US2206837A - Signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 2, 1940- R. s. EDWARDS 06,837

' SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 N v ENTOR P0552? 5. [pk/A205 ATTO R N EY 1940. R. s. EDWARDS 2,206,837

S IGNALING APPARATUS Filed larch 6, 1959 3 Shoet's-Sheet 3 AT ORNEY Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING APPARATUS Application March 6, 1939, Serial No. 260,064

13 Claims.

This invention relates to signaling apparatus, more particularly of the type employed in homes and households.

One of the objects of this invention is to I provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable signaling apparatus capable of providing a number or variety of distinguishable, preferably audible, signals selectively actuatable. Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character which I will be compact, foolproof, easy to install and that will dependably meet a variety of different needs met with in practice. Another object is to provide a signaling apparatus capable of sounding a number of different notes in the musical scale, or the like, and having actuating and control mechanisms of such a character that distinguishing combinations of notes may be selectively sounded with a minimum of complication, a minimum of apparatus or mechanism, while .0 providing for adequate range of variation in combinations of sounded notes and adequate flexibility of selectability. Another object is to provide a signaling apparatus of the above-mentioned character capable of being electrically actuated and constructed to be simple, compact,

reliable and durable. Another object is to provide an electrically actuated signaling apparatus of the above-mentioned character in which a wide range of change of combination of individual signals, such as sounded musical notes, may be achieved with simple and inexpensive electrical actuating mechanisms and, moreover, with the employment of few such mechanisms. Another object is generally to improve the construction, arrangement and functioning of 'such signaling apparatus and to make available at low cost a multiple signaling apparatus capable selectively of serving a variety of signaling purposes. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part 0 pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly conists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and 46 the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention:

50 Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, small-scaled front and side elevations of the assembled signaling apparatus, ready for installation;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the interior of the apparatus, more particularly as seen along 5 the line 3-3 of Figure 2 Figures 4, 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional views, as seen along the lines 4-4, 55, 6-6 respectively, of Figure'3; I

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the electrical features of the apparatus, showing 8 the circuit arrangements thereof;

Figure 8 is a musical representation of one of mucus sequences of musical notes.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of my invention, it might at this point he noted that, in the average household, for example, it is desirable to provide for several different signals, such as a front door signal, a back door signal, a dinner call, or the like; according to prior practices, separate signaling devices, one for each of such separate signals or needs, have been provided, or the attempt has 80 been made to combine certain of them, but substantial complications as to installation or with respect to initial construction, accompanied by increased first cost or cost of installation, have resulted. A dominant aim of this invention is to overcome such disadvantages, to reduce the expense attendant upon installations of the abovernentioned character, and to provide a compact and inexpensive signaling apparatus capable of selectively giving various distinguishing combinations of individlual signals, thus to meet an adequate range of practical needs.

I prefer to arrange for a suitable number of individually distinguishable signals or signaling devices, illustratively four in number, and, where audible, as in the preferred form, distinguishable from each other in pitch or tone. These may comprise so-called gongs or chimes in the form preferably of tubes, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, suitably suspended or mounted and suitably dimensioned to emit distinguishable musical notes. Illustratively, they maybe of substantially the same diameter but are varied suitably in length so that, when set into vibration, they sound the notes G, C, D and E, in that order of ascendency, and for simplicity the four chime tubes m the drawings have been designated by the reference letters G, C, D and E to correspond, respectively, to their just mentioned respective notes.

They are suitably suspended preferably from within a casing l0 (Figures 1 and 2), thus for appearances hiding the mechanical means of suspension, the casing I0 also enclosing the actuating mechanisms. The casing l0 preferably comprises a back plate II to which is removably secured in any suitable manner the cover portion l2 of the casing, that comprising a front wall i2, a top wall l2, and end walls 82 and i2. Back plate I I may be provided with any suitable means by which it may be mounted in place against a wall or the like as, for example, holes l3 (Figure 3) through which screws, or the like, may be passed, and preferably it is also provided with an opening I in its upper portionfo'r the entry therethrough and hence into the casing III of the various circuit conductors, as is later described.

