US252798A - Automatic time-recorder for telegraph - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

H. W. POPE.

AUTOMATIC TIME RECORDER FOR TELEGRAPHIG SIGNAL BOXES.

No. 252,798. atented Jan. 24,1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY \V. POPE, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JEl'tvEY.

AUTOMATIC TIME-RECORDER FOR TELEGRAPHIC SIGNAL-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,798, dated January 24, 1882.

Application filed July 21,1881. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. Porn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Time-Recorders for Telegraphic Sign al-BoXes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus which is employed for the transmission of arbitrary and determinate signals from different substations upon a telegraph-line to aprincipal or central station, each substation being provided with circuit-breaking mechanism, which, when set in action, automatically transmitsa certain predetermined signal peculiar to itself to the central station. This organization is employed more especially for fire-alarm, district, and other municipal and protective telegraphs.

My invention consists in general of mechanism whereby the particular hour and subdivision of an hour during the day or night at which a signal has been thus transmitted from any particular station is automatically registered or recorded.

To this end the invention consists more particularly in inclosing or protecting the mechanism whereby the signal is transmitted with a movable cover or guard, and in attaching to such movable cover or guard a registering device or mechanism which is controlled by its movement, whereby the act of removing the said guard by any person for the purpose of transmitting a telegraphic signal to the cen tral station automatically actuates the registering mechanism, and thus enables the precise hour at which such signal was transmitted to be ascertained by a subsequent inspection of the apparatus.

The invention further consists in the combination, with the mechanism for transmitting signals and the movable cover or guard inclosing the same, of a tablet, a chronometer or timetrain forimparting a uniform progressive movement to said tablet, and a marking device whereby a record or imprint is automatically produced upon the surface of said tablet when the cover or guard is removed from the signaling mechanism for the purpose of transmitting the signal.

The invention further consists in certain combinations of mechanism, hereinafter particularly described and claimed, whereby the objcctof the invention is more effectually and conveniently attained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my invention, a portion of the front of the inner case being broken away to exhibit the internal mechanism. Fig. 2 is a view, in elevation, of a detached portion of the apparatus. Figs. 3 and 4 are detached sectional views of a portion of the apparatus, showing the slide which actuates the recording mechanism in two ditt'crent positions, and Fig. 5 is avertical transverse section of the recording apparatus.

In the drawings, Ais aframe inclosinga train of wheel-work and spring which propels the circuit-breaking mechanism for the transmis sion ofa signal; and a is the automatic circuitbreaking wheel,which, w hen released, is caused to rotate by the action of said wheelwvork. The construction and organization of signaltrausmitting mechanism of this character are well known, they havinglong been used in connection with district and fire-alarm telegraphs of every description, and therefore need not be herein described in detail.

The circuit-breaking wheel a is normally held in check by the lever B, which carries a hook or detent, b, at one of its extremities, which normally engages with a pin, 0, upon said wheel. When the lever-B is depressed by the finger of the operator the pin 0 on the circuit-breaking wheel a isreleased and the wheel is permitted to make one or more revolutions in the direction indicated by thearrow marked thereon, during which time the teeth (I (1, projecting from its periphery, pass underneath the contact-spring C, forming an electrical connection therewith and transmitting a predetermined signal in a well-known manner. This signaling apparatus is placed for protection within a metallic case or box, D, which is closed in front byahinged door,D,the greater part of which door is represented in Fig. 1 as being broken away in order to permit the mechanism within to be seen. The box or case D is designed to be fastened with a suitable lock, the key to which is in the exclusive possession or control of an authorized olficialconnected with the central station. The box or case D is inclosed within another outer case, E, of the same general form and construction, and this is also closed in front by a hinged door or cover, 0, which is providedinlikemannor with a suitable lock, the key of which isin the possession of or accessible to persons authorized to transmit signals, as policemen or watchmen. When the door cot" the outer case, B, is open, as shown in Fig. 1, nothing except the exterior of the inner case, I), is exposed, the only portion of the mechanism accessible without unlocking the inner box being the extremity of the handle B, which projects therefrom, as seen in Fig. 1, and which serves to depress the lever B.

A chronometer or time-train, F, of the usual or any suitable construction, ismountedin the lower part of the inner case, I), and is driven by a coiled spring, which may be wound at suitable intervals, in the usual manner of a time piece.

Instead of the hour-hand usually attached to a clock or chronometer, a disk or tablet, G, is atlixed to the proper arbor thereof, so that it will make two complete revolutionsin twenty-l'our hours, in the same manneras the hand. Upon this tablet G a circular piece of paper, 9, may be secured-by means of a clamping-nut, h, or otherwise, upon which has previously been printed a dial-face, similar to that of an ordinary time-piece, representing the succes- I sive hours from 1 to XII, with their usual sub divisions. This paper dial, being atfixed to the tablet, revolves with it once every twelve hours, as hereinbefore explained.

