US2300402A - Signaling system - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 3, 1942 c. E. BEACH SIGNAL'ING SYSTEM Filed Aug'. 3, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l #owen sonnes Pow ,J 6, N N mm mmm mmf ,SEM mN/ A afs A su,... nu. n@ s 4 A l /m A m o6 Iwo. PNN m- T Nov. 3, 1942. c. E. BEACH SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 3, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 2 PGIYFR DISTRIBUTIQV POWER NSIRIBIIT/M /IVVENTR @0M Nov. 3, 1942.

c. Ef BEACH SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Aug. s, 1940 4 sneetsfsheet s F1640 mgl /N veNr'oA Nov; 3, 1942.

C. E. BEACH S IGNALINQ SYSTEM Filed Aug. 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IVVENT'OR Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING SYSTEM Clarence E. Beach, Brookline, Mass. Application AiigustfS, 1940, Serial No. 350,523'

(CL Y177-337) 69 Claims.

This invention relates to signaling systems, and, more particularly, to signaling systems for guiding persons to--and away from, under certain circumstances-localities where signals originate; as, for example, conventional formscf socalled re alarm systems.

A type of i'lre alarm system which is commonly used in this-country has facilities for manifesting code signals representative of various calling stations, or so-called re alarm boxes. Such manifestations are ordinarily made at fire department or brigade stations in order that firemen may interpret the signals pursuant to a prearranged code, which is there displayed, for the purpose of ascertaining localitiesY where their services are required,

In factories and various other places where there is a recognized hazard to occupants, provision for manifestation of code signals is sometimes made in the hope that these signals will be so interpreted that at least some persons will proceed and guide others away from the danger zone.

As to such fire lalarm systems, experience has demonstrated that response of the fire department'thereto is'frequently delayed to a serious extent because progress is obstructed by other vehicles. Even after it is realized that the fire department is moving the vicinity, drivers of such other vehicles (aswell as the policeY oiicers who attempt to direct such drivers) are uninformed as to the routefwhich the fire department should follow, and therefore are unable to de'- termine what action they should take in order to alcrd clear passage; including such matters as, for example, whetherdiversion of traflic into an adjacent'sidestreet will assist or will more seriously obstruct the re department.

To decrease thisseriousA trafc hazard, various expedients have been proposed which have been found to involve expense deemed prohibitive where-anything approaching comprehensive application has been considered.

For example, some use has been `made of systems for causing signal manifestations along certain highways and operable from re department houses or fire alarm headquarters, but it has been found that, if any such system is to cover more than a very limited number offspecially congested trafc localities in communities of medium Vor large size, they require a complexity of switches, conductors and signaling facilities which has been deemed vboth unworkable and prohibitively expensive.

ancs have been utilized, `for indicatingA when alarms have been sent from certain cnesof their fire alarm boxes, but-the benets derived from such appliances have not'been lgenerallyffound to be sufficient to justify their cost.

Correspondingly, a fewhighway intersections` whichhave been deemed'oispecial importance have'been equipped with code signal .manifesters which have proved somewhat helpful, .but'it has' been found that vehicle drivers and highway'police are not likely to be able to sok interpret code signals thus manifested` as to ascertain what route will be taken by the re department, thus greatly impairing the benefit from such signals.. other thanrin instances of-some few so-called bottle neck intersections whichare traversedduring nearly all alarm responses.

It has been correspondingly demonstratedthat, in times of emergency, occupants of factoriesand other premises are unlikely to recall code designations with suicie'nt assurance to be materially assisted thereby in selecting routes of exit-which will avoid localities from which alarms have been sent.

In addition to all of the foregoing, it .has .been found, b-y a large number of thesmallercommunities, that the expense of procuring and maintainingdependable forms of code signaling systems is, for them,` prohibitive; and-such communities are therefore without re alarm service,

other than such as may be available through Athe use of verbal or telephone calls.

In View of the foregoing, it should be apparent that code signaling systems for re alarm and In a few communities, supplemental applivarious other classes of emergency calls may reasonably` be termedinformative; but do not justify designation bythev term directive, inv the sense of actuallyserving to guide persons to (or away from, as circumstances may require) localities from which calls have been sent.

It'is, therefore, animportant object of this invention to provide signaling systems whichshall be directive, both in the sense of serving'tov guide, persons who should respond thereto, along paths leading to actuated calling stations, and in the sense of guiding, those who might be endangered thereat, along paths which avoidthe'localities of such stations.

It is a further important object to'provide means whereby such guidance will be allordedg in a mannerwhich willv be Yfully effective for those who are unacquainted'withthe localities from which calls may come or with thesequence in which guidance signals should be observed.v

It is another object to provide means Vwhereby persons may be forewarned of approach of and of route to be traversed by emergency vehicles for which they should afford a clear right-of-way.

A further object is to provide types of signaling systems which are suited in functional characteristics and from considerations of economy, both in initial cost and in maintenance, to practical conditions usually prevailing in small communities; even in the smallest communities which have re fighting equipment.

It is another object to provide types of such systems which are readily convertible for alternative uses, such as being employed supplemental to or in lieu of present conventional types of code signaling systems.

For many uses, such as signaling systems whereby assistance may be manually summoned, instrumentalities should be distributed along the determining path, each involvingv means operable or conditionable for interrupting and/ or otherwise suitably effecting diverse conditionings of the portions of such path at respective sides of an abnormally conditioned station. For convenience, such instrumentalities will be hereinafter referred to in some instances as calling stations and in other instances as boxes Calling stations may consist of or include mechanism, operable manually or otherwise, for altering the electrical conditioning of portions of an associated determining path, or may consist of conductor sections of such a path which are A further object is to utilize, as far as practicable, equipment usually in service in Hexisting signaling systems, whereby to minimize the expense of supplementing, pursuant to this invention, the service afforded by such systems.,

It is a still further object to provide directive emergency signaling systems of such character as to avoid the problems of so-called non-interference and succession which have been presented in code signaling systems, to the end that persons willnot be falsely guided toward (or away from, as the case may be) stations from which-no call has been sent, because of concurrent activity of two or more calling stations.

It is a further object to provide types of signaling systems such that they may be readily converted either to a form in which response will be led to that one of several concurrently operated stations as occupies a predetermined position in the group or series in which such stations are disposed (as, for example, the station nearest the center of a small community) or such, for example, as one in which those who respond will be consecutively led to each of concurrently operated stations in a similarly predetermined order.

Still other objects will be, in` part, specifically pointed out in the ensuing description, and, in part, will be obvious to those skilled in this art.

In constructing this invention, instrumentalities are provided for independently manifesting normal conditioning aswell as one or more forms of abnormal conditioning of respectively associience, such a path will', at times, be hereinafter referred to as a determining path.

Such association may be effected by serially including controlling mechanism for, and/or such manifesting instrumentalities themselves, in a determining path; or by connecting such mechanisms or instrumentalities between such a path and a conductor available for conductive association therewith generally along the length thereof, as, for example, with the earth or with a neutral or other conductor of an electrical distribution network; or by inductively or otherwise associating such mechanisms or instrumentalities so as to render them responsive to presence or absence, in various portions of respectively associated paths, of one or more types of excitation such, for example, as carrier currents.

Utilization of one of the broader aspects of this invention, as thus far described, will facilitate discovery of any rupture of a current path, whether through accident or intent. Such utilization may be particularly beneficial in subways, tunnels, mines, and the like, where conductors may be carried along walls to be ruptured by or in the event of wrecks, explosions or other emergencies.`

4ated. portions of a current path. For conveny readily frangible, or are fusible or otherwise thermostatically responsive, for effecting like results.

The manifestation of signals may be accomplished visually or audibly. For many classes of service, such, for example, as re alarm service, signals are respectively associated with portions of a determining path, at least one of which signals is associated with such a path-portion as to be responsive to abnormal conditioning of any calling station or stations. For convenience, signals of the last named general type will be hereinafter referred to as general alarm signals, and other such associated signals will be hereinafter referred to as guidance signals. The incandescent lamps frequently provided for rendering conspicuous the locations of so-called iire alarm boxes may, under'many circumstances, be advantageously utilized in accordance with this invention as guidance signals.

Guidance signals should be provided in numbers and at locations such as to best assure adequate effectiveness particularly in situations where those whose movements should be governed thereby may be unacquainted with locations of calling stations or with the sequence in which signals should be observed because o-f the order in which their associated stations are connected in the determining path.

In some instances this will involve provision of guidance signals at locations other than in close proximity to calling stations; as, for example, provision of signals, say adjacent a main highway fork or intersection, such as will enable those responding to a call to readily discern whether the operated station is to be reached by continuing on that highway or by turning therefrom in one direction or the other.

Furthermore, signaling aspects should be so chosen, and signals'should be so controlled that one abnormal signaling aspect will identify a lane or route leading to a station that has been operated, another aspect will signify that a calling station closely adjacent thereto has been operated, other aspects will indicate where turns should be made from previously followed Vroutes (as by use of an arrow' or index) and normally conditioned guidance signals will indicate paths leading to calling stations which have not been operated.v

Abnormal conditioning of visual guidance signals may be' accomplished by change of color, in'- tensity, or continuity of display; comparatively slow and rapid rates of hashing-being alternatively employed in certain cases where manifestation of two varieties of abnormality are desirable. More specific aspects of this Vinvention also include means for terminating the sounding of acca-ica audible general alarm signals after activity thereof lfor a predetermined time, while permitting guidance signals to remain active orv abnormal untilv restoration of Ycalling stations.

