US2142253A - Electrical circuit - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1939. T- 1 NUNAN 2,142,253

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT Filed March 4, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet l :E i l INVENTOR.

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T. J. NUNAN LDECTRICAL CIRCUIT Filed March 4, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, M @Am AT RNEYS.

Jan.' 3, 1939. T, NUNKAVN ELECTRICAL 'CIRCUIT Filed March 4, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet'.y 3

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ATIgRN EY INVENTOR A VTNEN T. J. NUNAN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT Filed MarCh 4, 1937 8 Sheets-'Sheet 5 Jan. 3, 1939.

Jan. 3, 1939. T. J. NUNAN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT Filed March 4, 1937 Jan. 3, 1939.

T. J. NUNAN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT Filed March 4, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 zdf Jan. 3, 1939. T. J. NUNAN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 4, 1937 INVENTOR. BY l, v MJ ATT Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFCE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT Application March 4, 1937, Serial No. 128,996

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form of electrical circuit, more particularly a circuit which may be automatically operated to record a plurality of, operations. For the purpose of illustration, this circuit is illustrated and will be described in connection with a device for testing thread, as more fully described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 9,428, filed March 5, 1935. The present application is a continuation in part of divisible subject matter contained in said copending application.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown selected embodiments of the invention, and in those drawings:

Fig. l is'a vertical face view of an apparatus with which the invention may be employed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a slightly enlarged scale and taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view showing an elevation of the scale appearing in Fig. 1 as viewed from 'the right, parts being broken away and other parts shown in section, better to illustrate the operag5 tion of the apparatus;

Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B together form a wiring diagram, illustrating a selected embodiment of the circuit claimed herein;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of another circuit which may be used instead of the circuit of Figs. 4A and 4B to perform the same general functions and also certain other functions;

Fig. 6 is a view on an enlarged scale showing a detail of the circuit of Fig. 5;

Figs` '7 and 8 are views taken at right angles to each other and showing the construction of one of the rotary switches appearing in the various wiring diagrams;

Figs. 9 and 10 are views illustrating the oper- 0 ation of certain switches appearing in Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the operation of another switch appearing in Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view taken in a plane parallel to the plane of Fig. i but on the reverse side of the panel and showing the relation of certain parts;

Fig. 13 is a wiring diagram illustrating the operation of a modified embodiment of the invention;

l0 Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views illus trating the operation of the embodiment oi' Fig. 13.

For the purpose of convenience, the invention is illustrated as embodied in an apparatus for testing thread and for measuring the breaking strength of the thread tested. This apparatus may comprise a thread cylinder I forming a source of supply for thread to be tested and from which the thread 2 passes through a tension device 3 of any suitable construction and is then carried by a rotary frame 4 to a clamp 5 supported upon a bracket 6 secured to a movable part l of a scale y8. The scale is selected as a suitable form of indicator or measuring instrument and may be of any of the well-known forms -which may be found suitable for the purpose. Therefore the details of the scale mechanism will not be described except as they are of interest in understanding the invention. The indicating part of the measuring instrument may be omitted entirely for some purposes, and therefore the wordfindicator is used merely for convenience of expression.

For the purpose of convenience, I shall refer to the clamp 5 as the indicator clamp, since it moves with the indicator.

The frame i is rotatably mounted aboutl its axis 9 on a suitable support l0, here shown in the form of a panel extending upwardly from a base II, and is operated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. The operating means will be more fully described presently.

Rotatably mounted upon the panel I0 is a rock shaft I2 having on the front of the panel a lever i3 secured thereto, and upon the outer end of this lever is a clamp I4 which, for the sake of convenience, I shall refer to as the breaking clamp. On the back of the panel I0 the rock shaft I2 has an arm I5 which is urgedltowards the base I I by means of a spring I6.

By means to be described later, the clamps 5 and I4 are periodically operated in synchronism with the movement of the lever I3 and the frame 4. The frame A, as indicated, comprises a plurality of arms, here shown as four in number and which I have designated as I'I, I8, I9, and 20, and is given an intermittent rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

On the end of each of the arms II, I8, I9, and 20 is a feed clamp formed of two jaws ZI and 22 which are spring-pressed towards each other with sufiicient force to yieldingly clamp the thread therebetween as the thread yis pulled from the source of supply I. At appropriate times in the operation of the frame, the jaws may be forced apart by release members 23 and 24.

The frame is given an intermittent motion by any suitable means which may comprise a Geneva movement of which the driving member rif is operated by a cam shaft 35. rThis shaft in turn is continually rotated from a motor 3l (Fig. 12) through a gearing train contained in a gear box l which rotates a pinion meshing with a gear on the shaft Gn the shaft 35 in front of panel i@ is a cam it adapted to engage roller di on the lever i3.

more fully described and claimed in said ccpending application, the thread is brought in successive lengths into engagement with the clamps and lll, and the cam di then depresses the lever with its clamp ifi until the thread is broken. The release members 23 and Eil operate proper times to release the hold of the feed.

1 clamps on the thread or pieces of thread held thereby. The details o such operation, however, are not necessary to an understanding of the invention claimed herein.

The two clamps il and tl are controlled in their operation by solenoids G3 which are energized at the proper time to clamp the thread, and then daenergized at the proper time to release the thread held by the clamps.

es the cam depresses the clamp i 6l, tension is exerted on the thread between the clamps 5 and ifi and thus causes depression of the bracket to actuate the scale or other indicator and to cause the pointer t6 on the scale to move along the scale face Se'. Attached to the pointer is a pawl el cooperating with the ratchet B8 pivotally. mounted on the scale frame at 69. The ratchet has as many teeth thereon as there are units on the scale face t8', so that the pointer will not return to Zero until the pawl and ratchet are released from engagement, but will remain in position where they will indicate the nearest unit of force required to break the thread between the clamps 5 and The ratchet and pawl may be released at the proper time by the energizing or" a solenoid it pulling upon a rod li fastened to the ratchet,

this pull being against the action of a spring l2 which tends to hold the ratchet in its uppermost tion to contact with the pawl 6l.

The operation or" many or the different elements :s controlled by electrical circuits, and these circuits in turn may be controlled by means of a light sensitive element, such as a photo-electric cel ci known construction, which is shown at 73.

ihe cell may be acted upon by a lamp indicated at lli, light from which passes through a lens l5 which is directed towards the cell l.

7Between the lamp and the cell is disposed a shutter 'l5 ci arcuate form concentric with the center of movement of the pointer and having therein a plurality of holes il likewise arranged on an arc concentric with the center of movement of the pointer. The shutter, lamp, and cell are so arranged that, as the pointer moves, the shutter will pass between the lamp and cell so that the lamp may act upon the cell through the holes as they pass successively between the lamp cell. The result will be a series of electrical impulses, as is well known to those skilled in the f: art, and by making the holes correspond in number to the units of force indicated by the indicater, or by having those holes occupy a certain predetermined relation to such units of force, the impulses may be used as a measure of that force. this illustrated embodiment, it will be assumed that when the pointer t6 is at zero position, the lamp and cell will be opposite an opaque portion the shutter spaced from the irst hole a distance equal to the hole spacing.

