US596250A - Fire-telegraph repeater - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) s Sheets-Sheet 1. F. A. SKELTON. FIRE TELEGRAPH REPE-ATER.

No. 596,250. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

(No Model.) 3 6 sheets-sheet 2.

.P. A. SKELTO N. FIRE TELEGRAPH REPEATER.

No. 596,250. Patented Dec. 28, 1 897.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets$he'et 3.

PA, vSKELTO FIRE TELEGRAPH REP R.

' No. 596,250. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

(No Model.) I 6 SheetsSheet 4.

P. A. SKELTON.

FIRE TELEGRAPH REPEATER. No. 596,250. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

(No Model.)

- 6 SIREN/T511661; 5. P. A. SKELTON. FIRE TELEGRAPH REPEATER.

Patented Dec. 28, 1897. f .Bg zz f SNQENTEIR J.

WITNEEEEE.

(No Model.) '6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

P.A. SKELTON.

\ FIRE TELEGRAPH REPEATER, No. 596,250. Patented Deo. 28, 1897.

WITNEEEEE V? INVENTUR UNITED STATES V ATENT @nricn.

FRANCIS A. SKELTON, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAMEWELL-FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEYV YORK.

FIRE-TELEGRAPH REPEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 596,250, dated December 28, 1897. application filed July 3, 1898. Serial No.479,4'77. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. SKELTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, county of Middlesex, and State of Massa-- chusetts, have invented 'cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Repeaters for Signaling- Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to systems of electric telegraphing such as that employed for firealarm purposes; and it consists in what is known as a repeater that is, an apparatus placed at a. central station from Which lines radiate to different parts of the district to be protected, such an apparatus being provided with a number of controlling-magnets placed in the respective circuits, and a number of clock-trains which act upon a signal being sent over any line to repeat such signal over the other lines and at the same time to lock the controlling-magnets of the other lines in order that no interfering-signal can be sent. Such an apparatus is illustrated in my Patent No. 415,578, dated November 19, 1889; and my present invention consists in an improved apparatus of the same general type, several improved details being added tending to make the operation of the apparatus more certain. There has also been added a switchboard for disconnecting the repeater entirely from the series of circuits and for ef- "fecting other important changes in the connections of the Various circuits both within and without the instrument itself. I have also provided means for sending out signals upon one or more short open circuits leading to special points where it is desirable to have the signals givensuch, for instance, as the residence of the various officers of the-fire department. I have, lastly, provided means whereby at the termination of a signal a special battery is momentarily included in all of the circuits successively to make sure that the signal-boxes are left in good order after a signal has been repeated, this feature being specially adapted to signal-boxes provided with non'interference magnets.

The features of my present improvement will be more definitely pointed out. hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is an elevation showing my completed apparatus. Fig. 2 is also an elevation showing the same apparatus from the opposite side, but with the clock-trains and signal-cylinders removed. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevations of one of the line-magnets and its immediate attachments from opposite points of View, respectively. Fig. 5 is a detail plan of the battery contact-cylinder; and Fig. 6 is a development of the same, showing the elec tric al connections Fig. '7 is a'plan View of the signaling contact-cylinder; and Fig. 8 is a development of the same, showing the connections. Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 are details of the contact-cylinders. Figs. 13, 14c, and 15 show the line-magnets with the parts in different positions. Fig. 16 is a detail of the relay-contacts controlled by the linemagnets. Fig. 17 shows in detail the contacts controlling the circuit of the time-stamp. Figs. 18, 19, and 20 are details of the clock mechanism, and Fig. 21 is a diagram of the circuits.

