises two switch arms 1 and 2 pivoted to a stationary'part 3 of the apparatus and connected respectively to springs 4 and 5 adapted to move them in the same direction, when free to do so. The switch arm 1 is formed as a U shaped terminal 1 between the side limbs of which is arranged a stop 6 of less diameter than the width of the space between such limbs. This stop serves to limit the turning movement of arm 1 in each direction. The switch arm 2 terminates in a thin or bladelike portion 2 arranged adjacent and parallel to the terminal side limb of the U shaped member 1, such blade-like portion 2 and the adjacent limb of the U shaped member 1 carrying respectively electric contacts 1 and 2 for completing between them the circuit of an electric motor B for rotating the driving shaft of the telegraphic receiving apparatus denoted by the letter A in Fig. 1. The contacts are suitably insulated as by pivoting the switch arms to a support 3 of insulating material. Pivoted to the stationary support 3 is a third spring controlled arm 7 arranged at right angles to arm 2 and terminating in a thin or blade-like portion 7. Arms 2 and 7 may, as shown, be connected to the coiled spring 5 which is then common to them. Normally, the two contacts 1 and 2 are held apart by the spring 5 and the circuit of the electric motor thereby opened, and the arm 7 is held above the end of the blade-like portion 2 of the arm 2, but is adapted, when arm 3.;

2 is moved sufliciently close the motor circuit between the two contacts 1 2 to spring behind the blade-like portion 2 of arm 2 and act as a detent or stop to hold the said contacts together and the motor circuit closed. Between the thin end portions or blades 2 and 7" of the arms 2 and 7 is mounted a crank arm 8 formed, as shown in Fig. 5, by the hook shaped bent end of an endways movable horizontal spindle 9 the other end of which is provided with a head or block 10. The latter is connected to two coiled springs 11 and 12 which are arranged as shown so as to tend to turn it and the spindle 9, when free to do so, in a direction to cause the crank arm 8 to abut against the blade portion 2 of arm 2 and force the same towards and against the U shaped member 1 of arm 1 so as to close the motor circuit between the two contacts 1 and 2 carried by the two arms, against the action of the spring 5. The head 10 and spindle 9 are also acted upon by a spring 13 that tends to move them endways in the direction of the arrow as in Fig. 5. The spindle 9, carried by a bearing 9*, extends through the centre of a vertical disc 14 that is arranged to be rotated at a slow speed through gearing, including, it may be and as shown, worm gearing 15, from a spindle 16 that is arranged to be driven through similar gearing 15 from a shaft 17 of the telegraphic receiving apparatus A driven from the electric motor B. The said disc 14 is formed with a number of holes, say two diametrically arranged holes 14, into one or other of which the free end 8 of the bent end 8 of the spindle 9 is caused to enter, when free to do so, under the action of spring 13. The spindle 9 is provided with means, for instance a collar 9*, by which it can be moved endways against the action of the spring 13, to withdraw the free end 8 from the hole 14 in'the said disc 14 in which it may happen to be, by means, such as a fork 18, that is adapted to be moved endways in an intermittent manner, against the action of the said spring 13, by a lever 19 actuated by a cam driven from the driving shaft of the apparatus and under the control of the received signals. In the example shown, the lever 19 is actuated directly from a sleeve (1- that is movable endways on the shaft 17 by a lever b that is actuated from a cam c on a cam sleeve (Z. The sleeve d is mounted upon and adapted to be engaged, under the control of received signals, with the cam shaft 6 of the apparatus which is driven by the motor B. The spindle 9 and head 10 are also adapted to be moved endways, against the action of the spring 13, for the purpose mentioned, by one arm 20 of a bell crank lever 20, 20 that bears against the end of the head 10 (Fig. 6) and the other arm 20 of which is adapted to be actuated, as by a link 21,

far towards arm 1 to V by or from the armature lever 21 of an electro-magnetic relay 22 responsive to the action of the line signals to be received. The said end of the head 10 is formed With a segment shaped notch or recess 10 (Figs. 5 and 6) into which the adjacent arm 20 of the bell crank lever 20, 20 can move when the head 10 has been turned from its normal position. Normally, the crank arm 8 is held in its inoperative position against the arm 7, by the perforated disc 14 against the action of the springs 11 and 12.

