US2337988A - Changeable electric sign - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1943. GHlGGlNp 2,337,988

'CHANGEABLE ELECTRIC S IGN Filed Nov. 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY L. GHIGG INI CHANGEABLE ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Nov. '9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L ore/12o Ghiqyini Y M J04, ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1943. GH|GG|NI 2,337,988

CHANGEABLE ELECTRIC SIGN Filed NOV. 9, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I PI 3 v u v \Q Q R I lNVENTOR .-L Lorenzo Shay/271' (x BY ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1943' oFFicn cnsnoasnna memo SIGN Lorenzo Ghiggini, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application November 9, 1940, sci-m No. seam 11 Claims. (or. 177-346) This invention relates to changeable electric signs. It is an object to provide an arrangement 7 or set of neon gas electric tubes that will make letters of the alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks, 01' other desired symbols by lighting certain of the tubes. Also a battery of such arrangements may be used, with the arrangements set side by side to outline all the letters of a word, phrase or sentence. For the sake of simplicity the term letter willbe used throughout, but it is to be understood that this is to be symbolic as well for numbers, desired symbols.

While neon gas is preferable, other gases .or

materials that are adapted to be illuminated by electricity may be used and are to be considered equivalents in the description and claims where the context is applicable. The same applies to elongated tubes lighted by filaments.

Contrary to practice of the prior art, the tubes of a unit are substantially all connected in series, and when it is desired to illuminate some of them to form a particular letter, a template is used which short circuits those tubes not suitable for the desired letter, the principal current flowing in series through those tubes only which must be illuminated to form said letter. The templates used are plates of insulating material, as of wood, having conducting means along an edge, said means being connected or bridged by wires on the face of the template in such order that they will short circuit predetermined tubes. Each unit has a drum for holdin a. plurality of templates, preferably radially such as are thepaddles of a paddle wheel. The radially outward edges of the templates are where the conducting means are located. The drums of the several units are mounted on a common shaft which is driven by an electric motor.

The series connected tubes are provided with taps between adjacent tubes, which taps are entinue to rotate until the cycle for which the sign was prepared is completed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further study of the description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a sign showing two units. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a two unit sign, a

portion of the tube supporting plate being broken punctuation marks or other gaged by the contacts on the templates-in a predetermined order as the drums are intermittently rotated.

A feature of the present invention is the mechanism which is provided to ensure the lighting of all the letters in the row or battery at the same time and their simultaneous quenching after a predetermined interval. This is accomplished, in the particular form illustrated, by providing the drum shaft with a toothed member which closes and opens the circuit through all the units at the same time, the pitch of the teeth corresponding to the spacing or pitch of the templates in the drums. This mechanism also prevents undue sparking at the various contacts.

Automatic means are provided so that when it is desired to end the operation 01' the Sign, a switch is opened manually, but the drums conaway to show the mechanism behind.

Fig.3 is a partial section taken to a somewhat,

larger scale along the line 3-3 on Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting plate being broken oil about at the top of the drum.

Fig. 4 is a partial section, to the same scale as Fig. 3, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial section, to the same scale as Fig. 3, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a partial section to a considerably larger scale taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 with only one template shown in the drum.

Fig. 7 is a partial section to the same scale as Fig. 6, taken along the line 'l-I of Fig. 1, no conducting means being shown on the templates.

Fig. 8 is a wire diagram for a sign with two units.

Fig. 9 is a partial section to a large scale taken along the line 9--9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a section to a large scale through a template along the line iii-I0 of Fig. 8, the contacts being omitted, and

Fig. 11 is a view of the drum spacing member by itself taken to the same scale as Fig. 7.

The wiring is omitted from Figs. 1-7.

, Upon base 33 are mounted uprights 34, 35 an 36 supporting bearings in which drum shaft'3'l is mounted. In the particular embodiment illustrated, two drums are shown mounted on shaft 31; they are drums 38 and. It will be, of course, understood that a larger number of drums will be used with a set of tubes l-32 corresponding to each drum, but two drums are suflicient to illustrate the invention. The tubes in the particular embodiment shown are neon gas tubes. In practice, a sumcient number of units will be used to spell out words, phrases and sentences as desired.

