US2052539A

US2052539A - Electrical indicating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2052539A
Application number: US258219A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frischknecht Ernest; Abegglen Jean
Original assignee: Teleregister Corp
Current assignee: Teleregister Corp
Priority date: 1927-04-05
Filing date: 1928-03-01
Publication date: 1936-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1953-08-25

Description

Aug. 25, 1936.

E. FRISCHKNECHT ET AL ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March l, 192B nhqvvlm A TTORNEYS.

Aug- 25, 1936. E. FRlscHKNEcHT ET A1. 2,052,539

I I ELECTRICAL :[NDICTING APPARATUS original Filed Maron 1, 1928 '7 sheets-sheet 2 Aug. 25, 1936. E. FRlscHKNEcHT 'Er Al.

ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS Original Filed March l, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 25, 1936. E. FRlscHKNEci-IT ET AL 2,052,539

l ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS Original Filed March l, 1928 ''4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Illllmn Illlmn'l ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1936. E. FRlscHKNEcHT ET AL ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed March l Aug 25, 1936 y E. FRlscHKNEcH-r |-:r AL 1 2,052,539

ELECTRICAL INDICATING APARATUs Original Filed March l, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Illlllllll A TTORNEYS.

Aug. z5, 1936.

` E. FRlscHKNEcl-n E-rAL ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS Original Filed March l, 1928 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 v Patented Aug. 2 5, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jean Abegglen,

Neuchatel,

Switzerland, as-

signors, by mesne assignments, to The Teleregister Corporation, poration of Delaware New York, N. Y., a cor- Application March 1, 1928, Serial No. 258,219. Renewed July 23, 1934. In Switzerland April 20 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical signaling and more particularly to signaling apparatus and methods, according to which information concerning a large number of diierent items may be made available at a plurality of receiving stations, all controlled over a relatively small number of line wires from a central point or points.

While not limited thereto, the invention is parlo ticularly adaptable tothe transmission and posting of varying quotations or prices of a multitude of items such as stocks, bonds or commodities.

The transmission of the quotations may be controlled from central points, such as stock exchanges, and arrangements are provided whereby a large number of brokers may be simultaneously provided with quotation service for as many of the stocks or other items as are desired or of particular interest 'at each brokers oice or other establishment having suitable receiving apparatus The objects of our invention include the provision of apparatus of the above indicated class which will be applicable with a wide degree of exibility to various operating conditions and which will be rapid, accurate and dependable in operation. l

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the following description taken in connection with after described, but by way of example only, as

being illustrative of certain preferred embodimentsof the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. l comprises a schematic diagram. showing the circuit arrangements of one embodiment of the invention. This figure is divided into six parts. Fig. 1a somewhat schematically illustrates suitable rotary collecting and distributing devices which may be used for the multiplex transmission of the current variations utilized with the apparatus; at the top of Fig. 1a

a group of impulse prolonging relay devices is schematically shown for prolonging the impulses delivered from the multiplex distributor. Fig. 1b schematically illustrates the circuits for trans- 50 mitting impulses to actuate the receiving station indicators and to restore such indicators to a normal position prior' to reactuation. Fig.` 1c schematically illustrates apparatus and circuits for transmitting suitable current variations to 55 select the indicators for particular stocks or items for which new quotations are to be posted. Figs. 1d, 1e and 1f schematically show the apparatus and circuit arrangements as of a typical receiving station.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a typical indieating unit.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates certain parts used for synchronizing purposes in the multiplex transmitting mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken substantiallyV along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4. v

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an alternative form of impulse prolonging relay which may be used in lieu of those shown at the top of Fig. 1a,

and

Fig. 7 is a detail of a part of a mechanism shown in Fig. 1a..

The apparatus oi this invention may be operated for example, in conjunction with quotation boards or the like apparatus, such as shown in the application of Robert L. Daine and Ren Guy, Ser. No. 246,474, led January 13, 1928, Patent 1,872,126, dated Aug. 16, 1932. Also if desired, the exibility of the service rendered by the apparatus of this invention may be greatly enhanced by utilizing the invention covered by the patent of Robert L. Daine, No. 1,658,516, dated February 7, 1928, entitled Methods and apparatus for indicating quotations or other items". Also, certain elemental circuits, arrangements and devices embodied in the apparatus hereinafter described may be constructed as disclosed in the patents to Francois AFavarger 1,755,- 212, issued April 22, 1930, 1,787,620, issued January 6, 1931, and 1,993,704, issued March 5, 1935, and also in our copending Patent 1,852,994, issued April 5, 1932.

Certain phases of this invention are applicable to the apparatus and signaling methods disclosed in the copending applications of Merton L. Haselton,Ser. No. 244,873, iiled January 6, 1928, Patent 1,890,876 dated Dec. 13, 1932 and Ser. No. 248,069, led January 20, 1928, and also certain phases of the inventions of said Haselton applications are applicable tothe signaling apparatus disclosed herein.

Where the information to be posted comprises stockquotations or similar items, it is desirable to make the information available, generally speaking, in the same arrangement as with the conventional-types of'manually attended stock boards or blackboards as heretofore used. The

' apparatus in the particular form hereinafter describedl is particularly adapted to that purpose,

although according to this invention the posting of quotations may be accomplished with much greater rapidity and accuracy than with stock boards which are manually attended. and in addition a substantial saving of labor is made possible since the equipment for numerous brokers may be operated from a central` point by a single operator or group of operators.

Each stock, bond or commodity quotation generallyy comprises four or a smaller lnumber of digits, such as the hundreds, tens, units and fraction values, and for each item the brokers customers are generally desirous of knowing the open, high, low and last quotationsl Accordingly for each item a total of 16 indicator units may be provided, the same being arranged in four groups, that is, the open, high, low and last groups, each group having 4: units.

Indicating units According to the invention of 'said Daine Patent No. 1,658,516, each receiving station or brokers ofce may be provided with indicator units for a relatively small number of stocks, but such indicator units being arranged to be interchangeably connected with any one of numerous circuits identified respectively with a much larger number of stocks or items. Referring to Figs. Zand 3, the constructional details of one form of indicator unit which may be used with this invention will now be described.

The price or quotation digits to be exhibited may be arranged around the periphery of a rotatable drum member as at 20. That is to say, for example, numerals from 1-9, 0, and a blank space may be successively arranged around the periphery of this drum so that such numerals will be exhibited one at a time at the front oi the indicating board when the drums 20 are rotated. The drums may be rotated with a step-bystep movement, in this example such movement being always in the same direction whether the indicator is being actuated or is being restored to its normal or blank" position. As shown, the drums may be mounted between frame members as at 2i. Between the frame members an operating magnet as at 22 may be mounted to cooperate with an armature member 23 pivotally mounted as at 24; a leaf springv 25 engaging a suitable stop member as at 231 may be secured tothe armature 23 to normally retain the same in a position spaced from the core of the magnet 22. Each of the drums 20 maybe i-lxed in respect to a star wheel as at 21, which in turn is designed to be engaged by an operating fork or pawl member 28 secured to and operated by the armature 23'. lThe star wheel 21 and operating fork 28 are preferably of the particular shapes and relative dimensions substantially as shown whereby the same may cooperate in a manner such that with each movement of the armature and the fork member. the star wheel 27 together with-its drum member is advanced always in the same direction through an angle subtended by the space between two teeth of the star wheel-that is, the drum is advanced one step. number of teeth equal to the number oi' digits or digit spaces to be exhibited at the periphery of the drum and hence in the example shown,

11 teeth are provided. Accordingly, wheneverv The star wheel preferably has a notarse and to exhibit the next succeeding numeral or space.

The magnet 22 may be energized in various ways, as for exampleby either one or two coils,

Vone coil providing for the actuation. and the other for the restoration movements of the drum; if one coil is used, actuation impulses and restoration impulses respectively may be applied to the coil through different lead wires in a manner hereinafter described. A terminal 29, l.for example, may be provided for one end of the magnet coil to act as a common return for both the actuation and restoration circuits. Terminals and formed with an extension asat 38 for engaging an insulating stud which acts to force the contact member 3d to a position out of contact with contact member 32 and into circuit-making position in respect to contact member 33 whenever the member 36 is suitably actuated. The member 36 may also be provided with a cam portion 33 normally resting against a stop pin d0 affixed to the frame, but such cam portion is also arranged to be engaged once during each revolution of the drum by a detent at di mounted to rotate with the drum 20. The detent di is so placed that when the drum exhibits a blank space or adesired equivalent, the detent will engage the cam portion 39 of the contact operating member 36 and cause the same to separate the

contacts

32 and 34, a circuit thereupon being made between contacts 33 and 3d., At other times the member 36 rests against the stop member 40, permitting the contacts 32 and 3d to remain in circuit-closing position.

