US240693A - Electrical signal - Google Patents

Description

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W. W. GARE Eleotrioal Signal.

UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

TVESLEY WV. GARY, )F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICAL SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,693, dated April 26, 1881.

Application filed July 29, 1880. (Model) To all whom may concern Be it known that I, WESLEY W. GARY, of Boston, in the county of Sufl'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Signals, of which the follow- In the accompanying drawings I have rep resented a signalinginstrument especially intended for use in flagmens stations, the same consisting of an upright swin gin garm or lever carrying at its upper end an electro-magnet, the core of which serves as an armature for the permanent magnet, said arm carrying also a spring arm provided with a bell, which is caused to ring when the swinging arm falls away from the permanent magnet. The positions of the permanent and electro magnets may obviously be reversed without modifying the principle of operation.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved device; and Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, side elevations of the same, with the swinging arm in its two positions.

In practice I prefer to mount the several parts of the apparatus upon a bracket or support consisting of a vertical and a horizontal portion, as shown in the drawings, in which- A represents the bracket or support, and B a permanentmagnet secured rigidly to the upright face of the same, while 0 represents a swinging arm turning or swinging upon an axle or spindle, a, at its lower end, the ends of the spindle being sustained in suitable bearings, as shown. At its upper or free end the arm 0 is furnished with an eleetro-magnet, D, the core of which, I), is extended outward beyond the ehds of the wire-spool and flattened, as shown,forming an armature for the permanent magnet B. The core or armature is of soft iron, and is placed in such position upon the swinging arm 0 that when the latter is in an upright position its flattened ends shall bear against or stand close to the face of the permanent magnet B, near or at the ends, and against opposite poles of the same, and the spindle a, is solocated thatthe center of gravity of the arm and electro-m agnet shall fall in line therewith, or, as is preferred, slightly inside thereof, on the side toward magnet B.

By this arrangement of the parts, it will be seen the arm (1, with its electro-magnet and signal device, will be held naturally in its upright position when once so placed 5 but it will likewise be seen that unless otherwise retained in such position the jar and vibration occasioned by passing trains would soon throw the arm past the center of gravity and permit it total]. The force necessary to retain the arm in its upright position against the jar and vibration I secure by the use of the permanent magnet B, its attractive force holding the core or armature b firmly to its face so long as said armature remains depolarized.

The swinging arm G is furnished with an elastic or springarm, E, carrying at its outer end abell, F, and is limited in its outward movement by a stop or support, G, as shown. When the arm with its bell falls down it is suddenly stopped by the support Gr, and the bell is caused to ring. To insure the release of the arm and the ringing of the bell at the proper times it is only necessary to produce in the core or armature b a polarity the same as that of the permanent magnet, whereupon, like poles repelling, the armature will be thrown outward and the arm caused to fall back This polarization is effected by passing an electric current from a generator or battery of any kind through the helix of the electromagnet, for which purpose the wires 0 cl of the helix are carried down to the bed of the instrument and connected,bybinding-screws or otherwise,with

the'wires of the generator or battery, as shown.

In the drawings I have shown the arm and electro-magnet arranged to fall away from the magnet B to a considerable distance, in order that in the event of an alternating current being employed to actuate the device the action shall be the same as with a continuous current, the armature being thrown so faroutward by the first repelling impulse thatit is no longer subject to the influenceof the per manent magnet. This arrangement is particularly advantageous, for the reason that the position of the arm as well as the ringing of thebell affords a means of ascertainin g whether or not the device has been operated, so that in the event of the attendant being away when the signal is given his attention will be called to the fact on his return.

Itis apparent thatthe arm may be suspended, if preferred, the action remaining the same.

By the use of the permanent magnet and the arrangement of parts shown, I am enabled to dispense with all latches, detents, and fastening devices, which at once add to the eX- pense and to the difficulty of operation, and the signal is held out of action without the expenditure of any electric current.

After operation the signal-bearin g arm is returned to its upright position by hand, the core or armature being again depolarized.

It is preferred that there shall not be a perfect contact of the armature with the permanent magnet, as when a very slight space is left between them the repelling action is quicker and more certain in throwing out the arm.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to re tain a signal in one position by the attractive force of a permanent magnet, and to cause its release from such position by reversing the polarity of the armature relatively to the permanent magnet; hence I make no claim thereto, broadly considered. Iain not, however, aware that any one has ever before either balanced the signal-arm or arranged the parts in such manner that the force of gravity should act in conjunction with the attractive force of the permanent magnet, to retain the signal out of action. By my construction and arrangement I am enabled to control much larger and heavier signals than can otherwise be done with agiven magnet-power and electric current.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. In a signaLinstrument adapted to be operated by an electric current, the combination of a swinging signal-bearing arm pivoted and supported at its lower end, an electromagnet, and a permanent magnet, said magnets being attached, one to the swinging arm and the other to a fixed support, and arranged to operate substantially in the manner set forth, whereby the permanent magnet is caused to retain the signal-bearin g arm in an upright position without having to sustain the weight thereof until the passage of an electric current through the electro-magnet, and thereupon to release the same.

2. In a signaling-instrument, the combination of an upright swinging signal-bearing arm, having its pivot located outside of the center of gravity, and a permanent magnet and an armature secured, respectively, to a fixed support and to the swinging arm, whereby the weight of the arm and t-l z e attractive force of the magnet are caused to unite in retaining the arm in an upright position.

3. The herein described signaling-instrument, consisting of the upright swinging arm 0, provided with an indicator or signal, and with the electro-magnet D, having the elongated core b, and the permanent magnet B, combined and arranged substantially as described.

WESLEY W. GARY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, GEO. F. GRAHAM.

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