US247323A - einbigleb - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

R. EINBI'GLER. VISUAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 247,323. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

R. EINBIGLER.

VISUAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 20 1881.

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RUDOLF EINBIGLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

. VISUAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,323, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed June .24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, RUDoLF EINBIGLER, a subject of the Empire of Brazil,residingin the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Visual Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus for producing or exhibiting visual signals by the action of an electric current upon an electro magnet or magnets which are known as annunciators. It more particularly relates to that class of apparatus which is designed to display or conceal signals which are intended to be visible at a considerable distance, and also to signals such as are employed on railroads to exhibit or conceal a light for use at night, or a number, letter, or other charactor or a color during the day.

The objectof my invention is to so construct the operating mechanism of a visual signal that a given electric power may be made to operate a much larger signal than has been possible in visual signals heretofore in use, while at the same time the mechanism will occupy less space and be more simple and economical in its construction.

The subject-matter claimed will be hereinafter specifically designated.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention in the best way now known to me, in which I Figure 1 represents a plan view of the ap-' paratus with a diagram of the circuit connec tions; Fig. 2, a side elevation with part ofthe' supporting-frame removed Fig. 3, a front elevation of the apparatus in; a position concealing the signal; and Fig. 4 shows the signalas it appears when displayed or exhibited.

In the drawings, AB represent two straight electro-magn-ets, each of which consists of a single coil of wire enveloping an iron core, the projecting ends of which cores a b c d are provided with soft-iron extension or pole pieces a b 0 d, which are of a length exceeding the diameter of the coils of the electro-magnets. These pole-pieces are fastened to the supporting-frames O G by the screws a b c diwhich extend through the supporting-frame and polepieces and into the cores of the electro-magnets, and thus firmly hold the electro-magnets and pole-pieces together and to the frames 0 C. These supporting-frames should be constructed of brass or other non-magnetic metal, so as to allow of no magnetic connection between the poles of the electro-magnets'. The pole-pieces a b c d are preferably constructed in the form of a trapezium, as best seen in Fig. 2, in order to more conveniently actuate the armatures, as hereinafter explained.

Three soft-iron armatures, D, E, and F, are employed, which are mechanically linked together into a single system. These armatures are parallel to the axes of the electro-magnets and at right angles to the pole-pieces. The armatures D and E have their axes of oscillation parallel to the axes of the coils of the electro-rnagnets, so that the ends of both polepieces can freely act on their respective armatures. A third soft-iron armature, F, is mounted between the pole-pieces of the respective electro-magnets, and is pivoted at its upper corners to the frames 0 and O, as shown at h, and, like the armatures D and E, has its axis of oscillation parallel with the axes of the coils of both electro-magnets. This armature, being placed between and close to the pole-pieces of each electromagnet, is, of course, within the common magnetic field of both. The armatures D, E, and F, being respectively pivoted to the framesO and O, as described, are joined together by connecting rods or links it, pivoted to them, preferably in the middle of their lengths. Hence all the armatures form a single system, and will be simultaneously moved by the action upon them of either of the electro-magnets A B. An upright arm, 9, is rigidly attached, preferably, to the central armature, F. A horizontal finger, g, is joined to the upper extremity of the arm g, and preferably atright angles tothe same when in a perpendicular position,which.=extends through a hole in the base-board or support H, in order to actuate the signaling mechanism, which will now be described.

Referring to Fig. 4, G represents a plate of sheet metal, which may be of any convenient size, which is permanently secured to a board or other support, H, and bears the lower half of a designating number, letter, word, or-other character. Another plate, G, of the same dimensions as the plate G, is hinged at its lower edge to the upper edge of plate G, and this bears the upper or remaining half of the designating-character. Thus if the plate G be folded back so that it is parallel with the support H, it will expose the upper, and the plate G the lower, portion ofthe designating-character, which, in the figure, is the number 15, while if the plate G be folded down so that its upper edge is coincident with the lower edge of the plate G, it will completely cover up and conceal the character. Acounter-balance, w, is secured to the lower or hinged edge of the plate G, which should be of such weight that if the plate G be placed in a position of abouteightyfive degrees from a horizontal plane, the plate and weight will be in a condition of unstable equilibrium. An aperture, in the base or support H allows the weight w to freely pass through in moving from one position to the other.

The operation of my improved signal apparatus is as follows: If a current of electricity be sent through the coil of electro-magnet A, magnetizing its core and pole-pieces a I), the armature D, being pivoted at its lower edge, will be drawn toward the upper edge of the poles at b, and the armature F, on the opposite side of said poles, being pivoted at its upper edge, will be drawn toward the lower edge of the opposite side of said poles. This movement of the armatures is communicated to the upright arm g, which carries with it the finger g, causing the projection g to strike the counter-balance to with sufficient force to turn it into a position to overbalance the plate G, to which it is attached, in consequence of which it falls into the aperture 20, bringing the plate into an upright position, its upper edge resting against the upper portion of the support H, as shown in Fig. 3, and exhibiting the signal. If, now, it is desired to return the signalplate G to a position for concealing the sig- I131, a current of electricity is transmitted through the coil of the other electro-magnet, B, magnetizing its core and pole-pieces c and d, and attracting the armature F toward the lower edge of the pole-pieces c and d, and at the same time the armature E toward the upper edge of the pole-pieces d and c on the opposite side from the armature F, being the reverse of the operation hereinbefore described. The finger g is thus caused to strike against the plate G with sufficient force to cause it to overbalance the weight w and descend into the position shown in Fig. 3, thus concealing the signal, while the weight returns to its upright position, in which it occupies the upper part of the aperture 20. The plate G and weight to will remain in this position until again actuated by the agency of electro-magnet A, as hereinbefore described.