With the above described construction a series of impulses may be sent through the circuits including terminal 29, the magnet coil, contact member 3d, contact member 32 to terminal 30, which impulses will cause the drum to be rotated to exhibit the desired numeral. Of course if at the time the rst of such impulses is transmitted, the circuit is made between

contacts

33 and 34, then such rst impulse must be transmitted through the circuit comprising the terminal 29, coil of magnet 22, contact member 34, contact member 33, to terminal 3|. After such iirst impulse is transmitted, this circuit will of course be opened, whereupon the suceceding impulses must be transmitted through the circuit of terminal 30 as above described. The manner'in which such impulse transmission is controlled will be hereinafter fully described. The manner in which these indicating units may be arranged to provide a suitable bulletin board is disclosed in said patent of Robert L. Daine` et al, No. 1,872,126.

Receiving circuits Each of the numerous receiving stations or broker's oiiices may be provided with a terminal board such as referred to in said Daine Patent No. 1,658,516, such terminal board having a total y of 48 circuit terminals for each of the multitude of stocks or other items, service for which is to be provided. That is, 3 terminals as at 29', 30' and 3l (see Fig. 1e) may be provided for each cf the 16 indicating units for-one stock; Assuming that one set of apparatus is arranged to' provide quotation service for 600 stocks or items, the necessary terminals therefor may be conveniently divided into six sections or groups, terminals for 100 stocks being provided in each group. In Figs. ld and le a part of one of such terminal board sections is shown. In these figures it will be understood that for simplicity many of the terminals have been omitted, but on a complete terminal board section the terminals may be arranged as shown in groups of 48, 20tiers of such groups being provided, for example, in five horizontal rows. In Figs. ld, 1e and 1f the terminals have been arranged in the same relative positions as the indicator units might be arranged, that is, in groups of four providing respectively for the four digits of each open, high, low and last quotation for the various stocks. In Fig. 1e an indicator unit 42- is schematically shown and the manner in which it may be detachably connected to terminals as at 29', 30' and 3|', according to the invention of said Daine Patent No. 1,658,516 is apparent. (For simplicity of illustration, a cam member 43 is here shown in lieu of the switch operating member' 36 above described, such cam member having a attened portion permitting the contact terminal 34 to engage the contact 33 when the indicator is at its blank position, the cam member at other times serving to hold the *terminal member 34 in contact with the terminal 32. Other indicator parts schematically shown in Fig. 1e bear the same reference numerals as corresponding parts in Fig. 2.)

In Fig. 1f a part of another of the terminal' board sections is illustrated.,

The receiving circuits may be controlled over 8 wires as at 44 to 5| inclusive, the control being eiected by means of current variations in the form of groups of impulses sent from a transmitter over a smaller number of line wires, as hereinafter described. The functions performed by such impulse groups may be described as follows: First a series of selector impulses is transmitted for simultaneously actuating a plurality of selecting devices with step-by-step movements so as to choose the terminal connections for the particular desired stock and the particular quotations of such stock which are to be subsequently transmitted. Impulses for this purpose may be4 brought to the receiving circuits over

wires

44, 45 and 46, each cooperating with a common ground return. After the desired ter- Aminal connections for the desired stock have been thus selected, if the indicators connected thereto are not already at the positions showing blank spaces, then it is rst desirable to restore the indicator drums to normal, that is, to exhibit their blank spaces. Groups of impulses for this purpose may be brought to the receiving circuits through wire 5l. Thereafter it is ,desirable to simultaneously but independently actuate the four digit indicating units for the particular quotation or quotations chosen in such manner as to indicate the new price or quotation.' Impulses for this purpose may be brought to the receiving circuits over the four

Wires

41, 48, 49 and 50.

Selectors-The receiving station selectors may be divided into throughgroups as follows:

First: Selectors 52 and 53 which operate to choose that one oi the six terminal board sections upon which the terminals for the'desired stock are located.

Second: Selectors as at 54, 54'-51, 51' inclusive which operate to select the vertical rows or tiers in which the indicator terminals for the desired stock are located. In Fig. 1f the corresponding selectors for the terminal board/ section there shown are indicated at 58, 58', 59, 59'- others being omitted for simplicity.

Third: Selectors as at 60 and 60 which operate to control the circuit ,connections of the chosen-indicators and serve to choose the horizontal terminal rows which include the terminals corresponding to the quotation indicators for the desired stock. For the terminal board section indicated in Fig. lf the selecting devices corresponding to selectors 60 and 6U are indicated at 6| and 6I'.

These selecting devices may all be constructed in any suitable known manner as for example substantially according to the step-by-step selector construction described in British patent to Favarger et Cie., No. 192,055, of April 3, 1924. Accordingly a detailed description of the construction of the same is here omitted. It may be noted, however, that each selector has a single stepping magnet and a ratchet and pawl movement controlled by an armature as schematically shown. The selectors 54, 541 to 53, 59, inclusive each have a single wiper arm carrying 10 contacts electrically connected as shown. The remaining selectors such as 52, 53, 60, 60', 6I and tl'A also have a single Wiper arm, but the contacts thereon may be electrically independent as shown, so far as the wiper arm itself is concerned.

It will be understood that the selectors 52 and 53 are common to all six sections of the terminal board, whereas the other selectors are arranged in groups, one group for each section, eight of the selectors as at 54, etc., being provided foreach section and one each of the selectors as at 60 and 60 being provided for each section. It will be observed that the selectors 54, 54', etc., are

connected to operate in pairs and accordingly if desired, each pair, as for example 54 and 54 may be constructed as a single unit, in which event 20 contacts, instead of 10, will be provided at each step and on each wiper arm. From the drawings it will beobserved that these 20 contacts as at 62 and 62 at each step on the selectors such as 54 and 54', etc., may be connected respectively to the 2O terminals 29 of one vertical tier on the terminal board. Likewise, the 20 contacts as at 63 and 63 of the adjacent selector step may be connectedto an adjacent vertical tier of teri Iminals 29 corresponding toa diierent group of stocks or items. It will be further observed that thecontacts of selectors 54 and 54' serve to provide the circuit connections to the hundreds indicator unit terminals, the contacts of selectors and 55 serve to provide the circuit connections for the tens indicator terminals and likewise the

selectors

56 and 55 and 51 and 51 respectively provide the electrical connections for the units andiraction indicator'terminals. Since provision is made for tiers of terminals corresponding to 20 different stocks in each board section, each of the selectors 54, 54', etc., may beprovided with 20 positions (only 5 of which are indicated for simplicity).

It will be observed that the selectors such as at have their contacts connected to cooperate with terminal board contacts or terminals such as' at 3l', whereas the selectors S0' cooperate in a similar manner with terminal board contacts as at' 30'. It will be further observed that six positions are indicated for the selectors 60, 60', etc.,

such positions corresponding respectively to the open, high, low, last, high and last and low and last indicator unit terminals. That is, for example, at the low and last position 8 ycontacts 64 may be provided on the selector 68, 4 of such contacts being c'onnected respectively to the fractions, units, tens and hundreds terminals 3|' of a last quotation group, the other 4 contacts 64 being connected respectively to the fractions, units, tens andl hundreds terminals of the low group. In a similar manner the contacts at the other 5 indicator positions for the selectors 60 are connected to cooperate .with the open, high, low and last indicator terminal groups, whereby the 4 selected indicators for any one of such 4 groups may be operated depending upon the position vof the selectoril. Also, if the last quotation comprises either a new high or a new low price or value, the "high or llow indicator terminals, as the case may be, may be connected sb that the corresponding indicators wil1 operate in conjunction with the last indicators. It willfbe observed that the selector 66' is likewise provided with contacts 64 similar in number and arrangement to the contacts 64 and connected to the 'terminal board in like manner ex cept that the connections from selector 60' run to terminals 30', whereas the connections from selector 60 run to terminals 3l'. Four of the contacts at each of the open, high, low and last steps on the selectors 60, 60', etc., are not used and may be omitted, except for manufacturing convenience. f

It will be observed that the contacts-at the six positions indicated for the selectors 60, 60', etc., provide only for the choosing of indicator terminals for one horizontal row of stocks, while it will be recalled that as above stated, ve horizontal rows of stocks may be provided for on each terminal board section. Therefore, the complete selectors 60 and 60' would have contacts at 30 vdifferent positions, only six of which are here indicated for simplicity of illustration.