Back plate II has secured to it in any suitable way a horizontal cross-plate l5 preferably, like the back plate ll, of suitably heavy sheet metal, and plate 15, as betterappears in Figure 6, is preferably shaped substantially to subdivide the interior of the casing l into an upper compartment, into which the conductor opening I4 opens, and a lower compartment which is not closed at the bottom end. Thereby the upper ends of the tubes G, C, D and E may be entered into the lower compartment and suspended in any suitable way from the cross-plate IS. The detailed means of suspending the tubes are not a material part of this invention and any suitable means may be employed for this purpose, being preferably of a character as not to interfere with the free vibration of the tubes and their intended sound-emission. Thus, in Figure 3 the suspensions for the tubes are indicated by the reference character ii, suitable means, such as eyes l'l, being provided on the under face of the cross-plate l5 for engagement with the suspensions l5.

In so far as certain features of my invention are concerned, I preferaby group at least certain of the chime tubes, depending upon their notes and depending upon certain sequences of notes from which selection is to be made. For purposes of illustration, let it be assumed that the four chime bars or tubes G, C, D and E have been selected to give the respective musical notes above-mentioned in order that the musical sequence musically represented in Figure 8 may be struck from these four signaling elements; the illustrative sequence is known as the Westminster chime and it will be noted that, in this sequence, the sequence of notes E-C is repeated so that, in striking the chime tubes according to the written melody of Figure 8, chime tubes E and C are successively struck twice, namely, at the beginning and also at the end.

Accordingly, and to achieve certain other advantages, I preferably group the two chime bars C and E and position them adjacent the respective vertical ends of the black plate H (see Figures 3 and 4). Their upper ends are preferably in close'proximity to the cross-plate i5 and between their upper ends I provide a striking mechanism which preferably comprises a solenoid i8 secured in any suitable manner as at i9, by its end plates 20 to the back plate II, with its axis extending crosswise of the parallel chime tubes C and E, the various parts being so proportioned and dimensioned that, as is better shown in Figure 4, the axis of the solenoid l8 intersects the parallel vertical axes of the two tubes C and E. This arrangement permits compacting these parts closely adjacent to the front face of the back plate ll.

The solenoid i8 is provided with a solenoid core 2| normally held by a relatively light helical spring 22 in leftmost position, as shown, the core 2| having an extension 23 on its right-hand end terminating in a striker head 24 which serves as a stop to limit the action of the spring 22. At its left-hand end the core 2| has a striker head 25 which acts also as an abutment for one end of the spring 22, the other end taking against the end plate 20 of the solenoid.

If the solenoid i8 is energized substantially only momentarily or foronly one or two seconds, its core 2| is quickly drawn toward the right, compressing the spring 22, its striker head 24 striking the signaling element E which sounds its corresponding note. The promptly ensuing deenergization of the winding it permits the energy stored in the spring 22 upon compression of the latter to be dissipated and the core 2i is projected quickly to the left to strike the signaling element C which sounds its corresponding note. Between the striker 24 and the other end plate 20 is a short helical spring 26 which normally acts to hold the core 2|, even though the spring 22 acts upon it, in a position such that striker head 25 just clears the sounding element C. Spring 26 thus insures that the vibration of the member C is not damped, in that it makes certain that the head 25 is sufiiciently and quickly enough withdrawn from the striking engagement with the part C.

If, however, the winding I 8 is energized and maintained energized for a suitable interval and then deenergized, the same sequence of striking of the parts E and C ensues excepting that there is interposed between the two strikes an interval of time corresponding to the time interval of energization of winding I8.

In the illustrative embodiment, the remaining chime tubes or sounding elements G, D may be suspended conveniently in between the chime tubes C, E, but preferably in a plane spaced'forwardly (see Figures 2 and 4) of the plane of the axes of members C and E, and preferably also their upper ends (see Figure 3) are spaced downwardly from the upper ends of the outer members C and E, thus more adequately to accommodate the striker mechanism i8'-2l above described.

