US663926A - Auxiliary attachment for signal-boxes. - Google Patents

Description

(Application filed May 22, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Shem I.

(No Model.)

Inventor itne W sses Attys.

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No. 663.926. Patented nee. l8, I960. B. DEHMEN. AUXILIARY ATTACHMENT FUR SIGNAL BOXES.

(Application filed May 22, 1900.]

3 SheetsSheet 2,

(No Model;

In eh tor Attys.

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No. 653,926. Pdf'nted 080.1% ,1900.

B. OEHMEN.

AUXILIARY ATTACHMENT FOR SIGNAL BOXES.

[Application filed May 22. 1900.) @No Model.)

3 Sheets8heet 3 Inven r.

' AWW Attys.

UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

BARTHOLOMEW OEHMEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GAME- WELL FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUXILIARY ATTACHMENT FOR SIGNAL-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,926, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed May 22, 1900. Serial No. 17,538. (No model.)

To ctZZ whont it may concern.-

Be i t known that LBARrHoLoMEW OEHMEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Auxiliary Attachments for Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in auxiliary apparatus for street signal-boxes; and the improvements are particularly designed for use with fire-alarm-telegraph street-boxes of the standard Gamewell type. With such boxes the clock-train is normally wound and is arranged to be tripped at the box, so as to rotate a signal-wheel the desired number of turns to send in the correct signal.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple and efficient auxiliary apparatus particularly adapted for use in connection with a box of this type,wherein certainty of operation will be secured and wherein the auxiliary circuit will be broken to notify the 2 5 operator of the reception of the signal at the box only after the box has commenced to operate and the signal is being transmitted.

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the'aco companying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a front view of so much of a standard Gamewell box as is necessary for an understanding of my present improvements,

5 the doors for the outer and inner boxes being shown open; Fig. 1, a section through the clock mechanism looking from the rear and showing particularly the trip-lever and connections therewith; Fig. 2, a plan view of the auxiliary mechanism; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a section on the liner") 5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 a diagram showing the circuits through the auxiliary magnets and 5 the auxiliary circuit-controlling devices.

In all the above views correspondingparts I are represented by the same numerals of reference.

1 represents the outer box, having a door 2,

which can be opened by the citizen or patrolman. Within the outer box is an inner box armature.

3, having a door 4.,which can be opened by the fireman or chief. Within the inner box is a cylindrical casing 5,containing the clockwork mechanism. This clockwork mechanism is normally locked by a trip-lever 6, carrying a lug 7, adapted to engage with openings formed in a rim 8 on the main or primary wheel of the clockwork mechanism, as is common. The trip-lever 6 is operated by a hook 9,which projects through an opening in the cover of the inner box. The box shown is provided with a non-interference magnet 10, operating in the well-known way for preventing interference in the signals. A break-wheel 11 is used,with which cooperates a circuit-controlling lever 12, arranged to operate contacts in the main circuit and by which the desired signal in the form of makes and breaks will be sent over the line. By depressing the hook 7o 9, so as to disengage the pin or lug 7 from the engaged opening in the rim 8, the train will be allowed to start and the signal sent in. After the signal has been transmitted the pin or lug 7 engages the next slotor opening in the rim 8, and the train is locked from further movement.

Mounted on top of the inner box 3 and within the outer box 1 is the base 13, carrying the auxiliary mechanism. 14 14 are the auxil- 8o iary magnets, the armature 15 of which is carried on an arm 16 from a rockshaft 17, mounted in suitable bearings upon the base 13. The arm 16 is provided with an extension l8,with which an adjusting-screw 19 engages to limit the retracted movement of the Carried by the rock-shaft 17 at one side of the arm 16 is a latch-arm 20, with which engages an arm 21, carried on a vertically-sliding rod 22. The latch-arm 20 may be dispensed with and the arm 21 may engage with the upper end of the armaturecarrying arm 16, as will be obvious. The arm 21 is movable vertically between guides 23. The slide 22 works between suitable 5 guide-plates 24 and is surrounded by a spring 25,working against a pin 26 and by which the slide {will be depressed when the latch'arm 20 is moved out of engagement with the arm 21. The slide 22 is provided with an exten- I00 sion 27, which passes down through the top of the inner box 3 and which enters, preferlever 6 to start the box.

ably,the casing 5. This extension is provided on its lower end with an adjustable head 28, which engages an insulating-block carried on the outer end of an auxiliary trip-lever 29, which beyond its fulcrum bears beneath a pin 30, carried on the end of the trip-lever 6, whereby when the auxiliary magnets 14 are energized to attract theirarmature the withdrawal of the latch-arm from the arm 21 will permit the spring 25 to move the slide 22 downward to depress the outer end of the auxiliary trip-lever 29 and elevate the trip- By employing an auxiliary trip-lever, which thus elevates the outer end of the trip-lever 6, the leverage obtained permits me to operate the trip-lever by auxiliary means against the tension of a heavy restoring-spring 33, as shown.

