US2097623A - Synchronizing system - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1937. E. B. JACKSON SYNCHRONIZING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11, 1934 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE srnonaomzmc. SYSTEM Edward B. Jackson,

to Stromberg Electric Company,

Downers Grove, Ill., assignor Chicago, 111.,

14 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to synchronizing systems and more particularly to synchronizing arrangements for use in time-controlled systems in which secondary apparatus, such as clocks, recorders and time stamps, is operated by means of impulses transmitted from a primary or master apparatus.

The main object of the invention is to provicle a new and simple periodic synchronizing arrangement for such systems.

Nearly all of the known synchronizing systems require a three-wire circuit or a two-wire circuit together with two different kinds of current, such as reverse polarities, current of two difierent voltages, alternating and direct current, or alternating current of two frequencies. The present invention overcomes this objectionable feature in that it requires only a single source of current and operates entirely over a single two-wire circuit.

Other known synchronizing systems employ a mechanical stop to prevent further advance of a secondary apparatus when it reaches a predetermined chronological position until released by the master apparatus. ary apparatus by the it reaches a corresponding chronological position is usually accomplished by a current of different characteristic as noted above or by a sustained impulse. However, the racking of the pawl on the ratchet responsive to impulses received while the ratchet is mechanically blocked is very noisy and causes rapid wearing out of the various parts of the secondary apparatus. It is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to overcome this objectionable feature by rendering the impulse magnet inoperative when the secondary apparatus reaches the predetermined position to prevent its further advance by received impulses, and to again render the magnet operative to reinitiate advance of the secondary apparatus in response to a prolonged impulse transmitted by the master apparatus when s it reaches a corresponding position.

The above objects of the invention, and others not specifically mentioned, will best be understood from a perusal of the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing comprising Figs. 1 and 2, in which Figure 1 is a schematic circuit embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing,

The release of the secondmaster apparatus when diagram of one and first to Fig. 1,-

the master apparatus M shown comprises a minute contact device! for sending out momentary impulses once every minute, a rapid contact device 2 operative for a thirty-second period during each hour for sending out a series of short, rapid impulses once every two seconds for corrective purposes, a cam-controlled contact device 3 for periodically (once every hour) cutting in and out the rapid contact device 2, allowing it to operate for a period of thirty seconds (for example, from 59 minutes and 10 seconds l to 59 minutes and 40 seconds), a cam-controlled contact device 4 for periodically (once every hour) sending out a prolonged impulse (for example, about ten seconds in length from 59 minutes and 50 seconds to 60 minutes) immediately after the cutting out of the rapid contact device, and a relay 5 controlling all of the impulses sent out by the master apparatus.

, The relay 5 comprises the relay coils 5a, the armature 5b therefor, and a pair of contacts 50 closed when the relay is energized to connect the current supply 5d with the line conductor running to the secondary apparatus.

Eachsecondary apparatus S and Si of Fig. 1 includes a driving magnet 6 controlled by the impulses from the master apparatus; a ratchet and pawl mechanism 1 driven by the driving magnet for actuating the secondary apparatus; a shunt circuit controlling device 8 closed by secondary apparatus time for periodically disabling the driving magnet; a delayed response device 9 non-responsive to ordinary short impulses but responsive to the long period impulses for opening the magnet disabling circuit to restore the magnets to operative position, and a resistance H1 in the magnet circuit for rendering the shunt circuit effective for disabling the magnet. The delayed response device 9 comprises a heating coil lea and heat-controlled-contacts [0b controlled by the heating coil Illa.

The circuits of the master apparatus of Fig. 1 include a circuit for the relay magnet and minute contact device, a circuit for the rapid contact device, and a circuit for the prolonged impulse contact device.

The circuit for the relay magnet 5 and minute contact device I is from the current supply 5d through the conductor ll, relay magnet coils 5a, conductors l2 and I3, minute contact device I and conductors l4, l5 and IE to the other side of the current supply 5d. The circuit for the rapid contact device 2 is from the conductor l2 through the rapid contact'device 2, conductor l1 and camcontrolled contact device 3 to the conductor I5. 55

The circuit for the prolonged impulse contact device 4 is from the conductor l2, through the conductor l8 and prolonged impulse contact de- Vice 4? to the conductor IS.

The circuits of the secondary apparatus of Fig. 1 comprise a normal circuit for the driving magnet and resistance and a circuit for the heating coil and delayed action contacts.

