US2025269A - Signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

' Dec. 24, i935.

v. E. CARBON/ARA 2,025,269

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l I jj; I

"ll l a INVENTOR V/'r/or 5 a'rbomm Dec. 24, 1935.

v. E. CARBONARA 2,025,269

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN I/ EN TOR. Mcm@ i (arbo/70m A TTORNE Y Dec. 24, 1935. V. E. CARBONARA 2,025,269

S IGNALI NG APPARATUS Filed sept. 2S, 1952 v s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR. Vzctor f. afn/zam.

A TTORNEY Patented Uec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,025,269 sminuire APPARATUS Application September 28, 1932, Serial No. 635,254

9 Claims.

The present invention relatesto signaling devices adapted to transmit and receive signals to and from a remote station, and more particularly to devices of the typegenerally known as ships n telegraphs.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel structure whereby a double signaling unit of the above referred to type operable from either end thereof is rendered possible.

l Another object is to provide a novel construction of a device of the foregoing character capable of controlling the motion of a similar remotely disposed but related device, and at the same time capable of responding to movements imparted to l the same or another remotely disposed but related device.

Devices of the class described have heretofore embodied rotatable elements mounted in a frame or casing through which the shaft of such rotatable element extends to provide means for connecting a suitable pointer or operating handle thereto, in conjunction with a dial having inscribed thereon suitable reference characters or indicia to guide the operator and indicate the signals to be transmitted and/or received. Where the location of such devices has permitted, the operating handle has been mechanically connected to the rotatable member at the rear of the casing of the device, as indicated, for example,

in Fig. 2 of the patent to Frank W. Wood No. 1,562,483 or in Fig. 3 of the patent to Lloyd E'. ONeal and Samuel N. Mead, Jr. No. 1,693,663,

` thereby avoiding the necessity of puncturing the front cover-plate of the device, which c over-plate is usually of glass so that the indicia on the dial may be visible therethrough. In many instances, however, the locations in which such devices are used, particularly in engine rooms of ships, render the rear of the signaling unit inaccessible for attachment of the operating means and in such instances it has been necessary to puncture the cover-glass or cover-plate with a resulting weakening of such member thereby subjecting is to the risk of breakage.

The present invention eliminates the foregoing diiculties and permits the combining, in a novel manner, of two signaling units by providing a novel structure whereby the operating handle may be attached at the forward portion of the unit in all cases regardless of positions or locations of the support to which the unit is attached when a single unit is employed, and without causing n interference between the operating handles when two such units are combined, and whereby the necessity of any part of the unit having to pass through the cover-glass or plate-is eliminated.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a novel construction in a signal transmitting and/or receiving unit of the class described in which a 5 portion of the casing, including the front coverplate, is rotatable about a stationary dial plate on which orders to be transmitted as well as those to be received are indicated by the rotation of an index member secured to or formed integral with such outer casing and hence rotatable about such dial plate, and by a second index member or pointer, respectively, the latter being operated by the receiving element of the signaling unit.

Still another object is to provide a novel struc- 15 ture in a signaling unit of the foregoing type whereby a double-faced instrument may be formed by combining two single units into a unitary construction embodying two pairs of relatively rotatable transmitters and receivers en- 20 closed in the same casing and permitting relative rotation therebetween throughout 360 and in which the operating handles of the units are in planes parallel to the dial plates so that their relative angular positions in those planes afford, 25 at a glance, a rough indication of the signal transmitted thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a unitary structure, a light, compact and novel arrangement of a plurality of relatively 30 rotatable transmitters and receivers for the purposes described.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention herein disclosed will become more fully apparent from a. consideration of the 3 detailed description which follows when read with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein two embodiments of the invention are illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for `the purpose 40 of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. v

In the drawings wherein like reference char- 45 acters refer to like parts in the related views,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through a casing in which are supported two similar devices each.` of which embodies the present invention, one

the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 to the sending and receiving of signals to and from a remote station; and

Fig. 4 is another electrical circuit diagram showing the connections of two units of the type shown in Fig. 2.

