USRE13707E - Registering system - Google Patents

Description

R. H. LONG. REGISTERING SYSTEM.

- APPLICATION FILED JULY 2a, 1913.

- Reissued Mar. 31, 1914. v I 7 13,707.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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R. H. 7 LONG. REGISTERING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY Z8, 1913- I I I Reissued Mar. 31, 1914. j 1 3,707.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTIOR RICHARD [1 L 0N6 Aria/awn UNITED STATES PATENT orator RICHARD H. LONG, 01 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

REGISTERING SYSTEM.

Original No. 1,055,929, dated March 11,

1913. Serial No. 781,884. 1

'to provide coacting means whereby one or more bulletin boards may be operated from a. central station, say situated adjacent the field where the game takes place, the bulletin boards being remote from the central station or controlling device.

Further objects of my invention are to adapt the system to operate on a minimum number of main conductors between the controlling device and mechanism at each bul-.

letin board, and in general, to provide a system simple in construction and positive in action.

A further object of my invention is to provide in combination With the system, a telephone circuit provided with atransmitter at the controlling station and a receiver at the bulletin board, the latter being provided with a megaphone to render the voice audible at the great distance. By this arrangement statements or remarks may be transmitted to the observers at the bulletin board. directly from the field of action, and thus provide means for communicating that which cannot be indicated upon the bulletin board. By way of example, the invention is disclosed as applied to a bulletin board devised for indicating the score, various moves of players, etc., which concerns base ball, it being obvious from the following detailed description that the mechanism may he applied for use in connection with bulletin boards other than'those relating to base ball, or in fact, as means'for signaling at distances, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

My invention may generally be described as being an annunciator system which includes a group of annunciators located at a 65 receiving station and each provided with means for selectively displaying signals of each annunciator that is to be operated, there being electromagnetic operating mechanism included in the annunciators and selector; and-switching mechanism located at a transmitting station in controlling relation to theelectromagnetic operating mechanism of the annunciators and selector. The annunciators preferably operate in dis tinct collocated display fields that are individual thereto.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bulletin board, embodying mechanism forming a part of my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical view of the circuit and apparatus used in connection With the system. Fig. is a fragmentary pdrtion of the bulletin board disclosed in Fig. 1, a portion of one of the indicating disks being shown in elevation.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughoutthe views.

Abulletin board 3 has painted or otherwise legibly displayed thereon, the names of the two teams participating in the game, and under or in relative proximity to each named team, the names of the players may be displayed, each player having in relative proximity thereto a distinct number and preferably an abbreviation of theposition which he is'playing. In general, these legible characters which relate to the teams participating in the game, may be termed check means, inasmuchas certain characters. as will be subsequently described, are displayed ,and refer to the active player which is designated by such character. For instance. as disclosed in Fig. 1, the check device for the Oakland team is designated generally by 4, and is placed adjacent one of the lateral margins of the board, and that for Portland, by 5, disposed adjacent the other lateral margin of the board, and as an example, numeral 5 is the character referring to the person playing first base.

With the idea of simplicity and symmetry, that portion of the board between the check means 4 and 5 is provided with a plurality of apertures each of which is preferably designated legibly, as to What the character appearing at the opening, refers. That is, adjacent'the top of the board a diamond is indicated with apertures designated and indiffering import; a selector for selecting dicated by characters as follows: home base designated.

The board carries preferably at its upper end a megaphone 19 in operative relation to a receiver 20, the former enabling the sound reproduced by the receiver to be audible at a great distance.

The circuit includes three general sets of mechanism; that designated generally by 21, the operating mechanism preferably located adjacent the ball grounds; that designated by 23 indicating mechanism at the rear of-the bulletin board; and, that designated 22, main switch mechanism, disposed intermediate mechanisms 21 and 23, and preferably positioned, for economical purposes, as near to mechanism 23 as possible, to reduce the resistance of conductors as will subsequently appear. Preferably adjacent the mechanism 21, I provide a trans mitter 24 electrically connected with the receiver through conductors 25 and 26, and

-a switch 27 and electric generating means 28 disposed in one'of the conductors.

