US958224A - Electric signaling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

L. W. CARROLL. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Y APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1906..

Patented May 17, 1910.

Y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a. l n.

L. W. CARROLL;-

ELEGTRIG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1906.

Patented May 1?, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LOUIS W. CARROIL, OF ANAMQSA, IOWA.

ELECTRI SIGNALING APPARATUS;

Specification of LetterslPatent.

Appiieauon tied July is, 190e. seriaim. 326,430.

To ull lwhom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, Louis W. CARROLL, a #citizen vof the United States, and resident of Anamosa, county-olf Jones, and Staate y.olf

rality I'of stations all served by a single sig-'1 nal line Without'giving any perceptible indication at any lof the 'otherstations upon the iline that one of them is being called.

The invention has for its 4object `:to pro- -vide an improved electric signal, and especially to make. it possible to signal any one of a large number of stations,r all-of which are upon the saine electric circuit or line, bythe selective method.

The apparatus provided by the invention will -ordinarily be used in conjunction with the so-called jparty line ltelephone apparatus, and will then preferably include at 'each telephone station or instrument upon the line an electric signal comprising an acoustic vibratile body, such for example as the wellknown timing fork, that for each station upon the line having a di'erent tone or period of vibration,'and an electro-magnet for vibrating the acoustic body. At the central station there will then be provided,

means for sending 'over `the line a pulsating or alternating electric current having -a :frequencyvequa'l to or in harmony with the period of vibration of the signal at any one of the line stations, and which 'therefore will actuate the signal at that particular station without appreciably affecting any of the others. y

To increase the intensit of the signal there will usually be provided, at -each of the line stations, some form of resonator, and this will lmost convenientlytake lthe form of an open-ended tube or pipe, the mouth of which Will be placed adjacent the vibratile body of Vthe signal. This form of 5resonator maybe tuned to respond only to the principal tone or any-definite harmonic tone-of the signal, and may serve, therefore, to lncrease the range of tone which ina-y be ratus .of the invention, while any vibrations produced in thesignalto which it is applied, other `.than those of v-the tone "to Awhich the' resonator-is tuned, will -not 4be rendered zaudi- 'ble thereby.

In 4the preferred yform of embodiment of theinventionfthe apparatus at `the central, station for sending a pulsating l.or alternating electric current over the lil-1e includes some source of lelectric energy, as :a storage battery, :and .a plurality of variable resistance devices each controllediby .a vibratile body which is tuned in harmony with that of vthe signal at one of 'the line stationsf The apparatus Lat `the sending station also includes an electro-magnet 'for actuating 'each l of the vibratile bodies at thatstation,

and in order that the apparatus for signaling each stationmay be operated independently of those for signaling other stations, the electro-magnet and variable resistance device of each part ofthe sending apparatus are in a branch of the line circuit, and each of these circuit .branches vhas a switch, normally open, 'but which may be closed 'to complete the line circuit through the `particular branch which it controls. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a diagrammatic illustration of one form o apparatus constructedaccording Ito the invention; Fig. 2 shows-a detail ofthat part of the apparatus which will commonly be located at the central or sending station, some of the parts bein shown in vertical section, as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, and other parts bein shown in diagram; Fig. 3 is a plan View o the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a modiied form of sending a paratus; Fig. '5 is a Vertical section on vt e line 5+5 of F ig.4=; Fi '6 is a central vertical section of the pre erred form of si nal to be llocated at each of the line stations.;l ig. `7 is a plan yiewv on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modied forni of signal; Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the same; Fi 10' is a side elevation, partly in section, o a still further modied form oflsignal; Fig. 11 is a plan View of the same; Fig. 12pi-s similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of sending apparatus; Fig. 13 is a'plan View of certain parts shown in Fig. 12.; and Fig. 14 illustrates 4in diagram a modifiedy arrangement of fthe apparatus. l

Patented May 17,1910.

practically produced .by the signaling appa iii/0 Y v socket, and by means of this switch the line There is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings a form of signaling apparatus comprising a central or sending station and'three receiving stations, all upon the same line or electric circuit and any one of which maylbe called without indicating that fact at either of the others. That part of the apparatus line 26, being divided at -27 into branches 28,