Each drum comprises a pair of intermediate spacing members 40, Figs. 6 and 11, and a pair of end members 4i joined together by rods 42 and spaced by sleeves 45 mounted on said rods. Each end member 4! has a hub 43 which is fixed to drum shaft 31. Intermediate members 40 are provided with a plurality of radial slots 44, end members 4| having corresponding slots. The slots in the end members are rectangular holes, Fig. 3. The slots of the end members and intermediate members are in alignment, so that a template 46 may be inserted into each row of slots, there being four slots in a row. Each template 48, has a tongue 4'! at each end, Figs. 3, 6 and 8, said tongues fitting into the slots or holes in end members 4I. End members 4I also have slots which give rise to spokes 48, Figs. 3 and '7, said end members being of thin resilient metal. When inserting a template 46 in a drum, the spokes 48 in which the template is to be inser ted are sprung outward so that tongues 41 can be inserted into the openings in the spokes provided for them@ The intermediate portion of each template enters a slot 44 in each spacing member 40. A plurality of templates are inserted in the drumsto produce the desired successive letters, each template when moved into engagement with certain of the contacts to 320 causing energization of certain of tubes I to 32 to produce a predetermined letter as will be explained.

Each template 46, one of which is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 8, has mounted thereon conducting means such as shown at 49 and 58. Each conducting means bridges the gap between a pair of contacts, as conducting means 49 is shown connecting contacts I20 and I10 and conducting means 50 is shown connecting contacts 200 and 82c, which as will be explained energizes or illuminates tubes I-I2 and I8-29 showing the letter A.

Contacts Ic-32c are mounted on an insulating bar by means of screws 52. In Fig. 7, contact 390 is shown so mounted. Said contacts are spring contacts normally pressing upward against the underside of top bar 53 of rectangular frame 54. Frame 54, which is of insulating material, is mounted on base 33. As a template 46 is rotated with its drum, Fig. 6, the conducting means, say means 50, which is looped over the radially outward edge of the template, Fig; 10, moves into contact with contacts 200 and 32c, so that any current flowing into contact 28c will be shunted past contacts 2 lo to 3 I0 and into contact 320. Similarly conducting means 49 loops over the edge of the template so as to press against contacts I2c and He shunting any current entering contact I2c past contacts I3c-I6c and .into contact IIc. In general, each conducting means acts as a conducting bridge between a predetermined pair of contacts.

At the extreme left of the insulating member or template 46 at its outer edge is a lug'55 which presses down the front end of bar 56. Bar 56 is pivotally mounted on an upright 51, Fig. 3. The rear end of bar 56 comes under bar 58, Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A spring 59 normally holds down the end of bar 58 at bar 56. The other end of bar 58 insulatively carries one terminal of a switch 60, the other terminal of the switch being insulatively mounted on spring plate 6I carried by upright 62. Stop bar 90 limits the downward pull of spring 59 on bar 58. 'Set screw 63 adjusts the gap between said terminals. Bar 56 is also used as as a contact, contact 00, Fig. 6, a wire, not shown, being attached to said bar, which wire connects to the bottom end of tube I, Fig. 2 and to the left end of said tube as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8.

Tubes I-32 are mounted on a panel board 9|, each tube being bent back at its ends to pass through a hole 92 in the panel. The ends of consecutively numbered tubes are wired together so that the tubes are connected in series in their A tap leads from before and after each tube, Fig. 8, terminating in one of the contacts 00 to 320. Thus a tap from before tube I terminates in contact 80 and from after said tube in contact Ic, said latter tap also leads from before tube 2. Except from before tube I and after tube 32, each tap leads from the wire numerical order.

ew:emae'uozgr'a 'mo o e connecting successive tubes, that is from the junction of two tubes. See Fig. 10. Power is supplied to the series from transformer T, the secondary thereof being connected at one end to the tap connecting tube I and contact 00 and at the other end to the tap connecting tube'32 and contact 320. If there were no conducting means, such as 49 and 50 on the template 46, the current from the secondary coil of transformer T would pass through all the tubes l32 in series energizing or lighting all of them. But the conducting means shunt or short circuit certain of the tubes, as was explained before for the template shown in Figs. 6 and 8, with which such tubes are short circuited, that the remain ing ones which will be illuminated or energized from the letter A.

The following table lists those tubes which are illuminated to form various letters, numbers and symbols, those tubes not illuminated being short circuited by conducting means on the templates set in the drum:

Letters I-I2 and I8-28 I-5 and 5, 8, II, I4, I8, I8, 2I, 22, 23, 32 I-'|, I2, I3, I4 I-5, 8, 8, III, II, I4, 23, 32 I-8, I3, I4, I8

I-I, III, II, I2, I3, I4, I8, 28 I-4, 'I-I2, I8, I9, 28 I5, 25 'I-I I, I4, 32

I-4, I'I, I8, 24 I4, I3, I4

1-4. 1-12, 24, 2s I-4, 'I-I2, IT, 25 I-I4 I-9, I8, 19,20 I-I4, 38 I-8, I1, I8, I9, 20 3-5, ID-I4, I8, I9, 28 5, 5, I5, 25 I-4, 'I-I4 21 I5, I1, 24 and 28 I5, 24, 25 5, 5, I3, I4, I6, 24.

