US1849824A - Signaling device - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 1932. c. T cRocKER SIGNALING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1930 Inventor. Ciar-cnceT Crocker, b m

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE T. OROCKER, OF SGHENEGTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELEG- TRIO COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF N YORK SIGNALING Innvrcn Application filed March 25, 1936. Serial No. 438,862.

automatic operation, the circuit of which is maintained uninterrupted and in no way afi'ected by the periodic operation of the device.

In the following specification I describe the invention in detail, having reference to the accompanying drawings, Fig. l of which shows diagrammatically circuits and apparatus embodying the features of the invention. In this figure the apparatus is shown in perspective. Fig. 2 is a side view of the signaling device of the invention, in a suita'ble container. Fig. 3 shows a portion of the apparatus, Fig. l, with the electrodes in contact. Y

The device of the invention is indicated as being supplied with current from an alternating current line, through the medium of a full wave rectifier, but a storage battery ora motor generator set with a suitable flywheel may be used.

In the drawings I have represented the current as being supplied to the device from the rectifier through the medium of a suitable choke coil. The object of this coil is to prevent the current in the circuit from rising to a peak value too suddenly when the electrodes come together. This coil may be designed so as to retard the rise of the current to any extent convenient, as for example to a value of two hundred amperes in twotenths of a second. When the current reaches this value a trip coil is energized which breaks the circuit and produces the flash, the energy in the system being discharged through the arc. When a storage battery or a motor generator is used, this function of the coil is not so important, but it has another function, namely, that of prolonging the arc and making it more effective than would otherwise be the case.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

the flashing device of the invention comprises a pair of electrodes 2 and 3 between which the flash takes place. The electrode 2 may consist of a metallic body, such as copper, while the electrode 3 may consist, for example, of iron. Conducting bodies of other kinds may be substituted, however, for the ones indicated. The electrode 3 is held in position by the elements of the feeding mechanism, which mechanism is under the control of the ratchet 4, which latter is adapted to be driven by a pawl 5 so as to rotate the feed roller 6, as indicated by the arrow, that is, in a counter-clockwise direction. The pawl 5 is mounted on the end of a rod 7, which rod is adapted to be raised and lowered periodically as I will presently describe. When the rod is pressed down, a spring element 8, coiled about the rod, is compressed between the upper end of the rod and'the frame element 8. When the rod descends sufficiently the pawl passes over one or more of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 5 without affecting the ratchet, but when the rod is permitted to rise under the pressure of the spring 8, the pawl engages one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel, thereby rotating the latter, as well as the feed roller 6, and thereby advancing the electrode 3 a predetermined amount, depending upon the stroke of the rod 7.

A motor 9 is provided for rotating a cam element 10 about the axis of a shaft 11, which latter is supported in a bearing in the frame 11 of the device. This cam is designed to cause the arm 12 to oscillate about the longitudinal axis of the screw 13, which latter is located on the end of the arm 14. The arm 12 is also caused by the same cam to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 11, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. On the end of the arm 12 there is provided a pawl 15 adapted to engage a pin 15 on an oscillating element 16, which element is mounted to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 17 In other words, the element 16 is loosely mounted on the shaft 17, the latter being journaled to rotate in the bearing 18 secured to the frame of the device.

On the shaft 17 there is provided a collar 19 secured to rotate with the shaft and to which one end of a heavy coiled spring 29 is secured, the other end of thls sprmg being secured in turn to the element 16. Therefore, while the shaft is stationary the tension of the spring 20 may be varied by oscillating the element 16 about the shaft. Secured to the shaft 17 are two arms 21and 22, the latter holding on the end thereof the electrode 2. Said electrode and the circuit conductors leading thereto are maintained insulated from the frame in an suitable manner, as for example by an insu ating element 40'. It will be seen that on the end of the arm 22 a suitable holder 23 is provided which is pivoted to the arm 22 by means of the pin 24. Normally the holder 23 is maintained in aforward position b a compression spring 25, the function. 0 which 18 to permit electrode 2 to ield when it strikes the electrode 3 during t e course of operation of the device. Normally'the arm 21 is held in a raised position by the spring 26 with the forward end 27 resting against the adjusting screw 28, which latter is located on an element securedto the frame. The same spring normally holds the arm 22 back with the electrodes separated. The object of the screw 28 is to regulate the length ofthe gap between the electrodes. It wi 1 be seen that the rod 7 passes through a slot in'the arm On the under side of the slot the rod 7 is provided with an adjustable nut 29, which, during the operation of the device, is sometimes engaged by the arm 21 to depress the rod 7 against the tension of the spring 8, as shown in Fig. 3. The engagement depends upon the location of the end of electrode 3 with respect to electrode 2. The operation of the arm 21 for depressing the rod 7 is produced through the medium of the cam 10, which causes the arm 15 to advance while in engagement with the pin 15', thereby causing the element 16 to rotate clockwise, thus increasing the tension in spring 20, rotating the shaft 17 and causing the engagement of the electrodes 2 and 3, and also causing the engagement of the arm 21 with nut 29 if the electrode 3 is sufiiciently consumed. As soon as the gap between the electrodes 2 and 3 is closed, a circuit is established through the choke coil 30, the trip coil 31 and the electrodes 3 and 2 in series which circuit terminates in a rectifier 32, as for-example of the mercury pool type, connected to draw current from the alternating current line 33 through a suitable, transformer. V

