US2340559A - Multiple-color electric sign - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1, 1944. L, PRUYNv ETAL a 2,340,559

MULTIPLE-COLOR ELECTRIC SI GN 7 Filed June'9, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTQR? I Leonard L-B' n, BY Leqnaml afrgru,

ATTORNEX' Patented Feb. 1,

MULTIPLE-COLOR ELECTRIC SIGN Leonard L. Pruyn and Leonard G. Pruyn,

West-Los Angelcs, Calif.

Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,164

1 Claim. (01. 117 1446 This invention relates to electrical sign writing and more particularly to a multiple-color electric sign.

' The general object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for writing, electrical sign in difierent colors.

A more particular object is to provide an appacolors.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for' writing electrical signs in difierent colors, so that -when a sign is-written in one color it may be reratus for writing an electric sign in one or more the same reference characters in all of the figures, my invention includes generally an electric sign board and a sign-writing apparatus 2. The sign board is composed of a plurality of light units 3 and a plurality of electric light cells 4 in each ofsaid units. v

In each light cell 4 are mounted a plurality of electric lights 5, B, I and 8 of different colors,

relays}, ID, H and 12 for controlling said lights,

respectively, release magnets l3, I4, I 5 and I6 for releasing said relays, respectively, and a written in another color, with the first ,color fading out as the secondjcolor appears.

Other objects and advantages will appear here I inafter as the specification progresses.

The. invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings which form apart ofthis specification and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our invention.-

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the sign board of our invention taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the sign-board light cells.

' Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryfront view, partly black-out relay I1; Each light cell 4'includes a tubular" casing 18, enclosing said electric lights,

relays, and release magnets, the rear end 'of which casing is closed by a cap I9 in which the black-out relay I'I ismounted and enclosed, and the front end of which casing is closed by a glass plate2ll. A polished concaved reflector 2| is po- 7 sitioned in the casing l8 near the rear end thereof for reflecting the light of the lights 5, 6, I and 8-forwardly out of the front end of the casing broken away, of one of the sign-board light units.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical.

section of said sign-board light unit taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, a Fig. 6 is an end view of one of the light cells of the sign board.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the sign-writing apparatus. Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section of the sign writing apparatus taken on line 8-8 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a, fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the sign-writing apparatus, showing the writing pencil resting-upon a sheet of ,P per on the writing table, and the stationary contacts of thewriting switch which are engaged through the glass plate 20 to produce an electric f sign in the manner hereinafter more fully described. The inner surface of the wall of the tubular casing I8 is polished and also forms a reflector for reflecting the light of the lights 5, 6,

land 8 through the front end glass wall 28. The

tubular casing I8 is made in two longitudinal semi-circular sections 22 and .22 which are detachably held together by the engagement of beads 23, along the longitudinal edges of the section 22', with channel members 24 along the longitudinaledges of the section 22.- The lights 5 and 6, relays 9 and I0, and release magnets l3 and II are mounted in the section 22 and. the

lights I and 8, relays H and I2 and relay release magnets l5 and I6 are mounted inthe section 22, while the relay I1 is mounted in the rear end by the movable contact of said switch for writing light signs on the sign board. A

- Fig, 10 is a diagram of the electrical circuit of our multiple-color electic sign including one of the electric light cells of the sign board.

Fig. 11 is a, fragmentary longitudinal section of the lower end of the writing arm.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the writing arm and the. means for operatively supporting said arm.

Fig. 13 is-a. plan view of Fig. 12. Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by cap I!) of the casing I8. A terminalsocket 25 is mounted in the cap IQ of each cell 4, to which socket are connected the electrical elements inthe cell and into which socket may be plugged a terminal plug 26 which is connected, to other electrical elements outside of the cell, but ineluded within the cell circuit. A handle 21 is secured on the cap IQ of each cell 4 to be gripped for introducing the cells into the units 3 or for removing the cells from said units.

Each light unit 3 of the sign board 1 includes a casing 30'formed with a front wall 3|, rear wall 32, side walls 33, bottom wall 34 and top wall 35, there being openings 36in said rear wall andopenings 31 in said front wall aligned with said openings 36, respectively, and angle-iron tracks 38 extend between the lower sides of aligned openings 36 and 31 and are secured at their ends to said front wall 3| and rear wall 32, respectively, whereby the cells 4 may be introduced through the openings 36 in the rear wall 32 and moved along the tracks 36 until the front ends of the cells extend through the aligned openings 31, respectively, in the front wall 3|, into operative position in the unit 3, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The rear wall 32 is formed with inturned straight flanges 39 around the openings 36, respectively, while the. front wall 3| is formed with inturned internally grooved spring flanges 48 around the open-. ings 31 respectively, to spring over annular beads 4| on the forward ends of the cells 4, respectivevcontact 53, respectively,

1y, for holding said cells in position in the unit 3,

the grooved flanges 48 being split at intervals at 42 to give said flanges resiliency, so that they will readily spring over the beads 4| on the cells 4, when the cells are introduced into the unit 3.