Before entering upon a detailed description of the apparatus it may be well to give a general outline of the mechanism and its mode of operation. There are, in the first place, a number of line-magnets included in the respective circuits, these magnets being duplicates of one another and normally retaining their armatures in the attracted position, as the several circuits in which they are normally included are closed circuits. It is the function of these magnets whenever a signal is being sent on any line, thereby causing a series of interruptions in the, continuity of the line-circuit, to start the clock mechanism, which immediately operates to lock the armatures of the remaining magnets, and also to switch the several inactive circuits onto a common signaling contact-cylinder, which is permitted to rotate once each time that the circuit of the acting line is broken, and thereby interrupt in a corresponding manner the circuits of all the inactive lines, so as to reproduce therein the same signal which is being transmitted on the active circuit. There are in the whole apparatus four distinct clocktrains. vThe first of these is the startingtrain, which is controlled directly bya rockshaft common to all of the line-magnets, so

as to be actuated by the armature of any one of them which maybecome deenergized. The second train is the time-train, which is kept in continuous operation during the whole time that a signal is being sent and which controls the third train, which is known as the locking train. The function of the locking-train is to bring certain stops against the armatures of all the inactive magnets and hold them against retraction, so that no interferin g signal can be sent. The fourth train is the battery-train, which operates the contact-cylinder of the supplementary battery and which is also controlled by the timetrain, so that the supplementary battery may be thrown upon all of the lines at the termination of the signal which is being transmitted.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A A represent two line-magnets, which are duplicates and which may be increased in number to correspond with the number of circuits, two being shown and described herein for the purpose of illustration.

1 is the armature of the magnet, which is carried by a lever 2, having a notch or hook at its upperend. (Best illustratedin Fig. 4.)

Referring to the latter figure for further details, B is a rock-shaft, hereinafter referred to as the resetting-shaft, which extends alon gin front of all of the magnets and is pro vided at each magnet with an arm 3, carrying the set-screw 4, against which the lever-arm 2 impinges when the circuit of any magnet is broken and its armature is retracted by a strong spring. (Shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15.) O is a second shaft parallel with B, but placed above theanagnets and directly over their armatu res. This shaft C carries at each magnet a small eccentric 5, upon which is depending an angle-lever 6, having on the inner edge of its vertical part a long notch or slot, the said vertical part terminating opposite the notch or hook in the upper end of lever 2 and held normally against the lever by means of the spring 7, assisted by the weight of the horizontal part of the lever. D is a third shaft parallel with B and C, but placed back of the magnets and carrying a series of arms 8, which have springtips, each adapted to bear against a lever E, which extends parallel with the cores of the magnets A, at an intermediate point between them, and which is provided with an adjustable weight 9 at its rear end adapted to overbalance the weight of the long arm of the lever. The shaft D also acts as a resetting-shaft and will be hereinafter referred to as the second resettingshaft. The longer arm of leverE terminates in a hook normally held directly above the end of the corresponding hook on the tip of lever 2, so as to engage therewith under certain conditions. Each magnet carries a block of insulating material 10, upon which is secured a contact-spring 11, that normally remains in contact with a peculiarly-shaped lever 12, pivoted in the same block 10 at a point below the spring 11. The details of this feature are shown in Fig. 16, which is a section of the block 10, showing the spring 11 secured to its upper surface and the lever 12 pivoted in the block and provided with a spring normally pressing its outer end upward against spring 11. The lever 12 is located just beside the angle-lever (5 and just beneath a pin 13 upon said lever, so that when the angle-lever 6 is depressed by the rotation of shaft C and eccentric 5 the pin 13 bears down upon lever 12, impinging upon it either behind or in front of its inclined tip, according as the vertical part of angle-lever 6 is turned inward toward the magnet by means of spring 7 or is turned outward away from the magnet by the retraction of armaturedever 2.

