US248804A - Electrical signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

10 Sheets-Sheet 1.

"W. H. SHUEY,

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS. No. 248,804. Patented 001;; 25,1881.

(No Model.)

I 10 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. H. SHU'EY. ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 25,1881.

mumfi llllllllll I N1 h immmiminlmn I lllllllllllllllll lib Illlllllllllll illl l mllllllllll mine/ J j -u. PETERS. FholmLlllmgmphM. Washmglml. u. c,

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W.'I-I. SHUEY.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS. No. 248,804. Patented Oct. 25,1881.

N. PETERS Phomuxhn n han Washinglnn. n c

(No Model.) 10 Sheet-Sheet 4.

W. H. SHUEY.

ELEUTRIGAL SIGNALING APPARATUS. No. 248,804. Patented Oct. 25,1881.

(No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. H. SHUEY. ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 248,804. PatentedOot. 25,1881.

N. PETERS. PhuIU-Lilllogmplvar. Wnshinglom D. c.

No Model.) I 10 sheets-sheet a.

W. H. SHUEY. ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 248,804. I Patented'OOt. 25,1881.

10 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

w. SHEET, ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

No. 248,804. Patented Oct. 25,1881.

/ (No Model.) 10 Sheets-Sheet 8. W. H. SHUEY.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 25,1881.

(No Model.)

ELECTRIC 1O Sheets-Sheet 9. W. H.v SHUEY.

AL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 25,1881.

N. PETERS. Plmlo-Lllhngruphcn Washington. DC,

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrca.

WILLIAM H. SHUEY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,804, dated. October 25, 1881. Application filed May 5,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SHUEY, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Signaling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accoman in drawin 's whichform )artot'thiss )eci-- 5 a a: l

tication.

My invention relates to electrical apparatus for automatically sounding warning and starting signals to announce at any predetermined hour and minute the departure or arrival of trains, steamers, streetcars, &c., from and to their stations, the object being to provide a device for accomplishing such a result which will combine simplicity of construction and durability in use with the perfect PClfOllllZlllCB of its ascribed functions, and an adaptability to be adjusted to consonance not only with archanging time-schedule, but also with any peculiar signal-system that may be adopted.

With these ends in view, myinvention consists in certain details of construction and combinations-of parts, as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of my apparatus representingit in connection with time mechanism, a battery, and a signal-gong. Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus in front elex'ation. Fig. 8 is a view in rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a plan view. Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, represent views of the outer and inner sides of the motor. Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, represent views of the outer and inner sides of the warnirig-transmitter. Fig. 9 is a View in vertical cross-section of the apparatus, taken through the center of the reciprocating carriage. Fig. 10 is a view in perspective of the reciprocating carriage. Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of the carriage from the right side thereof. Fig. 12 is a similar View from the left side of the carriage. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the motor-governor. Fig. 14. is a detail view of the escapement-wheel, pallet, and detent mechanism ot'the warning-transmitter. Fig. 15 is a view of the plate m provided with a depending arm with which the carriage-actuating cam engages. Fig. 16 is a view of the driving-shaft g, showing the connection between it and the shaft 1); and Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the paths of the different currents through the apparatus.

This signaling apparatus is to be used in connection with a suitable time-measuring instrument included in one of its electrical circuits, and provided with mechanism to close the said circuit every successive minute throughout the twenty-four hours of each day. The peculiar devices resorted to for adapting the time mechanism to fulfill this function will depend largely upon the type thereof employed, and in view of the modifications and changes involved by the employment of different types and the different forms assumed by instruments of the same type it is not deemed necessary to herein setforth any particular devices for accomplishing this result, inasmuch as the signaling apparatus forming the subject-matter of this invention is entirely independent of the timemeasuring mechanism, except so far as the latter is adapted to establish during every successive minute of the day an electrical current through the magnets of the motor of the signaling apparatus.

In the normal condition of the apparatusthe circuit through the time mechanism and motor is open, the function of the said time mechanism being to close this circuit during every minute of the day,thereby energizing the magnets ofsthe motor, which operate through the mediumship of suitable devices to release the motor-train to permit it to actuate the timewheel through the are of a circle representing on it a minutes time, and to reciprocate the warning and starting signal contact-points above the said time-wheel. The motor-train and accessory mechanism is supported by two frame-plates, a and I). A drum, 0, mounted on shaft d, journaled between the said plates at and b, is provided to accommodate the cord 6 supporting the motive weight f, that end of the shaft (1 which is journaled in the outer plate, a, of the motor-frame being projected therethrough and squared to permit the application of the key g,by means of which the cord 0 is coiled upon the drum 0. The forward motion of drum 0 is imparted to an actuatingwheel, h,by means of a pawl, t',pivoted thereto and held in contact with the teeth of a ratchetwheel, j, rigidly attached to the drum 0 by means of a spring, 7.'-. Wheel h meshes with a pinion, I, secured to an arbor, m, upon which is mounted wheel a, meshing with a pinion, 0, secured to shaft 1;, coupled with the drivingshaft g.