By this arrangement, also, there is provided adequate space between the plane of the parts G, D and the plane of the back plate II to accommodate suitable striking mechanism for the parts G, D; such striking mechanism preferably comprises individual solenoids 21, 28 with respective cores 29 and 30, normally held in retracted position by springs 3|, 32 preferably at their rear ends, the cores 29, 30 being provided with suitable striker heads 33, 34.

These solenoids are secured, as by sheet metal brackets 35, 35, respectively, to the back plate II, and the mounting is preferably such that the axes of the solenoids are inclined in the vertical plane (see Figure 5) at suitable angles while intersecting the axes of their respective sounding elements G and D, in order to achieve better compactness of arrangement and thus to permit the casing ill and related parts to be dimensioned of less depth. These solenoids are preferably constructed in any suitable way to effect a striking of their respective sounding elements preferably upon a substantially momentary energization of each.

Substantially centrally of the cross-plate l5 and against the under face thereof I mount a suitable motive means which preferably takes the form of an electric motor of any suitable form and provided with a vertically extending shaft 38 that extends through a suitable aperture in the cross-plate l5 to be exposed upon the upper side of the plate I5. The speed of rotation of the shaft 38 is preferably to be relatively low and accordingly the driving motor, generally indicated at 39 in Figure 3, may be constructed in any suitable manner, as by the inclusion of reduction gearing (not shown) to give the shaft 38 the desired low speed. Illustratively, the motor 38 may be of any suitable alternating current type. It is secured in any suitable way, as at 48, to the under side of the cross-plate l5.

The upper end of the shaft 38 has secured to it as by a set screw 4| (Figure 6) a cam disk 42 preferably conductive and hence of metal, and on its upper face it has secured, as by two spaced pins or posts 43, a sheet metal brush 44, of phosphor bronze, or the like, and projecting beyond the periphery of the cam disk 42 preferably at the angle and with the shaping thereof, as shown in Figure 6. These parts, as seen in Figure 6, are in the starting position.

Spaced about the axis of the cam disk 42 and in the path of movement of the brush 44 is a suitable number of contact pins or studs, illustratively eight, shown in Figure 6 at 46, 41, 48, 49, 58, 5I 52 and 53. They are preferably equidistantly spaced and as the shaft 38 is rotated, these contact pins may be engaged successively by the brush 44 as the latter sweeps comparatively slowly about the axis of shaft 38, thereby closing and otherwise affecting successive circuits, as is later described. These pins are insulatingly mounted in plate l5.

At the left-hand end of the cross-plate l5 (Figure 6) and hence adjacent the conductor opening l4 (see Figure 3) I prefer to provide a panel 55 of insulating material for supporting suitable connecting devices, such as binding screws, and for illustrative purposes I have shown eight binding screws or connectors at 56, 51, 58, 59, 68, 6|, 62, 63. By'means of these binding screws certain external connections may be made to the apparatus, and reference may now be made to Figure 7 where the circuit arrangements are shown, binding screws 56, 51 being used to connect a suitable source of energy, such as a low voltage transformer 64, thereto by way of line conductors 65 and 66. Jumpers 61 interconnect the binding screws 56, 58 and 68.

To binding screws 58 and 59 a push button switch 68 may be connected by line wires 69 and 18. Switch 68 may be positioned at any suitable point from which it may be desired to control a certain signal of which the apparatus is capable. Let it be assumed that switch 68 is intended to cause actuation of the signaling apparatus, in the illustrative embodiment thereof, so as to cause it to render a dinner call, such as the Westminster sequence of Figure 8. In such case, the switch 68 may be positioned on the front wall l2 of the removable portion I2 of the casing I8, conductors 69-18 being of convenient length.

