US245249A - Electric call or signal - Google Patents

Description

LE R. S. WHITE.

ELECTRIC CALL on SIGNAL.

Patented Aug. 2, 1881,.

(Model.)

NITED STATES APATENT raten.

ELECTRIC CALL OR SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,249, dated August 2, 1881.

Application filed May 19, 1880. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, LE Rov S. WHITE, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Calls or Signals, of which the following is a specication.

Although my improvements may be embodied in electric calls for various purposes, they are particularly adapted for use in connection with telephone-lines to permit any one instrument of a number of instruments located" upon one line to be called from the central otiice without calling all the instruments. y

In carrying out myinvention I use at the central station two batteries of unequal strength or a battery composed ot two portions, one of which may be used separately, or both of which may be combined, or I may use as the equivalent any other means ot producing a weak and strong current. These batteries or their equivalents are connected with a line passing through the several stations, and at each station is a branch circuit containing a' bell.

My invention consists in the combination, with such means ot' producing a weaker and a stronger current, and with such lineand branch circuits, of an instrument at each station on the line operated by said batteries, and coniprising an electro-magnet with a single armature which is moved unequal distances by the weaker and stronger currents, and certain means combined with the armature of said magnet whereby the armature may be made to close the branch circuit ot' the instrument which it is desired to call, and no others on the line. I employ at each station, in connection with one of said magnets and armatures, a stop for said armature, which may consist of a spring ot' sufficient strength to resist the weak current, but which will be overcome by the strong' current and permit a further movementot the armature. I also employ, in connection with the above, a ratchet-wheel and a dent-wheel constituting` a signal-controlling device, so connected that while impulses imparted to the ratchet-wheel will cause them both to move forward against the resistance of springs or weights constituting separate and independent retractors, the ratchet-wheel itself upon being released is free to' returnby the force ofthe spring or weight independently of the dent-wheel. The armature or an arm projecting therefrom carries a pawl, by which the ratchet-wheel is moved Aforward step by step a single tooth for each impulse imparted by the weak current, a stop-pawl being employed to hold the ratchet after each weak impulse. 'When actuated, however, bya strong current the armature and arm carrying the pawl are moved farther forward, and the pawl by suitable devices is raised into contactwith the stop-pawl, disengaging it from the ratchetwheel and permitting the latter to be moved by the retractive force of the spring or'weight back to its starting-point against a stop provided forit. At the same time that the ratchetwheel is released a tooth or dent upon the arm carrying the pawl engages with the said dentwheel and blocks or holds the latter stationary, while it prevents the arm from movingt'ar enough to close the short circuit, in which a bell is situated. Each dent-wheel or signalcontrolling device is constructed with a stop flange or rim in which is a single deep notch, and in the dent-wheels at the several stations or instruments these notches are arranged to correspond with the successive teeth ot' the ratchet-wheels. Vlien the deep vnotch'in the dent-wheel or signal-controlling device comes opposite the tooth in the pawl-carrying lever, a strong current will cause afull movementot' the armature and pawl-carr 7ing arm, and by it close the short circuit in which the bell is situated, and sound the bell. Inasmuch, however, as the'deep notch in the dent-wheels at the other stations do not come opposite the teeth on the pawlcarrying arms ofthe several instruments, other bells will not be sounded. It being known, therefore, at the central station with which tooth ot' the ratchet-wheels the deep notch in each den t-'wheel corresponds, all that is necessary is to actuate the armature by a succession ot' weak currents to bring the deep notch in the dent-wheel ot that station opposite the tooth on the pawl-carrying arm, and then by a strong current release all the ratchet-wheels simultaneously, permitting them to return to the starting-point, and causing the tooth of the pawl-carrying arm at the desired station to enter the notch in the dent- IOO wheel and close the bell-circuit. Inasmuch as only the station with which communication is desired is called, an ordinary vibrating bell may be used with advantage.

The construction and opera-tion of the several parts of myinvention hereinabove referred to will be fully and clearly described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a side view of my improved instrument, partially in section, to more clearly show the construction, and embracing a diagram ot' the battery, bell, and conductors. Fig. 2 represents a side view ot' a portion of the instrument, showing the manner ot' releasing the ratchet-wheel to permit its return to the starting-point. Fig. 3 represents a face view of the ratchet and dent wheels and the stop-pawl and supporting-frame. Fig. 4 represents a detail sectional view of the ratchet and dent wheels, and Fig. 5 represents a transverse section on the line x w, Fig. 4.

