US2306404A - Space discharge relay - Google Patents

Description

I M. POTTS 2,306,404 SPACE DISCHARGE RELAY Filed Feb. 26, 1940 GAS FILLED INVENTOR. LOUIS M. POTTS ATT \NEY.

Patented Dec. 29, 1942 SPACE DISCHARGE RELAY Louis M. Potts, Evanston, 11L, assignor to Tele- -type Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 26, 1940, Serial No. 320,846 19 Claims. (01. ire-1o) This invention pertains to telegraph systems and particularly to such systems in which space discharge devices are embodied as parts thereof with functions of transmitters, receivers or relays.

The invention further pertains particularly to systems in which space discharge devices respond to a comparatively short controlling impulse of signaling current and then flmction to deliver lengthened impulses to operate the apparatu in a controlled circuit of a telegraph system.

An object of the invention is to provide space discharge apparatus in telegraph systems where transmission is effected rapidly by electrical imnetic relay and upon the operation of one of such armatures the plate circuit of the controlling trigger tube is terminated by contacts controlled by the armature. v

' Fig. 2 illustrates a mechanical system in which trigger tubes are responsive to short received signal impulses and inwhich electromagnets of trigpulses, each of short duration, to effect a fully reliable operation in the signal responsive mechanical elements of the apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to limit the period during which the space discharge devices operate to the time necessary to operate the ap paratus in a controlled circuit.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a system of signal repeating devices in which one device is used to receive a signal and another device is used to retransmit the signal, the retransmitting device being designed to give a retransmitted signal of full time value in response to a received signal impulse of shorter time value.

In one form of th invention, each received signal i continued in the repeating circuit or in the work circuit until a signal of a contrasting characteristic is received.

In another form of the invention, the received signal impulse is repeated into a work circuit by a trigger member and is maintained by a residual condition while the unit of work is being effected, a mechanical operating member of the receiving unit then effecting resetting of the trigger member of the receiving device to signal current impulse.

A more complete understanding of the inventerminat the work tion may be had from th following description I ger nature are operated in turn by the trigger tubes toterminate the currents in the plate circults of the trigger tubes. In this modified exemplification, the work to be done is to effect the operation of a relay armature. Upon the operation of such an armature the plate circuit of the trigger tube is opened and concomitantly a circuit is closed to effect a further unit of work.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 there is disclosed a telegraph system, preferably a syn.- chronous multiplex system, comprising a transmission timing contact 2, a synchronous transmitting distributor It, a pair of space discharge devices 5 and i controlled by the distributor and an apparatus 9 in turn controlled by said space discharge devices. A constantly rotating cam I carried on a shaft 2|, operates contact 2 periodically to complete a transmission circuit, to be presently defined, from transmitting distributor it to either of the gas filled tubes I or 8. Neutral relay I and 8 through their armatures condition a circuit to control apparatus 9 in response to signal combinations transmitted from distributor It. In this figure, 9 is illustrated as a polar relay controlling retransmission into a conductor I 0, but it may well form part of any signal controlled apparatus. v

The transmitting distributor It includes ten segments, A-l to A- for channel A and B-l to 3-5 for channel B. Associated with segments 15-! to B-5 is a tape controlled permutation transmitter I 9 which comprises transmitting members 3 and l engageable by a plurality of tongues 20 to place marking or spacing condition on these segments in response to a perforated tape controlling transmission from transmitter is. Likewise a tape controlled transmitter 20 conditions segments A-l to A4 in response to signal combinations in a perforated tape. A double brush II is carried by shaft ll of transmitting distributor l8 and bridges ring 26 and the segments of the distributor successively to transmit code signal combinations. Cam I is rotated'by shaft 2| through a 10 to 1 gearing from shaft l1 and operates itsfollower 22 to close contact 2 for a short period in each revolution of cam I to complete a transmission circuit as follows: ground, battery 23, resistor 24, contact'2, ring 2!,

2 i 2,soc,4os

brushes II, the distributor segment with which brushII has its instant engagement, ton ue II in transmitter II or II connected to the particular distributor segment, line conductor 21 and II depending on the positionment oi the particular tonguslIandgridoitubeiorI.

