US272862A - Electric call - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J: B. GURRIER.

ELECTRIC GALL. No. 272,862. Patented Feb.27, 1883.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. y

J. B. GURRIER.

ELECTRIC CALL.

Wmmeee UNITED STATES ritten.

FATENT JACOB B. CURRIEE, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CURRIER TELEPHONE BELL COMPANY, OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC CALL..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,862, dated February 27, 1883.

Application flied my 15, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAcoB B. CURRIER, of Lowell, in the county ot" Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Calls, of which the following` is a specitication. l

My invention relates to that class of electric calls which are formed by a series of pendulums of diii'erent lengths placed respectively at different stations upon an electric circuit, and each provided with a bell to be sounded by the operation of a vibratory or undulatory electric current passing through the magnets ot' the pendulums, and corresponding in time ot' "ibration with that ofthe pendulum of the bell to be sounded. Such a series of alarm mechanisms is shown in the German patent of Maron, No. 1,944 of 1877, and in my applica tion of November 10, 1879, t'or patent on electric calls; and it consists in combining with such pendulum and its magnet, to be putin operation by the synchronous vibratory electric current, of a bell and a striker, andalatch I or stop mechanism for such bell-striker, such latch or stop mechanism to be operated to release and engage with the bell striker by means of the vibrating pendulum, substantially as hereinafter described.

The object ot my invention is to provide a mechanism which will be actuated by the ordinary electric current used in telegraphing or telephoning to give a better and more powerful alarm than is now given by such current, to register or indicate that an alarm has been given, and to provide a mechanism in which the power will be renewed by the necessary action ot' adjustment for use by the operator.

The nature of the invention will tully appear from the subjoined description, when considered with reference to the drawings fortning part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation ot' my device with the knob on the alarm removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing the indicator attachment. Fig. 3 shows an electric circuitprovided with a calling mechanism at one station for making and breaking the electric circuit, and a series of pendulum-alarms at other stations on the line,provided with the bell, auxiliary hammer, and latch, constructed ac cording to my improvement. Fig. 4 represents a side view of a circuit-breaking mechanism for operating the alarms. Fig. 5 represents a top view of the same. 5

Similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts throughout the dilierent views.

In Fig. 1, a is a frame, upon which is secured an electro-magnet, A, in the usual manner.

b is an adjustable bar, upon which hangs at point c the pivot (another being opposite) of the armature t, the bar b being adjusted and held in its position bythe spiral spring d and nut e.

f is a portion ot' the case of the complete instrument.

g is a screw passing through the casefintoy the frame a, and is used to adjust the distance between the armature t' and its magnet, and 70 also between the weight m ot the vibrator C and the end h ot' the rod q, as may be desired. The vibrator C is connected to the armature@l at the lower end of the same by a short, thin, exible metallic strip, k, and consists of a rod, l, and weight m.

D is a stop-lover, pivoted at u to an arm, t, of the stud, which supports the bell B, and which lever is connected by a pivotal joint, p, to the rod q, the rod being supported by passingthrough the aforesaid stud. The lever D, when at rest, is held in its position by the superior weight ot' the end of the same marked D. The pin and slot at r limit the movement ot' the lever. Vhen the vibrator C, Fig. 1. is 85 in motion and its weight m strikes the end h ot' the rod q, it depresses the lever 1) at the ends and liberates the hammer F of the alarmmovement.

In Fig. 3, Gr4 Gr4 representthe grounds of an 9o electric circuit; Z, the battery; X, the central station, and Y' Y2 Y3 three other stations on the circuit provided with my improved alarm. The calling-machine is placed at station X. This machine is intended to make and break the circuit as desired in the ditter ent times rtquired for actuating the pendulums m m at the respective stations.

C y is a cylinderr whose revolutions are controlled by clock-work, and is similar to that roo shown in'my patent of December 20, 1881, No. 251,097. Around the cylinder, and at right angles with its axis, are rows ot' pins, as at G G Gr2 and JJJ, the number of pins in a row l this posit-ion the knob V is provided with a differing from each other, and the pins in any one row being equidistant from each other.

