US2073034A - Radio broadcasting and communication system - Google Patents

Description

MarCh 9, 1937.

N. C. THYSON RADIO BROADCASTING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Filed May 20, 1933 Nil/0M0 65 723: Wzum Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvement in radio broadcasting and communication systems, and particularly to an electrical-mechanical device, and associated system, intended to be incorporated with a radio receiving instrument, wireless telegraph or telephone receiver, or any other piece of receiving communication apparatus having connection with or adapted to be influenced by a central station or power supply.

An object of my invention is to provide apparatus by which, in the event of any emergency, personal, group, local, state-wide, national, or international, or any other occasion arising where it is desired to establish instant communication with a large number of radio broadcasting receivers, or other communication apparatus, this can be done from a central point, as for instance a central power plant, and any number of broadcasting receivers will be automatically put into operation to transmit and communicate any desired message or matter.

Another object is to so construct and interconnect the parts that, even though the radio broadcast receiver, or other receiving apparatus, be

. turned off or inoperative, a slight variation in the power voltage of the operating current, or a variation in other actuating or control medium, will render the individual broadcaster instrument operative, the receiver being automatically turned 0 on, and the parts serving to automatically turn ofi the alarm or message receiving circuits and to restore the circuits and connections to a normal operating hookup for future or normal use.

Still another object is to provide automatic circuit selective means, tuning means, or other selective control means by which the normal circuits and connections of a radio broadcast receiver, or other instrument, will be automatically disconnected and the instrument will be tuned to receive the message or matter transmitted by a master or predetermined station.

Yet another object is to provide means by which the volume of the sound, warning, or message, as transmitted and broadcast under the automatically accomplished setting, will always be maintained at or above a certain predetermined volume.

A further object is to provide a device of this character that can be installed in and associated with receiving instruments in number without limit, and which can be tuned to any desired broadcasting ortransmitting apparatus, and can be automatically connected in operative relation and disconnected, through supply of slight overvoltage, or undervoltage, or through other slight PATENT OFFICE aAnIo BROADCASTING AND COMMUNICA- Tron SYSTEM l Nimmo C. Thyson, Miami, Fla.

Application May 20, 1933, Serial No. 672,078

variation in operating conditions at a power house or other like station.

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain other features of construction and. combinations and arrangements of parts and of systems, which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawing and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing one adaptation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified construction of one of the parts.

In the present instance I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention including a radio broadcast receiver of the power operated type, and this apparatus contemplates use. with one particular synchronized station to which the apparatus is calibrated or set, as well as the usual mechanism for tuning in or adjustment for various stations, ordinarily now embodied in broadcast receiving apparatus. My invention further contemplates the supply of operating current, or other actuating energization, from a central and controlled point or station, which can be-the ordinary central electric station or power generating plant.

A conventional, or special, radio broadcast receiving apparatus can be employed, and in the present instance this might be housed in the case as diagrammatically indicated at I. Any suitable radio detecting or receiving and tuning circuit and hook-up can be employed, and, therefore, no attempt is here made to particularly illustrate these parts or any particular circuit arrangement or control means therefor. Many types of circuits and hook-ups for radio broadcast receivers are now well known and successfully operated, and from time to time these are being changed and improved. It is not necessary that my invention rely upon any particular form or hook-up of radio receiver, or apparatus, and it now appears that the invention is operative with substantially any type of receiver, whether it be radio or wireless telephone, wireless telegraph or wireless television, or cable telegraph or telephone, or some other special form of receiver.

It is essential that my invention include, and embody with the receiver, a-control switch or other control mechanism operable from a central station, and means to insure proper operation of the broadcast receiver thus energized or rendered operative. Power lines 2 and 3 lead from a central power plant, or other suitable source oi. energy supply, and these power lines can be connected to receive power from a generator, from batteries, or from any other suitable source of supply of current, which current can be held to be substantially consistent in its character and can be slightly varied when desired, as for instance held at substantially uniform voltage for normal operation and can yet be slightly lowered or slightly raised in its voltage when desired. Such power generating plants and controls for holding consistent voltage and for decreasing or increasing the voltage are old and well known in many forms and no attempt is here made to even diagrammatically illustrate the same. The power lines or wires 2 and 3 are extended into the set at 4 and 5, and are connected as the operating current input forthe set in any desired manner, depending upon the particular circuit or hook-up used. So many circuits and hookups are now in use and are adaptable, that no attempt is here made to illustrate any particular arrangement, and the audions, transformers, and other parts of the receiving apparatus, together with the circuit connections therefor, can be considered as being enclosed in the case generally indicated at 6. A switch is provided in the power supply lines to permit manual control of the operating circuit input, which also can be of standard or any desired arrangement and connection.