The action of the light upon the cell will cause aisance a variation in the resistance of an electrical circuit, as is well known in the electrical art, and these variations or impulses are employed to operate a recorder, here shown in the form of a calculating machine i8. This calculating machine may take any desired form, but for the sake of illustration, I have shown a machine sold under the name of the Underwood Sundstrand. This type of machine is convenient, since it has a small number of keys on the keyboard, although the invention is not limited to the use of that particular machine.

The recorder or calculator machine is one which preferably has a keyboard with a plurality of keys, and the particular recorder selected for illustration has nine keys. These keys are adapted to print the numerals l to 9, inclusive, in a manner well known in the art, and the machine is also one in which the depressing of a key prints a record, for example, a numeral, upon a record strip of paper 83. A further detailed description of the recorder is deemed unnecessary.

Each finger is adapted to be operated by a solenoid 92, and these solenoids have been designated in Fig. 4-B by the numeral 92 followed by a number or character indicating the key or other part of the recorder which it is adapted to operate. For convenience of arrangement of the circuits, two additional solenoids are provided for the keys numbered l and 2, these additional solenoids being designated 92-1a and S12-2a. These additional solenoids are provided because this particular machine has only ten keys for the recording of digits and certain recording gures may require two actuations of the keys numbered i and 2. By the above described arrangement it is possible to have double actuation of the keys numbered l and 2 so as to give any quantity up to 32.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4-A and 4-B, I shall describe the electricalcircuits shown therein and which are arranged to control the operation of the mechanism previously described. These circuits include certain switches shown in the other figures previously described. rlwo of such Switches are indicated in Fig. 2 as mercury switches 95 and 96, each operated by a cam 9'1 and 98, respectively, on the cam shaft 35. The switch 95 is used to control the solenoids 63 operating the indicator clamp 5 and the breaking clamp iii, these two clamps operating in unison, and the switch 96 is used to control the solenoid for depressing the ratcher S8. The switch 95 is normally open and the switch S6 is normally closed.

in Fig. 3 is shown another switch 99, which is a cut-oil? switch controlled by the movement of the beam ill@ of the scale. When the downward movement of the bracket 6 causes movement of the element '1, the right-hand end of the beam in Fig. 3 is raised, permitting the switch 99 to close, but when the scale 'is not being operated, this switch is open. The shutter I6 has an opaque portion disposed between the lamp and the cell when the scale is inoperative, that is to say, when the pointer is at zero position, and the contacts of the switch 99 are so designed that they will come into engagement with each other and close the switch by the time that the shutter has moved a suicient amount so that the light from the lamp will pass through the rst one of the holes 'Il corresponding to the i'irst ounce.

Upon return movement of the scale beam to initial position, it will open the switch 99, the pointer and shutter being retained, however, by

the pawl and ratchet until operation of the solenoid 10, the scale construction readily permitting this action. In this Way I insure against passage of light through the holes in the shutter on its return movement.

Most of the circuits appearing in Fig. 4--A are disposed upon the scale or beneath the cover shown in Fig. 2, whereas most of the circuits appearing in Fig. 4-B will be disposed in a cabinet |02 shown in Fig. l. On the face of this cabinet may be conveniently arranged means to operate certain switches, such as the breaker switch |03, the recorder switch |04, and the reset" switch |05.

One of the features of my invention is the provision of means for automatically operating the device so that any required number of breaks may take place, and then the operation of the device will automatically cease. For example, if it is desired to test a thread by breaking it twenty-five times, the device may be automatically set so that twenty-five lengths of thread will be brought into engagement with the two clamps and |4 and broken, the force required to cause each break recorded, and the number of operations and total i force recorded. The total force may then be readily divided by the number of breaks to obtain the average strength determined by the run of tests.

In order to control this operation of the device, I provide a breaks required switch |06, which may include a pointer, as shown in Fig. 1, adapted to move over a numbered face, and connected to a contact |01 (Fig. Li--B). I find it convenient to have the face numbered so that by moving the pointer from one number to another, the number of breaks may be varied by five. For example, in Fig. 1, the pointer is shown as resting upon the numeral 5, which means that when the device is operated with the pointer so set, the thread will be broken twenty-five times during the run of the tests.

In Fig. 4-13, I have shown conventionally the thirteen solenoids 92-I, etc., adapted to operate the various fingers which in turn actuate the keys of the recorder. In order to avoid confusion, I have omitted these elements operated by the solenoids, except diagrammatically, in one instance.

Electric current may be supplied to the device from any suitable source, here indicated in Fig. 4-B as two line conductors |08 and |09 carrying a 110 volt, 60 cycle, alternating current. The conductors |08 and |09 lead to the opposite sides of the motor 31, the conductor |08 having therein a switch ||0 operated by a solenoid the switch and solenoid together forming what for convenience may be referred to as the trip relay. The function of this trip relay will be more fully discussed later.

The solenoids 63 are connected by conductors ||2 and ||3 to the conductors |08 and |09, respectively, and lead through the primary of a transformer ||4, the secondary of which is connected through a rectifier ||5 with the solenoids 63,'these solenoids being arranged in parallel with each other through variable resistances, if such are desired. The purpose of the rectifier is to provide a one-way current through the solenoids, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the conductor ||2 is shown the cam-operated switch 95, which switch thus controls the operation of the solenoids, and it will be seen that this operation is also controlled by means of the breaker switch |03 shown as located in the conductor |09.

The lamp 14 is likewise connected, by means of the conductors H6 and ||1, to the conductors |08 and |09 and lead therefrom to the primary of a transformer ||8, the secondary of which is connected to the lamp 14 by the conductors ||9 and |20. It will be seen that the cut-off switch 99, shown located on the scale in Fig. 3, is indicated in the conductor ||9, and therefore this switch controls the operation of the lamp.

Likewise connected to the conductors |08 and |09 is the photo-electric cell 13. This connection may be made by the conductor |2| connected to the conductor ||6 and thus to the conductor |08, the conductor |2| leading to the amplifier |22. This amplifier is of known construction, and one form which I have found suitable for the present purpose is sold under the name of Westinghouse Type LE Amplifier. The other line conductor |08 may be connected to the other side of the amplifier |22 by means of the conductor |23. From the amplifier |22 lead two input leads |24 and |25 to opposite sides of the cell 13. The recorder switch |04 is shown as being located in the conductor |23 and thus Vthis switch controls the amplifier and through the amplifier controls the operation of the photoelectric cell, as well as of other elements to be described later.