The electrical circuit connections to cause the signaling apparatus to respond in the abovevmentioned manner to depression of the push button switch 68 are, in the illustrative embodiment, as follows: From one terminal of transformer 94, conductor 65, connector 56,,jumper 61, connector 58, conductor 69, switch 68, conductor 18, connector 59, conductor 1|, winding 12 of the motor 39, conductor 13, connector 51, and by way of conductor 66 back to transformer 64.

Motor 39 thus starts to rotate in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 7 and 6.

The periphery of cam disk 42 is circular excepting for a notch or cam depression 42 in which is normally seated or pressed by its own spring action a spring contact 14 which is thus held out of engagement with a companion spring contact 15, these parts being insulatingly mounted in any suitable way upon the upper face of the crossplate l5 (Figures 6 and 3). Spring contacts 14, 15 are connected in parallel by conductors 16, 11, through the connectors 58, 59, respectively, with the push button switch 68. Accordingly, as the cam disk 42 commences its rotary movement, spring contact 14 is flexed against contact 15, thus shunting the push button switch 68 and insuring that the above-described energizing circuit of the motor 39 remains closed even though push button switch 68 is manually released, since the engagement of spring contact 14 with contact 15 is maintained by the cam disk 42 throughout a complete revolution thereof, the spring contact 14 thereupon dropping, under its own spring, back into the cam recess 42 thus interrupting the circuit of the motor and halting the latter.

During the cycle, the brush 44 has completed one cycle of engagement with the fixed contacts in its path. But an arcuate jumper 19 bridges contact pins 46 and 41 and a similar jumper 88 bridges contact pins 52, 53. These jumpers preferably comprise a piece or sheet of metal whose arc of curvature has its center at the axis of rotation of the brush 44, its ends having eyes or sleeves into which the contact studs or pins are snugly received. Thus, the jumpers may be easily put in position and made to interconnect any two successive contact pins in the series as may be desired.

In Figure 7 the solenoid windings I8, 28 and 21 are connected by conductor 8! to connector 51, being thus placed in conection with one side of the source of electrical energy, such as the transformer 64. The other terminal of solenoid I8 is connected by conductor 82 to the jumper 19 on pins 41, 48 and by way of conductor 83 jumper 19 is connected to jumper 88. The other terminal of solenoid 28 is connected by conductor 84 to contact pin 48 which by conductor 85 is connected to contact pin 5|. The other terminal of solenoid winding 21 is connected by conductor 86 to contact pin 49 which, by conductor 81, is connected to contact pin 58.

But a conductor 89 connects the above-mentioned other terminal of solenoid winding l8 to connector 6|; the latter is companion to connector 68 and to the two of them, by conductors 98 and 9|, may be connected a push button switch 92 which may be positioned at any suitable point, such as a remote point like the front door of the apartment or house. Also, the above-mentioned other terminal of winding 21 is connected by conductor 93 to .connector 63 and a conductor 94 connects the other terminal of winding 28 to connector 62. Connectors 62 and 63 are each paired to connector 68; thus, conductors 98 and 95 may connect terminals 68 and 62 to a push button 96 suitably positioned illustratively at a remote point, such as the back door, and conductors 98 and 91 may connect terminals 68 and 63 to another remotely positioned push button 18.

Conductors 65-66, 98-9I, and 9591 are brought into the apparatus through the conductor opening I4 (see Figure 3) and the same is true of conductors 69-18 where the push button switch 68 is mounted elsewhere than on the front face of the casing ID, as in Figures 1 and 2. The remaining conductors or circuits above described represent the permanent wiring of the apparatus, in this illustrative embodiment.