Plate circuit II of tube I includes battery II, of relay I, contacts II, II of relay I, plate II, cathode II, conductor II and potentiometer II tobattery II. A holding circuit ior relay I when operated, and when relay I is de-energized, 7

includes battery II, winding of relay I, contact II and tongue II, of relay I, tongue II; and contact II oi relay I and to ground.

. Plats circuit II of tube I includes battery II, resistor II, winding of relay I, plate II, cathode II, conductor II and potentiometer II to battery II. Relay I has a further contact II connected to ground, and relay I has a further contact II connectedtoresistor II. a

. Tongue II oi relay 1 is provided with a pair of retransmitting contacts comprising a marking contact II connected to negative battery II, and a spacing contact II connected to positive battery II. Tongue II is connected to line conductor II and over that conductor it is connected to a polar signal responsive device I.

Operation of the structureillustrated in Fig. 1 a

is as follows: The structure is shown in normal condition which is represented as continuous transmission of a signal of marking nature over conductor II, initiated by a marking impulse from segment B-I, the conductors II and II being instantly without potential because contact I. is open. Plate circuit II oi tube I is open at contact II oi energized. relay 1 which is held energized by its described holding circuit.

I, is the movement of tongue II to engage con.-

tact II, after which current in the described holding circuit eiiects all subsequent functions.

Upon completion of the work oi engaging contact II, the tongue II disengages contact II from contact II, stopping all plate current in tube I. The mechanical work to be done by relay I in response to control by tube I is the movement of tongue II to engage contact "and to release tongue II for movement into engagement with contact II. Upon completionoi the work, the described shunt through circuit elements 41, II, II and II stops all plate current in tube I. The

tubes I and I are rendered conductive tor only I. very short interval ot-time because in accomplishing their functions, that is, the energization of relay 1 or I, they are rendered non-conductive. However, although the tubes are operative for only a short period, the signal controlled apparatus I is conditioned by elongated signal imi tion is illustrated in Fig. 2.

Upon momentary closure of the transmitting g 2 ion a spacing impulse, positive battery II will be connected through segment A-I,

brush II and a tape-controlled contact II and line conductor II to grid of tube I, rendering tube I conductive, .permitting current in plate circuit II of tube I, energizing relay I and thus interrupting the holding circuit of relay 1 at contact II, which releases its tongue II to be operated by a ,retractile spring (not shown) into engagement with contact ,thus shunting the winding of relay I and the plate circuit through tube I through the following circuit:

vground, battery II, resistor II, contact I1, arma- The invention again has been illustrated in connection with a synchronous multiplex telegraph system and more particularly to the receiving terminus of such a system. A receiving distributor III includes a plurality oi very short segments III, of which segments C--I to C-I form a portion of channel C and segments D-I toD-I form a portion of a channel D. A dis-' tributor brush III carried by distributor shaft I III distributes signal impulses received over the multiplex transmission line III to the segments III.

At the receiving end of the multiplex system there are provided a plurality oi sprace discharge I dered conductive by a control grid III. Each ture II of relay I, armature. II of relay I, contact II, and ground. Both relays land I thus are de-energized, and all current is shunted i'roln the plate circuit in tube I. terminating the conductive condition 01' that tube.

Subsequently, upon momentary closure of the transmitting contacts I for a marking impulse, positive battery II will be connected through brush II and a tape controlled contact II and line conductor II. to grid of tube I, rendering tube I conductive, permitting current through winding of relay I, which forms its holding circuit and operates its contacts into the conditions shown in the drawing, thus opening the plate circuit II of tube I.

By energizationgand de-en'ergization of re! I, tongue II has been operated between the two contacts II and II alternately, eiiecting in line conductor II and in signal responsive device I a series of signals corresponding to signals gen;

' erated by contacts I in co-operation with brush devices III adapted to be controlled by signals received over line III. The space discharge devices III are gas filled trigger tubes which are normally non-conductive but which may be renof the control grids III is directly connected to a segment III oi the synchronous receiving distributor and when a marking impulse is received irom the transmission line III, it is directed to the grid oi the tube associated with the distributor segment contacted by brush III during 4 the particular signal impulse period and renders that tube conductive. when a spacing signal is received, the tube connected to the distributor segment instantlycontacted by brush III is not rendered conductive since a spacing signal is either a no-current interval or an impllllse oi reversed Polarity to that of a marking s al.