The ratchet solenoid may be connected through the conductor I6 connected to one of the line conductors |08, part of the conductor |2| conductor |26, switch |21, conductor |28, rectifier |29, conductor |30, to one side of the solenoid. The other side of the solenoid 10 may be connected to the line conductor |09 through the conductor |3|, rectifier |29, switch |04, and conductor |23. It will be noted that the switch 96 is located in the conductor |3|,

It will thus be seen that the ratchet solenoid, photo-electric cell, lamp, motor, and clamp solenoids are all connected across the line formed by the conductors |08 and |09.

By the conductors ||6, |2I, |26, |28, |23, and switch 04, the rectifier |29 is likewise connected across the same line. This rectifier has the function, known in the art, of giving the effect of a one-way current, and in the arrangement illustrated it is used to supply current to substantially all the recording apparatus.

Current through the rectifier, and consequently through the recording apparatus, is controlled by the recorder switch |04 and also by the switch |21, which in turn is controlled by the solenoid |32, this switch and solenoid forming the dashpot relay or other time-delay relay.

The various relay switches and magnet-operated switches indicated are supplied with the usual springs tending to keep them open or closed, as the case may be.

Connected to the amplifier |22 and receiving an amplified current therefrom is a circuit including the conductors |33 and |34 connected to opposite sides of the magnet |35 controlling switches |36 and |31, this magnet and the switches together being constructed so as to be a quick-acting relay.

The switch |36 is in a circuit leading from one side of the rectifier |29 through the conductors |38 and |39 to one side of the switch, the conductor |40 leading from the switch to the magnet |4| forming part of a rotary switch |42, and the conductors |43 and |44 leading to the other side of the rectifier |29.

The rotary switch |42 will hereinafter be referred to for convenience as rotary switch No. l.

:sol

This switch and other rotary switches hereinaiter referred to may be of the type shown in Figs. Y and 8, and the construction of which will be more fully described later. 4

ralor the present it is suilcient to say that the switch M2 comprises a rotary shaft i165 upon which are secured the three wiping contacts or brushes i-flt, tdi, and idc. in the diagram of Fig. 4MB, these three contacts are shown on separate centers but are connected together by dotted lines, to show that the centers are preferably coincident in practice. The wiping contact it@ wipes over homing contacts Il, while the wiping contacts Ml and id@ wipe over selector contactsi and ibi, respectively.

The circuit closed by engagement oi the wiping Contact itt with one of the contacts i519 includes the switch E52 operated by the magnet itil, the contacts M35 and M9, the conductor I53, the normally-closed switch Idil, conductos IE5, 156, and itil, leading to one side of the rectier, while the other side of the rectifier is connected through the conductors i136 and M3 and magnet lii to the switch H52.

The circuits closed by engagement of the wiping contacts lll'i and itt with the contacts I5@ and itl, respectively, will be described. later, as these circuits include apparatus which has not yet been described.

There is shown a plurality of relays referred to, respectively, as slow release relay No. l, slow release relay No. 2, vibrating reed relay, slow release relay No. 3, Yand slow release relay No. 4. rine circuits for these relays will now be described.

The magnet iti operating the normally-open switch l5? of slow release No. l, has current supplied to it on one side thereof by a conductor leading through the switch itl and the conduce tors itt and i353 to one side of the rectner itil, to the other side of which the magnet tt is con* nected by means or conductors Mii and itil.

One side oi the normally-open switch. ll is connected to one side of the rectiiler H29 by means or the conductors MQ, Ifli, and Iiil, while the other side of the switch I5? is connected to the other side of the rectier by -means of the conductor iSd, magnet It of slow release relay No. 2, and conductors it? and H33.

, Slow release relay No. 2 comprises three switches, it, ital, and it. Of these three switches, i653 is normally closed and it@ is normally open, while it is normally in the position shown, closing one of two circuits, both of which will be more fully descibed later.

The magnet 66 oi the vibrating reed relay has current supplied to one side thereof from one side of the rectifier E29 through the conductors Mld, M3, it?, switch i613, and conductor 63, whereas the other side of the magnet is connected to the other side of the rectifier by means of the conductors i3d, Ict, and 69. The switch il@ of this relay is in the form of a reed which Vibrates between two contacts, as plainly indicated.

The magnet iii of slow release relay No. 3 and which operates the switches ld and it?,

. has one side thereof connected to one side o the rectier i2@ by means of the conductor i'i', switch Iii?, conductors lll-3, M53, and idd, whereas the other side of the magnet lll is connected to the same rectifier by the conductors iiffi, it, and i3d.

The magnet ii of slow release relay No. 4 has one side thereof connected to one side of the rectiner MQ by means of the conductor lib, switch it, conductors lli, and i333, whereas the other side of the magnet H5 is connected to the other side of the same rectifier by the conductor dit, switch |79, contacts itl and H82, and conductors 483, M3, and ldd.

The switch It@ is controlled by the magnet I8@ and forms therewith part of rotary switch No. 2, which is generally similar to rotary switch No. 1, having not only the wiping contact itl adapted `to engage the homing contacts I82, but also havlng the wiping contact iti mounted upon the same shaft Ich asis the contact II, and adapted to engage any one of the energizing contacts ISB.

Similarly, the switch identified as rotary switch No. 3 has two wiping contacts .I 8i and It@ mounted upon a common shaft IM, contact I'i being adapted to engage any one of the homing contacts l E@ and contact ISR being adapted to engage any one oi the trip-contacts ISH.

The magnet it) of rotary switch No. 2 receives its current from the rectiiier IZS through the conductors i3d, It, Iil,switch 65, and conductor HB2 (or conductor llt and switch 875') and conf ductor E93 leading to one side of the magnet, the

l other side being connected by the conductors ISG, 83, M3, and Iil to the other side of the rectifier W9.

Current may be supplied from the rectifier 29 through conductors idd, MS, and H83 and contact It to any one of the electric contacts it and thence through one of the solenoids 92 and one of the contacts I5@ and Ilil, or ISi and M8, as the case may be, to the conductor I95 and thence through the switch ISS, conductor ISB, switch IS7, conductors ist, ISG, and i138 back to the other side or" the rectifier tt.

The magnet igt) of rotary switch No. 3 has one side thereof supplied with current from one side of the rectier 29 through conductors l, 56, and. 213i, whereas the other side of the magnet I99 is connected by the conductor t@ to the Contact 88E-M and thence through the contact I84, and conductors IB, i 33, and Idil to the other Side of the rectifier 29.

It should be noted that the solenoid 92--M is not connected to rotary switch No. l, like the other solenoids Q2, but is in a circuit comprising conductors Illi, M33, It, contacts i861 and ISG-M, and conductors 2&32, H62, and It.

