US1966876A - Selector or translating device - Google Patents

Description

Jufiy 17, 1934. Q TURNER 1,966,876

SELECTOR OR TRANSLATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 15, 1927 Patented July 17, 1934 usurp stares PATENT other 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to a selector or translating device for use with an alarm or signal circuit having a plurality of branches so as to permit theinstallatio n of facilities for originating signals at different localities.

'The object of my present invention is to provide a device which may be associated with such a branched alarm or signal circuit for selecting or translating or ascertaining the particular location'from which a signal originates.

I have accomplished this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in Which- V I N Fig. 1 is an elevation of the front of the cabinet inwhich the instrumentalities may be conveniently' located.

"Fig. 2 is a transverse, central, vertical section of the switch casing; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the circuit employed.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a circuit to which my invention is applicable comprises a battery 27 or other source of electrical energy from one pole of which extends a conductor 28, which is divided to provide branches A, B, C, etc. Each branch includes signal originating mechanism which 1 have shown as switches 29-29, and which may also include signals such as buzzers or lamps 3030. The branches A,B, C, etc. also include elcctromagnetic elements .20 of relays, the blades 21 of which relays are connected by branches A, B, C, etc. with the respective branches A, B, C, etc. The conductor leading from or to the opposite pole of the battery 27, which for brevity 1 denote the return 24, the terminals of the branch circuits A, B, C, etc. and the blades 21 of the relays are connected with my apparatus, as hereinafter described.

The cabinet in which the apparatus may be installed comprises a rectangular box, the front wall 5 of which is centrally perforated, as at 6, to disclose the face of the switch casing and above the aperture 6 the front wall is provided with apertures 7-7 in which may be placed bulls eyes above the location of lamps 8-8. Below the central aperture 6 in the front cover may also be provided apertures with removable closures 9 behind which are installed buzzers 10-40.. The switch element, the front of which is visible through central opening 6 of the cabinet cover, comprises a cylindrical casing 11, which has front and rear closures 12 and 13 formed of suitable non-conducting plates. A number of switch points 14 are arranged concentrically around the edge of the rear plate 12 with the contact members of the switch points upon the inner face of the plate and their stems extending through the plate to afford means for making external connection therewith. An opposite and similarly arranged number of index buttons, provided with suitable indicia 15, are fixed to the front plate. Centrally of both plates is journaled a shaft 16 adjacent the bottom or rear of which is secured a switch arm 1'? which co-operates with the switch points 1%; and to the forward projecting end of shaft 16 is secured an indicator arm 18 co-operate ing with the index buttons and just in front of the indicator arm 18 an operating handle with a transverse plate 19 is mounted on the shaft by means of which the shaft and the arms carried thereby are rotated. A spring 20 is disposed about the shaft and is secured respectively to the hub of switch arm 17, and to the frontplate 12 and so tensioned as to automatically return the switch and indicating arms to an initial position above the first switch point and index button whenever the finger plate 19 or its knob is released. It will be seen that the switch points 14 and the switch arm 1'7 through which the respective cir cuits are closed are completely encased within the casing 11 and are thereby protected from dust, atmospheric effects, fumes, accidents and tamper: ing. The switch points are respectively connected,

(except switch point No. 1) through their stems r with circuits A, B, C, etc. including the respective stations from which signals may be originated.

To complete and close the respective circuits A, B, C, etc. the conductor 22 runs from the rear of shaft 16 to a loop 23 in which the lamps 8 are interposed in parallel and from the other side of which loop the conductor 251 runs to complete the circuit. If either of the circuits A, B, C, etc. are energized and the indicator arm is turned to the energized circuit, the circuit will be closed through the lamps 8 and the person who is operating the instrument will thereby ascertain which circuit is energized. I To provide a local 7 larm the circuit X includ: ing the several blades 21 in parallel joins one side of a loop 25 in which the buzzers 10 are included in parallel and from the other side of the loop 25a conductor 2d runs to contact index point, 1 with which switch arm 17 remains nor-, mally in contact when theapparatus is not 133-. operated. Just as soon, howevenasthe shaft is turned away from point 1 the local alarm.cir-. cuit is open and the local audible signals cease. It will be noted that the closing of any of the. branch circuits A, B, C, etc. by means of the arm 1'? will energize the electro -magnetic elements 20 and open the local alarm circuit X When a signal originates in any of the cir-. cuits A, B, C, etc., say branch circuit A, the bell 3Q rings and the current proceeding through conductor 28, the branch circuit A, circuit A, switch 21, circuit X, loop 25, conductor 26, arml'l, conductor 22, loop 23 and return 24 energizes both the buzzers 10 and lamps 8. When the arm 1''! is rotated to ascertain the location of the origin of the signal the above circuit is broken by the disconnection of the arm 17 with the switch point 1 and both the buzzers 10 and lamps 8 are de-energized. When the arm 17 arrives at the branch circuit A over which the signal is coming, the circuit is closed from the end of branch circuit A through the arm 17, conductor 22, loop 23 and return 24 and the lamps 8 are energized. The closing of branch circuit A energizes the electro-magnetic element 20 which opens the switch 21 and the buzzers remain quiet.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing it will be perceived that I have provided a simple and convenient means for use in connection with a plurality of signal circuits for ascertaining which one of said circuits is energized.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a branched alarm or signal circuit a device of the kind described comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged circuit terminals with which the branches of said signal or alarm circuit respectively connect, a switch arm operable to co-operate with said respective terminals, a conductor loop having a plurality of signals included therein in parallel, one side of which loop is connected with. said switch arm and the other side of which loop is connected with a portion, of said alarm or signal circuit common to the several branches.