The apparatus by which a mark or imprint is made upon the dial 9 whenever the door e of the outer case is opened for the purpose of transmitting a signal will next be explained.

H is a slide, which is attached to the outside of the inner case, B, by means of screwshhmoving in slots 6 i, and is therefore movable in and out in the direction of'its length. \Vhen the outer case is open, as shown in Fig. 1, it is pressed forward by means of a strong spring, J, which is attached to the exterior of the case 1-3, and bears against a pin, j, upon the slide, as best seen in Fig. 2. A screw, ]L2, is inserted into the front end of the slide H, which is so adjusted as to project a short distance beyond the edge of the outer case, E, when the cover e is thrown open and the slide H pressed forward by the action of the spring J; consequently when the door 0 (which forms a cover or guard for the signal-operating mechanism) is closed and locked it presses against the screw 7L and forces the slide H back against the pressure of the spring J; but the moment the door is opened the spring J throws the slide H forward again into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Within the inner box, D, is a short lever, K, mounted upon a fulcrum, lc, as best seen in Figs. 3 and at. The lever K has a projecting angular arm, L, which is armed at its extremity with a marking style, point, or pencil, Z. The

opposite end of the lever K is formed into a nose it, which projects into the path of a hook or detent, M, which is secured to the movable slide H and is held in position by a yielding spring, on. hen the door 0 is open the several parts which have been described are in the position indicated in Fig. 3; but when the door is closed the slide H is pushed in, carrying with it the hook M, which passes by the nose of the lever K without moving it, owing to the yielding of the spring at. When, however, the door 0 is again opened for the purpose oftransniittinga signal the slide H is instantly thrown forward by the recoil ot' the spring J, and the hook M engages with the nose It" of the lover K, as shown in Fig. 4, thus drawing the latter forward and at the same time depressing the opposite arm, L', and causing the markingpoint Z attached thereto to mark or prick the paper dial g. As soon as the motion of the lever K is arrested by the marking-point 1 coming in contact with the paper dial upon the tablet the detent M becomes disengaged from it and the slide Hand its attachments return to the position shown in Fig. 3. Thelever L and marking-point l are also restored to their normal position by the recoil of a spring, 0, provided for that purpose.

The manner in which the apparatus is used is as follows: The outer case, E, containing the entire mechanism, is secured to a wall or other suitable support either upon the exterior or interior of a building. At some particular hour of the day an authorized person who has charge of the apparatus opens both the exterior and the interior boxes,winds up and starts the time mechanism, and places a fresh paper dial upon the tablet in such aposition that the situation of the marking-point with reference to the characters upon the dial will indicate the correct time at the moment, and the dial is then secured in that position by means of the nut h. The inner and outer cases are then closed and locked. The policeman or watchman whose duty it is to transmit a signal from the box at stated intervals during the night, being provided with a key to the outer box, IE, opens it at the proper time, and by depressing thehandle B releases the signaling mechanism, and thus transmits a signal to the central station, as hereinbefore explained. At the same moment the action of the slide H upon the opening of the door causes a mark in the form of a dot or point to be made upon the paper dial upon the tablet, and it is obvious that the mark thus automatically made upon the opening of the door at any time will show at what hour the box was entered for the purpose of transmitting the signal. At the close of each days work the dial may be removed and replaced by a fresh one.

If the attendant at the central station is required to make an entry upon his books of the time each signal is received from the watchman, it is apparent that the record upon the paper dial in the signal-box ought to corre ITS central station is efl'ectually prevented.

spond therewith, and thus any collusion between the watchman and the attendant at the The automatic device serves as an absolute cheek, and gives an infallible record of the hour and subdivision of the hour at which each signal has been sent.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a mechanism for transmitting electric signals, a movable cover or guard inclosing or protecting said mechanism, a reg istering device or mechanism, and devices, substantiallyas described, connected to the cover or guard and to the registering mechanism, whereby said registering mechanism is controlled.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ofamechanisin for transmitting electric signals, a movable cover or guard inelosing the same, a tablet, atime-train for imparting a uniform progressive movementto said tablet, a markingdeviee,and devices, substantially as described, for automatically producing arecord upon said tablet when said cover or guard is removed from the signaling mechanism.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a mechanism for transmitting electric signals, a movable cover or guard iuclosingorproteeting said mechanism, ayielding slide, a spring which is compressed by said slide when said cover or guard is in its normal position, a lever provided at one end with a marking device, and a hook or detent which engages with the opposite end of said lever during the advance movement of said slide when the latter is actuated by the recoil of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 20th day of July, A. D. 1881.

- HENRY \V. POPE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. KENYON, MILLER O. EARL.

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