The arrangement is such that assuming the driving motor B of the telegraphic receiving apparatus A to be at rest, then, upon the receipt of the first or starting electric signal or impulse transmitted, the bell-crank lever, 20, 20 will be operated by the armature lever 21 of the relay 22, to move the head 10 and spindle 9 endways against the action of the spring 13 and disengage the crank arm 8 from the perforated disc 14 and enable such crank arm to be rapidly turned by the springs 11 and 12 into a position to force the blade portion 2 of arm 2 towards the bent end 1 of arm 1, and close the motor circuit between the contacts 1 and 2 carried by those parts, the closing movement being limited by the stop 6 within the bent end 1 of arm 1. At the same moment, the arm 7 snaps behind the blade portion 2 of arm 2 and holds the switch closed. The cam shaft e of the telegraphic apparatus is thereby set in action and the cam sleeve d automatically clutched to such shaft under the action of the said signal. The cam sleeve d is intermittently clutched to the cam shaft 6 as long as further telegraph signals are being received. The motor shaft B (Fig. 1) being now in action, the perforated disc 14 will be caused, through its driving mechanism 15 16'-15, to slowly rotate, and the free limb 8 of the bent end 8 of the spindle 9, under the action of the spring 13, will be caused to ultimately enter one or other of the holes 14*, in the plate 14 whereby it will be rotated towards the blade portion 7 of arm 7 against the action of the springs 11 and 12. Before however it can reach the blade portion 7 of arm 7 it will be moved out of the hole 14 in the rotating plate 14 by the cam operated fork 18 and permitted to return under the action of the springs 11 and 12 to a position adjacent to blade 2 of arm 2 where it will again enter a hole 14 in the plate 14 and will be again partly rotated and again released, as described, these operations taking place repeatedly whilst signals are being received, the arm 20 of the bell crank lever 20, 20 adjacent to the aforesaid head, moving freely in and out of the notch 10 in the block 10 by the armature of the relay 22 during the receipt of signals. Owing to the slow rotation of the plate 14 and to the fact that signals are normally received very rapidly, the bent end 8 of the spindle 9 after entering a hole 14 in the plate 14 will be moved only through an extremely small distance thereby, before it is disengaged therefrom by the fork 18. If signals cease to be received for a short time, which however is less than a predetermined time, the bent arm 8 will be carried round by the plate 14 for a greater distance before being disengaged therefrom by the fork 18 on the receipt of the first signal after the short interval, but not sufliciently far to reach the blade portion 7 a of arm 7. When however signals cease to be received for the predetermined time and the telegraphic receiving mechanism other than the perforated disc 14, namely the cam sleeve d driven from the cam shaft 6, has ceased to be operated, the fork 18 will cease to act, but the perforated plate 14 will still continue to be rotated from the shaft 17 until the crank arm 8 engaged therewith has been turned by the disc, against the action of the springs 11 and 12, into a position to force the blade portion 7 a of arm 7 out of engagement with the blade portion 2 of arm 2 whereupon the latter arm will suddenly be moved by its spring 5 in a direction to move its contact 2 away from the contact 1 carried by the bent end 1 of arm 1, thereby opening the switch and stopping the motor. The perforated disc 14 will then come to rest and hold the crank arm 8, spindle 9 and head 10 in the positions into which they have been turned by the disc 14 against the action of the springs 11 and 12 and the arm 20 of the bell crank lever 20, 20 will then bear against the unnotched end portion of the block 19 ready to again bring about the starting of the motor in the manner described on the receipt of another starting signal or impulse.