The mechanism 21-cons1sts of two rotatable star wheels 29 and 30, the former having characters corresponding to those designating the apertures 6 to 17, inclusive, adjacent each tooth. The wheel 29 is adapted to act upon movable switch points 31, 32 and 33, normally out of contact with each other. One of the teeth of the star wheel, 29, and more specifically that designated 34, is

' longer thanthe others and is adapted to tit) move all of the switch points 31, 32 and 33 in contacting relation, while the other teeth are each adapted to merely contact the switch points 31 and 32. This tooth 34 is designated on the star wheel as Restore.

The star wheel is adapted, by its teeth, to 1 alternately move switch points 35 and 36 in and out of conducting relation. From switch point 31 a conductor 37 leads to an electromagnet 38, point 32 is grounded as at 39;

point 35 is operatively connected by con-' ductor '40 to a second electromagnet 41.;

switch point 36 is grounded, as at 42; and, switch point 33 is electrically connected with conductor through conductor 43.

I may find it desirable to interpose between conductors 37 and 40 a switch device which includes switch points44, 45, and '46, the former connected with conductor 37 through conductor 47; the switch point grounded as at 48; and the point 46 connected with conductor 40 by a conductor 49.

'All of these points are in normally non-conduc'ting relation but by The electromagnet 38is adapted to actupon a; pivotally mounted armature 50 which carries one or more switch points 51 adapted to contact with coacting switch point or points 52 when the electromagnet is energized, and similarly, the electromagnet 41 acts upon pivotally mounted armatures 53 which carries one or more switch points 54 coacting with switch point or points 55. The plurality of switch points 51 and 52, and 53 and 54, are used when the mechanism 21 is to control a. plurality of bulletin boards simultaneously, however, to simplify the-disclosures, merely part of the mechanism of one bulletin board will be disclosed, the description being such that any person skilled in the art will be enabled to make, use and construct this system according to my invention.

Anelectric generator 56, is' grounded at one pole, as at 57-, and the other pole connected through branched conductor 58 to the coil of elec'tromagnets 38 and 41, and by conductor 59 to the switch point or points 51. and conductor 60 to point or points 54.

The switching mechanism 22 comprises a pivotally mounted switcharm 61 adapted to, contact with any one of a plurality ofcon-v tacts 62-, arranged in an arcconcentric to the pivotal point of arm 61. Movement of this arm is limited in one direction by a pin 63, a'tension spring 64 normally tending to retain the arm against pin 63, which, in this position, contacts with the first of the series of contacts 62. The arm 61 has opera-' tively connected thereto a ratchet wheel 65; by which it .is actuated and its movement controlled. In this mechanism an electromagnet 66 is provided, having an electrical connection 67, with the switch point 52 of the mechanism 21, the other end of-the coil of this magnet being grounded as at 68. This connection 67 is one of the two essential conductors which traverse the distance between mechanism 21 and the bulletin board. The electromagnet 66 actsupon a pivotally mounted armature 69 which latter carries a pawl 70, pivotallymounted and disposed to act upon the said ratchet wheel 65. This pawl is normally held outof engagement. wit-h the ratchet wheel by a tension spring 71 which actuates armature 69 characters, as show armature 69 against action of 83, while conductor against the action of the electromagnet 66, the pawl being guided by a pin 72 and held in operative relation to the ratchet wheel by a tension spring 7 3. When the electromagnet 66 is energized, it draws the spring 71 and the pawl 70 actuates the ratchet wheel to move the switch arm 61 from one point to the next adjacent switchpoint 62, at each vibration of the armature 69. Return movement of the arm 61, responsive to spring 64, is normally prevented by a pivotally mounted pawl 74 acting upon ratchet wheel 65. This pawl is provided with an armature portion 75 and is normally retained in engagement with the gatchet wheel by tension spring 76, The arm 75 is acted upon by a second slow. releasing electromagnet 77, of mechanism 22, to disengage pawl 74 when the saidelectro-magnet is energized.

Thearmature 69 carries, isolated therefrom as at 78, a switch point 79 which oscillates with the armature between two contacts 80 and 81. The contact'80, through conduc tor 82, is electrically connected with electromagnet 77, the latter being grounded as at 81 is electrically connected by conductor 84 with switch arm61. The switch point 79 is connected with switch point of mechanism 21, through conductor 85, and the position of this point 79, when the arm 69 is not influenced by electromagnet 66, is to contact with switch point 81, and with point 80, when actuated by the said electromagnet. The conductor 85 serves as the other essential conductor between mechanism 21 and thev bulletin board.

