US3061719A - Electric circuit control mechanism for emergency transmitting device - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 o. M. SHATTUCK ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROL. MECHANISM FOR EMERGENCY TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvrox. Owen M Ska/flack BY Wm, WK-wk W ATTORNEYS 1962 o. M SHATTUCK 3,061,719

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROL MECHANISM FOR EMERGENCY TRANSMITTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

9 M E M4 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,661,719 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 3,061,719 ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CGNTRQL MECHANISM FOR EMERGENCY TRANSMITTENG DEVICE Owen M. Shattuck, Canton, @hio, assignor of one-sixth to Myron W. Nixon, one-sixth to Frank Howard, Jr., and one=third to Frank S. Hertzig, all of Canton, Ohio Filed Dec. 21, 36%, Ser. No. 77,415 Claims. (Cl.325-166) The invention relates to electric circuit control mechanism and more particularly to improved mechanism for operating flasher signals and/ or radio signals.

Although the invention is applicable to flasher flares for use upon highways to warn the drivers of approaching vehicles of the location of a parked truck or other vehicle, a preferred embodiment of the invention includes means for operating both a flasher light and a radio sending set for transmitting SOS or distress signals to indicate the location of a boat or airplane in distress upon the water.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electric signal circuit control means embodying novel mechanism for introducing a rapid alternating current oscillating through a neon or other gas-type tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved electric signal circuit control mechanism for simultaneously operating a flasher light and a radio sending set for transmitting an SOS or distress signal.

A further object of the invention is to provide electric signal circuit control mechanism of the character referred to including a gyroscopic type of wheel which, when once started, will keep the mechanism operating for a considerable period of time.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an electric circuit control mechanism of this character having a novel electrically actuated starter for imparting an initial rotary impulse to the gyroscopic wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a signal circuit control mechanism located within a buoy which may be floated upon the water adjacent to a boat or airplane in distress.

A further object of the invention is to provide signal circuit control mechanism of the character referred to including a rotatable shaft having a gyroscopic type of inertia wheel fixed thereon, a soft iron bar or rotatable core fixed upon the shaft and located between two'induction coils or transformers, an electric circuit in which said induction coils are located, a signal wheel operatively connected to said shaft, means upon the shaft for operating contacts for periodically closing and opening the circuit, a second pair of contacts in series therewith and means upon the signal wheel for operating said contacts for o erating a flasher light.

.The above and other objects, apparent from the drawings and following description, may be attained, the above described diificulties overcome and the advantages and results obtained, by the apparatus, construction, arrangement and combinations, sub-combinations and parts which comprise the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principle, being set forth in detail in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a buoy containing the novel signal circuit controlling mechanism;

- FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation :of the antenna for the radio sending set and the switch .which is closed thereby;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the startin switch and starter mechanism; t

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the two induction coils and the soft iron bar on the shaft located therebetween by a portion of the circuit;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the improved signal circuit controlling mechanism, and;

FIG. 6 is a detached perspective view of a modified form of the signal wheel for operating only the contacts which control the flasher light.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated, as shown in FIG. 1 the improved signal circuit control mechanism may be located within a buoy. The case or housing 1 of the buoy may be made of any suitable material and of any desired shape which will meet the requirements of housing or maintaining the signal circuit therein so that it may float upon the water.

A flasher light in the form of a neon or similar type of gas-filled tube 2, wherein the gas is ionized by the pas sage through the tube of a high potential current, is located in the upper portion of the buoy and enclosed by the transparent or translucent lens 3.

The improved control mechanism to which the invention pertains is located within a housing indicated at A, mounted within the buoy. A portion of the housing A is indicated in FIG. 5, in which the complete mechanism is shown diagrammatically.

A battery, indicated at D, is located in a circuit within the buoy. A starting switch of the push button type, indicated generally at 4, is connected in said circuit and located through the upper portion of the buoy,

. A radio sending set, which may be of any usual and well known construction, as indicated generally at 5, is mounted within the buoy, and a battery indicated at E is located in the buoy and connected in a circuit thereto.

An antenna for the radio sending set is mounted in the buoy and indicated generally at 7. This antenna is of the telescoping type commonly used for automobile radios and comprises the outer tube 8 and a plurality of tubes 9 telescoped therein.