In order that the motor may always be actuated at the same speed in performing its dif ferent functions, it is provided with a governor or regulator which controls the motion of its train, and which is connected thereto by wheel '1' mounted on shaft 1) and meshing with pinion 8 of arbor t, also provided with a wheel, 21, which meshes with a pinion, a, mounted on the arbor '10, supporting the governor. The said governor, (shownin detail in Fig. 12 of the drawings,) consists in two disks, ."r, mounted on arbor w, journaled in the motor-fame plates and having two wings, g1, interposed between and pivotally secured to the inner faces of the disks. Each ofthe said wings is provided on opposite edges with pivots a, which are received in holes 5 in the peripheral edges of the disks. A fine coil spring, 11, passes through an aperture, 0, in the arbor i0 and is secured at each end to the opposite wings tokeep them normally closed. \Vhen the motor-train revolves with arapidityexeeedingacertain pitch, centrifugal force will overcome the tensiona-l force of the spring b, and the wings y will be thrown apart, offering a resistance to the air powerful in theproportion to the distance they are separated and the rapidly of their revolution. The effect of this resistance will be to govern the movement of the motor-train and insure to it an even and steady action.

As before described,inthe normal condition of the apparatus the electric circuit through the time mechanism and motor is open, subject to being closed every successive minute by devices attached to the said time mechanism. This operation of opening and closing the circuit every minute is made use of to impart a like intermittent operation to the motor, the functions of which are to actuate the timewheel and to giveareciprocating motion to the warning and starting-signal contact-points.

That the electrical current maysnbserve the above-named function, eleetro-magnets d c and auxiliary mechanism, considered as forming a part ofthe motor, are interposed in the circuit. The electro-magnets d and c are connected by a yoke,f, attached to a metallic block,g, secured to the bed-plate h. A vertical post t",rising vertically from the block 9 supports a bracket, the upwardly'extending arms of which are provided with adjustable bearings is, furnished with jam-nuts l and adapted to pivotally support a two-armed lever, the horizontal arm at and the vertical arm n of which respectively support an armature, 0, and a ho0k,p, which latter engages with a pin, q, secured to the rear end of the rocking lever 1", mounted on the rock-shaft s.

A plate, t, attached to the horizontal arm m of the two-armed lever, is provided near its forward end with a pin, a, which is received within a slot, 1), in the end of the horizontal arm 10 of the stop-lever y, the bearing-face z of which is arranged to engage with the cushioned arm a? mounted on the driving-shaft p of the motor mechanism. The said stop-1ever is pivotally secured to the rear plate, I), of the motor-frame by a stud, W.

A spring, 0 having its opposite ends attached to hooks (I? and 0 respectively secured to the vertical arm a of the two'armed lever and to the metallic block g before described, serves to maintain the hook p and stop-lever y normally in readiness to engage with the pin q and the cushioned arm (t it also overcomes the attractive force of any residual magnetism that may remain in the magnets d and c after demagnetization. The instant the electrical circuit is closed through the motor by the agency of the time mechanism betbredescribed the magnets d and 0 will be energized and overcome the tensional force of the spring a and attract the armature 0 to their poles.

The depression of the armature will operate through the system of the levers above explained to release the engagement of the hook p with the pin q of the rock-lever, thereby allowing it to fall and lower the contact-points f 1 the movement of which it controls to sound under suitable circumstances the warning and starting signals, and also to permit the cuslr ioned arm a to pass the stop lever 1 and thus set the motor-train in motion to again raise the contact-points to actuate the time-wheel in its revolution from left to right. 1

The cushioned arm a is mounted, together with the cam 7L2, on that end of shaft 1) which projects through plate I) of the motor-frame. This arm is mounted loosely on the said shaft, but is limited in motion thereon by being interposed between two pins, & which project from the outer face of the cam. A spring,j", serving as a cushion, is secured to the upper face of the arm, and is also interposed between the said pins F. The object of thus cushioning the arm is to break the sudden shock to the motor mechanism caused by the engagement of the arm with the stop-lcver a.