Referring now to mechanism 23, which as disclosed by way of example, includes two'- of the disks and instrumentality appertaining thereto. In practice, a disk for each aperture is provided, adapted to disclose in Fig. 3, one at a time, corresponding with those found in the check means 4 and 5, or to present numbers for keeping score. The disks 86 are rotatably mounted and are advanced independently one from another. With reference to each disk 86, and instrumentality appertaining thereto, the disk carries a ratchet wheel 87 and is acted upon by a coil spring 88 to normally position the disk with the Zero characters disclosed at the front of the boar-(l3. Au electromagnet 89 for each disk is provided, electrically connected by conductors-90 toone of the points 62 of mechanism 22, andgrounded as at91. This electromagnet 89 acts upon a pivotally mounted armature 92, carrying a pawl 93 for engagement with the ratchet wheel 87.

The pawl 93 is normally retained out of engagcmcnt with said ratchet wheel by spring 94: acting upon armature 92 against action of the electromagnet 89. a guide pin 95 and spring 96 positioning the pawl in operative electromagnet 98 tor 101,- to, preferably,

relation to the ratchet wheel. The return movement of the disk after having been actuated by the vibration of armature 92, is normally prevented by a pawl 97 acting upon ratchet wheel 87, this pawl being under the control of an electromagnet 98, the armature 99 coacting therewith, being, through rod 100, operatively connected to the pawl 97 to disengage the same when the element is electrically'connected by conducthe last switch point of mechanism 22, and is grounded as 102. T find it desirable to connect the pawls 97 of a plurality of disks to the one rod 100. in order that the plurality of disks may return to zero by merely energizing the one magnet 98. A spring 103 acting upon any one of the pawls 97 may normally retain all of the said pawls in engagement with their respective ratchet wheel.

The operation of the system is as follows :The reading of the bulletin board as disclosed would be asfollows: Oakland vs. Portland, Oakland at the bat, second inning, first half, two men out, player number 5 at the bat, with two balls and one strike. Player 2 on first base and player 1 on second base. Now suppose another ball is calledon player 5, then the operation would be as follows: Wheel 29, which is located adjacent the ball grounds, is turned until the tooth of the star wheel indicating balls comes under switch point 31, this in turn closes the circuit four times from electric generator 56, conductor 58, electromagnet 38, conductor 37, switch points 31, and 32, to the ground. Each closure through electromagnet38 pulls armature 50 in closing contactbetween switch points 51 and 52, thus sending four impulses from generator 56 over conductors 59, 51, 52, 67 to electromagnet 66. The latter in turn attracts its ar mature 69 four times causing the pawl to engage ratchet wheel 65 and advance it four. steps, pawl 74 preventing its return under the influence of spring 64. The switch arm 61 is now contacted with the switch point 62, which leads over conductor'90 to electromagnet 89, located adjacent to opening 10. Now by rotating wheel 30 one space, an impulse is sent through electromagnet- 41 causing it to attract armature 53, thus closing the circuit through switch points 54 and 55, over conductor 85, over switch points 79 and 81, conductor 84 to switch arm 61, switch point 62 and conductor 90, and electromagnet 89. This magnet attracts its a'rmature 92 rotating the ratchet wheel 87 one space through pawl 93, bringing numeral 3 before the opening 10. In this manner the electromagnet 89, operating in conjunction with the disk associated with the various holes in the bulleti n board are selected by wheel 29 and the required number of the disk is selected by wheel 30. The tooth 34 number oftimes for actuating the said demarked Restore? on the star wheel 29 vice associatedtherewith and controlled by selects the last switch points 62 of.mechasaid switch, substantially as and for the pur nism 22, thus connecting the'switch arm 61' pose set forth. a 5 with magnet 98. ,This magnet is attracted 2. A registering system of the character to trip the pawl 97 connected Withappara- 'described comprising in combination, a plutus belonging to holes 7 to 13, so that at rality of re'voluble disks adapted to succesthe end of each half inning these may be sively display characters, ratchet wheels carsimultaneously set back to zero. The large ried by said disks, an electromagnet for each 10 tooth 34 is provided, that in passing from disk, 'a pawl for each disk adapted to" be Restore to Home base the circuit is actuated upon energizing said electromagnet first completed through electromagnet 38 to act upon the respective ratchet wheel of which in turn completes it through electrothe disk for advancing the same, a switch .magnet 66, thus drawing the switch'point' having a plurality of points each independ- 15 79 against switch point 80. The tooth then, ently and electrically connected to one of s on account of its extra height, also comsaid electromagnets of said disks, mechanism pletes the circuit through electromagnet 41, for actuating said switch to form an electric which in turn completes a circuit over conconducting contact with any one of the ductor 85, switch point 79, and electroswitch points thereof, an electricgenerator,