The outer tube 8 is slidably mounted through the upper portion of the buoy case 1 and is slidable through the switch indicated generally at 10. This switch includes the upper fixed contacts 11 and 12 and the lower movable contacts 13 and 14. The lower portion of the outer tube 8 of the antenna has an insulated shoulder 15 thereon arranged to press the movable contacts 13 and 14 into contact with the fixed contacts 11 and 12 when the tube 8 is pulled upward to its upper extent. A lead-in wire 16 connects the antenna to the radio sending set 5.

The starting switch, indicated generally at 4, is shown in detail in FIG. 3 and includes the rod 18 with push button 19 at its upper end and contact ball 20 at its lower end, a spring 21 normally holding the same in the upper or open position out of contact with the spaced stationary contact members 22 and 23.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, in which the entire control mechanism within the case A is illustrated diagrammatically. This control mechanism includes the rotatable shaft 25 having a conical lower end 26 adapted to rotate within a suitable bearing in the bottom wall A of the case A, in order to reduce friction.

A relatively heavy gyroscopic type of inertia Wheel 27 is fixed upon the shaft, preferably near the lower end thereof, in order to provide for momentum or inertia to keep the shaft rotating for a considerable time after ro tation of the same is started, as will later be described.

A cam disc 28 is fixed upon the shaft 25 and provided with one or more cam nubs or projections 29. In the drawings one such cam nub is shown upon th periphery of the disc 28. A soft iron bar or rotatable core 30 is fixed at its central portion to the shaft and adapted to rotate therewith beween the opposed ends of the induction coils or transformer units indicated generally at 31 and 32.

A toothed starter wheel 33 is fixed upon the shaft 25 and provided with the ratchet-like teeth 34 around its periphery for operation by the starting device, as will be later described in detail.

A pinion 35 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 25 and meshes with the internal ring gear 36 upon the interior of the signal wheel, indicated generally at 37, which is journalled upon the upper wall A" of the case 2 at a point eccentric to the shaft 25, as indicated at 38.

The periphery of the signal wheel 37 may be provided with any suitable arrangement of projections for operating contacts in the circuits to the radio sending set 5 and the flasher light 2, as will be later described in detail.

The circuit from the battery D is shown as including a wire 40 leading from the positive side of the battery to the movable contact 13 of the antenna-operated switch 10. A wire 41 leads from the corresponding stationary contact 11 of the switch 10 to a stationary contact 42.

The corresponding movable contact 43, which is operated by the projections 44 on the lower half of the periphery of the signal wheel 37, is connected by wire 45 to the movable contact 46 adapted to be operated by the cam nub 29 upon the cam disc 28.

The corresponding stationary contact 47 is connected by wire 48 to one end of the primary coil or winding 49 of the induction coil or transformer unit 31. The other end of the primary coil 49 is connected by wire 50 with one end of the primary coil or winding 51 of the induction coil or transformer unit 32, the other end of the coil 51 being connected by wire 52 to the negative side of the battery D.

A condenser 53 may be provided, connecting across or bridging the conductors 4-5 and 48, to take care of current surges in the circuit to prevent sparking of the contact points, the condenser being, as shown, located between the two sets of contacts 42-43 and 4647 and the coils 49 and 51 in the battery D.

A secondary winding or coil 54, of the transformer unit or induction coil 32, is connected to the conductor 52 leading from the negative side of the battery D. This secondary coil 54 is connected by conductor 55 to one end of the secondary coil 56 of the induction coil or transformer unit 31, the other end thereof being connected by conductor 57 to one end of the gas-filled tube 2, the other end of the tube being connected by conductor 58 to the battery D.

A conductor 59 leads from the positive side of the battery E to the movable contact 14 of the antenna switch 10. The corresponding stationary contact 12 of the antenna switch 10 is connected by conductor 60 to the stationary contact 61.

The corresponding movable contact 62, which is operated by the high points 44 on the upper half of the signal wheel 37, is connected by conductor 63 to the radio sending set 5. A condenser 64 may connect across or bridge the conductors 60 and 63 to take care of current surges in this circuit to prevent sparking of the contact points 61 and 62.

A conductor 65 leads from the other side of the radio sending set 5 to the negative side of the battery E, completing the circuit from the battery E to the radio sending set 5 throughthe contacts 61 and 62.

The starting mechanism indicated generally at 66, and shown in detail in FIG. 3, comprises a solenoid 67 having a core 68 therein normally urged outward by the spring 69. Arod 70 is connected to the outer end of the core 68 and guided through an opening 71 in the frame or housing 72 for the solenoid.