That is, four additional groups with six positions for each group may be provided and associated with the four remaining horizontal rows of terminal groups on the terminal board (only four out of the ve horizontal rows of terminal groups are indicated). therefore have 30 steps with provision at each step for connecting either 4 or 8 circuits. The selectors 54 and 54 on the other hand, need have but 20 steps, provision being made by each pair of such selectors for bringing together 20 circuits` at each step.

As shown, the single selector 52 may have provision for 6 steps of 8 contacts each. The selec-- groups of selectors 52 and 53, 54, 54', etc., and

59, 68', etc., may be controlled respectively by the three

wires

44, 45 and 46. The selectors 52 and 53 may be operated through the medium of a relay 65, the magnet coil of which as shown, has its terminals connected respectively to ground and to the wire 44. The relay 65 serves to actuate relay contact 66 which places a source of current as at 61 in circuit with the stepping magnets of the selectors 52 and 53, return circuits being provided from each of the stepping magnets through Selectors such as liwill tion corresponding to the terminal board section on which the terminals for the stock to be chosen are located. In a similar manner the wire 45 may be connected to operate a relay as at 68, which in turn is adapted to impart impulses to a wire 69 from battery 10' for operating selectors 54, 5451, 51' inclusive. Each of the other sections of the terminal board may be similarly provided with relays controlled over the Wire 45. For example, relay 1I is connected to control the

selectors

58, 58', 59, 59', etc. The wire 45 may be extended as at 12 to the corresponding relays of other sections of the terminal board. Accordingly While the selectors 52 and 53 `are' being advanced with step-by-step movements, the selectors 54, 54', etc., may be simultaneously advanced in a similar manner by groups of impulses transmitted over the control wire 45. In a similar manner, control wire 46 is arranged to control selectors 'as at 60, 60', 6l, 6 I respectively, through the medium of relays as at 13 and 14. The relays 13 and 14 may be conveniently arranged as shown to each control the corresponding selectors of two other terminal boardsections in addition to the sections which are here shown in part. It will thus be apparent that by the use of the three

control wires

44, 45 and 46, the three groups of selectors may be simultaneously but independently controlled so as to choose the terminals for the desired quotations which are to be changed to the exclusion of all other terminals on the terminal board.

The manner inwhich the indicators are actuated after the selecting operations are completed, will now be explained in detail. We may assume that at least certain of the indicator units which have been selected by a previous selecting operation are positioned to exhibit certain numerals and not their "blanks. Therefore, a convenient methodof posting a new quotation is to first restore all selected indicators to exhibit blanks and thenthe operator may send groups of impulses over the

control wires

41, 48, 49 and 58 respectively, corresponding in number to the numerals of the new quotation, no subtracting or adding in respect to the previous quotation being then necessary. The circuits established for such "restoration operation are as follows: For restoration purposes a group of impulses equal to or greater in number than the number of possible positions of each indicator is transmitted over the4 control wire 5| for the purpose of advancing each indicator as previously selected to `its "blank position, regardless of its previous position. That is to say, as many as 10 impulses will be available at each chosen indicator so that for example, if the indicator previously exhibited the numeral 1, such 10 impulses would advance the indicator so as to exhibit successively each of the numerals from 1 to 9 and 0 and nally blank, .On the other hand, if the indicator previously exhibited the numeral 9, then only two of such impulses would be necessary to advance theindicator from 9 to 0 and from 0 to blank. Thereupon the additional 8 impulses would be rendered ineffective by reason of the operation of the two-way switch above described in connection with the indicator construction.

Of course, if desired, the indicator drums might ,be arranged to rotate in a direction opposite to that above suggested so that if the indicator previously exhibited the numeral 1, then but a .single restoration impulse would be necessary to restore that indicator to blank.

The impulses over control wire 5I each energize control relays as at 15, 16, 11 and 18. Relay.

15 has four make contacts, which upon actuation of the relay cause the four

wires

41, 48, 49 and 50 to be all connected to the control Wire 5I. The four

wires

41, 48, 49 and 50 in turn, it will be noted, are extended to the wiper arm of selector 53. Selector 53 will thereupon serve to electrically connect the control wires to its bank of contacts which correspond to the terminal board section previously selected. For example, if the wiper makes contact with a bank of contacts at 19, the circuits will continue through wires to the wiper arms of selectors 54, 54'-51, 51 inclusive. Then assuming that these wiper arms are in positions to contact with banks of contacts such as at 62 and 62', the circuits will continue through Wires as at 8| to the terminals 29 'of the first vertical row of indicator terminals.

'Ihe impulses received over the control wire 5I will therefore impulsively energize indicator magnets 22. With such of the indicators as are not exhibiting blanks, the circuit will `be continued through the indicator switch contacts 34 to contacts 32, thence through wires as at 82 to selector 60'.' Assuming that the selector 60' is so positioned that its wiper makes contact with a bank of contacts as at 83, then it will be observed that circuits are made only through the magnet coils of the four indicators for giving the opening value for the stock, the indicator'terminals of Which are in the first vertical row as Well as the rst horizontal row. Therefore, only these four indicators will be supplied with restoration" impulses. From the contacts 83 the restoration circuits are continued through the wiper of selector 68' to a corresponding bank of contacts 84 on the selector 52, thence through the several 'corresponding insulated Wiper contacts of selector 52 to a group of contacts 85 at relay 18. The relay 18 being energized, as above stated, its armature connects all of the contacts 85 through a wire 86 to a make contact 81 of relay 16. Since relay 16 is also being energized by the impulses as above stated, the contact 81 Will/be connected by the relay armature with the ground at 88, forming a return circuit cooperating with the control Wire 5| in a manner hereinafter described.

Assuming that certain of the four indicators which are thus supplied with restoration impulses are already at their normal positions, or after several impulses arrive at their normal positions, then the circuits from such restored indicators will be continued not through indicator contacts 32, but through contacts 33, which in turn are associated through terminals 3|' with selector 68. At selector 60 the circuits will be continued through the selector wiper arm in the same manner as at selector 60', thence through wires as at 89 to a corresponding group of con tacts 90 on the selector 52, the contacts 90 being in the same bank as the contacts 84. From the contacts 98 the circuits are continued through the corresponding insulated wiper arm contacts, through wires 9| to a group of four contacts 92 on relay 11. However, the restoration impulses will have energized relay 11, as above stated, causing the circuits as just traced to beI opened at the contacts 92. Accordingly such indicators as have arrived at their normal positions will not be energized by further restoration impulses. As soon as ten restoration impulses have been received, all four Aof the indicators will of course have been restored to normal ready for resetting to post a new quotation.

The circuits for resetting the same four indicators will now be traced. The restoration impulses having been completed, the relays 15, 18, 11 and 18 Will no longer be impulsively energized. Therefore, although the restoration impulses were carried to the four indicators as a group, the actuation impulses will be carried over the four

control wires

41, 48, 49 and 50 independently, since the relay 15 is de-energized. From the

wires

41, 48, 49 and 50 the four circuits continue independently through the four wires 80 respectively to the four pairs of

selectors

54, 54', 55, 55', 56, 56', 51, 51'.` If it is assumed that these selectors are in the same positions as during the restoration action above described, then these four circuits will continue through the four pairs of selector wiper arms respectively to the hundreds, tens, units and fractions terminals of the indicators which have been previously restored. Therefore over these four circuits groups of actuation'impulses may be transmitted to each of the four indicators independently and simultaneously if desired, a suffcient number of impulses being provided in each group to actuate the corresponding indcator step-by-step to a position indicating the desired numeral for showing the new quotation or price. These four circuits are continued through the indicator contacts 34, the first impuise of each group passing through the contacts 33 inasmuch as the indicators are at normal or blank at the time the first impulses are transmitted. 'From the contacts 33 the circuits will be continued through

selectors

60 and 52 in a manner above described, thence through wires 9| to contacts 92. At this time the relay 11 not being energized, all four of the contacts 92 will be grounded through the armature of relay 11, through a. Wire 93, a break contact 94 of relay 16, and ground connection 88. vIt will be understood that the ground connection 88 forms a common return path for the impulses arriving over the

control wires

41, 48, 49 and 50. The selector 60 cooperating with the selector 52 and' the contacts 92 therefore provide a path for completing the circuits for the rst impulses of each group sent to the four indicators. However, after the rst impulse, each of the four indicators will of course be moved from normal or"blank position so that thereaftei` indicator circuits will be made only through indicator contacts 32, which cooperate with selector 60' as above explained. Accordingly, all actuation impulses after the first will follow circuits through selector 60', contacts 84 (at selector 52) and thence through connecting wires 95 to another set .of contacts 96 under the control of relay 11, the contacts 96 being at this time all grounded by the armature of relay 11 in the same manner as contacts 92. Therefore, each of the four indicators will be energized and moved step-by-step to the desired positions by sending the proper number of impulses over these circuits. After the four indicators are thus actuated, the receiving circuits are ready for the selection ofA a. new stock in the manner as above described.