2o .magnet 77. The latter attracts its armature and switching instrumcntality for complet- I drawing pawl 74 from the tooth of ratchet ing an'el'ectric'circuit including said gen wheel 65. When the tooth 34 passes from erator and'passing through the said elect-rounder switch point 31, and the circuits magnet any number of times controlled by through magnets 38 and 41 are opened, said switch, for actuating the disk associated 25 magnet 66 immediately releases its armatherewith, substantially as and for the purture, withdrawing pawl 70, thus allowing pose set forth.

the ratchet 65 and switch arm 61 to return 3. A registering system ofthe character to the first switch point 62 under the pull described comprising in combination, a pluof spring 64. Pawl 74 during this time is rality 0f revoluble disks adapted to succes 30 held from the ratchet on account of elecsively display characters, ratchet wheels cartromagnet 77 which is wound to produce a ried by said disks, an electromagnet for each vslow release of its'armature. The disks 86 disk, a pawl for each disk adapted to be adjacent to openings 13 to 17 inclusive are actuated upon energizing the electromagnet set back to zero only at the end of each to act upon the respective ratchet wheel of 35 game and hence are not provided with means the disk for advancing the same, means norfor returning to zero. To bring these disks mally preventing movement of said ratchet to zero they are rotated forward by the acwheels reverse to that imparted thereto by lion of wheel 30 until the zero is again shown aid pawls, electrically operable means for through the respective opening. releasing said last mentioned means, a switch 40 From the foregoing, it is made manifest having a plurality of points independently that I provide a system With a central Or and electrically connected to the said electrooperating station, which is capable of con magnets of said disks, mechanism for actuattrolling a number of bulletin boards by ing said switch to form an electric conductmerely adding to the number of contact ing contact with any one of the switch points a 45 points 51 and 2, and 54 and 55, With main thereof, an electric generator, an instrumcir 11c conductors such as 67 and 85 to each bulle- -talitv for completing an electric circuit intin board including mechanism 22 and 3- cluding said generator and passing through I claim: a the said electromagnet controlled by said 1. A registering system ofthe chara ter switch, for actuating the disks associated 50 described comprising in comblnation, a pl 1- therewith, substantially as and for the purrality of devices movable for successively, pose set forth. .7 displaying charnet-ers,a plurality of mechw 4. A registering system of the character nisms, one for each of said devlces, electridescribed comprising in combination, a plucally vibrat able for actuating the same lrality of devices movable for successively 55 dependently one from ano a S h fl displaying characters, means electrically viing a plurality of points each independbratable for actuating said devices independ ently and electrically connected to a scpaently one from another, a. switch having a rate one of said last mentioned mechanisms, plurality of points independently and elecmechanism for actuating'said switch toform trically connected to said last mentioned 60 anelectriccomlucting contactwithanyoneot means a d an )scillatablc a ratchet the switch points thereof, an electric generwheel carried by said arm of said switch, an ator,and switchinginstrumentality for make]ectromagnet, a pawl adapted to act upon ing or breaking an electric circuit, includsaid ratchet wheel of said switch and actuing said generator and passing through the ated by the energy of said electromagnet to 6 said electrically vibratable mechanism any advance the said arm point by point at each "0 vice associated therewith and vibrationof said pawl, an electric generator, and instrumentality for completing an electric circuit including said generator an passing through the said electrically vibratable means for actuating the said device as sociated therewith and controlled by said switch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A registering system of the character described compris ng in combination, a plurality of devices movable for successively displaying characters, means electrically vibratable for actuatin said devices independently one from anot er, a switch having a series of points independently and electrically connected to said last mentioned means and an oscillatable arm, a ratchet wheel carriedby said arm of said switch, an electromagnet', a pawl adapted to act upon said ratchet wheel of said switch arm and actuated by energy of said electromagnet, to advance the said arm point by point at each vibration of said pawl, means for returning said switch arm to a position. contacting with the first switch point of the series, an electric generator, and instrumentality for completing an electric circuit in said generator and passing through the said electrically vibratable means for actuating said decontrolled by said switch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A registering system of the character described comprising in combination, a plurality of revoluble disks adapted to successively display characters, ratchet wheel carried by each of said disks, a spring for normally returning said disks to a predetermined position, an electromagnet for each of said disks, an armature for each of said electromagnets, pawl mechanism carried by said armatures adapted to act upon said ratchet wheels and their respective disks, upon energizing the electromagnets associated therewith, second pawl mechanism acting upon the said ratchet wheels to normally prevent movement of said disks responsive to said spring, an auxiliary eleca vibratable armature therefor, pawl mechanism carried by said armature to act upon said ratchet wheel to advance-said arm, a