Rotary switch No. 3, like the other rotary switches, has associated with its magnet les a switch 2% controlled by that magnet and permitting current to pass from one side of the switch through conductor 203', magnet |99, conductor Ztl, and conductors ASB and |38, to one side of the rectifier, whereas current from the `other side of the switch may pass through the contact itil, one of the homing contacts I. the switch M35, and conductors 23d, M3, and IM, to the other side of the rectifier IZQ.

Current from the line conductor IUS may pass through the conductor 2(35 to the conductor I 88 and thence through one of the trip contacts ISI, through one of the conductors 296 to one of the contacts 2M adapted to be engaged by the contact on the pointer I? of the hand-operated switch I and thence through a conductor 208 and through the trip relay HI to the other line conductor tilt.

In operation, the thread is brought into position to be engaged by the two clamps and it and is held by the feed clamp on the end 0f the arm l1 as in Fig. l, being loosely engaged with the feed clamps on the arms It and IQ as previously described. v

The pointer on the switch itt which normally occupies the zero position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4B, is now set at the point desired. In the illustrated embodiment, I have assumed that it is desired to break the thread twenty-tive times, and therefore I have set the pointer at 5 as indi cated in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 4-B.

Normally, when idle the cam-operated switch 95 will be open and the switch 96 will be closed. However, as seen from Fig. 12, as soon as any substantial rotation of the cam shaft takes place in the direction of the arrow appearing in that iig'ure, the switch 95 will be closed so as to operate the solenoids 63 and cause the jaws of the clamps 5 and I4 to operate to grip the thread. At the same time, the switch 96 will be opened and remain open until near the end of the operation.

The cut-ot! switch 99 likewise will be open at the beginning of the operation so that the lamp 14 will not be lighted, but a relatively slight movement of the beam |00 of the scale will cause the switch 99 to close.

The breaker switch |63 may now be closed, thus completing the circuits through the motor 31, through the soienoids 63, and also through the lamp 14, except for the switches 95 and 99, which will be closed as soon as the motor has caused a small movement of the cam shaft 35.

'I'he recorder switch |04 may be closed simultaneously with the switch |03, which will complete the circuit through the ampliner |22 to the photo-electric cell 13. Closing of this switch |04 will likewise energize the solenoid |32 of the dash-pot relay to close the switch |21 in the circuit of the rectifier |29, but the dash-pot will 'scribed above.

With the closing of the switch |03, the motor 31 will start operation, and one of the iirst results will be the closing of the switch 95 by rotation of the cam shaft 35, to cause the solenoids 63 to operate the clamps 5 and |4 to grip the thread. The switch 96 will be opened by this same movement, as noted above. Another result of the rotation of the cam shaft 35 is to operate the cam 4| and depress the lever I3, thus causing the thread to break between the clamps 5 and |4. As previously described, this action will cause an actuation of the indicator and a consequent movement of the shutter 16 between the cell 13 and lamp 14.

The passage of each hole 11 in the shutter 16 will cause an impulse to be sent through the conductors |33 and |34 to the magnet |35 of the quick-acting relay of which that magnet forms a part, closing both of the switches |36 and |31. Closing of the switch |36 energizes the magnet |4| of rotary switch No. l, and thereby causes the wiping contacts |46, |41, and |48 to move one step or into engagement with the next one of the contacts |49, |50, and |5|, respectively, after which the switches |36 and |31 will be opened by the action of the relay. The operation of a rotary switch one step for each impulse is an action well known in the electrical art, but will be more fully-described later in connection with the description of Figs. 'l and 8.

Since the holes 11 in the shutter are spaced apart a distance correspondingto units of weight, here taken as ounces, it will be seen that for 4spring to act.

Normally, the switches |51, |64, |15', and |91 are open while the switches |63 and |54 are closed, and the switch is in the position shown, connecting the conductors |16 and |11. In each instance, as noted above, the switch may be operated against the action of a spring tending to keep it in its normal position.

Closing of the switch |31 simultaneously with the switch |36 energizes slow release relay No. l to close switch |51, closing of which in tum will energize slow release relay No. 2 to close the switch |64, to open switch |63, and to operate the switch |65 to disconnect conductors |16 and |11 and to connect conductors |11 and |92. Closing of the switch |64 will energize the vibrating reed relay, whereas the described operation of the switch |65 will deenergize slow release relay No. 4, thus closing switch |15 through its spring and operating rotary switch No. 2 by current now available through switch |65.

Energizing of the vibrating reed relay will in turn energize slow release relay No. 3 which will open the switch |54 and thus break the circuit through the homing contacts |49 and wiping contact |46, in the circuit of which the switch |54 is located, as previously described.

The two rotary switches Nos. 1 and 2 will operate simultaneously under the action of the first impulse received, but the action of the slow release relay No. 4 holds the wipers |6| and |04 on the rst contact |62 and |66, respectively, while the rotary switch continues to step the wiping contacts |46, |41, and |46.l

These wiping contacts |46, |41, and |46 will continue to step around until the thread breaks and will move one step or one contact |49, |50, and |5|, respectively, for each impulse received by the quick-acting relay. While this movement of the wiping contacts is taking place, all oi' the slow-release relays No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and the vibrating reed relay will have remained energized, because of their slow-release feature, and thus prevent further movement oi' the rotary switch No. 2.

For the sake of example, assume that ten impulses have been transmitted to rotary switch No. l. Then it will be seen that the three wiping contacts |46, |41, and |46 have moved to their positions shown in dotted lines. In this connection, these wiping contacts are shown at zero positions in full lines, and it will be noted that in those positions each of the wiping contacts is in a dead or idle position. It'will also be noted that when contact |46 engages with any one of the contacts |49 except the zero" one, a circuit will be closed at that point.

It will also be noted that the wiping contact |64 is in engagement with a blank contact |96 as the result of the rst impulse.

Rotary switch No. l acts as a selector switch to select and partially close a circuit through one or more of the solenoids 92. For example, With the number I0 to be recorded, as is assumed tobe the case, then the selector switch has selected and partially vclosed circuits through the solenoids 92--1 and 92-0. The wiping lcontact |41 will have moved to the position shown in dotted lines, where it rests upon the tenth contact |50. Similarly, the wiping Contact |48 has moved a corresponding amount and over a corresponding number of contacts |51, but these.

contacts are all dead or blank except the tenth one, which is connected to solenoid 924-0.

The nine contacts |50 following that marked |41v are all connected to the solenoid 921, so

one `of the contacts |5|. between the points .marked and 3U so as to energize one of the From the'above it will be seen that for every number from 1 to 9, inclusive, it is possible to complete a circuit through one of the solenoids 92-7-1 to 92-`9, inclusive, whereas for every nurnber from l0 to 32, inclusive, two circuits may be completed through two diiierent solenoids corresponding to the two digits in the number.

