US1888486A - Service indicating system for elevators - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 22, 1932. F. A. BOEDTCHER SERVICE INDICATING SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS Filed June 26l 1925 N u n was MM5 WQ uw@ @AN /m m\c NS www@ w @JQ Ewa T@ Q Ew s A EE S Ew SQ Jvvvvvw WWWW www Jv INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICEv l.

FRANZ A. BOEDTCHER, F BERGENFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATOB COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY `SERVICE INDICATING SYSTEM FOB ELEVATOBS Application led June 26, 1925. Serial No. 39,670.

This invention relates, generally speaking, to systems for controllin r the operation of the several cars of a bank oi) elevators in accord-y f have been resorted to in an attempt to accomplish this end. For example, installations have been made which include a bell or light at the ground floor of each elevator shaft and these bells or lights have been controlled by clockwork, so that the bells or lights are operated in the desired sequence and in proper timed relation. That is to say, the

' successive bells or lights are operated at half minute intervals, with a view to dispatching the cars in succession at such intervals.

With systems of this character, however, it

isA found, in practice, that when the time arrives for a particular car to be dispatched,

the car is often so far behind schedule that it has not yet arrived at the ground Ailoor and service is thus delayed. Other systems for maintaining schedules have been attempted, but none of them have been found eicient in maintaining the schedule, and, as a general rule, certain cars are running ahead of and behind schedule at all times.

lVith these considerations in mind, the object of the present invention is to provide a system wherein the schedule for the opera- .tion of a'plurality of cars may be accurately followed and in order to accomplish this, the present invention provides means whereby the o rator of each car will know at all times whe er his car is on time at any floor or whether he is behind or ahead of time at such a iioor and how much. This enables the car operators to 'strictly adhere to schedule and when operated makes it possible to obtain elevator operation at the desired intervals.

Speaking generally, the invention consists, in a broad sense, in providing within each car, indicating means which will accurately show, not only the position of a car at all times, but will simultaneously show, in a convenient position for comparison, the position in which the car should be at the same time ifthe time schedule is to be followed. As a resultLof this arrangement, which, in practice, may be carried out by different mechanism, the operator is enabled to preserve a strict adherence to the predetermined schedule and service will be maintained at maximum eiiciency.

In one of its practical forms, the invention consists in positioning within the elevator car a series of lamps which correspond to the several floors of the building and wiring thesev lamps, sovthat, as the car movesin its shaft, the lamps will successively light up as the car passes the successive floors, so that at a glance, the operator may know the exact posltion of his car. In its preferred form of the invention, the same lamps are also wired up to suitable selective mechanism which is time controlled and is operated at a predetermined speed to light the lamps in succession and in the timed uence which they should be illuminated if t e car were travelling at the speed required to keep up the schedule. In this form of the invention, a suitable resistance is included in this latter wirin so that the lamps will glow with less bri liancy when thus operated than directly by the movement of Thus,

may see one with a bright glow the car.

lamps, he and another with a dim immediately upondisrning this that his glow. He will know as the operator looks at the car is not on schedule and can speed uphcr l s slow down the car or wait at a floor unti running time is coordinated with the'schedule time.

In the preferred form of the invention, one series of lamps is used as described, but the inventionis manifestly not limited in this i connection, smce the-lamps which sho'w the correct schedule maybe dierent from the lamps which show the position of the e1eva tor or in lieu of lamps, other comparative indicating means may be employed without departing from this invention.

Features of the invention, otherthan those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when'` read in conjunction with the' accompanyingdrawing. c .c Y. i e The accompanying drawing illustrates 'one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is tovbe underand two additional lamps designated G and T. The lamp G is the starting lamp `for the ground iioor the lamp T, the starting lamp or the topv oor and the 4lamps 1 to 6 correspond to #the several iioors Voff `a six story building.- I have shown lamps as signals in this connection, althoughbells may be used -at G andl T, if desired., "10a is another annunciator housing positioned anywhere that 10a may be placed where the starter can readil7 see it or it may -be positioned in the oihce o the superintendent of the building, or, if desired, the housin 10a may be duplicated in these several positions. l

In any event, the housing 10a contains/to all intents and purposes the same kind of sig-l i nals or indicators as the housingl 10, and they bear the same reference characters with the exponent a. Thus Ga of the housing 10a` corresponds to G of the housing 10, etc.