It will be understood, that as the arm 20 of the bell crank lever 20, 20 adjacent to the head 10 of the spindle 9 can move freely in and out of the notch 10- in the head after the receipt of the first signal and during the receipt of successive signals, the relay has no work to do on the said spindle after starting the motor, the work necessary to move the said spindle endways on the receipt of each signal, after the starting signal, being done by power derived from the motor that is to say through the fork 18. This is a feature of considerable practical importance.

During the opening movement of arm 2 with contact 2", the arm 1 with contact 1 will, under the action of its spring 4, follow up such movement for a short distance and until arrested by the associated stop 6, with the result that the contacts will be moved apart very rapidly and arcing between them prevented.

Automatic starting and stopping apparatus according to the invention can be applied to telegraphic received apparatus of various kinds.

WVhat I claim is 1. Telegraphic apparatus of the kind herein referred to, comprising a motor and a driving shaft of said apparatus, a switch in the motor circuit, a relay and means operated by such relay adapted to close the switch and automatically start the motor and shaft on the receipt of the first or starting signal, said switch closing means including a clutch having a member operatively associated with the said shaft and being adapted to be intermittently opened and closed while succeeding signals are being received, such clutch being adapted to open the switch and automatically stop the motor and shaft onlyafter the receipt of signals has ceased for a predetermined short period, the relay being in operative on the motor starting means after the receipt of the first or starting signal.

2. Telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind referred to, comprising a shaft, an electric motor adapted to drive such shaft, means adapted to be intermittently actuated by the shaft in accordance with received signals while the motor is running, a switch in the circuit of the motor, and means including a crank member actuated on receipt of the first or starting line signal, adapted to close the switch and start the motor, said means after the cessation of the receipt of signals for a predetermined short time acting to open the switch and arrest the motor, the crank member being inoperative on the motor starting means after the receipt of the first or starting signal.

3. Telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind referred to, comprising a motor, a switch in the circuit of the motor, means continu ously driven by the motor in a direction tending to reach a position where same can open the switch. means intermittently actuated by the motor in accordance with received signals whereby such drive is intermittently interrupted whilst signalling is in progress and the said member is allowed to return to initial position without reaching the switch opening position, such switch opening position being only mached after the cessation of the receipt of signals for a predetermined time.

4;. In telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind referred to, a motor, a starting switch therefor, rotatable actuating means associated therewith and means embodying a relay adapted to bring about the closing of the switch by said actuating means on the receipt of the first or starting line signal, said a' tuating means being adapted to move freely during the continued receipt of signals, the relay being inoperative on the actuating means aforesaid after the receipt of the first or starting signal.

5. In telegraphic receiving apparatus of the kind referred to, a motor, a switch therefor, a line relay, a switch closing member, a detent for holding the switch closed, spring means whereby the switch closing member is moved to switch closing position, a driving device slowly rotated by the motor adapted to move the switch closing member in the opposite direction towards the detent, means whereby the driving device and switch closing member are automatically clutched and means responsive to the received signals adapted to automatically de-clutch the switch closing member before it reaches the detent, said detent being only reached and displaced to allow the switch to open after the cessation of the receipt of signals for a predetermined short time.

6. In a telegraphic receiving apparatus, an angularly movable switch arm, a stop adapted to limit its movement in opposite directions, a spring urging it in one direction towards the stop, a second angularly movable switch arm, a detent associated therewith, spring means connecting the detent and associated arm, said detent acting to hold the switch arms in engagement with one another after the switch is closed and a crank member adapted with rotation in one direction to close the switch and in so doing to influence the first named switch arm against the influence of its spring and with rotation in the opposite direction to dislodge the detent and allow the switch to open quickly.

7 In a telegraph receiving system, including in combination, a motor, a starting switch, means intermittently actuated by said motor and operatively associated with said switch, a spindle having a free portion responsive to said intermittently actuated means, and means disposed upon said spindle adapted to lock and release said free portion.