Similar letters ot' reference designate corresponding parts in all the tigures.

A designates an electro-magnet, and B the armature thereof, pivoted at a.

C designates an arm secured to the armature, projecting` upward therefrom and swinging or oscillating with the armature as the latter is attracted by an electric current passing through the magnet A.

D designates aratchet-wheel, preferably having teeth upon a portion of its periphery only; and D designates a pawl carried by the arm C, and serving as a means of actuating the ratchet-wheel by a step-by-step movement. This ratchet-wheel is mounted upon a fixed shaft or pivot, l), supported in a frame-work, A, fixed upon a standard, A2, projecting upward from the base-board A3 of the instrument. The said ratchet-wheel is iitted to revolve freely upon the spindle b, and is moved by the pawl D against the force of a retractor consisting of a coiled spring, c, fixed at one end to the spindle b and at the other end to the rim of the wheel, which is made hollow, so as to contain the spring within it.

D2 designates a stop-pawl bearing on the wheel D and holding it against the force of the spring c, which exerts a constant force to impel the wheel backward.

It' a weak current be passed through the magnet A the armature is drawn forward .until a spring, C', arranged at the back of the arm C strikes against an abutment, d, projecting from the frame A', thus forming a yielding stop having power to resist the weak current passing through the magnet A. By this partial movement of the arm C the pawl D has been caused to move the ratchet-wheel D one tooth ahead, where it is retained by the stop-pawl D2. Any numbergof weak currents passed through the magnet will, it is evident, move the ratchet-wheel forward a corresponding number of teeth.

Upon the spindle or shaft b, upon which the ratchet-wheel D rotates,is a toothed or notched dent-wheel, E, also fitting loosely upon the shat't b, and containing within it a spring, e, attached and actuating the dent-wheel in a similar manner to the spring c in the wheel D. Though springs for actuating the wheels D and E are here shown as being most desirable, weights might be used in lieu thereof. By turning the spindle or shaft b the springs c and c may be either tightened or weakened, so as to exert more or less power on the wheels D and E.

As here shown clearly in Figs. et and 5, the dent-wheel E derives its forward movement from the ratchet-wheel D, and therefore the two must be connected by a clutch which will permit the backward movement of the said ratchet-wheel independently ofthe dent-wheel.

The dent-wheel, which, as above stated, constitutes a signal-controlling device, is moved back independently ot' the ratchet-wheel by a separate retractor composed of its spring c.

rllhe clutch here shown consists ofapin or stud f, projecting from the ratchet-wheel D, and engaging with an arc-shaped recess, g, in the dent-wheel, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. As both the wheels have a constant tendency in a backward direction, imparted to them by their independent retractors, the ratchet-wheel cannot move forward without imparting an equal movement tothe dent-wheel, and consequently the forward movement of both wheels is produced by the pawl D.

The dent-wheel E has upon one side of its teeth a stop-flan ge or rim, h, only slightly smaller in diameter than the cxtremediameter ofthe wheel, the teeth ofthe wheel consequently projecting slightly beyond the face of the rim. The office of this rim or flange will be hereinafter explained. If, now, a strong current be passed through the magnet A, thearmature and arm C will receive an impulse sufciently stron g to overcome the resistance ot' the spring-stop C', and the arm moving farther than usual will cause the pawl D/ to strike against an abutment, i, by which the pawl will be raised out of contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel D, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and at the same time an extensiomj, ot' said pawl coming in contact with the under side of the stop-pawl D2 will raise the latter, thus leavin g the said wheel free to turn back under the impulse ot' the spring c until the last tooth of the wheel strikes a stop, 7c, projecting inward from the side of the frame A', thus making a definite starting-point for the ratchet-wheel. By the forward movement ot' the arm C under the strong current a tooth, l, upon said arm is brought into engagement with the dent-wheel and against the rim or stop-flan ge h, thus precluding further movement of the arm C and armature B.