Numbers eas letterI 4 5 8, I3, I4, I6, I9, 22, 23 L4, 5, 8, II, I4,I8,2I,22,23,32 I I3, I4,38 I, 3, 4, 5, ll, I4, I8, I9, 2i, 32 I4, I0, I I, I2, I3, I4 4-I2 ll4, I8, I9,28 3-I2, I8, I9, 28 Same as letter 0 Symbols Same as S plus I5 and 25 Same as C plus I5 and 25 4, 5,8, I5, I9, 22 and 23 I Same as I plus 3| Comma 29 Apostrophe 28.

The primary coil of transformer T is in circuit with the source of supply, wire 64 leading from one side of the source to Junction A of branch circuit 65 and branch circuit 66. Branch circuit 65 leads from junction A through switches 61, 68, the primary coil of transformer T. switch 68 to tive disc 15 which carries a .upright 84 has a lug 85,

wheel 82 as it rotates.

asa'mas Junction B, where one branch goes back to the other side 8| of the source through switch 12 and the other branch goes back to said latter side of the source through switch 1|. Branch circuit 88 leads from junction A to motor M, back from the motor through switch 18 to junction B and back to source 8| from junction B as described above.- From junctions C and D current is supplied to the primary of the right hand unit transformer T2. A switch 13 is provided in the primary circuit of transformer T2 which functions in manner similar to switch 88. The energization of the tubes by the making of contacts for the right hand unit is controlled by templates 46 set in drum 38, Figs. l and 2.

Shaft 31 is driven by motor M through reducing gear unit 14 and gears 88 and 88. The left end of shaft 31 has mounted thereon an insulataperedlug 18. Lug 18 at a certain point in its revolution engages and pushes back the end of piyotally mounted lever 11 against the pressure of spring 18. One

contact of switch 1| is mounted on lever 11 and the other contact of said switch is mounted on support 18. Normally switch 1| is held closed by spring 18, so that only once in the revolution of shaft 31 is switch 1| opened by lug 16. When switch 1| is opened, motor M is stopped if manually operated switch 12should be open at the time. If manually operated switch 12 is closed, motor M will continue to rotate even if switch 1| is opened by lug 18, because current will flow back from the motor to junction'B, and then through closed switch 12 to source 8|. v

Fixed toward the right end of shaft 31 is wheel 82 having cam shaped teeth on its periphery. A switch arm 83, which is pivotally. mounted on Fig. 5, at its outer end which is adapted to be engaged by the teeth of Spring 88 normally pulls down on the end of switch arm 83 to which it is attached forcing lug 85 up against the teeth of wheel 82. A stop 81 is provided on upright 84 to limit the downward motion of the spring end of arm 83. One terminal'of switch 88 is mounted on spring arm 88 while the other terminal is mounted on arm 83. The number of teeth on wheel 82 is equal to the number of spokes 48 in the end members 4| of drums 38 and 38, the spokes 48 of the two drums being in phase with each other. There is a template 48 for each pair of spokes of the pair of end members 4| of each drum. Switch 88 is closed by a tooth on wheel 82 just after the conducting means on a template 48, such as means 48 and 88, comes into engagement with its contacts, said switch being allowed to open suddenly Just before the conducting mean moves outof engagement with its contacts.

Slots are provided in base'33, one of said slots being designated at 88, Fig. 1, to connect the wires, not shown, from contacts 80 to 320 to tubes l-32.

To operate the machine,-templates 48 are placed in drums 38 and 38 with such conducting means on them to select predetermined letters in a, predetermined succession. Manually operated switches 81, 18 and are closed. This causes motor M to turn shaft 31 with its drums. As a template 48 reaches the contacts, certain pairs of them are bridged by the conducting means to short circuit certain of the tubes of each of the setsof tubes. At the same time the contacts are bridged, switches 88 and 13 are closed so that soon after, when switch 88 is closed by wheel 82,

the current is caused to flow through the selected tubes to energize and illuminate them. Just beto make the set up for a given cycle .plate 48 in drum 38 and switch 13 fore the conducting means leaves the contacts,-

switch 88 is allowed to open. darkening the tubes previously deenergizing and illuminated. As

motor M continues to rotate, the next template for each drum is brought into cycle of operations is repeated. When it is desired to stop the operation of the sign, manually operated switch 12 is opened, but if lug 18 has not reached switch arm or lever 11, switch 1| is closed and the motor will continue to run until said latter switch is opened by lug 18. Thus even if switch 12 is opened to stop the sign, the latter will continue to operate until its cycle of letters is completed.

