US789626A - Electrical indicator-signal. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

' G. W. PETTEY.

ELEUTRIGAL INDICATOR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2'7. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES.

a T T a DI E 6 n 0 E G ATTORNEYS N0."789, 626 PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. G. WcPETTEY.

ELECTRICAL INDIOATOR SIGNAL APPLIUATION IILED JAN. 27, 1905.

3 SEEETS-BHEBT 2.

lNl/E/VTOR GEORGE W. PETTEY A U (IRA/E 7S No. 789,626. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. G. W. PETTEY.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1905.

a SHYBBTSSHEET a.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR A ORGEW-PETTEY ATTORNEYS Patented May 9, 1905 GEORGE IV. IETTEY, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

ELECTRICAL INDICATOR-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,626, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed January 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 242,892.

To (1, 1071/0177, it may concern:

Be it known that .I, Gruoueu IV. PETIEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alexand ria, in the county of Alexandria and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Inuirovement in Electrical Indicator-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an electrical indicator-signal of the visual type designed to be set by electromagnetical devices and comprehending a semaphore arm and lamp.

This indicator-signal is applicable in most of its features for general use; but it is especially designed for use in city streets and is combined with a lire-engine house and the stall-door for the horses and is arranged to give conspicuous visual indication on the street that the lire-en gine is about to issue from the house.

The object of my invention is to avoid dangerous collisions between a lirc-ei'igine and the street-cars or passing vehicles in the street when the engine is issuing from the enginehouse.

In all munici 'ialities the [ire-engine is, by virtue of the emergency of its calls, given the right of way. It frequently ha iipens, however, in the streets of greatest tratlic that the noise of vehicles and of the street-cars make it impossible for the niotorman of the car or the driver of the vehicle to hear the gong in the engine-house, with the result that the street car or vehicle continues its passage only to [ind itself immediately across the door of the engine-house at the very instant that the horses are dashing forth with the engine. This is liable to result in loss of life and the crippling of the engine or its team, so that its usefulness for the time being is destroyed at a critical juncture.

My invention provides a visual indicatorsignal in the shape of a conspimious semaphore-arm located at the curbstone and which arm at night is provided with a light and which arm is automatically extended to indicate danger by electrical appliances set into action through a switch by the opening of the stablcdoor to release the horses from their stalls; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts operating in the manner set forth, which I will now proceed to more fully describe with reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the somaphore-operatin g mechanisi'n. Fig. l is a fragmental view of the outer end of the semaphore. Fig. 2 is a side view of the semaphoreoperating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a part of the operating mechanism. Fig. 4- is a view showing the application of my signal, and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the circuit-closer on the stable-door.'

Referring to Fig. 4:, P is a post about fifteen feet high and bearing on its top a semaphore-box R and a semaphore-arm S. The post bearing this arm is located at the curbstone, and the semaphore-arm is arranged to be dropped from an elevated position to ahorizontal position (shown in dotted lines) to indicate dangeN whenever the engine is about to issue from the house. This visual signal may always be noticed and no amount of noise in the street can obliterate the warning, as the signal is a conspicuous visible one. A represents the tire-engine house. B is one of the horse-stalls, and C the door to the stall which opens outwardly and which is arranged generally to be automaticallyopened by the sending in of the lire-alarm. X is a galvanic battery, and l 2 3 are circuit-wires which extend to the semaphore box and also connect through wires 1! and 7) with a circuit-closing device on the stable-door. The wires 1 and 3 (see Figs. 4t and 5) extend from the semaphore into the engine-house and connect with the battery X and circuit-closing device as follows: \V ire 1 goes directly to one terminal of the circuit-closing device at the stabledoor through thewire connectionmand wire 3 goes first to one pole of the battery and then through the battery and wire to the other terminal of the circuit-closing device. Any switch device may be employed; but I. have shown an old form of switch or circuit-closer in Fig. 5, which acts automatically. A metal frame D carries a hanging and pivoted arm I), which has an enlargement (a at its upper end and a foldinglea'fdatitslower end. This leaf is so articulated that it locks with and moves the arm I) when pressed in one direction and folds independently in the other direction without moving arm 1). On the upper part of the frame D is a block 7 of insulation on which is mounted the terminal spring-contact c, which connects with the wire I), and which terminal a is immediately above the enlargement 0, which is electrically connected with the wire a. The folding leaf (Z is in range to be engaged by the stable-door C whenever it opens in the direction of the arrow, and when this leaf is thus pressed outwardly it locks with and turns arm 1) and causes the enlargement 0 to touch the spring 0', and thus brings together the two terminals of the battery-circuit which energizes an electromagnet of the semaphore-box and drops the signal-arm. hen the stabledoor C closes, it simply defleets the leaf (Z and passes by the same without turning the arm 1).