In the two embodiments herein illustrated and described in detail, the invention is shown in Fig. 1 applied to a pair of signaling units of the type disclosed in the copending application, Serial No. 530,099 led April 14, 1931, for Dynamo electric machines, and in which each unit is provided with two or more rotatable armatures one of which functions as a generator capable of actuating a system of self-synchronous motors to transmit signals to each of such motors and the other armature of each unit functioning as a self-synchronous motor adapted to respond to the movement of a signal-transmitting generator electrically connected thereto; while in Fig. 2 the invention is shown applied to a pair of signaling units of the type in which each unit is provided with a stationary indicating unit having a movable pointer and with two relatively rotatable members, the operation of which is adapted to vary the resistance of an electrical circuit to produce an indication at a remote point, the indicating unit in turn being adapted to be operated by a similar transmitting unit at the remote point; but it is to be understood that the invention is equally adaptable to any other known type of signaling unit, whether mechanical, electrical or electromechanical, capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a remote station.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the invention is shown applied to a signaling unit of the type disclosed in the above referred to application, Serial No. 530,099 wherein are provided two armatures having ,a common field, said armatures and eld .being individually relatively rotatable with respect to eachother and adapted to be connected to the armatures and field of a signaling unit located at a remote point. The fields of the two units are arranged to be energized so that a xed phase relation is established among the iiuxes of the armatures and field of each unit so that upon disturbance of the ux relation among the armatures and fields of one unit, by relative rotation therebetween, a disturbance is produced in the iiux relation among the corresponding armatures and eld of the other unit, thereby causing relative rotation among the armatures and eld of the latter unit, and vice versa. In accordance with the present invention, however, two units are provided at both the trans- 'mitting and receiving ends of the system, said units being mounted back to back to constitute a unitary double-faced signaling device whereby indications may be observed from either side of said device. Since the units are of similar construction the description of the one shown in section in Fig. 1 will be suilicient for a complete understanding of the invention.

In the form shown, the two units are mounted in a cylindrical housing 5 which may be secured to or formed integral with a transversely projecting portion 6 adapted to be secured to a supporting bracket 'I in any suitable manner as by means of screws 8. The two units are supported within the cylindrical housing 5 preferably by means of a common supporting web 9 or a transverse wall formed integrally with and on the interior of said V' housing and having a coaxial hub, although any units as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Each unit comprises, as shown, armatures I0 and II having interposed therebetween and preferably concentric therewith a common field I2, said armatures, in the present instance, 5 being rotatable while the field remains stationary so that they thus constitute rotors and a stator, respectively. If Idesired, however, either one or both of the armatures could be stationary and the eld rotatable. 10 The armature I is of the physical form usually employed in direct current dynamo electric machines but has three windings lila (Fig. 3) connected together in delta arrangement for alternating current operation and is provided with 15 a shaft I3 on which are wound the coils Illa and which is journaled at both ends in suitable bearings such as ball-bearings I4and I5 carried by a hub I6 and a plate I l, respectively. The hub I6 is preferably formed integrally with a bowl- 20 shaped member I 8 which constitutes the supporting structure of the stationary field I2 and is, therefore fixed to the web 9 in any suitable manner as bylmeans of a pin I9 which passes through a tubular extension 29 of the bowl-shaped mem- 25 ber I8, said tubular extension 28 constituting a shaft and being supported in and extending through a hub ZI formed integrally with the web 9 so that a similar structure may be provided at the other end of the extension to constitute the 30 other unit shown at the right of Fig. 1. The plate II is made stationary and, therefore, secured to an annular member 22, as by means of screws 23, which forms part of the bowl-shaped casting I8, the latter also having an internal annular 35 flange 24 which carries an annular laminated core 25 of the eld I2, and Wound around said core is a field winding 26.

Suitable means are provided for supplying current to the armature 'I0 and in the form shown 40 -comprise a set of stationary -brushes 21 which I cooperates with a'set of collector rings 28 mounted on and rotatable with the shaft I3 of said armature. The brushes 21 are mounted on a bracket 29 carried by the fixed casting I8. The 45 armature I0, in the presentembodiment, is the receiving element of the signaling unit and is adapted to be actuated when current flows through the windings thereof due to a disturbance in the flux relation between another arma- 50 ture and eld located at the remoterstation.