Rotary switch No. 2 may be termed the energizing switch, and completes the circuits through the solenoids selected by theselector switch, and vwhich circuits have been partially completed by the selector switch. 'Ihe complete circuitthrough one ofthe solenoids leads from one side of the rectier .|29 through the conductors |44, |43, |83, the contacts |84 and |86, the selected solenoid, one of the contacts |59 or |5| and thence to the wiping Contact .|41 or |48, as the case may be, to the conductor |95, switch |83, conductor |98, switch |91, conductors |98, |56, and |38. In the diagram, the principal part of this circuit is shown in heavy lines.

Now take the time when the wiping contacts |41 and |48 have come to rest so that the circuits through the various solenoids 92 have been select/ed, and the wiping contact |84 has moved one Contact from the position indicated.

Slow release relay No. 1 will remain energized as long as impulses keep reaching it, but when those impulses cease, which occurs when the thread breaks, then .this relay will cease to be energized and the switch |51 will open, thus in turn causing the deenergizing of slow yrelease relay No. 2 and the vibrating reed relay.

Slow release relay No. 2, in dropping out, energizes slow release relay No. 4, causing the wiping contacts |8| and |84 to move in a clockwise direction around over the contacts |82 and |86, respectively, back to their normal position which is indicated in the diagram. In its movement, the wiping contact |34 will complete the circuits through the various solenoids 92 which have been selected by the selector switch. The movement of the wiping contact |84, however, is slowed up by slow release Lrelay No. 4.

The switches operated by the magnets |15 and |89, respectively, will alternately energize and deenergize these two magnets so as thus to delay the action of rotary switch No. 2 or the energia-- ing switch and thus insuring that the wipingcontact |84 will have suiiiciently long engagement with any of the contacts |85 which are in the se- `release relay No. 3 is deenergized and the switch |91 opens and the switch |54 closes.

Opening'of the switch |91 breaks the circuit of the selector switch, and closing of the switch |54 puts current on the contacts |49 and com- -pletes the circuit through the magnet |41, thus causing the wiping contact |46 vto rotate step by step in a clockwise direction until it reaches the position shown in full lines in the diagram, which movement is generally termed going home. This action will be more fully explained later. During this movement, of course, the wiping contacts |41 and |48 move with the wiping contact until they too reach the full line positions indicated.

It will be noted 'that the numbered contacts |86, which are connected to the various solenoid circuits and therefore are live, are spaced apart a substantial distance on the arc of contacts so as to insure that the contact '|84 only closes one circuit at a time. It will also be seen that it is impossible for the vwiping contact |84 to close two circuits to operate the same recording key.

For example, the recording key numbered l may be operated by either one of the two solenoids 92-1 or 92-1a, and it will be seen that the contactsv |86 connected in the circuits of these two solenoids and numbered l and la respectively, are spaced apart widely on the arc of contacts |86. Thus if, for example, the recording key numbered 1 is to be actuated twice in succession to record the numeral 11, 'it will have time to operate once under the action of the solenoid 92-1 when energized by closing of its circuit at contacts HiB- 1, and then return to inoperative position before it is acted upon under the influence of the solenoid i12-1a, when energized by closing its circuit at contact |86-1a.

Now assuming that the thread has broken after a force of ten ounces has been applied to it, the breakage will not aiect the operation of the motor which will continue to rotate the cam 4|. The ratchet 68 will hold the pointer 66 in the position at which it was when the thread broke until released by the later action of the solenoid 1D.

The wiping contact |84 will have moved over all of the contacts 186,as previously described, in-

cluding the contacts |86--l and |8B-O, thus successively energizing the solenoids 92-1 and 92,-0, to record the number l0 on the recorder.

The` solenoid 92-M Vshould be energized to print each recording, and for that purpose the circuit through that solenoid is closed by engagement of the wiping contact |84 with the contact iBS-M, which is located so that the contact I 84 may engage therewith only after having passed over all of the other live contacts. Energizing of the solenoid 92-M will cause one of the lingers 81 to operate the key 80, which will cause printing of the recorded iigures upon the strip 83 and movement of the strip into position to present a blank space for printing of the next set of iigures. Thismovement of the strip is eected by standard mechanism incorporated in the adding machine, as is well known. n

The wiping contactv |84,`in passing over the contact ISS-M, which is connected to the conductor thus energizes rotary switch No. 3

momentarily and causes the wiping contacts |81 and |88 to move one step or one ycontact |80 and 8 respectively. l

It will be seen that only every fth contact Ill is connected to one of the conductors 206 so that every break of the thread causes the move- `ment of the wiping contact |88 from one contact I8I to the next adjoining one, but engagement of the wiping contact |88 with the contact IOI acts as a switch to help in closing a circuit, only at every fifth or numbered contact ISI. This is the reason why the pointer of the switch |06 is shown at a figure corresponding to -the number of breaks desired, divided by five.

Movement of the wiping contact |81 over the homing contacts will have no effect at this stage, but when the wiping contact |88 comes ln contact with the contact ISI- 5, corresponding to the setting of the switch |06 in the selected example, a circuit will be completed through the conductor 205, contacts |88, ISI- 5, one of the conductors 206, the switch |06, conductor 208, and trip relay I I I, which will open the switch I0 and stop the operation of the motor.

Before another set of testsl takes place, the reset switch |05 should be operatedvrnanually to close the circuit through the homing contacts and thus cause rotary switch No. 2 to return the contact |81 to initial position.

After each break of the thread, until the motor is stopped, the cam shaft 85 continues its operation, causing successive breaks in successive lengths of thread fed into position to be broken. During the rotation of the cam shaft, the switches 86 and 86 are periodically opened and closed. Closing of the switch 96 takes place after the thread is broken, and will operateA the ratchet solenoid and cause the ratchet 68 to release the pawl 61 to permit the pointer 66 to return to zero position before tension is placed upon another length of thread. This return is caused by the usual mechanism of the scale, which is of stand-` ard construction and need not be described or illustrated in detail.

When the operation of the motor is discontinued upon completion of the required number of test breaks, the quantities recorded on thel paper of the calculating machine or recorder may be totalized in the usual manner common with such machines'. The result then will be a printed or typed record on a paper strip which has been made automatically.

Referring now to Figs. 13, 14, and 15, 1 have indicated therein a different embodiment of av certain part of the invention, more particularly the part relating to the sending of the impulses which actuate the recording mechanism.

I have found that for some types of testing apparatus where the units to be measured and recorded are relatively small, or where for any other reason the holes 11 in the shutter 16 are placed close together, and then a vibration occurs .which will disturb the relation of the shutter to the lamp and cell, such vibration may cause the shutter to flutter enough to send impulses. by changing the quantity of light reaching the cell. The structure` and arrangement shown in Figs. 13,-14, and 15 are designed ,tol obviate this difficulty.