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, which illustrate the semaphore-operating mechanism, at is a base upon which is mounted a small electric motor 5. S is the semaphore-arm, which is arranged outside the semaphore-box on the post. 6 is an operating-plate for raismg and lowering the semaphore-arm. 7 1s an electromagnet which is operated by the circuit-closer on the stall-door of the enginehouse and which electromagnet in turn trips a locking device and also operates a switchlever that directs the electric current through the motor, which motor is geared to the semaphore-operating plate 6.

The electrical connection of the semaphorebox to the engine-house is made as follows: The three wires 1 2 3, which run to the semaphore-box, are connected as follows: lVire 1 goes to a binding-post 1 and one terminal of the electromagnet 7, wire 2 runs to the binding-post 2 on the base, and wire 3 runs to the binding-post 3 on the base. The other terminal of electromagnet 7 connects by wire 8 with a handle-switch 9, which normally rests on a plate 10 in electrical connection with the binding-post 3 and wire 3, so that wires 1 and 3 running from the engine-house stall-door control the electromagnet 7. The bindingpost 2 connects by wire 11 with one pole of the motor and the other pole of the motor connects by wire 12 with the plate 13 of the two insulated spring plates 13 13, forming a switch. The other spring-plate, which is parallel and close to 13, is connected by wire 14 with the handle-switch 9, plate 10, the binding-posts 3, and wire 3. It will therefore be seen that the wires 2 and 3 from the enginehouse control the motor and cause the same above to electrically connect them. To pull it into this contact, a pullrod 16 is connected to the lever at one end and at the other end is connected to the armature-lever 17, which is in front of the poles of the electromagnet T. This armature-lever is normally held away from the poles of the magnet against a stop 18 by a helical spring 19 and tension-adjusting screw 20; but when the electromagnet is energized the armature-lever is pulled toward its poles and the switch-lever 15 is made to close the motor-circuit through the switchplates 13 and 13. At the same moment the circuit is made through the motor certain locking devices for the semaphorearm are released, which I will now describe.

As already described, the semaphore-arm is lifted and dropped by the operating-plate 6. This plate is a disk formed with an eccentric projection having a wrist-pin bearing a roller 21. This plate revolves in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 1 and 3 and the roller strikes against a bent arm 22 on the semaphore and holds it normally in its elevated position, as shown. The plate 6 is locked in this position except when the signal is to be made effective by the opening of the stalldoor, and then the further revolution of the plate causes the roller to pass off the end of the bent arm of the semaphore and the latter is allowed to drop. The means by which this action is effected are as follows: The plate 6 (see Fig. 3) is rigidly fixed to a shaft 23, bearing a worm-wheel 24. A worm 25 on a right angular shaft 26 above engages this worm-wheel, and this right-angular shaft in turn bears a worm-wheel 27, engaged by a worm 28 on the extended end of the armature-shaft 28 of the motor, so that the speed of the motor may be sufliciently reduced and a relatively small motor is made to exercise suflicient power to lift the semaphore-arm. On the inner side of the operating-plate 6 there is rigidly fixed a circular flange 29, which is cut away between the points :1? :1; in Fig. 1n the gap in the flange is arranged a yielding circular slide 30, which is held to the forward position by a coil-spring 31 and curved arm 31, so as to close the gapin the flange except for a small opening shown at y. Into this opening (see Fig. 2) a locking-lug 32 on the switch-lever 15 is allowed to penetrate when the switchlever is out of the switch above. \Vhen, however, this switch-lever is pulled by the magnet 7 to close the switch above, the lug 32 is simultaneously withdrawn from the opening in the flange of the operating-plate to allow it to turn from the action of the motor. After this lug is withdrawn from the opening in the flange it rides on the edge of the flange until the plate makes nearly a complete revolution, and then the lug again drops into the opening in the flange again; but it does not immediatelystop the motor, but does so with a gradual cushioned effect by virtue of the yielding stopslide 30.

