US1822085A - Selective signal system - Google Patents

Description

. Sept, 8, 1931. w. F. EAMES 1,822,035

' l sELEbTIvE SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR W/Y/M/fl f fames ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1931. w EAMES 1,822,085

SELECTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Oct, 1]., 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W////'a/77 [ames BY W ATTORNEY .Sept. 8, 1931. w, EAMES I 1,822,085

SELECTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 11. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR m Wi///'a/27 f? fames Y k 0 ATPTO'RNEY Sept. 8, 1931.

w. F. EAMES SELECTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed 061:. 11, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVEN TOR William F fames BY I - ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE WILLIAM F. EAMES, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA snLno'rxvn SIGNAL SYSTEM Application filed October 11, 1929. Serial No. 398,943.

My invention relates to systems of signal and control for elevators, hoists and similar machinery, and more particularly to signal systems for groups of elevators operated as a. bank.

In multi-storied buildings, it is common practice to employ a single up-and-down passenger-operated push-button station at each of the floors, so arranged that the callreceiving means of all the elevators serving the building shall be responsive thereto. In such systems, it is, of course, undesirable that more than one of the cars shall make a stop at a given floor in response to a signal,

since, under such condition, the cars tend to bunch and proceed downor up the hatchway together. Further, for all but the first of'the cars to respond to the signal, the time spent in stopping is lost, since the needs of the intending passenger are met by the first car to stop.

In an ldeal system employing a bank of elevators, each floor would be served by an elevator atv regularly spaced time intervals. In other words, a definite spacing would be maintained between all of the elevators in the bank. Such is not possible, however, on

account. of the different traffic demands of the different'fioors. It is possible, however, to so arrange the signal system that a car, hav ing received a signal for service at a given floor, is the only car inthe bank which is effective to receive calls for service at that floor, for a particular direction, until such a time as that car has moved away from the floor, and to further so arrange the signal means for the cars that such first car is the only car the signal means of which is effective to receive calls for service at one or more floors in advance of the floor at which the first call was registered. WVith such a system, only the first car to approach a floor receives the calls for that floor, and by"block ing off the succeeding floors, an automatic spacing is maintained by the various cars. Such a system is disclosed in the copending application of F. E. Lewis, No. 388,310, filed pany.

The majority of the signal systems now in use do not embody the features of selectivity and blocking just described. As a consequence, in installations so equipped, until such a time as a registered call has been cancelled by an answering car, any other cars also in a. position adjacent tothe selected floor are also caused to stop in response to the one signal.

The time at which the call is cancelled varies considerably in different systems. In some, it is cancelled immediately upon being re ceived by an approaching car, and, in others, the cancellation does not take place until the car has come to a stop. In the former case, additional calls may be set up by intending passengers approaching a floor at which a call has already been registered but which is as yet unanswered. 1 In both cases, all cars ,Wlthln a predetermined distance of the floor,

and traveling in the proper direction, are caused to stop in response to a signal or signals that require the services of only one car.

To adapt existin signal systems to employ the selective and blocking means described in the copending ap lication to Lewis, above referred to, wou d, in most cases, involve considerable expense and lost time, if not a complete reorganization of such existing signal systems.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to provide means whereby signal systems, which do not embody the feature of preventr ing more than one car from stopping in re sponse to the same call, may be modified to embody this feature without the necessity of completely changing them.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby signal systems, which do notembod the blocking feature hereinbefore described, may be modified to provide this feature without the necessity of completely changing them. 5

Another object of my invention is to provide means that may be added to existing signal systems, without destroying the usefulness of any of their elements, to provide the described features of selectivity and blocking for such systems.

My invention will'be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 jointly constitute a diagrammatic view of my signal system, as applied toa bank of two elevator cars.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated therein two elevator cars designated,respecltively, by the reference characters C and C each of which is equipped with a suitable controlling mechanism for governing the operation of the associated elevator comprising a car switch GSA, an up-direction switch 1A, a down-direction switch 2A and'accelerating switches 3A and 4A for car A, and a car switchCSB, an rip-direction switch 1B, a down-direction switch 2B and accelerating switches 3B and 4B for car B. Operation of the respective car switches will control the starting and acceleration and the automatic slow down and stopping means for the asso ciated car.

I have illustrated the slow-down and stopping means as being of the inductor-landing type, similar to that described in the copending application of E. M. Bouton, Serial No. 731,291, filed August 14, 1924, and assigned to the lVestinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, wherein a plurality of inductor relays, each comprising a coil and a movable armature, are mounted on the elevator car and are adapted to cooperate with inductor plates mounted in the hatchway adjacent to the floor levels to thereby control the deceleration and stopping of the car. I

have illustrated a system wherein each car is vprovided with three running speeds, namely,

a low landing speed, an intermediate speed and a higher speed. Accordingly, car A is supplied with a stopping inductor relay RA, an up-direction intermediate-speed inductor relay lLUA, a down-direction intermediate-speed inductor lLDA, an up direction high-speed inductor relay 2LUA and a down-direction high-speed inductor relay 2LDA. Cooperating inductor plates (each indicated by a primed reference character corresponding to the relay it controls) are located in the hatchway at predetermined points in advance of the floors. Similarly, car B is provided with inductor relays SRB, lLUB, lLDB, 2LUB, and 2LDB and inductor plates bearing corresponding primed reference characters) positioned in the hatchway, as described for car A.

I have illustrated the motive means for each car as being of'the'variable-voltage type,

wherein the field excitation of a generator is varied to cause a variable voltage to be supplied the elevator-hoisting motor, to thereby cause the hoisting motor to operate between predetermined speed limits.