It will be understood that the high, low, last", high and last and low and last inditerminal board sections would have been actuated in a similar manner had the selectors 52 and 53 beeen moved toother banks of contacts.

'Method of multiplex transmission According to our invention provision for giving quotation service for as many as 1200 stocks or Aother items may be made by providing no more than four line wires. In `the particular example shown in Fig. la, line wires are indicated at |00, |02 and |03. The wire |00 is pro-` vided to carry by multiplex transmission the impulses which are suitably distributed at the receiving stations to the 8 control wires llt-5| inclusive. The line wire |01! is provided to serve a similar purpose with duplicate4 transmitting equipment. That is, the apparatus heredisclosed, as above stated, provides for quotation service for 600 items and accordingly duplicate equipment may be used to provide for a total of 1200 stocks or items.

The wiresl |02 and |03 are provided to carry an alternating current, say of 60 cycles, for purposes o-f synchronizing the multiplex transmission apparatus hereinafter described. The wire |02 may also be utilized to control certain emergency` circuits herein-after referred to. In in,-

stances where the same carefully regulated 60 cycle current is available both at` the transmitting and receiving stations, the use of the wires |02 and |03 for synchronizing purposes may of course be obviated. From the foregoing it will be noted that a one wire quotation system is thus provided.

` It will be understood that line wires 100-103 inclusive may run from the central transmitting station or stations to a plurality of brokers ofces or other places which are equipped with the receiving apparatus, the various receiving ,stations being connected in multiple with the line wires. The various parts of Fig. 1 of this application serve to illustrate a complete translmitting station in'conjunction with a complete receiving equipment. j

- At the transmitter a rotatable collector shaft is indicated at |06, the same being driven by a suitable motor acting through afriction clutch |00 which may be of a type which is here-1 in after described in connection with Fig. 4. The -alternating synchronizing current of line wires |02 and |03 is made to energize polarized magnets as at |07 and I 03, which in turn control an escapement mechanism |09, the details of conu struction of one form of which are hereinafter described in connection with Figs. 4 and 5.

At the receiving station a rotatable distrib-` utor shaft is provided and is likewise driven by a motor I through a friction clutch |2 similar tothe clutch |06. The distributor'shaft is also controlled by an escapement mechanism` as at H3, which in turn is energized by polarized magnets as v| |4 and i I5, which are under the control of the alternating synchronizing current supply of the line wires |02 and |03. The motors |05 and Hl of course may' be driven by any suitable source of power, such as the ordinary lighting circuit, and itis unnecessary that these motors be driven at exactly the same speed so long as the speed of each isgreat enough to always rotate the collector and distributor shafts |06 and H0 as fast as the escapement mechasive above referred to.

l hereinafter.

nisms will permit. The collector shaft |01! may carry al rotatable insulated contactabrush as at H6 which cooperates with a stationary contact -ring i l1. The contact ring I'l it will be noted comprises four series of arcuately arranged contacts separated by spaces or insulation members. Eight contacts are provided in each of `these four groups. Corresponding contacts in each of the fourgroups may be suitably connected (such connections being omitted for simplicity in the drawings). These eight contacts correspond respectively to the eight control Wires t4-5I inclu- The first three of these eight contacts are supplied with selector impulses over selector wires as at ||8 leading from the selector apparatus shown in Fig. 1c. 'I'he next fourcontacts of each group are connected to four` actuation circuit wires as at H9, providing for the hundreds, tens, units and fraction actuatio impulse groups supplied by the' actuation impulse counters shown in Fig. 1b. The last contact in each group on the contact ring Ill may be connected to a restoration Wire as at |20 leading to the restoration impulse counting devices hereinafter described, and also shown in Fig-lb.

The collector shaft |04 is provided with another rotatable insulated contact brush |2| which c'ooperates with a contact ring |22.` The contact ring |22 likewise has four groups of contacts, cornected (these connections being omitted for simplicity). Five contacts are arranged in each of these four groups and the same ,may be connected by wires as at |23 to the actuation and restoration impulse counters of Fig. 1b. The purpose of the brush |2| and the contact ring |22 is to distribute impulses in proper sequence to the restoration and actuation impulse cour'ters, as will be hereinafter described in detail. The intervening spaces between the groups of ve contacts may be lledeither by insulation or unused segments.

'Ihe collector shaft |00 is also provided with a third insulated contact brush |20 cooperating with a third contact ring |25. This ring may be pro-k Jwhenever the collector and distributor shafts Hltand I0 are out of phase, and also preventing the transmission of impulses of abnormally short duration, further reference to which will be mad The distributor shaft H0 is provided with a rotatable insulated contact brush |21 which cooperates with'a contact ring |28. The brushes H6 and |21 and the contact rings and |28 may be of like construction, except that the contact ring |28 may be mounted upon a rotatable cylindrical member |29, as distinguished from the ring ill which is stationary. An additional' rotatable insulated contact brush |30 is pro,-

the brush |21 is to distribute the impulses arriving over the line Wire |00 to the various contacts on the ring |28. 'Ihese contacts, it will be noted,

arearranged in groups, with eight contacts fin each group, corresponding contacts of the various groups being connected, although for Vsimplicity the latter connections have been omitted. The purpose of the brush |30 is to apply current successively to the various contacts of the ring I 26 at a short interval just after the contacts have been engaged by the brush |21. The brushes |21 and |30 cooperate with means for prolonging the effect of the line impulses, in the manner hereinafter described.

The cylinder |29, which may be rotatably mounted in suitable bearings, schematically indicated at |3|, carries, in addition to the contact ring I 28, another contact ring |32 similar to the contact ring |25 above described and cooperating with the ring |25 in the control of circuits for preventingtransmission of impulses Whenever the distributor shafts are out of phasewith the collector shaft |04. The cylindrical member |29 may also carry a ratchet Wheel |33 cooperating with a pawl member |34, the latter being inturn operatively connected to an armature |35 under the control of magnets |36. The function of these elements is to cause the cylindrical member I 29, together with its contact rings, to be rotated with a step by step vmovement to bring the distributor mechanism effectively into proper phase relationship with the collector mechanism at the transmitting station in the event that, for any reason, such phase relationship has been disturbed.

The electrical connections to the various collector and distributor contacts will now be described. At the transmitting station the rotatable brush II6 serves to successively engage the contacts connected to the wires I I8 and I9, as above explained, and whenever such wires are energized, electrical impulses will be generated by or conducted through the brush ||6, such impulses being conducted through a slip ring and brush at |31 to a connecting wire |38. Thence, if the collector and the reciving station distributors are in proper condition for transmission of such impulses, the same will be conducted through contacts at |39 at a relay |40, thence to line wire by Way of a connecting Wire I4I. At the 1'e-' ceiving stations the impulses on line wire |00 are conducted by connecting wire |42 to a brush |43, making contact with the brush |21, as shown. Thence, the impulses are distributed over the contacts of ring |28 according to the timing of such impulses. The distributed impulses are then conducted over the eight connecting Wires, as at |44, to a corresponding number of slip rings |45 mounted upon the cylindrical member |29. For simplicity, the connections |44 are shown schematically as being outside the cylindrical member |29, but it will be understood that in the actual construction of fthe apparatus such connections may be readily made Within the cylindrical member. The distributed impulses are taken from the slip rings |45 by brushes, as at |46. The brushes |46 may be connected in turn, respectively, by Wires, as at I4 1, to the group of impulse prolonging relays |48 to |55, inclusive. The relays I 48 to |55, inclusive, correspond respectively'to the control wires 44 to 5I inclusive.l