Recurring now to the above-described single rotation of the brush 44, in response to actuation of the switch 68, and bearing in mind that the rotation is at uniform or constant speed, the brush 44 first contacts the jumper or segment 18, closing a circuit to energize the winding II, that circuit being as follows: From one side of the source 64, conductor 86, conductor 8|, winding l8, conductor 82, segment 18, brush 44, cam disk 42, brush 14, conductor 16, connector 58, jumper 61, connector 56 and by way of conductor 65 back to the other side of the source 84. Energization of winding |8 causes signal element E to be struck, sounding the first note E of the sequence of Figure 8; but this circuit remains closed for the time interval it requires brush 44 to traverse the segment 18, thus holding the core 2| in position toward the right, spring 22 holding the striker head 24 out of direct contact with chime tube E so as not to damp its vibrations, and-as soon as brush 44 disengages jumper 18, the circuit of winding I8 is broken whence spring 22 (Figure 4) projects the striker head 25 into striking engagement with the signaling element C, thus striking the second note of Figure 8. After the same interval brush 44 contacts the pin 48 closing the circuit of winding 28 momentarily, or'substantially so, causing chime tube D to be struck to sound the third note of the series. The

energizing circuit of winding 28 is from the source 64, conductor 66, conductor 8|, winding 28, conductor 84, contact pin 48, brush 44, disk 42, brush 14, conductor 16, jumper 61, and by conductor 65 back to the other side of the source 64.

After the next interval of time, brush 44 contacts pin 48, thus energizing solenoid winding 21 to cause it to strike chime tube G to sound its note and hence the fourth note of the series. The circuit of winding 21 is from the source 64, conductors 66 and 8|, winding 21, conductor 86, pin 48, brush 44, disk 42, brush 14, and by way of conductors 16, 61 and 65 back to the source.

After the next interval pin 58 is engaged by brush 44 but pin 58 being connected by conductor 81 to pin 48 solenoid 21 is again energized to cause chime tube G to sound its note and hence the fifth note of the series.

Next pin 5| is engaged but the latter-is connected by conductor 85 to pin 48 and thus the circuit of winding 28 is closed to cause element D to sound its note, that being the sixth note of the series.

After the next interval has ensued, jumper or segment 88 is engaged, and that being connected by conductor 83 to the segment 18, element E is struck by the energization of winding |8 (Figure 4) but during the ensuing interval winding l8 remains energized and upon its deenergization at the end of that interval, element C is struck to sound its note, thus the seventh and eighth notes of the series are sounded.

Thus, a substantial series or sequence of musical notes may be struck, and they may represent a signal for one purpose, such as a dinner call. Should push button switch 82, illustratively positioned at the front door, be actuated, solenoid winding I8 is energized through a circuit extending from one side of the source 64, conductors 66 and 8|, winding l8, conductor 88, connector 6|, conductor 8|, switch 82, conductor 88, connector 68, jumpers 61, 61, connector 56, and by conductor 66 back to the other side of the source 64. Upon energization of winding l8 (see Figure 4) aaoasav element E is struck to sound the note I: and upon release of the button 82 which takes place usually momentarily, the winding I8 is deenergized to permit spring 22 to cause element to be struck and note C sounded. Thus, a distinctive and separate sequence of notes, illustratively the notes E-C, is struck and sounded.

Should push button switch 18 be actuated. winding 21 is energized through a circuit which extends from one side of the source 84, conductors, 66 and 8|, winding 21, conductor 88, connector 63, conductor 81, switch", conductor 88, connector 62 and by jumpers 61 to connector 88 and by way of conductor 65 back to the other side of the source. Energization of winding 21 causes sounding element G to be struck and the note G sounded, distinctive from the other signals.

Closing switch 86 causes element D to be sounded, the circuit being over conductors 65, 61,

' 8|, winding 28, conductor 84, connector 62, conductor 85, switch 86, conductors 88, 81 and 66.

Now the note D is sounded.