The corresponding signals or indicators ofV the housings 10 and 10a areelectricall convn'ected in multiple or series ,as mayv edesired, but are shown in the drawing as wired.

in multiple. If, additional Vsignal housings are desired, they will be connected in like manner. The purpose of this arrangement is to show exteriorly of the car in as many places as it is Wanted, the .same signals or indications as arebeing shown in the car.

Mounted in any suitable position, sov as to be operated in synchronism with the movements of the car, is a selective' device 11, shown for the purposeA of illustration as a commutator. This selective device may be of any suitable construction and may bel operated from one of the elevator sheaves or from any other suitable element which moves in ,this coinmutator. T

synchronism with the car. For the purpose i ofr illustration, the commutator 11 is shown as provided with a moving contact 12 bearing at all times against a continuous'strip 13 and .adapted to traverse six fixed contacts, desig- `nated 1b to 6b inclusive; These several fixed contacts correspond to the'six vfloors of a building installation and of course this number of contacts will vary for buildings having a different number of floors.

vThe reference character 14 designates another commutator which may also benof any suitable form, but is operated in a manner entirely independent from the travel of the elevator, and ispreferably controlled so as to operatein accordance with a predetermined schedule of time. The ty e of commutator Vusedfin this connection rom a structural standpoint is immaterial so long as it iscon- .structed to carry out the closingof certain circuits in predetermined timed se uence. As

shown the commutator 14 einbo ies a relacontacts 16 and 17. The contacts 16, 15 and 1-7 'form, collectivelyil one set of contacts' of elusive.

n will bancari that un additional Short 'jcontact 20 is positioned between the contact it is desired to show a duplication of the'signals given in the car. Thus, this housingl 18 .and /the contact 1c and that anothenshort `contactr21is ositioned between 6c and 19,

e other set of contacts include two fixed terminalcontacts 18l and 19 "tively long fixed contact 15 inspaced relation ,Y

to eachA end of which are two additional fixed be presently explained. The movable conltact or brush 22 is mounted to traverse the several i fixed contacts in succession for the `'purpose of bridgin said contacts as will be' presently explaine Air important featurey of the -commutator 14 resides in the fact that the movement of the ,brush 22 is time controlled; that is to say, lit is-moved at a predetermined speed into successive enga ement with the several pairs ofcontacts which it is adapted to successively brid e. Suitable mechanical means maybe provi ed to cause the brush to accom-v plish this movementin a manner wholl independent of the movement of the associated elevator car, and in the drawing one form of mechanism, though obviously not the exclusive one, is shown for the purpose of illustration. v

In this showing, 23 designates a power shaftV driven at a constant speed, preferably from an electric motor throu h reducing caring, and mounted u on this shaft is a `riction wheel 24. The riction wheel bears against a frictiondisk 25 `and said wheel 24 is adjustable radially of the disk, so that the speed of the disk with reference to the shaft may be varied to suit conditions. The disk shown at 29 and mounted in the slot for radial adjustment therein is a drive pin 30. The drive pin may be adjusted to the desired position longitudinally of the slot 29 and thereafter locked in position.

The operating shank 3l is assocated with the brush 22 and this operating shank is secured to the pin 30 by means of a connecting lrod or link 32, so that as the friction disk 25 is operated and the drive disk 28 rotated, the brush 22 is reciprocated over the contacts. The throw of the connecting rod can of course be controlled by adjusting the posltion of the connecting piu 30 within the slot of the disk, but, if desired, the connecting rod 32 may have an additional adjustment to provide for the lengthening or shortening of such rod. The same may be accomplished including a turn buckle 33 in the connectng rod, as shown in Figure 2, or in any other suitable manner so as to vary the distance between the brush and the pin 30. The reasons for these adjustments will be hereinafter more fully.

explainedv in connection with the operation of the system.

In Figure 2, the commutator 14 is shown in elevation and a sprfng 34 is shown as reacting against the guide strip 35 to force the brush 22 at all times into engagement with the segments or contacts of the commutator, so that good electrical engagement is effected.

The wiring of the system will now'be described.