For car A, I have provided a hoisting drum DA, over which passes a cable (MA to one end of which is secured the elevator car CA, and to the other end of which is secured 8,

suitable count-er weight C'wA. Rigidly connected to the hoisting drum DA is the shaft of the hoisting motor EMA, the field EMFA of which is shown as being excited from a separate source, and the armature EMA of which is connected in-loop circuit with the armature GA of the generator GA. The

- is provided for car B, the elements of which are designated by the reference character B, instead of A, as described for car A.

I have illustrated the elevator cars A and B as serving five floors, indicated by the dotted lines bearing the legends 1st,'2nd, 3rd, 4thand 5th, respectively. Each of the floors intermediate the terminal floors is provided with suitable passenger-operated floor buttons for registering calls for service for the up and down directions, respectively. The buttons at the second floor comprise an up button 2FU anda. down button 2FD, and buttons 3FU, 3FD, and 4FU and 4FD perform corresponding functions at the third and fourth floors, respectively. Since the car always makes a complete trip from terminal to terminal, no floor buttons are provided for the terminal floors. Associated with each of the floor buttons is an actuating coil and a cancellation coil designated as 2FRD and 2FCD for the second floor down-direc tion, and as 2FRU and 2FCU for the second floor up-directiou. Similar actuating coils 3FRU, 3FRD, M R-U and IFRD, and canceL lation coils 3FCU, 3FCD, 4FCU and 4FCD perform corresponding functions at the third and fourth floors. The floor buttons, when operated, therefore, remain in operative condition, although the floor button may be released, until such a time as the cancellation coil is actuated to cancel the registered call. The actuating and cancellation coils are associated together in a manner described in United States Patent No. 634,220 and issued to Messrs. Smalley and Reiners, whereby, upon energization, the actuating coil retracts an associated armatureto permit the movable armature of the associated cancellation coil to make contact with a mercury-pot terminal to thereby complete the signal circuit. Upon actuation of the cancellation coil, its armature is withdrawn from the mercury-pot terminal and is again latched by the armature of the now deenergized actuating coil.

It will be understood that the floor buttons described are connected; through suitable parallel circuits, to all of the cars in the bank.

Also associated with the several floor buttons are resistors 2RU, 2RD, 3RU, 3RD,

A similar motive means Conversely, when a circuit is completed throughva resistor for the call-registering means of only one car, the voltage drop across such individual registering means will be considerably greater than would be the case if circuits were completed through a resistor for two or more of the individual call-registering means simultaneously. I

Since the coils of the relay means may be so designed as to require considerably more voltage to actuate the associated relay than is required to maintain such relay in the actuated condition, it is apparent that it is possible to interpose in the car-receiving circuits of the individual elevator cars, relays so selected as to be actuable by the voltage available through a resistor when only one of such relays is supplied with voltage, but to be not actuable by the voltage available through the resistor when two or more of such relays is supplied with such voltage simultaneously. A relay, once actuated, however, will remain so in spite of the reduced voltage available on completion of circuits to others of said relays; Therefore, by suitably selecting the several resistors and the several relays, only one of the relays will be actuated at any given time, and, hence, the call-receiving circuits for only one of the cars may be completed at any one time.

I have provided, therefore, two relays for car A, designated by reference characters 02A and CIA, of identical design,- and selectively operable according to the distance in advance of the floor of the car at the time the signal is established at the associated floor button. The characteristics of the coils of relays 01A and C2A are such that, used in con unctionwith the resistors I preferto use,

they'will actuate their associated relays when the circuits for two of such relays are completed simultaneously. I have provided, therefore, that, upon actuation of any one of such relays, an additional resistor is interposed in shunt relation to such energized coil, to thereby increase the voltage drop across the main resistor. Accordingly, when one of such relays is actuated, the combined effect ofthe additional associated resistor and of the main resistor is sufiicient to render the voltage availage to theicoils of other relays, the circuits for which are subsequently completed, below theiractuating or pick-up value.

Similarly, I have provided relays ClB and 02B for car Band it will be understood that all cars in a bank would be so equipped.

In order that passengers on the car may signify their desire to leave the car at the intermediate floors, I have provided car buttons CA2, CA3 and CA4 for these floors, respectively, on carA. The buttons are maintained in the actuated condition when actuated by means of mechanical latches which are withdrawn at the end of each trip by action of a releasing coil CCA connected for energization through a floor selector, as hereinafter described. Car B is, of course, similarly equipped. Q

In order that intending passengers, having registered a call for service at one of the floors served by the elevator, may be advised of the approach of the car receiving such call, I have provided a plurality of floor lanterns for each car, to be mounted in the corridors adjacent to their associated cars. For car A, floor lanterns lLA and 5LA are disposed at the terminal landings while floor lanterns QLUA, 3LUA and 4LUA serve to advise of the approach of a car in the upward direction at the second, third and fourth floors, respectively, and lanterns QLDA, 3LDA and 4LDA perform similar functions for downwardly moving cars for these floors, respectively. Corresponding lanterns are also provided for car B, with the reference character B replacing A. g

Cars A and B are provided, respectively,

with suitable floor selectors FSA and FSB,

which are operable correspondingly to the position of the cars with respect to the floors to complete certain of the control and signal circuits at predetermined points in the travel of the car. The floor selector for car A is illustrated as comprising a plurality of lines of conducting segments disposed upon a suitable base to be engaged by contact brushes on a movable arm MA, connected for upward and downward movement in accordance with the'position of the car, by means of a suitable driving device illustrated as a screw 20. The various lines of segments on the floor selector FSA are divided into groups 21, 22, 2s, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Those groups on the left-hand side of the screw 20 are associated with circuits for the up direc-' tion of travel and those on the right-hand side are associated with circuits for the down direction of travel of the car A.