29, 30, one for each station to bev called, and reuniting at 31. In each of the branches 28, 29, 30, there is a switch 32, shown as taking the form of the common telephone plug and circuit may be closed through the particular branch. which it controls. There is also in each of the circuit branches a. sending instrument 33,'shown in-detail in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, and at each of the line stations, as 34, 35, form of which is clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Each of the signals 37 is preferably bridged or shunted into the line cir-l cuit, as indicated at the upper portion of Fig. 1, and the .current most conveniently returns to the sending station through the earth, grounded terminals being provlded at 38 and 39 for that purpose. V

For each of the sending instruments 33 there is preferably provided a base or stand-y ard 40 (Fig. 2), having, as shown, a yoke .45 from which is suspended an electro-magnet'44. For lthe armature of the magnet there is provided a vibr'atile body, such as the reed 43, and this is preferably secured to a vertical portion 41 of the base 40 by a bolt 42.A The reeds 43 of the several instruments 33 have a different period of vibration or tone, this being preferably accomplished by making each of a different length, as clearly shown lin Fig. 1. 7

A variable resistance device 46 is also mounted upon the base 40 of each of the sending instruments, and preferably this device is of-that form in. which an electric current is caused to traverse a quantity of granulated. carbon', the resistance to the passage of the current being varied by causing the particles of carbon to become more or less compacted by pressure.

As shown the variable resistance device 46 comprises a tubular casing having. its ends closed by diaphragms 47 48, secured in (place by means of threadedcap rings 49,

upon the inner face of'each of the diaphragms there is a carbon disk 50. Each of the dlaphra s 47 48, is also provided with 36, there is a signal 37, one.

an outward y extending threaded stem 51,'

52,'the lower one of-which is .secured to the base 40 and serves as a support for the device, while the upper one 52 connects with `the reed 43. A quantity of granulated carbon 53 is inclosed within the variable'resistance device between the two diaphragms 47, 48, and becomes more or less compacted by relative movement of the two diaphragms caused by the vibration of the reed 43.

I n order that the connection between the threaded stem 52 of one of the diaphragms of the variable resistance device and the reed may not serve as a fulcrum as the latter vibrates, thus permitting Ythe reed to' buckle between this connection and its support, it is preferably made rigid for a portion of its length by the application thereto of a reinforcin plate 54. This reinforcing plate extends rom the point of connection of the threaded stem 52 `for a considerable distance' toward the support 41, leaving a short section of the reed next adjacent the support'free to flex as an elastic hinge when v the reed is vibrated.

One of the branches, as 28, of the line circuit is caused to traverse the variable resistance device 46 and the electro-magnet 44 of each of the sending instruments, and as shown is connected with one of the threaded #stems 51 of the variable resistance device at 55, with the reed (which has electrical connectlon with the other threa'ded stem '52 of l the variable resistance device) at 56, and with the two terminals of the electro-magnet 44 at 57 and '58.` v

For the signal appar tus 37 Yat each of the line stations 34, 35, 36, there is provided a suitable base 59, preferably taking the form of a wall plate to beapplied to the face of a telephone instrument. rllhe apparatus of each f the signals comprises an acoustic vibratile body, as the reed 60, having one of its ends rigidly secured to the base 59 by a bolt 61 and an electro-magnet`62 carried by the base 59 in such position that one of its poles is adjacent the freeI end of thereed 60. Through the coils 63 of this electro-magnet 'the line circuit 26 is caused to pass, the magnets of 'the signals at the various stations being preferably connected 'to the'line in a shunt or bridg In order to increase the intensity of the signal at each station, there is preferably provided, for the reed 60 some form of resonator, and as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7 of the drawings this takes the form of an openended tube 64, carried, by a'Joracket-arm 65 of the base 59, in such a positionv that its mouth 66 v is adjacent the free end of the reed 60. This resonator may be of proper size to respond to the principal tone or anyharmonic tone of the .reed 60 when vibrated, and magnies the sound of the vibrating reed to produce a signal of considerable intensity.

the-

esami 11n practice, if the device is :to be .used in conjunction with telephone apparatus, the storage batteries 24 or other generator, fthe sending vinstruments 33 and the switches :32 wiiill :be ilocated in any convenient posit-ion at the telephane [central station, the switches 32 preferably forming .a part od. the operating :switch board, not shown, of the telephone system, while the signal line 26 :and the several signals 3.7 will be incorporated with :the telephone lime fand its 'various instruments. When not in use the circuit will be open at each of'theifswitches 32, and whenever a given station is to Kbelcalled ithe switch of the lbranch of the circuit 28, 29er 30 shaving a sending instrument 33, the -vibratile body 43 of which is tuned in harmony with the `v-ibratile body 60 of the station to be called, will be closed, thereby completing the circuit through that branchvand lits sending instrument. p