l e is a lever that vibrates upon shaft c @and when at rests presses by the superior weight of the end ij against the metallic bar h3. This bar h3 is insulated from the other parts of the device by being inserted in the wooden barfy'` which wooden bar swings at one end upon5 shaft c e, and is supported and adjusted by means of the screw and slot s p at the other end. The bar [t3 is connected with one end of the line of an electric circuit and the shaft c e with the other. The lever l e also slides back and forth upon shaft c e, and can be so adjusted and held in position that it will come in contact with any desired row of pins in the cylinder G Q When the position of the lever Z e has been so adjusted-as, for instance, row G and the cylinder (l y is caused to revolvethe pin G lifts the end j of the lever Ze and separates the lever from the bar h3, thus breakingthe electric circuit. After the-.pin G has reached the position of pin G2 the lever falls to its former position, thus completing the circuit again. The cylinder C y being rotated at a regular speed and the pins being arranged as described, each row will act upon the lever l e a ditt'erent but definite number ot' times during any given period, and the lever Ze will, when operated upon by any one-row ot' pins, make and break the circuit in a different interval from that which it does when operated upon by any other. The lever l e is retained in position to be operated upon by any one row of pins desired by the bar a, one end of the lever rising and falling in one ot' the slots marked l 2 3 4. When it is necessary to change it to be acted upon by another row of pins, the end working in the slots being depressed7 the lever may be slid upon its shaft and allowed to ftltll into place with its shorter end in another s ot.

ln Figs. l and 2 the metallic plate M is connected at the end a with one end of the line of an electric circuit, and is connected by spring N, through the frame ot' the alarm-movement to point 0,with the other end of the line, thus completing the circuit. The circuit is broken by that portion ofthe Winder and circuit-breaker' marked h2 (represented in section through line Y of Fig. 2 in Fig. 1)heing pushed through the opening 0 1o invplate P l, and pushing back the spring N trom its contact with plate VI. The Winder and circuit-breaker C W slides back and forth upon the shaft S 7L ofthe alarmmovement, and by means of the pin P n and slot Slis held in position to wind up the alarmmovement. The winder and circuit-breaker U YV is held away from the plate P Z by the spiral spring 7c pressing against the end of the shalt S h. rlhe same result may also be obtained by projecting` the end of the spring N through theopening O p in the plateP l. When the alarm-movement is wound up the winder and circuit-breaker C W is in position to break the circuit by pressing upon the knob V. In

slot, V S. or other mark on the top edge. ot' the same,which serves as an index,which index. by any subsequent change of position,indicates that an alarm has been struck since its last adjustment, thus enabling the person observing the instrument to know that a call 'has been given since its last adjustment, and by calling thercentral office he can learn who called him and indicate that he is in attendance to answer.

The operation of my device maybe described as follows: The operator at the central office or at some station on the line connected with the device makes and breaks the circuit in intervals of time corresponding to the pendulum vibration of the vibrator (l, or nearly so, so that the electro-magnet may act on the armature on the vibrator C at recurring intervals in proper time to accelerate the action of the vibrator U as a pendulum, to constantly increase the arc through which the weight m swings in equal times. When the arc reaches the end 7L of rod q h the weight m comes in contact with it and releases the bell-hammer F, and continues to release it by repeated blows npon the rod q h ofthe weight m, so long as the vibratory electric current continues to operate the vibrator-O by its synchronous pulsations through the magnet A. The bellhainmer Fis operated by lneans of a gearing driven by a spring or weight and connected to the axis, upon which it swings in any well-known manner; but it is obvious that any other motor may be employed to opera-te this bell-hammer when its stop is released by the synchronous action ot' the electric current and corresponding vibrator U, substantially as described. As, however,'but little force is required to overcome the balancelweight D ot' the bell-crank lever, the rod g h will liftit, depressing weight s and liberating hammer F of the alarm-movement by a much less expenditure of electric force and by a much less propulsive po wer of the synchronously-vibrating weight m than would be required to sound an alarm by the weight fm striking the bell directly, and in this way all rebounding action of the Weightmwhile striking a bell is avoided. When the alarm is thus sounded the shaft S h of the alarm will makea part of arevolution, and the observer will be compelled to wind up the alarm to bring the circuitbreakerinto position to pass through the opening' Op, as the part marked h2, lwhich passes through, has a wing which must be brought over the corresponding irregularity in the` opening O p. When he has done this he signals the central station-i. e., the person atthe station callingby pressing upon the knob V. Fig. 2, which, if the circuit is complete, breaks the circuitand gives an alarm at the central or other station in connection in the usual manner, and also causes a movement ofthe weight m, Fig. 1,in

his own instrument, which movement, being observed, signities to him that his signal is being given, and a responsive movement of roo the weight, caused by the breaking of the circuit at the central station, notifies him that his signal has been received, when,the proper connections being made, the desired cominu nication can be sent. If the operator wishes to communicate with the central ofce,he presses knob V, above described, as ,before stated. When a person wishes to signal a-nother upon the same circuit he can do so withotit the intervention of the central station, provided there is a caller attached to his instruuient, with a circuit-breaker thatV corresponds to the vibrator ot' the other.