It is desirable that during the operation of the box in transmitting the signal the sliding rod 22 should be restored to its normal position, sothat the latch-arm 20 will again engage beneath the arm 21 to hold the latter elevated. This may be effected in any suitable way. I illustrate for the purpose an arm or extension 34 of the auxiliary trip-lever 29, said arm being adapted to be engaged by pins 35, carried on the rear face of the mainor primary wheel of the clock-train. During the transmission of each signal and while the box is running one of the pins 35 will engage the extension 34 of the auxiliary trip-lever to elevate the slide 22 and will pass beyond the lower end of said extension before the box is again brought to rest by the engagement of the pin or lug 7 with one of the slots or openings in the rim 8.

It is desirable that the operator at an auxiliary station should be advised that a signal transmitted by him to the street-box has been received and that the box has actually oommenced its operation. At the present time it is the practice to employ auxiliary circuits which are normally closed on a comparatively weak battery and to throw into the auxiliary circuit additional batteries sufiicient to oper ate the auxiliary magnets when it is desired to start the street-box in operation. When the auxiliary circuit is broken, the so-called .trouble-bell at the auxiliary station is sounded,which indicates an intentional or accidental breakage of the auxiliary circuit. With my present improvements I break the auxiliary circuit, as is common,at'ter the start ing of the box, whereby the sender at the auxiliary station will be advised of that fact by the sounding of the trouble-bell.

Carried by the base 13 is a block of insulating material 36, which carries two contacts 37 and 37, forming a break in series with the auxiliary magnets, as shown in Fig. 6, which break may be closed by the engagement of the contact 37 with the contact 37. This closing of the circuit between these contacts is effected by a pin 38, which is carried from an extension 39 of the arm 21. When the auxiliary magnet is operated to allow the slide 22 to be depressed by the spring 25, the pin 38 will engage the contact 37 to move the same into contact with the contact 37, thereby closing the auxiliary circuit at this point. When the slide 22 is in itselevated position and is locked by the latch-arm 20, the circuit will be broken at the contacts 37 37; but the auxiliary circuit is kept normally closed through a shunt 40 around the contacts 37 37 and including two supplemental contacts 41, which are carried by the insulating-block 36. A plunger 42, mounted in said block, is adapted to be moved into contact with the supplemental contact-springs 41 to close the shunt 40. The plunger 42 is provided with a pin extending therethrough and which is engaged by a spring 43. its operative position to close the shunt 40 at the supplemental contact-springs 41, I form the plunger with a notch 44 therein, with which a small finger 45 engages, said finger being preferably carried by the contact 37% which latter is extended beyond the block 36 and bears upon the extension 18, secured to the bottom of the arm 16, so as to tend to normallyretract the armature 15 of the an xiliary magnets. The plunger 42 extends out through the front of the block 36 and through an opening in the casing 46, which incloses the auxiliary mechanism, whereby said plunger may be forced inward to close the auxiliary circuit at the shunt 40 by a person at the streetbox.