Impulse prolongation |58 of relay |48. Relay |48 thereupon picksup, closing three sets of contacts, as at |59, |60 and |6I. Contacts |59 thereupon serve to connect the battery |51 to control Wire 44, thus initiating the impulse on this control Wire. At the same time, contact |60 prepares but does not complete a circuit for the de-energization of relay |48. This circuit comprises the corresponding contact on the ring |28, one of the Wires |44, one of the brushes |46, and the first of the Wires |41, and also a second coil |62 provided on relay |48, the other terminal of such coil being connected to ground. Meanwhile, the contacts I6| close a stick circuit for the relay 48. This latter circuit runs from battery |51 through contacts IBI, thence through coil |58 to ground or the opposite pole of the battery. Meanwhile, the impulse initiated on the control Wire 44 still persists. However, when the distributor brush |30 arrives at the particular contact of ring |28 through which these operations were initiated, the de-energization circuit of relay |48 becomes completed. This `circuit extends from battery |51 through a con- Y ner, each of the other relays |49 to |55, inclusive,

become operative upon the distribution of impulses to the other contacts on ring |28. Therefore, when impulses properly timed are sent over the line Wire |00, the corresponding number of similar impulses are imparted to the various control Wires 44 to 5|, inclusive, except that the latter impulses are of longer duration, that is, they are approximately four times longer than the impulses as transmitted over the line |00 in the particular example here shown. With such prolongation of the impulses, suflicient time and energy are made available over the control wires to actuate the selectors and indicators in the manner above explained.

During the normal operation of the apparatus at the transmitter, the brush I 2| may be energized as from a battery at |65 through normally closed contacts |66 at relay |40 and through a slip ring and brush at |61. Therefore, each time that the brush |2I engages one of the contacts of ring |22, an impulse will be imparted to the correspending connection Wire |23, as Will be hereinafter further referred to.

' Correction of phase displacements The manner in which the contact rings |25 and |32 cooperate in the correction of phase displacements will now be explained.

The distributor shafts I I0 may be provided with rotatable insulated contact brushes, as at |68, connected as by a slip ring and brush |69 and a connection wire |10 to the line wire I 02. When all of the distributor shafts I0 at the various receiving stations are in proper phase'relationshi'p in respect to the collector shaft |04 at the transmitting station, all of the contact rings |32 are at the same angular positions in respect to their brushes |68 as is the collector ring |25 in respect Lo its brush |24. The ring |25 is connected to the battery |65, sothat, except when the brush |24 engages one of the insulation pieces |26, the brush atl is connected to the battery. `From this brush a circuit is provided through a slip ring and brush, as at |1|, to a connection wire |12, thence through the coil of a relay |13 to ground (or the opposite terminal of the battery |65). This circuit when closed energizes the magnet of relay |13, causing its contacts, as at |14, to be opened. However, when the brush |29'engages one of the insulation pieces |26, the relay |13 is de-energized momentarily and the contacts `111| are closed. This pre-pares a circuit from ground through battery |15 through the magnet coil of a relay |16, thence to line wire |02. This circuit continues from the line wire at the receiving stations through connection` wires, as at |10, thence to brush |68. Now, if the distributor shafts are in proper phase relationship, the brushes |68 at this time at the various receiving stations will all be located upon insulation segments |11 of the rings |32, and the circuit above traced will remain openat these segments and no phase coryrecting steps will be necessary. However, in the event that, for any reason, the distributor shaft should become out of phase with the transmitter, then at the time the circuit is prepared as above traced, the brush |68 of the displaced distributor will be in Contact with the ring |32 and not in engagement with one of the insulation segments |11. Thereupon the circuit will be continued from the brush |68 through the ring |32, thence to a brush |18 to a connection wire |19 to a coil |80 of a relay |9|, thence to ground. Relay |8| thereupon picks-up, vclosing its two sets of contact members |82 and |83. The closing of contacts |82 closes a stick circuit for the relay |8| as followsbattery |89, contacts |82, normally closed 'contacts |85' (under the control of the armature |35), magnet winding |86 of relay |8| to battery. The closing of the contacts |83 results in the energization of the magnets |36 through a circuit running from battery |88,

operation of armature |35 results in the opening of the "stick circuit of relay 18| at contacts |85, thus `deenergizing the magnets |36 at the proper time.

Meanwhile, at the transmitting station, the relay |16, which will have been energized by the circuit as closed through the line |02, will"pick up, thus closing its contacts at |88. rThrough `,contacts |88 a circuit closedfrom battery |15 through the magnet winding-of relay |40, thence 'by/a ground return to battery. The relay |60 or "actuation impulsesuntil the phasedisplace ment is corrected. The opening of contacts |66 likewise operates to remove the battery |65 from lthe impulse generating ring |22, thus preventing further imparting of impulses to the impulse counters.

through a ground return to battery. The relay rected by the single step advancement brought about b`y the magnets |36, then the brushes |24 and |68 will arrive at the insulation segments simultaneously, and in that event the circuit established through line wire' |02 will be broken at one of the segments |11. This will permit the relays |16 and |60 to drop out.

However, if the single step advancement of the cylindrical member |29 has been insuicient to correct the phase' displacement, the circuit through line Wire |02 will be again completed,

causing the vmagnets |36 to be again energized for givingthe distributor rings another correc-v tive advancing step. If necessary, additional advancing steps will vbe applied ,inv like manner until the phase displacement is corrected.

Meanwhile, the relay will remain energized for continuing the warning signal |94 andfor retaining the transmitting circuits inactive, as above described. Immediately upon complete correction of the phase displacements, however, thel transmitter will continue in the normal way.

Transmission of selecting impulses As above stated, the devicesand circuits for transmitting selector operatingv impulses are shown in Fig. 1c. Three groups of operating keys may be provided as follows. To select the desired receiving station terminal board section, six keys, as at |95, may be provided corresponding, re spectively, to the six terminal board sections vabove referred to. To select the desired vertical row on the terminal board, a group of twenty keys, as at |96, may be provided for controlling the actuation of the selectors, such as 54', etc., above described. To operate the selectors 60', etc., as above referred to, a group of thirty keys, as at |91, may be provided. The groups of keys |95, |96 and |91, respectively, are arranged to cooperate with impulse counting devices |98, |99 and 200. These impulse counting devices may be accompanied, respectively, by relays 20|, 202 and 203. Each stock or other item, provision for Vwhich is made on the receiving station terminal boards, may be arbitrarily identied with three particular keys, one of each of the groups |95, |96 and |91." Accordingly, in selectingthe indicators for a particular stock, the operator presses a proper key in each of these three groups.YV The groups of keys |94, |95 and |96, respectively, are

designed to each make contact with one of the groups of

connection wires

204, 205 and 206. Each of these connection Wires is associated with corresponding contacts, as at 201, 208 and 209, provided respectively upon the impulse counting or stepping devices 98, |99 and 200. The stepping devices are provided with wiper contacts 2 0, 2|| and 212, respectively, which are connected to the windings of

relays

202 and 203, the other terminals of such windings being grounded.

The thirty keys |91 may bear a. serial designa-f tion as 1 to 30, in which event key may select open indicators in the upper horizontal row; key 2, high" in said row; key 3, low; -key 4, 1ast; key 5, high and last; key 6, low and last; key 1, open indicators in the second upper horizontal row; key 8, high in the second upper horizontal row; etc.

The keys |91 may be labeled OpI, Hil, etc., Op2 Hi2, etc. where 1 and 2 designate thehorizontal row. Any range of any stock may be selected by pressing the proper section key, the proper vertical row key, and the proper horizontal row key, the proper keys for each stock being designated by a table, for example combined ranges high and last of stock XAX may be designated 356 to be set up respectively on keys |95, |96 and |91.

The operation of the stepping device |98 in conjunction with the keys |95 will now be described, the operation ofthe stepping devices |99 and 200 being similar.

The operating keys may be of a type well known in the art, arranged in groups as shown in such f manner that one of the keys will normally be in depressed condition. When another of the keys is then pressed, the key formerly depressed will be automatically raised to normal position. Each of the keys when depressed serves to close the circuit as from ground through battery 2|3, contact bar 2|4, through the depressed key to one of the connection wires 204, thence to the corresponding contact at 201 to the Wiper contact 2li), relay coil 20|, to ground. Relay 20| is accordingly normally energized, whereby a circuit will be normally opened at one of its contacts 2 5 Vand also at another of its contacts 2|6. v A third contact, as at 2 1, will be normally in closed position. The contacts 2|5 and 2|1 are for certain control purposes hereinafter described. The contact 2|5 is located in the circuit of one of the connection wires ||8 above referred to which runs to the collector ring ||1. This circuit is, therefore, normally open, so that no impulses are normally transmitted from the collector ring contact corresponding to this circuit.

