US2039920A - Signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

5 W36 J. F2. MOORE SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22,- 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR 0 6% 72 R- Moore w ATTORN may 5, 19360 J. R. MOORE SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIHIIM INVENTOR (lb/an fiijfoore &

ATTORNEY mswm J. R. MQORE SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed Sepi. 22 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR c/ofin 1?. Mo are wwax Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an apparatus for producing periodic signals.

An object of the invention is the provision of an .attachment for a clock which is formed of a plurality of readily replaceable units with means being provided for connecting one of the units directly with an operating shaft of a clock.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for producing periodic signals in which a plurality of removable units are connected together for synchronous movement relative to the movements of any type of clock, the device being so constructed and arranged that it will produce similar and periodic signals each day of the week and which will prevent unnecessary signals at similar times during the day when not desired, means being employed for eliminating the reproduction of signals on certain days of the week.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for producing periodic signals during the day and only on certain days of the week, the device being so constructed that certain signals of the group of signals to be produced over a definite period may be selectively eliminated when desired.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications as define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my signaling apparatus with the top of the casing removed,

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the device,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken along the line 55 of Figure 1, and

Figure 6 shows more or less a diagram of the electric wiring.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that the casing I is provided for housing not only a clock I I but a plurality of removable units carried by frames I2 and I3. The clock may be of the usual spring type or is preferably of the electric alarm type. It will be noted that the units are movably connected to a revolving shaft of the clock so that it will be unnecessary to change or revise any of the mechanism connected with the clock.

Mounted in bearings in the frame I2 is a shaft 14 which is revolved by the clock in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. This shaft is connected to a revolving shaft 15 of the clock H by means of a removable connector generally designated by the numeral Hi. The opposite ends of the shaft 14 project beyond the side walls of the frame l2, as shown at I! and I8. 10

The connector consists of a sleeve having an axial passage with a set screw 2| adapted to secure the sleeve to the shaft [4. An arm 22 projects from the sleeve 20 and has a flange 23 bolted to a disc or plate 24 which is formed of insulating l5 material. Arms 25 connect the disc or plate 24 with a sleeve 26 which is received by the end of the shaft l5 and secured to said end by means of a set screw 21.

A drum 3!! is rigidly secured to the shaft l4 and is located between the side walls of the frame l2 and disposed within said frame. A plurality of rings numbered respectively from 3| to are secured in spaced relation to the outer face of the drum. Each of these rings is provided with notches respectively indicated by the numerals 36 to 40, inclusive.

Each of the rings, as shown 'in Fig. 3, is provided with a second notch 36 for a purpose which will be presently explained. Each of the rings is provided with lines and numerals, thereby forming a dial. These lines divide the circumference of each ring into a number of degrees for indicating definite periods of time over an interval of two hours.

The outer end I 8 of the shaft I4 is also provided with a connector 4| similar to the connector l6 and this connector includes the insulating disc or plate 42 and the sleeves 43 and 44, the sleeve 43 being connected to one end of the shaft [4.

A plurality of arms, indicated by the numerals 45 to 49, inclusive, are pivotally mounted upon a shaft which is carried by a bracket 5| secured to a cover plate 52 of the frame l2. Each arm is provided with an adjustable contact member 53 which is adapted to engage a contact member 54 when a finger 55 secured to an arm drops into one of the notches 36 or 36 The contact 54 is secured to a conductor 56 secured at 57 to the cover plate 52. A wire 58 is con- 50 nected to the member 56 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A drum 6!] is secured to a shaft 6| mounted in bearings in the frame l3. A gear 62 is also secured to the shaft 61 and meshes with a spur 55 gear 83 secured to a shaft 64 also mounted in bearings in the frame l3. The outer end of the shaft 64 is secured to the sleeve 44 by means of a set screw 65. Thus it will be seen that the drum 68 is revolved in synchronism with the drum 30 but at a slower speed due to the variation in diameters between the gears 63 and 62.

The drum 60 is provided with segments of rings indicated by the numerals 66 to 18, inclusive. These segments are spaced at intervals transversely of the drum. A complete ring 1| is secured to one end of the drum, as shown more particularly in Figure 2.

A plurality of spring-pressed arms, indicated by the numerals 12 to 16, inclusive, are secured as shown at 11 to a plate 18 in such spaced relation that the respective arms will engage the segmental contacts 68 to 10, inclusive, and the respective arms are. adapted to engage the contacts once in every twenty-four hours since the proportions of the gears 63 to 62 are such that the drum will be revolved only once in twentyfour hours.

A spring arm 88, secured at 8| to a connector 82 which operates as an electric wire, has a finger 8| adapted to engage the ring contact 1| at all times.

A drum 83 is mounted on a shaft 84 and is revolved thereby. This shaft is revolved by a gear 85 which meshes with a gear 86 secured to the shaft 6|. The diameter of the gears 86 and 85 are so proportioned that the drum 83 will make a complete revolution once in every seven days.