A finger .73 is pivoted at 74 upon the outer end of the rod 70 and provided with the angular extension 75 adapted to contact the top of the rod 70 and limit outward movement of the finger .73.upon the pivot 74 tothe position shown in FIG. 3.

A coil 76 surrounds the solenoid 67 and is connected at one end by conductor 77 to the negative side of the battery D. A conductor 78 leads from the other end of the coil 76 to the stationary contact 22 of the starting switch 4.

A conductor 79 leads from the other stationary contact 23 of the starting switch back to the positive side of the battery D through conductor 41, contacts 11 and 13 of the antenna switch 10 and conductor 40.

In order to start the operation of the mechanism, the antenna 7 is pulled up to extended position, the insulation shoulder 15 contacting the movable contact members 13 and 14 and pressing them into contact with the stationary contact points 11 and 12.

The push button 19 of the starter switch 4 is then depressed, the ball 20 contacting the stationary contact points 22 and 23 and then passing downward out of contact therewith. As the ball 20 contacts the contact points 22 and 23, the circuit is momentarily closed through the coil 76 of the solenoid 67, pulling the core 68 thereof inward against the pressure of the spring 69. As the core 68 is thus pulled into the solenoid, the finger 73 upon the rod 70 will engage one of the teeth 34 upon the starter wheel 33 starting rotation of the shaft 25.

As the ball 20- passes downward out of contact with the contact points 22 and 23, the circuit to the solenoid is broken so that the same is de-energized permitting the spring 69 to push the core 68 outward moving the rod 70 and finger 73 thereon back to the position shown in FIG. 3.

As the push button 19 is released, the spring 21 will move the same upward to the upper position shown in FIG. 3. In this upward movement of the push button 19 and the ball 20- carried thereby, the ball will again momentarily contact the contact points 22 and 23 of the starting switch 4, again energizing the solenoid 67 and causing the finger 73 on the rod 70 to again contact one of the teeth 34 upon the starter wheel 33, giving a second impulse to the shaft 25 so that the inertia wheel 27 will spin the shaft 25 rapidly in the direction of the arrows shown in the drawings.

With each rotation of the shaft 25 the cam hub 29 on the teeth 28 will close the contacts 4647. As the shaft 25 is rapidly rotated, the signal wheel 37 will be relatively slowly rotated thereby through the pinion 35 and ring gear 36.

The relative speed of the signal wheel 37 to the shaft 25 will be according to the ratio between the ring gear 36 and pinion 35. A preferred ratio is 20-1 whereby the signal wheel 37 will make one complete revolution for every 20- revolutions of the shaft 25.

As the high points 44 upon the signal wheel 37 engage the movable contact 62, moving it into contact with the fixed contact 61, the circuit from the battery E to the radio sending set 5 will be intermittently closed and opened causing the radio sending set to send an SOS or distress signal.

As the signal wheel 37 rotates, the high points 44 thereon will in like manner intermittently close and open the contacts 4243. At such times when the rapid contacts 4647 are closed by the nub 29 simultaneously with the closing of the slow contacts 4243 by the high points 44 on the signal wheel 37, the circuit from the battery D through the induction coil or transformer units 31 and 32 through the gas tube 2 will be closed.

It will be noted that the cam nub 29 is arranged so that when the shaft 25 rotates in the direction of the arrows shown in the drawings, the cam nub will close the contacts 4647 when the soft iron bar 30 is at an angle of about 15 to the cores of the transformer units or induction coils 31 and 32, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4, and will just have passed said contacts so that they will be opened as the soft iron bar 30 reaches the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, or in other words comes under the full or completeinfluence of the magnetic flux ofthe coils 31 and 32.

Thus it will be seen that during rotation of the inertia wheel 27, when the cam nub 29 closes the contact points 4647, the soft iron bar or rotatable core 30 will be approaching the magnetic core of the coils 31 and 32 and will be in a position to come into the field of magnetic flux when the coils are energized, but the electric circuit through the coils will be broken immediately when the soft iron bar or rotatable core 30 comes into direct opposition to the cores of the coils 31 and 32.

The momentum or centrifugal force of the inertia wheel 27 is free to rotate from the broken line position to the full line position of the soft iron bar 30 in FIG. 4, whereby the same operation is repeated with each rotation of the shaft 25, causing the inertia wheel to rotate at about 800 r.p.m.