The sign-writing apparatus 2 includes a writing'table45, a sheet of writing paper 46 unwound from a roll 41 over the surface oi. the miner said table, a. pencil 49 for writing on said sheet of paper while resting upon said table, a U-shaped writing arm 58 on one end of which said pencil is mounted, and a variable writing switch 5| comprising a plurality of stationary contacts 52 and a movable contact 53 which is mounted on the other end of said writing arm 58, so that when the operator writes a sign with the pencil 49 on the sheet of paper 46 said movable contact 53 will be moved over certain of the stationary contacts 52, which are connected, respectively, to one light in each of certain cells 4, for reproducing said written sign, on the sign board I, by lighting said lights in said cells, in the manner hereinafter more fully described. The roll of paper 41 is wound upon a spindle 54 Journaled in brackets 55 extending from one end of the writing table 45, and guide bars 56 and 51 extend across the surface of the top 48 of said table at the ends thereof, respectively, underwhich guide bars extends the sheet of paper 48, where by said sheet is guided over said top of said table, when said sheet is drawn oi! the roll 41. The stationary contacts 52 of the switch 5| are mounted in a plate 58 of insulation which is mounted in the table 45 in spaced relation below the top 48 of the table. Said contacts 52 are countersunk in the upper side of said insulation plate 58 in spaced relation, and are formed with depending shanks 59 which extend downwardly through said plate. The contacts 52 are preferably hexagonal so that the adjoining sides of adjoining contacts may be brought close together with narrow portions 68 of the insulation plate 58 extending between and insulating said adjoining sides of said contacts one from the other. A pair of nuts 8| and 62 are threaded on are mounted the pencil 49 and movable switch extends outwardly around the rear edge of the table top 48, and is of such dimensions that the pencil 49 may be moved over the entire surface of the sheet of paper 48 on the table top, and the movable switch contact 53 may be moved over all of the stationary contacts 52.

The electrical circuit of one of the light cells 4, which is illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, is controlled by the sign-writing apparatus 2-, and more particularly by the variable switch 5| of said apparatus, and also by a light-color switch 66, and said circuit is supplied with electric current by a relay generator 61, a light generator 88, a relay release generator 69, a black-out generator 18, and a-pilot-light .generator 1I.' The light-color switch 68 comprises contacts 12, 13, 14 and 15, and contacts 16, 11, 18 and 19 connected by a wire 88, and a switch arm 8|, and

I3, I4, I5 and I6 comprises a core 99 and a coil I88 surrounding'said core, one end of said core extending near the armature 91 oi one of the relays 9, I8, II or I2. The black-out relay I1 comprises a core IN, a coil I82 surrounding said core, and an armature I83 near one end of said core.

From one pole of the relay generator 61 extends a lead "8 to the movable contact I of a switch 2, and from the stationary contact I I3 of said switch extends a lead II4 to the movable contact 53 on the sign writing arm 58 of the variable sign writing switch 5|. From one of the stationary contacts 52 of said variable switch 5| extends a lead 5 to one of the contacts 6 in the plug 26, and from one of thecontacts H1 in the socket 25 extends a lead I I8, and from said lead II6 extend leads II9, I28, I2I and I22 whichconnect to the outer ends of the coils 99 of the relays 9, I8, II and I2, respectively. From the outer end of the coil 94 of relay 9 extends a lead I23 to a contact I24 of the socket 25, and

from a contact I25 of the plug I28 extends a lead I26 to the contact 12 of the light-color switch 66. A lead I21 extends from the contact 19 of said light-color switch to the other pole of the relay generator 61 opposite the pole to which the lead 8 is connected. A lead I 28 exthe lower end of the shank 59 of each stationary contact52, the nut 8| enga in the lower end of the insulation plate 58 -and securing the contact in position in said plate, and the nut 62 being adapted to clamp s circuit wire against the nut 6| for connecting said wire to the contact shank 59. The movable contact 53 may be in the form U-shaped writing arm 58, on the ends or which tends from the outer end of the coil 94 of relay tact I38 of plug 26 extends a lead I3I to the contact 13 of-the light-color switch 66. A lead I32 extends fromthe outer end of the coil 94 of relay II to a contact I33 of the socket 2 5, and from a contact I34 of the plug 26 extends a lead I35 to the contact 14 of the light-color.switch 66. A lead I36 extends from the outer end of the coil 94 of the relay I2 to a contact I31 of socket 25, and from a contact I38 of the plug 26 extends a lead I39 to the contact 15 of the lightcolor switch 66,