.36 designates any suitable source of elecirical energy capable of actuating signals or lndicators. From this source extend two mains 37 and 38. The main 37 has several branches, designated 39, 40, 41 and 42. The branch 39 connects with the long contact 13 of the commutator 11. The branches 40 and 42 connect respectively to the terminal contacts 17 and 16 of the commutator 14 and the branch 41connects to the long strip 15 of the commutator 14. In the branch 41 is preferably included a suitable resistance 43.

The main 38 is provided with branches 44 and 45 which are, in turn, branched to connect .all of the indicators contained in the housings 10vand 10a. Ir. other words, 'the main 38 serves as al common feed for all of the indicators through its two branches 44 and .Y 45, as will be clearly apparent from Figure 1.

'It' will be also noted from Figure 1 that the short segments 1b to,6b inclusive of the commutatorll are connected to the correspending short commutator sections 1c to 6c, inclusive, of the commutator 14 through wires 1d, 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d and it will be further apparent that each of the indicators 1 to 6 of the housing 10, as well as the indicators 1a to 6a of the housing 10a, are connected to the wires 1d to 6d by wires 1e,-2e, 3e, 4e, 5e

and 6e. In other words, the corresponding elements of each of the commutators and indicators are connected to one another, so that thecorrespondng indicators are in series with each of the commutators while the commutators are in multiple or parallel with reff erence to the mains 37 and 38. With this construction, it is manifest that the indicators are responsive to both commutators acting independently, so that one commuator may serve to operate one indicator while the other commutator is serving to energize a different indicator. It will also be noted that the indicators G and Ga are both connected by a common lead Ge to the Contact 18 of the commutator 14, while both indicators T and Ta are connected by a common lead Te to the contact 19 of said commutator. The indicators G and Ga, T and Ta may also be connected to additional segments on the commutator 11, but, in practice, this is' not essential and has been omitted in the showing of the drawing.

With the wiring which has been described, and the parts functioning as specified, the system will operate in practice in the following manner. v

The shaft 23 may be considered as a prime mover operating at a' constant speed. The friction wheel 24 will drive the disk 25 which through the shaft 2G will operative the drive disk 28 and this disk will rotate at a constant speed. As the drive disk rotates, it will act through the connecting'rod 32 to reciprocate the brush 22 and cause said brush to traverse the several contacts of the commutator 14 at the predetermined speed appropriate to the desired service conditions.

While the commutator 14 is operated in this manner by purely mechanical means and at a predetermined speed, the commutator 11 is o rated in synchronism with the car and the rush 120i said commutator traverses the several contacts in succession and in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the car. We will assume for the purpose of illustration that the car is moving down and is at the second fioor. The brush 12 is therefore bridging the contacts 13 and 2b and a circuit is thereby established from the main 37 throu h the branch 39 to contact 13, thence throug brush 12 to contact 2?) and through wires 2d and 2e to the indicators 2 and 2a and thence by return lines 44 and 45 to the return main 38. Thus while the car is at or passing the second floor, the indicators 2 and 2a will be in operation and the car operator can see at a g ance the position of his car without watchin the fioor -numbers which are usually mar ed on the shaft walls.

At the same time the commutator 14 is operating in accordance with the schedule that should bev maintained and itwill be assumed for the purpose of illustration that the particular car which is being described is ben 1 hind schedule and that at the instant under consideration, the car should actually be at the ground floor. Accordingly, the brush 22 will be bridging the contacts 1 6 and 18. As a result, a circuit will be established from the main 37 through the branch 42 to contact 16, thence through the brush 22 to contact 18 and through wire Ge to both the contacts G and Ga and thence through the return leads 44 and 45 to the return main 38. In this case G and Ga will thus be in operation andthe operator will be notified of thisoperation either visibly or audibly depending upon the type of indicator used in this connection. The operator will thus know at once that although he is at the second floor he should be at the ground floor and will immediately speed up his car to make up for lost time. v