The operation of a box of the type described equipped with my improvements will be as follows: When the box is to be tripped by hand, the hook 9 is pulled downward to elevate the trip-lever 6, releasing the pin or lug 7 from one of the openings in the rim 8 and allowing the signal to be sent in in the usual way. As soon as the signal-wheel 11 has made the desired number of turns the pin or lug Twill engage the next notch in the rim 8, the trip-lever 6 being pulled downward by the'restoring-spring 33. If it is desired to operate the box from the auxiliary circuit, the auxiliary magnets 14 are energized by throwing into the auxiliary circuit sufficient extra battery to energize said magnets, thereby attracting the armature 15 and withdrawing the iatcharm 20 from the arm 21, allowing the spring 25 to depress the slide 22 to operate the auxiliary trip-lever 29, which elevates the trip-lever 6 and allows the box to start. This movement of the armature 15 elevates the extension 18 and withdraws the finger 45 from the notch 44, whereupon the spring 43 moves the plunger 42 and breaks the shunt 40 at the supplemental contactsprings 41. This break of the shunt 40 does not break the auxiliary circuit, because the pin 38 will have engaged the contact-springs 37 37* to close the auxiliary circuit at this point. The auxiliary circuit therefore remains closed. During the operation of the box one of the pins 35 will engage the extension 34 of the auxiliary trip-lever 29 to elevate In order to lock the plunger 42 in the extension 27 and to return the slide 22 to its former position. In this movement the pin 38 will be withdrawn from the contact 37 allowing the auxiliary circuit to be broken between the contacts 37 and 37, whereupon the armature 15 will be retracted by the tension of the contact 37 bearing upon the extension 18 and the latch-arm 20 will be free to again engage beneath the arm 21. This breaking of the auxiliary circuit also notifies the operator at the auxiliary station that the signalhas been orisbeingactuallytransmitted at the street-box. The auxiliary circuit will remain broken until the plunger 42 is again pressed inward to close the shunt 4E0 at the supplemental contact-springs 41, the plunger being locked in this position by the engagement of the finger 4:5 with the notch 44.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination with a street-box containing a normally-wound clockwork mechanism and a trip for releasing the same, of an auxiliary magnet located adjacent to the street-box, the armature for said magnet, a slide normally locked in a retracted position by said armature and adapted to operate the trip for the box, a circuit-controlling device in the'auxiliary circuit, and means controlled by the operation of said slide for actuating the circuit-controlling device, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a street-box containing a normally-wound clockwork mechanism and a trip for releasing the same, of an auxiliary magnet located adjacent to the street-box, the armature for said magnet, a slide normally locked in a retracted position by said armature and adapted to operate the trip for the box, contact-springs in series with the auxiliary magnet, and a pin carried by the slide for closing the circuit through said springs by the actuation of the slide, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a street-box containing a normally-wound clockwork mechanism and a trip for releasing the same, of an auxiliary magnet located adjacent to the street-box, the armature for said magnet, a slide normally locked in a retracted position by said armature and adapted to operate the trip forthe box, contact-springs in series with the auxiliary magnet, a pin carried by the slide for closing the circuit at said springs by the movement of said slide, and a shunt around said contact-springs adapted to be broken simultaneously with the closure of the circuit at said springs, substantially as set forth.

4E. The combination with a street-box containing a normally-wound clockwork mechanism and a trip for releasing the same, of an auxiliary magnet located adjacent to the street-box, the armature for said magnet, a slide normally locked in a retracted position by said armature and adapted to operate the trip for the box, contact-springs in series with the auxiliary magnet, a pin carried by the slide for engaging said contact-springs to close the circuit thereat upon the positive movement of the slide, supplemental contactsprings arranged in shunt to the main contactsprings, and a plunger for closing said shunt at the supplemental contact-springs, said plunger being released simultaneously with the release of the slide, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a street-box containing a normally-wound clockwork mechanism and a trip for releasing the same, of an auxiliary magnet located adjacent to the street-box, the armature for said magnet, a slide normally locked in a retracted position by said armature and adapted to operate the trip for the box, contact-springs in series with the auxiliary magnet, a pin carried by the slide for engaging said contact-springs to close the circuit thereat upon the positive movement of the slide, supplemental contactsprings arranged in shunt to the main contactsprings, a plunger for closing said shunt at the supplemental contact-springs, and a finger holding said plunger in position to close said shunt and connections between the auxiliary armature and said finger substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a street-box containing a normally-wound clockwork mechanism and a trip-lever for releasing the same, of an auxiliary magnet located adjacent to the street-box, the armature for said magnet, a slide normally locked in a retracted position by said armature, an auxiliary trip-lever engaged by said slide,said auxiliary trip-lever engagingthe trip-lever at or near its extreme end, an arm carried by said auxiliary triplever, and a pin operated by the clockwork mechanism for engaging said arm to restore the same, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 17th day of May, 1900.

BARTHOLOMEW OEHMEN.

Witnesses:

AROHIBALD G. REESE, JNo. R. TAYLOR.

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