Also located in this receiving end of the transmission line there is a plurality of double wound magnets III, equal in number to the plurality oi space discharge devices III. Each double 'II and tape controlled transmitters II and a.

- The mechanical work to be done by relay 1,

I to control by plate current of tube 76 wound magnet III has a biasing winding III continuously energized over a simple circuit in-- cluding ground, winding III and grounded positive battery (only two such circuits have been indicated in Fig. 2). The second. or neutralising, winding III of each magnet III is included in the plate circuit of one oi the spacedischarg deviceslll,aswillpresentlyappear There is an armature III, in oi'ous arm of a pivoted bell crank, associated with each magnet I to be controlled thereby. Assisted armature action is aiiorded by the engagement of a cam I00 carried directly by shaft I2I, or driven synchronously therefrom, with the other arm IIII of the bell crank. Cam I00 is so oriented onfits shaft that it will return armatures I00 to the poles of their respective magnets Ili just prior to the time at which the distributor brush I20 contacts the distributor segments connected to the space discharge devices which control the magnets through their plate circuits. Each magnet through its biasing winding I00 retains its armature in its attracted position until its controlling winding is energized through the reception at the gas tube III associated with the particular magnet of a marking impulse which renders the tube conductive and energizes the neutralizing winding through a circuit 'II3 including the plate of the particular tube III, contact pair IIZ, neutralizing winding IIO, battery, and the filament of the tube. In response to the energization of the neutralizing winding Ill 9. spring connected to the armature is eii'ective to withdraw the armature from its magnet.

Each armature I00 controls two contact pairs, pair II! in the above defined plate, circuit and pair IIO which closes a circuit I". Since a twochannel multiplex system employing a five unit code has been illustrated, there are ten segments in distributor I00, ten space discharge devices III, ten magnets I05 controlled thereby and ten circuits II1 conditioned by the magnets. Five of the circuits II'I form a continuation of channel C, and the remaining five form a continuation of channel D. These channels C and D may lead to a printer, a regenerative repeater, or any signal controlled apparatus;

Cam I30 carried by synchronized shaft I2I operates cam-controlled switches I0 I and III to generate sixth-impulse signals on conductors I00 and I. Line In is associated with one channel, as channel C, and line I is associated with' I00 when a marking impulse is received.- However, the marking signal repeated into the circuit III controlled by the particular tube rendered conductive upon the reception of a marking impulse will be materially lengthened aiiording greater operating time for the apparatus connected to circuits II'I because the armature I00 is not restored to its magnet I00 opening circuit II 1 until cam I00 engages the arm I01 which engagement will not occur until shaft I2I has completed nearly a full revolution.

The telegraph system employed on circuits III rent of tube III acting through magnet I00 is the movement of the armature I00 and contacts 2 eiIected by the neutralization of the normal magnetic held of magnet I 05. Upon completion of this work, contacts 2 are disengaged from each other which stops the operating plate current.

While the invention has been described in connection with specific illustrative systems, these are capable of modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, which is determined only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph relay set, a gas 'fllled tube.

having a grid under the control of received signal impulses, an electromagnetic relay having a ratus conditioned by the signal impulses transmitted over circuits III thereto in well known multiplex operation.

The operation oi'the structure illustrated in Fig. 2 is as follows: The structure is shown in condition of transmission of a series of signals of spacing nature. Upon receipt of a marking signal impulse from line I22 distributed through one distributor segment I04 to grid III of the tube connected thereto, the tube III becomes conductive and current. flows in its plate circuit by current through its winding I00 and releasing the armature I00.

winding included in the plate circuit of said tube, an armature for said relay, normally closed contacts in said plate circuit mechanically actuatedby said armature in response to the energization of said relay winding and responsively eiIective to open said plate circuit, and signal repeating means'operated in accordance with the effectiveness of said tube under the control of said armature to repeat signals received by said tube.

2. In a telegraph system, a gas iilled tube responsive to a received electrical signal impulse. an electromagnetic winding and normally closed contacts included in the plate circuit of said tube, a mechanical member operable by said winding to engage and open said contacts In said plate circuit in response to the energizationof said winding, and signal repeating means operated in accordance with the eiiectiveness of said tube under the control of said mechanical member to repeat signals received by said tube.