From one pole of the pilot-light generator 1| extends a lead I48 to the stationary contact I cult, and from the movable contact I43 of said switch extends a lead I44 to the contact 86 of the pilot-light switch 82. From the contact 81 of said pilot-light switch extends a lead I45 to one terminal of a pilot light I46, and from the other terminal of said pilot light extends a lead I41 to a lead I48, which extends to the other pole of the pilot light generator. 1|. From. the contact 88 of the pilot-light switch 82 extends a lead I49 to one terminal of a pilot light I58, and from the other terminal of said pilot light extends a lead II to the generator lead I48. From contact 89 of pilot-light switch 82 extendsa lead I52 to one terminal of a pilot light I53 and from the other terminal of said pilot light extends a lead I54 to the generator lead I48. From contact 98 of the pilot-light switch 82 extends a lead I55 to one terminal of a pilot light I56, and from the other terminal of said pilot light extends a lead I51 to the generator lead I48. The pilot lights I46, I58, I53 and I56 are of different colors, for example white, red, green and blue,'respectively, corresponding to the colors of the sign lights 5, 6, 1 and 8, respectively.

From one pole of the'light generator 68' extends a lead I68 to the movable contact |6I of a light-controlling switch I62, and from the stationary contact I63 of said switch extends a lead I64 to a contact I65 of the plug 26, and from a contact I66 of the socket 25 extends a lead I61 to one of the terminals I68, I69, I18 and "I of the lights 5, 6, 1 and 8, respectively. From the other terminals I12, I13, I14 and I15 of said lights, respectively, extend leads I16, I11, I18 and I19 to contacts I88, I8I, I82 and I83, respectively, adjacent the armatures 91 of the relays 9, I8, II and I2, respectively. ,From said'armatures of said relays, respectively, extend leads I84, I85, I86 and I81 to a lead I88, and from said lead I88 extends a lead I89 to a contact I98 of socket 25. From a, contact |9I of plug 26 extends a lead I92 to the other pole of the lightgenerator 68.

From one pole of the relayrelease generator 69 extends a lead I93 to a contact I94 of the plug 26, and from a contact I95 of the socket 25 extends a lead I96 to a lead I91, and from said lead I91 extends leads I98, I99, 288 and 2M to one end of the coils I88 of the release magnets I3, I4, I5 and I6, respectively, the other end of which coils are connected to leads 282, 283, 284 and 285 respectively. The lead 282 extends to a contact 286 adjacent the armature l83 of the black-out relay I1, and leads 281, 288 and 289 extend from the lead 282 to contacts 2|8, 2| I and 2I2 adjacent the armatures 91 of the elays I 8,

- II and I2, respectively.. The lead 283 extends 226 adjacent the armature 91 of the relay I2.-

The lead 285 extends to a lead 221, which extends in one direction to a contact 228 adjacent the armature 91 of the relay 9, and in the other direction to a contact 229 adjacent the armature I83 of the black-out relay I1. A lead 238 extends from the lead 285 to a contact 23| adjacent the armature 91 of the relay l8, and a lead 232 extends from the lead 285 to a contact 233 adjacent the armature 91 of the relay II. A lead 234 extends from the'lead I 88 to a contact 235 of the socket 25 and from a contact 236 of the plug 26 extends a lead 231 to the movable contact 238 of a relay release switch 239, the

from the coil I88 of relay release magnet I4 to tact 2|8 adjacent the armature 91 of relay 9,

and in the otherdirection to a contact 2|! adjacent the armature I83 of the black-out relay I1. The lead 284.extends to a lead 228. wh ch extends in one direction to a contact 22I adjacent the armature 91 of the relay 9, and in the other direction to a contact 222 adjacent the armature I83 of the black-out relay I1. A lead v 223 extends from the lead 284 to a contact 224 adjacent the armature 91 of the relay 8, and a lead 225 extends from the lead 223 to a contact movable switch contact 53, on the lower end of stationary contact 248 of which is connected by a lead 2 to the return pole of the relay release generator 69. From one pole of .the black-out generator 18 extends a lead 242 to the stationary contact 243 of a control switch 244, and from the contact 245 of said switch extends a lead 246 to a contact 241 of the plug .26. From a contact 248 of the socket 25 'extends. a lead 249 to one end of the coil I82 of the black-out relay I1, and from the other end of saidcoil extends a lead 258 to a contact 25| of the plug 25. From a contact 252 of the plug 26 extends a lead 253 to the stationary contact 254 of a black-out switch 255, and from the movable contact 256 of said switch extends a lead 251 to the return pole of the black-out generator 18. From the armature I83 of the black-out relay |1 extends a lead 258 to the lead I81.