A highly sensitive relay 8, which can be of the voltmeter type, has a high resistance unit 9 connected by shunt circuit l0 and H with the power lines 2 and 3, to thus shunt around the circuit 7. This unit 9 is made of high resistance to thus cut down current consumption to a minimum required for actuation of the highly sensitive relay 8, and the influenced member l2 of this relay is made in the form of a switch arm,

carrying armature l3.

The relay 8 is intended primarily to catch and be influenced by slight dropping, or increase, of the voltage, or other slight variations in the character of the current supply through the lines 2 and 3, and it is essential that the relay 8 be readily responsive to. only slight variation such as will not influence the operation of or cause damage to the broadcast receiving apparatus, or

- to other appliances or instruments that may be connected with and operated from the power lines. Further, it is desirable that this relay 8 have such high resistance that only a very slight consumption of current is required, and the exe pense of constant connection is thus made almost negligible.

The primary object of the relay 8 is to respond to slight variations in the current supply and then actuate switch relay l4, influencing L the tuning and the volume control circuits of the broadcast receiver. This relay switch l4 accomplishes the double function of automatically tuning the receiver to the settings required for the master station and automatically cutting 165 out any manually set tuning, whether the radio receiver is in operation or has been disconnected through manual opening of the switch 1. If switch is opened, thus disconnecting the operating current input to the set, relay switch l4 establishes an input current connection predetermined volume to signals broadcast through the speaker l5, or other suitable unit.

A relay core l6 has a coil thereon, and this coil has one terminal connected through wire |8 with current supply line wire 3, a wire I9 from the other end of the coil 1 is connected with contact 20 carried by the voltmeter relay, and a similar contact 2|, spaced from contact 20, has a wire 22 extending therefrom to connect with the other wire 2 of the line circuit connections. These contact members 20 and 2| are so located that as the arm l2 swings through reduction in the voltage through coil 9, the armature or cross contact piece l3 will engage both of the contact pieces 20 and 2|, in consequence of which a circuit is established directly from the line connections 2 and 3 through the coil H.

A switch arm 23, pivoted at 24, has limited swinging movement as shown by the full and. dotted lines in Figure 1, and a spring 25, or other suitable means, is provided to normally yieldably hold the switch arm in one position in which it is separated from the adjacent end of core l6. An armature bar 26 is provided on this switch arm 23, which arm is preferably of insulated material or has the several portions carried thereby insulated therefrom. As the circuit through coil H is deenergized, with the normal voltage current passing through relay 8 and the arm |2 thereof in the position shown by full lines, spring 25 normally urges the arm 23 to the full line position in Figure l.

The usual variable condenser 21, or any other suitable tuning or setting means, is provided for manipulation to tune the machine and select the particular station setting desired, and this mechanism at 21 can be manually manipulated or can be operated in any other desired manner. The tuning circuit wires 28 and 29 are connected in the detector circuit of the usual radio receiving hook-up, and wire 29 connects with while wire 28 is led through the variable condenser 27 and this connects with contact piece 3|. These contact pieces are mounted in spaced relation adjacent to the swinging end of arm 23, and a cross connector bar 32 on this arm 23 is positioned to engage with the spaced contact pieces-30 and 3| and complete the tuning circuit through variable condenser 21, under normal operating conditions, when the swung to the full line position under the influence of spring 25.

Tuning circuit wires 33 and 34 are led off from wires 28 and 29 to connect with spaced contacts 35 and 36, this shunt tuning circuit being closed by cross contact bar 31, when the switch arm 23 is moved to the dotted line position, under influence of current passing through the coil ll. When the main tuning circuit is closed, this shunt tuning circuit is open, and the reverse. A fixed condenser 38, or other tuning means, is connected in this shunt tuning circuit including wires 33 and 34, and this fixed condenser or tuning means is so fixed and so set that when the shunt tuning circuit is closed the receiving set is tuned to the master broadcasting station, or other station from which the signalsto be automatically picked up will be transmitted. While I speak of a fixed condenser 38, it will be appreciated that this might be a variable or settable condenser, or other tuning means, and that the term fixed is here used only as indicating setting or calibration with the transmitting station.