Now, if it be assumed that when the car is at the second floor, it is on schedule, the commutator brush 22 will bridge the contacts 15 and 2c, so that current will be fed through both the commutators 11 and 14 to the indicators 2 and 2a. The operator will see only the onel signal and will know at a glance that he is operating according to schedule. For another example of operating conditions, let it be assumed thatthe car is one floor behind v schedule and that the brush 22 is bridging the contacts 15 and 1c. Such beingtlie case, the indicators 2 and 2a will show the position of the car, while indicators 1 and la will be energized through a circuit including the branch 41 and resistance 43. By virtue of the presence of the resistance 43 in this circuit,

p the lamps 1 and 1a will glow with a lesser degree of illumination, i. c., they will appear dull. By pre-arrangement, the operator will understand that the dullglow shows the positionin which his car should be and will know that lhe is one floor behind schedule and 'should speed up to make up for lost time. At all times when the car is on schedule, only one lamp or indicator in the car will be illuminated and 'it will be the duty of the operator to attempt to maintain this condition throughout theperiods of operation of his car.

It will be noted that the contacts 16 and 18 which correspond to the position of the car at the base of the shaft, .as well as the contacts 17 and 19 which correspond to the position'of'the car at the top of the shaft are v longer than the intermediate shorter contacts f y slot 29 to decrease the throw of the connecting rod and if it is desired to increase the peno of dwell at both the top and bottom o f the shaft, the throw of the connecting rod 1s 1ncreased. If, on the other hand, it is desired to shorten the period of dwell at the to of the shaft and correspondingly lengthent e perlod of dwell at the bottom vof the shaft the turn buckle 33 is manipulated to shorten the connecting rod 32, while a lengthening of the connecting rod will reverseP these conditions. The actual elapsed time for travel of the elevator in accordance with the predetermined schedule is of course `controlled b'y the position of the drive wheel 24 with reference to the. shaft 26. To speed up the schedule,'the wheel 24 is moved closer to the shaft 26 and to slow down the schedule the wheel .24 is moved further away from the shaft.

'tained system and may, if desired, be controlled from its own particular prime mover. In order, however, that the operations of the several cars may be properly synchronized, it is preferable that the drive disks of the several cars be driven from the same prime mover and in Figure 1 of the drawing, such an arrangement is illustrated. In this showing, the drive disk 28 is provided with ak toothed periphery with which meshes a pinion 46. Rigid-with the pinion 46is a second pinion 47 which mesheswith a gear 48 fixed on the shaft 49 which is coaxial with the shaft 26. On the shaft 49 is fixed a drive disk 50 of a second car and this drive disk may have a toothed periphery serving to drive the drive disk of the next car through similar connections to those just described. i

It will be noted that the pinions 46 and 47 are mounted on a shaft 51 and said pinions are adapted to be shifted longitudinally of this shaft for the purpose of simultaneously disengaging the pinions from boththe drive disk 28 and gear 48 in order that the proper relationship may be established between the systems of the two cars. The reason for providing for a shifting of relationship is to permit an elevator to be cut out or added to the bank of cars with the desired readjustment of the parts to givea uniform schedule. For example, if there aretencars'in the bank with service atthe ground floor at thirty second intervals, the cars should be run at such speed that the first car will have completed a trip and be ready to start on its next trip seconds after the tenth car has left the ground oor for its first trip. Now, if the conditions of service are such that five cars will give the necessary service, the live remaining cars may be discontinued temporarily in which instance the five cars left in service should be so coordinated that their systems will properly interlock .to give substantially uniform intervals of service at the ground floor.

I am aware that the means' for interlocking t the several cars for proper coordination of the signals may greatly vary from the simple mechanism shown, but this mechanism is considered as fully sufficient from the standpoint of concrete illustration,

Moreover, I have not attempted to show all the variations and adjustments of which the present invention is susceptible. For eX- ample, it will of course be apparent that instead of adjusting the length of the connecting rod 32 to vary the zone of overall travel of the brush 22, any suitable equivalent construction can be used, but I have simply shown in the drawing the best mode in which I have contemplated4 applying ithe principle of my invention.