It will be understood that, when the car is in any given position with respect to a floor, the. dash line marked floor level on' [the movable arm MA will be in a corresponding position with respect to thedash line on the floor selector FSA representing that floor.

The lines of segments in group 21 are desigi X of group 21, and the segments in line Y and Z being coextensive with the segment in line Y of group 21. Lines X and Z of group 22 may be connected by means of brush 22a on the movable arm MA, to complete the several call-receiving circuits originating at the floor buttons through blocking relay C2A, while lines X and Y may be connected by means of brush 221; on movable arm MA, to complete these circuits through the blocking relay ClA.

The lines of se ments in rou 23 are desi h l h nated X, Y and Z, the segments in line X being coextensive with those in line X of group 21, while the segments in lines Y and Z are coextensive with the segment in line Y of group 21. Lines X and Y, and X and Z may be connected by means of brushes 23b and 23a, respectively, on the movable arm MA, to complete the several call-receiving circuits originating at the car buttons CA2, CA3, and CA4.

The lines of segments in group 24 are designated X and Y, the segments in each being coextensive with the segments in lines X and Y of group 21, respectively, and may be connected by means of brush 240 on movable arm MA, being associated with the callcancellation circuits for the various floors.

The lines of segments in group 25 are designated X and Y, the segment in line Y being coextensive with the segment in line Y of group 21. In line X of group 25 is one short segment disposed approximately midway between the 4th and 5th floor dash lines. The segments in lines X and Y may be connected by means of a brush 250 on the movable arm MA to complete a circuit for the coil USA of the reversing relay 31, next to be described.

As noted, the segments to the left of the screw 20 are associated with. circuits employed in the up direction of travel, and

those to the right are associated with circuits employed in the down direction of travel. The relay 31 is provided with two actuating coils. USA and DSA, energization of which causes its armature to be moved to the right or to the left, respectively. A spring 32 serves to maintain the armature in the position established by the momentary energization of either coil USA or coil DSA.

The armature of relay 31 is provided with eight pairs of contact members a, b, a, d, and a, b, c, and d, the first four of which are associated with travel in the up direction and the last four of which are associated with travel in the down direction. Thus, it will be observed that, when the car is traveling upwardly, the contact members a, b, c and d will be closed, being maintained in that position by spring 32. However, when brush 25c connects segments 25X and Y, as the car approaches the upper terminal, coil USA is momentarily energized to move the armature of relay 31 to the right, opening contact members a, b, c and d, and closing contact members a, b, 0' and (1', thereby two additional dashed lines through the centers of the b brushes and the a brushes, respectively, and have made the notation that the a line of brushes is one and one-quartcr floors, and the b line, one half of one floor, in advance of the 0 line of brushes.

I will be noted that I have provided three separate supply voltages, namely, L1-L2, Lil-L4, and L5-L6. Since it is my object to demonstrate the applicability of my blocking relays and resistors to existing systems, I have taken a characteristic voltage arrangement, wherein L1L2 is 230 volts direct current and feeds the main control and motor circuits, L3L4 is 17 volts alternating current and feeds the signal actuating and cancellation-coil circuits, and L5L6 is 110 volts alternating current and feeds the various signallamps and hall lanterns.

My invention may best be understood with reference to an assumed operation. Assuming that it is desired to move the car upwardly, the operator may move the car switch USA in a counter-clockwise direction to complete a circuit for up-direction switch 1A, which circuit extends from line conduetor L1, through conductor 40, contact members 41, 42 and 43 of car switch GSA, conductor 44, the coil 58 of up-direction switch 1A, conductors 45 and'46, contact members 47 of stoppinginductor relay SRA, and conductors 48 and 49 to line conductor L2.

Upon closing, up-direction switch 1A completes a circuit for the separately excited field winding GFA of the generator GA, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, by way of conductor 50, contact members 5 of up-direction switch 1A, conductors 51 and 52, the field winding GFA, conductors 53 and 54, contact members a of Lip-direction switch 1A, conductors 55 and 56 and the resistor 57, to line conductor L2. Being now supplied with excitation proportional to the value of resistor 57, the generator GA supplies the elevator motor EMA with sufficient voltage to operate it at a slow speed, and the elevator car CA is, therefore,

' accelerated to such slow-speed.

In closing, up-direction switch 1A also completes a self-holding circuit for its coil 58 by way of a circuit extending from line conductor L1, through conductor 59, contactmembers' a of up-direction switch 1A, conductor 60, the coil 58 of up-direction switch 1A, ,and thence to line conductor L2, as previously traced.

To accelerate the car to intermediate speed, the operator may move the car switch GSA further in the counter-clockwise direction to complete a circuit for the intermediate-speed accelerating relay 3A, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, through conductor 40, contact members 41, 42 and 61, conductor 62, the coil 63 of accelerating relay 3A, conductor 64, contact members 65 of up-direction intermediate-speed inductor relay lLUA,

conductor 66, contact members 67 of down' direction intermediate-speed inductor relay ILDA and conductors'68 and 49, to line conductor L2. Upon being actuated intermedi ate-speed accelerating relay 3A closes its contact members 0 to shunt a portion of resistor 57 from the circuit of the separately excited generator field winding GFA, which circuit now extends, as previously traced, through EMA with a higher voltage, and'the car GA is accelerated to its intermediates eed.