Switch 81, which is manually operated, when opened disconnects the primary of both transformers so that all contacts 80 to 32c may be dead and the tubes deenerglzed, when the templates are inserted in the drums. Switch 12 is not turned off at this time to permit the motor to revolve while inserting templates in the drums of letters. Switch 88 is operated by each individual temposition and the each individual template 48 in drum 38. When lug 55 on a template-closes either switch 88 or 13, the letter selected by the template may light because the primary of its corresponding transformer has the circuit closed through it. If switches 88 and 13 were not provided, each set of tubes |-32 would be illuminated even when not selected'by a template because said tubes are in series with the secondaries of the transformers. In order to prevent this, switches 88 and 13 are normally open, only being closed by lugs 55 on th templates 48 when thelatter engage the contacts for the selection of the tubes to form the circuits before switches-88 and 13 are opened.

These actions tend to reduce sparking. They also ensure that all letters of the series of'units or sets be shown-simultaneously.

The motion of motoriM may be completely stopped at anytime by opening switch 18.

Motor M is the common means or mechanism to drive all drums, and switches 81, 88-, 18, 1| and 12 are common to all units.

I claim:

1. A, sign comprising luminous tubes in sets, each set consisting of an arrangement of tubes adapted to display'any given ones to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, movable means for each set. for the selective energization of the tubes of each set, the movable means for each set being separably mounted from the movable means of. all the other sets, a source of electricity connected to the of the tubes, individual switch mechanism for each set actuated by th movable means of its particular set for closing the circuit through each set as selected, a common means for moving all the movable means in fixed relation to each other and switch means operated by the common means independently of saidmovable means-for making and breaking the circuit simultaneously through all the sets. I i

2. A sign comprising luminous tubes in sets, each set consisting of an arrangement of tubes connected in series, adapted to display any given is operated by sets for the energization ones to form letters by selective energization, a source of electricity connected to the sets for the energization of the tubes, taps leading off from before and after consecutive tubes in each series, a plurality of movably mounted members corresponding to each set, conducting means mounted on each member for brid predetermined taps of its corresponding set in pairs, when the member is moved into position to have its conducting means contact the taps, short circuiting those tubes between the taps of a pair, those tubes not short circuited being energized to form a predetermined letter, each conducting means being insulated from the others, switch mechanism for each set actuated by each individual member of its set when moved into position to close the circuit through its set as selected, means common to all the sets for moving said members in a predetermined order to bring their conducting means successively into contact with the taps, a member of one set contacting the taps at the same time as members of the other sets, and a switch mechanism common to all sets actuated by the latter means to close the circuit through the selected tubes of all the sets simultaneously each time after the conducting means have been brought into contact with the taps and to break the latter circuit each time before the conducting means'are moved out of contact with the taps.

3. A sign comprising luminous tubes in sets, each set consisting of an arrangement of tubes adapted to display any given ones to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source of electricity connected to the sets for the energization of the tubes, a plurality of drums, a drum corresponding to each set, a shaft upon which said drums are mounted, mechanism for rotating said shaft, a plurality of templates mounted on each drum, cach template, when rotated into a, predetermined position, efiecting a selection of the tubes of its set for forming a letter, and switch mechanism actuated by said shaft first closing and then breaking the circuit through the selected tubes each timea template is moved into said predetermined position.

4. A sign comprising luminous tubes in sets, each set consisting of an arrangement of tubes adapted to display any given ones to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source of electricity connected to the sets for the energization of the tubes, a plurality of drums, a drum corresponding to each set, a shaft upon which said drums are mounted, mechanism for rotating said shaft, a plurality of templates mounted on each drum, each template, when rotated into a predetermined position, effecting a selection of the tubes of its set for forming a letter, individual switch mechanism corresponding to each set, each template having a portion engaging the switch mechanism of its set for closing the circuit through the tubes of its set when said template is rotated into said position, and switch means actuated by said shaft first closing and then breaking the circuit through the selected tubes each time a template is moved into said predetermined position.