Referring now to Figs. 13, 14, and 15, the operation of the parts thus far described can be readily understood. The normal condition of the parts is that shown in Fig. 15, with the armature-lever 2 attracted and the ec centric 5 holding the angle-lever 6 in its uppermost position. Assuming now that the magnet A of Fig. 15 is included in the active circuit, the first break caused by the signal will deenergize the magnet and permit the retraction of lever 2 by means of the strong spring shown in dotted lines. The tip of lever 2 will impinge upon the lower end of the vertical part of lever 6 and force it outward away from the 1n agn et. The same movement of lever 2 will force arm 3 in the same direction, and thereby in the manner to be hereinafter described will start a train of clockwork, driving shaft (1, upon which is the eccentric 5. The shaft 0 first makes a little more than one-half a turn and is then held in that position, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, until the signal is completed. This forces the an gle-lever 6 directly downward by the action of eccentric 5, and it will be clear that the effect of this movement of the angle-lever will be different at the active magnet from what it is at the other magnets, because in the former its lower end has been forced to the right or away from the magnet by the movement of lever 2, while no such change in its position has taken place at the other magnets. The sit-nation at an inactive magnet is illustrated in Fig. 13, while the situation at an activemagnet is illustrated in Fig. 14. Referring to the former figure, it will be observed that the movement of anglelever (5 has forced the hooked end of lever E down into engagement with thenotch or hook of lever 2, this being caused by the engagement of the shoulder on tlie vertical part of lever 6 with a spring on the outer end of lever E, and it will also be observed that the pin 13 has engaged with the slightly-curved upper surface of the tip of contact-lever 12 and forced it out of connection with spring 11. Two things therefore have been accomplished: First the lever 2 has been locked, so that it will not fall back even if its magnet A should become deenergized, and in the second placevthe interruption of contact between 11 and 12 has shifted the circuit from each inactive magnet onto the common signaling contact-cylinder to be hereinafter described.

Referring now to Fig. 14, in which the situation at the active magnet is illustrated, it will be observed that .the lever 2 has fallen away without being caught by the hook on the end of lever E and that the pin 13 has engaged with the outer inclined side of the tip 'of lever 12 and thereby has failed either to break the connection between 11 and 12 or to depress the outer end of lever E.' The result of this is that the active magnet remains in its own circuit and continues to respond to the makes and breaks causedby the signal which is being transmitted.

A description will be given hereinafter of the manner in which the parts already described are reset to their original positions after a signal has been sent.

Referring now to Fig. 1, thcshaft B carries a lever 14, the outer end of which is connected by link 15 with a lever F, upon which is a pin 16, connecting with an arm 18 on shaft 17 and thereby forming a stop for the startingt-rain. This lever F, as shown in Fig. 2, is pivoted 'on the shaft parallel to shafts 17 and 21 and, like them, reaching from one side frame to the other. The starting-train is .driven bya weight (not seen) attached to the cord 19, wound upon drum 20 on shaft 21. Upon this same shaft is a large gear-wheel 22, driving a pinion 23 on shaft 17. By this arrangement each retraction of armature-lever 2 will turn shaft B, raise lever-arm 14, and thereby permit an offset on the lower end of stop-arm 18 to pass under pin 16, so that the shaft 17 can make one complete rotation each time that the circuit of the active magnet is broken. On the outer end of shaft17 are two cams 24 and 25. At each rotation of the shaft the latter cam engages with a roller 26 on a projection from lever F and forces it down, so as to bring the pin 16 in a position to engage with arm 1.8 and thereby stop the starting-train. The cam 24, which is much larger, engages inthe same manner with a roller 27 on the end of a curved lever 28, which in turn is pivoted to what may be called a releasing-sector G. This sector is shown in Fig. 18. In this figure H is the terminal or releasing shaft of the locking-train driven by a cord upon drum 29, Fig. 1. Upon this shaft are two radial arms 30 and 32, each havinga projection adapted to pass through a notch 31 in the flange of sector G when the notch comes opposite the projection. The arm 32 is somewhat longer than the arm 30. Now, as above described, the curved lever 28 is thrown up by the large cam 24. The sector G is depressed so that the notch 31 comes opposite the projection on the end of arm 30. This permits the shaft. H to make a partial rotation until the projection on arm 32,which, it will be remembered, is longer than the arm 30, comes into engagement with the flange of the sector at a point above the notch 31. The arms 30 and 32 are so adjusted relatively to each other that the shaft II makes something more than one-half a rotation.