The flow of current from the storage batteries 24 Avitalizes the magnet 44 of the sending instrument a d the magnets 62 of'all of the yreceiving i ruments, causing them to attract the vibratile reeds 43 and 60, respeotively. The raising ofthe -reed 43 raises the diaphragm 47 of 'the variable resistance device 46 and :increases the resistance to the ow of current by reducing the pressure upon the quantity of granulated carbon 53 contained therein. 'llhis weakens the flow of current through :the line, -zpermitting th`e vibratile reeds 43 and 60, owing to their elasticity, to fall -away from the magnets of the sending and receiving stations. The lowering ofthe .reed 43 immediately diminishes the resistance tothe flow of current by means of the increased pressure upon the upper diaphragm of the yvariable resistance device, and the-magnets are again suiiiciently vitalized to attract the reeds 43 and which they control. In this way a rapid vibration lof the reed 43 is produced and a corresponding vibration is also produced inA Athe reed 60 of that one of the signals 37 Whichis of the .proper tone to vibrate with it, ithe others, lbeing incapable of vibrating at the same rate, are butlittle affected.

The Avibration .of thereed 60 of t-he vrecci-.ving 'instrument or signal 37 is immediately .communicated to the column of air by the sending `instruments 33 :may `.he 'p caused-to :flow through the line of 'the receiving .instruments by `the :use .of an ind-uction coil, -diagrammatically indicated .at 67.,

14. The dine .circuit 68 then constitutes the lsecondary .circuit ofthe 4induction coil and `is preferably ,provided with ground terminals 69 and 70, vwhile the circuit ,26 including .the storage batteries 24 :and the eendingv instruments 33 constitutes the Aprimary circuit of :the induction coil, a return wire 7l, leading tol the batteries, being preferably substituted for the ground fterlninals 38, 39 of 1.

Other forms of vibratile bodies .capable of vibrating kat a sulicient rate -to produce musical tones may be employed .in Vfthe apparatus, and .in Figs. l0 and 11 of the drawings there is illustrated a receiving instrument vor lsignal having a metallic string or cord 72, ystretched over ay bridge 72a by means of a tuning key 73. A resonator in the form of a sounding board 74 is preferably incorporated `with vthis form of receiving signal, andthe same A`form lof resonator lmay vbe employed in connection with a signal comprislng a vibratile reed 76, as shown in 4F ig. 9. When a soundingvlboard is emloyed, as a resonator, an electro-magnet 75 is vsupported over the board to actuate the -vibratile bodyof the signal, and is carried by a bracket-arm 77 rising from one'of a pair offsuitable standards 78, which also support the soundingboard.

It may be desirable in. some instances .to incorporate in a single sending instrument 33 a plurality of variable ,resistance devices of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, all of which may be simultaneously actuated from the vibratile reed 43 of the instrument. sending instrument 4ol" Athis form :is illus-y trated :in Figs. 4 and 5, and in Fig.- 14 of the drawingsi Though moredesirable .than a sending instrument 'having but a .lslngle variable resistance device, it 1s :notessential to the operation of the form of apparatus including the induction coil -67 shown in Fig. 14, and has been added to :that figurey merely ffor the purpose of illustration. In

this-form of sending instrument, vas shown, the vibratile reed 43 is .provided with a cross-arm .79, and .a yplural-ity Aof `wiriable diately below the cross-arm, the upper threaded stem 52 of these devices being` directly connected thereto. The electric current is then led to the instrument through the Wire 25 connected to the stem 51 of one Fof the variable resistance devices at 55, and is caused to traverse the several devices in series, as' most clearly shown in Fig. 5, being led from that one at the left as viewed in 'that figure to the one at the eXtreme right, through the cross-arm 79 which is insulated from the stem 52 of the variable resistance device 81 and from the reed 43 by means of washers 83, 84 of non-conducting material, and passesA from the stem 51 of the variable resistance device 82 to the corresponding stem of the lvariable resistance device 81 through a suitable connection 85 and through that device to the reed 43, as inthe form of vconstruction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Figs. 12 and 13 there is illustrated a form of sending instrument having a resonator 86 in the form'of a sounding board. This resonator is supported by suitable standards from a base 87, and an electromagnet 88 is carried by a bracket-arm 89 rising from the same base and occupies a v proper'position over the sounding board for actuating a vibratile lreed 90, mounted on the board. v; A variable resistane device 9 1 of the form illustrated in Figs. 2 and3, 1s