To accelerate the car to its ighest speed, the operator may move the car'switch GSA to its extreme position in the counter-clockwise direction, to thereby complete a circuit for thehigh-speed accelerating 'relay 4A, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, through conductor 40, contact members 41, 42 and 73, conductor 74, the coil of highspeed accelerating relay 4A, conductor 76,

contact members 77 o up-direction highspeed inductor 'relay 2LUA, conductor 78, the contact members 79 of down-direction highspeed inductor relay 2LDA and conductors 80 and 49, to line conductor L2.

Higlrspeed relay 4A, in closing, excludes the remainder of resistor 57 from the circuit of the separately excited generator field winding GFA, which circuit now extends, as previously traced, through conductor 55, thence, by way of conductors 56 and 81, contact members 0 of relay 4A and conductor 82, to line conductor L2. In closing, high-speed relay 4A also completes a self-holding circuit for its coil 75, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, through conductors 71 and 99, contact members'a of relay 4A, conductor 83, the coil 75 of relay 4A and thence to line conductor L2, as previously traced.

Now, being supplied with maximum voltage by the generator GA, the elevator motor EM? accelerates to, and runs at, its highest spee Y If an intending passenger at the third floor desires to travel upwardly, he may operate the up-direction, floor button 3FU to thereby complete a circuit for the third floor up-direction actuating coil 3FRU by way of a circuit extending from line conductor L3 through conductor 84, the now closed floor button 3F U, conductor 85, the coil 3FRU and conductor 86, to line conductor L4. Now energized, coil SFRU attracts its movable armature 87 to thereby release armature member 88. Upon being released, armature member 88 drops into the mercury pot 89 to thereby complete a call-registering circuit as far as segment 90 in line X of group 22 of the floor selector FSA, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, through armature member 88, the mercury pot 89, conductor 91, the resistor 3RU and conductor 92, to a junction point 93, whence one branch extends, by way of conductor 94, to the segment 90 of floor selector F SA, and a second branch continues, by way of conductor 95, to the corresponding segments of thei'loor selectors associated with all of the other cars in the bank.

When the elevator CA is still at a distance of almost two floors in advance of the third floor, the brush 22a on'the movable arm MA* of floor selector FSA' connects the segments 90 and 96 of group 22 to thereby complete a circuit for the coil of blocking relay (12A, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, as previously traced, to segment 90,

thence, through the movable brush 2211, the

segment 96, conductor 97, the now closed contact members 0 of reversing relay 31, conductor 98, the coil 100 of blocking relay 02A and conductors 101 and 103 to the normally closed contact members of the bypass button BPA, thence, by wayr of conductor 104,

102, and conductor 103 to line conductor L2, as described.

Resistor 102 and coil 100, now being in parallel. the resistance of the call-registering circuit including the resistor 3RU is accordingly decreased, and, as a result, the current through, and the. voltage drop across, the resistor 3 RU are increased. If now, the second car CB should approach the third floor, and brush 22a on movable arm MB of floor selector FSB should engage the se ment 90', the voltage available to the bloc ing-relay C2B would be below the value necessary to actuate it, as previously described. Therefore, while the relay C2A or the similar relay C1A of car CA is energized, the correspondin relays of other cars in the bank are ine ective to complete the call-receiving circuits for those cars.

Upon closing, blocking relay C2A closes its contact member Z) to complete a'call-receiving circuit for the operators signal lamp 2SLA, which circuit extends from line conductor L5, through conductors 121, 105 and 106, the signal lamp. 2SLA, conductor 107, the contact members 6 of blocking relay C2A and conductor 108, to line conductor L6. The illumination of signal lamp 2SLA indicates to the operator that a stop is to be made at the third floor and that he should, therefore, center his car switch USA to render the automatic stopping means effective. It will be understood, from the foregoing description of the starting and acceleration of the car, that the centering of the car switch does not immediately open the control circuits for the elevator motor.

When, in response to the visual signal, the operator centers his car switch CSA, a circuit is completed for energizing the coil of up-direction high-speed inductor relay 2L UA, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, through conductor 40, contact members 41, 42 and 109 of car switch GSA, conductors 110 and 111, contact members d of up-direction switch 1A, conductor 112, the

coil of inductor relay 2LUA and conductors 113 and 49, to line conductor L2. As the car approaches the third floor, it passes the inductor plate associated with inductor relay 2LUA, causing this relay to open its contact members 77 to thereby interrupt the circuit for the coil 75 of high-speed accelerating rela 4A.

clay 4A, therefore, opens its contact members 0 to reinsert a portion of resistor 57 y in the circuit of the separately excited generator field winding GFA, thereby causing the elevator motor EMA to decelerate to its intermediate speed. Such deceleration will be initiated at'a distance approximately one and one quarter floors in-advance of the floor at which it is desired to stop.

Practically simultaneously with the deenergization of high 'speed relay 4A, the

C2A is deenergized, since, until such time,

the voltage available to its coil 114 is of a value below the actuating voltage of this coil.

Upon being actuated, however, blocking relay ClA imposes the same blocking feature upon the call-receiving'means of the other cars formerly imposed by blocking relay C2A.