2. In combination with a branched. alarm or signal circuit a device of the kind described including a plurality of circuit terminals concentrically arranged with which terminals the branches of said alarm or signal circuit are respectively connected, a switch operable to co-operate with said respective terminals, a conductor loop including signal devices in parallel one side whereof is connected with said switch arm and the other side whereof is connected with a portion of said alarm or signal circuit common to the several branches, means for returning said switch arm to a predetermined terminal, a loop including signal devices in parallel connected with said predetermined terminal, relays included in the circuit of said terminals other than said last mentioned terminal, and circuits derived from said terminal circuits and opened by said respective relays connected with said last mentioned loop.

3. In combination, a branched electric circuit, means for originating signals included in said respective branches, a plurality of circuit terminals with which the branches of said circuit-respectively connect, a switch arm operable to co operate with said respective terminals, signal means, a conductor in which said signal means is included, one end of which is connected with said switch arm and the other end of which constitutes the return of said branched circuit.

4. In combination, a branched electric circuit, means for originating a signal included in the respective branches of said circuit, a plurality of circuit terminals with which the branches of said circuit are respectively connected and an additional predetermined terminal with which no branch is directly connected, a switch operable to co-operate with said respective terminals, a conductor, a signal device included in said conductor, one end of said conductor being connected with said switch arm and the other end of said conductor being a portion of the return of said branched circuit, means for returning said switch arm to said predetermined terminal, a conductor, a signal device included in said conductor, said conductor being connected with said predetermined terminal, relays included in the branches of said circuit running to said terminals and circuit derived from said branches opened by said relays connected with said last mentioned conductor.

5. In combination, a branched circuit, means for originating signals included in said respective branches, circuit terminals for said respective branches and an additional predetermined terminal, relays included in said respective branches, circuits derived from said respective branches opened by said respective relays connected with said additional predetermined terminal, a signal included in said last mentioned circuits and switch operable to co-operate with said terminals, a return from said switch to said first mentioned branched circuit and a signal included in said last mentioned return.

6. In combination, a branched circuit, means for originating a signal included in the branches of said cir uit, a switch operable to co-operate with the terminals of the branches of said circuit, an additional terminal with which said switch also co-operates, relays included in the branches of said circuit and circuits derived from said branches opened by said relays communicating with said additional terminal, said switch having electrical connection with the return of said branched circuit and signal means included in said return.

'7. In combination with a branched circuit a device of the kind described including a switch element comprising a casing, front and rear insulating closures for said casing, a plurality of switch points concentrically located upon the inner face of said rear closure, a similar plurality of indicating buttons located upon the front face of said front closure, a shaft journaled in said front and rear closures, a switch arm mounted upon said shaft co-operating respectively with said switch points, an indicator arm mounted upon said shaft co-operating with said indicator buttons, a spring for returning said shaft to initial position when released, the branches of said circuit communicating with said switch points other than the initial one thereof, said switch arm connecting with the return of said branched circuit, a signal included in said retiun, relays included in the branches of said branched circuit, circuits derived from said branches opened by said relays communicating with the initial of said switch points, and a signal device included in said circuits.

8. A circuit for an apparatus of the kind described having on one side a plurality of branches terminating in contacts, said branches having each included therein a circuit opening and closing device and a relay, said circuit having included on the other side thereof signal devices and a switch arm movable to co-operate with said contacts, an additional contact with which said switch arm also co-operates, and circuits derived from said branches, which derived circuits are opened by the operation of said relays, communicating with said additional contact, and an additional signal device included in said derived circuits.

CHARLES A. TURNER.

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