The forward end of rocking lever i" is provided with a pin, 1 which engages with the periphery of the cam [L2 and is by it actuated to rock the shaft .9, which reeiprocates the contact-pointsf and The extreme inner end of the shaft 1) is squared, as at m to receive the sleeve a of the driving-shaft q, said sleeve being provided with a square countersink, 0", which is shown in Fig. 16 ot' the drawings. A worm-cam, 0 (see Fig. (5,) located on the driving-shaft, engages with teeth 2), two hundred and forty in number a lid located on the outer peripheral edge of the time-wheel q' and makes one revolution to every revolution of the cushioned arm (i carrying the wheel forward a distance equal to the intervening space between two contiguous teeth. The said worm.-

IIO

cam is provided with a hollow shaft, 1*", adapted to slide on the driving-shaft q, and a set-screw, 8 by means of which the cam and sleeve are retained in any desired position on the drivingshaft. The rear end of the driving-shaft (see Fig.12) has bearing in the depending-arm t of a two-armed plate pivoted to the outer end of the left-hand trackway n of the contact-point carriage-track. A thumb-screw, y, passes through an elongated slot, 10 formed in the rear arm, 00 of the plate and holds it in desired adjustment.

In order that the wheel may be readily con formed to changes in the timetable, it is necessary to release it from engagement with the mechanism of the apparatus, which is done by unscrewing the thumb-screw 3 and depressing the inner arm, at, of the pate, thus elevating the depending arm t and the driving-shaft q and releasing the engagement of the cam 0 thereon with that one of the teeth 9 on the peripheral edge of the wheel with which it is in engagement. The time-wheel may now be revolved an unlimited number of times to the right and to the left to the extent of one complete revolution. WVhen the wheel is set to consonance with the time schedule the cam should be re-engaged with that tooth on its outer edge which corresponds with the hour and moment of time at which the apparatus is to be started The rock-cam 7L2 and worm-cam o are given such appropriate configuration and adjustment relative to each other that the cam 7L raises the rocking lever r, and simultaneously with it the contact pointsf g and also engages the pin q with the hook p, actuated by the armature 0, during the first'half of the revolution of the cushioned arm a while during the completion of the revolution the worm-cam o' operates to revolve the wheel a distance equal to the space between two contiguous teeth. The object of such action is to avoid any possible interference between the pins 1;, representing different moments of time according to their situation on the wheel, and the contaetpoinls, and also to support the rocklever, so that at the completion of the revolution of the cushioned arm a and When it rests on the face 2 of the stop-lever 3 that the pin Z located on the forward end of the rock-lever, and which engages with the periphery of the cam h may be released therefrom without falling, as its rear end is engaged with hook 1). When, therefore, the motor stops the pin 1 is not in engagement with the cam, but is in position to instantaneously fall when the attraction of the armature to the magnets d and c releases the pin g from engagement with the hook p.

The time wheel (1 mounted on shaft 2 is journaled in bearings a secured to the bedplate It. A pinion, b secured to the shaft 2 meshes with a spur-wheel, 0 mounted on shaft 61 secured to the upright frame 6 A bevelcog, f mounted on shaft (1 partakes of the motion of wheel 0 and, meshing with a similar cog, 9 secured on the lower end of an upright shaft, it supported in bearings t f, revolves it and actuates the cam k secured to its upper end. The different wheels of this train are adapted to cause the shaft k and cam it to complete one entire revolution to every six revolutions of the time-wheel, which it will perform once in twenty-four hours. The pe riphery of the said cam engages .with the depending arm Z of a plate, M, Fig. 15, provided with an elongated slot,n through which a screw, 0 is passed to secure the said plate to the transverse bar p" of the contact-point carriage. The relation between the arm l and the periphery of the cam may thus be varied as desired to the extent of the length of the slot 12 As the cam revolves it will gradually propel the carriage forward at the required speed, registering the contact-points f g, which it supports, with the different holes in the wheel as they succeed each other, until a few minutes before the completion of the last hour of the day, when the engagement between it and the dependingarm Z will be broken; however, before this is effected a flange, q, located on the inner peripheral edge of the wheel, will engage its inner face with a pin, r depending from the transverse bar 72 of the carriage. This contact will be sustained until the completion of the last moment of the last hour, when the pin r will pass by the rear edge of the flange, permitting the carriage to be instantaneously returned by spring 8 to its starting point to register its contact-pointf with the hole in the wheel representing the first minute of the first hour of the new day. By the interposition of the flange q" to complete the work of the cam a certainty of correct action is secured, which with the cam alone could only be obtained by a very skillful adjustment, the slightest variation of which would cause a variance in the action of the apparatus.