The wiring leading into the plug 26 for each light cell is connected to the same generators and switches and in the same manner as shown in Fig. 18 of the drawings.

In Figs. 12 and 13 is shown the writing arm 58 and the means for operatively supporting said arm in position for writing electric signs. The writing arm 50 is pivotally mounted at its rear end on the forward end of a conventional pantograph 268, as indicated at 26I, .the rear end of which pantograph is pivotally. mounted on a post 262 upstanding from a bracket 263 extending from the contact plate 58 of the sign-writing table 45. The pantograph 268 movably supports the sign-writing arm 58, so that the pencil 49 on said arm may be moved to any position on the writing table 45 for writing an electric sign in the manner hereinafter more fully described. The operation of our invention is as follows:

When it is desired to write a sign in white light the arm 8| of the light-color switch 66 and pilot-light switch 82 is turned until one end of said arm bridges the contacts 12 and 16 of said light-color switch and the other end of said arm bridges the contacts 83 and 81 of said pilot-light I switch, as shown in Fig. 18 of the drawings, and the pilot-light control switch I42 being closed electric current passes from the pilot-light generator 1| through lead I48, control switch I42, lead I44, contact 86, wire 9|, contact 83, arm 8| and contact 81 of the pilot-light switch 82, lead I45, white pilot light I46, lead I41, and lead I 48 back to the pilot-light generator 1|, whereupon the white pilot light I46 is lighted and indicates that a sign is being written in white light on the sign board I. The operator holding the pencil 49 writes a sign with said pencil on the sheet of paper 46, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, and moves the writing arm 58 so that the said arm, travels over certain of the stationary contacts 52, of the variable switch 5| of the sign-writing apparatus 2, in the same direction as the direction of movement of the pencil 48, and as said movable contact 88 passes over each oi said stationary contacts 82 a, white light 8 in a light cell 4 in the i n board I is lighted by anelectric circuit shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, in the manner which will now be described. Electric current passes from the relay generator 81 through lead II8, closed switch I I2, lead II4,

movable contact 88 and a stationary contact 82 of the variable sign-writing switch 8|, lead II8, plug contact H8 and socket contact II1 of the plug 26 and socket 28, respectively, lead II8, lead I I8, relay coil 83, lead 88 and coil 84, of relay 8, lead I23, contacts I24 and I28 of the socket 28 and plug 28, respectively, lead I26, contact 12, arm 8I and contact 18 oi light-color switch 88, wire 80 and contact 18 of said switch and lead I21 back to the relay generator 61, whereupon the armature. 81 of relay 8 is drawn by the cores 88 and 88 of said relay against the contact I80, and the contacts 228, 22I and 2I8, and an electric current passes from the light generator 68 through lead I88, closed light'switch I62, lead I84, contacts I88'and I88 of the .plug 26 and socket 28, respectively, lead I61 to the light terminal I88, white light 8, which is thereby lighted,

said relay release magnet I8 is energized and it holds the armature 81 of relay II away from the magnets 88 and 88 of said relay and out of engagement with the contacts I82, 288, 2I8 and 2| I, so that no current can pass from said armature through said contact I82 to light the green light 1, and said light remains dark. The engagement oi! the armature 81 of the relay 8 with the contact 228 closes a circuit from generator 88 through lead 2, closed switch 288, lead 231, contacts 238 and 238, leads 234, I88 and I84, armature 81 of relay 8, contact 228, leads 221 and 208, coil I08 of relay release magnet I8, leads I, I81 and I88 contacts I88 and I84, and lead I88 back to said generator 88, whereupon said relay release magnet I8 is energized and it holds the armature 81 01' relay I2 away from the magnets 88 and 88 of said relay and out of engagement with the contacts terminal I12, lead I18, contact I80, armature 81 o1 relay 8, leads I84, I88 and I88, contacts I80 and I8I, of socket 28 and plug 28, and lead I82 back to the light generator 88. As long as the light color switch 88 remains in the position shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings with the arm 8i engaging contacts 12 and 18 only white lights 8 will be lighted by the sign-writing apparatus 2, and the sign on the sign board I will be written in white lights, each of which remaining lighted when its circuit is closed, during the writing of said sign, by the engagement of' an armature 81 of a relay 8. with a. contact I80, because the residual magnetism of, said relay will hold said armature in engagement with said contact until said armature is released by the relay-release magnet I8 in the manner hereinafter described.