mounted on the base below the board. It is mechanically connected to the sounding board by means of of its diaphragms, as 47, and is electrically connected to the vmagnet 88 by means of a conducting Wire 93 leading from the bolt 92 tothe magnet. In this form of instrument 'the operation of the variable resistance device is directly effected by the vibration of the sounding board rather than by that of the vibra-tile reed, while the sounding board serves further as aresonator to intensity the sound of the vibratile reed, and the instrument therefore is of a desirable form for use as a signal without other apparatus.

As a single electric wire is capable v of l simultaneously transmitting currents having different periods of vibration or phases, more than one of the signals 37 may be vsimultaneously operated by closing the switch 32 ofmore than one of the branches 28, 29, 30 at the same time. The apparatus is therefore capable of use for the purpose of sending a plurality of signals of diierent character over a single line at one time.

\ tro-magnet, a tuned The apparatus may also be used as a musical instrument.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with an electricircuit having a generator, a variable resista ce device, and atransmitting and a receiving elecvibratile armature for the transmitting electro-magnet operatively connectedv to the vari ble resistance device,

a bolt 92 rising from oneA and a vibratile armature for the receiving electro-magnet tuned in harmony with the rst-named armature.

2. In combination with an electric circuit having a generator, a variable resistance device, and a transmitting and a receiving electro-magnet, a tuned vibratile armature for the transmitting electro-magnet operatively connected to the variable resistance device, a vibratile armature for the receiving electro-magnet tuned in, harmony with the first-named armature, and a resonator for the second-named armature.

3. In combination, a generator, a trans` mitting and a receiving electro-magnet served by the generator, a variable resistance device in circuit with the coils of the transmitting electro-magnet, a tuned vibratile armature for the transmitting electro-magnet operatively' connected to the variable resistance device, and a vibratile armature for the receiving electro-magnet tuned in harmony with the first-named armature.l e

4. In lcombination, a generator, a plurality of transmitting and receiving electro-magnets served by the generator, a variable resistance device in circuitwith the coils of each of the transmitting electro-magnets', av

tuned vibratile armature for each of the transmitting electro-magnets operatively connected to the variable resistance device in circuit with the coils of such magnet, the

armatures being of differing pitch, and a vibratile armature for each of the receiving electro-magnets, each one of such armaturesbeing tuned in harmony with a separate one of the armatures of the transmitting electromagnets. f

5. In combination, a primary electric circuit having a generator, a variable resistance device, and an electro-magnet, a tunedvibra- 4 .tiled armature for the electro-magnet operatively connected with the variable resistance device, av secondary circuit having an electromagnet, and a vibratile yarmature for the last-named electro-,magnet tuned in harmony with the first-named' armature.

'6. In combination, a primary electric circuit having a generator, a variable resistance device, and an electro-magnet, a tuned vibratile armature for the electro-magnet operatively connected with the variable resistanceA device, a secondary circuit having an'electro-magnet, a vibratile armature for the electro-magnet of the secondary circuit tuned in harmony with 1the first-named armature, and a resonator for the second-named armature. l 7 .,.In combination, a primary electric circuit) having agenerator and a plurality of parallel branches, an electro magnet, a switch and a variable resistance device in each ofv the branches, a tuned vibratile armature for the electro-magnet of each `of the branches ofthe circuit operatively connected with the variable resistance device of the same branch of the circuit, the pitch of each of the armatures being diierent from thatof havin a variable resistance device comprising a all of the others, a secondary electric circuit having a plurality of electro-magnets, and a vibratile armature for each of the electromagnets of the secondary circuit, each of such armatures being tuned in harmony with one of the nist-named armatures.

8. In combination, a Vprimary electric circuit having a generator and a plurality of parallel branches, an 1' electro magnet, a switch and a variable resistance device in each of the branches, a tuned vibratile armature for the electro-,magnet of each of the branches ofthe circuit operatively'connected with the variable resistance device of the same branchl of the circuit, the pitch of each of the armatures being diferent from that of all of the others, a secondary electric ciry cuit having a plurality of electro-magnets, a

' variable resistance devices.

vibratile armature for each ofthe electromagnets of the secondary circuit, each of such armatures being tuned in harmony with one of the first-named armatures, and a resonator for each of the second-named armatures.