Assuming now that the operator desires to select a stock, the indicator terminals of which are located on the third terminal board section at the .receiving stations, he will press the third key of the group |95, thus causing the rst key (which is indicated in depressed condition) to be raised, opening the circuit through the corresponding connecting wire 204 and through the relay 20|. but preparing another circuit through the third connecting wire 204 and throughthe third contact 201. Meanwhile, however, relay 20|, upon being deenergized, will cause a circuit to be closed through contact 2|5 and through a connection wire 2|8, thence to battery 2|3 and the ground return above mentioned in connection with the receiving equipment. The four oontacts on the collector ring 4||1 corresponding to the circuit of contact 2 I5 will thereupon be energized, and accordingly four times during each revolution of the brush 6 impulses will be taken from the collector ring and applied to the line wire |00. These impulses will be applied to the corresponding distributor contactsat the receiving stations, and thence through 'the impulse prolonging relay |58 to the selector control wire 44. Meanwhile, every impulse arriving at the control wire 44 of the tell-tale receiver at the transmitting station will pass through a connection wire, as at 2| 9 (see Fig. la), thence to a. stepping magnet 220 of the stepping device |98.

It will be noted that additional connection tively, for Vthe

selector control wires

45 and 46, in order to supply impuses to the stepping devices |99 and 200. Except for the connection wires 2 I9, 22| and 222, the receiving station equipments are identical for the transmitting station checking board and the remotely controlled receiving equipments located at the various brokers oices, the wires 2|9, 22| and 222 being, of course, omitted at the regular receiving stations.

With the above described circuits, the collector brush IIS in eiect generates selector impulses on the line so long as relay 20| is de-energized and contact is made at 2|5. These impulses also, meanwhile, cause the stepping magnet '20 to be impulsivey energized for advancing the wiper theoontacts 201, the wiper contact 2|0V being operatively associated with the stepping magnet by way of a ratchet and pawl device, indicated at 223. The stepping devices |98, |99 and 200 may be constructed in a manner generally similar to the construction of the receiving station selectors above described.

As soon as the wiper contact 2|0 is advanced so as to engage the third contact 201 corresponding to the key which has been pressed, a circuit will again be completed through relay 20| similar to the original circuit above described through that relay, except such circuit will run by way of the third key instead of the first. Thereupon relay 20| will pick-up and open the circuit at contact 2|5, whereupon no further impulses will be collected at the collector ring ||1 and no further impulses will be delivered to the stepping magnet 220. Meanwhile, the receiving station selectors will have been advanced to their third contact bank for choosing the third terminal board section. Since the two additional selecting operations as performed by the stepping devices |99 and 200 are similar to that performed by the stepping device |98, such operations will not be described. It may be observed, however, that the stepping devices |99 and 200 may be actuated concurrently with the device |98 so as to concurrently transmit interspaced groups of selector impulses by the multiplex transmitting devices over the single lineI Wire |00, thus concurrently adjusting the three groups of selectors at all of the receiving stations in preparation for actuation of the chosen indicators.

Transmission of "restoration and "actuation impulses Referring to Figlb, a restoration impulse counter is indicated at 225. Actuation impulse counters are shown at 226, 221, 228 and 229 for operating respectively the chosen hundreds, tens, units and fraction indicators.

T he restoration impulse counter 225 may comprise a series of contacts 230, a wiper contact 23| cooperating therewith, the latter being operated Wires, as at 22| and 222, are provided, respec-` by a stepping magnet 232 acting through a suitable ratchet and pawl as at 233.` A multi-contact relay 234 is associated with this impulse counter for controlling various circuits hereinafter described. This impulse counter mayalso be associated with a starting switch" 235 having a locking member 236 controlled by a tripping magnet 231, the tripping magnet in turn being undler the control of contacts at 238 at the stepping device.

The operation of this restoration impulse counter is as follows: Assuming that the selection of the indicators for the desired stock or other item has been accomplished by the operation of the selector impulse counters above described, upon completion of the action of the selector impulse counters all three of the relays 20|, 202 and 203 (see Fig. 1c) will have" "picked up". Therefore circuits will be broken between the armatures of these relays with all of the contacts as at 2|6, (corresponding contacts on the

relays

202 and 203 are designated as 2|6' and 216" respectively). However, pending the transmission of selector impulses, the contacts 2|6 have served to close the circuit from battery 2|3 through wire 2|8, contacts 2|6, etc., to wire 239, to a relay 240, thence by a ground return to the battery. Therefore, throughout the period of sending of selector impulses, the relay 240 is picked up maintaining a contact at 24| in open circuit condition. The function of the contact 24| as will be hereinafter explained, is to delay the transmission of any restoration or actuation impulses until the transmission of selector impulses is completed. As soon as all of the three contacts 2 i6, 2 |6 and 2|6" are opened upon completion of the selector operation, it will be apparent that the relay 240 will drop out, thus closing the circuit from ground through battery 242, contact 24|, connection wire 243 to contact 244 of the restoration impulse starting switch 235 (see Fig. 1b). Now, assuming that the operator has pressed the starting switch 235 in preparation for starting the restoration impulse counter, then the contact 244 will be locked down by the member 236 so as to make contact with a contact 245. Therefore, the circuit from battery 242 will be continued through contact 245, connection wire 246, to the stepping magnet 232, thence by ground return to battery. Normally the wiper contact 23*I makes contact with a contact 241, whereby a circuit is completed. from ground to battery 246, through the wiper contact 23 contact 241, wire 249, through the coil of relay 234, thence to ground. The relay 234 is therefore normally picked up. However, the energization of the stepping magnet 232 in the manner above described will result in the closing of contacts 238 by the action of the stepping pawl, thus completing a circuit through the trip magnet 231 as follows: ground, trip magnet 231, contacts 238,

. contacts 250 of relay 234, battery 25| to ground.

This results in the immediate energization of the tripping magnet, thus tripping the locking member 236 and opening the stepping magnet circuit at the contacts 244 and 245. The stepping magnet 232 thereupon releases its armature, and the pawl and ratchet 233 advances the wiper contact 23| one step and out of engagement with contact 241, thus breaking the holding circuit of relay 234, permitting this relay to drop out. Thereby a contact 252 of relay 234 causes a circuit to be closed from ground through the stepping magnet 232, contact 252, through connection wire 253, which is one of the impulse conducting wires |23 referred to in connection with Fig. 1a. The impulse generating ring |22 thereupon at proper intervals imparts impulses to the wire 253. causing the steppirg magnet 232 to be advanced successively over each of the contacts 230 and nally back to a position of rest on contact 241, whereupon relay 234 again picks up. Meanwhile, however, contacts at 254 and 255 will have been closed, both being at the relay 234. At the relay 234 contact 254 closes a circuit from ground through battery 25|, through a connection wire 256 which is the continuation of wire |20 referred to in connection with Fig. la. Therefore, throughout the time that the stepping device 225 is being operated, a potential will be applied to the contact on ring I1 corresponding to the wire 256 and consequently properly timed restoration impulses from the brush ||6 will be imparted to the line wire |00, ten of such impulses being transmitted successively as a group for the purposes above described. The function of contact 255 is to block the transmission of se-f lector impulses for the next quotation until after the termination of the operation of transmitting restoration impulses and the manner in which this is accomplished will be described hereinafter. The relay 234 has an additional contact at 251, which is normally closed and serves to maintain a circuit through a connection wire 258, contact 251, coil of relay 234 to ground. The remainder of this circuit will be traced hereinafter, but its purpose is to act as a stick circuit for the relay 234 preventing the release of the same for the initiation of restoration" impulse transmission until the multiplex transmission collector is at a position to generate a complete impulse rather than a clipped" impulse of short duration, as above referred to.