. second electromagnet, an armature therefor,

a pawl carried by said armature acting upon said ratchet wheel to normally prevent move; ment of said arm responsive to said yieldable means, a switch point electrically connectedwvithosaid switch arm to conduct an electric circuit through any one of said switch points, a second switch point spaced apart from said first mentioned switch point and electrically connected with said second mentioned electromagnet, a third switch point movable intermediate said first and second mentioned switch points, carried in an insulated manner by said armature of said first mentioned electromagnet and con tacting with said first mentioned switch point whenthe said armature is not influenced by its electromagnet, a plurality of electrically operable devices adapted to successively display characters'and having an electrical connection with one of the switch points, an electric generator, a controlling device electrically connected with said generator and said first mentioned electromagnet to energize the same when desired, and a tromagnet, an armature therefor opcratively connected to said second mentioned pawl mechanism to actuate the same releasing said disks when the said electromagnet is energized, and switching means for conducting an electric circuit through any one ot said electromagneis. substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A registering system (Pf i110 character described comprising in conibimition. an oscillatable switch arm, switch points disposed to be successively contacted with said oscillatable arm, vieldablc means for normally retaining said arm at a predetermined posi tion with respect to said points, a ratchetwbecl carried by said arm, an elcciromagnet,

second controlling device electrically connecting said generator and second mentioned electromagnet to energize the same when desired, substantially as and for the purpose set'forth.

8. A registering system of the character described comprising in combination, a star wheel having one than the other, a switch point adapted to be movedby any one of the teeth of said wheel,

a second switch point adapted to contact with said first mentioned switch point when the latter is moved by a tooth of said star wheel, said second mentioned switch point being grounded and adapted to be actuated through tooth of said star wheel, a third switch point adapted to be contacted by said second mentioned switch point when the latter is actuated through influence of said relatively larger tooth of said star wheel, two independent electromagnets, a 'vibratable armature for each magnet, a switch member actuated by each 01 said armatures, a second switch member for coaction with the teeth of said first mentioned switch members to contact when their respective armature i's actuated responsive to energy of its electromagnet, a conductor connecting said first mentioned switch point and one of said electro- I magnets, a second star wheel, a pair of switches adapted to be contacted by the teeth of said second mentioned star wheeL one of said points being rounded, a conductor connecting the other switch points of said second mentioned star wheel with the other electooth relatively longer action of said relatively longer Wheel to conduct tromagnet, an electric generator grounded. at

.one pole, a conductor connected to said electromagnet and to the switch members carried by the armatures thereof, a conductor connecting said third mentioned switch point and the conductor between the switch member of said second mentioned star wheel and electromagnet, an electrically operated switch device having a plurality of points, operatively connected to the second mentioned switch member of said-electromagnet operatively connected with said first mentioned switch point to be operated upon completing an electric-circuit therethrough a plurality of electrically operated devices each adapted to successively display characters, and having an electrical connection with one of the switch points of said electrically operated switch, and means operatively connecting the second mentioned switch member of the said electromagnet connected with the switch point of said second mentioned star a current through the electrically operatedswitch point and display device in electrical connection therewith,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. An annunciator system group of annunciators having including a distinct collocated display fields individual thereto and ling relation to the electro-magnetic operat-' ing mechanism of the annunciators and se lector, there being means controlled at the transmitting station for restoring the annunciators to normal or initial positions.

In testimon whereof I afiix my signature in presence 0 twowitnesses;

RICHARD H. LON G.

import; a selector for

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