If it were not for this cushioned slide acting as a stop, the momentum of the motor-armature after the current was cut oil would jam the flange so hardv against the lug or the switch-lever as to produce destructive strains and also pinch and hold the switch-lever so tightly that the electromagnet could not pull the lug away from the end of the flange at the next signaling movement.

The semaphore may be of any material, but as shown it is made of aluminium for lightness, with stil'lening-i'langes along the edges. It has a metal fulcrum-head 33, which is pivoted on a bolt 3% in a strong upright standard 35, and on the opposite side of the stand ard a boss or hub 36, Fig. 1, is carried by this bolt, around which boss is wound the spiral convolutions of a stout spring 37. One arm, 37", of this spring is extended to and hooked in an opening at the inner end of the semaphore, and the other end of the spring is hooked into a metal bar 38, whose lower end is bent at right angles and bears against an :uljusting-screw 39. This spring serves to oppose the weight or the semaphore, so as to reduce the work which the motor has to perform in lifting the semaphore and also retards and cushions the blowo't' the semaphore in falling. The tension which this spring we crts on the semaphore may be regulated at will by the set-screw 39, so as to almost perfectly balance the semaphore, thus contribut ing to its longevity and the ease of working the same.

To render the semaphore effective in the night-time, an electric lamp 40, Fig. 1, is arranged in red glass in the outer end of the semaphore. Two wires etl and &1 lead from the poles of the lamp to two insulated contact plates 42 and 4-2 on the lower edge of the inner portion of the semaphore, and these two plates when the semaphore falls drop between and come into contact with two corresponding plates 43 43, which by wires 14 and 4 1 are connected, respectively, to the hinding- posts 2 and 3, which supply the motor. lVhen, therefore, the electromagnet is initially operated through its wires 1 and 3 to unlock the semapl'iore mechanism and start the motor and is then cut out by the circuitbreaker at the stall-door, the current then coming over wires 2 and to the bindingposts 2 and 3" divides at these points and goes partly through the motor and partly tliirongh the shmit-wires 14; and ist" to light the electrical lamp in the fallen semaphore.

it it be desired at any time to cut out the semaphore mechanism, so that the arm shall not drop, as when cleaning the stall or exercising the horses, the handle-switch 9 is simply removed from the suhjacent plate 10, and the electromagnet-circuit and the motor-circuit are thereby broken.

As an adjunct to the semaphore, to give andible evidence oi the danger position of the semaplmre, a mechanical or jingle hell or electric bell may be set into action by its fall; but as such devices are well known and not claimed as new I. have not considered it necessary to show them.

In referring to the application ol my invention to a lire-engine house lwould have it understood that it is meant to include also the houses which contain the truck or hook-andladder apparatus as well.

In delining my invention with greater clearness 1 would state that l am aware that electrically-operated semaphores have long been used along the lines of railways and that antomatic circuitclosing switches have also been employed in various ways, and I make no claim to these features broadly. I do not know, however, that the special combinations of devices adopted for the use described have ever been known or used, and they constitute my new and valuable invention. 1. do not conline my invention, however, to the exact construction and arrangement of parts shown, as they may be varied in many details without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is----- 1. An indicator -signal for a-lireengine house, comprising a pivoted semaphorearm, an electric motor for operating the same, a locking device for the motor mechanism. a tripping device t'or the locking device, an electromagnet controlling the tripping de vice, a post carrying these semaphore devices located near the streetcurb, circuit wires extending therefrom to the stall-door ot the engil'ie-house, and a circuit-closing device arranged to be operated by the opening of the stall-door, substantially as described.

