US439015A - Electric station-indicator - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 4 SheetsShe'et'1. G. H. KIRWAN. ELECTRIC STATION INDICATOR.

N0..4 89,015. Patented Oct.- 21, 1890.

(No ModeL) 4 sheets sheet 2.. G. H. KIRWAN.

ELEGTRIG STATION INDICATOR.

Patented Oct. 21

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ELECTRIC STATION INDICATOR.

Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

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ELECTRIC STATION INDICATOR. No. 439,015. Patented Oct. 21, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. KIRl/VAN, OF VVILKES-BARRFI, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,015, dated October 21, 1890.

Application filed January 8, 1890.

To all whom it may concern;

Be itknown that I, GEORGE H. KIRWAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulElectric Station-In dicator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric stationindicators; and it is an improvement on the device for which Letters Patent of the United States No. 388,690 were granted to myself on the 28th day of August, 1888.

My present invention has for its object to provide a device which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity,durability, and general efficiency; and with these ends in View it consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing my improved station-indicator in position for operation; the exterior casing being swung open so as to expose the interior mechanism. Fig. 2 is a top view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 z in Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 00 so in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on the line y y in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an end View looking in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the method of attaching the endless apron to the rollers. Fig. 8 is a diagram to illustrate the electric circuits. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the scroll or apron used in connection with my invention and having the names of the stations.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

1 designates a back board, which supports the operating mechanism of my improved indicator, and to one end of which, as shown in Fig. 1, is hinged the casing 2, which may be folded over so as to protect the said operating mechanism, the free end of said casing being secured by means of a lock of suitable construction.

To the back board 1, near the ends of the same, are secured the vertical parallel plates Serial No. 336,315. (No model.)

3 and 4, which are provided near their upper and lower front corners with bearings for the shafts 5 and 6, in front of and between which are journaled additional shafts 7 7, carrying the guiding-rollers 8. The shafts 5 and 6 carry each a drum or cylinder 9, as shown in Fig. 4.

1O designates an endless scroll or apron, upon which the names of the stations are printed or inscribed in the manner to be hereinafter specified. Each of the drums or cylinders 9 has a fiat or cut-away side 10, and is provided with heads 11, in which are journaled the spindles 12, extending from the ends of an angular L-shaped cam-plate 13. (See Fig. 7.) The ends of the scroll or apron 10 are provided with metallic binding-strips 14, which, when the cam-plates 13 are in a raised position, may be inserted under the same. By depressing the free end of the cam-plates until they rest upon the cylinders 9 it will thus be seen that the ends of the scroll may be connected securely and detachably to the latter.

The upper shaft 5 is provided at one end with a pinion 15, (see Fig. 6,) meshing with a spur-wheel16, which is journaled loosely upon a post 17, which is journaled in the frame piece or plate 4. The post 17 has a ratchetwheel 18, engaging a spring actuated pawl 19, which is mounted pivotally upon the spurwheel 16. The opposite end of the shaft 5 has a transverse pin 20, (see Fig. 2,) which is adapted to engage a clutch-collar 21, which is mounted to slide upon the outer end of said shaft 5, and which is normally forced in an inward direction and into engagement with the pin 20 by the action of an extensile spring 22, coiled upon the shaft 5 between the said clutch-collar and a flange or collar 23 upon the extreme outer end of the shaft. The clutch-collar 21 carries a spur-wheel 24. 25 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 5) designates a lever, which is pivoted to a bracket 26, that extends laterally from the frame-piece 3. The lower end of the lever 25 has a thumb-piece 27, and its upper end is adapted to bear against the inner side of the spur-wheel 24, which may thus, by operating the lever 25, be moved in an outward direction upon the shaft 5 against the tension of the spring 22 until the clutch collar 21 shall be disengaged from the pin 20, thus disengaging or uncoupling the spurwheel 24 from the shaft 5.

28 28 designate a pair of posts extending laterally from the frame-piece 3 near the upper rear corner of the latter, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and connected at their outer ends by a frame-piece 29 of suitable construction, which, together with the frame-piece 3, aitords bearings for the shafts of mechanism which will now be described.

30 is a shaft arranged parallel to the shaft 5 and carrying a pinion 31, meshing with the spur-wheel 24, and also carrying a spur-wheel 32, meshing with a pinion 33 upon a shaft 34. The latter also carries an escapement-fan 35.