Referring to Fig. 19, it will be seen thaton the shaft H is abevel gear-wheel 33, engaging with a similar wheel on shaft 0. Upon the shaft 0, as above described, are eccentrics 5, which actuate angle-levers 6. These eccentrics, partaking of the movement of shaft H, make somewhat more than a half-turn upon the starting of the train, the object of this arrangement being that the second part of the rotation of the eccentrics may be assisted by the upward pressure of lever E and lever 12. On the same shaft H is a disk. 34, having a portion of its periphery cut away. Against this disk normally rests a spring 35, which forms an extension from the pendulum 36, connected to the pallet 37, engaging with escape-wheel 38 of the time-train. The timetrain is fully seen in Fig. 1, being operated bya weighted cord 39 acting on the drum 40, the force of the weight being transmitted to the escape-wheel 38. The drum 40 is carried by a shaft 41, and from this shaft 41 extends radially the curved arm 28. When by the operation of the locking-train above described the disk 34 on shaft H is given one-half a turn, the portion of its periphery which is cutaway comes opposite the spring 35 and thereby releases the escapement of the time-train. As the time-train runs it tends to turn the curved lever 28 back into the position shown in Fig. 1 after the said lever 28 has been thrown up by the large cam 24. The period of time that must elapse before the lever 28 is brought to its normal position is definitely adjusted. It must be remembered, however, that the cam 24 rotates at each impulse of the active signal and each time it throws the arm 28 outward, so that it is only after the signal has been completed that the arm 28 is finally allowed to come back to its normal resting-place. It must also be remembered that the curved arm 28 controls the position of the sector G and that a definite timeafter the signal has been completed the sector G is brought into such a position that the arm 32, which has been resting against the flange of the sector during the reception of the signal, comes opposite the notch 31. The locking-train, which has made only a partial rotation, completes its movement, thereby restoring the parts to their normal condition. The stop, with the arm 30 resting against the flange of sector G, is shown in Fig. 18.

In Fig. 20 I have shown a modified form of the disk 34. Instead of having a long notch out into the periphery of the disk, as shown in Fig. 19, the disk has a gibbous-form, which gives more freedom to the escapement of the time-train and insures that thespring 35 is never caught in the corners of the notches.

It will be observed that as thus far described the breaking of the circuit of'one magnet has released the starting-train, which in turn has released the locking-train to lock the armatures of the other magnets and switch the current from them, while the locking-train in its turn has released the time-train, and referringto Fig. 2 it will be seen that the locking-train also releases the fourth train namely, the battery-train. For this purpose there is on the inner end of shaft H a crankdisk 42, upon which is a pin engaging with a slot on lever t3. On the opposite end of the lever are two pins 44: and 45, the latter of which normally engages with a corresponding pin upon wheel 46, which is the escapementwheel of the battery-train. It will be remembered that the locking-train has a partial movement at the beginning of the signal and is then held against movement until the signal is completed, when it completes its movement to reset the parts in their original position. The first movem ent of the lockingtrain depresses the inner end of lever 43,which releases in turn the wheel 46, but the wheel makes only a slight movement while its stoppin is passing from pin 45 to pin 44:. hen, however, the locking train completes its movement the wheel 46 is released and makes nearly a complete turn. There is on the same shaft with wheel 46 a contact-cylinder, which will be described in detail hereinafter, which also makes a complete turn and thereby throws momentarily an additional battery into each line. It should also be observed that on shaft 17, which forms the escape-shaft of the starting-train, there is a cam 47, (best seen in Fig. 2,) which at each rotation depresses the end of lever 48, which is connected by link 49 and arm 50 to the second resettingshaft D, so that at each break the shaft and resetting-arms 8 are depressed to force downward into their normal position the levers E. The shape of cam 47 is such that the levers E are depressed, and then the arms 8 slightly lifted to allow the levers E to rise when released. By this means if the line should not be promptly closed, but should be left open, the armature-lever of the active magnet, which it must be remembered is free, will be caught by the hook on the end oflever E, and the train will not be started again. This part of the apparatus therefore acts as an additional resetting device for locking the armature of the active magnet until it is certain that the current therein is restored. This may be best understood from Fig. 14, where the active magnet is shown with the circuit broken. The first thing that occurs before the circuit is closed is the action of shaft B and arm 3, which forces the armature up to the poles of the magnet. Then the second resettingshaft D acts to depress arm 8 and brings lever E down, so that when the arm 3 is withdrawn armature-lever 2 is caught by the hook 011 the end of lever E. Then follows the closing of the circuit, which draws up the armature and releases the hook on the end of lever E, and the lever rises slightly, the depressing-arm 8 being withdrawn. This brings the parts in the position shown in Fig. 15, except that the angle-lever 6 remains in the position shown in Fig. 14, and the apparatus is ready for the second break in the signal. Of course it will be understood that these actions take place very rapidly, but they have a definite order, although the eye cannot follow it. This completes the description of the mechanism,with the exception of the contactcylinders to be mentioned later.