The parts appearing in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 which are identical with the parts already described have been given the same numerals, and a description of their function will not be repeated. For purpose of convenience, in Fig. 13

I have shown a certain duplication of parts, the shutter 16 and associated parts beingl shown twice, once on a large scale and Aonce on a smaller scale which better fits into the Wiring diagram.

Instead of the shutter 16 having a hole 11 for each ounce or other unit of force, I provide it in this embodiment with one hole for each two ounces, thereby cutting down the number of holes by half. Cooperating with the shutter, l provide two lamps 16a and 1lb, connected in parallel, and these lamps are so spaced apart lengthwise of the shutter that when one lamp is shining through one of the holes 11, the other lamp has its beam of light directed against an opaque part of the shutter between two of the holes. In this instance, the center to center spacing of the lamps is 5%; the center to center spacing ofthe holes.

Cooperating `with each of the lamps is a photoelectric cell 13a, 13b, respectively. By means that will be explained later, when the scale pointer 66 indicates zero, neither lamp 14a nor 14h will be lighted, nor in registry with one of the holes, but the end hole 11--1 is disposed between the beam of light from the two lamps, as plainly shown in Fig. 13.

Now as the pointer 66 moves from zero to l on the scale face 66', the light in both lamps is lighted, by means to be described later, and the next to the last hole 11-2fwill come into registry with the beam of light from the lamp 1lb, as shown in Fig. 14, and cause this beam to act upon the cell 13b. However, the end hole 11-1 will not have reached a position to register with the beam of light from the lamp 14a, as shown in Fig. 14.

Then, as the pointer moves to 2 upon the scale face, the end hole 11--1 will be brought to a position to register with the beam of light from the lamp 14a and the next hole 11--2 will pass out of registry with the beam from the lamp 1lb, all as shown in Fig. 15. This operation will be repeated, first one hole coming into registry with one beam of light and then the other hole coming into registry with the other beam of light,

either one lamp or the other acting upon its cell for each unit of measurement.

Each cell is placed in the input circuitv l2la- I25a or |28b-I25b of an amplifier |22a or I22b, respectively. These amplifiers are connected in parallel to the conductors I2I and |23, and they act in the same manner as the amplifier |22, which in the other embodiment is connected to the same conductors.-

In the embodiment being described, instead of the switch 98 being used as shown in Fig. 3, I use a double switch indicated generally by the numeral 98' in Fig. 13, andcontrolled by the position of the bracket 6. This switch comprises four spring contacts in what is known as break-make assembly, these contacts being identified as 209, 2|0, 2| I, and 2I2. When the pointer 66 is at zero, the vvarious contacts have the relation shown in Fig. 13, namely, the two contacts 209 and 2I0 are out of engagement with each other, and the contacts 2II and 2|2 are in engagement with each other, in which position thevare held by the bracket, as shown.

Now as the bracket 6 is moved downwardly under the tension of the thread before it breaks,

. the contact 2I2 will move out of engagement with Yspring actions and through the arrangement of insulating spacers 2 I3.

Therefore, as soon as tension on the thread is suicient to move the bracketI 6 downwardly, the

result is to open one circuit and close another. 'I'he'circuitcontrolled by the contacts 2||2| 2 is a shorting circuit and includes a contact 2|5 centrally disposed on an armature 2|6 adapted' to be operated ,by either one of the magnets 2| 1 or 2| 8 connected respectively in the output circuits of the amplifiers |2217 and |22a.

witheither one of two spring contacts 2|9 or 220, both connected to a conductor 22| which leads back to the contact 2| 2. The conductor 2|4 is in turn connected through aV battery 222.

tothe conductor |33, and the conductor 22| is connected directly to the conductor |34.

These conductors |33 and `|34 are connected to opposite sides of the magnet |35 controlling switches |36 and |31. These switches operate in much the same manner as the switches |36 and |31, except that in the present embodiment the magnet |35 is normally energized, Whereas in the rst described embodiment it is normally de? tion; as indicated in Fig. 13.

Y Assuming that the pointer is at zero, then the I circuit through the lamps is broken between the contacts 209 and 2|0, while the contacts 2| and 2|2, and 2|5 and 2|9, are in engagement, respectively. The various holes in the shutter occupy the positions shown in Fig. 13 and the magnets 2|1 and 2|8 are deenergized.

As soon as the pointer and shutter have moved a distance vcorresponding to one unit of measurement, then the next to the last hole 11-2 will y come into registry with the vlamp 14h as vpreviously described, and as shown'in Fig. 14, and will -thus aiect the cell 13b, energizing the magnet 2 1 'and attracting vthe armature2l6 to that magnet and away from the magnet 2|8.' AThis will break the circuit between the contacts 2|5 and 2|9 and .after a very short interval of time will make al circuit between the contacts 2|5 and 220. This action will'momentarily deenergize the magnet |35 by breaking the circuit through the battery 222 and the magnet, thus permitting the switches |36 and |31' to close. When, however, the contact 2| 5 engages the contact 22|), the circuit is -again completed through the magnet I 35 and the battery 222, again opening the switches |36( and |31. The result 'is the sending of an impulse to the magnet |35, which causes it to act in the y same manner as described above in the first described embodiment, and then the immediate breaking of the circuit of that magnet, so that no further impulses may be sent no matter how much the shutter may vibrate. i

I The two magnets 2 1 and 2| 8 are so constructed that the armature will stay in position against the core of the magnet last energized. Now assuming that the shutter and pointer move a distance corresponding to another unit of weight, the last hole 11-1 will come in registry with the lamp 14a and cell 13a, as shown in Fig'. 15, and thus'energize the magnet 2|8, which will cause an'impulse to be sent to the magnet |35 in the same manner as just described above.

These operations will be repeated as each hole This contact 2|5 is between and may contact comes into registry with one of theY lamps and its corresponding cell until the thread breaks, and the registry of a holewith a lampresults in only one impulse.

,ing circuit by engagement of the contacts 2|| and 2 |2. y

While the pointer and shutter are returning to zero, the lamps will thus be extinguished and no light Iwill reach the cells from the lamps and thus no impulses will be sent. As the shutter and pointer reach zero, the switch 221 will be closed, short circuiting the input to the amplifier |22a, causing an impulse of current to flow through the magnet 2 |`8 in the same manner as if light reached the cell 13a, and thus causing the armature 2|6 to return to the position indicated, if not already there. If already there, the short circuiting has no effect.

The above operation is used `in order to insure that the armature 2|6 shall always be at the indicated position when the pointer is at zero.

