US3418856A - Rangefinder for a start-stop telegraph selector - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31, 1968 c ET AL 3,418,856

RANGEFINDER FOR A START-STOP TELEGRAPH SELECTOR Sheet Filed Dec.

Dec. 31, 1968 R|c|ARD| ET AL 3,418,856

RANGEFINDER FOR A START-STOP TELEGRAPH SELECTOR Filed Dec. 5, 1966 Sheet 2 INVENTORS GIUSEPPE RICCIARDI BRUNO SANDRONE United States atnt C 3,418,856 RANGEFINDER FOR A START-STOP TELEGRAPH SELECTOR Giuseppe Ricciardi and Bruno Sandrone, Ivrea, Italy, as-

signors to lug. C. Olivetti 81 C., S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy, a

corporation of Italy Filed Dec. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 599,313 Claims priority, application Italy, Dec. 24, 1965, 31,637 6 Claims. (Cl. 741.5)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a telegraph selector wherein the code levers controlled by the receiving cam shaft are fulcrumed on the machine frame, a stop lever is pivoted on a first plate which is manually rotatable on the cam shaft to adjust the stop position thereof. An arm of the stop lever is engageable by an intermediate member and in turn is engaged by an arm of a release lever which is controlled by a stationary selector magnet. The intermediate member is carried by a second plate coaxial with the first plate and is rotated thereby through differential gears maintaining a constant ratio between the effective lengths of the two arms irrespectively of the stop position.

This invention relates to a rangefinder for a startstop telegraph selector having a cyclically operable receiver shaft for sequentially controlling a plurality of selecting elements according to a code combination received by a receiving magnet, and a Stop lever for normally stopping said shaft in a stop position and conditionable to cause one cycle of said shaft upon operation of a release lever controlled by said magnet, said rangefinder comprising a first support rotata-bly mounting said stop lever and manually settable in a variable position for adjusting the stop position of said shaft with respect to said selecting elements.

Several rangefinders of the above type are already known. In a known rangefinder a set of receiving cams are secured to a sleeve, the angular position of which with respect to the receiving shaft may be adjusted by means of a helical slot provided on the sleeve and cooperating with an element secured to the shaft, whereby both said slot and said elements are subject to remarkable wear.

In another known rangefinder, the stop position of the receiver shaft may be altered by displacing the stop lever with respect to the release lever, the action of which on the stop lever becomes thus altered.

In a further known rangefinder, the release lever is directly actuated by the armature of the receiving magnet and is displaceable with respect thereto. The armature is provided with a laterally bent edge adapted to engage an edge of the release lever which is laterally bent oppositely the edge of the armature. Therefore, the fulcrum of the magnet armature and the fulcrum of the release lever may be subject to lateral forces, whereby the selector is not reliable in operation.

All the above disadvantages are obviated by the range finder according to the invention which is characterized by an intermedate member engageable by an arm of said release lever and adapted to engage an arm of said stop lever for conditioning said stop lever in such a manner as to maintain a substantially constant ratio between the effective length of said arms irrespectively of the position of said support, said release lever being fulcrumed on a stationary pivot.

This and other characteristics of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a 3,418,856 Patented Dec. 31, 1968 preferred embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a left hand longitudinal sectional vew of a start-stop telegraph receiving selector embodying a rangefinder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial transverse view of the selector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken according to the line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken according to the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

The rangefin-der is embodied in a start-stop telegraph receiving selector comprising a receiver cam shaft 7 (FIG. 1) adapted to be cyclically rotated clockwise upon receiving each code combination. More particularly, the shaft 7 is adapted to be driven through a fricton joint, generically indicated by the numberal 8 (FIG. 2), by a toothed wheel 9 rotatably mounted on the shaft 7. The wheel 9 meshes with a pinion 11, which is driven in a known manner by an electric motor not shown in the drawings.

Furthermore, secured to the shaft 7 is an arm 12 (FIG. 1) latched in a stop position by a lag 13 of a stop lever 14 fulcrumed on a pivot 15. The lever 14 is normally urged by a spring 16 to contact a cylindrical hub 17 integral with a lever 18 fulcrumed on a pivot 19. Secured to the shaft 7 is a plurality of cams 20 angularly shifted so as to sequentially control a corresponding plurality of selecting levers 21 fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 22. The levers 21 are individually adapted to locate a plurality of receiver code bars 23 in one of a pair of positions in a manner known per se, according to the code combination signals received by a conventional receiving electromagnet 24. The electromagnet 24 is normally energized to hold an armature 26 fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 27 in the position of FIG. 1, against the urge of a spring 28.

Fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 32 is a strip element or lever 31 provided with an arm 30 normally urged by a spring 29 to contact the armature 26, the spring 28 prevailing over the spring 29. Fulcrumed on a stationary shaft 37 is a release lever 36 provided with a pin 38 normally urged by a spring 39 to contact a shoulder 41 of the lever 31.

An intermediate member, comprising a pin 43 rotatably mounting a roller 46 and secured to the lever 18, is provided between the stop lever 14 and the release lever 36. More particularly, the pin 43 engages an arcuate slot 42 provided on an arm 40 of the lever 36, whereas the roller 46 is adapted to cooperate with an arcuate edge 47 of an arm 45 of the lever 14. When the shaft 7 is in the stop position shown in FIG. 1, the slot 42 of the arm 40 and the edge 47 of the arm 45 are concentric with the shaft 7. The length of the arm 40 is defined by the contacting point of the slot 42 with the pin 43, whereas the effective length of the arm 45 is defined by the contacting point of the edge 47 with the roller 46. In the position shown in the drawings the ratio of the lengths of the two arms 40 and 45 is 1:35.

Fulcrumed on the pivot 15 is also a restoring lever 48 connected to the lever 14 by the spring 16, which normally urges the lever 48 to contact a cam 49 (FIG. 4) secured to the shaft 7. The lower arm of the lever 48 is provided with an arcuate edge 50 adapted to cooperate with the roller 46.

Upon receiving the start signal of the code combination, the electromagnet 24 (FIG. 1) is deenergized, whereby the spring 28 rocks the armature 26 clockwise. The armature 26 engaging the arm 30 rocks the lever 31 counterclockwise, thus tripping the pin 38 of the release lever 36. Then the spring 39 rocks the lever 36 clockwise until the pin 38 is arrested by a shoulder 44 of the lever 31. The arm 40, through the pin 43, rocks the lever 18 counterclockwise, thus causing the roller 46 to engage the edge 47 of the arm 45. The lever 14 is thus rocked counterclockwise and releases the arm 12 from the lug 13.

The shaft 7 is now driven by the toothed wheel 9 (FIG. 2) through the friction joint 8 to effect a one revolution cycle. During this cycle the lever 31 (FIG. 1) is held in the rocked position by the pin 38 of the lever 36. Near the end of the cycle the stop signal is received and energizes the electromagnet 24, whereby the armature 26 is reset. Simultaneously, the cam 49 (FIG. 4) positively returns the lever 48 clockwise, thus tensioning the spring 16, which rocks the stop lever 14 and brings the lug 13 (FIG. 1) into the path of the arm 12. In turn the edge 50 of the lever 48 engages the roller 46, whereby the pin 43 through the slot 42 returns the lever 36 counterclockwise. Now the spring 29 rocks the lever 31 clock Wise, thus relatching the pin 38 in the position shown in FIG. 1.

In order to adjust the relative position between the cams 20 and the levers 21, the pivot of the lever 14 is secured to a first support formed of a plate 51 (FIG. 3) rotatably mounted on a stationary sleeve 52, in turn rotatably mounting the shaft 7. The plate 51 is integral with a toothed sector 53 meshing with a pinion 54 rotatably and axially slidable on a shaft 55 secured to a stationary plate 56.

The pinion 54 is provided with a projection 57 adapted to engage the ends of the sector 53 to determine the two end angular positions of the pinion 54. This latter is secured to a rotatable knob 58, having a scale adapted to be read in correspondence of a pointer 59 (FIG. 2) secured to the stationary plate 56. Furthermore, the pinion 54 is provided with an internally knurled bevel portion 61 normally urged by a compression spring 63 located between the knob 58 and the plate 56, to engage a corresponding knurled bevel portion 62.

The pivot 19 (FIG. 1) of the lever 18 is secured to a second support formed of a disk 66 rotatably mounted on the sleeve 52. Secured to the plate 66 is a pivot 67 (FIG. 3) rotatably mounting a planet wheel 68 of a group of differential gears, comprising also a sun gear 69 integral with the plate 51 and a stationary gear formed of a toothed edge 71 of the plate 56, both said gears meshing simultaneously with the wheel 68. The ratio between the diameter of the gear 69 and the gear 71 is 1:1.4.