1 will now describe the circuits for operating the electro-magnets A and B.

One of the terminals of the coil of each electro-magnet is connected with one pole of a battery, P, either through the ground or by a wire which is connected with said battery, which latter I have shown in diagram in connection with Fig. 1. The wire 1 connects the terminals of electro-magnets A and B with battery P.

The circuit-closer which I prefer to employ is also shown in connection with Fig. 1, and consists of a spring or resilient strip of metal, j, securely fixed at its upper end to a support, J, which may consist of a board, wall, or panel, or any object to which the same can be conveniently attached. Attached to the support J are two metallic contact-points, k k, placed on either side of the free end of the metallic strip j, asshown, to which are attached the wires 4. and 3, respectively leading to the remaining terminals of the coils of electro-magnets B and A. A spindle or rod, L, having a knob, l, at its outer extremity, is arranged to slide to and fro through a socket,K, attached to the support J, and is formed into a shifting yoke at its inner end, as shown in section in the figure. The spring j extends through said yoke so that each end of the latter forms a stop, on n, therefor. By drawing the knob l outward the spring j is forced by the stop m toward the support J, and comes in contact with the point thereby closing the circuit and transmitting a current from the positive pole of the battery P, through wire 2, spring J, contact-point 7c, wire 3, coil of electro-magnet A, (thus magnetizing its core and polepieces,) and wire 1, to the negative pole of the battery, while, on the contrary, if the knob i be pushed inward toward the support J, the springj is brought in contact with the point is by the pressure of stop a, and the current is transmitted from the positive pole of battery P, through wire 2, spring j, contact-point k, wire 4, coil of electro-magnet B, (magnetizing its core and pole-pieces,) and wire 1, to the negative pole of the battery. Thus if it is desired to exhibit the signal hereinbefore described, the spring j is brought in contact with point It by pulling the knob ioutward, which closes the circuit and transmits the current through electro-magnet A, as described, magnetizing its core and pole-pieces, which by the operation hereinbefore described places the plate G in an upright position and exhibits the signal. If it is desired to conceal the signal, the knob i is pushed inward toward the support J, press ing the spring j against the contact-point k, which closes the circuit and magnetizes the core and pole-pieces of electro-magnet B,which by the means hereinbefore explained conceals the signal.

By an obvious modification of the apparatus described it may be made use of with ad vantage as a signal to exhibit or concealalamp for use on railroads, or in other places where it is desirable to employ a light as a signal. This may be done by constructing the support vH partly of glass and arranging it to accommodate any suitable lighting apparatus which it may be desirable to conceal or exhibitby means of the plate G. In this case it would jecting from the outer ends of the plate G,

instead of the single one shown in the drawings, so that they will not occupy any space within the glass signal.

It is obvious that many modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the principle thereof. Forinst-ance, there may be aseries of several electro-magnets with theirarmatures,instead of the two shown,which would probably be advantageous, if it is desirable to operate a very large or heavy signalplate.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two electro-magnets, each consisting of a single coil of wire enveloping an iron core, three armatures whose axes of oscillation are parallel to the axes of said coils, one of said armatures being between the respective poles and within the magnetic field of both of said electro-magnets, and one or more connecting rods or links uniting said armatures.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two electro-magnets, each consisting of a single coil of wire enveloping an iron core, three armatures whose axes of oscillation are parallel to the axes of said coils, one of said armatures being between the poles and within the magnetic field of both of said electro-magnets, one or more connecting rods or links uniting said armatures, and mechanism, substantially such as described, for actuating a visual signal.

3. In asignalin g apparatus, the combination, substantially ashereinbefore set forth, ot'a concealing or exhibiting plate hinged at one of its edges, and a counter-balance attached to or near the hinged edge of said plate, whereby the plate is maintained in a position to either conceal or exhibit a signal.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of two electro-magnets, each c'onsistingof a single coil of wire enveloping an iron core, three armatures whose axes of oscillation are parallel to the axes of said coils, one of said armatures being between the respective poles and within the magnetic field of both of said electro-magnets, one or more connecting rods or links uniting said armatures, an arm or rod attached to said connecting-rods, a hook or finger attached thereto, and a visual signal actuated by the movements of said finger, provided with a concealing or exhibiting plate hinged at one edge, and having a counter-balance attached to or near the hinged edge of said plate.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the circuit-wires, their two insulated contact-points, the interposed contact-spring, and the shifting yoke embracing the spring to control its electrical connection with either of said insulated contact-points.

6. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the two electro-magnets, circuit-wires respectively connecting said electro-magnets with two insulated contact-points, the interposed contact-spring, and the shifting yoke embracing the spring to control its electrical connection with either of the said insulated contact-points and the electro-magnet connected therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May, A. D. 1881.

RUDOLF EINBIGLER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. KENYON, MILLER O. EARL.

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