The circuit for the coil 114 of blocking relay ClA now extends from line conductor L1, through the armature member 88, to segment 90, as previously described for relay 02A, thence, by way of brush 22b, of segment 116, conductor 117, contact members I) of reversing switch 31, conductor 118, the coil 114 of blocking relay C1A, conductors 119 and 103 to the by-pass button EPA and conductor 104, to line conductor L2. Through its contact members a, blocking relay ClA places its associated resistor 115 in shunt relation to its coil, by way of conductor 120, contact members a of relay C1A, the resistor 115, and

conductors 119 and 103, to line conductor L2, as previously traced. Therefore, as described for relay C2A, the voltage available to the blocking relays 03? all other cars in the bank is below the actuating value thereof.

Upon being actuated, blocking relay C1A closes its contact members b to complete a circuit for energizing the third floor up-direction hall lantern 3LUA, which circuit extends from line conductor L5, through conductor 121, the lamp 3LUA, conductor 123, segment 124, on the floor selector FSA, brush 21b on the movable arm MA, segment 125, conductor 126', contact members a of reversing switch 31, conductors 127 and 128, contact members I) of blocking relay C1A, conductor 129, the now closed contact members (Z of high-speed relay 4A and conductor 130, to line conductorL6. It will be notetl that the illumination of the hall lantern takes place when the elevator car is still at a distance of one and one quarter floors in advance of the floor at which the car is to stop, and that the intending passenger will, therefore, have sufiicient time in which to position himself in front of the responding elevator.

It will also be noted that the illumination of the floor lantern does not take place unless deceleration has been initiated to stop the car at the floor in response to the call.

lVhen the high-speed relay 4A is deenergized, a circuit is completed for the coil of up-dirction intermediate-speed inductor relay lLUA, which circuit extends from line conductor L1 through conductor 40, the contact members 41, 42 and 1090f the car switch GSA, conductors 110 and 111, the contact members d of lip-direction switch 1A, conductor 112, the coil of inductor relay QLUA, conductor 133, the coil of inductor relay lLUA, conductor 134, the normally closed contact members I; of high-speed relay 4A of the separately excited generator field winding GFA. As a consequence, the elevator motor is further decelerated to its low landing speed.

Immediately following the deenergization of relay 3A, which takes place at a point approximately mid-way between the second and third floors, thebf iisl 22?), leaves the segment tor FSA, thereby inter- 90 of the fioor se rupting the circuit tp the coil of blocking relay ClA. At this'l ime also, the brush 21?) leaves the segment 1:24, but it will be noted that, at such time, tlie brush 210 is already in engagement with the segment 124.

After'the deenergiz'ation of blocking relay 01A, the circuit for the'hall lantern 3LUA is maintained through the normally closed contact members 03 of speed relay 3A by way of a circuit extending, as previously described, as far as conductor127, thence, by way of conductor 136, the normally closed contact members d of relay 3A, conductor 137, the mechanical switch 138 and conductor 139, to line conductor LC.

Upon deenergization, intermediate-speed relay 3A also completes a circuit for the can- 'cellation coil 3FCU associated with the thirdfloor-hall button 3FU,which circuit extends from line conductor L3, through conductor 140, the coil 3FCU, conductor 141, conductor 142, the segment 143, the brush 24c, segment 144, conductor145, contact members d of reversing switch 31, conductor146, the normally closed contact members ,e of relay 3A, conductor 147, mechanical switch 148; and

conductor 149, to line conductor L4.

' Now being energized, the cancellation coil 55 3FQU attracts its armature member 88 to withdraw it from the mercury pot 89 and thereby cancel the registered'call. It will .be understood that the armature member 87 associated with coil 3FRU again engages the armature 88 when the latter is actuated by the energization of the coil 3FCU.

It will be noted that the blocking relay CIA is maintained effective until the cancellation of the registered call, and that such. 6 cancellation does not take place until the car is within about six feet'of the floor at which it was intended to stop. Further, the cancellation coil 3FCU is maintained in the energized position until the car again'leaves the floor, since the segment on the floor selector FSA associated with this coil for the third floor extends slightly above the thirdfioor level on the floor selector FSA.

It has been observed that intending passengers, on' approaching a bank of elevators, the floor lantern for one of which is illuminated, have a tendency to operate the call button in spite of the fact that such lantern indicates the approach of a car that is to stop. Even in such case, the call-registering circuit cannot be reestablished, sincethe cancellation coil 3FOU will prevent the 'arina gure 88 from dropping into themercury pot To review briefly, then, according to my system, the firstvcar to approach within a predetermined distance in advance of a floor for which a call exists is the'only car the call-receiving means of which are effective to receive the registered call. Such blocking is effected, while the call is maintained in the registered condition, by the. relays (12A and 01A, acting sequentially; and, after the call has been cancelled, the blockingg feature is maintained by the cancellation means associated with the particular floor for that direction of travel.

When the intermediate-speed relay 3A is deenergized, it completes, through its contact members b a circuit for the coil of stopping inductor relay SRA, which circuit extends from line conductor L1, through conductor 4O the co'ntact members 41, 42'and 109 of the car switch GSA, conductors 110 and 111, the contact members (1 of up-direction switch 1A, conductor 112, the coil of inductor relay 2LUA, conductors 113 and 150, the coil of inductor relay SBA, conductor 151, normall closed contact members I) of relay 3A an conductor 152, to line conductor L2. Accordingly, when relay SRA passes its associated inductor plate mounted in the shaft adjacent to the floor level, it actuates its armature to thereby open its contact memlders 47 and interrupt the circuit for the up.-

direction switch 1A. On being deenergi'zed, up-direction switch 1A interrupts the circuit of the separately excited generator field winding GFA and sets the brake (not shown) to bring the car to a stop level with the floor. g

In modern elevator installations employing speeds of six hundred feet or more per minute it isimpossible to accelerate the elevator car from zero speed to high speed and then decelerate from high speed to -zero speed again within the distance between two adjacent floor levels. It is necessary therefore, to provide more than one signal for the op-. erator in order to indicate whether or not he ioa he should center his car switch, such illumination taking place at a point far enough in advance ofthe signaled floor to permit deceleration from high speed.