The circuits and arrangement of the switches which intervene between the lines and the instrument are shown in Fig. 21. The normal condition of circuits and switches is that shown in the drawings, and under these circumstances the several signal-circuits radiate from the repeater, and also in the same manner a number of bell or alarm circuits, so that any signal received upon any line is repeated on all of the other signal-circuits and also upon the bell-circuits. It is possible, however, to make several changes in this normal arrangement by suitable shifting of the switches. For instance, if for any reason the repeater becomes disabled it is desirable that all of the circuits, both signal-circuits and bell -circuits, be disconnected from the repeater and connected seriat'im in one long circuit. By this means they can all operate as usual, but with diminished force and with all the multiplied chances of derangement inherent in a widely-extended series circuit. This series arrangement of the several circuits will be hereinafter referred to as the second condition, the normal condition being considered as the first. A third condition which may be established by suitable movement of the switches is one in which the bell-circuits are all'thrown into one circuit and the signalingcircuits into another, the repeater being left out. Under these circumstances the signalin g-circuits can be tested in any desired manner without ringing the alarm-bells and the alarm-circuit tested without affecting the signal-circuits. Lastly, when the circuits are in condition three various modifications can be made for special purposes.

By means of the changes above described it is possible to easily keep the lines and the instrument in proper working order without any interruption of the service.

Before describing the circuits in detail it may be mentioned that the switches K K are simply circuit-breaking switches which may be used under the several conditions of the circuit to cause a make and break for the purpose of testing. The switches M M control, respectively, the lines 66 and 68, leading to the contact-springs a and a and the lines 67 and 69, leading to the contact-springs (1, and a These contaet-springs correspond to the hell or alarm circuits hereinafter described, and, according to the position of the switches M M, these alarm-circuits are connected to or disconnected from the repeater. In the same manner the switches U U control, respectively, the lines 78 and 80, leading to the contact-springs e and c and the lines 79 and 81, leading to the contact springs g and 9 These contact-springs are the ones pertaining to the signal-circuits hereinafter described,

and, according to the position of the switches U and U, these circuits may be connected to or disconnected from the repeater. In a similar manner the switches S S control, respectively, the lines 64 and 65, leading to the contact-springs e and g so that the supplementary' battery may be brought into the respective circuits or not, according to the position of the switches S S. The main controlling- .switches are L L and'T T, together with the alarm plug switches and the signal plugswitches at the top of the drawings.