The armature II is constituted by a delta winding 38 wound on an annular laminated core 3| carried in a rotatable housing 32 composed of two sections 33 and 34 secured together in any 55 suitable manner as by means of screws 35. 'I'he section 34 of the rotatable housing 32, is journaled on the tubular extension 20 of the xed casting I8 in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of a bushing 36 threaded within a hub 31 60 formed integral with the section 34 which is of a contour similar to the bowl-shaped stationary member I8. The forward end of the section 33 terminates in an enlarged portion 38 within which the indicating elements are adapted to be viewed 65 through a cover-glass 39 provided at the open end of the portion 38 and held in position therein as by means of a ange 40 and a clamping ring 4I. An auxiliary housing 42 adapted to project within the section 33 is secured to the latter as 70 by means of screws 43 and within which are carried internal collector rings 44 cooperating with brushes 45 tosupply current to the winding 30 of the armature II, said brushes being mounted 'on a bracket 4B also carried by or forming part of 15 the stationary member I8. The auxiliary housing 42 has formed integral therewith a hub 41 which together with the annular member 22 constitutes a journal for the other end of the rotatable casing 32.

The casing 32 and, hence, its enlarged portion 38 is adapted to be rotated about the iixed casing I8 by means of an operating handle 48 secured to or formed integral with the enlarged portion 38 thereby causing rotation of the armature II with respect to the stationary iield I2 and disturbing the ux relation therebetween to cause a signal to be transmitted to the remote station by causing current to iiow in an armature similar to the armature I8 located at said remote station. On the enlarged portion 38 there is also provided a suitable rearwardly extending fork 49 adapted to engage and restrain an arm 50 pivoted to handle 48 as indicated at 5I, the arm 58 being in turn adapted to be restrained by frictional engagement with an annular disc 52 secured to a flange 53 on the housing 5 by screws 54, thereby providing a friction brake between the rotatable housing 32 and the stationary housing 5. The arm 58 is normally in engagement with the annular disc 52 until disengaged by moving the lever 55 against the compression of a spring 58 seated within the handle member 48 when the latter is grasped for operation. If desired, the annular disc 52 may be provided with peripheral notches into which the arm 58 may be forced by the spring 56 when the handle 48 is released.

Means are now provided whereby, upon the transmission oi a signal to a remote station by the rotation of the housing 32 through the medium of the handle 48 and/or upon the reception of signals from said remote station by the actuation of the rotor I8, such signals may be'indicated and, in the form shown, compriseA an index member 51 secured to or formed integral with and on the interior of the enlarged portion 38, and a second index member 58 mounted on the outer end of the shaft I3 of the armature I8, said index members 51 and 58 cooperating with a xed dial 59 having suitable reference characters thereon. The dial is held stationary by mounting the same on the fixed plate I1 in any suitable manner as by means of rivets or screws 68 adapted to engage with bosses 6I provided on said fixed plate I1.

It will be seen from the foregoing that if two devices of the character of which one is shown in section in Fig. 1 are electrically connected together, as indicated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 3, with their stationary ilelds in parallel with a suitable source of alternating current through a supply switch 82, and the two sets of brushes 21 and 45 of the rotors I8 and II connected to corresponding sets of brushes of the other rotors, the angular movements of the rotor II at the transmitting end will cause a corresponding equal angular movement of a rotor I8' at the receiving end and conversely the rotor I8 will be caused to rotate when the rotor II' at the other end is actuated. If the rotor I I at the transmitting end is rotated at a constant speed, the associated rotor I8' at the receiving end will rotate at the same speed but will lag rotor I I by such an angle that the torque developed will be sufficient to overcome any frictional and wind losses. As soon as rotor II is deceierated and brought to rest the connected rotor I8 will decelerate at the same rate and come to rest in synchronism therewith. It will also be apparent, as pointed out in the above referred to copending application, that the rotor i8 may be made to constitute the transmitting rotor and the rotor II as the receiving rowr if so desired, but for the purpose of the present invention the arrangement is preferably such, as

shown in Fig. 1, that the outer rotor be employed 5 as the transmitting rotor in order to attain the objects desired, namely, avoiding the necessity of puncturing the cover-glass 39 for the purpose of connecting an operating handle to the rotor I8.

The unit shown in elevation at the right of w Fig. 1 is, as hereinbefore stated, identical with the unit shown at the left in section and is electrically connected to a similar unit located at the remote station with which it is desired to exchange signals, but enclosing and supporting 15 the twoI units within a common stationary casing, such as the casing 5, aiords ready operation of the unit from either side thereof and also provides indications from two sides of the unit, these features being possible only by virtue ot the fact 20 that two units can be combined into a unitary structure because the operating handle 48 forms part of the rotatable casing instead of being provided at the rear of each unit as has been done heretofore. 25