As noted, I have rovided a second operators signal lamp ISIZA which will be illuminated while the car is standing at a floor when a call exists at the next adjacent floor,

in which case, the operator must move his car switch only far enough to accelerate the car to intermediate speed.

If it be assumed that, while the car is standing at the third floor, an intending passenger at the fourth floor operates the hall push button 4FU, a circuit will be immediately completed for blocking relay CIA, which circuit extends from line conductor L1 through armature member 162, the mercury pot 163, resistor 4RU and conductor 165, to a junction point 166, whence one branch extends. by way of conductor 167, to segment 168 in group 22 of the floor selector F SA, and a second branch extends, by way of conductor 169, to the corresponding segments on the floor selectors of the other cars in the bank. Since the-brush 22b is already in engagement with the fourth-floor segment 168, while the car is standing at'the third floor, the circuit for the blocking relay CIA continues from segment 168, by way of the brush 22?), the segment 116 and conductor 117. to the blocking relay ClA, as previously described.

Since blocking relay CIA-is energized. the

1 hall lantern4LUA will'be immediately illuminated by way of a circuit extending from line conductor L5, through conductor 121, lantern 4LUA, conductor 170, segment 171 in group 21 of the floor selector F SA, and thence, through the brush 21b, as previously described, to line conductor L6.

Since the car is standing at the floor, another circuit is immediately completed for the one floor run signal lamp 1SLA, which circuit extends from line conductor L5,

through conductors. 121," and 105, the lamp 1SLA, conductor 172, the normally closed contact members e of direction. switches 1A and 2A, in series relation, conductor 173, the contact members 0 of blocking relay CIA-and conductor 174, to line conductor L6.

Having been signalled for a one-floor run, the opera-tor will accelerate his car only to intermediate speed and will then center his car switch to render the automatic stopping means effective, in the manner previously destribed. It will be understood that the cancellation of the call will be identically as described for the original operation.

To proceed with the assumed operation, if it be assumed that the passenger who enters the car at the third floor wishes to leave the car at the fourth floor, he may 0 male the car button CA4 to thereb comp etc a circuit for the signal lamp 1 LA which circuit extends from line conductor L5, through conductors 121 and 105, the lamp lSLA, conductor 172, contact members 0 of direction switches 1A and 2A, conductors 173 and 159, the segment 158 of group 23, the brush 23b, the segment 157, conductors 156 and 155, the now closed contact members of the car button CA4 and conductor 154 to line conductor L6. It will be noted that the car button (1A4 willbe maintained in its actuated condltionby means of the latching member 161 until such time as the coil CCA of the resetting device is energized.

Having received the one-floor-run signal, the operator will accelerate the car only to intermediate speed and, center his car switch to set in motion the automatic stopping means, as described. In this case, since the blocking relay CIA was not energized, the floor lantern will not be immediately illuminated, but such illumination will take place immediately upon deenergization of the intermediate-speed relay 3A, as previous- 1y described. At this time also, the cancellation coil 4FCU will also be energized to provide the. blocking feature already described for this coil.

- If a passenger enters the car at the first floor and desires to leave it at the fourth floor, upon operating the car button (14A, a

circuit is prepared for illuminating the twofloor-run signal lamp 2SLA, which circuit will be completed when the brush 23a engages the fourth-floor segment 157, which.

occurs when the car is at a distance of a proximately one and three quarters floors in advance of the fourth floor. In this case, the operator accelerates his car to full speed and then centers his ear switch to affect slow down and stop, as described. The illumination of the third-floor-hall lantern takes place in the manner described for the onefloor run. in response to an inside call, as

would the cancellation of thecall and the blocking feature provided, in this case, by the third-floor cancellation coil.

Fromthe foregoing description and an inspection of the floor selector FSA, it will be apparent that a car standing at any given floor blocks off the calls registered at the floor buttons for the next two floors in ad vance of the said floor, since the brush 22a is in engagementwith the segment associated with the call-registering circuit for the sec- 0nd floor above, and the brush 22b is in engagement with the segment associated with the next adjacent floor.

It will be noted also, that the by-pass button is associated with the circuits for the blocking relays CIA and 02A, which are actuated in response to the operation of hall 5 buttons by intending passengers, but that it is not associated with the circuit for the signal lamps. In other words, if, for any reason, the operator desires to by-pass a .call registered b intending passengers, he

may do soand t ereby render the blocking relays for his car ineffective to prevent the call-receiving means of the following car from receiving the registered call. He may not, however, cancel the calls registered by passengers on the car who desire to leave the carat any floor. It will also be noted that,- if an operator operates the by-pass button, he does not cancel the call register at the hall buttons, since the cancellation circuit passes through normally-closed contact members of the intermediate-speed relay 3A.

It will be understood that, as the car approaches the terminal floor, the brush c engages a segment 175 in group 25 to thereif, by complete a circuit for the coil USA of the reversing switch 31 and the releasing coil CCA associated with the car buttons, which circuit extends from line conductor L8, through conductor 176, the coil CCA, conduca) tor 177, the coil USA, conductor 178, segment 17 5, brush 25c, segment 179 and conductor 180 and181, to line conductor L 1.