As the white-light circuits are closed for writing a white-light sign as above described the red, green and blue light circuits are held open to prevent writing of a sign in any of said colors by circuits controlled by the engagement of the armature 81 of relay 8 with contacts 2I8, 22I and 228, which circuits will now be described. The engagement oi armature 81 of relay 8 with contact 2"; closes a circuit from the'relay re.- lease generator 88 through lead 2 closed switch 288, lead 281; contacts 288 and 288 01' plug 288 and socket 288, respectively, leads 284, I 88 and I84, armature81 oi relay 8, contact 2I8, leads 2", 2I8 and 2I4, coil I80 of relay release magnet I4, leads-l88, I81 and I88, contacts I 88 and I840! socket 28 and plug 28, respectively, and lead I88 back to the relay release generator 88, whereupon the relay-release magnet I4 is energized and it holds the armature 81 oi! relay I0 away from the magnets 88 and 86 or said relay and out of engagement with the contacts I 8I 28I, 224 and 2I8, so that no current can pass from said armature through said contact I8I to light the red light 8, and said light remains dark. The engagement of the armature 81 oi the relay 8 with the contact 22I closes a circuit from generator 88 through lead 2", closed switch 288, lead 281, contacts 288 and 288, leads 284, I88 and I84, armature 81 of relay 8, contact 22I, leads 220 and- 284, coil I88 of relay release magnet I8, leads 288, I81and I88, contacts I88 and I84, and lead I88 back to generator-68, whereupon I88, 228, 2I8 and 2l2, so that no current can passfrom said armaturethrough said contact I88 to the blue light 8, and said light remainsdark.

. To close red-light circuits for writing a redlight sign the switch arm 8I of the light-color switch 88 and pilot-light switch 82 is-turned to the right until said arm engages contacts 18' and", and contacts 82 and 88. Current passes from the pilot-light generator 1I through lead I40, closed switch I42, lead I44, contact 88, wire 8I, contact 84, arm 8| and contact 88 of the pilot-light switch 82, lead I48, red pilot light I80, lead I8I and lead I48 back to saidgenerator 1I, whereupon the red pilot light I80 is lighted and indicates that a sign is being written in red light on the sign board I. The operator writing with the sign-writing apparatus 2 closes the variable sign-writing switch 8I, and electric current passes from the relay generator 81 through lead IIO, closed switch I I2, lead I I4, movable contact 88 and a stationary contact 82 of the variable signwriting switch 8|, lead 8, contacts H6 and H1 oi. the plug 26 and socket 28, respectively, lead II8, lead I20, relay coil 83, lead 88 and relaycoil 84 of relay I0, lead I28, contacts I28 and I80, lead I8I, contact 18, arm 8| and contact 11 of.the light-color switch 66, wire 80 and contact 18 of said switch and lead I21 back to the relay generator 61, whereupon the armature 81 of relay I0 is drawn by the cores 88 and 88 of said relay against the contact II and the contacts 28I, 224 and 2I0, and electric current passes from the light generator 88 through lead I80, closed light switch I82, lead I84, contacts I68 and I68, lead I81 to the light terminal I88, red light 8, which is thereby lighted, light terminal I18, lead I11, contact "I, armature 81 of relay I0, leads I88, I88 and I88, contacts I80 and I8I, and lead I82 back to the light generator 88. As long as the light-color switch 88 remains in position with its arm 8I engaging its contacts'18 and 11 only red lights 6 will be lighted by the sign-writing apparatus 2, and the sign on the sign board I'will be written in red lights, each of which remaining lighted when its circuit is closed, during the writing oi. said sign, by the engagement 01' an armature 81 of a, relay I0 with a contact I8I, because the residual magnetism of said relay will hold said armature in engagement with green and blue light circuits are held open, to-

prevent writing of a sign in any of said colors, by circuits controlled by the engagement of the armature 91 of relay I9 with contacts 23I, 224 and 2I9, which circuits will now be described. .The

engagement of said armature 91 oi. relay I9 with contact 2I9 closes a circuit from the relay release generator' 69 through lead 24I, closed switch 239, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235, leads 234, I 88 and I 85, armature-91 of relay I9, contact 2I9, leads 291 and 292, coil, I99 01 relay release magnet I3, leads I98 and I96, contacts I95 and I94, and lead I93 back to the relay-release gen- I erator 89, whereupon the relay-release magnet I3 is energized and it holds the armature 91 of relay 9 away from the magnets 95 and 96 of said relay and out of engagement with contacts I89, 228, MI and 2|8, so that no current can pass through said contact I89 and lead I18 to light the white light 5, and said light remains dark.