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown another embodiment of the invention where the same is applied to a pair of signalling units of the type in which each unit is provided with a stationary indicating unit having a movable 30 pointer and with two relatively rotatable members, the operation of which is adapted to vary the resistance of an electrical circuit such, for example, as a Wheatstone bridge to provide an indication at a remote station, the indicating 3;, unit in turn being adapted to be operated by a similar transmitting unit at said remote station. In the form shown, each unit as illustrated in section at the left, comprises, as in Fig. 1, a rotatable housing or casing 63 journaled within a stationary cylindrical casing 64 carried by a suitable supporting standard and secured to the latter as by means of screws 88. The housing 83 has a cylindrical portion 61 which projects within the casing 84 and an outer enlarged flared 45 portion 68 tc which is secured an operating handle 69 for rotating said casing 63 for the purpose of transmitting a signal. The casing 63 is journaled on a hollow stationary shaft 18 which is keyedto and extends through a hub 1I pro- 50 vided on an annular web or wall 12 formed integral with the stationary casing 64, said hollow shaft extending through the cylindrical portion 81 of the casing 63 and having keyed thereto at its left end a smaller housing 13 within which 55 is secured a receiving element 14 as by means of screws 15. A similar pair of housings (not shown) are keyed to the right end of the shaft 18 to form the structure of the second unit within the xed housing 64. The transmitting element 60 of the present embodiment comprises a box 18 secured to and rotatable with the cylindrical portion of the rotatable casing 63. the securing means being shown as screws 11. Within the box 16 is an annular member 18 having a clrcu- 6r lar cross-section and on which is Wound a suitable resistor 18, said annular member being secured to the hollow shaft 10 in any suitable manner (not shown), the box 16 being, for this purpose, so constructed that the shaft 18 passes 70 therethrough. Cooperating with the resistor 18 is a sliding contactor 88 carried by a bracket 8I secured to the box 18 and by means of a screw 82, said contactor being in continuous electrical contact with the resistor 19 and adapted, upon 75 rotation thereof with the casing 83 due to the fact that the box 16 is secured to said casing, to cut in or cut out any desired amount of the resistor 79 for the purpose of unbalancing a Wheatstone bridge circuit, as will appear more fully hereinafter with reference to Fig. 4 to actuate a receiving element 14 which is the same as the element 'lli but located at a remote station. The receiving elements 'M and 'id' may be any suitable type of electric meter adapted to be actuated in response to and in accordance with variations in electric current, and is provided with a pointer 83 which cooperates with a iixed dial plate 8@ secured to the casing 73 as by screws 85, said dial 86 having appropriate reference characters thereon for indicating the signals desired to be transmitted and/or received. Another index member or pointer 86, similar to the index member 5l shown in Fig. 1, is secured to and rotatable with the casing 63 on the interior of the enlarged flared portion Y68 and arranged to traverse the dial 8d upon rotation of said casing 83. A cover-glass 8l is also provided through which the index members 83 and 86 and dial 84 may be viewed.

'If two devices of the type shown in Fig. 2 are associated with each other, as shown in a circuit diagram in Fig. 4, with the resistor 19 having its ends connected to two other resistors 88 and 89, respectively, at the points 90 and 9|, and the ends of the resistors 88 and 89 connected together at the point 92 and then connecting the points 90 and 9| to a suitable source of current to form a Wheatstone bridge, one arm of which is constituted by the resistor 88 and the portion 93 of the resistor '19, and the other arm of the bridge being constituted by the resistor 89 and the portion 96 of the resistor 19, the one devicewill produce an unbalance of the bridge when the contactor 88 is rotated to cause current to flow in the electric meter 'lll' located at the receiving end, said meter being connected to the contactor 88 and the point 92. Similarly when the contactor 80 is operated at the other end it will produce an unbalance of the associated Wheatstone bridge circuit to cause current to fio-w through the electric meter 14 located at the first end.

There is thus provided a novel signaling device adapted to transmit and receive signals to and from a remote station and embodying a novel construction whereby two such devices may be readily combined into a single unit operable from either side thereof, and whereby the necessity of any part of the unit having to pass through the cover-glass or plate thereof is eliminated. .There is also provided a novel structure whereby a signaling unit embodying the same may be mounted in any location, particularly where space is limited and the unit must necessarily be mounted on a wall or bulkhead, without having to break through any part of the casing to provide means for operating the transmitting elements thereof.