Up0n being energized, coil CCA actuates its armature member 182 to release the latching members associated with all of the car buttons. The coil'USA, upon being energized, actuates the armature of reversing switch 31 to open the contact members a, b, c, and d, andto close the contact members a, b, c, and d, thereby connecting the seg ments on the down, or right-hand, side of the floor selector FSA for energization through their respective circuits. It will be understood'thatthe energization of coil USA is only momentary, and that reversing switch 31 is maintained in the position established by the coils USA and DSA by means of the spring '32. It will also be understood that, as the car approaches the lower terminal, the coil DSA will be energized to condition the floor selector for travel in the up direction. v I Since travel in the down direction is in all respects similarto travel in the up direction, with the exception that the up floor lanterns, the up floor buttons and theup direction" switch are replaced by the corresponding down floor lanterns, down floor buttons and the down direction switch, it will be unnecessary to describe 'such operation in detail.

i The ease with which an existing system not embodying the blocking feature may be converted into a system of the tvne described i will be obvious from a consideration of the call-receiving circuits usually associated. with such existing systems.

Ordinarily, the call-receiving circuit comprises a hall button, some form of maintaining means therefor, some form of floor-selecting device and the call-receiving means. The cancellation means may or may not be effective at the time a car responds to the call. it will be obvious, however, that all ears that are within the predetermined distance of the floor at the time the call is registered or that approach withing such prede t-erinined distance before the call is cancelled are effective to receive such call.

It will be noted that, according to my system, the existing floor selector must be changed only to the extent. of providing that the cancellation coil, when energized, shall be maintained so until the car leaves the next adjacent floor, and that I have changed the call-receiving circuit only to the extent of interposing the resistors 2RU, 2RD, etc.,

and the blocking relays 01A and GQA in the circuit of the hall buttons and the callreceiving means. In short, for a given instal lation, the only additional equipment required comprises two resistor members for each floor andtwo blocking relays for each of the cars.

It will be apparent, therefore, that]: have provided a system wherein calls for service registered at any one floor for travel in a,

given direction'may be transmitted to the call-receiving means of only the first car to approach within a predetermined distance of said floor. I have further provided'a system wherein a car standing at any one fioor is the only car the call-receiving means of which are effective to receive calls for service at the next two floors in advance of the floor at which the car is standing. I have provided also a system wherein, under certain conditions, the operator may by-pass registered calls but, in so doing, the call is maintained, and the call-receiving means of the next of said cars are rendered effective to respond to the call.

In the foregoing specification, my system has been described as being applied to a manually controlled elevator but it will be apparent that my system is equally applicable to elevators employing any of the many well known forms of automatic control. Since, then, the described embodiment of my invention is merely illustrative, I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a signaling system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a floor, passen eroperated call-registering means at said oor common to all of said cars for registering calls for service at said floor, call-receiving means individual to each of said cars for receiving said calls for service, electromagnetically operable means individual to each ear and operable, upon application of voltage above a predetermined value, to complete a circuit to the call-receiving means for that car, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars and including the call-registering means for that floor and having a plurality of branches, one for each of said cars, the branch circuit for each of said cars including the electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable in correspondence with the position of said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit including the electromagnetically operable means for that car when the f sai car approacheswithin a predetermined distance in advance of the said floor, and

means also in the common portion of said circuit operable upon actuation of the said callregis'tering means, when one of said branch circuits is completed, to renden the voltage available to the electromagnetically operable means for the others of said cars below the said predetermined value.

2. In a signalin system for a bank of elevator cars operab e past a floor, passengeroperated call-registering means at the said floor common to all of said cars for registering calls for service at the said floor, callreceiving means individual to each car for receivin calls for service, electromagnetically opera le means individual to each car and operable upon application of voltage above a predetermined value to complete a circuit to the call receiving means for that car, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars, said common portion including the call-registering means for that floor and voltage-modifyin means, and a plurality of branches, one or each of said cars, each branch including the electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position of said car with respect to said floor for connecting the electromagnetically operable means for that car for actuation by said call-registering means when said ear approaches within a redetermined distance in advance of said dbor, and means responsive to the actuation of the electromagnetically operable means for any car for connecting additional voltage-modify ing means in parallel relation to said actuated electromagneticall operable means to render the voltage available to the electromagnetically operable-means for any others of the said ears below the said predetermined value.

3. In a signaling system for a bank'of elevator cars operable past a floor, passengeroperated call-registering means at said floor common to all of said cars for registering calls for service at the said fioor,call-receiving means individual to each car for receiving said calls for service, a call zone extending from within one prcdetern'iined distance in advance of the said floor to within a lesser predetermined distance in advance of the said 1001' within which the said call-receiving means are cll'ective to receive. said calls for service, electromagnetically operable means individual to each car and operable upon application of voltage above a predetermined value to complete a circuit for the callreceiving means for that car, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars, said common portion including the call-registerin r means, and a plurality of branches, one or each of said cars, the branch or each car including the said electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the posit on of said car with respect to said fioor' for completing the branch of said circuit including the said electromagnetically operable means for that car while said car is within said call zone, and means also in the common portion of said circuit operable upon actuation of said call-registering means when any of said branch circuits is completed to render the voltage available to the electromagnetically operable means for-the others of said cars below the said )redetermined value.