52. An electric imlicat'or-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, an electric motor for raising and dropping the same, a locking device for the electric motor arranged to stop the same when the S0]llitl'dlOl'O-fllni is in elevated position, a tripping device't'or the locking device for releasing the same, an electromagnet controlling the tripping device, an electric circuit extending from said electromagnet to the stall-door, and a circuit-closing device arranged to be closed by the opening ol the stall-door, substantially as described.

3. An electric imlicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, an electric motor for raising and dropping the same, a locking device for the electric motor arranged to stop the same when the semaphore-arm is in elevated position, a tripping device for the locking device for releasii'ig the same, an electromagnet controlling the tripping device, an electric circuit for the electromagnet, a separate electric circuit for the motor, and an aui tomatic switch for closing the motor-circuit 3 by the unlocking movement of the tripping device substantially as described.

4. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, bearing an electric lamp with two circuit-wires and two contactterminals, a base bearing an electric motor and two binding-posts and two contact-terminals arranged in a shunt-circuit of the binding-posts and adapted to coact with the contact-terminals of the semaphore-arm, mechanism controlled by the electric motor for raising and dropping the semaphore-arm, a looking device for the electric motor arranged to stop the same when the semaphore is in elevated position, a tripping device for the looking device for releasing the same, an electro magnet controlling the tripping devices, an electric circuit for the electromagnct, a second electric circuit for the motor, and an automatic switch arranged to close the motor-circuit by the unlocking movement of the tripping deviccs substantially as described.

5. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, an electric motor for raising and dropping the same, a locking device for the electric motor arranged to stop the same when the semaphore-arm is in elevated position, said locking device being constructed as a yielding stop to take up the final momentum revolutions of the motor, a tripping device for the locking device and an electromagnet controlling the same substantially as described.

6. In an electric indicator-signal, the com bination with the motor and the semaphorearm; of a lifting, locking, and dropping device for said arm consisting of a revolving plate having an eccentric-bearing for acting upon the semaphore and a circular flange on its side with an opening or gap in the same, a locking and tripping lug arranged to drop into "the gap in the circular flange, and a yielding and circularly-moving stop bearing on the plate adapted to receive the contact of the locking-lug and take up the momentum force of the motor during its final revolutions v in coming to rest as described. 7. In an electric indicator-signal, the coml bination with the motor mechanism, the piv oted semaphore-arm and thelifting and dropping mechanism for the same: of a support to which the semaphore-arm is pivoted, a boss located at the pivotal point of said support, a coil-spring wound around the boss and having one end extended and secured to the semaphore-arm, and a tension-adjusting bar hung on the semaphore-support and locked to the other end of the coil-spring and having a set-screw at its free end arranged to deflect said bar to regulate the tension of the spring substantially as described.

8. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm, an electric motor for operating the same, starting, stopping, and locking devices for the same, an electromagnet for controlling the starting device, a post carrying these devices located at the street-curb, a fire-engine house having its horse-stall door provided with an automatic circuit-closer, a source of electromotive force and circuit-wires running from the street semaphore to the circuit-closing devices at the stall-door substantially as described.

9. An electric indicator-signal, comprising a pivoted semaphore-arm bearing an electric lamp with contact-terminals, a base having corresponding contact-terminals, an electric motor for raising and dropping the arm, starting, stopping and locking devices for the motor, an electromagnet for controlling the starting device, a support in the street for carrying all of these devices, a tire-engine house with stall-door provided with a circuitcloser, three wires running from the external semaphore to the interior of the engine-house and forming two circuits, one of which is extended to the stall-door, to be under the control of its circuit-closer and connects with and operates the starting-electromagnet of the semaphore, and the other of which circuits extends to and operates the motor and the electric lamp, and a source of electromotive force for actuating said devices substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE W. PETTEY. Witnesses:

SOLON (J. Kmiox, EDWD. \V. Bra-

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