9. In combination, a Xed support, a tuned vibratile reed having an elastic hinged connection with the fixed support and a rigid body portion, anf electric variable resistance device, operative connection between the variable resistance device and a rigid portion of the vibratilev reed, an electro-magnet acting upon the reed, and electrical -connection'between the coils of the electro-magiiet and the variable resistance device. n

10. In combination, a fixed support, a vtuned vibratile reed having an elastic hinged connection with the fixed support and a rigid body portion, an electric'variable resistance device comprising a movable diaphragm connected by a `bolt to a rigid portion of the vibratilereed, an electro-magnet acting upon the reed, and'electrical connection between the coils of the electro-magnet and the variable resistance device. y

11. In combination, a tuned vibratile body of magnetizable material, a plurality of electric lvariable resistance devices, operative connection between the vibratile body and each of the variable resistance devices, an electro-magnet acting upon the vibratile body, and electrical connection between the coils of the 'electro-magnet and all of the 12. In combination, a tuned vibratile body of magnetizable material, a` plurality of electric variable resist-ancekdevics e h comprising a movable diaphra m having operative connection with the vibratile body, an electro-magnet acting upon the vibratile body', and electrical connection between the coils of the electrofmagnet and' all of the variable resistance devices. v

13. In combination, an electric circuit a generator, an electro-magnet and movable diaphragm, and a timed vibratile armature for the electro-magnet operatively connected to the movable diaphragm of the variable resistance device.

14. In combination, an electric circuit having a. generator, an electro-magnet and a plurality of variable resistance devices each comprising a movable diaphragm, and a tuned vibratile armature for the'electromagnet having a cross-arm connected by `a bolt to the movable diaphragm ofeach of the variable resistance devices. Y

15. In combination, a fixed support, a tuned vibratile reed having an' elastic hinged connection with the fixed support and a rigid body portion, a cross-arm on the rigidbody portion of the reed, a plurality of electric variabll resistance devices each comprising a movable diaphragm connected by a bolt to ,the cross-arm of the reed, an electromagnet acting upon the reed, and electrical connection between the coils of ,the electro magnet and all of the variable resistance devices. f

16. In combination, a generator, a plurality of transmitting and receiving electromagnets served by the generator, a variable resistance device and a switch in circuit with the coils of each of the transmitting electromagnets, a tuned vibratile armature for each' of the transmitting electro-magnets operatively connected to the variab e resistance device in circuitwith the coils of such inagnets, the armatures being of differing pitch, and a vibratile armature for each of the receiving electro-magnets, each one of such armatures being tuned in harmony lwith a transmitting electro-magnet, and a pluralityv of receiving electro-magnet armatures, each one of'such armatures being tuned in harmonywith a separate one of the transmity ting,v electro-magnetI armatures. 18. In combination, a branching electric circuit having agenerator and an electromagnet, a plurality of variable resistance devices each in a branch of the circuit, a plurality of tuned vibratile electro-magnet i armatures of diiering pitch, and operative vices each connection between each of such armatures and one of the variable resistance devices. 19. In combination, a branching electric circuit having a generator and an electromagnet, a plurality of variable resistance de in a'branch of the circuit and each comprising a movable diaphragm, a p1u` rality of tuned vibratile4 electro-magnet armatures ofd diering pitch, and operative connection between each of such armatures and the diaphragm of one ofthe variable resistance devices.

20. In combination, an electric circuit having a generator, an electro-magnetand a` variable resistance device comprising a xed and a movable diaphragm, and arvibratile armature for the electro-magnet operatively i connected tothe movable diaphragm'of the variable resistance device.-

21. In combination, a generator, a plurality of variable resistance devices, a plu! rality of switches, an electro-magnet served from the generator and'having its coils in circuit with each of the variable resistance devices and one of the switches, a'plurality of tuned vibratile electro-magnet armatures ofl ditl'ering pitch, and operative connection between each one of such armatures and a separate one of the variable resistance devlees.

Louis W.- CARROLL;

' =Witnessesz p CHABms B. GrLLsoN, Louis KoGrnmsoN.

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