The usual volume control rheostat 39, settable a contact piece 39,

switch arm 23 is to control the volume through the speaker IE3, or other annunciator, has circuit. wires 40 and 4| connected therewith, and these wires will be connected in usual manner with the speaker I5 and with the set output, generally indicated at 42. Often the control rheostat isadjusted to cut down the volume through the speaker l5, and it is desirable that arrangements be made to insure a predetermined volume of any signals or other matter broadcast or sent throughthe automatic. system. With this inmind, the volume circuit wire 43 leads from wire 4| to connect with contact 44, and the circuit wire 45 leads from spacedcontact 45 to connect directly with the controlrheostat 39 at a point where the resistance is sufficiently low to give the desired volume atthe speaker l5. A cross connecting bar- 41 is provided on switch arm 23 to bridge contacts 44 and 46 and complete the automatic control shunt circuit. This connection of the control shunt circuit insures a predetermined volume of sound from the speaker l5, and if perchance the manually settable arm of the rheostat .39 be adjusted for greater volume, the current will take the course of least resistance and the volume will'be-thus increased.

An automatic line shunt circuit is made .up of wires 48 and 49 connecting with wire 2 of the power supply line, to bridge around manually operated switch I, and these wires48 and 49 are connected with spaced contacts 56 and 5|, a bridge contact bar 52 being provided on, switch arm 23 to close across these spaced contacts 50 and 5| and thus complete the main line shunt circuit.

As stated, the receiving circuit and hook-up can be arranged in any desired and approved manner, and my invention will necessarily be varied in the arrangement and connection of its parts to suit the particular receiving apparatus, in view of which it will be appreciated that the present disclosure is intended only to show one adaptation of the invention.

With this arrangement of the parts, the voltmeter relay arm |2 normally assumes or cupies the position shown by the full lines in Figure l, and this position will be maintained by the constant flow of current through resistance coil 9. The main current supply circuit connections are then manually controllable through switch and as switch arm 23 is normally held in the full line position, illustrated in Figure 1, by spring 25, the circuit through variable tuner 21 is completed. Volume control rheostat 39 can be operated in the usual manner, and in fact the broadcast receiving instrument, or other apparatus, can be used, adjusted and operated in the ordinary manner. When switch I is closed the current input to the set will be operatively connected, and when switch is open, as illustrated in Figure 1, the operating current input circuit is not energized. Otherwise, the parts remain in substantially the same relation, and irrespective of whether the receiver is in use, or the operating current input is cut ofi, the receiver is available for the automatic reception of master or alarm signals or messages.

Assuming now that it is desired to adapt the receiver to send signals or information coming from the master sending station, the current voltage at the power house, or other suitable current supply source, is slightly lowered, and the effective variation through coil 9 causes arm |2 to assume the dotted line position as indicated in Figure 1, where armature cross bar l3 bridges across and connectscontacts 20 and 2|. This energizes the circuit through coil I! in consequence of which switch arm 23 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1. This swinging movement of the switch arm 23 breaks the tuning circuit through variable condenser 2i, but completes the circuit connection through fixed condenser 38,. to thus tune. the instrument for reception of the predetermined station signals, waves, or other matter. The swinging movement of arm 23 closes the line controlled circuit through contacts 50 and in consequence of which the power circuit is completed forthe passage of operating current to the in-.

put. r

As switch arm 23 is moved to close connector 7 bar 41 across contacts 44 and 46, the circuit having the predetermined setting of the volume control rheostat is energized, as well as the circuit through the regular connections to'the rheostat.

As the connection of fixed condenser 38 automatically tunes the receiving apparatus to take signals-from-the master orpredetermined station, and the input operating current circuit is completed, the receiving apparatus is almost instantly available to receive and annunciate, through speaker I5, any desired signal, instructions, or any other matter as broadcast from the master or predetermined station. The fixed connection to the volume control rheostat insures that the signals coming in over the automaticallyconnected circuit will be of full predetermined ,volume. When the restoration of the parts is desired, it is only necessary to slightly increase the voltage through the line connections 2 and 3, to bring this back to the predetermined normal and the arm l2 will then immediately assume the full line position of Figure 1, thus breaking the connection through the coil l1 and permitting switch arm 23 to move back to the full line position. The receiving set is then restored 'to normal settings and can be tuned, operated, and otherwise used in ordinary manner. Thus it will be seen that both the predetermined tuning and connection, and the restoration to normal condition, are automatically accomplished from the central station.