The engagement of the armature 91 of the relay 20 I9 with the contact 224 closes a circuit from generator 69 through lead 24I, closed switch 239, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235, leads 234, I88 and I85, armature 91 of relay I9, contact ,224, leads 223 and 294, coil I99 of relay-release magnet I5, 25

leads 299, I91 and I98, contacts I95 and I94, and lead I93 back to generator 69, whereupon the relay-release magnet I5 is energized and it holds the armature 91 of relay II away from the magnets 95 and 96 of said relay and out of engagement with contacts I82, 233, 2I3 and 2| I, so that no current can pass through said contact I82 and lead I18 to green light 1, and said light remains 1 dark. The engagement oiarmature 91 of relay I9 with the contact-23I closes a circuit from gen-.

erator 69 through lead 2, closed switch 239, lead 231, contacts 236 and-235, leads 234, I88 and I I85 to armature 91 of relay I9, contact 23I, leads 239 and 295, coil I99 of relay-release magnet I6,

leads 2!, I91 and I96, contacts I95 and I94, and

lead I93 back to generator 69, whereupon the relay-release magnet I6 is energized and it holds the armature 91 of relay I2 away from the magnets 95 and 96 or said relay and out of engagement with contacts I83, 228, 2I8 and 2I2, so that no current can pass through said contact I83 and lead I19 to the blue light 8, and said light remains dark. 9

To close-the green-light circuits for writings green-light sign on the sign board I, the switch arm 8| of the light-color switch 86 and the pilotlight switch 82 is tumedso that it engages the contacts 14 and 18 of said switch 66 and the contacts and 89 of said switch 82. Current passes from the pilot-light generator 1| through lead I49, closed switch I42, lead I44, contact 88, wire 9|, contact 85, arm 8| and contact 89 of pilotlight switch 82, lead I52, greenlight I53, and leads I54 and I48 back to said generator 1|, I

whereupon the green pilot light I53 is lighted and indicates that a sign is written in green lights on the sign board I. The operator writing with the sign-writing apparatus 2 closes the variable sign-writing switch ii and electric current v passes from the relay generator 81 through lead II9, closed switch II2, lead II4, movable contact 53 and -stationary contact 52 otthe variable signwriting switch 5I,'le'ad II5, contacts 8 and I I1, lead I I8, lead I2I, relay coil 93, lead 98 and relay coil 94 of relay II, lead I32, contacts I33 and I34,

lead I35, contact 14, arm 8| and contact 18 of the light-color switch 88, wire 89, contact 19 and lead I21 back to relay generator 81, whereupon the armature 91 or relay II is drawn by the cores .95 and 96 of said relay against the contact I92 and the contacts 233, 2I3 and 2| I, and electric current passes from light generator 88 through lead I69, closed switch I62, lead I64, contacts I85 and I66, lead I61 to light terminal I19, green light 1, which is thereby lighted, light terminal I14, lead I18, contact I82, armature 91 of relay II, leads I86, I88 and I89, contacts l99 and I9I,;

and lead I92 back to generator 68. As long as the light-color switch 66 remains in position with its arm 8| engaging its contacts 14 and 19 only green lights 1 will be lighted by the sign-writing apparatus 2, and the sign on the sign board I will be written in green lights, each of which remain-- ing lighted when its circuit is closed, during the writing of said sign, by the engagement of an armature 91 of a relayv II with a contact I82, be-

cause the residual magnetism of said relay will hold said armature in engagement with said contact until said armature is released by the relaycircuits controlled by the engagement of armature 91 of relay II with contacts 233, 2I3 and 2, which circuits will now be described. The engagement of said armature 91 with contact 2| I closes a circuit from the relay release generator 69 through lead 24I, closed switch 239, lead'231, contacts 236 and235, leads 234, I88 and I88, armature 81 of relay II, contact 2| I, leads 298 and 292, coil I99 of relay release magnet I3, leads I98 and I96, contacts I and I94, and leadv I93 back to generator 69, whereupon the relay-release magnet I3 is energized and it holds the armature 91 of relay 9 away from the magnets 95 and 96 of said relay and out of engagement with contact I89 and contacts 228, 22Iv and 2H3, so that no current can pass through said contact I89 and .lead I16 to light the white light 5, and said light remains dark. The engagement of the armature 91 of relay II with contact 2I3 closes a circuit from generator 69 through lead 24I, closed switch 239, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235, leads 234', I88

and I88, armature 91 of relay II, contact 2I3 and 293, coil I99 of relay-release magnet I4, leads I 99,