Assuming that the armature 2| 6 is moved from engagement with the core of the magnet 2|1 to engage with the core of themagnet 2|8, or, in other words, to the position indicated, as just described, then that act would cause an impulse to be sent to the magnet v|35 unless some means were provided to prevent it.` Such means is provided by lthe shorting circuit comprising the conductor 2|4, contacts 2|| and 2|2, and conductor 22|, thus providing a short circuit between the conductors 2|4 and 22| and avoiding the sending of anyl impulse to the magnet |35 through the battery 222.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown therein a type of rotary switch which may be employed in connection with the various circuits described above. Assume that the switch illustrated in these two figures is rotary switch No. 1 mounted upon the shaft |45. The stationary contacts are arranged in banks, the contacts |49 being arranged in two banks, the` contacts .|50 in'two other banks, and the contacts |5| in two other banks. lIn order to avoid the necessity of an unusually large switch, each bank consists of 'only twenty-five contacts, and therefore the contactsv are arranged in two separate banks, and instead of one wiping contact |46, I have indicated two such contacts. Similarly, instead of one wiping contact |41 and |48, respectively, I have shown two such contacts. 'I'his expedient is well known in the art.

The wiping contacts |46, |41, and |48 are all secured to the shaft |45 but insulated from each other. Intermittent rotation of the shaft with the wiping contact thereon is obtained by means of the magnet |4| having an armature 263 pivoted at 264 upon a frame 265, and having an upwardly extending arm 266 provided at its upper end with a pivoted pawl 261 engaging a ratchet 268 secured cause the pawl 261 to actuate theratchet one step.

Upon each movement of the arml 266 towards the right of Fig. '1, a button 21| carried thereby will open the homing contacts 212 and 213 by engagement with the contact 213. These contacts will be closed upon the spring causing the actuation of the pawl and ratchet as described above.

The homing switch |52 comprising the oontacts 212 and 213 is in a circuit, as shown in Fig. 4-B, which includes the wiping contact |46 and the homing contacts I 49 and also the magnet I4 I. When slow release relay No. 3 permits the closing of this circuit, then the operation of the pawl and ratchet will be repeated indefinitely until the wiping contact |46 engages one of the bank contacts |49 which is not energized. As plainly indicated in Fig, 4-B, the zero contact I 49 is a blank so that when the wiping contact |46 engages that blank contact, the rotation of the switch will cease.

The general construction of the type of rotary switch described above is known in the art, as is also the necessary construction of relays to make them operate relatively slowly. It has not been thought necessary to describe any particular construction of slow-acting relay, nor for that matter of a vibrating reed relay. since that type of relay is also well known in the electrical art.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a circuit which may be used in place of the circuit shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. Generally speaking, this circuit will perform the same functions as the circuit previously described, and will also perform certain other functions which will be brought out during the following description. The same numerals have been applied to corresponding parts in the two circuits, so far as possible.

The rotary switch No. 1 is similar in both circuits, although diilerent in details. 'I'hls switch is shown very diagrammatically in Fig. 5 but on a larger scale in Fig. 6. In Fig. 5, no attempt has been made to show the details of rotary switch No. 1", nor the details of the connections leading therefrom. In Fig. 5, it has merely been indicated that those connections lead to the adding machine, and the solenoids 92 of the adding machine are indicated in Fig. 6. in the same general manner as in Fig. 4B.

The shutter 16 in Fig. 5 is shown in connection with two lamps and associated photo-electric cells, as in Fig. 13.

Current is supplied from the main 214 which supplies current to the rectifier |29 through a switch 215 controlling the power relay 216. Similarly, a switch 211 connected to any suitableA source of power may be used to control relays 218 and 218' which control the passage of current to the motor 31.

The circuit of Fig. 5 also includes rotary switch No. 3, corresponding to the similarly identified switch of the other embodiment, and also a "breaks required" switch |06, serving the same function as before.

The lamps are controlled by a double throw switch 99 operating a shorting relay |35 as before. The rotary switch No. 2 and the relays between that switch and rotaryswitch No. 1 of the old circuit are replaced by relays indicated by the legends R-5 to R-I2, inclusive.

By the numerals 219 and 288 are identified cables or collections of wires forming conductors, in this instance each of the lines so identified on the drawings indicating seven wires. Similarly, the ten wires leading from the switch |88 to the switch R. S. No. 3 are shown as contained in a cable 28|.

The action of the shutter will cause impulses to pass through certain of the wires in cables 219 and 288 to the ampliilers numbered l and 2, respectively, amplifier No. l being indicated for odd numbers and amplifier No. 2 for even numbers. The impulses sent to these amplifiers will cause them to alternately energize the two coils of a pole relay 282.Y The middle contact of the switch operated by this relay alternately closes and opens circuits to the two relays 283 and 284, each of which has the characteristic of being slow to operate and which send impulses to the slowacting relay 285 and to the quick-acting relay 286, these two relays being energized together.

Quick-acting relay 286 energizes the relay of rotary switch No. 1 to step the contact of that switch around one point for each impulse. The slow-acting relay 285, on the other hand, stays closed until the impulses caused by the quickacting relay cease and then it opens. Upon closing at the beginning of the chain of impulses, the slow-acting relay in turn closes relays R-5 to R-IZ, inclusive, in succession and. on the other hand, when it opens, these relays Rf-5 to R-I 2, inclusive, drop out one after the other.

When relay R8 drops out, the result is to apply voltage on the pointer contact I4'I, thus causing the printing of the first figure of ten or any number above ten. Then when relay R-9 drops out, voltage is placed on the pointer contact |48, causing the printing of any number less than ten or the second digit of any number over ten. 'I'hus it will be seen that the switches of the relays R-,8 and R9, respectively, perform the same function as the energizing switch identified as rotary switch No. 2 in Fig. 1 -B. When relay R-IZ drops out, voltage is applied to the solenoid 92-M.

The same relay is used to control a magnetic counter operated by a magnet 281 (Fig. 6). This counter is of any known construction, the details ofwhich are not necessary to an understanding of the invention claimed herein.v It is used to count the number of breaks of thread which take place.

Just before the relay R-I2 drops out, it energizes relays R-I3 and R-I4 simultaneously. However, these relays are so wound` that R-I3 operates first, cutting out R-I4 and locking it in its inoperative position while R|3 is in operation. Nothing happens, however, until the next break of thread takes place, at whichtime relay R-I3 becomes deenergized, allowing RI4 to operate and sending one impulse to the rotary switch No. 3. This operation makes it possible to have a larger number of breaks for the same number of contacts. Y,

It sometimes happens that the length of thread Abeing broken has an unusual weakness therein shown in Fig. l, the finger is placed between the two clamps 5 and I4 and moves in a slot 290 in the panel I0. 'I'he mercury switch is controlled by a solenoid 29|.

The switch 288 may have either one of three The uppermost positions indicated in Fig. 11.