The spring 8 which ieturns the carriage to its startingpoint at the close of the day, acts through a cord, t passing over pulley 16*, secured to an arbor, 20 supported in brackets .10 secured to the upright frame 0'.

The tension of the spring is varied by the manipulation of a thumb-screw, y, to which the spring is connected by a cord, 2 and which is mounted on an angled plate, a secured to the bed-plate h.

b and a respectively represent the right and left hand guideways of the carriage-track. These guideways are secured to the outer face of the upright frame 0, and have their inner faces provided with horizontal guides c, which are received in grooves d in the parallel arms 0 of the carriage. A shaft,f of ivory or of other suitable non-conducting material, is interposed between the two arms, 0, and sup ports the adjustable blocks It and the arm 11, through which the motion of the rock-shaft s is transmitted to the contact-points. The said arm t is rigidly secured to the shaft f, and is provided with an arm,j, extending to ICC Lil

the right, and furnished with a roller, k", which has bearings upon the upper face of an oscillating arm, I, secured to and partaking of the motion of the rock-shaft. The arm 1* is also provided with a hook, at, to which the inner end of a spring, a, is attached, the outer end of said spring being connected to hook 0,rigidly secured to the right-hand arm 0 of the carriage. \Vhen the oscillating arm I" (see Fi 10) is raised by the movement of the rock-shaft 8, its motion will be transmitted through arms j and t and the shaft f to the contact-points f g-, which will be raised. As soon as the closing of the circuit through the motor allows the oscillating arm to fall, the spring a will immediately lower the contact-points to position of engagement with the pins 7)".

The blocks 9 h are provided with set-screws p, which permit them to be adjusted to or from each other on the shat'tf". Plates q secured to the under faces of the blocks, extend forward and have contact-points f and depending from their outer extremities. When the contact-points are in position to engage with the pins on the wheel the plates q from which they are depended are limited in downward movement by a transverse block, 0, of insulating material extending between and seoured to the forward ends of the carriage-arms 0'. By means of the adjustable nature of the blocks g h, whereby their relative positions on shaftf may be changed at pleasure, I am enabled to increase or decrease the length of the interval clapsiug between the sounding of the warning and starting signals, being lllllited only by the length of the shaft.

A coiled wire, 0', electrically connects block 9, and consequently contactpointft with an upright rod, 8, secured to but insulated from frame 0, and connected to the electro-magnet t of the pair of magnets t a, located in the warning-transmitter, by a wire, v. The path of the currents caused to tlow trom and to return to the battery by the contact of the point f and a pin in the time-wheel will be hereinafter traced.

The block 9, and consequently contact-point 1 are electrically connected by a coiled wire, to, to an uprightrod, 41;, secured to but insulated from the upright frame E and connected with the gong 9 by a wire, 2". The path of the current caused to flow trom the battery through the gong by the contact of point and a pin in the time-wheel will be pointed out after the completion of the description relating more especially to the mechanical part of the apparatus.

The periphery of the time-wheel is, as hereinbel'ore stated, provided with holes a equivalent in number to the number of minutes in the twenty-four hours of a day, the holes being arranged ina spiral encircling the periphery of the wheel six times. Each of the said holes is internally screw-threaded, and thus adapted to receive a pin or screw, 1) rep resenting a certain moment of the day, according to its position on the wheel. Inasmuch as a series of fourteen hundred and forty holes, representing each a. certain moment of the day, are arranged to form a spiral of six coils, each coil will contain two hundred and forty holes, representing four hours of time. The hole representing the first moment of the first hour of the day is the first hole of the spiral,beginning at the inner periphery of the wheel. Therefore the tirst'of the spiral coils will represent the hours 1, 2, 3, and -.t. a. m, the second coil 5, 6, 7, and S a. m., and so on through the succeeding hours of the day.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the pins b into holes representing certain minutes at which it is desired to sound a signal, four series of figures, running from 0 to 59, are arranged to encircle the wheel, each separate series occupying one't'ourth of its circumference, and each figure being located directly opposite a row of six holes traversing the periphery of the wheel transversely and corresponding in number to the moment of the different hours which the holes represent. It is clear,also, that while the moments and hours succeed each other in regular succession when the holes are considered as traversing the periphery of the wheel parallel with it, when the holes are considered as traversing the periphery in transverse direction exactly four hours time is represented betwecn each contiguous hole.