Still more specinc forms of this inventiony pro- In order that they may be more readily understood, various embodiments ofthe foregoing featuresof -this,invention, together with other specic features thereof, are indicated in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, are diagrammatic representations of circuit arrangements disclosing certain of the more specific features of this invention and-collectively--are representative of the many embodiments of the elemental features thereof which may be alternatively utilized for meeting diverse service conditions.

Fig. is a schematic representation of a system having several determining paths with associated mechanism rendering one general alarm signal (or group of such signals) responsive to all 'of such paths; and

Fig. 1l diagrammatically illustrates the application' of features of this invention to and their operation in a public fire alarm system.

Embodiments of certain of the elemental features of this invention are schematically indicated in Figs. 1-9, in each of which the reference characters a, b, c and d designate switches of calling stations, and characters e, f, g, h, i and j respectively indicate portions of a determining path in which said stations are serially connected between a terminal of the winding W which governs a general alarm signal AS, and a terminal of a current supply source PS.

The remaining terminals of said source and winding are connected through paths including a conductor which is available adjacent various calling stations, and which conductor may be the earth (as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6) and/or may form part of a'power distribution network (as indicated in Figs. 5, 7 and 8). For convenience, any such generally available conductor will, at times, be hereinafter referred to as a common return conductor.

Guidance signals GS are so located as to be visible along the path ordinarily followed in responding to a call, usually at least to the extent of providing one such signal .in association with each calling station.

For many service conditions, it is desirable that, when a calling station has been operated, a signal or signals situatedadjacent thereto will present an aspect which differs from the aspects presented by signals which are not associated with stations then in operated condition; hence, in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, signals MS supplement the guidance signals GS for rendering conspicuouscalling stations which have been operated. Such signals will, at times, be hereinafter referred toas marker signals.

Where certain of the guidance signals are situated other than at calling stations, it maybe found advantageous to have those signals which are associated with callingstations of adiffering color or otherwise readily distinguishable vfrom the others.

It should be understood that, under certain-' circumstances, as where marker signals-areprovided, it may be found more advantageous to connect the guidance signals to portions ofthe determiningpath between respectively associated calling stations and the alarm signal, as indicated, for'example, in Figsgl, 5, 6 and 8', instead of at .the other'side of'suchstations, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2," 3, 7 and 9.

Correspondingly, other features of this invention may be utilizedwithout what are herein termed alarm signals; as, 'for example, where there are audible marker and/or guidance signals.

Where calling station switches are associated with some other signaling system, alarm signals responsive to determining Y paths may not be needed; as, for example, in a case where such switches are associated ywith so-called boxes of a re alarm telegraph .system in a manner such that an associated switch will be operated whenever the mechanism lof a box is set inaction. An arrangement whereby such switches Amay, be so operated is disclosed in Patent No. 2,167,954, to Weld and Smith. k

It should be further understood that wherever guidance, marker ,or other signals have been shown by the drawings and are herein described as deriving energy through the determining path--as for lighting lamps `or for sounding audible signals-such energy may be otherwise obtained, Without departing from the more general aspects of this invention, as from primary or secondary batteries, from public or private electric power supplynetworks or sources, from compressed air or other liquid, or from normally wound weight or spring operated mechanisms.

Inasmuch as energy so derived may be governed in accordance with various methods well understood by those skilled in this art (as by the use of interposed relays or the like) it is not deemed needful to describe any such methods in detail herein, other than to point out that'signels should be so governed-that they'will be normally conditioned only while the determining path is uninterrupted between a predetei-mined end and respectively associated portions thereof.

For convenience in illustration, .guidance and marker signals are indicated in the accompanying drawings as incandescent lamps and general alarm signals are indicated as of the horn or siren type. It s hould be understood, however, that audible signals and/or visual signals of other well-known types may be substituted for or used in addition to kthose so shown.

Where the accompanying drawings show systems having alternative arrangements of similar parts (as in the instances of Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) it should be understood that this is done as a matter of convenience, 'and that, in utilizing this invention, adherence to one or another of such alternatives in a given system will usually afford best results. i

Figure 1 Opening of the determining path by a calling station switch, by althermostat (as those indicatedatloop'T) "or oth'erwise, willv cause sounding of the alarm AS aswell asextinguishment of all guidance lamps in the determining path between the break and said alarm.

Thus, opening ofthe switch of station b will cause extinguishment of lampsr GS of stations c and d, as well as deenergiz'ation of relay winding W, with resultant sounding of the alarm signal AS; but lamps GS of stations aand b will remain lighted by energy supplied from source PS through determining path conductors e and f.

Response to such call may then be made by proceeding to, or at least within sight of, various guidance signals in the order in which they are associated with the determiningA path, .in the direction away from the general alarm signal AS; passing those guidance signal lamps which are extinguished, and recognizing station b as having been operated because its associated guidance signal GS is still lighted. v

After acting in response to such a call, the system may be restored to normal condition by reclosing the open calling-station switch or switches.

Should two or more calling station switches be abnormally conditioned, those guidance signal lamps will be extinguished which are responsive to portions of the determining path situated between the alarm signal AS and such one of the abnormally conditioned stations as is associated with a portion of said path most distant from said alarm signal.

If it is desired that identication shall be made of an operated calling station in advance of response thereto, this can be accomplished by connecting a suitable instrument in the portion of the determining path situated between the power source and the calling station most directly connected therewith, as in the portion e of Fig. 1.

Such an instrument may be termed a calling station designator, and should be of a type which will suitably manifest variations in electrical conditioning.

A designator D, of ammeter type,'is indicated in Fig. 1; and corresponding instruments may be similarly associated with systems such, for example, as those of Figs. 5, 6, "I, 8 and 9.

' It is evident that the current ilow to which designator D is subjected will vary in diering degree responsive to operation of the various stations. Thus, if the current flow through winding W approximates that through each station signal, opening of station switch d will decrease the current ilow one-fth, that of station c two-ifths, and correspondingly for the other stations.

The station designations may therefore be consecutively marked upon the dial of the designator of such a system at intervals of one-fifth of the normal indication. Then, when a call is sent by interrupting the determining path, the designator will act in response to the reduction in current flow to designate the calling station.

Figure 2 The system of Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. i,

as leads therefrom through conductor e to source PS2. Furthermore, there is shown a disarrangement signal ES, which is associated with the power source PS2 in such manner as to give warning in the event of cessation of current flow therefrom into the determining path; the use of such an emergency signal may be omitted, however, under many operating conditions.

In operation, when, for example, the switch at station c is abnormally positioned, guidance signal GS at station d and alarm signal AS will be abnormally conditioned; that is, the lamp at d will be extinguished and an audible alarm signal will sound.

Because of the character of the source PS2, the current flow through the guidance signal lamps GS at stations a, b and c will not harmfully increase responsive to the decrease in the resistance of the current path due to shorting out the winding W and the lamp at d.

Accidental rupture of the determining path of Fig. 2 will cause a signal differing from that resultant from actuation of any calling station switch, in that all of the guidance signals will then be abnormally conditioned, and disarrangement signal ES will sound.

Figure 3 The system indicated in Fig. 3 diiers from that of Fig. 2 in that its power source PS is of the ordinary constant potential type, and equalizing resistances 28 are included in the paths to the earth or other common return conductor which are closed incident to abnormal positioning of respectively associated calling station switches.

If any station switch of a system such as that of Fig. 3 is abnormally positioned, it interrupts current flow in the portion of the determining path extending therefrom toward and including alarm signal AS, and then establishes a path the resistance of which is substantially equivalent to that so interrupted, `so that current flow therethrough may be maintained at substantially the same intensity as under'normal conditioning.

Location marker lamps or other signals MS may form parts of respective equalizing resistances, thus rendering an operated station more conspicuous. Such marker signals may be made distinguishable from guidance signals by a difference in color, relative position or appearance.

Those responding to the alarm signal of a system having both guidance and marker signals, may rst observe the guidance signal to which they have most ready access. If this is found to be normally conditioned, they should proceed in the direction toward the general alarm signal; if abnormal, they should proceed away from the general signal. In either event, the operated calling station will then be recognized by abnormal conditioning of its marker signal. Marker signals, such as here contemplated, as well as those indicated by Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 may, under many circumstances, be advantageously located in close proximity to respectively associated guidance signals; so that if, for example, the guidance signals are red and marker signals in close association therewith are blue, lighting of both such signals will cause a purple effect at a little distance, and thereby assist in ready identification of an abnormally conditioned station.

If desired, a disarrangement signal such as ES of Fig. 2 may be associated with the determining path of a system such as that of Fig. 3,

Figure 4 The embodiment indicated in Fig. 4 diiTers from that of Fig. 3 principally in that two current sources PS4 and SPS are provided at respective ends of the determining path, calling stations apply ground connections to both ends of the determining path when it is interrupted thereby, equalizing resistances 26, 28 are provided in such connections which are suitable for the respective paths to be established therethrough, a flasher interrupter FS is connected in one of these ground paths, (preferably that for the portion of the determining path extending toward alarm signal AS), and the guidance signals `GS are connected in the portions of the determining path extending from the associated stations toward said alarm signal AS.

Each of the station switches comprises a member 2l which is normally spaced from but may be moved into engagement with a contact22; also a movable member 23 which normally rests against Ysaid memberZI and moves into engagement with a contact 25 only while saidv member 2i is withdrawn therefrom incident to abnormal positioning thereof. The'resistances 2E and the'asher 'interrupters FSare included in the connections between contacts 25 of the various stations and the earth or other common return conductor.