Thus, it will be seen that the various signals, illustratively three, may be selectively brought into eifect and that they are individually distinctive and strikingly distinguishable from one another; moreover, it will be seen that the actuating mechanism therefor is simple, compact and of such coaction and arrangement as to permit employment of a minimum of actuating mechanisms while permitting ease and readiness of selectability of individual signals. It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a signaling apparatus in which the various objects heretofore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

It will be understood, of course, that the melody or sequence of Figure 8 is illustrative. Accord- .ing to certain other features of my invention I provide for variation at will of this melody or sequence and this I may achieve by shifting the circuit connections extending to the pins 46, 41, 48, 48, 58, 52 and 53, and by using conductors that are suitably flexible. Thus, instead of connecting conductors 84 and 86 directly to the pins 48 and 48, respectively, and instead of connecting the jumper conductors 85 and 81 directly to their respective pins, I prefer to provide at the ends of these conductors a connecting device of any suitable form, illustratively in the form of a resilient sleeve I82, there being one such sleeve on the end of each of said above-mentioned conductors and the sleeves being proportioned so that they may be slid onto the pins but frictionally held in place thereon. The springiness of the walls of the tube-like connector elements I82 could serve this latter purpose.

Thus, conductor 84 may be easily connected, or its connection shifted, to any selected pin, and similarly conductor 86. In like manner the jumper conductors 85 and 81 may be made to cross-connect any selected two pins, respectively.

As above indicated, the preferred form of the jumpers 18 and 82 is such that their ends are sleeved and accordingly either of these jumpers may be easily shifted to bridge any pair of successive pins. Conductor 82 is preferably permanently connected to the jumper 19 and jumper conductor 83 is preferably permanently connected at its ends to the two jumpers 18 and 88.

With such an arrangement as this, therefore, the connections of the various windings may be easily and quickly rearranged and shifted and thus the sequence of notes changed at will.

The apparatus is preferably intended to-operate at relatively low voltage and since the character of the source of energizing current and its voltage might in practice vary, it may be desirable to provide for safeguarding against certain variations or changes in the desired actuation of certain of the apparatus as a result of variations in, for example, the voltage of the source. Thus, for example, too high a voltage impressed upon the winding I 8 of Figure 4 might disrupt the intended mechanical balance that is achieved between the pull of the solenoid l8 and the resistance of the spring 22.

Accordingly, I may interpose in the circuit of the winding H a variable resistance, indicated diagrammatically in Figure '7 at 98. This variable resistance 98 may conveniently take the form of a switch arm 99 selectively positionable against a resistance element I00 (see Figure 6) both mounted insulatingly in any suitable way on the upper side of the cross-plate l5 and thus made as readily accessible as are the binding posts or connectors. By means of this variable resistance 98, therefore, the energization of winding l8 may be varied or adjusted for the particular voltage met with in practice to be sure that the mechanical balance above-mentioned is achieved or closely enough approximated to insure the desired sequential actuation of the two signaling elements by the solenoid I 8 and its core 2|.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 7

1. A signaling apparatus comprising a supporting structure and a plurality of vibratable sounding elements capable of emitting sound when struck, means supporting said sounding elements from said supporting structure in a grouping that comprises two of said sounding elements spaced apart sufliciently to accommodate in the space therebetween at least one other of said sounding elements, said two spaced elements having their contiguous ends substantially alined but beyond the end of the intervening sounding elements, thus to provide a space above the latter and between said two spaced members, a solenoid supported by said supporting structure in said lastmentioned space and having a spring opposed core with two striker heads for respective striking engagement with said two spaced elements, one of said heads striking one of said spaced elements upon energization of the winding of said solenoid and the other head striking the other of said spaced elements upon deenergization of said winding, electro-magnetic means having movable striker means adapted upon actuation to strike the sounding element or elements intermediate of said two spaced elements, circuit control means including relatively movable circuit making and breaking means for eifecting energization of said solenoid Winding, deenergization thereof, and activation of said electromagnetic means in such sequence and at such time intervals as to effect sequential sound emission by said sounding elements in sequences which include the succession of the two sounds produced by said two spaced sounding elements, control means adapted upon actuation to effect operation of said circuit-controlling means, thereby to produce said sequence of sound emissions, control means for eflecting energization followed by deenergization of said solenoid winding, thereby to produce a signal sequence comprising the succession of the two sounds emitted by said two spaced sounding elements, and control means for activating said electromagnetic means to eflect a sound emission only by an intermediaate sounding element.