8. In a telegraph receiving system, including in combination, a motor, a starting switch, means intermittently actuated by said motor and operatively associated with said 110 switch, a spindle having a free portion responsive to said actuating means, a perforated disc disposed on said spindle adapted to interlock with said free portion, a block slidably and resiliently mounted upon said spin- 115 dle, and means cooperating with said block adapted to release said free spindle portion from said perforated disc.

9. In a telegraph receiving system, including in combination, a motor, a starting 120 switch, a spindle having a disc locking portion intermittently actuated by said motor, said locking portion comprising means for closing and releasing said switch, a block disposed on said spindle having opposed spring 12 members adapted to rotate said block upon the release of said locking portion to close said switch, said disc being adapted to rotate said locking portion after cessation of the receipt of signals for opening said switch.

10. In a motor control circuit, a relay adapted to be operated by signals from a dis tant point, a bell crank lever actuated by the armature of said relay, a spring oscillated arm, a motor, a switch for said motor, a rotatable member operatively associated with saidarm, said member being continuously rotated by said motor, means on said member for engaging said arm upon the operation of said relay to cause said arm to close said switch, and a cam under the control of said motor to disengage said arm and member when signals are being received and said arm being adapted to open said switch when signals are no longer being received.

11. In combination, an electric motor, a member having movements in opposite directions, a switch controlling the connection of a source of current supply to the motor, said switch being opened by said member when moved in one direction to a predetermined point and closed by said member when moved in the other direction to a predetermined point, means for connecting said member to the motor to be driven thereby in a direction to open the switch, and a spring in which energy is stored when the member is moved in the direction to open the switch and acting when the member is disconnected from the motor to move the member to switch closing position.

12. In combination, an electric motor, a switch for connecting the motor in circuit with a source of current supply and for disconnecting it therefrom, a lever for holding the switch closed, a pivoted arm movable in one direction to engage the lever and thereby open the switch, a. disc rotatable under control of the motor and engageable with the pivoted arm thereby to move said arm in the said one direction, a spring in which energy is stored by the said movement of the pivoted arm, and means for causing disengagement of the pivoted arm and the rotatable disc whereupon said arm is moved in the opposite direction under influence of the energy stored in the spring to close the switch.

13. In combination, a motor, an electromagnetic device responsive to signalling current impulses and controlling the starting of the motor, a timing device set in operation following the starting of the motor and acting at the end of apredetermined cycle of operation to stop the motor, and means controlled by said electromagnetic device to interrupt the advance of said timing device and cause the resetting thereof to the beginning of said cycle.

14. The combination of a motor, a switch for connecting the motor in circuit with a source of current supply therefor and disconnecting it therefrom, means controlled by the motor for opening the switch, and an electromagnetic device responsive to signalling current impulses and controlling the closure of the switch and during such closure having control of said means to prevent the opening of the switch.

15. The combination of an electric motor, a switch for controlling the connection of the motor in circuit with a source of current supply, an electromagnetic device responsive to signal impulses, means controlled by said device for closing the switch and by the motor for subsequently opening the switch, and a member operable. by said device to remove said means from the control of the motor prior to the opening of the switch.

16. The combination of an electromagnetic device responsive to signal impulses, a motor, a member capable of movement in opposite directions and moved quickly in one direction to start the motor in response to an actuation of said device, and means actuated by the motor to move said member slowly in the other direction to a predetermined point in which it stops the motor.

17. The combination of a motor, an electromagnetic device responsive to signal impulses, a switch closed and locked in closed position in response to an actuation of the electromagnetic device to start the motor, a timing device operated by the motor to unlock and open the switch at the end of a predetermined period and under control of the electromagnetic device whereby a second actuation of the electromagnetic device during said period stops the operation of the timing device.

18. The combination of an electric motor, a switch for controlling the connection of the motor in circuit with a source of current supply, an electromagnetic device responsive to signal impulses, means including a mem-

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