Suitably secured upon the outer side of the frame-piece 4, near the lower rear corner of the latter, is a casing 36, having bearings for a spring-arbor 37, (see Figs. 2 and 6,) upon which is coiled the main spring 38, one end of which is attached to said shaft or arbor, and the other end of which is made fast to one of the posts 39 of the casing 36. The shaft or arbor 37 carries a ratchet-wheel engaging a spring actuated pawl, which is mounted pivotally upon a spur wheel 42, which is j ournaled upon the shaft or arbor 37. The spring-actuated spur-wheel 42 is connected by means of a train of gearing 43 with a pinion 44, mounted upon the outer end of the shaft 6, which said shaft is thus actuated by means of the spring-motor consisting of the parts just enumerated. 45 designates a lever, which is mounted pivotally upon the frame-piece 4, and which is provided at its outer end with a handle 46 and at its inner end with a catch 47, adapted to engage the teeth of the pinion 44, and thus prevent the latterfrom rotating. It will thus be seen that the lever 45 acts in the nature of a brake, by means of which the roller-shaft 6 may be prevented from rotating when it shall be desired to suspend the operation of the device.

The scroll or apron 10 is at the start wound upon the drum or cylinder 9 upon the upper roller-shaft 5. The spring-motor when wound serves to transmit motion through the train of gearing 43 and pinion 44 to the shaft 6, carrying the lower drum 9 upon which it will thus be wound, while it is at the same time unwound from the drum 9 upon the upper roller-shaft 5. Motion is thus c'om mu nicated to the latter and from thence through the spur-wheel 24, pinion 31, spur-wheel 32, and pinion 33 to the shaft 34, carrying the escapement-fan 35, by means of which the operation of the device is regulated and controlled in the manner which I shall now proceed to describe.

48 designates an electro-magnet which is suitably attached to the back board 1,which forms the support of the mechanism, as will be best seen in Fig. 1'. The armature 49 of said electro-magnetishinged toa bracket 50, and is provided with an arm 51, which extends through an opening 52 in the framepiece 3. The inner side of the latter is provided with a bracket 53, having bearings for a rock-shaft 54, having an upwardly-extending arm 55, the upper end of which carriesa hammer 56, which is forced in a forward direction by the action of a spring 57, which is attached to the inside of the frame-piece 3. The rock-shaft 54 is provided with a rearwardly-extending arm 58, provided at its rear end with a lateral extension 59, extending through an opening in the frame-piece 3 and lying in the path of the escapement-fan 35. Suitably pivoted to the outer side of the frame-piece 3 is a lever 61, the lowerv end of which is adapted to engage the arm 59, so as to throw it out of the path of the escapementfan when desired. The lever 61 is also provided with a catch 62, adapted to engage the teeth of the spur-wheel 32, so as to lock the latter when desired.

The endless scroll or apron 10 is provided near one of its edges with a series of perforations 63, registering with the names of the stations printed upon the said scroll and adapted to receive the head of the hammer 56, which is adapted to project forwardly through any one of the said perforations. A pair of flat loose springs 64 64, slightly curved in cross-section, are attached to the framepiece 3 above and below the hammer 56, for the purpose of holding the edge of the endless scroll 10 in contact with the latter.

Normally the arm 59 of the lever 58, extending from the rock-shaft 54, lies in the path of the escapement-fan, which is thus caused to remain stationary as well as the remainder of the operating mechanism. WVhen the electro-magnet is momentarily excited,it attracts the armature 49,the arm 51 of which depresses the arm 58 of the rock-shaft, said arm 58 being provided with a downwardlyextending bracket 65, upon which the inner end of the arm 51 0f the armature rests. The rock-shaft 54 is thus vibrated with the double result of withdrawing the hammer 56 from the perforation 64 in the scroll 10, through which it was extending, andof moving the arm 59 out of the track of the escapement-fan. The latter is thus caused to rotate under the impulse of the spring-motor, motion from which is transmitted in the manner previously described, thus causing the roller mounted upon the shaft 9 to rotate and wind upon itself a portion of the endless scroll or apron until the perforation 63, registering with the name of the next station, comes in the path of the hammer 56. The latter, actuated by the spring 57 is now forced through the said perforation 64, thus vibrating the rock-shaft 54 with the result of bringing the arm 59 back into the path of the escapement-fan, thus preventing the latter from rotating and stopping the mechanism from further operation until again actuated under the impulse of the electro-magnet.