First or normal c0nchtz'0n.The switches are turned to theleft, as shown in Fig. 21, with alarm-plugs 61 and 62 and signal-plugs 61 and 62 in place. ure are shown two signal-circuits, with the boxes marked each by a small cross, and parallel therewith, respectively, two alarm or bell circuits, with the bells marked by small circles. One signal -circuit and its corresponding alarm-circuit is marked as, and the other signal-circuit, with its corresponding alarm-circuit, is marked y. The a: signalcircuit has its two terminals at e and f, and, starting at e, the normal circuit is to plate of lightning arrester 6, battery Q, to spring 11, switch S, contact-spring e e of the battery contact-cylinder, to switch U, to switch T, lightning-arrester plate f, to terminal f. A corresponding circuit will be found to exist for the signal-circuit y, having its terminals at g and h, except that as the circuit y is supposed to be inactive the connection will be broken between 11 and 12*, for if one of these two circuits should be transmitting a signal it will be found, as above described, that at the magnet of the active circuit contact will be maintained between the springs 11 and 12, while at all of the other inactive magnets the contact will be broken between these two springs and maintained broken during the transmission of the signal. Therefore, referring again to the signaling-circuit 00, just traced in detail, it will be noted that if contact between 11 and 12 is interrupted the circuits will be from battery Q-to the contact-springs e and e of the signaling-circuit cylinder, thence directly to switch U and, as before described, to the opposite terminal f. As contact between 11 and 12 is thus interrupted, the y signal-circuit is shown as taking a corresponding route. The effect of this is that the magnet of the repeater corresponding to the active circuit is maintained in the line, while at all of the other circuits the magnet is cut out and the contact-springs of the signaling contact-cylinder are brought into the line, the result being that as each impulse of the signal affects the magnet of the repeater corresponding to the circuit on which the signal is being transmitted and in At the bottom of the fig-' the manner above described causes one rotatlon of the signaling contact-cylinder the said cylinder will cause a make and break in each of the inactive circuits for every imat the signaling-cylinder the supplementary battery will be momentarily brought into the several circuits successively, causing a strong impulse of current that will insure the restoration of the armatures of the non-interference magnets of the boxes along the line. The detailed construction of the contact-cylinder will be given hereinafter. In this same Fig. 21 are shown two small circuits w and 2, which include a number of special bells at the residences of the officers of the fire department or at any other point where a special notification of an alarm is desired. These lines are normally open, but at each rotation of the signaling-cylinder they are momentarily and successively closed through local battery W. The detailed description of the contact-cylinder which will be hereinafter given will explain the manner in which these circuits are closed. The alarm or bell circuit 0:, which is understood to traverse the same district as signal-circuit 0c and include bells at various points, has its two terminals at a b, and the circuits may be traced from a to lightning-arrester plate a, battery 0, contactsprings a and a (which normally rest on a conducting-plate on the contact-cylinder, so that the circuit between them is always normally closed,) thence to switch M, to switch L, to switch K, lightning-arrester plateb, to terminal I), while a similar circuit may be traced for the alarm-circuit y.

Second condition-To produce this condition, throw the alarm-switches L L and M M to the right, as shown by the dotted lines, then throw the signal-switches T T and U U in the same manner, and, lastly, pull out both plugs 62. The switches S S can be thrown or not, according as it is desired to exclude or include the supplementary battery. All the circuits will then be in series, as will appear from tracing them in detail. Starting at lightning-arrester plate e, which is the terminal of the signal-circuit 0c, the circuit will be as follows: battery Q, switch T, plate h, signal-circuit y, plate 9, battery R, plate 76 of the signal plug-switch, plate 75 of the same switch, plate 74 of the alarm plug-switch, switch L, switch K, plate I), alarm-circuit 00, plate a, battery 0, switch L, switch K, plate 01, alarm-circuit y, plate 0, battery P, plate 73 of the alarm-switch, plate 72 of the same switch, plate 77 of the signal plug-switch, switch T, plate f, which is the opposite terminal of the signal-circuit 00. In this condition the circuit can be made and broken by ICC the switch K. The rcpeateris cut out by the switches M and M and the switches U and U, and the supplementary battery is out out by the switches S and S. By means of this arrangement any accident to the repeater will not interrupt the circuit, as by throwing the switches as above described a series connection of all the circuits will be made, so that they may still operate, but under less favorable conditions than when the repeater is in use.