3. In a telegraph system, a signal impulse generator, a sas filled tube responsive to elec- By its motion in release, the armature I00 opens the plate circuit H0 and closes the controlled circuit II-'I thereby rendering the tube III non-conductive and repeating the received signal impulse. Subsequently, cam lobe I 00-engages lever I01 and moves armature I00 to its -trical signal impulses emitted by said generator.

' an electromagneticwinding included in the plate circuit of said tube, a mechanical member operable in response to the electrification of; said winding, a holding circuit for said winding closed by said member in its operated-position, means operable by said member to close said holding of time to release the armature. I00 of amagnet 7 circuit and to interrupt-current in said plate circuit, and si nal repeating means operated in accordance with the eflectiveness of said tube under the control oi said mechanical member to repeat signals received by said tube.-

4. In a telegraph system, an electron dis-f charge device responsive to a received electricalsignal impulse, a plate circuit for said discharge device, a relay, a winding for said relay and a pair of normally closed contacts included in said plate circuit, a signal repeater, and a mechanical device operated by said relay whereby said mechanical device is operable to condition said repeater and to engage and open said normally closed contacts in response to the operation of said relay.

5. In a telegraph repeating device, a gas filled tube having a grid under the control of received signal impulses to start ionization of the tube, a mechanical work element electromagnetically associated with said tube for operation by said tube, means mechanically controlled by said work element for de-ionizing the tube simultaneously with the operation of said work element, and signal repeating means operated in accordance with the effectiveness of said tube under the control of said mechanical work element to repeat signals received by said tube.

6. In a telegraph repeating device, a gas filled tube having a grid under the control of received signal impulses to start the plate current of the tube, a mechanical work element electromagnetically associated with the plate circuit of said tube, electrical contacts included in the plate circuit of said tube operated mechanically by said work element to stop the plate current of the tube, and signal repeating means operated in accordance with the effectiveness of said tube under the control of said mechanical work element to repeat signals received by said tube.

'7. In a telegraph signal receiving system, a

gas filled tube, a telegraph transmitter connectedto the grid of said tube through a signaling conductor and effective to initiate conductivity in said tube, an output receiving element normally of said tube, mechanical means electromagnetically associated with said output receiving element for mechanically opening said contacts in the plate circuit of said tube, and signal repeating means operated in accordance with the efiectiveness of said tube under the control of said mechanical means to retransmit regenerated electrical signals.

8. In a telegraphically controlled signal receiving device, a spring-urged circuit controlling member, electromagnetic means normally retaining said member in its unoperated position, means to operate said electromagnetic means to release said member for operation, a telegraphically controlled electron discharge device having a plate circuit including said electromagnetic means to operate said electromagnetic means in response to received signals, means controlled by said spring-urged member in its operated condition for interrupting current in said plate circuit, and signal repeating means operated in accordance with the eiiectiveness of said electron discharge device under the control of said spring urged member to transmit regenerated electrical signals.

9. In a telegraphically controlled signal receiving device, a gas filled tube, a magnet having a plurality of windings, a spring-urged armature i'or said magnet, a polarized circuit through one winding of said magnet with sufficient current to hold said armature against the urge of said spring in close-to-core position, a plate circuit for said tube through another winding of said magnet, means to polarize said tube by a received signal to permit current in said plate circuit to oppose said polarizing current in said magnet and to release said armature, and means controlled by said armature to generate a repeating telegraphic signal and to open said plate circuit.

10. In a telegraph system, a pair of gas filled tubes, a first relay a winding of which is connected in the plate circuit of a first tube when the relay is unenergized, a second relay a winding of which is connected in the plate circuit of the second tube when the relay is unenergized,

means to render the plate circuit of either tube closed contacts connected in series with the plate conducting according to received signals and to energize the associated relay winding, means effective when the first relay is energized to open the plate circuit of the associated tube and close a locking circuit for the first relay through the contacts of the second relay, and means effective after the winding of the second relay is energized to interrupt the plate current of the second tube and to interrupt the holding circuit of the first relay.

11. In a telegraph system, a signal impulse generator, a signal repeating means, a space discharge device responsive to signal impulses emitted by said generator, a plate circuit for said space discharge device including an electromagnetic device, a plurality of mechanical members operated by said electromagnetic device, one of said members being operable to open said plate circuit and another of said members being operable to control said signal repeating means to repeat the signal impulse to which said space discharge device responds.