The back board of the casing which supports the operating mechanism of the device IIS supporting-board 1.

is provided with binding- posts 66, 67, and 68, and it is provided with three eyes or perforations 69, 70, and 71, having metallic linings which are in electrical connection with the said binding-posts. The car in which the apparatus is used is provided with metallic hooks or supports 69, 7 0, and 71, upon which the apparatus may be hung or suspended by means of the eyes or perforations described, and with which they make electrical contact.

7 2 designates an electric generating-battery, suitably located in the car and having one of its poles connected electrically with the metallic support 69, and through the lat ter with the binding-post 66. The other pole of the battery is electrically connected with one of the electrodes of a push-button or circuit-closer 73, the other electrode of which is in electrical connection with the metallic support 7 O, and through the latter with the binding-post 67. The binding- posts 66 and 67 are connected with opposite ends of the winding of the electro-magneti50. It will thusbe seen that when the push-button 73 is operated to close the circuit the said electro-magnet is momentarily excited and the actuating mechanism of the indicator is thrown into operation, as previously described.

74 designates an electric bell of suitable construction, which is secured to the upper side of the hinged casing2. Conducting-wires 75 and 76 connect the electrodes of said bell with metallic contacts or points 77 and 7 8, ex-

tending from the hinged casing 2 and adapted to engage contactsprings 79 and 80 upon the The contactspring 79 is connected by an electrical conductor 81 with the binding-post 68, and the contactspring 80 is similarly connected by a conductor 82 with the binding-post 66. The binding-post 68 is in electrical connection with the metallic contacts 71 and 71, and the latter is connected by a conducting-wire 83 with one of the electrodes of a push-button or circuit-closer 84, the other electrode of which is connected by conducting-wire 85 with the conductor 86, which connects one electrode of the circuit-closer 73 with one pole of the battery 7 2. The other pole of the battery is connected, as previously described, with the contacts 69 and 69, which latter is in electrical connection with the binding-post 66, thus completing the circuit of the bell 74'. It will thus be seen that by operating the circuitcloser 84 the alarm-bell 74 may be sounded or actuatedindependently of theactuating mechanism of the indicator-operating mechanism.

Upon the endless scroll or apron 10 the names of the stations are to be printed or inscribed, first in regular succession and then in inverse order, in order that the said scroll or apron may continue its operation for a round trip withoutbeing rewound. At the end of the round trip the scroll or apron will have been unwound from the roller 9 upon the shaft 5 and wound upon the roller 9 upon the shaft 6. To rewind the scroll or apron upon the former roller, the lever 61 is first actuated so as to throw the arm 59 out of the pat-h of the escapement-fan, at the same time operating the rock-shaft 54 so as to throw the hammer 56 out of the path. of the perforations 63 in the apron. The clutch-collar 21 is then disengaged by means of the lever 25 from the transverse pin 20 in the shaft 5, thus permitting the latter to be freely revolved. The winding is performed by means of a key fitted to the post 17, carrying the spur-wheel16, which engages the pinion 15 upon the said shaft 5. The latter is thereby rotated, and it will be seen that by the act of winding the apron upon the roller mounted upon the shaft 5 the rollermounted upon the shaft6 islikewise rotated in a reverse direction, thus transmit ting motion through the train of gears 43 to the main arbor of the spring-motor, the spring of which is thus wound.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention willbe readily understood. At the start the scroll or apron is wound upon the roller mounted upon the shaft 5. When the train reaches a station, the circuit- closers 73 and 84 are operated, thus sounding the bell 74 and actuating the electro-magnet 48. By means of the armature of the latter the rock-shaft 54 is operated, as above described, thus withdrawing ahammer 56 from the perforation 63, in which it rests, and at the same time throwing the lever-arm 59 out of the path of the escapement-fan 35. The spring-motor is thus caused to operate the shaft 6, winding the scroll upon the latter until the hammer 56 engages the next perforation in the scroll. The rock-shaft 54 is then restored to its original position, thearm 59 is moved into the path of the escapement-fan, and the operation ceases until the electric circuit shall again be closed when the next station is reached. The names of the stations inscribed upon the scroll are visible through a glass pane in the front side of the hingedv casing.