T hird 00nd atom-Alarms are in one circuit and the signals in another independent circuit. Throw the switches for condition two and pull out plugs 61. The signal-circuit will then be as follows: plate 6, battery Q, switch T, plate 7L, signal-circuit y, plate g, battery R, plate 76 of the signal plug-switch, plate 77 of the same switch, switch T to plate f, which is the opposite terminal of the signaleircuit as. The hell or alarm circuit will be as follows: plate a, terminal of alarm-circuit a, battery 0, switch L, switch K, plate cl, alarm-circuit y, plate 0, battery P, plate 7 3 of alarm plug-switch, plate 74 of the same switch, switch L, switch K, to plate I), which is the opposite terminal of alarm-circuit a3. Under this condition three modifications can be effected by moving the switches M and M or U and U to include the repeater or. by moving the switches S and S to include the supplementary battery.

Having now described the circuits with the various switches and the combinations which may be effected thereby, I will describe in detail the two contact-cylinders, as their function may now be clearly understood. Figs. 5 to 12 illustrate these cylinders. Referring to Figs. 5 and 0, which illustrate the supplementary-batter contact-cylinder as adapted for several more circuits than are shown in Fig. 21, the former figure shows a plan of the cylinder as it actually is constructed and the latter figure shows the surface of the cylinder developed in a plane. In these figures the cylinders are made up of a series of conducting and insulating disks. The conducting-disks are two kinds, referred to hereinafter as bat tery-disks and contact-disks, while the battery-disks are of two kinds corresponding to the opposite terminals-namely, the positive-battery disks and "negative-battery disks. The former class of battery-disks are marked B B &c., and the latter class are marked 0 0 &c., while the contactdisks are marked D D the. Of the positive-battery disks B is a plain disk, which is always in contact with the positive terminal of battery V by means of spring 83, resting thereon. The remaining positive disks B B 850.,

are of the form shown in Fig. 11 and placed side by side, so as to be in electrical connection with each other and with the disk 13. Each of these has a projecting lug E at one point in its periphery, as shown in Fig. 11, and the disks are so arran ged on the insulated shaft of the cylinder that the lugs E E E 850., form a diagonal line, as shown in Fig. 6. A contact-sprin g is provided for each of these disks, but normally out of contact therewith, being, however, brought into connection momentarily whenever a projection E passes under the corresponding spring. The negative-battery disks are of a somewhat similar shape, as shown in Fig. 9, butare smaller and are inclosed within a corresponding contactdisk D, but entirely insulated therefrom and having at one point in their periphery an insulated projection which extends outward through an opening within disk D and has a slightly-inclined outer surface. The contactdisks D D D D ,&c.,are insulated from each other and are so arranged upon the shaft of the cylinder that the disks 0 0 C &c.,where they project through the respective openings in D D D &c., shall have a diagonal line, as shown in Fig. 6. The negativebattery disks are all in electrical connection with each other, the terminal disk C being different from the others in that it is a plain disk, with a spring 84 resting constantly upon it and establishin g connection between it and the negative-battery terminal B. Upon each of the contact-disks D D D &c., are two contact springs, forming the respective terminals of the circuits leading thereto. Comparing Figs. 5 and 6 with the diagram of Fig. 21 it will be seen that the two contact-swings e and a, forming the terminals of the circuits brought to the contact-cylinder, rest normally upon the contact-disk D and are short-eircuited thereby. The spring a however, is connected to a similar spring 85, adapted to come in contact with projecting lug E, and in the same manner the contact-springs and rest normally upon the contact-disk D, and are thereby in electrical connection with each other, while 9 is connected with a corresponding spring 86, adapted to come in contact with projecting lug E. Let us assume now that the cylinder is given a complete rotation. Upon the first movement there will be no change in the connection thus far described until the projecting lug on negative battery disk C comes under contact-spring 6 thereby lifting it out of connection with contact-disk D and momentarily putting it in connection with the negative terminal of battery V. At the same moment the positive-battery disk B comes in contact with the spring 85, connected to spring a and the circuit will be as follows: from battery V to spring 83, disk 13, disk B projecting lug E, spring 85, spring 0 line-circuit, spring a, disk 0, disk 0 spring 84, and the negative terminal of battery V. It will thus be clear that the battery is momentarily included in the circuit. In like manner it is successively included in the other circuits, and thus the circuit terminating in the contact-springs g g receives in its turn an impulse from battery V. Fig. 12 shows the manner in which the various disks are arranged on the shaft, so as to be suitably insulated from and con- IIO nected to one another. The insulation is effected bysuitable washers and bushings, and connection is establishedlby a screw parallel with the shaft-and extending from one disk to another.