- V The resistances 26, 28 -may be dispensed with if the sources PS4 and SPS are of limited maxi- `mum currenttype, as contemplated-by Fig. 2. In

any event, these sources should bev of character such that all of such signals may be'efectively lsupplied by either source independently of the other.

In operation, if, for example, the switch of-station b is abnormally positioned,l normal conditioning willr be maintained of signal GS of station a and abnormal conditioning will be effected of marker signal MS of station b by current flow from one terminal of source PSA through mem- Abers 2l and 23 of switch of station a and through -member 2| and contact 22 of switch of station b,

through signal MS and resistance 28 of said station tothe earth, and thence tothe other terminal of source PS4; said resistance 28 being such aswill compensate for that of the excluded portion of the determining path which is situated beyond station b in the direction of source SPS.

At the same time, therewill be current flow in va path from one terminal of source SPS, through winding W, through guidancev signals'GS and switch members 23 and 2| of stations d and c, as well as signal GS,-switch member 23 Land contact 25 of station b,Y and thence through flasher "FS and equalizing resistance 26 of station b `to earth and to other terminal of source SPS; but

resultant current flow will be insufficient to cause either eiective energization of W or lighting of guidance signal lamps GS at stations b,gc and 11,

until `said flasher acts to close the contacts thereat.

.abnormally conditioned (intermittently lighted orashed responsive to FS of station b) and alarm lsignal AS will be abnormally conditioned (sounding intermittently, if of audible type) which conf ditionings will continue until the switch of station b is restoredto itsnormal position.

-When switches of two or more stations are abnormally positioned, conditioningsof .signals associated with stations situated in the determining circuit between source PS4 and the abnormal station nearest thereto, and those between source "SPS Vand the abnormal station farthest from d and c will be intermittently energized `(flashing and/or sounding); while signal GS of station b will be continuously deenergized (extinguished), and signal MS of -station c will be normally conditioned (extinguished) notwithstandingfthatthe vswitch of c is abnormal.

All signals of stations-situated in the determining path between concurrentlyv abnormal-stations will be deenergized, thus `without indication of either normal orfabnormal conditioning thereof.

. It will be evident that a disarrangement signal such as ES of Fig. 2 may be associated with embodiments of this invention such as that of Figfi. It will also'be evident that `response of the-signals of Fig. v4 differentiates between an accidentally ruptured 'determining vpath` and Vabnormal conditioning of a calling station switch, inasmuch` as -a merely ruptured determiningfpathwill cause continuous abnormal conditioning of such.Y general alarm signal as is responsive to winding W, of all guidance signals GS-associated :with that path, as well as of a* disarrangement signal'ES (if one is provided) while abnormal positioning of acalling station switch will'cause intermittent response of the signal AS and rvof the signal GS of theoperated station as Well as those associated with portions of the determining path situatedbetween` that station and the source SPS.

It will be understood by those skilled in thisfart that values for resistances corresponding to 26 and 28 may be so selected that the lamps situated'in the determining path at oneside of 'an operated station will be lighted far morebrightly'than' those at the other side thereof. 'Suchanarrangement might be found specially suited touses in darkl areas, as within buildings, tunnels, and the like. 'A

It will also be evident/.that distinctive 'degrees of lamp brightness may be similarly attained for embodiments of this invention, other than that indicated in Fig. 4, and that need may thus be obviated for flashers at calling stations.

vFigure 5 Fig. 5 indicates a system in which guidance and general alarm signals are connectedin parallel with each other between the determining path and a common return conductor (which may be the earth) in a manner analogous to that indicated in'Fig. 1, while providing'operative results more nearly correspondingv with those of systems such as that indicated in Fig'. 4; calling station switching mechanisms indicated at stations a, b being of a type differing from that indicated'at stations c, d.

AArrangements such as that of Fig. 5 are particularly suited to situations where an integral electricalpower distribution network conductor system is available adjacent all calling stations and signals, as for example, conductors 32 and 33 of a three wire distribution system.

`nals of Fig. 1, and requires no further explanation at this point.

The marker signalsl MS of stations a and b fare` energized from `portions of the determining path situated between their respectively associated stations and the alarm AS, and their action will therefore be analogous to that of corresponding signals of Figs. 3 and 4, except as will be presently otherwise explained.

The marker signals MS associated with stations c and d are so energized and controlled that abnormal conditioning thereof will be efv fected when their respectively associated station switches have been operated, irrespective of the number of calling stations which are concurrently so operated and-in fact-independently of accidental rupture of any portionor portions of the determining path.

A system such as that of Fig. 5 also provides means (here exempliied by the -conventional thermo-flashing interrupter FG) which is responsive to the portion of the determining pathy nearest the general alarm signal AS for causing intermittent application of a reenergizing electromotive force to such portion upon interruption or other abnormal conditioning thereof. It

should be understood that various other well-` known types of flashers (motor driven or otherwise) may be correspondingly used.V

Operation of the switch of a calling station,

such as c5 or d5, will cause abnormal conditioning (continuous lighting) of its associated marker signal MS; such operation will also cause intermittent abnormal conditionings (flashing) of its guidance signal GS as well as of guidance signals of other stations situated in portions of the determining path between any such operated station and the ilasher FG, provided no intervening stations are then operated.

If two or more stations such as a5 or b5 are operated, marker and guidance signals will be caused to ilash at such one thereof as is jcon- `nected with the flasher FG by an unbroken portion of the determining path, together with the guidance signals of all other Ystations which are associated with such intervening unbroken portion. The guidance lamps which are associated tion of the normal determining path by any calling station, notwithstanding low climatic temperature, so that formulation of flashing impulses will quickly occur for causing intermittent response of alarm signal AS and flashing of the guidance signal GS at such station, as well as like flashing of the guidance signals at intervening stations and of the marker signal of the operated station if it is ofthe type of a5 and b5. i

y Figure 6 y The system of Fig. 6 resembles that of Fig. 5 in that the guidance signals GS and the marker signals MS are here connected in parallel between the ground and portions of the determiningr path between the associated stations and alarm AS, while resembling the system of Fig. 4 in having comparatively slow acting flashers FS, associated with various stations. 'Ihese flashers are, however, here so associated as to intermittently interconnect portions of the determining path at respective sides of abnormally conditioned switches.

Three calling station arrangements are here indicated, of which those of stations b, c and d have ashers FR. for causing, during abnormal switch positioning thereat, comparatively rapid flashing of respectively associated lamps MS, and, in the instances of stations b` and c, flashing of lamps GS in unison therewith. The signals GS of stations a and d will, however, respond only to their slow flashers.

' vAn independent power source IPS is associated with the marker signal MS and the flasher FR of station d in such manner that said signal will rapidly flash throughout abnormal positioning of its'switch, irrespective of conditioning of any other calling station switches or of any with portions of such a path between operated stations will be extinguished, irrespective of whether they have been operated; however, markerV lamps of operated stations such as c5 and d5 will :be lighted even though situated in a portion of the determining path farther from `asher vFG than some other operated station.

Thus, an operated station such as d5 which is nearer-flasher FG than all other operated stations, willV rcontinuously show a lighted marker signal MS and a flashing guidance signal GS,

while only the associated marker signal will be lighted at operated stations of this type farther from asher FG.

It` will be noted that the general interrupter portions of thedetermining path.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that concurrent operation of several calling stations will result in lighting of the signals MS and GS of that station which is situated in the determining path nearest to source PS. If' an operatedstation such as a, is so situated, its signals MS'and GS will be lighted intermittently responsive to its asher FS; if such as b and c, its signals MS and GS will flash rapidly responsive to its flasher FR; and, if such as d, its signal MS will flash rapidly and its signal GS will ash slowly responsive to its iiashers FR and FS, respectively.

Lamps MS of operated stations such as a, as well as lamps GS of unoperated calling stations toward alarm signal AS therefrom, will be lighted only during closures of flashers FS of all other stations then operated and situated in the determining path nearer source PS, and the lamps GS of operated stations such as a or d will be lighted only during closures of their own flashers .FS which occur during closures at such other stations. At stations such as b and c, lamps MS and GS will be. lighted only during closures of their own ashers FR which occur during closures of flashers FS of such other stations, and mayV therefore give a series of rapid flashes only during such other closures.

. Thus, slowly ashing guidance signal lamps indicate a call from a station farther from the general alarm; guidance lamps continuously lighted, indicate that any operated station is nearer the general alarm; and a slowly flashing marker signal of a station such as a or a rapidly ashing marker signal of a station such as b, c or d will be found at an operated calling station.

.the tongue 53;

It will be noted that, under normal conditions, there is no current ow through station a'shers of systems such as that of Fig. 6, so that-still assuming that these flashers are of the thermal type-there will be some delay between the actuation of a calling station switch and the first closure of its associated flasher or flashers.

Resultant prolongation of rst sounding of an audible alarm signal may prove to be distinctly advantageous in serving to render more noticeable the ensuing soundings of comparatively short duration.

If the general alarm signal is yci the siren type, such a prolongation of the iirst blast may be particularly advantageous in that it will assure that the siren will attain a satisfactory velocity before its energization becomes intermittent.

Figure 7 Arrangements are indicated in Fig. .7 for obtaining various results supplemental lto those described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6. Results thus obtainable include those of minimizingdelay in bringing thermo-flashers` into action, `utilization of a single lamp or other signal for both guidance and marker purposes, and formulation of code signals in a determining path.

The determining path is here shown connected between conductors 32 and 33 of a power distribution network, and connections are indicated `at stations a, b, and d with both of these conductors. It should be understood, however, that a common return conductor, such as the earth and/or several independent power sources, may be alternatively employed, .as will `be readily; apparent to those skilled in this'a'rt.'