In FIG. 1 the cams are located in the farthest position counterclockwise with respect to the levers 21. If, due to the characteristics of the line, the code signals are received with a certain lead with respect to the start signal, the cams 20 must be approached to the levers 21. To this end the knob 58 (FIG. 2) is first pushed axially together with the pinion 54, which disengages the knurled portion 62 from the knurled portion 61.

The knob 58 (FIG. 3) is then rotated counterclockwise a predetermined angle corresponding to the lead of the signals, whereby the pinion 54 through the sector 53 causes the plate 51 to be rotated clockwise a predetermined number of steps of the gear 69. The plate 51 rotates also the pivot 15 together with the levers 14 and 48 (FIG. 4) and, since the friction joint 8 (FIG. 2) always urges the shaft 7 (FIG. 1) clockwise, the shaft 7 is now rotated till the arm 12 contacts again the lug 13 of the lever 14. Therefore the stop position of the shaft 7 is altered and the relative position of the cams 20 with respect to the levers 21 is accordingly adjusted.

The plate 51 (FIG. 3) when so rotated, through the sun gear 69, rotates the wheel 68 counterclockwise about the pivot 67. Then the wheel 68 rolls on the toothed edge 71, thus causing the pivot 67 to be displaced together with the disk 66 clockwise a number of steps half said predetermined number. Therefore the pivot 67 is displaced through a stroke which is half the stroke effected by the plate 51. Due to the different diameters of the gears 69 and 71, the ratio between the angle covered by the disk '66 with respect to the stationary plate 56 and the angle covered by the plate 51 with respect to he disk 66 is 1: 1.4.

In turn the disk 66 displaces clockwise the lever 18 (FIG. 1) together with the pin 43 and the roller 46. The effective lengths of the arm 40, the arm 45 and the arm 50 (FIG. 4) are increased proportionally to the angle covered by the disk 66, and to the angle covered by the plate 51 with respect to the disk '66 (FIG. 3), that is these lengths are increased as to maintain a substantially constant ratio between the effective lengths of the arms.

In effect, since the initial ratio of the lengths of the arms 46' and 45 is 121.35 and the ratio between the above angles is 1:1.4, the geometric length of the arms 45 and 50 is increased more than the amount required to have the constant ratio. However, since the arms 40 and 45 are arcuate, in order to have a constant effect of the action transmitted by the lever 36 to the lever 14, the length of the arm 45 needs to be increased more than the amount required to have a constant ratio.

Similarly, in the case the plate 51 has been rotated clockwise with respect to the position of FIG. 3 and the code signals are received with a certain delay with respect to the start signal, the knob 58 must be rotated clockwise. Now the pinion 54 rotates the plate 51 counterclockwise, and the plate 51 through the wheel 68 rotates the disk 66 in the same direction according to the diameters of the gears 69 and 71, thus shortening the effective lengths of the arms 40, 45 and 50 (FIG. 4) an amount proportional to the angles covered by the disk 66 and respectively by the plate 51 with respect to the disk 66.

It is thus clear that the intermediate member 43, 46 is engageable by the arm 40 of the release lever 36 and is adapted to engage an arm 45 of the stop lever 14 for conditioning the stop lever 14 to cause one cycle of the shaft 7 in such a manner as to maintain a constant ratio between the effective length of the arms 40 and 45, irrespectively of the position of the support 51, thus making sure that in each angular position of the plate 51 the release torque imparted by the lever 36 to the lever 14 remains constant.

The receiver is adapted to operate at different speeds, for example at a standard speed of 50 code unit intervals per second, called bauds according to the recommendation of The International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee, or at a higher speed of the bands or 100 bauds. In order to make sure that the armature 26 (FIG. 1) of the electromagnet 24 is restored to the stop position independently of the received electric stop signal, the receiver is provided with a reset lever 72 (FIG. 4) rotatable and axially slidable on a pin 73 carried by the disk 66. The lever 72 is normally urged by a spring 74 to contact the end of a notch 76 (FIG. 2) provided on a lever 77. This latter is pivoted on a stationary shaft 78 and is adapted to be manually rocked clockwise for causing the receiver to operate at the higher speed. The lever 77 is normally held in each one of two positions by a spring urged locking member 79 fulcrumed on a stationary pivot 80.