Relay 234 has an additional contact 259 which is normally closed, but is open during the sending of restoration impulses. When the restoration impulses are completed and the relay 234 picks up", the contact 259 closes a circuit from ground through battery 242, contact 24| connection wire 243, starting key contact 244, and starting key contact 260, (now in closed circuit position), contact 259, wire 26| and contact 262 of a starting switch 263 which controls the sending of actuation impulses. At the cornpletion of the transmission of the restoration impulses, this circuit permits transmission of actuation impulses to be started as will be hereinafter explained. The four actuation impulse counters operate in a similar manner and accordingly only the construction and operation of the impulse counter 226 and its associated circuits will be described in detail.

The details of construction of suitable stepping devices or impulse counters, such as may be incorporated in these circuits at 225-229 inclusive, are well known and accordingly the mechanical details of such devices need not here be further described. Each of the acluation impulse counters 226-229 has associated with it a bankA of operating keys respectively, as at 264, 265, 266 and 261. It will be observed that these keys are each identified with indicia representing the corresponding digit, the four groups or banks of keys providing respectively for the hundreds, units, tens and fractions digits. While the fraction indicia are indicated as common fractions, il will be understood that if desired the decimal fractions or indicia might be used, since ten keys are provided in the fractions group as well as in the other groups.

Each of the keys is accompanied by an electrical CFI insulated contact 21|.

contact such as shown at v268, each of such contacts respectively being electrically connected to one of the contacts as at 269 on the impulse counters. Each of the impulse counters in addition to having ten of the contacts as at 269 corresponding to the ten keys, has a normal contact 210 and an insulating contact 21|.

Each of the impulse counters has associated therewith a relay as at 212 which is normally energized and an additional .control relay as at 213. l

The operation of the impulse counter 226 will now be described. Assuming that the operator after having selected the indicators for the particular stock or item on which the new price is to be posted, desired to move the hundreds indicator to exhibit the figure 2, he will press the key 268 bearing the number "2. This will cause a contact bar 214-adjacent the keys to be tilted out of engagement with a contact 215, thus breaking a circuit from ground through a battery 216, through the magnet of relay 213. The relay 213, it will be observed, has three contact makers at 211, 218 and 219 and upon de-energization of this relay the contact at 211 will be broken, while circuits will be prepared through

contacts

218 and 219. The pressing of the key 268 furthermore prepares a circuit from ground through the magnet coil of relay 213, contact bar 214, key number 2, contact 268, one of the connection wires as at 288, to thesecond impulse counter contact 269 where the circuit remains open until the contact 269 is engaged by a wiper 28|. The Wiper 28|, it will be observed, is connected by a wire 282 to the battery 248, and thence to a ground return. The mere pressing of the key number 2 will not start the impulse counter. Therefore, the key may be pressed in advance and later at the desired or proper time the actuation starting key 263 may be pressed. Now, if the restoration impulses are complete the contact 262 of the starting key 263 will be energized from the battery 242 as above explainedv through contact 259. Therefore, upon pressing the starting switch 263, current will be applied to the various contacts as at 283, 284, 285 and 286. These four contacts respectively will serve to conduct the current from contact 262 to the stepping magnets of the four actuation impulse counters. Stepping magnet of impulse counter 226 i s indicated at 281. When a current is applied to the stepping magnet 281, the circuit is completed by way of a ground return, as shown and the `stepping magnet will therefore attract its armature and advance its pawl member as at 288 in preparation for stepping the wiper 28|. As soon as the starting key 263 is released (in a manner hereinafter described), the stepping magnet will release its pawl 288, causing the wiper contact 28| to be advanced from the normal contact-210 to the This serves to break the circuit from ground through battery 248, wire 282, wiper contact 28|, normal Contact 218,coil of relay 212 to ground, thus resulting in de-energization of the relay 212 while the Wiper contact moves to the inactive contact 21|. The release of the relay 212 closes circuits through three of its contacts as at 289, 298 and 29|. The closing of contact 289 prepares a circuit from ground through battery 248, wire 282, connecting Wire 292, contact 289 to the open Contact at 211 of relay 213. The concurrent closing of the contact at 29|) completes a similar circuit from battery 248, except through the now closed contact at 218 to a Wire 293, whichis one of the actuation impulse carrying wires running tothe collector ring |1 shown in Fig. 1a. That is, this closing of the contact 290 causes current to be applied to the corresponding collector contact and therefore the transmission of impulses over the line wire |08 will begin such impulses being transmitted at the rate of four for each revolution of the collector shaft. Meanwhile, however, impulses will be applied to the stepping magnet 281 by way of a circuit through the contact at 29| which has just been closed by relay 212. This circuit extends from the collector contact ring |22 through one of the wires |23 to contact 29|. thence through stepping magnet 281 and its ground return. These successive impulses which are applied to the stepping magnet at the rate of four during each revolution of the collector shaft cause the impulse counter wiper 28| to be stepped around in engagement successively with the contacts 269. When the wiper engages the second of these contacts, that is the one corresponding to the key which has been depressed, a circuit will be completed therethrough from the battery 248, through the contact 268 at the depressed key, and thence through the coil of relay 213, causing this relay to pick-up. This results in the opening of contact 218 and the circuit of wire 293 preventing the further transmission of impulses and concurrently closing a stick circuit of the relay 213 through its contact 211 which is now closed. The circuit of contact 211 is completed through contact 289, thence through battery 248 and a ground return. so that although the impulse counter 226 is free to continue its stepping action, no further impulses will be transmitted through the line connection 293. The wiper .68| will continue to be stepped around until it arrives again at the normal contact 210, whereupon relay 212 will be again energized, thus opening the contacts at 289, 290 and 29|. This cuts off the further application of impulses to the stepping magnet 281 and permits the relay 213 to be cle-energized in preparation for the sending of the next quotationA and opens the line circuit through 293 at the contact 290, thus maintaining this circuit open notwithstanding the closing of the contact 218 by reason of the de-energlzation of relay 213.

When the next quotation is to be transmitted, another of the keys 264 may be depressed, or if the digit 2 is to be used again, none of the keys 264 need be pressed since the two impulses corresponding to key number 2 will be sent out,

vupon again operating the starting switch 263.

The pressing of one of the keys 264 may be made effective to cause the key previously depressed to be raised automatically by reason of the action of mechanical keyboard operating members which are well understood in the adding machine and other arts.

If desired, the starting key 263 may be provided with a latch member as at 294, which may be under the control of a release magnet 295. The circuit of the release magnet 295 may be conveniently controlled by the impulse counter for the fractions digits and may include a contact as at 296 normally open, but arranged to be closed upon energization of the stepping magnet. Thiscircuit may be provided with an additional contact as at 291, n ormally closed when the relay 298 is normally energized. It will be vunderstood that the relay 298 at the fractions impulse counter corresponds in function to the relay 212 above described in connection with the hundreds impulse counter. Assuming that the starting'A contact 296, contact 291, battery 291', through a ground return to the magnet 295. The starting switch will thereupon be released, thus terminating the rst or starting" impulse for the actuation" impulse counters.

Prevention of transmission of rclipped impulses It will be observed that each of the relays such as 212 and 299 is provided with an additional contact as at 300, such contacts being interposed in circuit connecting wires as at 30| running respectively to contacts as at 302 at relay |93 see Fis. 1c). As above stated, the relay 234 of the restoration impulsel transmitting device has a similar contact 25.1 associated with the connection wire 258 running to another contact 303 at the relay |93. The relay |93 is also provided with three additional' contacts as at 304, with three connection Wires as at 305 running respectively to contacts as at 2|1, which are under the control of the three selector controlling relays 20|, 202 and 203. Now, whenever the relay |93 is energized, al1 of the

contacts

302, 303 and 304 are brought together and carry current through a circuit from ground, battery 306,

contacts

302, 303, 304, and to the various contacts as at 2|1, 251 and 300 respectively through the coils of the selector control relays, the restoration transmitter control relay and the actuation impulse control relays, and thence by ground returns to the l battery'306. These circuits in eiect comprise stick circuits for all of these control relays and prevent such relays from being released to initiate the transmission of impulses until such time as relay |93 is de-energized. Relay |93 in addition to the coil |92 above referred to may be provided with a coil 301 and whenever. either of the coils |92 and 301 is energized, it is apparent that the transmission of selector, restoration" or actuation impulses cannot start.