Under normal conditions, there is currentrflow between the determining path and the conductor 33, through the heating coils 55 of .the thermoilashers FS of stations a and b. rihe'tongues 530i these ashers are therefore normally spaced from their contacts 5I; and, upon operation oi any such station, lcurrent Yflow ceasesthrough the heating coil of its flasher. Resultant cooling then causes this tongue to move into engagement with its contact 5l.

At the operated station, this will establisha current path from supply conductor 32, through contacts 4l, 48 which are associated with 'the switch member'4i, through flasher contact 5l to thus restoring current -ilow through the coil 55 and through the stations situated in portions of the determining path more Vdistant from its normal connection with said conductor 32.

Repetition of this action will cause intermittent sounding of the alarm signal AS andashing of the initially extinguished signals GS.

Operation of a station such as a and' l) causes its marker signal MS to be continuousiy lighted.

Although supply of needed energy at these stations is shown as from conductors 32, 33, it should be understood that such supplyl may be otherwise obtained, as from batteries or`from other power sources The arrangement of station c illustrates the use of a ground return instead of a direct connection with the distribution network, where it is not needful that the coil -oi the flasherV shall be normally heated.

The signal GS of station c is so controlled that while it serves as a guidance signal corresponding to the signals GS of stations a, b and d, it also serves as a marker signal in that, like the signals MS of stations a and b, the signaling aspect which it displays when its associated station `has been operated is distinctively diierent fromthat displayed under any other circumstances. To this end, the rapid flasher FR is rendered effective by the operation of the switch of station c; said flasher being short-circuited at other times.

The comparatively slow acting asher FS then serves to vcause dashing of the guidance lamps of stations in the path nearer to signal AS, as would be the case for stations such as a and b.

The arrangement of station d includes a driving motor 65 rendered active by operation of the switch member 4I, and the rapid int-errupter wheel B3 Aand the comparatively slow code signal formulator wheel 6| driven by said motor.

Operation'of station d moves its switch member 4| away from contact 43, thus depriving the path portion between this station and the signal AS from the current normally reaching it from conductor'32 through the` remainder of said path.

`Such opera'tion also carries the switch member 41 into engagement with the contacts 49 and 59, thus supplying energy from conductor 32 for vcausingioperation of the motor 65 (as already resilent, guidance lamps GS are steadily lighted, ,marker lamps MSv are extinguished, nasher coils loistations such asa and bareheated, and motor l'land the Wheels'il and are at rest.

Operation of 'station b will deenergize its heat- `er coil land render abnormal its Ysignal'MS together with signal AS and the signals GSof stations c and d. Tongue 53 ofthe 4associated flashf er FS twill cool and therefore close with Contact 5L 1re-energizing 00u55, relighting signals GS at c .and d, andsilencingsignal AS until reheatingv causes. tongue. .Fiato lagain leave contact 5 I.

kSigna-ISGS at V,c and d will thereafter beintermittently lighted,` signal-AS `will correspondingly sound, and signal MS at b will be constantly lighted until switch member 4| is restored.

Should switches be operated at both stations aand b, the lamp MS of station a will be lighted, the lampv GSof station a will remain lighted, the lamps MS andGS of station i) will be lighted during yclosures of flasher FS of station/a, and the lamps GS of other stations nearer signal AS will be lighted, and said signal silenced, during closures of the flasher FS at the station b. It will thus be indicated at station b that it has been operated and that another station more distant from signal AS has also been operated.

Operation of a station such as c will produce similar results, except that its signal GS will -flash rapidly to show that it has been operated, and if a like station more distant trom the signal AS has also been operated, such rapid lashings will occur only during closures of the contacts of the 'flasher oi such other operated station.

Operation of a station such as di causes the Ialarm signal AS, and the guidance signals 'GS of-sta'tions between AS and the operated sta-tion to respond in accordance with the code identifying .the active station; here indicated as the code 4 for the station d.

In other words, the general alarm signal AS and the guidance lamps GS of stations between station d, and the alarm signal AS will have energizations in groups of 4, with intervening pauses, thus signifying that the station identified by this code is active. The guidance signal and the marker signal lamps of such active station will flash rapidly.

If two or more stations such as d1 are ccncurrently active, their marker signals will continuously and rapidly flash, just as if each were the only active station, as will the guidance signal of the active station farthest in the determining path from alarm signal AS. The alarm signal AS will respond to the code designating the station nearest in the determining path thereto, as will guidance signals of inactive stations therebetween. The guidance lamps of stations situated in the determining path between active stations will be lighted only during code signaling closures of such one of the active stations as is situated in the determining path nearest thereto in the direction away from the alarm signal AS; and should any such intervening station be active, its guidance signal will display a series of rapid flashes for each such code signaling closure.

Should the determining path be accidentally ruptured at any point, a continuous Warning will be given by the alarm signal AS and by the extinguishment of all guidance and marker lamps.

While such path is so broken, should the switch be operated at any station such as a, b or cl, if

such station is situated in the determining path between the breakl and the winding W, the alarm signal AS, and the guidance lamps between said signal and the operated station will respond as if the determining path had not been ruptured. If the marker lamp of such operated station is controlled in a manner such as or analogous to that indicated at station d, the marker lamp of such station will indicate that it has been operated.

Figure 8 Under some conditions, it is desirable to provide signals for independently guiding responses from respective directions or along two routesas along highways with lanes on opposite sides of a central barrier, or along adjacent so-called one way streets, for vehicular movements in respective directions.

It is evident that, under such conditions, guidance signals may be of such form and so distributed as to serve to guide responses to various calling stations from localities in diverse or opposite directions therefrom by the use of two signaling systems each having a determining path and arranged in accordance with some embodiment of this invention such as those hereinbefore described.

In the embodiment of this invention which is indicated in Fig. 8, a single determining path serves such a dual-direction signaling system, the ends of such path being supplied from the respective conductors 32, 33 of an alternating current supply, and paths are provided for governing the signals, which paths include uni-directional conductors or rectifiers IGI, |03, |05, |09, so that the guidance signal lamps GS', the marker signal lamps MS and the alarm signal AS' are governed by current iiow in one direction and the -lamps GS and MS with the alarm signal AS are governed by current iiovv in the opposite direction.

The alarm signals AS and AS serve to summon responses from the localities of respective ends of the determining path, and the lamps GS' and MS and the lamps GS" and MS" are rendered visible for guiding responses and facilitating movements from the localities of signals AS and AS", respectively.

At each calling station, a movable switch member normally engages a contact |3 and is movable therefrom and into engagement with a contact 15, and a supplementaryswitch member 11 normally engages contact 19, being movable therefrom into engagement with contact 8| responsive to abnormal positioning of said member For classes of service such that it is objectionable to have fiashing of guidance signals and intermittent sounding of alarm signals result in response to breaking of the determining path when no stations have been operated, signaling stations should be provided with supplemental movable switch members such as those indicated at station d, at which members 83 and 83" are movable responsive to abnormal positioning of member to close with contacts 85 and 85'! respectively, and thereby complete a connection between the contacts of flashers FS and FS' with supply conductors 32 and 33 respectively,

Ywhich connections are otherwise open at thi station.

Under normal conditions, current flow in the direction toward supply conductor 33 proceeds through conductor y', rectier conductor i, member and Contact I9 of station d, and there divides. One portion thence proceeds through associated guidance signal GS' and through coil of flasher FS in parallel therewith, and thence through rectifier |09' of said station to source conductor 33. The other such portion proceeds through rectifier IH and conductor'h, correspondingly through station c, through conductor g and correspondingly through station b, through conductor f and correspondingly through station a, through conductor e, rectier i [i3 and winding W' to source conductor 33.

Normal current iiow in the direction toward supply conductor 32 proceeds through conductorV e and rectifier |31, through switch member and contact 13 of station a, and there divides. O-ne portion thence proceeding through associated guidance signal GS and through heating coil of flasher FS which is in parallel with said signal, thence through rectier |09 to supply conductor 32. The other such portion proceeds through rectifier and conductor f, correspondingly through station b, through conductor g and correspondingly through station c, through conductor h and correspondingly through station d, through conductor i, rectifier |35, Winding W and conductor y' to supply conductor 32.

Operation of the switch of station c will interrupt current flow from supply conductor 32 to supply conductor 33 through a portion of the path just indicated, because of movement of member away from contact 19; and will interrupt current flow from supply conductor 33 to supply conductor 32 through a portion of the path just described because of movement of switch member 7| away from contact 1?.v

Signal lamps GS of stations a and .1J and GS of station d will remain lighted, being unaffected by such action; but signallamps GS of stations c and d and GS of stations a, b and c will be extinguished, and alarm signals AS and gnS Will sound.

Furthermore, signals MS' and MS of station c will be lighted` through current paths vestablished when members [11 and 'll engagecontacts 8| and '15, respectively, at `said station.

When the alarm signals AS and AS ,sound andcertainof the signals GS and 'GS"',a-re ex tinguished, as just described, the heating coils of Ilashers FS and F of station `c wi'llbe deenergized and, resultant cooling willcause the tongues of these flashers tomove into engagement with their associatedcontacts, and -thus reestablish current pathsfor the alarmgsignals AS', AS, and for the signals GS' :andGS which were at rst extinguished. Thereafter, such initially extinguished signalswill Ihejintermittently lighted, and sounding of said alarm signals will be intermittently continued,;resultant fromthe valternate heating and cooling ,ofsaid iiashers.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that response from the localityy of aIarm-signal'AS" will Abe guided to station c by the Vflashing .of the guidance signallamp GS `at stations d and c, and by the continuous :lighting of thesignal-MS at station c. i

Response from the locality :ofwalarm signal AS will be correspondingly ,guided by flashing of the guidance signals GS" atstations a; b and fc and by the continuous lighting of@ the signal MS at station cl Should several stations he concurrently operated,the response of vthe-signals'for respective directions of response Iwill correspond withthose of systems hereinbefore zdescribed.