To further aid in setting the pins I)", each of the to u r wheel-spokes has indicated on it the hours represented on the segment of the wheel which it bisects, every spoke exhibiting figures representing six hours of the day, each following one another with an interposiug interval of four hours. Thus the operator, after having released the wheel from engagement with the wornrcam, as before set forth, may easily insert the pins into holes indicating moments of any hour by first observing the figures on the spokes to obtain the hour. When the right spoke has been found, the row of holes representing the desired hour will bear the same relation to the other rows that the figure of the desired hour bears to the other figures indicated on the spoke. The desired moment is readily ascertained by reference to the figures before referred to on the edge of the wheel.

From the above description it is apparent that the apparatus may be easily adjusted to consonanec with any train-schedule, the range of variation being limited only by the number of minutes in a day.

In order that the wheel may not, when released from engagement with the worm-cam, be turned to the left or reversed more than one complete revolution, which would endanger a collision between the cam r and the de pending arm t, it is provided on its inner pcripheral face with a lug, (1 which engages, when the wheel is reversed, with a gravitypawl, 0", pivotally secured to a block, 1"", attached to the bed-plate h. A pin, 9'', projecting from the outer face of the block supports IIO the rear end of the pawl. As the wheel revolves to the right the lug d depresses the forward and elevates the rear end of the pawl and passes it without retarding the wheel. When, however, the wheel is revolved to the left the pin g prevents the depression of the rear, and consequently the elevation of the forward end of the pawl and the wheel is stopped.

To the left of the time-wheel a warningtransmitter is situated, the function of which is, under the present adjustment ot'the apparatus, to sound a series ofintermittent or warning-signalsat a predetermined number of minutes before the starting-signal is sounded. The warning-tra-nsmitter is actuated, through the agency of electro-magnets t a by a current which is caused to flo-wfrom the battery and through them by the engagement of the contact-point) with a pin in the time-wheel. The train of the warnin g-transmitter is inclosed between two frame-plates, b and t and is operated by a coiled spring inclosed in a drum,j mounted on a shaft, R the outer end of which projects through the outer frame-plate, t and issquared to permit the application of a key to wind up the spring. That end of the shaft journaled in the inner frame-plate, k is provided with a ratchet-wheel, 1?, with which a pawl, m engages. This ratchet and pawl fill the common function of such devices when used in this connection. drum j, mounted on the shaft 70 to which one end of the spring is attached, are secured to each other, and are together actuated in rotary motion independently of the shaft by the force of the spring as it is allowed to uncoil. A ratchet-cam, a, secured to the spur-wheel t and adapted to have engagement with a cam, 0 mounted on shaft 70', serves to prevent the spring from being wound too tightly.

The spur-wheel i meshes with a pinion,p mounted on an arbor, g on which a wheel, 1*", is also mounted. The wheel r meshes with a pinion, 8 mounted on shaft P, which supports a notched disk, 10*, a wheel, a and a perforated circuit-closing wheehw The said wheel a meshes with a pinion, secured to an arbor, 2 upon which is mounted an escapementwheel, a, havingenga-gement with escapementpallet, I)", riveted to an arbor, 0 provided with a pin, (1, adapted to engage with pin 0", projecting from an upright vibrating lever, f when the circuit through the electro-magnets t u is open.

The vibrating lever f forms a part of the vertical arm of a two-armed lever, the horizontal arm h of which supports an armature, 11 over the poles of the magnets aforesaid. The said two-armed lever is rigidly secured to an arbor, j, journaled in the frame-plates 70 i A spring, It, having its upper end secured to a hook, l, attached to the rear face of the vertical arm 9 of the two-armed lever, and having its lower end secured to the rear face of the metallic block in, upon which the yoke 0 connecting the magnets is mounted,

Spur-wheel t and serves to sustain the normal engagement of pin 6 with the pin (1 on arbor (f, and alsoto overcome the attractive force which any residual magnetism remaining in the magnets af ter the opening of the circuit might exert on the armature t.

A pin, a, is secured to the vibrating lever f ,in position to have peripheral engagementwith the notched disk W, in order that, after the closing of the circuit, the attraction of the armature and the consequent disengagement of pins 0 and at, their re-engagement may be prevented until after one complete revolution of the circuit-closing wheel 10 At the instant the said wheel 10 completes its revolution the pin a will fall into a notch, 0 in the disk 10', the pins 0 and (1 will engage, and the motion of the transmitter-train be arrested until the closing of the circuit through the electro-magnets again breaks the engagement between the pins.