We now come to the signalingcontact-cylinder, which is built up in a similar manner to the cylinder just described. There are three parts of this cylinderone for the signaling-circuits,another for the alarm-circuits, and a third for the circuits w 2, which are known as tap-circuits.- The first part of the disk is mainly of insulating material, so that the contact-springs connected to the signal-circuits are normally out of connection with each other, but a series of contact-plates F F F 850., are provided, which at each rotation of the cylinder simultaneously pass under the springs and close the several circuits simultaneously. On the second part of the cylinder the contact-springs normally rest upon conducting-plates G G &c., and as the cylinder rotates these plates pass out from under the contact-springs and open the circuit, closing it again as it comes to rest. In the third part of the cylinder there are two battery-disks H and H similar to the disks B and O of thebattery-cylinder. Upon these normally rest the springs 87 and 88,connected, respectively, to the two terminals of battery W. The intermediate contact-springs be-.

tween 87 and 88 are connected in pairs to the terminals of the tap-circuits, and as the cylinder rotates the terminals of each circuit are brought into contact with the respective battery-terminals by means of theprojections H H H and H on the two battery-disks, and thereby the tap-circuits w and z are successively energized by the battery W.

The last feature of. my invention is illustrated in Fig. 17, where the shaft 0 is shown provided with an insulated contact-piece D which at each rotation of the shaft closes the circuit of a time-stamp D thus indicating the time at whichthe message is received.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a repeater for use with a series of circuits extending from a central station, the

' the magnets for releasing a clock-train,switchin g and locking devices controlled by the said train for locking the inactive magnets and switching the inactive circuits onto a signaling contact device, while leaving the active magnet in its normal condition, a resetting device acting at each impulse of the signal to restore the armature of the active magnet and an additional mechanical resetting device connected to the operating-train in such relation to the main resetting device as to operate subsequently thereto and lock the said armature after it has been reset until the circuit through said active magnet is completed.

2; The combination with a repeater of a supplementary battery and suitable contact devices connected to the several circuits for connecting the supplementary battery in said circuits successively and momentarily.

3. The combination with a repeater and several circuits extending therefrom and connecting with the respective magnets of the repeat-er, of a supplementary-battery contactcylinder therefor with contact-springs connected to the several circuits, a train for actuating the said cylinder, releasing devices for the said train controlled at the termination of the signal to connect the said battery and the several circuits successively and momentarily.

at. The combination of depending lever 6 having its lower end in the path of armature 2, an actuating-train therefor and contactlever 12 having a horizontal surface normally beneath .pin 13 on said lever 6 so as to be engaged thereby when lever 6 is in its normal position and having an adjacent incline surface placed to engage said pin 13 when the lever 6 is in its outward position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th day of June, 1893.

FRANCIS A. SKELTON. [L. .s.]

Witnesses:

A. A. MoBRIDE, A. O. ORNE.

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