For instance, if the switchesof stationsv b and c are concurrently operated, alarm signals AS and AS" will sound, responsey from locality of alarm signal AS will be guided to station b, where signal lamp MS' will ,bei lightedintermittently (being dependent upon closures of ,asher FS", o'f station c) thus; indicating vthat -it is zone-ofseveral operated stations; while signal MS of sta. tion c'will be continuously'lighted, thus indicatingnotonly that it has been operatedy but also that there are nofoperated,stationsbeyondiitfin the direction of travel away from :signal AS.

Response from localityfof alarm 1 signaLfAS will be correspondinglyguided to stations c-,and b;

.Should the determining path be -accidentally' broken, `as by rupture -of conductor h lbetween stationsc and d, the alarm signals'wouldA sound as in the case of the operationof a calling station, but none of the marker signals would-be lighted.

-Assuming that all ofthe stations are constructedas indicated at station d, suchrupture of'conductor h would result in continuous sounding of the general alarm signals AS' `and. AS, and in extinguishment of guidance Asignals GS of stations connected to the determiningpath between the break and the alarm signal AS', -as Well as signalsGSf' of stations connected to said path .between such break and thev alarm signal AS".

Were all of the stations .constructed as 'indicated at stations a, b and c, the result would be the same as just described, except that closing of the contacts of the flashers,y following deenergization of their heaters, Awould result in intermittency of the soundings of the alarm'signals and of extinguishment of guidance lamps; sothat closures of the flasher FS of station c'would cause intermittency in the `sounding of alarm lll).

AS',4 and flashing of the signals GrSV of stations ab.and c, and closures of the flasher FS of station d :(wereits construction such as -that of stations a, b and c) 1wouldcause `flashing of the signal GS" thereat.

Figure 9 Arrangements indicated inFig.-.9 are specially suited to situations in which :it is desirable-to indicate `which of vseveral alternative courses should be followed in `responding to a call.

For convenience in illustration, the general arrangement of the determining path and .of the calling station switches here shown,l corresponds with that indicated i-nv Fig. 1; but it should be understood-that the' features of this invention which are indicated in Fig. 9 may be utilized in connection with ernbodiments'other than such as that ofFig. l. f

Stations yl1, c, and dV are indicated as being-at one side and station d at the lother .side of the generalcourse of the determining path. Thus,A it might be that stations b, c, d'land d" are situated -on streets at one ,side or the other of and are `not visible yfrom aimain traic artery; or

' such stations might be situated -in rooms or .sec-

tions4 of a building at-some .distance,.and perhaps not 'visible from-the main path of exit.

For the purpose of indicating at a distance when the switch of station b has been operated, signal lamp TSb is controlled by a relay Rb which has a pair of Iwindingswhichare so connected between fthe earth and Y conductors f and` g that, so long asthe current path through stationhfis closed, the current flow through one of these ductors-f and g may be made where their courses leave the Amain'route to provide a loop leading to stationb.

From the foregoing, it vwill be evident thatthe current path through thesignal TSU will vbe open otherthan whenone of` the conductors f, g isenergized while the other deenergized. Thus, if the station is operated and the determining path vis unbroken therefrom to source PS .said signalwill be lighted. If there `is a generallasher arranged as indicated in Fig. 5, or iffstationb has a Vflasher arranged in accordance with `disclosures of Eigs. 4, 5, 6, '7 or 8,;saidlamp willibe lighted intermittently. In fact, if'stationbchas a asher arrangement corresponding .to those indicated at certain ofthe stations of Figs. 7 and 8, said lamp TSb may be caused to flash, while station bis in operated condition, 4evenithoughthe determiningy path is ruptured at one or both sides of `said station. i Y

- Signal lamps TSC, TSdand lTSaV -are associated with calling stations c, d' and d, so as to operate in a manner corresponding to that yof lamp TSb :just described. For convenience, vsuch signals will be at times Ahereinafter refer-red to as turning signals. i

4VSignal TSC is jointly controlledfby lrelaysRcg and Reh so that thecurrent path' through .said lamp will be closed `only when relay ,Rog isf--en-I ergized at a timewhen relay-Rchisdeenergized.

Said `relays are connected between-the earth and conductors g and h-,Mre'spectivelyi 7 It willtherefore' beevident that deenergization offconductor hduring energization of conductor-'g will result in lighting of signalv4 TSC; but saidlamp will not be lighted in the event of energization of conductor h during deenergization of conductor g, although signalrTSb would be lighted under similar circumstances. Y

The turn signal lamps Tsd and 'ISdfl associated with stations d and'd", respectively, are arranged for lighting by current flow derived from portions of the determining path extending from their respectively associated stations toward source PS; the current paths through said signals Abeing normally broken by the respectively associated Vrelays Rd' and Rd" which are connected between the earth and portions of the determining path at the sides of their respectively associated stations farthest from sourceV 13S.V If station a of Fig. 9 is operated, none of the turning signals will respond. If station b is operated, turningsignal TSJ)` willrespond, but turning signals TSC, TsdV and Tsd will not respond. There will be corresponding responses to the other stations, and, assuming that stations d and d are at opposite sides of the same highway intersection, the arrows on their turning signals will indicate the direction in which turns should be made.

Figure 10 As hereinbeforeV mentioned, a single general alarm signahor a group of such signals, may be associated for control by any one of several determining paths through relays responsive to the respective paths and similar to those having winding W as indicated in-Figs. 1-9; by connecting the contacts of such relays in parallel with each other; however, for many service conditions, it is desirable to provide facilities for accomplishing various results supplemental to thosewhich would be obtained by the mere use of such relays.

Responsive and inter-relating mechanism such as indicated in Fig. 1,0 `(and which, for convenience, will be at times hereinafter referred to as a"repeater) is specially suited for meeting many service conditions such as, for example: for silencing general alarm signals after a predetermined extent of activity; for causing general alarm signal lresponse in accordance with a code identifying abnormally conditioned ones of the associated determining paths; for providing, in addition to such code formulating facilities, an arrangement for causing alarm signals to respond to special or station designating code signals which are formulated in an associated path; and for .accomplishing other results supplemental to those hereinbeforereferred to and which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Description of Figure 10 The repeater of Fig. 10 ,is shown in association with three circuits each comprising a determin ing path connecting calling stations and `which will be referred to, for brevity,` as box circuits. These circuits are generally indicated at I, IIrand III. Y

For convenience, these circuits and their associated calling stations and guidanceA signals are arranged and represented in a manner substantially corresponding with Fig. 1. It should be understood, however, that provision for circuits arranged in accordance with other embodiments of this invention thanrthat of Fig. 1, may be similarly made, also that larger or smaller numbers of'circuts may be correspondingly.assol dated, f j

General alarm mechanism is indicate'datAS for response to Acalling stations of v*circuits I, III and III; and electricallydriven or controlled motor mechanism is indicated at |3|.. 1 vi It should be understood that the current source for the circuit of the. alarm 'mechanism AS mayl be the same as that for the motor' mechanism |3| and/or that for the box circuits,V although here shown as if independent; also'that separate current sources may be -provided for the various box circuits, although they are here shownV as supplied by a single source.

The` drive shaft |33 is drivenA by the motor mechanism |3| and carries parts for general pur' posesrincluding the-restoring cam |35 and ther toothed flasher wheel |381which-are iixed thereon; as well asfparts associated. with each of the box circuits, some of which are fixed upon said shaft and others of which rotate independentlythere-I of, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

The rock Yshaft |4| carries the fingers |43, onev for each box circuit, levers |45 for restoring each of said lingers, and a tracer |31 for the cam |35.

The tracer |3`| and the levers |45 are fixed upon said shaft, while the fingers |43 move independently thereof.

Associated with theV mechanism representative of each box circuit, is a code wheel |5| which is xed upon said drive shaft |33 and has a cooperating tracer |53.

A portion of the periphery of each of said wheels is cut away, and within each such cutaway portion are teeth, whichl may be in one or more groups, for causing actuation of the associated tracer to effect formulation of a code signal indicative of the box circuitrepresented thereby, I

The cutaway portions of these code wheels are angularly displaced, one from another, so that they will be presented to their tracers in the order of I,'II, III; such cutaway portions of respective wheels being presented just before the withdrawal of the like portion presented immediately preceding it, except that` uncut portions of `the peripheries of all of said wheels, which portions are of substantial extent, will be so presented following thatof the cutaway portion of the wheel representing the last circuit of the series (in the repeater shown, being circuit III)A and before the next presentation of the cutaway portion of the Wheel representing the first circuit lof such series, the purposes for which will be hereinafter more fully explained. Y

There are spaces of like extent between "the" respective ends of each cutaway portion and the teeth therein nearest thereto, sothat there will be substantially corresponding times between the withdrawal of the raised periphery preceding the presentation of the rst tooth and between the withdrawal of the last tooth and the next presentationof the raised portion; furthermore, Ythe height of the teeth is Vappreciably less than thatV Other parts provided for respective ones vof:

these .circuitsare alike;` hence,.theparts for'but onel of said circuits will be here described in detail. v

For each box circuit there is an eleotromagnet |55, having an armature lever |51 which cooperates with an independently movable contact lever |59 so that there will be an electrical conn ection between |51 and |59 whenever the mag-` net is deenergized.