It is sometimes desirable in elevator operation to limit the travel of a cage to only a portion of the height of the shaft. For example, in a twenty story building, it may be desirable that certain cages operate only to' the tenth iioor. In such a case, the tenth floor would constitute the upper terminal of the travel for that particular cage and the down starting signal for that cage should be 0perated, so that the cage will start down from the tenth floor and will receive such startingsignal while at the tenth licor. This can be readily provided for in the system of this invention by" providing an extra brush 22 directly adjacent the brush 22 and 4by providing additional contacts 17 and 19 for cooperation with this brush. These two contacts 17 and'19 may be placed at the desired points, so that the terminal floor can be determined thereby. Current is fed to the contact 17 through a connection 17 2 including a suitable switch while current is fed to the contact 19 through a similar connection 192 which also includes a switch. When the travel of the cage for the full height of the shaftis desired, these switches will manifestly be left open, but if a lesser travel is desired, the switches will be closed and the contacts 17 and 19 adjusted to correspond to the desired floor. y

f There may be times when it is desirable to entirely cut out the system for one cage and for this purpose a switch 52 is shown as included in the 47kmain 37. By opening this switch, the entire system for that particular cage is rendered inoperative. It will be understood that while this switch is shown in the main 37, it may be positioned at any suitable -point Yas circumstances may direct. For example, if positioned in the main 37 above the ranch 39, for example at 52', the

opening of such switch will cut out all of t that part of the system which is operated in accordance with the predetermined schedule, but will leave in operative condition that portion of the system which shows theactual position of the car.

It is desirable in some instances that the car operator receive a warning signal prior to the giving of the starting signal, so thaty he can make ready and be prepared to proceed as soon as the starting signal is given. This feature forms a part of the present invention and constitutes, in practice, a reat time saver. I have thus far describe the signals G, T and Ga and Ta, as the starting signals or indicators and the may be thus operated in practice. It will be noted, however, that in series or multiple with these indicators `is shown a magnet 53 which serves to control a clapper 54 cooperating with an associated bell 55. When the indicators G, T, Ga or Ta are energized, the coil 53 will simultaneously be energized and will Withdraw the clapper, which functions as its armature, away from the bell 55. As soon as the visual indicator is de-energized, however, the clapper is caused to engage with the bell either by gravity or a spring thereby pro- A ducing an audible indication. With this arrangement, the visual indicators serve as a warning signal while the audible indicators serve as the actual starting signal.

It will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description of f this invention in its preferred form, that the present., system embodies many novel features of advantage not 'found in prior systems. For example, the present invention provides means whereby' the operator of a car will know at all times whether he is on schedule or if not whether he is before or behind schedule and 'how much. This feature Vis basicly novel.

Moreover, in the preferred'form of the invention, I am able to accomplish this result with one set of indicators through the employment of the resistance 43 which has been described. However, any equivalent structure may be used. Furthermore, the lamps, for showing the position at which the car should be, can in practice be of a different color, shape or size than the lamps which show the actual position of the car, so that, no confusion can possibly result.

It will be also apparent that while I have diagrammatically shown commutators, that any suitable form of selective device may be employed. y

For the reasons given, the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention,

,'cators in succession as the car what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: f e

1. In an elevator system, the combination, with an elevator car mounted to travel in a shaft, of a plurality of indicators corresponding to the several loors served by the lcar, car-controlled means. for displaying said indiresponding ioors, time-contro led means for sus f v 4ing si 'comp iance of the car with said starting sigdispla ing said indicators in succession .in accor ance with a predetermined schedule, andgmeans for differentiating between the indications displayed by said car-controlled means and the indications displayed b said time-controlled means, whereby it can determined whether or not the car is travelling in accordance with the predetermined schedule for such car.

. '2. In an elevator system, the combination with an elevator car mounted to travel in a shaft of a lurality `of indicators corresponding to t e several floors served bythe car, means synchronized with the movement of said car for causing the display of said .indicators individually to indicate car osinal said car may'attain its said predetermined schedule for the floors adjacent the terminal 3f In: a scheduling system for an elevator,- the combination of an elevator cage adapted .tosei'v'e a plurality of landings, a plurality of indicators, one for each of a plurality of landings, means governed by the position of the cage for operating the indicators in accordance with the travel of the cage, means operable in accordance with a predetermined schedule' for independentl operating the indicators in succession, an means for differentiating between the indications produced by the means governed by the position of the the precage and the indications produced b means operable in accordance with sai determined schedule.

asses the corl the illumination of symbols by said illuminating means/as thevcage moves for the purpose of indicating the position of the cage, selective meansoperable in accordance with a pre-arran ed schedule for independently causing the lllumination of said symbols b said illuminating means to indicate the position in Which-the cage should be according to said schedule, and means for causing the intensity of illumination of the symbols to indicate the position of the `cage to be different from the intensity of illumination ofy the symbols to indicate according to said schedule.