In the diagrammatic illustration in Figure 1, the main and shunt tuning circuits are indicated by light lines, and all other circuits by heavier lines, as this may aid in tracing and following the various circuits.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a second set of contacts 53 and 54 might be provided on relay 8 and connected by suitable circuit wires with the wires l9 and 22, a cross connecting bar 55 being provided on the arm |2 to bridge across these contacts 53 and 54 and complete the circuit therethrough. With this arrangement, overvoltage in the current supply lines will cause the arm I2 to swing to a position in which the spaced contacts 53 and 54 are bridged by contact piece 55. One or both sets of automatic control contacts might be used on the relay 8, and the system can thus be controlled automatically by increasing or decreasing the voltage, or with the use of the two sets of contacts, by any variation one way or the other from the normal line voltage of the power line connections.

Where apparatus as above set forth is applied and adapted to radio receiving sets, or other reor at various points throughout a State, throughout the United States, or throughout the world, parties desiring to accomplish automatic connec- 5 tion of the so equipped receiving apparatus need only seek the cooperation of the central power station to vary the power supply current; or, perhaps later developments may show some manner in which broadcast ether waves or other energy can be employed to vary this current suificiently; and then, the receiving apparatus is almost instantaneously set and adjusted to receive from one or more predetermined central broadcasting or sending stations. With this apparatus and system alarm and warning broadcasts, speeches of general interest, announcements of public import, and in fact any signal, message, announcement or the like, can be instantaneously and automatically conveyed to be reproduced and audibly projected with predetermined volume, at a great number of receiving points, and in fact from every receiving instrument within reach of the control and the broadcasting systems.

The voltage increase or decrease, or the variation of the current in the line wires 2 and 3 can be accomplished in any manner desired, but in the diagrammatic showing in Figure 1 I have illustrated a switch 56 in the power supply line that can be shifted to connect with a line supplying current of higher or lower voltage, or otherwise current so varied as to cause actuation of the highly sensitive relay 8 or 8', as the case may be.

While I have herein shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my invention and have set forth only certain possible modifications, it will be appreciated that many changes and variations can be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, in the circuit connections and hook-ups, in the plan and mode'of operation, and in other respects, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Iclaim:

1. A broadcast receiver comprising, line cir- 4 cuits to supply variable power to the receiver, a

ceiving apparatus, at various points in a locality manually actuatable switch to cut out the power supply, a shunt circuit including a relay to automatically close the circuit to the receiver when the power supply in the main lines is varied, means also operable by variations in the power supply to tune the receiver to a predetermined setting, and volume control means also operable by variations in the power supply to insure a predetermined volume of sound when the power supply is varied.

2. A broadcast receiver comprising, a radio receiver, line circuits to supply operating power to the receiver, a shunt circuit connected with said line circuits, a switch in the circuit to the receiver, means to normally hold said switch open,

relay means in said shunt circuit operated by variations in the current supply from the main circuit to cause said switch to be closed to thus complete the operating current supply circuit to the radio receiver, and volume control means also operable by variations in the power supply to insure a predetermined volume of sound when the power supply is varied.

3. A broadcast receiver comprising, a radio receiver, line circuits tosupply variable power to said receiver, a manually actuatable switch to control the power supply, a shunt circuit to the receiver around said manually actuatable switch, a switch in said shunt circuit, means to normally hold said switch open, a switch controlled shunt circuit connected with said shunt line circuits in advance of the manually actuatable switch, a magnet in said switch controlled shunt circuit to close the switch of the shunt circuit to the radio receiver when the magnet is energized, said last mentioned parts constituting relay means from said switch controlled shunt circuit to automatically close the circuit to permit flow of current to the magnet and consequently close the shunt circuit to the radio receiver when the power supply in the main lines is varied, and volume control means also operable by variations in the power supply to insure a predetermined volume of sound when the power supply is thus varied.

NIMMO C. TI-IYSON.

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