The circuit-closing wheel 10 is encircled with a series of interiorly screw-threaded perforations, 1 adapted to receive screws or pins q, arran god to simultaneously engage as the Wheel revolves with both of the bifurcated springs r a mounted on ablock, t, of insulating material secured to the plate Ifofthe motor-frame. The springs r s, which are bifurcated to increase their elasticity, represent the opposite electrodes of an electrical circuit connecting the battery and gong, and with which they are connected by coiled wires a '276 respectively. \Vhen the circuit-closing wheel connects the two springs 1' s by one of its metallic pins q the circuit is completed and the gong s'oun'ded. This operation may be effected as often as desired by varying the arrangement of the pins on the wheel 20 In order that the gong-circuit may be closed and thegong sounded instantly after the actuation of the transmitter-train, such an arrangement of the pins q must be effected that one will he in immediate readiness to connect the two springs r s, the remaining pins being located in positions relative to the desired length of the interval between two soundings of the gong.

The apparatus is protected from dustby a glass shade, 20 fastened to standard 00 upon which the apparatus is mounted by pins located on the inside of the lower front and rear strips of the shade-frame, and having engagement with hooks z, operated by sliding bars a Having thus described the various mechanical devices entering into the construction of my apparatus, and the manner in which they are influenced by various electrical connections, 1 will now proceed, before describing the operation of the instrument, to point out and follow, with the aid of the diagram forming a part of the drawings, the paths of the various electric circuits flowing from and returning to the battery, and also to indicate the several functions by them performed.

The front of the standard-frame is provided with a three-part switch-plate, b", the sections of which are adapted to be electrically connected, as desired, by the interposition between them of a switch-key, 0 The right-hand section is marked H, to indicate that when the apparatus is to be operated through either of the thumb -buttons by hand, the switch-key should connect it with the central section. The left-hand section of the plate is marked A, to indicate that when the apparatus is to be operated automatically by the time-measuring mechanism it should be connected by the key with the central section of the plate. The left-hand thumb-button is marked V, to indicate that it is the appropriate one to use in sounding special warning-signals, while the right-hand button is marked S, to indicate that it is the appropriate button to employ in sounding special starting-signals. By the employment of these buttons special signals may be sounded without disturbing the regular operation of the apparatus.

In the description of the instrument hereinabove given, the electrical connections between the difl'erent parts have been pointed out only to a limited extent; neither are such connections fully shown in the drawings, save only in the diagram, Fig. 17, where the path traversed by each circuit is followed and clearly indicated. All of the connections shown in the diagram not elsewhere shown are located beneath the bed-plate and within the frame of the standard.

Vhen the button marked V is depressed a current will flow from the battery through wire A, binding-post B, wircO, the central and righthand sections of the switch-plate, now connected by switch-key 0 wire D, button now depressed, wire E, electro-magnets t a, which it will energize and return to the battery through wire F, wire K, binding-post G, and wire H. \Vhen the button marked S is depressed 21 current will flow from the battery through wire A, binding-post B, wire 0, central and right-hand sections of the switch-plate, now connected by switch key 0 wire I, button marked S, now depressed, wire J, binding-post K, wire L, actuating magnets in gong and sounding it, and returning to battery through wire M, bindingpost N, wire 0, binding-post G, and wire 11'.

When the devices in the time mechanism close the circuit therethrough a current will iiow from thebatterythroughwireA,binding-postB,wire P,binding-post Q, wire It, circuit-closer in time mechanism now closed, wire S, bindingpost T, wire U, electromagnets d 0, which it energizes to release the motor-train, and returns to battery through wire V,wire K, binding-post G, and wire H. The engagement of the contact-point f with one of the pins 011 the periphery ot'the time-wheel,which is accomplished by automatic devices before explained, will cause a current to How from the battery through wire A, binding-post B, wire 0, the central and left-hand sections of the switch-plate, now connected by switch-key 0, wire Y, binding-post Z, metal 6 Q ESJMML bed-plate h, time-wheel the particular pin with which the contact-point is in engagement, contact-pointf coiled wire 1", rod 8, wire '0, electro-magnets t a", which it energizes to re lease the warning-transmitter train, which in turn mechanically closes the circuit through points .9 r and returns to the battery through wire F, wire K, binding-post G, and wire H. Vhen the rotary motion of the circuit-closing wheel 20 causes one of its pins g to connect the two points We, a current will llow from the battery through wire A, binding-post B, wire A, springpoint 3, pin q, spring-point 0', wire B, binding-post K, wire L, energize electromagnets in gong and sound it, and return to the battery through wire M, binding-post N, wire 0, binding-post G, and wire H. The engagement ot' the contact-point with one of the pins on the peripheryot' the time-wheel will causeacurrent to How from the battery through wire A, binding-post B, wire 0, the central and left-hand sections of the switch-plate, now connected by switch-key 0 wire Y, bindingscrew Z, metal bed-plate h, time-wheel g the particular pin with which the contact-point is in engagement, the contact'point g", coiled wire 10 wire 2', wire 0, binding-post K, wire L, electric magnets in gong, which it sounds, and returns to the battery through wire M, binding post N, wire 0, binding-post G, and wire H. With the aid of the diagram the paths of the six currents, as set forth, may be readily traced and followed through the instrument.