An operating extension |6| carried by the armature lever |51 engages the lever |59 to move it away from its retracted position when the armature is in attracted position. |63 and |55 urge retractive movement of the armature lever |51 and of the contact lever |59, respectively.

The :finger |53 carries a latch piece |61, and the land |69 is carried into the path of the latch |61 during attracted positioning of the armature lever |51, so as to then prevent movement of the finger |43 from its elevated position. v

Contacts |1I are held separated by the iinger |43 while the latch piece |61 is above the land |69. are closed when the tracer |31 is lifted by the cam said contacts |13 and the contacts |1| of the various circuits being in parallel with each other and control the current path to the motor |3| so that, so long as any of these contacts are closed, the current path to said motor will be eiiective. Y

The levers are so positioned on the shaft I4I with relation to their respectively associated fingers |43 that, when said tracer |31 is lifted, the contacts |13 will be closed before any lever |45 raises its associated finger |53 suiciently to :i

separate the contacts |1| controlled thereby.

` The contacts IBI are held closed by the tracer |53 so long as it is supported either byV raised portions or teeth of the code wheel |5| The current path for the 'alarm signal AS is associated with the contacts |3|, and those of |51 and |59 of the various circuits, in such manner that said signal will sound only when all of said contacts ISI are closed and the Contact of the armature lever of |51 of some circuit touches that of its lever |59. The contacts |8| of the various circuits are shown in series with each other and with the alarm signal circuit, and the contacts of |51 and |59 for the various circuits are shown in parallel with each other and, as a group, in series with said circuit.

A shield |85 has raised portions |81 and |239 which are separated by the notch |9| and said portions are so formed that, when either is situated in the path of the projection |53 carried by the tracer |53, it will prevent said tracer from so moving as to permit separation of the contacts ISI.

A ratchet-toothed portion |95 is in the periphery of said shield for cooperation with a retaining bar|91 which is carried by the contact member |59 and is of such length as to be withdrawn from the path of said teeth when said member I 59 is in the position to which it is moved when the armature lever |51 is in its attracted position.

A spring |99 urges clockwise rotation of said shield |85, and a stop 29| projects from said shield, adjacent the end of its toothed portion |95 nearest said notch 19|, for engagement with the .bar |91l for arresting such rotation when the raised portion |81 of said shield is in the path of the projection |93.

Actuating mechanism is provided for rotating the shield |85; against. the` urge oi said spring.A

The springs' The contacts |13 are normally open, and

|95; said mechanism comprising a'n L-shaped lever 295, pivoted at 291, and having a vertical portion 269 disposed in the path of a pin 2| carried by the code wheel |5|. The free end of the horizontal member of said L-shaped lever has pivotally attached thereto a dog 2|5 for engaging the toothed portion |95 of the shield |85.

-A tail 2 1 is'carried by the dog 2 I5 and engages the stop 2I9 for at times moving said dog out of the path of said toothed portion.

A spring 22| is connected to the tail 2|1 between its pivotal attachment to the L-shaped lever 255 and the portion thereof which engages said stop, and thus serves to cause the dog 2|5YV to swing toward the toothed portion |55 during c'ounterclockwise rotation of said lever around its pivot 231 and, acting through said tail, also serves to urge clockwise rotation of said lever,

and still further serves to cause said tail to rock' around said stop during the final portionl of `.ichclockwise lever rotation and thereby swing said dog away from-said toothed portion.r The relative angular positionings of thek cam |35 and thepins 2| is such that Whenever the circuit ier the `motor mechanism I3| is interrupted resultant from withdrawal of the cam |35 from support of the tracer |31, and said motor mechanism thereafter comes to rest, the pins 2|| of the various circuits will then be so positioned with relation to the cooperating ends of their L-shaped lovers 255 as to functionally engage said endssoon after resumption of rotation of the shaft i3d-and wheels ISI. i

en extension 23| moves with the contact membor |59 for at times moving the contact 233 away from the contact 235 and against the contact 231. The formation of the portion of the shield which is in the path of retractile movement of the bar |91 while said *shield is so positioned nected to contact 235fand the other end is connected to power source conductor 33g` so that, so long as the power source is eiTective and the determining path is uninterrupted, the magnet |55 will be eiectively energized.

Flasher contact 23| is normally held against contact 253 by tracer |39 which is supported by a tooth of flasher wheel |38. When tracer |39 drops between teeth of wheel |33, contact 25| moves away from contact 263 and into engage-r ment with the contact 245.

Said contact 25| is connected with the contact 231 o f its associated circuit. Said contact 253 is connected with the end of the winding of the magnet |55 which is also connected to the contact 235 of the circuit represented thereby; and the contacts 245 for the various circuits are lcon'- nected in parallel with each other and with the power source conductor 32.

The arm 25| is carried by the shield |85 and the slanting abutment 253 is carried by the armature lever |51. The relative positionings of said arm and said abutment are such that, when the last step of counter-clockwise actuation is imparted tovsaid shield incident to engagement farthest from the stop 29|, said arm will act through said abutment to move said lever |51 toward attracted position, passing to the upper side of said abutment and being there retained, by a slight retraction of said lever, until the armature again moves to fully attracted position. While said arm is so supported b-y said abutment 253, it serves to preventthe contact of armature lever |51 from touching the contact of lever |59.

Operation of Fig. 10

Normally, the current paths for the alarm signal AS and for the motor mechanism |3| are open, the determining paths are closed, and the magnets |55 and guidance signals GS associated with said paths are energized.

First considering operation of some one calling station or box. Assuming that the switch of station b opens the determining path of circuit I. The guidance signal lamps at respective sides of station c will be extinguished, the magnet |55 of this circuit will be deenergized, its armature lever |51 will retract and thereby establish a connection with the contact of its lever |59, the land |59 will be withdrawn from support of the latch piece |61, and the finger |43 will drop with resultant closure of the contacts |1|.

Such closure between the contacts of |51 and |59 completes a current path for the alarm signal AS which will thereupon start to sound, and closure of said contacts |1| completes a path causing the motor mechanism |3| to rotate the drive shaft |33 and parts Xed thereon.

Resultant rotation of the code wheels |51 will cause their pins 2| I to act through' the L-shaped levers 205 and dogs 2|5 to advance their respective shields sufficiently to bring the rst notches of their toothed portions into the paths of their respectively associated bars |91.

The contact lever |59 of circuit I will thereupon further retract (accompanied by its armature lever |51) and thereby carry its bar |91 into the notch presented thereto, so as to retain its shield |85 from return movement- Inasmuch', however, as the levers |59 of circuits II and III remain in attracted position, their associated shields will be restored to normal positioning when the pins 2|| have moved past the cooperating portions of their levers 205.

Such further retraction of the lever |59 of circuit I causes the associated contact 233 to move from its contact 235 to its contact 231 and thereby render effective the flasher contacts 24|, 243, 245. l

Thereafter, the rotation of wheel |38 will cause power source conductor 32 to be connected, through contacts 24|, 245, to the end of the determining path of circuit I which is normally connected to the magnet |55, whenever the tracer |39 drops incidental to withdrawal of support of a tooth of wheel |38 therefrom; with resultant flashing of the guidance signal lamps GS which were at rst extinguished; which' flashing will continue so long as said member |59 is so positioned as to hold contact 233 against contact 231.

Inasmuch as Contact 24| always leaves contact 243 before touching contact 245, the magnet |55 is always disconnected from said determining path whenever such flashing connections are effected.

- VThe described advancement of the'shield |85 of circuit I, carried its raised portion |81 out of the path of the projection |93; so thatthe tracer |53 would `be th'ereaftersupported solely by the code wheel |5I, and would drop upon presentation thereto of the cutaway portion of vsaid wheel, thereby permitting the contacts |8| to separate and thereby break the current path for the alarm signal AS.

Said alarm signal will herefore be then silenced, until the code teeth of the Wheel |5| successively raise said tracer and thus cause two short blasts of said signal, followed by another silent interval which ends when the cutaway portion of said code wheel is withdrawn from the path of said tracer.

It will be understood that two short blasts, preceded and followed by silent intervals, is the code signal indicated for designating circuit I. Had the call been from circuit II, the code wheel indicated therefor would have caused three short blasts and had it been from circuit III therev would have been four such blasts. Y p

It is obvious that other code designations for the various circuits could be provided by suitably altering the number and arrangement of teeth within cutaway portions of the code wheels.

After the first revolution of the wheel |5I, the pins 2|| will again act through the levers 205 and the dogs 2|5 to advance the shields |85; so that the shield of circuit I will thereby attain another step of advancement, which step will beretained by its bar |91, because of continued retraction of levers |51 and |59, while the 'shields of the other circuits will move back to their normal positions when disengaged by their dogs 2|5, because their levers |59 still hold their bars |91 out of the paths of their teeth'.

Ensuing revolutions of the drive shaft |33 will thereafter result in signal AS sounding further repetitions of the code Isignal representative of circuit I, and, after each such repetition, the shield of said circuit will be advanced another step; so that, finally, the raised portion |89 thereof will be carried into the path of the projection |93, and thereby render the tracer |53 unresponsive to its code wheel |5I.

Such nal one of the actuated steps of the shield |35 of circuit I will also cause its arm 25| to act through its abutment 253 to move the associated armature lever |51 away from the Contact of its lever |59, and thereby silence the signal AS.