The drum is provided with a segmental ring contact 81 which is adapted to be engaged by an electrical conducting spring arm 88 which is secured at 89 to one end of the conductor 82. The plates 52 and 18 may be formed of insulating material. The arm 88 is connected to the wire 82. A complete ring contact 9| is secured to the outer face of the drum 83 and is adapted to be engaged by a spring contact member 92 secured to the plate 18 and this spring contact member is connected by a wire 83 with one terminal 94 of a transformer 95. The other terminal of the transformer is connected by a wire 88 with signals 91 which may be in the form of electricallyoperated bells, although other forms of signaling means may be employed for the purpose.

The drum 83 is shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 5 and is provided with indicia at spaced intervals to indicate the days of the week.

The segmental ring contact 81 has a cut-out portion, as shown at I80, adjacent that portion of the contact member which has the indicia Saturday and Sunday. In other words, where the device is not to be employed for producing signals on these days, the dropping of the spring arm 88 into the cut-out portion I00 will eliminate signals on those special days.

The drum 30 forms the conductor and is connected by a wire |0| with the signals 91, as shown in Figure 6.

The operation of my device is as follows: The apparatus is adapted to produce periodic signals and for this purpose may be used in a school for giving signals at stated times for indicating to the instructor and to the students the time for the opening of classes and the time for closing classes. In Fig. 3 the contact rings 3| and 32 are shown having numerals indicating definite periods of time, such as 8 oclock, 8:10, 8:20, etc. The contact ring 32 may be provided with a variation of these numbers and may if desired begin with the number 10 with the intervals being completed in a period of two hours so that this second contact ring may represent the interval of time between 10 oclock and 12 oclock. Thus it will be seen that if classes are to begin at 8 oclock on Monday morning the gravity-actuated arm 45 will cause the finger 55 to drop into the notch 35, when the clock has moved the drum to such position and the contact members 53 and 54- will be closed for the particular ring 3|. The circuit then is completed through the wire 58, the segmental contact 66, the spring arm 12, the current passing through the drum 68 to the continuous ring 1|, the wire 82, through the spring arm 88 and segmental ring contact 81, through the drum 83, the continuous ring contact 9|, the spring contact member 92, the wire 93, the transformer 95, and thence to the signal 91. The wire In as has been previously explained, is connected with the drum 30 and, therefore, with the contacts 3| to 35, inclusive.

If at any time it is desired to cut out any special time for producing the signals it is only necessary to move any one of the arms 45 to 49, inclusive, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3.

The segmental contacts 61 to 10, inclusive, on the drum 68 provide for closing the circuit as has been explained but prevents the signals from being repeated within twelve hours as ordinarily would occur at 8 oclock in the evening if such signals were produced at 8 oclock in the morning. It requires a period of two hours for the drum 30 to complete a single revolution while it requires twenty-four hours for the drum B0 to complete a single revolution. Thus it will be seen that the contacts 51 to 10, inclusive, close the circuit once in every twenty-four hours. The drum 83 maintains the circuit open for two days in the week, thereby eliminating Saturday and Sunday due to the cut-out portion Hill of the segmental ring contact 81. When the drum has been revolved to the point where the spring arm 88 drops into the cut-out portion I00, the spring arm is prevented by the plate from touching the drum 83 thereby maintaining the circuit open.

It will be appreciated that while the notches on the ring contact 3| are located at 8 oclock and 9:30 oclock these notches may be located at different points to cause a signal to be produced at the time it is desired to start the classes. Thus if the classes begin at 8:10 instead of 8:00 the notch could be placed opposite the indication 8:10 on the ring 3|.

During the ordinary school period classes may start at 9 oclock and last for an hour or an hour and a half and the notches on the rings will be so positioned to produce the signal at the proper time. If during the summer period or at any other time it is desired to change the hours, the entire unit including the frame |2 may be removed from the casing H) by the release of the set screws 2| and 43, as shown in Fig. 2, and another frame including the entire unit may be placed within the casing and readily attached to the shafts l4 and 64 as will be seen and the ring contacts 3| to 35, inclusive, may be provided with notches at the correct intervals to produce the signals at the times desired. If for any reason it may be necessary to revise the drum 60 or the drum 83 the entire unit including the frame |3 may be readily removed without disturbing any of the other parts. The device is attached directly to a revolving shaft of the clock without in anykway changing any of the mechanism of the 0100 I claim:

In an apparatus for producing periodic signals, a casing provided with a top having an opening therein, a driven shaft in the casing, a drum secured to the shaft and having a portion projecting through said opening, a plurality of spaced rings secured to the surface of the drum and provided with notches, a lever for each ring and individually pivoted on the top and disposed in vertical 10 alinement with the respective ring, each lever having a free end thereof above the opening riding on a respective ring, means whereby said levers can be swung away from said rings and supported in an inoperative position on top of .said case, a contact secured to the top beneath each lever, a contact carried by each lever and adapted to engage the adjacently disposed contact on the top when the free end of a lever registers with a notch on a ring.

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