.I91 and I96, contacts I95 and I94, and-lead I93 back to generator 89, whereupon the relay-re-fl lease magnet I4 isenergized and it holds the ar-. mature 91 of relay I9 away from the magnets 95 and 98 of said relay and out of engagement with contact- I8I and contacts 23I, 224 and 2| 9, so that no current can pass through said contact I8I and lead I11 to the red light 8, and said light remains dark. The engagement oi the armature 91 of relay II with the contact 233 closes a circuit from generator 89 through lead 24 I, closed switch 239, lead 231, contacts 236 and 235, leads 234, I88 and I86, armature 81 of relay II, contact 233, leads 232 and 296, coil I99 of relay-release magnet I8, leads 29I, I91 and I96, contacts I95 andv I94and lead I93 back to generator 69, whereupon said light remainsdark.

To close the blue-light circuits for writing a blue-light sign on the sign 'board II the switch arm 9| of the light color switch 68 and the pilot-- light switch 82 is turned so that saidarm engages I 7 the contacts 16 and 19 of said switch 66 and the contacts 88 and 88 or said switch 82. Current passes from the pilot-light generator 1I through lead I48, closed switch I421, lead I44, contact 88,

am 8I and contact 88 or the pilot-light switch 82, lead I55, blue light I58, lead I51 and lead I48 back to saidgenerator 1I, whereupon the blue pilot light I58 is lighted and indicates that lead II8, lead I22, relay coil 83, lead 88 and coil 84 of relay I2, lead I38, contacts I31 and I38,

lead I38, contact 15, arm III and contact 18, of the light-color switch 88, and lead I21 back to said relay generator 81, whereupon the armature 81 or relay I2 is drawn by the cores 85 and 88 of said relay against the contact I83 and the contacts 23I, 224 and 2I8, so that no current can pass through said contact I8I and lead I11 to the red light 8, and said light remains dark. The engagement of. the armature 81 of relay I2 with contact 228 closes a circuit from relay-release generator 88 through lead 2, closed switch 238, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235, leads 234 and I81, armature 81 of relay I 2, contact 228, leads225, 223 and 284, coil I88 of relay-release magnet I5, leads 288, I81 and I88, contacts I85 and I84, and lead I83 back to generator 88, whereupon the relay-release magnet I5 being energized holds the armature 81 of relay II away from the magnets 85 and 88 of said relay and out of engagement with contact I 82, and contacts 233, 2I3 and 2I I, so that no current can pass through said contact I82 and I18 to the greendight 1, and said light remains dark.

All lights 5, 8, ,1 and 8 of each cell 4, and all signs written on the sign board I may be blacked out by closing the black out switch 255, which ,1 causes electric current to flow from black-out contacts 228, 2I8 and 2I2, and electric current/ passes from light generator 88 through lead I88, closed switch I82, lead I84, contacts I85 and I88, lead I81 to light terminal "I, blue light 8, which is thereby lighted, light terminal I15, lead I18, contact I83, armature 81 of relay l2, leads I81, 188 and I88, contacts I88 and NI, and lead I82 back to the light generator 88. As long as the light-color switch 88 remains in position with its arm 8I engaging its contacts 15 and 18 only blue lights 8 will be lighted by the sign-writin apparatus 2, and the sign on the sign board I will be written in blue lights, each of which remaining lighted when its circuit is closed, during the writing of said si n, by the engagement of an armature 81 of a relay I2 with a contact I83, because the residual magnetism of said relay will hold said contact until said armature is released by the relay-release magnet I8 in the manner hereinafter described.