' takes when the thread is unbroken, and it will position of that ligure is the one which the switch be seen that the switch is then open. Then as the thread is broken while beingk tested, the finger 289 willpas's to the other side of the thread by a downward movement of the mercury switch. `During this movement, the switch will be momentarily closed, such a condition being indicated at the middle position of the switch in- Fig. 11, andthen the switch will be opened again, as indicated in thebottom position in Fig. 11. After the thread is broken and before a new length of thread is fed into position to be broken, the sole- `noid 29| isactuated to pull the switch 288 back toits uppermost position in Fig. 11.` v'

When the iinger passes the thread position as the thread breaks, one of two things may happen.

If the breaking force is so small that no impulse has been transmitted to rotary switch No. 1, then the circuit is closed through relays R422 and 11,-'23, which in turn operate relay'R-24 and which in turn will energize the relay 218' to openl the motor circuit. However, if the force `needed to break the thread has been great enough to cause one'or more impulses to reach rotary switch No. 1, then R-12 will have been operated as described above, vthis openingthe circuit to` to take proper account of the weak break in determining the results of the tests. The motor"k may now be started again by operating the weak break restart button 292, which will open the 'circuit through the relay 218 and thus permit ther switch controlled thereby to close the circuit to -the motor. y

After the finger 289 has passed to the right ci' the thread as viewed in Fig. 11, it must be moved back to the other side of theV thread position, and this is done by means of the solenoid 291. lAs it returns to initial position, .the switch 288 is momentarily closed in the same manner as it is v closed momentarily when the thread breaks, but -this closing on the return motion is rendered ini effective by the following means:

When the ratchet 'solenoid 18 is energized to release the ratchet from engagement `with the pawl, there is also energized a relay Rf-ZG which will open a switch in the same line as the switch 288, and thus when the solenoid 29| is subsequently energized to move the switch 288 back tov initial position, its temporary closing will not be eiective, because its circuit is already open at another point.

When the thread is first fed between the clamps 5 and M and engaged thereby, it is preferable to hold the weak break nger' 289 out of engagement withthe thread for a second or two and then release it and return it again to the thread. In other words, when the thread is first engaged by the clamps, this will make a little slack in it, and until this slack is taken up by stretching the thread it is best to keep the. nger out of engagement with the thread. This result is accomplished by the dash pot relay 293, the switch of which is in the circuit controlling the solenoid 29|. When this relay 293 is not energized, its switch is closed so that current may pass therethrough to the solenoid 29|. When the relay 293 is energized, however, the dash pot associated therewith will prevent separation of the contacts of the relay switch for a period of seconds, depending upon the dash pot adjustment. When, however, the dash pot permits opening'of the switch of relay 293, then the solenoid 29| is deenergized and the iinger 289 may contact with the thread.` f g Looked at in'anot'her way, the nger 289 when returned to itsiiniti'alposition by the solenoid 29| is out of contact with the thread, being held by the solenoid a sucient distance away from the normal thread position for that purpose and so isnot responsive to the tension `of the thread. Then the solenoid 29| is deenergized and the finger 289 and switch 288 are governed entirely by the tension of the thread until the thread breaks. The "tension device 3 is preferably controlled by a release member which may be operated by a solenoid 294. The details of this release member are more fully described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 100,433, tiled-September 12, 1936, and will not be further described.

The magnets 63 which are used to control the clamps 5 and I4, respectively, are preferably energized in the manner more fully described and claimed in my said copending application Ser. NQ 100,433, in such a way as 'to avoid damage to the thread'engaged by the clamps. 'I'his is done by energizing the magnets iirst with a voltage that will cause the jaws of the clamp to engage the thread lightly and then with a higher voltage that will cause a firmer engagement of the thread by the jaws. This is done by means of two switches'295 and 29B (Figs. 5, 9, and 10) operated by cams 291 Yand 298 on the shaft 35 (Fig. 2). The extreme positions of these two switches are shown in'Figs. 9 and 10, and their operation is more fully described in said copending applicationSer. No. 100,433. In addition to operating the clamp magnets as described in said copending application, the switch 295 is connected to a conductor 299 which leads to the ratchet solenoid 10 and the other parts, as plainly shown in Fig. 5, whereby this single switch may be used to control several instrumentalities. The two switches are mounted upon two pivoted blocks which are tipped. by the action of the cams, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and more fully described in said copending aDDlication.

Referring now particularly to Fig, 6, it will be seen that the contacts controlling the solenoids 92 are arranged somewhat differently than in the other circuit shown in Fig. 4-B. The pointer contacts |41 and |98 will move together. The rst nine contacts |41 engaged by the contacts |91 are blanks, it being remembered that when these blank contactsr are engaged by the contacts |41, the contact |118 is engaging live contacts numbered 1 to 9, inclusive, and operating correspondingly .numbered solenoids 92. The tenth contact |91' vengaged by the contact |41 is alive, since it is connected to the solenoid S32-I. This iirstl live contact |91 is one of a group of ten, all of which are connected to the same solenoid 92-|, so that as the pointer contact i118 passes over the second group of ten contacts |88', the solenoid 92| will remain energized. Similarly, yit will be seen that there are successive groups of contacts |48', the contacts in each group being numbered successively l to 9 inclusive, and 0, and for each one of these groups beyond the tlrst group there is a corresponding group of contacts |41' adapted to be engaged by the contact |41 and thus cause energizing of the appropriate magnet to cause printing of the first digit.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in specific forms, it is to be understood that various changes in details may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention, as dened by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a plurality of electrical circuits to be energized, a selector switch adapted to close any one of said circuits at one point thereimeach, of said circuits having a normally open switch therein at a point other than at said selector switch, means to close said secondnamed switch for the circuit closed by said selector switch, after a time interval, said selector switch being operable by electrical impulses, a force applying device adapted to cause the sending of said impulses, and means rendering said device inoperative when the force applied thereby is too weak to cause the sending of an impulse.

2. In combination, a plurality of electrical circuits to be energized, a selector switch adapted to close any one of said circuits at one point therein, each of said circuits having a normally open switch therein at a point other than at said selector switch, means to close said secondnamed switch for the circuit closed by said sclector switch, after a time interval, said selector switch being operable by electrical impulses, a force applying device adapted to cause the sending of said im'pulses, and means rendering said device inoperative when the force applied thereby is too weak to cause the sending of an impulse, said means comprising an electric circuit and a switch therein closed by said weak force.

3. In combination, a plurality of electrical circuits to be energized, a selector switch adapted to close any one of said circuits at one point therein, each of said circuits having a normally open switch therein at a point other than at said selector switch, means to close said secondnamed switch for the circuit closed by said selector switch, after a time interval, said selector switch being operable by electrical impulses, a force applying device adapted to cause the sending of said impulses, means rendering said device inoperative when the force applied thereby is too weak to cause the sending oi' an impulse, said means comprising an electric circuit and a switch therein closed by said weak force, and means preventing closing of said last-named switch when the force applied by said device is sumclent to cause the sending o! an impulse.

THOMAS J. NUNAN.

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