5. 1n an elevator system; an elevator car serving a plurality of floors; an element vmovable in accordancey with the position of said car so that its position is representative of `the actual position of said car; a time driven device; a second element; means controlled by said time device for moving said second element in accordance with a predetermined schedule for said car so that the position of said second element is representative of where said car should be with respect to said floors in accordance with said redetermined schedule; a plurality of indica/tingmeans; and means controlled conjointly b said two elements for operating said in icating means to indicate the difference between where the car actually is, and where, according to said predetermined schedule, said car should be.

' 6. In a scheduling system for an elevator cage, means operable i` accordance with the cage movement, time c ntrolled means, means controlled `by both the means operable inv accordance withthe cage movement and the time controlled means to simultaneously indicate, by distinguishable, visual indications, the position of the cage in the shaft andthe position where it.shou d be when operated in accordance with a pre-arranged schedule, and additional indicating means for the terminal landings controlled by said time controlled means to signal the operator of the cage the times at which to leave said terminal landin In a scheduling system for an elevator cage adapted to serve a plurality of landings, 1n

landings, means operable on a pre-arranged schedule for causing the operation of said indicating means to indicate continuous] the required position of the car in accordyance with said pre-arranged schedule, and signals on the vcage for the terminal landings also operated by said means operating on a prearranged schedule to signal the car operator to leave said terminal landings.

8. In a scheduling system for an elevator, the combination of a cage adapted to serve a plurality of landings, a series of symbols carried by the cage and severally corresponding to the different landings, a lamp for illuminating each of said symbols, selective means, op-

icating means on the cage for each of said lll() gizing said lamps in succession to also cause the illumination of the corresponding symbols to indicate the position in which the cage should be in accordance with said schedule, and resistance means in series with one of said selective means andk the lamps for causing the lamps to glow with less intensity when energized through the selective means with which the resistance means is in series.

9. In a scheduling system for an elevator cage serving a plurality of landings, a plurality of indicators, one for each of said landings, means operable in accordance with a prearranged schedule for operating said indi-` cators in succession, and additional indicators for the terminal landings Valso controlled by the means operable in accordance with said pre-arranged schedule to signal the operator of the cage the times at which to leave said terminal landings. y

10. In an elevator system;.an elevator car; a landing served by said car; signal means operable to indicate when said car should arrive at said landing, to indicate the desired period of rest of said car at said landing and to indicatewhen said car should leave said landing; and time controlled means for operating said signal means in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

11. In an elevator system; an elevator car; a landing served by said car; signal means operable in accordance With a predetermined schedule to indicate when said car should arrive at said "landing, the desired period of re'st of said car at said landing and to dispatch said car from said landing; and time controlled means operated in accordance with said schedule for causing the opera-tion of said signal means vwhen said car should arrive at said landing, for maintaining said signal I means operated during Ythe period of rest of said car at said landing and for terminating the operation of said signal means to dispatch said car from said landing at the expiration of said period of rest. l

12. In an elevator system; an elevator car; a landing served thereby; signalling means corresponding to said landing; time controlled means for operating said signalling means at predetermined intervals and for predetermined eriods of time to indicate that the ear is se eduled to be positioned at said landing and to remain thereat during the operation of said signalling means; other signalling means for dispatching saidcar from said landing at the expiration of said periods;

and means controlled by said time controlled means for causing the operation of said other signalling means upon the cessation of operation of said firstmentioned slgnallmg means.

13. In an elevator system; an eleva-tor car;

a landing served thereby; signalling means corresponding to said landing; time controlled means for operating said signalling means at predetermined intervals and for predetermined periods of time to indicate that the car is scheduled to arrive at said landing and to remain thereat during the operation of said signalling means; other signalling means adapted to be operated to clispatch said car from said landing, the operation of said other signalling means being dependent upon the cessation of operation of said lirst mentioned signalling means; and

means controlled by said time controlled means for operating said other signalling means upon the expiration of said periods of time.