The normal circuit for the driving magnet 6 and resistance I is from the line I9, through the resistance It), conductor 20, magnet coil 6 and conductors 2| and 22 to the other side of the line 23. The circuit for the heating coil Illa and heat-controlled contacts Illb is from the conductor 20 through the conductor 24, delayed action contacts 'Iflb, heating coil Illa and cam-controlled shunt circuit-controlling device 8 to the conductor 22.

Having described the apparatus and circuits of Fig. 1, a detailed description of the operation will now be given.

The contacts I of the master clock M are momentarily closed once each minute and complete the circuit from the battery or other source of current d to relay 5. Relay 5 operates and completes the circuits for the impulse magnets 6 of the secondary apparatuses S and SI in multiple by means of contacts 50. The magnets 6 operate and, upon releasing, advance the secondary apparatuses one step by means of the usual ratchet and pawl construction 1. When a secondary apparatus such as SI reaches position 59, the cam 8a closes contacts 8b as shown, thereby connecting the coil l 0a of the thermostatic device 9 in parallel with the impulse magnet 6; The resistance of coil lUa is suificiently low so that impulse magnet 6 will not operate in multiple therewith. When the next impulse is received, magnet 6 will not operate due to this low resistance shunt. The impulse is not of suihcient duration to heat the bi-metallic strip lilo of the thermostatic device sufliciently to cause it to deflect and open contacts lb. The fast secondary apparatus SI, therefore, remains in position 59 until released by the master clock as will be explained'later. Assuming that S is on time or slow, it will respond to the minute impulses in the regular manner.

Shortly after the master clock reaches position 59, at 59 minutes and seconds as assumed for the purposes of explanation, contacts 36 are closed, connecting the fast contacts 2a in circuit with the impulsing relay 5. A secondary apparatus which is on time will respond to the fifty-ninth regular minute impulse and will then be stopped by the closing of the low resistance shunt around its impulse magnet as explained above. It will be assumed that the secondary apparatus S is slow and has not reached its fifty-ninth position when the master clock closes contacts 3a. rality'of times during the time contacts 3a are closed and cause relay 5 to transmit a series of rapid accelerating impulses over the circuit to the secondary apparatus. A secondary apparatus which is on time or fast has already been stopped as explained above and Will not be affected by the rapid impulses. However, these impulses cause the rapid advance of S, which was assumed to be slow, until it reaches its fiftyninth position. In this position, cam 80. closes contacts 8b and the impulse magnet cannot again be operated due to the low resistance shunt through coil Illa of the thermostatic device.

vmagnet 25. Contacts 211 close rapidly a plu-' The remainder of the rapid impulses are therefore ineffective.

A short time, ten seconds in the assumed case, before the master clock reaches position 66, contacts 4a are closed, shunting minute contacts la and operating relay 5. These contacts remain closed until the master clock reaches position 60 and the continued energization of relay 5 transmits a sustained current over the circuit to the secondary apparatus. This sustained current passing through heat coils I 6a causes the bimetallic strips lfic to deflect and open contacts "lb, respectively. This opens the shunt circuits around magnets 6 and these magnets operate.

7 The opening of contacts lDb also opens the circuits to the heat coils lOa, allowing the strips I00 to cool and return to their normal positions with contacts Mb closed. Should this occur before the sustained current or prolonged impulse is removed from the circuit, it will not interfere with the proper operation as the magnets 6, although they will not operate in multiple with the low resistance heat coils Illa, will be maintained in operated position, having once operated, even though the low resistance shunt circuits are closed.

Thus it is seen that just before the master clock reaches position 68 the impulse magnets in all of the secondary apparatuses are energized. The circuit for relay 5 is broken in position 60 of the master clock by the opening of contacts 4a and la (minute contacts la having been momentarily closed in position 66 in the regular manner) and the relay 5 releases, opening contacts 5c and thereby opening the circuits of magnets 6. These magnets release, causing the spring-operated pawls to advance the secondary apparatuses S and S! into position 66 and into synchronism with the master clock. Cams So again open contacts 8b as the secondary apparatuses advance into position 60.

The master apparatus M of Fig. 2 is identical with that of Fig. 1 previously described. 'Each secondary apparatus S2 and S3 of Fig. 2- includes a driving magnet controlled by the impulses from the master apparatus, a ratchet and pawl mechanism 26 driven by said driving magnet 25 for actuating the secondary apparatus, a slow-to-respond electromagnet Zl, circuit-controlling contacts 42 controlled by said sloWtorespond electromagnet 21 for establishing a temporary auxiliary circuit for the driving magnet 25, a circuit-controlling device 28 controlled by secondary apparatus time for periodically opening the normal circuit for the driving magnet 25 and closing a circuit for the slow-to-respond electromagnet 21, and thereafter opening the circuit for the slow-to-respond electromagnet 2! and closing the circuit for the driving The electromagnet 27 may be made slow to operate in any usual or suitable manner, as by the use of a copper slug on the armature end of the core, as is well known in the art.