By reference to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that in the edge or face of the rim or iiange h is a sin gle deep notch, m, and it is obvious that in case this notch comes opposite the tooth l lOO IZO

it will receive said tooth, and permit the full movement of the armature and arm C.

From the frame A', which is in the short bell-circuit, there projects a contact-point, n, and by the full movement of the armature and arm G a knob or boss, o, of insulating material, which bears upon a spring-n ger, p, constituting a part of said short bell-circuit, presses the said finger against the contact-point n, closes the bell-circuit, and causes the ringing of the bell, as more fully hereinafter described. One of my instruments being placed at each station along the telephone-line, as well {as at the central station, a series of weak currents will cause all the ratchet-wheels D to be advanced simultaneousl'ytooth by tooth, and with them the several dent-wheels will be correspondingly moved forward.

The deep notch min each dent-wheel should be adjusted to correspond with one of the teeth ofthe ratchet-wheels, and to afford provision for such adjustment the rim or stop-fian'ge h of the dent-wheel E is composed ot' a ring fitting upon the hub of the wheel, and held in place by friction after being adjusted by turning it upon the hub ofthe said wheel.

As it is necessary that there should always be a weak current passed before a strong one, so as to insure the proper adjustment of the instrument, the notch m in the dent-wheel at the first station should be in such a position relatively to the teeth of the ratchet-wheel that when at the starting-point one strong impulse will call station 1, a weak and a strong impulse will call station 2, two weak and one strong impulses will call station 3, three weak and one strong` impulses will call station 4, and so on in succession, the number of teeth in the ratchet-wheels being one more at least than the number of stations.

The notches m at the several stations being properly and permanently1 adjusted, the operation is as follows: It' it is desired to call station No. 3, the armature is actuated three times by the weak current moving all the ratchet-wheels forward three teeth and the dent wheels a corresponding distance. A strong currentis now passed through the magnet, giving still another impulse to the ratchet and dent wheels. and holding the latterfixed by the teeth l, while the ratchet-wheels are all moved backward to the starting-point by their springs c. lt is obvious that inasmuch as the notch m in the dent-wheel' of station No. 3 is opposite the tooth Z, the armature of that instrument may complete its full movement, making contact ofthe spring-iingerp with the contact point a, closing the bell-circuit, and ringing the bell at the station No. 3. Inasmuch, however, as the notches in the stop flanges of the other dent-wheels are not opposite the teeth l, all the other armatures are prevented from making their full movement, andhencenone of the other stations are called. If the tooth l struck simply against the face of the rim or stop-Harige h, the latter, under the impulse of the spring e, might slip so as to bring its notch m against the tooth l and produce a false ring; but inasmuch as the tooth l enters between the teeth ofthe dent-wheel E, such an accident is impossible.

Having thusdescribed the construction and operation of the instrument itself, I will now describe the battery and arrangement of conductors whereby weak or strong currents are produced at will and the bell sounded.

The battery represented is composed ot' two portions, F F', from one or both ot which the circuit may be made through keys G G', and branch conductors H H', to the main conductor I, leading to the magnet A. When only a weak current is desired the key G is operated and the portion F'ofthc battery is cnt out of the circuit; but when a strong current is desired the key G'is operated and the combined strength ot' both portions of the battery utilized. The ordinary course ot' the current for charging the magnet A is through the conductor I to the binding-postJ; thencethrough the conductor K to and through the magnet to the binding-post L, and thence back through the return-comluctorM to the other pole ofthe battery.

The branch circuit for operating the bell is shown bydotted lilies, and the current passes from the binding-post J through the conductor N to the fra-me A' and contact-point n; thence, theA circuit being closed, through the iingerp andconductor O to the binding-post P; thence through the conductor Q to and through the bell R (preferably of vibrating action) and through the conductor S to the binding-post L. When the short bell-circuit is closed a sufficient amount of electricity will be drawn from the main current to sound the bell, leaving, however, a sufficient quantity to hold the armature B against the magnet A.

The central office can be called when desired by breaking circuit in the usual way, the number of thestation being indicated by the number of times the bell is sounded.

In case any of the instruments may have been tampered with and the ratchet and dent wheels turned forward, it may be advisable, before sounding a call, to give a succession ot' weak impulses one more in number than the number of stations, and then a strong TOO IOS

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impulse, which will turn the wheels of all the instruments back to the starting-point without ringing any bell.