After the electrodes 2 and 3 engage the current rises in the circuit and in time reaches a predetermined value, two hundred amperes, for example, at which time the trip magnet 31 responds. This magnet is provided with an armature 34 which then operates to disengage the pawl 15 from the pin 15, thereby permitting the spring 26 to restore the arm 21 to its normal position in engagement with the stop 28 and at the same time cause the separation of electrodes 2 and 3, thus establishin an arc between these electrodes and brea ing it to terminate the flash. Ordinarily, the electrode 3 is set in a given position so that the electrodes strike before the arm 21 strikes the nut 29 of the feed mechanism, but as the electrode 3 wears away the arm 21 advances more and more until the arm strikes the nut 29, thereby depressing the rod 7 sufiiciently to cause the pawl 5 to clear at least one tooth on the ratchet wheel 4. The result is that-upon thereturn stroke the electrode 3 is advanced one step corresponding to one tooth of the wheel 4. Havin been thus advanced, the wheel 4 is not ordinarily advanced again until several flashes have been produced. Bythis means,- therefore, the end of the electrode is maintained at substantially a given point with a variation of not more than that corresponding to one tooth 'of the wheel 4;

It will be understood that the-spring 20 on the shaft 17 operates as a cushion for the arm 22 when the electrode 2 engages the electrode 3 andalso when the arm 22 returns to its normal position, that is, when the screw 36 on the projection 35 of the element 16 stnikes the arm 21 after the element 16 is released. The object of the screw 36 is to enable the igm 16 to be adjusted with respect tothe arm The motor 9, after the flash, continues to advance the cam 10 which in due course, at the end of live seconds for example, will again advance the arm 12 and again cause an engagement between the electrodes 2 and 3, repeating the operation previously described. It will be seen that the arm 15 is maintained in. its forward position by a compression spring 36' between-the heel of the arm 15 and a shelf on the arm 12. Also the arm 12 is biased against the cam 10 by the tension spring 37 which tends to rotate the arm 12 in a clockwise direction.

Therefore, by means of this mechanism, periodic flashes may be produced between the electrodes 2 and 3, which, because of the nature of the electrodes and because of the amount of energy delivered between the electrodes, are of exceptionally high intensity and of exceptionally penetrating character so that in the event of a fog the whole mass of the fog in the neighborhood becomes lighted up, thus enabling an aviator to find the point of location of the device even through the densest fog at a great distance much more effectively than heretofore. 3

Although my description has been directed to the specific form of apparatus shown in the drawings, it will be understood that I do not limit the invention to this particular form of apparatus. In fact, I contemplate any variations and modifications that fall within the scope of the claims contained here- 5 What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a signaling device, a pair of electrodes, an electric circuit connected to said electrodes and means for moving one elec- 1 trode periodically into and out of engagement with the other electrode including an arm supporting one electrode, a spring connected to said arm to bias the electrode out of engagement with the other electrode, a

1 plate carrying a pin connected to said arm, a pawl adapted to engage the pin to move the electrode into engagement with the other electrode, means to oscillate the pawl, and a trip coil connected in said electric circuit 2 and adapted to lift the pawl out of engagement with the pin to releasethe electrode from engagement with the other electrode upon the increase of the current in the circuit to a predetermined value.

2 2. In a signaling device, a pair of electrodes, an electric circuit connected to said electrodes, an arm supporting one electrode for relative movement with respect to the other electrode, a spring connected to the arm to bias the movable electrode out of engagement with the other electrode, a plate carr ing a pin, a resilient connection between said plate and said arm, a pawl adapted to engage the pin to move the movable electrode into engagement with the other electrode, means to oscillate said pawl, a trip coil connected in said circuit to move the pawl out of enga ement with the pin to release the mova le electrode from engagement with the other 40 electrode upon the increase of the current in the circuit to a predetermined value.

3. In afsignaling device, a pair of electrodes, an electric circuit connected to said electrodes, an arm supporting one electrode 4.5 for motion relative to the other electrode, means for moving said electrode into and out of engagement with the other electrode, and means for feeding the other electrode to compensate for consumption of the electrodes including a ratchet, a pawl to move said ratchet step by step, a rod connected to said pawl, a spring biasing the rod to one position, a second arm connected to the arm supporting the movable electrode and adapted to contact the rod to move it against the action of the sprin whereby the feeding of the other electrode is determined by the motion of the movable electrode.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of March, 1930.

- CLARENCE T. CROCKER.

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