It is thus obvious that by causing the electric current sent in synchronous pulsations with the vibrator C from a distant station to operate a latch or stop mechanism through the medium ot' U, to releaseand hold the bell-hammer F for striking the bell at will, I avoid in great part the probability of disturbing the synchronous movement ot' the vibrator C with the electric current, upon which the certainty ot'its operation, especially with weak currents of electricity,A greatly depends. This results irom the fact that the operation of such stop mechanism itnposes less work upon the vibrator C than striking abell directly,as bet'ore explained. The fundamental elements ot' this part of my invention are the combination of means for sending the synchronous electric current from a distant station through the magnet A, the synchronously-moving vibrator C, the stop mechanism D, and the bell-bain nier Ii; and I do not coune inyselt' to the specific combination of these parts I have described, as I am well aware that many modifications may be adopted which will accomplish the result I seek to obtain-i. e., the maintenance with weak electric currents of the synchronosity ofthe vibrator C with the pulsations of such currents while causing the alarm to be sounded, thus insuring the certainty ot' always sounding the alarm at the station being called, and ot' not sonndiiig the alarm at any other station on the circuit.

Instead .of the free swinging vibrator C, any other well-*known form ot' vibiator may be substituted which is capaple of' vibrating synchronously with the electric current.

It isot course understood that the vibrator C is so adjusted with relation to the propulsi ve power of the magnet anti electric current that lio sitigle'impulse of electricity will bring the vibrator against the bar of the latch I) sun'iciently to release the bell-hammer F, and this effect is assisted by the elastic spring part lf between the arrnaturet of the magnet arid the vibrator C. The successive impulses given to the armaturet' are transmitted by the spring` k to the vibrator C, so as not to interfere with or overcome vthe normal rate of vibration of it, and thus when the electric pulsation and corresponding movements ot' the armature i are synchronous with the normal vibration ot' the vibrator C they constantly increase the path of its motion through several successive beats until it reaches and releases the stop D. On the other hand, it' the electric pulsations passing through the magnet and the corresponding movements of the armature t' are not synchronous with the normal beat of the vibrator C, their transmission through the spring k Will only cause the normal movements of the vibrator the instant it is started to operate against the movements ot' the armature t", and constantly tend to bring the vibrator to a state of rest bet'ore in its movement it has reached the bar of the stop D. Consequently electric pulsations sent over the circuit synchronous with the normal vibration ot' the vibrator C will cause the stop to be released and the bell sounded, while electric pulsations passing through the magnet and over the circuit, which are not synchronous with the normal movementof the vibrator, will not release the stop and sound the bell. As the dii'erent stations on the same circuit are provided with vibrators of' substantially different normal rates of vibration, it is evident that only the bell of one station will be sounded by pulsations of electricity synchronous to any one of the vibrations sent over the circuit.

What I claim as new and of my invention 1. The combination of the magnet A and vibrator C, adapted to be normally vibrated to release the stop only by synchronous pulsatioiis of electricity through the magnet, with the stop D and alarm-hammer F, substantially las described.

2. In combination with the magnet A, the armature i, spring k, vibrator G, stop D, and alarm-hammer F, substantially as described.

3. In combination with an electric circuit, a series of alarm niechanisms,each consisting of magnet A, vibrator C, adapted to be normally vibrated to release the stop only by synchronous pulsations of electricity through the magnet stop D. and alarm-hammer F, substantially as described.

4. In combination with an electric circuit, a series of alarm mechanisms, each consisting of the alarm-hammer F, stop D, magnet A, armature t', spring k, and vibrator C, made of a different normal heat from that ot' any other station, substantially as described.

5. The combinatiomwith an electric circuit, of a circuit-breaker placed at one station, and an alarm mechanism,consisting of a magnet, vibrator, alarm-hammer, and stop, placed at another station, such vibra-tor being adapted to reach the stop and release the hammer only when operated by pulsations of electiicity synchronous to its normal rate of vibration, substantially as described.

JACOB B. GURRIER.

Vitnesses:

LEPINE C. RICE, N. l. OGKING'roN.

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