I do not broadly claim the ratchet-wheel having a step-by-step movement given to it by the armature of an electro-magnet and the signal-controlling device adapted to be moved positively with said wheel in such step-by-step movement, but to allow the said wheel to move back independently of said device. Nor do I claim, broadly, the ratchet-wheel and retractor therefor and mechanism to give the said wheel a step-by-step forward movement, combined with a signal-controlling device adapted to be engaged at a certain point by IZO Uli

and moved forward positively with said wheel, and an independent retractor for said device, whereby, after said wheel and device have been lnoved forward together, the wheel may be released and moved back independently of said device, and the latter, when released, will be lnoved to its pointof' engagement with said wheel; but

lhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the magnet A, the armature B, arm C, spring G', and abutment d, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in an electric-call apparatus, of a ratchet-wheel and a spring or weight for producing a backward movement thereof, means for producing a weak .current for actuating said ratchet-wheel against the force of the spring or weight, a dent-wheel connected with the ratchet-wheel by a clutch connection and rotated thereby, and mechanism to be actuated by a strong current for simultaneously leleasin g said ratchet-wheel and blocking said dent-wheel, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in an electric-call apparatus, of' a series of instruments at several stations each comprising a ratchet-wheel provided with a spring or weight for producing the backward movement, and a dent-wheel operated from said ratchet-wheel, means at one station for producing a weak current for rotating said wheels, and mechanism actuated by a strong current for simultaneously releasing all the ratchet-wheels and blocking all the dent-wheels, substantially as specified.

4. The combination,iu an electric-call apparatas, of' a ratchet-wheel, a spring or weight for producing a backward movement thereof', a dent-wheel connected with said ratchet-wheel by a clutch-connection and rotated thereby, a stop-pawl for holding said ratchet against the spring or weight, a magnet, an armature and attached arm, a pawl carried by said arm which, by a weak current through the magnet, moves said wheels forward, and which, by a strong current, raises the stop-pawl and releases said ratchet, and a tooth carried by said arm, which engages with and blocks the dentwheel when the armature is actuated by a strong current, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, in an electric-call apparatus, of a ratchet-wheel and spring or weight for producing a backward movement thereof, a magnet and armature, and an arm attached to said armature and carrying a circuit-closing device, mechanism operated by said armature and so connected with the ratchet that the latter may be moved forward by a weak current and released by a strong current through the magnet, a den t-wheel moved forward by the ratchetv and having a rim or fiange in which is a notch, a spring or weight for producing the backward movement of said dent-wheel, and a tooth which, by a strong current through the magnet, is caused to eugage with and block said dent-wheel, and which may enter said notch to permit the said armature and attached arm to move suciently f'a'r to close the electric circuit, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, in an electric-call apparatus, of the ratchet-wheel D and dent-wheel E, having a notch, on, in its rim or flange, a clutch connecting said wheels, the springs c and c, and the stop lr, all substantially as specified.

7. The combination of the dent-wheel E and the loose fiange or rim h,fitting upon the hub of said wheel and having a notch, m, in its periphery, substantially as specified.

S. The combination of the ratchet-wheel D, dent-wheel E, having a notch, m, in its rim or iiange, a clutch connecting said wheels, the springs c c, the magnet A, armature B, arm C, pawls D' D?, and the tooth or dent l, all arranged and operated substantially as specified.

9. The combination, in an electric-call apparatus, of an electro-magnet, a battery comprising two portions, and a line-wire or conductor, all so arranged that a current may be' passed from one or both portions of the battery through the line and magnet, an armature, an arm attached to said armature and carrying a device for closing a branch circuit containing a call, a dent-wheel having a notched stop-flange and means for rotating thc same, and a tooth carried by said arm and adapted to enter the notch in the stop-flange of the dent-wheel, so as to permit the closing of said branch circuit, substantially as specified.

l0. The combination, in an electric-call :1pparatus, of' a main circuit, a short branch circuit containing an electric bell, the magnet A in the main circuit,A the armature B, and arm C, and the contact-point u and spring-finger p, forming part of said branch circuit, substanA tially as specified.

LE ROY S. WHITF.

Witnesses Unas. W. GILLET'rE, DAVID S. PLUME.

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