The circuit ccntrolling device 28 comprises an hour cam 29 arranged to open contact 36 and close contact Si in position 59 of the secondary apparatus and'to open con act 3| and close contact in position 60.

The circuits of the secondary apparatus of Fig. 2 comprise the normal circuit for the driving magnet, an auxiliary circuit for the driving magnet, and a circuit for the slow-to-respond electromagnet. 1

The normal circuit for the driving magnet 25 is from one side of the line 32 through the conductor 33, driving magnet 25, conductor 34, camcontrolled contacts 30 and 35 and conductors 36 and 31 to the other side of the line 38. The auxiliary circuit for the driving magnet 25 isfrom the conductor 33, through the magnet 25, conductor 39, magnet-controlled contacts 42 and conductor 31 to the other side of the line 38.

The circuit for the slow-to-respond electromagnet 21 is from the conductor 33, through the conductor 49, magnet 21, conductor 4|, cam-controlled contacts 3| and 35 and conductors 3B and 31 to the side of the line 38.

A detailed description of the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 will now be given.

Secondary apparatus S2 is shown as being slow or on time while S3 is shown as fast. The impulse magnets 25 respond to the regular minute impulses and advance the secondary apparatuses step by step. When S3 reached position 59, cam 29 opened contact 30 and closed contact 3|, thereby opening the circuit of impulse magnet 25 and completing a circuit for the slow-to-operate relay 21. Relay 21 does not respond to the momentary operating impulses.

Shortly after the master clock reaches position 59, rapid accelerating impulses are transmitted over the line to rapidly advance slow secondary apparatus, such as S2. When S2 reaches position 59, contact 30 is opened and contact 3| is closed by cam 29, thereby stopping the advance of the apparatus in the same manner as outlined above for S3. The remainder of the rapid impulses are therefore ineffective.

When the prolonged impulse is received shortly before the master clock reaches position 69, relays 21 operate, completing auxiliary circuits for magnets 25 over contacts 42. The magnets 25 operate and are held operated in multiple with the relays until the circuit over the line is broken at contacts 50 by the release of relay 5 when the master clock reaches position 60. Relays 21 and magnets 25 thereupon release, the former again opening the auxiliary circuits to the magnets, and the latter allowing the secondary apparatuses to advance into position 60 and into synchronism with the master clock. Contacts 3| are opened and contacts 39 are again closed when the secondary apparatuses advance from positions 59 to 60, thereby completing the normal impulsing circuits to the magnets.

Having described the invention, what is new and is desired to have protected by Letters Patent will be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a time controlled system, master apparatus, secondary apparatus, means in said master apparatus for transmitting normal impulses for the normal operation of said secondary appara tus and for transmitting rapid accelerating impulses to rapidly advance slow secondary apparatus,"sa id normal and accelerating impulses being of predetermined length, circuit controlling devices efiective when said secondary apparatus reaches a predetermined chronological position for preventing continued operation thereof, means in said master apparatus for periodically transmitting an impulse of longer duration, and means in said secondary apparatus responsive only to said impulse of longer duration for rendering said circuit controlling devices inefiective.

2. In a time controlled system, master apparatus, secondary apparatus, means in said master apparatus for transmitting normal impulses and rapid accelerating impulses of predetermined duration, and an impulse of greater duration in definite sequence, and means in said secondary apparatus for synchronizing said secondary apparatus with said master apparatus responsive to said impulses, said means including circuit controlling devices operative only in one predetermined position of said secondary apparatus to render it unresponsive to succeeding impulses and a delayed response device responsive only to said impulse of greater duration for rendering said circuit controlling devices ineffective.

3. In a time controlled system in which secondary apparatus is controlled and synchronized in accordance with impulses transmitted entirely from a master apparatus, means in said secondary apparatus controlled by said impulses for synchronizing said secondary apparatus with said master apparatus at periodic intervals, said means including circuit controlling devices controlled by the chronological condition of said secondary apparatus and a delayed response device and a circuit controlling device controlled thereby.