The several binding-posts, K, N, G, B, Q, and T, secured to the bed-plate h, are insulated therefrom by rubber disks d, and also all wire connections passing through the plate should be themselves wound with insulating material, or a non-conducting sleeve should be inserted into the holes through which they pass.

The apparatus having been fully described and the paths of its different currents traced, it now only remains to briefly describe its concerted action in sounding a warning and starting signal.

Let us assume that the apparatus is in connection with time mechanism and with a gong, that it is electrically connected with a battery, that the motors operating the trains of the motor and warning transmitters are in condition for immediately actuating them, that the time mechanism is operating to close a circuit every successive moment through the electro-inagnets d c of the motor,'and, further, that it is desired to sound, among other signals, a warning-signal of three strokes three minutes before a starting-signal of one stroke, to be sounded at 3.15 p. m. That this result maybe effected it is necessary to separate the C0l1tfl-Ot-POlHiJSf g a distance equivalent to the length of an arctraversed by the wheel in three minutes, to insert three pins into the circuit-closing wheel 10', and to insert a pin into that hole in the periphery of the time-wheelwhich represents the fifteenth min- IIS ute of the fourth hour past meridian. This particular hole may be readily located by releasing the engagement of the worm-cam with the teeth on the outer edge of the wheel, and by revolving it until that one of its spokes is presented upon which the hour of 3 p. Ill. is indicated. The hole sought will now lie in that quartersegment of the periphery of the wheel which is bisected by the spoke aforesaid, and in that row of holes which bears the relation to the other rows that the character indicating 3 p. m. on the spoke does to the characters representing the five other hours indicated thereon. Reading from the top, the

hour?) p. m. is the fourth hour indicated on the spoke. The holes representing the fourth hour will therefore be in the fourth row,counting from the rear edge of the periphery of the wheel. The particular hole representing the fifteenth minute of the said fourth hour may be at once found by reference to the series of figures on the edge of the wheels periphery. When found a circuit-closing pin is inserted in the hole. Again, let us assume that the clock mechanism, by successively closing the circuit through the motor-magnets, has, through the agency of the motor-train and auxiliary mechanism, brought the pin lettered 15 under the contact-pointy" during the first ten seconds of the twelfth minute of the fourth hour p. m. At the completion of the twelfth minute of the same hourthe clock mechanism will again close a circuit through the magnets dand e, the armature 0 will be attracted to their poles, the hook 19 will release its engagement with the rear end of the rock-lever T, which will fall and permit the contact-points f g to fall; of these points the point f will engage with the pin lettered l5, and thus close a circuit from the battery through the magnets t a; the armature i will be attracted to their poles, the engagement between pins d and 0 will be broken, the motor-train will start, the circuitclosing wheel will be actuated to perform a complete revolution; its three pins will each successively connect and break connection between the contact-points r s, and as many times close a circuit through the battery and gong, which will be intermittently sounded three times. This whole operation is performed within the space of the twelfth minute, during the first and last halves respectively of which the contact-points f and s are raised and the time-wheel moved through an are representing one minute by the motor mechanism, as before described. At the beginning of the thirteenth minute the time mechanism again closes the circuit through the battery and electro-magnets (1 e; the armatureo is attracted, and the rock-lever r and contactpoints f g fall, as before; but as there are no pins in the holes with whichtheyregister no circuits are closed. The points are again raised and the wheel advanced for the fourteenth minute, at the beginning of which the circuit is closed, as before. The contact points are dropped and raised and the wheel advanced, as before. Tle pin which engaged with the contact-point j' at the beginning of the twelfth minute and sounded, through the warningtransmitter mechanism, a warning-signal of three bells, has now been carried forward in three minutes through an are representing the distance between the two points, and will be in position to engage with the contact-point as it falls at the beginning of the fifteenth minu e, and close a circuit through the battery and gong and sound a starting-signal of one hell.

The illustration above given explains the operation of the apparatus in sounding all automatic signals, which are regularly repeated once in twenty-four hours.