4. In a signaling system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a floor, passen erop erated call-registering means at said oor common to all of said cars for registering calls for service at the said floor, means individual to each car for indicating that a call for service has been registered at said floor,

electromagnetically operable means individual to each can and. operable upon application of voltage above a predetermined value to complete a circuit for the indicating means for that car, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars, said common portion including the call-registering means and having a plurality of branches, one for each of said cars, the branch for each car including the said electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable corre- 5. Ina signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a floor, passengeroperated call-registering means at the said floor common to all of said cars for registering calls for service at the said floor, call-receiving means individual to each car for receiving the said calls for service, electromagnetically operable means individual to each car and operable upon application of voltage above a predetermined value to complete a circuit for the call-receiving means for that car, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars, and a plurality of branches, one for each of said cars, the, branch for each car in'cludingthe electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position of said car with respect to said floor to complete the branch of said circuit including the electromagnetically operable means for that car when said car approaches within a predetermined distance in advance of the'said floor, voltage-modifying means also in said common portion of said circuit operable upon actuation of the said call-registering means, when one of said branch circuits is completed, to render the voltage available to the electromagnetically operable means for any others of the said cars below the said predetermined value, and means in said completed branch circuit operable to render the voltage available tothe electromagnetically operable means for the next of said cars the branch circuit for which is completed above the predetermined value.

6. In a signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a floor, passengeroperated call-registering means at said floor common to all of said cars for registering calls for service at the said floor, call-receiving means individual to each car for receiving the said calls for service, ,electromagneti cally operable means individual to each car and operable upon application of voltage above a predetermined value to complete a circuit for the call-receiving means for that car, a circuit for said floor having a portion common to all of said cars, said common-port1on 1nclud1ng the said call-reglstering means,

and a plurality of branches, one for eachof said cars, each branch circuit-including the electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position (if said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit'for said car when said car approaches within a predetermined distance in advance of the said floor, voltage-modifying means also in said common portionof said circuit and operable upon actuation of said call-registering means when one of. said branch circuits has been completed to render the voltage available to the electromagnetically operable means for any others of the said cars below the said predetermined value, and means in each branch circuit operable-to render the'electromagnetically operable means in the associated circuit ineffective to complete the circuit to the call-receiving means for the associated car.

7. In a signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a floor means for operating said cars at a plurality of speeds, passenger-operated call-registering a zone extending from one" predetermined distance in advance of the floor to a lesser predetermined distance in advance of the floor to a lesser predetermined distance in advance of the floor and being ineffective to receive calls for service within a second zone extending from said lesser predetermined distance in advance of the floor to a second lesser predetermined distance in advance of the floor, electromagnetically operable means individual to each car and operable upon application of voltageabove a predetermined value to complete acircuit to the call-receiving means for that car, a circuit for said floor, having a portion common to all of said cars, said common portion including the said call-registering means, and a plurality of branches, one for each of said cars, each branch including the electromagnetically operable means for that car, means individual to each car and operable correspondingly to the position ot said car with respect to said floor for completing the branch of said circuit for that car while said car is within the first described zone, means in said common portion of said circuit and operable upon actuation of the said call-registering means when any branch circuit has been completed to render the voltage available to the electromagnetically operable means for any others of the said cars below the said predetermined value, actuable means for cancelling said calls for service, means for actuating said cancellation means and "for rendering the said call-registering'means circuit to the said actuating means while said car is within said second described zone and is operating at a slow-speed.

8. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past a floor, passenger-operated callregistering means at the floor for registering calls for service at said floor, and means op erably responsive to the car answering a registered call for cancelling said registered call and for rendering the call-registering means ineffective to register calls until completion of the answer to said registered call.

9. In a signaling system for an elevator car operable past afioor, passenger-operated callicelhngsaid registered ca an responsive ton-the elevator operated call registering means at the floor for registering calls for service at the said floor, actuable means for cancelling said ealls'for service, and means operably responsive to the elevator answering a registered call for actuat ng said cancellation means and maintaining it in ts actuated condition for rendering the said call-registering means ineffective to register calls until completion of the answer to said registered call.

10. 111 a signaling system for an elevator car provided with means for decelerating to a stop at a floor, the combination wlth passenger-operated call-registering means at the floor for registering calls for service at said floor, of means operably responsive to the decelerating means for cancelling said registered calls when said car makes a stop at said floor, and means operably responsive to the position of said car while decelerating and stopping for maintaining said cancelling means in its operated condition to render said call-registering means ineffective to register calls until the completion of the stop.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of October, 1929.

WILLIAM F. EAMES.

.DISCLAIMER 1,822,085.William.F. Eames, Wilkinsburg, Pa. SELEc'rr ent, dated September 8, 1931. Disclaimer filed February 3, 1934", by the assignee, Westinghouse Electric (2 Manufacturing .company. Hereby'enters this disclaimer to claims 8 and9 which are in the following words,

tor car operable past a floor, passenger- -register1n means at the floor for registering calls for service at said floor, and means "opera 1 res ,onsive to the car answering avregisteredcall for canfor rendering ,the call-registering means ineffective to register calls'until completion of the answer to said registered call.

9. In asignaling system for an elevatorv car operable past a floor, passeng operated call-registering meansat the -floorfor registering calls for serv ce at the said floor, 'actuablemeansfo'r cancelling said calls for service,- and I answering a registered call for actuating said cancellation in its, actuated condition for. rendering the said call-regis register calls until completion of the answer to said .8, In a signaling system. for an eleva means and it g means ineffective vs SIGNAL SYs'rEm Patmeans operably

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