By placing the indicator-operatin g mechanism and the alarm-bell in separate circuits it is obvious that the said alarm-bell may. be sounded for any desired length of time without danger of causing the scroll to be wound upon the roll of the upper shaft 5 for the space of more than one station.

In some cases I may put the electrical connections in each car, and thus dispense with the use of couplings between the cars; also, I may use exactly the same apparatus, but dispense with the electrical connections and 0perate the same by hand for use on tramways.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a station-indicator, the combination of the shafts carrying the drums or rollers, a spring-motor, a train of gearing connecting the latter with one of said shafts, a spur-wheel mounted upon theother roller-shaft and connected therewith by the clutch mechanism, a train of gearing connecting said spur-wheel with an escapement-fan, a rock-shaft provided with a bent arm extending in the path of said cscapement fan, a hammer mounted upon said rock shaft, the endless scroll mounted upon the rollers and having perforations to receive said hammer, and an electromagnet the armature of which is adapted to actuate said rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a station-indicator, the combination of the rollers, the spring-motor geared to one of the said rollers, an escapement-fan geared to the other roller, the scroll or apron having perforations registering with the names of the stations inscribed thereon, a rock-shaft having a hammer adapted to engage said perforations and a bent arm extending in the path of the escapement-fan, the leaf -springs arranged to hold the scroll in contact with the said hammer, and the electro-magnet the armature of which is adapted to actuate the rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. I11 an electric station-indicator, the combination of the rollers,the spring-motor geared to one of the said rollers, an escapement-fan geared to the other roller, the scroll or apron having perforations registering with the names of the stations inscribed thereon, a rock-shaft having a hammer adapted to engage said perforations and a bent arm extending in the path of the escapement-fan, an electro magnet, as 48, the armature of which is adapted to actuate the rock-shaft, an electric bell, as 74, mounted upon the casing of the indicator, and devices for closing the circuits of the electro-magnet 48 and the belt 74 independently of each other, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric station-indicator, the combination of the supporting-piece 1, having the eyes or perforations 69, 70, and 71 lined with metal, so as to form electrical conductors with the metallic supports 69, 70, and 71, and the electrical conductingwires connecting the latter with the electric generating-battery and the circuit-closers and the former with the electrodes of an electro magnet adapted to actuate the indicatoroperating mechanism, and with those of an electric bell,substantially as herein shown and specified.

5. The combination, with the supportingboard 1, having the spring-contacts 79 80, of

the hinged casing 2, having the contact- points 77 and 7 8, said spring-contacts being connected with the poles of a battery and said contact-points being connected with the electrodes of an electric bell mounted upon the hinged casing, whereby by closing the said casing the circuit of the electric bell shall be made, substantial] as set forth.

6. In a station-indicator, the combination, with the drums 9, having cut-away sides, as herein described,andprovided with the heads 11, of the L-shaped cam-plates connected pivotally with the said heads and the scroll or apron provided at its ends with binding-strips, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. In a station-indicator, the combination of the rollers, the spring-motor geared to one of said rollers, an escapement-fan geared to the other roller, the scroll or apron attached to said rollers, having the names of the stations inscribed thereon, first in regular and then in reverse order, and provided with perforations registering with the names of the stations, a rock-shaft having a hammer adapted to engage said perforations and a bent arm extending in the path of the escapement-fan, and an electro magnet the armature of which is adapted to engage the rock-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a station-indicator, the combination of the roller-shafts, aspring-motor, a train of gearing connecting the latter with the lower roller-shaft, an escapement fan, a train of gearing connecting the latter with a spurwheel mounted upon the upper roller-shaft and connected therewith by a clutch mechanism, apinion mounted upon the opposite end of the upper roller-shaft, a spur-wheel mounted loosely upon a post adjacent to the upper roller-shaft and meshing with the pinion upon the latter, a ratchet-wheel secu red upon saidpost and engaging a spring-actuated pawl pivoted upon the spur-wheel, and a scroll or apron wound upon and having its ends connected with the shafts upon the two rollers, whereby by rotating the post adjacent to the upper roller-shaft the scroll may be wound upon the said upper roller-shaft and unwound from the lower roller-shaft, from which motion is thereby transmitted to the spring-arbor of the motor, causing said spring to be wound, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto afiixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. KIRVVAN.

WVitnesses:

ERNEST V. JACKSON, '1. R. PETERS.

IIO

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