Special or irregular warning and starting signals may be sounded at any time, and without disturbing the adjustment or operation of the apparatus, by interposing a switch-key between the central and right-hand sections of the switch-plate and pressing the button marked W or S, according as a warning-signal of several bells or a starting-signal of one bell is desired.

As before explained, by adjusting the contact-points to or from each other the interval of time elapsing between the sounding of the warning and starting signals may be varied, and also by changing the number or disposition of pins or the circuit-closing wheel the character of the warning-signal may be modified. Agaimif it is desired to sound warning-signals of one bell and starting-signals of several bells, instead of warning-signals of several bells and starting-signals of single bells, this result maybe effected by simply transposing the electric connections of the contactpoints f 9 When the apparatus is setto consonance with a time-schedule its different parts will act in perfect concert to sound the different signals and without other attention than that neces sary to keep the spring and weight motors wound up and the battery renewed.

It is apparent that many slightchanges and alterations in the construction and arrange mentof parts may be resorted to without transcending the spirit of my invention, and therefore I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts shown and described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a time-wheel lo cated in an electrical circuit and provided with a hole for every minute of a day, of pins inserted in the said holes,and devices adapted to engage with the pins and to close circuits through the wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a cam adapted to be actuated in one revolution in twenty-four hours or a few minutes less, of a reciprocating contact-point carriage and an adjustable arm secured to said carriage in position to engage IIO with the periphery of the cam, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a contact-point carriage adapted to be actuated by a cam or its equivalent, of a pin secured to said carriage, a time wheel having a flange on its periphery, and devices to retract the carriage to its starting-point alter the pin secured to it has been released from the flange on the wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with a contact-point carriage, of a non-conducting shaft, contactpoints mounted on said shaft, and a time-wheel having pins on its periphery with which the contact-points engage to close circuits through the wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a contact-point carriage, of a non-conducting shaft, adjustable blocks mounted on the shaft, contact-points secured to said blocks, and a time-wheel having pins on its periphery with which the contact-points engage to close circuits through the wheel, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a contact-point carriage, of a non-conducting shaft, adjustable blocks mounted on said shaft, plates secured to said blocks, contact-points depending from the plates, and a time-wheel having pins on its periphery with which the contact-points engage to close circuits through the wheel, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a contact-point carriage, a non-corulucting shaft, and contactpoints mounted on said shaft, of a system of levers adapted to impart a reciprocating motion to the shaft and contact-points, and a time-wheel having pins on its periphery with which the contact-points engage to close circuits through the wheel, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a contactpoint carriage, a non-conducting shaft supporting contact-points, and a lever secured to said shaft, of an oscillating lever mounted on a rock-shaft and adapted to actuate the contactpoints, and a time'wheel having pins on its periphery with which the contact-points engage to close circuits through the wheel, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a contact-point carriage, a non-conducting shait supporting contact-points, of a system of levers adapted to reciprocate said points, a time-wheel having pins on its periphery with which the points engage to close circuits through the wheel, and a spring to depress the contact-points, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a time-wheel provided with alug on its inner peripheral face, of a gravity-pawl pivoted to an upright block, and a pin secured to said block in position to engage with the rear arm of the pawl, and to prevent its depression, substantially as set forth.

11. The combinatioinwith a motor, of a cushioned arm and a two armed stop lever, one arm of which is adapted to engage with the said cushioned arm, the other arm being con nected to an armature suspended over magnets located in a circuit closed every moment by time-mechanism, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination, with a two-armed lever, one arm of which is adapted to engage with a rock-lever, the other arm being pro vided with an armature, of a motor, and a series of levers connecting it with the armature aforesaid, and eleetro-magnets governed by timeanechanism and adapted, by attracting the armature-,to break the engagement between the two'armed lever and the rock-lever, and through said series of levers to permit the operation of the motor, substantially as set forth.

13. The combinatiomwith a cam having two pins secured to its outer face, of an arm loosely mounted on the shaft to which the cam is secured, and a spring secured to said arm and with it interposed between the pins on the cam, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination, with a two-armed lever, one arm thereof being provided with two pins and the other with an armature, of a motor, an arbor furnished with a pin adapted to engage with one of the pins of the two-armed lever, and a notched disk adapted to receive the other pin thereof, and magnets adapted,by attracting the armature aforesaid, to actuate the motor and to stop it, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of April, 1881.

WILLIAM H. SHUEY.

Witnesses:

WEBs'rER TIIAYER, CHARLES A. ll/lERRILL.

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