14. In an elevator system; an elevator car; a landing served thereby; signalling means corresponding to said landing; time con- 'trolled means for operating said signalling means at predetermined intervals and for predetermined periods of time to indicate that t-he car is scheduled to arrive at said landing and to remain thereat during the operation of said signalling means; other signalling means adapted to be. operated to dispatch said car from said landing; and means controlled by the operation of said first mentioned signalling means for causing the operation of said other signalling means at the expiration ot said periods of time.

15. In an elevator system; an elevator car; a plurality of landings, including terminal landings and intermediate landings, served by said car; an indicating device carried by said car, said indicating device having a plurality of signal means, one for each of said yoperating said signal means in succession in accordance with the progression of said intermediate landings to indicate the scheduled position of said car; means for differentiating between the indications of said signal means by said car responsive means and the indications thereof by said time controlled means to inform the operator of said car of the position of the car relatively to the scheduled position thereof; and other signal means carried by said car, said other signal means corresponding to the terminal landings and being selectively operable by said time controlled means to indicate that the car is scheduled to be positioned at said terminals.

16. In an elevator system; an elevator car; a plurality of landings, including terminal landings and intermediate landings, served by said ear; an indicating device carried by 65 eating device having a plurality of signal ,rality of signal means, one for eaclifof said intermediate landings; means responsive to the movement of said car for selectively. operating said signal meansto indicate the position of said car; time controlled means for operating said si nal means in succession in accordance with t e progression of said intermediate landings to. indicate the scheduled position of said-car; means for differentiating ybetween thel indications of said signal means by said car responsive-means and the indications thereofby ,said time controlled means to inform the operator of said car o f the posi- .tion of the car relatively to the scheduled I iositioii thereof `;',otlier signal means carried y said car, 4said other signal means corre-l spending to the terminal landings andgbeingv selectively operable by said time controlledl meansto indicate that the car is scheduled to bepositioned at said terminals; a startinsignal operable tol dispatch said car from sai landings; and means associated with said vother signal means and controlled `byfsaid ,time controlled means for operating said Astarting signal'.

. 17 Ina signalling-system for an elevator --car'serving a pluralityA of landin s, includy ing terminal landings and interme iate landings; an indicating device on said car, said indieatingdevice'havin a pluralityof sig/- nal means, at least one or each of said lan ings; switching equipment operable to cause 'y the operation ofsaid lsignal means ,consecutively, in lthe orderfofsaid floorsl fro'mone' terminal to the other .terminal andreturn; ja uniformly operative timing device; means connecting said'timing device to lsaid switching equipment for effecting a drive for said switching equipment at a uniform rate; and means for varying the length of time a terminal landing yindicator is operated with respect to the length of time any intermediate landing indicator is operated.

i8. In a signalling system car serving a pluralit of landings, including terminal landings an intermediate landings; indicators for said landings for showing, when displayed, that said car should4 be at the landing corresponding to the indicator displayed; switching equipment for each indif cator which, when operated, causes the display ofthe corresponding indicator; a coiic tinuously-operative constant-speed device; and means responsive to said constant-speed device for operating said switching equipment for all intermediate landingssuccessively for substantially equal times at sub.-

' stantially equal intervals and for a terminal landing for a time substantially longer than the times for the intermediate landings.

19. In a signalling system for an elevator car serving a plurality of landings, including terminal landin s and intermediate landings; an indicating evice on said car, said. indifor an elevator means, at least one for each of said landings; switching equipment operable to cause the operation of said signal means consecutively, in the order of said floors from one terminal to the other terminal and return; a uniformly o erative timing device, and means connecting said timing `device to said switching equipment for effecting a drive for said switching equipment at a uniform rate, includingmeans for varying the length ofI times the terminal landing indicators are operated, inversely one to the other, with respect to thelength of time any intermediate landing `indicator -is operated, said means for varyingthe length of times the terminal landing in i cators are o erated comprising adjusting means in sai connectin means.

20.1In an elevator signa ling system; an elevator carserving a lurality of landin s including terminal lan ings and intermedgiate landings; an indicator for each of said landings; means responsive to the actual pos'tion of said car for operatin said intermediate landing indicators to in icate where `said car actually is; other means for operating* said intermediate landing indicators, said' other means also being effective to operate said terminal landing 'indicators' means foi` differentiatingv between the A, indications caused 'by said car responsive means and the *indications caused by said otherv means; a

uniformly operative timin .mechanism connecting said timing device to device, and

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