Thereafter, the flasher mechanism |38, |39, 24|, 243, 245 will, so long as the determining path of circuit I remains broken, continue to connect said determining path alternately to the winding of its magnet 55 and to th'e supply conductor 32, so that the guidance signal lamps at respective sides of lstation c will continue to flash,

If, now, said determining path is restored, as by reclosing switch b, its magnet |55 will be reeneigized if flasher contact 24| is then touching contact 243; otherwise, when these contacts neXt close Such reenergization of said magnet will cause its armature lever |51 to move to attracted position, thereby withdrawing the abutment 253 from the path of the arm 25|, besides moving aside the free end of the latch piece |61 by y bringing the land |69 into the normal path thereof, and acting through the extension |6| and the lever |59, will cause withdrawal of the bar |91 from the path of the toothed portion of the shield |85; whereupon said shield will be turned by its spring |99 until it has reached its normal position, when its rotation will be arrested by the'stop 20| striking against said bar |91.

The current path for the motor mechanism l3| will thereafter be interrupted when the support of the cam |35 is next withdrawn from its tracer |31, following such lifting of said tracer as caused the linger |43 to carry the latch piece |61 above the land |39 and thereby serve Yto break and prevent reclosing of the contacts |1l.

Following such interruption of the motor vmechanism circuit, the repeater will come to restwith all parts in their normal positions.

Should station switches of two or more circuits be operated at or about the same time, the results would be similar to those just described; the principal differences being in concurrent sounding of the two codes and in final restoration of the repeater when both box circuits'finally become reclosed.

In such concurrent activity of two or more box circuits, their codes will be sounded without an intervening long blast if the cutaway portions of their code wheels overlap; otherwise, they will be separated by a long blast.

Thus if, on the one hand, the circuits I and II shown are concurrently active, there will be a silent interval after the initial long first blast, then two short blasts, another similar silent interval, then three short blasts, then another such silent interval followed by a long blast continuing until the silent interval preceding the next repetition of the code number. On the other hand, if circuit II is inactive when circuits I and III are active, after the two short blasts representative of circuit I have been preceded and followed by-silent intervals, there will be a long blast (while the cutaway portion of wheel |5| of circuit II passes its tracer) then four short-blasts, preceded and followed by similar silent intervals. When the repeater is operating responsive to any box circuit or circuits, if the determining path of some other circuit is broken, formulation of the code signal representative of such other circuit will commence following the next ensuing advancement of its shield |85 responsive to its dog 2|5, and the sounding of its code signal will not be terminated, resultant from later advancement of its shield, until it has been repeated the usual number of times.

When the repeater is formulating code signals representative of two or more circuits, reclosure of one of such circuits during the formulation of its code signal will not result in interruption thereof, as its tracer |53 will not be raised high enough by any code tooth to permit the raised shield portion |81 to pass below its projection-| 93, and the alarm circuit will be closed around the opened armaturel contacts of the box circuit so restored by closed like; contacts of some other circuit which has remained open.

However, the ensuing withdrawal of the cutaway portion of its code wheel willcau'se said tracer to be so raised that said projection |93 will permit said raised portion |81 to pass thereunder and thereby prevent further repetitions of its code number.

In a repeater having various parts so proportioned that the armature never moves out of the effective range of its magnet, should no other circuit be open when a box circuit is restored during the formulation of its code signal, resultant separation of the armature controlled contacts will cause immediate cancellation of any then remaining portion of such signal. It is believed that, for many uses, such action would not be objectionable,

If it is desired to prevent such premature termination of a code signal, this canbe accomplished by so proportioning the parts that the armature will be out of `the effective range of the magnet except when its retraction is n'o greater than when it is supported either by the arm-25| or by the member |59 while the bar |91 rests against the raised portion of the shield |35 adjacent the projection 20|.

Sounding of special signals such as the various familiar forms of so-called all out and general alarm and the like, may be effected from various calling stations byalternately breaking and closing the determining path thereat. 'Ihis may be accomplished by special actuation of the calling station switch, by the use of some Well known type of telegraph key, or otherwise, as

desired.

When such special signals are so formulated each break of the box circuit will result in a closure of the alarm circuit at the associated armature controlled contacts, causing the signal AS to sound; andeach closureof the box circuit will terminate such sounding and will also prevent retention of accumulations of Yactuations of the associated shield, to thereby prevent release of the tracer |53 for effecting code-signal formulation. Y

It will be apparentthat most satisfactory results will be obtained in the use of the particular form of repeating mechanism here shown, if, in the 'formulation of such special signals, short blasts are sounded, keeping the box circuit closed between blasts.'

If it is desired to adapt the repeater shown-to a system having, at calling stations, code signaling formulators such as indicated at station d` of Fig. 7, this may be accomplished by changes such as the following:

Omit the flasher means comp-rising the wheel |38, tracer |39, contacts 24|, 243, 245, extensions 23| and the associated contacts 233,235,231.

n Omission may alsov be made of the code'wheels |5|, the tracers |53 and the associated contacts ISI leaving the alarm circuit responsive to the armature controlled contacts-on levers |51 and |59.

The contacts of levers |59 may be made stationary, and ther bars |91 omitted therefrom, corespondingA means to be provided in place thereof so that similar parts carried by or responsive to fingers such as l|43 will coperate with ratchet teeth of the shields |85, and the form of the portions 209 of .the L-shaped levers 205 so altered that they will cause their dogs 2|5 to engage the teeth of the shields |85 somewhat before the cam |35. has lifted its tracer |31 enough to free the shield |85, and will ccntinue such engagement until the shaft |33 has thereafter rotated, following withdrawal of the cam |35 from the tracer |31, for a timelonger than the longest interval between the breaks incident to any signal.

With parts so revised, the signal AS will sound throughout each break of an active box circuit, so long as the shield has not been advanced yfar enough to cause the arm. 25| to act through the Vabutment 253 to move the armature lever |51 away from the contact |59. After such movement, the circuit of the alarm signal ASI will be rendered unresponsive to suchcircuit until its shield has been restored. f

If alterations such as just indicated are made in the L-shaped lever portion 209, accumulations of shield movement will not be cancelled Vuntil the armature has remained in attracted position from an occasion when the cam |35 has raised and'then released its tracer 131, until the dog 2I5 has thereafter withdrawn from the path of the' teethof the shield |85, incident to movement of its pin'ZH beyond said lever portion 209.

Similar changes will adaptthe repeater shown Vto systems having flashers at calling stations, such, for example, as those indicated in Figs. 4, 6, 7 and 8, or to any service conditions such that it is desired that response of general alarm signals of limited duration will result from each occasion when a given box circuit is continuously vor intermittently interrupted.

It should be understood that certain of the results attained by the use of repeaters similar to that just described may also be obtained by governing the relationships between box circuit relays (such, for example, as those indicated in Figs. 1 to9) andan alarm circuit, by the use of timing mechanisms oi well known types such, for example, as those commonly used in railway and highway traflic signaling.

` Figure 11 In order to more graphically show the manner in which responses to calls may be guided and those along highways may ascertain where rightof-way should be made available for emergency vehicles, Fig. 11. indicatessignal manifestations incident to operation of the switch of one of the calling stations of a system having lrepresentations of many of the features of this invention which have been hereinbefore more fully described.

For convenience in reference, an arterial highway is designated as East Main Street and West Main Street at respective sides of a minor highway which is, in turn, designated as North Cross Street and South Cross Street at respective sides of Main Street.

Intersecting said North Cross Street is another minor highway designated as Elm Street across the right. hand end of which a highway designated as Valley Street extends parallel to Cross Street. Other highways designated as Prospect Street and Oak Street extend from the respective ends of Valley Street parallel to Elm Street and inthe direction away from. Cross Street.

Determining paths are indicated as radiating from the intersection of Main and Cross Streets, each path having calling stations and guidance signals indicated in association therewith.

The determining path for the locality around North Cross Street supplies a guidance signal GSr visible from the intersection with Main Street, and a calling station d and its signal on Elm Street to the left of Cross Street; like stations d and c and their lamps on Oak Street and Prospect Street, respectively, at the other side of Cross Street; as well as other stations b and a, and their lamps, along Cross Street beyond Elm Street. '.f

`From station a, the determining path doubles back to the4 fire department station on West Main Street, where it includes a designator D, such as indicated in and described in connection with Figi'. l

:A siren .type general alarm signal is indicated at the re station, in association with repeating mechanism RM, which may be such as that of Fig. 10.

'I'he turning signal lampsTSd' and TScd" at theintersection of Elm and North Cross Streets are associated with station d', and With stations `and Cross Street intersection.

d and rc collectively; and the turning signal lamps T Sc and TSd are correspondingly associated with stations c and d, all in a manner corresponding to that of the turning signal lamps indicated in Fig. 9 in association with stations d and d".

As shown, it is assumed that station d has been operated, and that this station is of a type having a fast acting flasher for its guidance signal such, for example, as that indicated at stations b, c or d of Fig. 6, or such as station c of Fig. 7.

The guidance signal lamps on Main Street, on South Cross Street,and beyond Elm Street on North Cross Street are shown as burning continuously. Lamp GS is flashing slowly, as is lamp at signal d'.

Turning signals 'ISd and TSC are not lighted, but like signals TScd and TSd are intermittently lighted, ashing slowly. The guidance signal lamp at station d is flashing rapidly. Designator D at the iire department identifies the operated station.