5. A sign comprising an arrangement of luminous tubes connected in series adapted to display given ones to form letters by selective energization of the'tubes, a source of electricity connected to the series for the energization of the tubes, movablemembers for efiecting said selective energization, electric conductors on the members, at least some of the members having a plurality of conductors apiece, the conductors on a member having a plurality thereof being insulated from each other, taps leading off from before and after consecutive tubes in the series,

some of said conductors being formed each to extend between consecutive taps and others being formed each to extend between non-consecutive taps for effecting a shunt between their taps when brought into contact therewith, and mechanism for successively moving said members into position for bringing their conductors successively into contact with the taps, whereby those tubes in the series not required to form a given letter when a member is brought into position, have the current shunted around them.

6. A sign comprising an arrangement of luminous tubes adapted to display any given ones to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source of electricity connected to the tubes for the energization of the tubes, a rotatably mounted drum, a, plurality of plate-like templates substantially radially mounted on the drum, conducting means on each template for the selective energization of the tubes, switch mechanism for closing the circuit through the tubes as selected by the conducting means of each template, means on each template for effecting the actuation of the switch mechanism to close said circuit, and means for rotating the drum for causing the conducting means to eilect a successiveselection of the tubes and successive closing of the circuits through the selected tubes for their energization.

'7. A sign comprising an arrangement of luminous tubes adapted to display any given ones to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source of electricity connected to the tubes for the energization of the tubes, a rotatably mounted drum, a plurality of insulating plates substantially radially mounted on the drum, independent lengths of wire out of electrical contact with each other mounted on the plates, at least some of said plates having a plurality of said wires on them, each end of a length oi! said wire being located near the radially outer edge of the plate for the energization of certain of the tubes, and means for rotating the drum for causing said lengths of wire to effect a successive energization of the tubes.

8. A sign comprising an arrangement of luminous tubes connected in series adapted to display Y any given tubes to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, at source of electricity connected to the series at its ends for the energization of the tubes, a tap leading ofi from before and another tap leading off after consecutive tubes in the series, a plurality of movably mount- One tube, each conductor when brought into contact with its predetermined taps short circuiting the tubes between said latter taps, those tubes between said numbers being energized because not short circuited, to form a predetermined letter, and means for moving said members in a predetermined order to bring their conductors into contact with the taps.

,9. A sign comprising an arrangement of lumi-' nous tubes connected in series adapted to display 2,837,988 any given tubes to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source ot'electricity connected to the series at its ends for the energization of the tubes, taps leading oil from before and after consecutive tubes in the series, a plurality of sets of movably mounted conductors, at least some of the sets each having a plurality of conductors insulated from each other, each conductor for connecting a predetermined pair of taps, short circuiting those tubes between the taps o! a pair, at least one set having a conductor for connecting a pair of non-consecutive taps, those tubes not' short circuited being energized to participate in the formation of a predetermined letter, and means for moving said sets of conductors, each set as a whole, in a predetermined order to bring the sets successively into contact with the taps.

10. A sign comprising an arrangement of luminous tubes connected in series adapted to display any given tubes to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source of electricity connected to the series for the energization of the tubes, taps leading oil from before and after consecutive tubes in the series, a plurality of movably mounted members, conductors mounted on the members, atleast some of the members each having a plurality of conductors, each conductor for connecting a predetermined pair of taps, short circuiting those tubes between the taps of a pair, at least one member havinga conductor for connecting a pair of non-consecutive taps, those tubes not short circuited being energized to form a predetermined letter, the conductors on a member having a plurality thereof, being insulated from each other, and means for moving said members in a predetermined order to bring their conductors successively into contact with the taps. I

11. A sign comprising an arrangement of luminous tubes connected in series adapted to display any given tubes to form letters by selective energization of the tubes, a source of electricity connected to the series for the energization of the tubes, taps leading off from before and after consecutive tubes in the series, a rotatably mounted drum, a plurality of plate-like templates substantially radially mounted on the drum, a plurality of conductorsmounted on thetemplates, some of the templates each having a plurality of conductors, each conductor for connecting a predetermined pair or taps, short circuiting those tubes between the taps of a pair, at least one template having a conductor for connecting a. pair of non-consecutive taps, those tubes not short circuited being energized to form a predetermined letter, the conductors on the templates extending substantially to the radially outer edge thereof, the conductors on a template having a plurality thereof, being insulated from each other, and means for rotating the drum for bringing the conductors on the templates successively into contact with the taps.

LORENZO GHIGGINL

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