2. A signaling apparatus comprising a supporting structure and a plurality of vibratable sounding elements capable of emitting sound when struck, means supporting said sounding elements from said supporting structure in a grouping that comprises two of said sounding elements spaced apart sufliciently to accommodate in the space therebetween at least one other of said sounding elements, said, two spaced elements having their contiguous ends substantially alined but beyond the end of the intervening sounding element, thus to provide a space above the latter and between said two spaced members, a solenoid supported by said supporting structure in said last-mentioned space and having a spring opposed core with two striker heads for respective striking engagement with said two spaced elements, one of said heads striking one of said spaced elements upon energization of the winding of said solenoid and the other head striking the other of said spaced elements upon deenergization of said winding, said intermediate element or elements being spaced from the plane of said two spaced sounding elements, thereby to provide an intervening space between said plurality of sounding elements, electromagnetic means having movable striker means adapted upon actuation to strike the sounding element or elements intermediate of said two spaced elements, said electromagnetic means being supported by said supporting structure substantially in said interveiling space, circuit control means including relat1vely movable circuit making and breaking means for effecting energization of said solenoid winding, deenergization thereof, and activation of said electromagnetic means in such sequence and at such time intervals as to efleet sequential sound emission by said sounding elements in sequences which include the succession of the two sounds produced by said two spaced sounding elements, control means adapted upon actuation to effect operation of said circuit-controlling means, thereby to produce said sequence of sound emissions, control means for effecting energization followed by deenergization of said solenoid wind ing, thereby to produce a signal sequence comprising the succession of the two sounds emitted by said two spaced sounding elements, and control means for activating said electromagnetic means to effect a sound emission only by an intermediate sounding element.

3. A signaling apparatus comprising a supporting structure and a plurality of vibratable sounding elements capable of emitting sound when struck, means supporting said sounding elements from said supporting structure in a grouping that comprises two of said sounding elements spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate in the space therebetween at least one other of said sounding elements, said two spaced elements having their contiguous ends substantially alined but beyond the end of the intervening sounding elements, thus to provide a space above the latter and between said two spaced members, a solenoid supported by said supporting structure in said last-mentioned space and having a spring opposed core with two striker heads for respective striking engagement with said two spaced elements, one of said heads striking one of said spaced elements upon energization of the winding of said solenoid and the other head striking the other of said spaced elements upon deenergization of said winding, electromagnetic means having movable striker means adapted upon actu-p ation to strike the sounding element or elements intermediate of said two spaced elements, circuit control means including relatively movable circuit making and breaking means for effecting energization of said solenoid winding, deenergization thereof, and activation of said electromagnetic means in such sequence and at such time intervals as to effect sequential sound emission by said sounding elements in sequences which include the succession of the two sounds produced by said two spaced sounding elements, and control means for said circuit control means to cause the circuit making and breaking elements of the latter to operate sequentially through a certain cycle.

4. A signaling apparatus comprising circuit making and breaking means capable of effecting sequentially the making and breaking of a plurality of circuits having therein electromagnetic means and signaling means actuated thereby, at least one of said electromagnetic means hav ng the characteristic of effecting two successive signaling actuations first upon energization thereof and then upon deenergization thereof, and means for causing deenergization of said one electromagnetic means to follow energization thereof only after the lapse of a certain time interval.-

5. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of vibratable sounding elements capable when set into vibration of emitting distinguishable tones, a plurality of electromagnetic means numbering at least one less than said plurality of sounding elements and each having a sounding element allocated thereto excepting one to which there are allocated two of said sounding elements, striker means for said one electromagnetic means coacting with the latter to strike one of said two sounding elements upon energization of said electromagnetic means and to strike the other of said two sounding elements upon deenergization-thereof, and circuit controlling means for said electromagnetic means comprising relatively movable contact means connected to said electromagnetic means for energizing the latter in a certain sequence, and including means for interposing a time delay between the energization and the deenergization of said one electromagnetic means comparable to the interval between the tones or notes of the sequence.

6. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of vibratable sounding elements capable when set into vibration of emitting distinguishable tones, a plurality of electromagnetic means numbering at least one less than said plurality of sounding elements and each havinga' sounding element allocated thereto excepting one to which there are allocated two of said sounding elements, striker means for said one electromagnetic means coacting with the latter to strike one of said two sounding elements upon energization of said electromagnetic means and to strike the other of said two sounding elements upon deenergization thereof, and circuit controlling means for said electromagnetic means comprising a brush, spaced contact members, one for each of said electromagnetic means, means for effecting relative movement at a substantially ergization and deenergization of said one electromagnetic means.

7. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of musical sounding elements and a plurality of electro-responsive means for setting them into vibration, certain of said electro-responsive means being double acting in response to activation thereof and having two of said sounding elements operatively related thereto to be successively set into vibration in response to the double action thereof, the remainder of said electro-responsive means being single acting for action upon only one of said plurality of sounding elements in response to activation thereof, and circuit-controlling means for activating said plurality of electro-responsive means in the desired sequence.

8. A signaling apparatus as claimed in claim 'I in which said double-acting electro-responsive I means has the characteristic of setting said two sounding elements successively into vibration by action upon one of them in response to energization and action upon the other in response to deenergization of said electro-responsive means and in which said circuit-controlling means includes means for causing the time interval between the making and breaking of the circuit of said double acting electro-responsive means to be greater than the time interval between the making and breaking of the circuit of said single acting electro-responsive means.

9. A signaling apparatus as claimed in claim 7 provided with selectable manually operable control means, means responsive to actuation of one of said control means for effecting operation of said circuit control means, and connections whereby actuation of another of said control means effects activation only of said doubleacting electro-responsive means.

10. A signaling apparatus as claimed in claim 7 provided with selectable manually operable control means, means responsive to actuation of one of said control means for efiecting operation of said circuit control means, and connections whereby actuation of another of said control means effects activation only of one of said e.ectro-responsive means.

11. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of musical sounding elements and electroresponsive means for setting them into vibration, certain of said electro-responsive means being double acting in response to activation thereof and having two of said sounding elements operatively related thereto to be successively set into vibration in response to the double action thereof, the remainder of said electro-responsive means being single acting for action upon only one of said plurality of sounding elements in response to activation thereof, a plurality of spaced contacts, the spacing therebetween being proportional to the desired time intervals between successive notes to be sounded by said sounding elements, a oontactor adapted upon relative movement between itself and said spaced contacts to successively contact the latter, said coiitacts being in circuit with said electro-responsive means in the order in which it is desired to activate the latter, that contact or contacts that are in the circuit of said double-acting electro-responsive means being of an extent to maintain engagement between itself and said contactor during relative movement therebetween for an interval of time corresponding to the time interval desired to be interposed between the two notes that are to be sounded in response to activation of said double-acting electro-responsive means.

12. A signaling apparatus comprising circuitmaking and breaking means capable of effecting sequentially the making and breaking of a plurality of circuits having therein electromagnetic means and signaling means actuated thereby, at least one of said electromagnetic means being double acting in response to activation thereof for eifecting two successive signaling actuations in response to the double action thereof, and means for affecting the time-spacing between said two successive signaling actuations to cause the second signaling actuation to follow the first only after the lapse of a certain time interval.

13. A signaling apparatus comprising a plurality of musical sounding elements and a plurality 'of electro-responsive means for setting them into vibration, at least one of said electroresponsive means being double acting in response to activation thereof and having two of said sounding elements operatively related thereto to be successively set into vibration in response to the double action thereof, and circuit-controlling means for activating said plurality of electro-responsive means in the desired sequence to eifect a corresponding sequence of actuation of said sounding elements and with suitable time intervals therebetween, said circuit-controlling means including means for aifecting the timespacing between the two successive actuations of said two sounding elements in response to the double action of said double acting electro-responsive means.

' ROBERT S. EDWARDS.

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