Those hearing the siren alarm may ascertain the route to the operated station'in that the continuously burning lamps along Main Street and South Cross Street, and those beyond Elm Street on North Cross Street indicate that the operated station is situated therefrom toward the Main At this intersection it will be indicated, by the iiashing signal GS, that North Cross Street leads therefrom toward the operated station; and at the intersection of Elm and North Cross Streets it will be indicated by the steadily burning signal of station b that the operated station is not farther away from Main Street along Cross Street. However, the flashing pointer signals TScd" and TSd indicate that turns to the right should be made on Elm Street and again on Valley Street; after which the origination of the can is cieariy identied by the rapidly iiashing signal at station d".

' Indoor service Various ones of the embodiments of this invention which have been herein described may be advantageously utilized for giving warning of danger and for guiding exposed persons along paths which avoid dangerous localities.

For example, if an embodiment such as that indicated by Fig. 5 is so employed, calling station a might be situated on the ground floor, and stations b, c, d, and the like, on the various oors above. A suitable number of audible warning signals distributed around the premises could be controlled from a relay having a Winding W, such vas that'indicatedl for governing alarm signal AS.

If installed in a building having stairways at each end thereof, calling stations could be distributed on the various oors adjacent the respective stairways, separate determining paths 'being providedfor those adjacent each stairway.

Audible warning signals could be made responsive to such determining paths, and visual and/or audible outdoor signals could be provided at doorways through which the respective stairways discharge.

With such arrangements, operation of any calling station would cause signals for warning occupants that they should leave the building, and would result in lighting of the marker lamp of the operated station, as Well as in causing iashing of guidance lamps for iioors above it. These guidance lamps could be situated adjacent to or utilized for illumination of so-called exit signs.

Assuming that the operated station is at an end or cornerV ofY the third iioor, those on rst and second floors would find all exit or guidance lamps burning steadily, thus indicating thatl all stairways were available for their use. Thoseon the third floor would find a lighted marker lamp adjacent the operated calling stationvand those onthe fourth floor would observe-that the guidance or exit lamp at the entrance to the stairway above the operated station was flashing; thus warning occupants ofthe third and fourth floors to use exit ways other than that adjacent the operated calling station.

It will be evident that embodiments of this invention indicated in the other figures of the drawings may be correspondingly utilized.

It will also be evident that occupants may be correspondingly guided when signals result from action of` thermostats or other circuit controllers such, f or example, as are diagrammatioally indicated in Fig. 1 in the loop T for supplementing callingstation switch b.

Outdoor lamps adjacent doorways would also serve to guide members of a local brigade or a municipal fire department, as they doorway over flashing. c,

Supplementing other signaling systems In utilizing this invention in connection with other forms of signaling systems, such, for exa-mple, as conventional fire alarm telegraph systems, the calling station switches` of this invention may be associated with the starting handles of the telegraph formulating mechanism at various stations, and the guidance lamps distributed along the route ordinarily taken by re department vehicles in responding to calls in that locality so that, in the instance of an arterial highway, the starting of any code formulator or fire alarm box mechanism will cause flashing of guidance signals along the portion of such highway which should be traversed in responding to a call from the operated box, and guidance lamps beyond the locality of such box will be continuously lighted. Such conditionings Will enable traffic oicers and drivers of Vehicles to determine what portions of the highway should need to be cleared. In portions of the highway where the guidance lights (which may also serve as fire alarm box location markers) are burning continuously, it may be assumed that traiiic may proceed as usual, but where such lamps are flashing, rightof-way should be cleared for the lre department vehicles, and cross town traffic into or across the main highway should be suspended.

It will be understood by those skilled in this art that this invention is susceptible of various embodiments which diier in certain details 4from those illustratively indicated in the accompanying drawings and herein described in detail; as,

for example, by having calling stations act to substantially block comparatively high frequency carrier current in determining paths, while not preventing flow of direct current or of low frequency alternating current, instead of having them act to interrupt such paths; and as by ."Y

inductively coupling guidance and other signals, or controllers therefor, with determining path conductors in various well. known ways, instead of providing conductive association therebetween.

invention herein described and all statements of i the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall between said claims.

I claim:

1. A signaling system having a circuit comprising `a path subject to alteration, at each of various places along its length, such as will render abnormal the electrical conditioning of such path` part as is situated between any altered one of said, places and a predetermined end thereof without correspondingly affectingv the conditioning-0f the part situated between such place'and the other end of said path, and signals respectively associated with and for diversely manifesting normal and abnormal conditionings of portions ofk said path interspersed between said places.

2. A signaling system having a circuit comprising a path subject to alteration, at each of various` places along its length, such as will render abnormal the electrical conditioning of such path part as is situatedbetween any altered one of said places and a predetermined end thereof vwithout correspondingly affecting the conditioning of the part situated between such place and the'other end of said path, `signals respectively associated with and for divers-ely manifesting normal and abnormal conditionings of portions of said path interspersed between said places, and means for rendering intermittent such manifestations of abnormal conditionings.

3. A signaling` system having a normally energized circuitk comprising a current path subject to blocking of current flow from one side to the other of each of various places along the length thereof,` and signals associated with portions of said path interspersed between said blocking places for effecting abnormal conditioning of respective signals only responsive to such path blocking as occurs between its associated portion anda predetermined end of said path.

4. A signaling system having a normally energized circuit comprising a current path subject to blocking of current flow from one side to the other of each of various places along the length thereof, signals associated with portions of said path interspersedbetween said blocking places for effecting abnormal conditioning of respective signals only responsive to such path blocking as occurs between its associated portion and a predeterminedend of said path, and means for rendering ntelmittent such abnormal signal conditioning.

5. A signaling system having signal causing stations, signals, a circuit comprising a path with Which said stations and signals Vare associated in interspersed Y relationship at various places along the length thereof, and means including said stations, portions of said circuit and connections of said stations and signals thereto for effecting, incident to operation of any of said stations, abnormal conditioning of only those of said signals which are associated with portions of said path which are situated at a predetermined side of an active station.

' 6. A signaling system having a plurality of rsignal manifesters, a normally energized circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response thereto, signal causing stations associated with said path intermediate suchman- Vifester-associated portions thereof, and means involving and for effectuation by respective ones of said stations for altering the conditioning of those of said portions which are situated between respective stations and a predetermined end of said path in a manner which will cause functional response of the associated manifesters without correspondingly altering the conditioning of other portions of said path.

7. A signaling system having a plurality of signal manifesters, a normally energized circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response thereto, signal causing stations associated with said path intermediate such'manifester-associated portions thereof, and means involving and for effectuation by respective ones of said stations for altering the conditioning of mittent any such abnormal path conditioning.

8. A signaling system having a plurality of `signal manifesters, a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response to abnormal conditioning thereof, signal causing stations associated with said path intermediate lsaid portions and each operable for effecting abnormal conditioning of only those of such portions as are situated in said path at a predetermined side thereof, and means for causing a signaling manifestation adjacent an operated station which distinctively differs in character from any signal manifestation elsewhere which is resultant from operation of such station.

9. A -signaling system having a plurality of signal manifesters, a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response to abnormal conditioning thereof, signal causingstations associated with said path intermediate said portions and each operable for effecting abnormal conditioning of only those of such portions as are situated in said path at a predetermined side thereof, means for rendering such abnormal conditionings intermittent at a frequency within a predetermined range, and means rendered effective incident to such operation for intermittently causing signaling manifestations adjacent an operated station at a frequency distinctively differing from those within the aforesaid range.

10. A signaling system having a plurality of signal manifesters; a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response to abnormal conditioning thereof; signal causing stations associated with said path intermediate said portions, severally associated with said manifesters and each operable for effecting abnormal cond-itioning of only those of such portions as are situated in said path at a predetermined side thereof; and means for cau-sing, incident to oper-ation of any station, abnormal conditioning of 'the manifester associated with that station, which conditioning is of a character which distinctively diff-ers from conditionings of any manifester associated with a non-operated station.

l1. A signaling systemA having a plurality of signal manifesters; a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response to abnormal conditioning thereof; signal causing stations associated with said path intermediate saidI pon tions, severally associated with said manifesters and ealch operable for eecting abnormal conditioning of only ythose of such portions as are situ'- ated in said path at a predetermined side thereof .and means for rendering intermittent such abnormal conditionings of said signals and for rendering the intermittenoy of such station-associated signals at a frequency distinctively differing from that of such other signals.

12. lA signaling system having a plurality of signal manifesters; a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response to abnormal conditioning thereof; signal causing stations associated with said path intermediate said portions, severally associated with said manifesters and each operable for effecting abnormal conditioning of only those of such portions as are situated in said path at a predetermined side thereof; and means for rendering intermittent such abnormal conditionings of said manifesters and for rendering the intermitten'cy of such station-'associated manifester at a frequency distinctively faster than that of such other manifesters.

13. A signaling system having a plurality of signals, signal causing stations each involving means responsive to operation thereof for causing abnormal conditioning of an associated one of said signals, signal manifesters distinctively differing from said signals, a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which ysaid manifesters are associated for functionalresponse to abnormal conditioning thereof, each of said stations also comprising mea-ns rendered effective incident to operation of such station for effecting abnormal conditioning of only those of such portions as are situated in said path at arprede.- termined side of such station.

i111. A signaling system having a plurality of signals, signal causing stations each involving means responsive fto operation thereof for causing intermittent abnormal conditioning vof an associated one of said signals, signal manifesters distinctively differing from said signals, a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional respons-e to abnormal conditioning thereof, each of said stations also comprising means rendered effective incident to operation of such station for effecting abnormal conditioning of only those of such portions as are situated in said path at a predetermined side of such station.

y15. A signaling system having a plurality of signal manifesters, a circuit comprising a path with respective portions of which said manifesters are associated for functional response to abnormal conditioning thereof, signal causing stations .associ-ated with said path intermediate said por-

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