12. In a telegraph system, a signal generator, a pair of gas filled tubes one of which is rendered conductive by generated signals of marking nature and the other of which is rendered conductive by generated signals of spacing nature, an electromagnetic relay energized by one of said tubes and deenergized by the other, repeating mechanism controlled by said relay to repeat signals received by said tubes, and a mechanical member positioned by said relay simultaneously with the conditioning of said repeating mechanism to render said tubes inoperative.

13. A transmitting distributor comprising a plurality of signal transmitting segments, a closed conductive ring, a set of rotating brushes bridging said ring and said plurality of segments successively, a set of timing contacts, a transmission circuit including said set of contacts, said conductive ring, said plurality of segments and said set of brushes, means to operate said set of contacts to time transmission of initiatory impulses from said .distributor segments, trigger tubes in said transmission circuit responsive to said initiatory impulses, an electromagnetic means controlled by said tubes,'and signal repeating means operated in accordance with the effectiveness of said tubes under the control of said electromagnetic means to transmit regenerated electrical impulses.

14. In a telegraph system, a signal transmitter, a plurality of signal transmitting contacts in said transmitter operable in succession to generate impulses of a signal combination, a single set of timing contacts operated in synchronism with said transmitting contacts to determine the time of signal transmission therefrom, a pair of gas filled tubes, an electromagnetic relay individual to each tube and included in the plate circuit of their respective tubes, means to render the plate circuit of either tube conducting according to received signals and to energize the associated relay, means efiective when one relav is energized to open the plate circuit of the associated tube and close a locking circuit for said relay through the contacts of the other relay, and means effective after the winding of said other relay is energized to interrupt the plate circuit of the second tube and to interruptthe holding circuit of said one relay.

15. In a telegraph system, a signal generator, a pair of electron discharge devices each including a control electrode, each control electrode being individually connected to said generator whereby one of said discharge devices is rendered conductive by generated signals of marking nature and the other discharge device is rendered conductive by generated signals of spacing nature, a. signal regenerator conditioned in response to the conductivity of said discharge devices to repeat signals received thereby, and means operable upon the conditioning of said signal regenerator to disable the discharge device that conditioned the signal regenerator.

16. In a telegraph system, a signal generator, 9. pair oi! electron discharge devices including control grids, the control grids of said discharge devices being individually connected to said signal generator whereby one of said devices is rendered conductive by generated signals of marking nature and the other is rendered conductive by generated signals of spacing nature, a signal repeater controlled by the conductivity of one of said discharge devices to repeat a marking signal and controlled by the conductivityof the other discharge device to repeat a spacing signal, and a single means to interrupt the conductivity of that discharge device that controlled the repeater.

17. In a telegraph system, a signal generator,

a pair of electron discharge devices including control grids, the control grids of said discharge and to render the other discharge device conductive by generated signals of spacing nature, a signal responsive mechanism to be conditioned alternately by said discharge devices in response to received signals, and circuit means associated with said discharge devices operable upon the conditioning of said signal responsive mechanism to disable the discharge device that conditioned the signal responsive mechanism.

18. In a telegraph system, a signal generator,

a pair of electron discharge devices each including a control grid, the control grid of each of said devices being individually connected to said signal generator to render one of said devices conductive in response to the generated signals of marking nature and to render the other discharge device conductive in response to generated signals of spacing nature, plate circuit for said discharge devices, a signal repeater to be conditioned selectively in response to current in said plate circuits, and means included in said repeater operable upon the conditioning of said repeater to interrupt the plate circuit-of that dischargedevice that conditioned the signal repeater.

19. In a telegraph system, a signal impulse generator, a pair of electron discharge devices responsive to electrical signal impulses transmitted from said generator, a plate circuit individual to' each device, a signal repeater including in said plate circuits to repeat signal in response to the operation of said discharge devices, means to cause said repeater to generate a lengthened signal impulse in response to a shorter 'signal generated by said generator, and mechanism included in said repeater operable upon the conditioning of said repeater in response to certain received signals to disable said plate circuit of that discharge device that conditioned the signal repeater.

LOUIS M. PO'I'IS.

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