The signal wheel 37 is rotated, through the pinion 35 and gear 36, at the desired ratio, opening and closing the circuit through the contacts 42 and 43, regulating the periods of which the coils 31 and 32 are energized and controlling the off and on periods of the light source.

The opening and closing of the contacts 46-47 which energize the magnetic cores of the coils 31 and 32 thereby cause the inertia wheel 27 to spin at the desired r.p.m., which once started, is maintained and as the source of power is cut off the inertia wheel continues to rotate, keeping the mechanism operating for a considerable period of time without the use of electrical energy except that which is consumed for producing the necessary for ionization or lighting the light. The secondary windings 54 and 56 of the coils being connected in series, the opening and closing of the primary circuit through the primary coils 49 and 51 induces a high in the secondary circuit 5758 necessary for ionization of gases in the tube 2 to produce light.

In FIG. 6 is shown a modified form of signal wheel, indicated generally at 37a, for use when only a flasher light is used in the mechanism, without a radio sending set. This type of signal wheel is adapted for use upon highways to warn of a parked truck or other vehicle.

Instead of having the high points or projections for transmitting a code signal, as shown in FIG. 5, the modified form of signal wheel 37a may have a single high point or projection 44a upon its periphery, for closing the contacts 4243 for a relatively short period during each rotation of the wheel 37a, so as to flash the light on and off without transmitting a code signal thereby.

From the above it will be obvious that a new and novel means of electric circuit control mechanism is provided for operating a flasher light and/or a radio sending set, in which a rotary shaft with an inertia wheel and a soft iron bar or rotatable core is rotatable between a pair of opposed induction coils or transformers, with means operated by the rotary shaft for closing a circuit to said induction coils when the soft iron bar reaches a position to come into the magnetic flux of the cores of said coils and for opening said circuit when the soft iron bar comes into direct opposition to said cores.

It will also be apparent that a new and novel starting mechanism is provided for said circuit control mechanism, in which a single depression of a push button switch will give the rotary shaft two independent impulses so as to start rotation of the shaft at such speed that the inertia wheel will cause it to rotate for a considerable time.

Furthermore, it will be seen that a new and novel mounting of the circuit control mechanism within a buoy is provided, whereby the extension of a telescoping antenna in the buoy will close a switch in the circuit rendering the circuit operative to be selectively closed and opened by rotation of the shaft.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful re sults obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Control mechanism for elfecting the rapid making and breaking of an electric circuit during spaced time periods, a pair of spaced longitudinally aligned induction coils connected in series in the circuit, a fixed core in each coil, a rotatably supported shaft having an inertia wheel thereon, an elongated rotatable core upon said shaft movable into the magnetic fields of the coils at opposed ends of the fixed cores, a source of electric potential in the circuit, two pairs of relatively movable contacts in the circuit, means controlled by the rotating shaft for closing one pair of said contacts as the rotatable core approaches a position of alignment with the fixed cores and is in position to come into the magnetic fields of said coils when the fixed cores are energized and opening said pair of contacts when the rotatable core is in the full influence of said fields, and means controlled by the rotating shaft for opening and closing the other pair of contacts with less rapidity than the said one pair of contacts are opened and closed.

2. Control mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a second circuit, a radio sending set in said second circuit, and a third pair of relatively movable contacts in said second circuit, said third pair of contacts being opened and closed by said means controlled by the rotating shaft for opening and closing said other pair of contacts.

3. Control mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a starter mechanism comprising a toothed wheel on said rotary shaft, a secondary circuit connected to said source of electric potential, a solenoid in said secondary circuit, a movable core in said solenoid, spring means normally holding said core in extended position, a finger on the end of said movable core, and a starting switch in said secondary circuit for energizing said solenoid to move said finger into engagement with said toothed wheel to start rotation of the rotary shaft.

4. Control mechanism as defined in claim 3, in which said starting switch is in the form of a spring-loaded push button switch, and means in said push button switch whereby one operation thereof will close and open the secondary circuit twice so'as to give two impulses to said starter mechanism.

5. Control mechanism as defined in claim 2, including a switch in each circuit, a telescoping antenna connected to said radio sending set, and means upon said antenna for closing both of said switches when said antenna is extended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,225,464 Santino Dec. 17, 1940 2,347,160 Wallace Apr. 18, 1944 2,463,527 Dunmore Mar. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 465,913 France Apr. 30, 1914

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