The lever 72 is provided with a pin 81 (FIG. 4) adapted to cooperate with a cam 82, but normally located to the right of the cam 82 (FIG. 2). Furthermore the lever 72 is provided with an arcuate arm 83 (FIG. 4) adapted to cooperate with a pin 84 of a lever 86, but normally located to the right of the pin 84 (FIG. 2). The lever 86 (FIG. 4) is fulcrumed on the shaft 37 and is normally urged by a spring 88 to contact a stationary pin 87. Finally, the lever 86 is provided with a pin 89 adapted to cooperate with a projection 90 of the lever 31.

When the lever 77 is manually rocked clockwise (FIG. 2), on one hand the receiver is caused to operate at the higher speed in a known manner, on the other hand the lever 72 is axially shifted along the pin 73 to the position shown in FIG. 2 by broken lines, whereby the lever 72 brings the pin 81 into the plane of the cam 82 and the arm 83 in correspondence with the pin 84 of the lever 86. Now, near the end of each cycle of the shaft 7, the cam 82 (FIG. 4) rocks the lever 72 clockwise. The arm 83 of the lever 72 engages the pin 84, thus rocking the lever 86 counterclockwise. The pin 89 of the lever 86 engages the projection 90, thus rocking the lever 31 clockwise. Consequently the arm 30 positively restores the armature 26 (FIG. 1) of the magnet 24 to the stop position shown in the drawings.

What we claim is:

1. In a start-stop telegraph selector having a frame, a cyclically operable receiver shaft, a stationary receiving magnet, a plurality of selecting elements adapted to be sequentially controlled by said shaft according to a code combination received by said magnet, a release lever adapted to be rocked under the control of said magnet, and a stop lever normally stopping said shaft in a stop position and conditionable by said release lever when so rocked to cause one cycle of said shaft, a range finder comprising a support having a first pivot rotatably mounting said stop lever and manually settable in a variable position Within a predetermined range for adjusting the stop position of said shaft with respect to said selecting elements, wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a second pivot secured to said frame and pivotally mounting said release lever;

(b) a driving arm on said release lever;

(c) a driven arm on said stop lever;

(d) an intermediate member engaged by said driving arm and adapted to engage said driven arm;

(e) and connecting means for connecting said support and said intermediate member so as to cause said intermediate member to engage said arms in such a manner as to maintain a substantially constant ratio between the effective lengths of said arms irrespectively of the position of said support within said predetermined range.

2. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 1, wherein said arms are substantially mutually parallel and are oppositely directed, comprising in combination:

(f) a second variably settable support rotatably mounting said intermediate member;

(g) and differential gears comprised in said connecting means and adapted to displace said second support simultaneously with said first support through strokes having substantially said constant ratio.

3. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to cliam 2, comprising in combination:

(h) means for rotatably mounting said first and second support coaxially on said shaft,

(i) a stationary gear comprised in said differential gear,

(j) a sun gear comprised in said differential gear and bodily movable with the one of said supports,

(k) and a planet gear comprised in said differential gears and rotatably mounted on the other of said supports, said planet gear simultaneously meshing with said stationary gear and said sun gear.

4. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 3, comprising in combination:

(1) a toothed sector bodily movable with one of said supports;

(m) a pinion for rotating said toothed sector,

(n) a manipulative knob secured to said pinion and axially displaceable therewith,

(o) a stationary knurled bevel portion secured to said frame,

(p) and a complementary knurled bevel portion on said pinion normally engaged with said stationary knurled bevel portion under the urge of a spring, said knob being axially displaced for disengaging said complementary knurled bevel portion from said stationary knurled bevel portion.

5. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 1, comprising in combination:

(f) a trip element normally latching said release lever,

(g) an armature controlled by said magnet for operating said trip element to trip said release lever,

(h) a restoring lever rotatably mounted on said first pivot,

(i) and a cam secured to said shaft for cyclically actuating said intermediate member via the restoring lever to latch said release lever with said trip element and to cause said stop lever to be restored.

6. In a start-stop telegraph selector according to claim 5, wherein said shaft is operated at a predetermined speed, comprising in combination:

(1) a rotatably mounted, normally inactive reset lever for said trip element,

(k) a second cam on said shaft for displacing said trip element via said reset lever so as to reset said armature and relatch said release lever,

(l) and a manually settable speed control member for rendering said reset lever active for operation by said second cam if said speed control member is set for said shaft to operate at a higher speed than said predetermined speed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MILTON KAUFMAN, Primary Examiner.

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