As the blue-light circuits are closed for. writing a blue-light Sign. as above described, the white, red and green light circuits are held open, to prevent writing of a sign in any of said colors, by circuits controlled by the engagement of armature 8101 relay I2 with contacts 228, 2I8 and coil I88 of relay release magnet I3, leads I88 and I88, contacts I85 and I84, and lead I83 back to said generator 88, whereupon the relay-release magnet I3 being energized holds the armaure 81 o!- relay 8 away from the magnets 85 and 88 of said relay and out of engagement with contacts I88 and contacts 228, 22I and 2I8, so that no the relay-release generator 88 through lead 2,

- closed switch 238, lead231,- contacts 238 and 235,

leads 234'and' I81, armature 81 of relay I2, contact 2I8, leads 2I8, 2l4 and 283, coil I88 or relay-release magnet I4, leads I88, I81 and I88, contacts I88 and I84, and lead I83 back to generator 88, whereupon the relay-release ma net I4 being energized holds the armature 81 of relay I8 away from the magnets 85 and 88 or said regenerator 18 through lead 242, closed switch 244, lead 248, contacts 241 and 248, lead 248, coil I82 of black-out magnet I1, lead, 258, contacts 25I and 252, lead 253 and black-out .switch 255 back to generator 18, whereupon the black-out armature I83 is drawn by the black-out magnet I1 into engagement with contacts 288, 2I8, 222 and 228 for closing the black-out circuits which will now be described. The engagement of armature I83 with contact 288 closes a circuit from generator 88 through lead 2, closed switch 238, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235, leads 234, I81 and 288, armature I83 and contact 288, lead 282, coil I88 of relay-releas magnet I3, leads" I88 and I98, contacts I85 and I84 and lead I83 back to said generator 88, whereupon said magnet I3 draws the armature 81 of relay 8 away from the magnet cores 85 and 88 of said relay, and disengages said armature from the contact I88 and the contacts 7 current can pass through said contacts I88 and ,lead I18 to white light 5,;andsaid light remains dark. The engagement of the armature 81 of relay I2 with contact 2I8 closes a circuit from 228, 22I and 2I8, which breaks the circuit, including the white light 5, between said armature 81 and contact I88, and blacks out said white light. The engagement of armature I83 with contact 2I8 closes a circuit from generator 88 through lead 2, closed switch 238, lead 231,

e'ases said armature from contact I8.I and contacts 231, 224 and 2I8, which breaks the circuit, including the red light 8, between said armature 81 and said contact I8I and blacks out said red light. The engagement of the armature I83 with contact 222 closes a circuit from generator 88 through lead 2, closed switch 238, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235; leads 234, I81 and 258, armature I83 and contact 222, leads 228 and 28.4, coil I88 or relay-release magnet I8, leads 288, I81 and I88, contacts I and I84 and lead I83 back to said generator 88, whereupon said magnet I5 draws said armature 81 away irom the magnets 85 and 88 of relay II and disengages said armature from contact I82 and contacts 283, 2I3 and 2I I, which breaks the circuit, including the green light 1, between said armature 81 and said con- A tact I82 and blacks out said green light. The engagement of the armature I83 with the contact 228 closes a circuit from generator 88 through I .lay and out or engagement with contact m and ma 2, closed switch as, lead 231, contacts 238 and 235, leads23l, I81 and 258, armature I03 and contact 229, leads 221 and 205, coil I00 of relay-release magnet l5, lead 2, I91 and I95, contacts I95 and I94 and lead I93 back to said generator 59, whereupon said magnet I 6 draws the armature 91 away from the magnet cores 95 and96 of relay l2 and disengases said armature 91 from contact I83 and contacts 226, 2l5 and 2l2, which breaks the circuit, including the blue light 8, between said armature 91 and said contact I83, and blacks out said blue light.

When a sign is written on the Si n board I light circuits, a sign-writing switchfor closing in one color it remains until it is blacked out by one of the circuits actuated by the black-out switch 255, or, until another identical sign in another color is written over it, by the sign-writing apparatus 2, with the movable contact 53 of the sign writing switch 5| passing over the same stationary contacts 52 that it traveled over to write the .first sign.

,With our invention it is possible to write a sign completely in lights of one color, or to write a sign in sections in lights of difierent colors by operating the light-color switch 561:0 close the any of said light circuits is closed by its relay and circuits of lights 0: a selected color when a sec- 2 7 tionotthesign hasbeenwrltteninlights oian'- other-color. I

" We claim:

In a multicolor electric light sign, a plurality of lights of different colors, a circuit for each of said lights, a relay included in and controlling each of said light circuits, the. residual magnetism of which relay being sufllcient to retain the armature of the relay when said relay is deenergized,

a light-color switch for closing any one or said any one of said light circuits, a relay-release magnet adjacent the armature of each of said relays, circuits controlled by each of said relays for energizing the relay-release magnets adjacent the armatures of the other relays, respectively, for overcoming the residual magnetism of said other relays and withdrawing the armatures of said other relays, ,for breaking the light circuits including said other relays and for blacking out the lights in the circuits of the other relays, when the light in said closed circuit is lighted.

- LEONARD L. PRUYN. LEONARD G. PRUYN.

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