While the invention is of decided practical merit when applied to electrical systems of the type described and disclosed herein, it is to be expressly understood, however, that these systems are merely illustrative lof any suitable driving or controlling mechanism which may be used in place of the controlling mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, for example, although it is usually desirable for various reasons to provide electrical or at least electrically controlled mechanisms, of which the present instrumentalities are representative in a. broad sense, it is contem- .that in such cases suitable connections for operplated that in certain instances mechanical or pneumatic driving means may be substituted therefor. Moreover, the control may be effected through suitable inter-relation of other electrical, mechanical, or electro-mechanical equivalents.'

Likewise, the construction of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be varied within the limits of the broad inventive concept herein disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention as intended to be defined within the appended claims. Thus, for example, indications may be given by means of electrically actuated index elements or pointers movable in paths other than the circular paths indicated, it being understood ating said index elements may be substituted for the connections indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.

It is also to be understood that various other changes and modifications, which will now appear to those skilled in the art, may be made in the construction, arrangement and inter-relation of the parts constituting the invention Without departing from the spirit thereof. Reference will, therefore, be had to the appended claims for a denition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signaling device for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a remote station, the combination of a rotatable casing and fixed supporting means therefor, a stationary dial 30,

Within said casing and secured to said fixed supporting means, an index element secured to and movable with said casing and cooperating with said dial, a second index element journaled in said fixed supporting means and cooperating with said dial independently of the first index, means for actuating said second index element in response to signals received from the remote s'tation, and means associated with said rotatable casing and supporting means, respectively, to cause transmission of signals to the remote station in response to rotation of said casing.

2. In a signaling device, the combination of a fixed support including a stationary casing secured thereto,` a rotatable casing supported by and journaled in said stationary casing, means associated with said two casings for causing transmission of signals to a remote station in response to the rotation of the rotatable casing, a rotatable member journaled in said fixed support axially of and within said rotatable casing, means for actuating said member in response to signals received from the remote station, a fixed dial supported by the stationary casing, an index member secured to and rotatable with the rotatable casing and cooperating with said fixed dial to indicate the signals transmitted by the rotation of the casing, and a second index member secured to and rotatable with said rotatable member and cooperating with the same dial to indicate the signals received from the remote station.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing and fixed supporting means therefor, a

stationary dial Within said rotatable casing and secured to said fixed supporting means, an index element secured to and rotatable with said rotatable casing and cooperating with said dial, and means associated with said rotatable casing and said supporting means, respectively, to cause transmission ofy signals in response to rotation of said casing.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatable Acasing and fixed supporting means therefor,

a stationary dial within said rotatable casing 7 and secured to said fixed supporting means, an index element carried by and rotatable with said rotatable casing and cooperating with said dial, and electrical means associated with said rotatable casing and said supporting means, respectively, to cause transmission of signals in response to rotation of said casing.

5. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing having a bearing hub at one end thereof, a fixed supporting means including a member passing through said hub and into said casing in coaxial relation therewith, a stationary dial secured to said fixed member, an index element secured to and rotatable with said casing and cooperatingwith said dial, and means associated with said rotatable casing and said supporting member, respectively, to cause transmission of signals in response to rotation of said casing.

6. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing having a bearing hub at one end thereof, a xed supporting means including a 'member passing through said hub and into said casing in coaxial relation therewith, a stationary dial secured to said .'dxed member, an index element secured to and rotatable with said casing and cooperating with said dial, and electrical means associated with said rotatable casing and said supporting member, respectively, to cause transmission of signals in response to rotation of said casing.

7. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing and fixed supporting means therefor, a stationary dial within said rotatable casing and secured to means rigidly connected to said xed supporting means, an index element secured to and rotatable with said rotatable casing, and

electro-magnetic means associated with said rotatable casing and said fixed supporting means, respectively, to cause transmission of signals in response to rotation of said casing.

8. In a device of the class described, a rotatable casing having a bearing hub at one end thereof, a xed support including a member passing through said hub and into said casing in coaxial relation therewith, a stationary dial connected to said iixed member, an index element secured to and rotatable with said casing, and electro-magnetic means associated with said rotatable casing and said supporting member, respectively, to cause transmission of signals in response to rotation of said casing.

9. In combination, two rotatable casings having a common fixed support therefor including a common stationary casing partially enclosing said rotatable casings and each of said rotatable casings constituting a dynamo electric machine having two relatively rotatable armatures arranged in concentric relation and a fixed eld interposed between said armatures also in con- VICTOR E. CARBONARA.

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