4. In a secondary apparatus for use in a corrective time controlled system, an impulse magnet for effecting all advancing movements of said apparatus, an operating circuit for said magnet, means operated only in one particular predetermined chronological position of said apparatus for closing a shunt circuit around said magnet, anda delayed action heat responsive device for opening said shunt circuit.

,5. In a secondary apparatus for use in a corrective time controlled system, an impulse magnet for advancing said apparatus, an operating circuit therefor, means operative only in one particular positionof said apparatus for completing a shunt circuit for said magnet, and means responsive only to the receipt of, an impulse of abnormal duration for opening said shunt circuit.

6. In a secondary apparatus for use in a corrective time controlled system, an impulse magnet for advancing said apparatus, an operating circuit therefor, a shunt circuit for said magnet including two sets of contacts, means dependent upon the chronological condition of said apparatus for controlling one of said sets of contacts and means controlled by a received impulse independently of said magnet for controlling the other of said sets of contacts.

'7. In a secondary apparatus for use in a time controlled system in which the control of said secondary apparatus is effected over a pair 01 wires extending from a master apparatus, an impulse magnet permanently connected between said two wires, and a shunt circuit for said ma net including a pair of contacts controlled by the chronological position of said secondary apparatus, a slow acting device, and a pair of contacts controlled by said slow acting device.

8. In a secondary apparatus for use in a time controlled system, a control circuit, an impulse magnet in said circuit for advancing said apparatus responsive to received impulses of predetermined duration, a shunt circuit for said magnet for preventing the operation of said magnet re-*' sponsive to said impulses, said shunt circuit having sufficient resistance so that said magnet will be maintained in operated position after it has once been operated, means for closing said shunt circuit when said apparatus reaches a predetermined chronological position, and slow-acting means responsive only to an impulse of greater duration for momentarily interrupting said shunt circuit to permit said magnet to be operated by said last-named impulse.

9. In a secondary apparatus for use ina time controlled system, an impulse magnet for advancing said apparatus, an operating circuit therefor, contacts controlled by the chronological condition of said secondary apparatus for opening said operating circuit, an auxiliary circuit for said magnet, and a slow acting relay for completing said auxiliary circuit.

10. In a secondary apparatus for use ina time controlled system, an impulse magnet for advancing said apparatus, an operating circuit therefor, a slow acting relay and a circuit therefor, cam controlled contacts operated in a pre determined chronological position of said secondary apparatus for opening the circuit of said magnet and for closing the circuit to said slow acting relay, an auxiliary circuit for said magnet and contacts on said relay for completing said auxiliary circuit.

' 11. In a time controlled system in which secondary apparatus is normally operated by normal impulses and accelerated if slow by rapid impulses transmitted by a master apparatus over a control circuit, an impulse magnet in the secondary apparatus included. in said control circuit and responsive to said impulses, means in said secondary apparatus for periodically opening the circuit of said magnet, means in said master apparatus for periodically transmittingan impulse of greater duration than said normal and rapid impulses, an auxiliary circuit for said magnet', and means in said secondary apparatus responsive only to said impulse of greater duration for completing said auxiliary circuit.

12. In a time controlled system, master apparatus and secondary apparatus, means in said master apparatus for transmitting normal impulses of predetermined duration at two difierent rates for normal advance and accelerating advance of said secondary apparatus and. for periodically transmitting an impulse of greater duration, circuit controlling devices effective when said secondary apparatus reaches a predetermined chronological position for preventing continued advance thereof by'said normal impulses, and means responsive only to said impulse of greater duration for again permitting advance of said secondary apparatus by said normal impulses.

' 13. In atime controlled system, masterapparatus'and secondary'apparatus connected by a control circuit, an operating magnet in said secondary apparatus for effecting advance thereof responsive to normal impulses of predetermined duration transmitted over said control circuit by said master apparatus, means operative when saidsecondary apparatus reaches a predetermined chronological position for closing a shunt-circuit for said magnet to prevent its c'ontinuedoperation by said normal impulses, means in said master apparatus effective when it reaches'a corresponding chronological position for transmitting an impulse of greater duration over said control circuit, and means in said shunt circuit responsive only to said last-named impulse for opening said shunt circuit to again permit operation of said impulse magnet.

14 The combination in a secondary apparatus for use in a corrective time controlled system of an incoming control circuit, an impulse magnet connected to said control circuit for eifecting all advancing movements of said apparatus, and a shunt circuit for said magnet comprising a pair of contacts controlled by means dependent upon the chronological position of said apparatus, a heat coil and a pair of contacts thermally controlled by said heat, coil all connected in series in said shunt circuit.

EDWARD B. JACKSON;

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