It vmay be here noted that the coil 301 of relay |93 is controlled over connection wire 301', the circuit running to brush |1|, thence through brush |24, contact ring |25 to battery |65, and through a ground return to coil 301. The operation of this circuit is as follows: Whenever the brush |24 is in engagement with the metallic parts of ring |25, the relay |93 will remain picked up, thus maintaining closed the stick circuits of the various impulsing devices. However, as the brush |24 rotates, it will engage insulation segments |26 four times during each revolution and at such times the relay |93 will be deenergized (unless the coil |92 is energized because of phase displacement). Hence four times during each revolution of the collector shaft the relay |93 will be released so as to permit the impulse counting devices to start their operations. The relay |93 thus prepares the impulsing devices for action only at the times when the brush H6 of ring ||1 is in engagement with insulating segments and therefore no impulses of unduly short duration can be instituted on the line wires even regardless of when the operator presses `the digit keys.

A control circuit will now be described which has the function of preventing the transmission of selector impulses until after the "restoration and actuation impulses have been completed for the previous quotation. It will be recalled that the restoration control relay 234 has a contact 255 associated with the battery 25|. The

actuation control relays, such as 212, all have similar contacts as at 219 connected in parallel to a connection wire 308 running to a. relay coil 309 and thence by a ground return to battery 25| and battery 248 (see Fig. 1c). The relay 309 has a group of normally separated contacts as at 3|0, each of which is interposed in a stick circuit for the corresponding three selector control relays 202 and- 203 respectively, connection wires 3|| being provided for this purpose. The stick circuits are completed through a battery as at 3|2 and a ground return to the three selector control relays. Therefore whenever impulses are being transmitted either from any of the actuation impulse counters or from the .restoration impulse counter, the relay 309 will be energized by way of one or more of the

contacts

219 or 255 carrying currents either from the battery 249 or the battery However, as soon as the transmission of restoration and actuation impulses is all completed, these contacts will be all opened, thus de-energizing relay 309 and permitting the contacts at 3|0 to be separated, thus releasing the stick circuits of the three selector control relays. Until this occurs, of course, the transmission of selector impulses is prevented even though selector keys have been pressed.

The action of the various impulse transmitting devices and the interlocking circuits will now be briefly summarized: The operator may first press three of the selector keys, that is one from each of thethree groups, each of the keys pressed bearing indicia arbitrarily assigned to a particular stock or item. Thereupon as soon as the collector brush |24 arrives at one of the insulation segments on the collector ring |25, the relay |93 will be released providing the receiving devices are all in proper synchronism, but of course if certain of the receiver distributors are out of phase, the relay |93 will not be released and the transmission of impulses will be precluded pending an adjustment of the phase relationships. Assuming that no restoration or actuation impulses are being transmitted, the release of relay 93 will then permit the three selector control relays to be released, thus substantially simultaneously starting the transmission of interspaced groups of selector impulses for the three groups of selectors.r

Meanwhile relay 240 will remain "picked up, preventing the starting of the transmission of either restoration or actuation impulses. Upon completion of the selector impulses from all the three, selector stepping devices, however, the relay 240 will release, permitting the battery 242 to apply the necessary starting current to the restoration" and actuation starting switches.

During the operation of the selector impulse counters, however, the operator will have had time to press the desired actuation" keys and also the restoration and actuation" starting switches, all of which may have been pressed indiscriminately as to order or sequence. In fact during this time, if the operator made an error in pressing one of the actuation keys, such error could have been corrected merely by' pressing the proper key at any time before the transmission of selector impulses is completed.

Assuming that the operator has pressed both the actuation and restoration starting keys, the closing of relay contact 24| will initiate the transmission of restoration impulses by the impulse counter 225 providing the relay |93 is still de-energized. Of course at this 'time if the co1- lector brush |24 does not happen to be on one of the insulation segments |26, the impulses will not begin until the collector brush actually arrives at one of the insulation segments |26 so as to release the relay |93. Of course actuation impulses cannot be initiated at this time, since restoration impulses have not been completed and the starting current to the starting switch contact 262 is cut off either at contact 259 or at contact 260 of the restoration starting switch. Therefore, the transmission of restoration impulses may normally proceed uninterrupted until the restoration" impulse counter returns to its normal rest position. Thereupon, both

contacts

260 and 259 will be closed, permitting the starting switch 263 to function, which in .turn will cause starting impulses to be applied to the four stepping magnets of the four actuation impulse counters. The wiper contacts of the actuation impulse counters will all thereupon be moved to the insulated or dead contacts 21|, but the stepping devices will not proceed with the actual transmission of impulses unless and until the various stick circuits are opened at the proper time at relay |93 to insure against clipped impulses, or the transmission of impulses when the receiving distributors are out of phase. When the relay |93 once releases,'however, the impulse counters will be free to continue with a complete cycle of stepping movements unless stopped by a "phase displacement. Meanwhile, until the control relays as at 213 and 234 are all picked up, no selector impulses can be transmitted by reason of the stick circuits closed by relay 309. Therefore, during this time the operator may choose and depress the proper selector keys for the next quotation and as soon as the actuation impulses are all completed, relay 309 will release the selector stick circuits allowing the selector impulses for the next quotation to begin immediately upon the next releasing of the relay |93.

In Figs. 4 and 5 details ofY construction of one form of escapement device and associated parts is shown and substantially this construction may be followed both in the transmitter collector and in the receiving station distributors. The friction clutch |06 is here shown in the form of a spring receiving receptacle 3|3, which is driven directly by the motor through suitable gear teeth as indicated. A suitable collar 3|5 may be xed to the shaft |04 and a spiral spring 3|4 may be attached to the collar 3|5 at its inner end, but arranged so that its outer end frictionally engages the inside peripheral wall of the receptacle 3|3. A pair 4of escapement ratchets 3 i6 and 3 1 may be aixed side-by-side upon the shaft |04 and arranged to be alternately engaged by a highly vibratory reed `or pawl member 3| 8 acting under the joint con- .trol of alternating current electromagnet 3|8' and the poles 3|9 and 320 of a polarized horseshoe magnet. The pawl member 3|8 may be mounted upon a post 32| so as to extend axially of the magnet 3|8. The magnet 3|8' may be connected in circuit in lieu either of the magnets |01 and||08 or the magnets ||4 and ||5. Of course, the structures of Figs. 4 and 5 are here illustrated merely by Way of example.

The alternative form of impulse prolonging relay arrangement illustrated in Fig. 6 will now be described. 'I'he manner in which the distributor brushes |21 and |30 are connected in this circuit will be apparent from the drawings. Also, the positions of the lead wire |42 and of the battery |51 are shown. However, instead of the two relays |56 and |48, etc., a single relay 322 is here provided having three windings 323. 324 and 325 and three

contact makers

326, 321 and 328. When an impulse arrives over the connection wire |42 and passes over the brush |21, it will be observed that the coil 323 will be energized, causing the relay to initially pick-up. Of course the energization of coil 323 will be only momentary but the consequent closing of the contact 326 establishes a stick circuit from the battery |51 through contact 326, coil 324 and through a return wire to the battery. At the same time the closing of contact 328 closes a circuit from the battery |51 to one of the various control wires such as 44. However, when the brush |30 arrives into engagement with the proper segment, a release circuit is closed from battery |51 through brush |30, contact 321, coil 325 and by return connection to the battery. Accordingly, the magnetization of coil 324 is neutralized allowing the relay to drop out, thus terminating the working impulse by the opening of contact maker 328.

The usual practice as followed in the design and arrangement of automatic electrical switching and control devices, circuits, etc., as known in the art, may be followed as to details which may not be herein specifically referred to or described in full.

The expression indicator assembly used in the claims applies to a plurality of associated indicator units which together constitute means for indicating a quotation including one or more digits, as for example the price $67.4. By "ground circuits is meant the circuits or leads over which ground is applied and by energizing circuits is meant the circuits or leads over which battery is applied.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to particular preferred examples thereof which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without depart-ing from the spirit and scope of the in- What is claimed as new and desired to be sev cured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

We claim:

l. In a stock quotation receiver including a plurality of groups of indicators, means for selecting any desired group for operation, va rotaable impulse distributor comprising segments over which restoration impulses are transmitted to the selected indicators and other segments over which resetting impulses are transmittedto the selected indicators, and means operated by said selecting means for operatively associating said indicators with said restoring and resetting segments.

2. In a quotation system, a transmitter, a receiver, a line interconnecting said transmitter and receiver, a plurality of groups of step-bystep indicators and selecting means for said indicators in said receiver, means including a rotary distributor in said transmitter for sending character code signals -comprlsing selecting impulses, restoration impulses and resetting im-