US529986A - Electric signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

\No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

'- H. E. WALTER.

r BLEGTRIGSIGNALING APPARATUS. No. 529,986. Patented Nov. 27, .1894.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2. E. WALTER. ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 27, 1894.

nmoumm, WASNINGTON o c (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' H. E. WALTER.

ELEGTRIG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

N0. 529,986. Patented Nov. 27,1894.

' prove and simplify the construction of elecful for fire alarm signaling in small cities,

MEE

HORACE EVERETT WALTER, OF RIOHFIELD SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,986, dated November 27, 1894.

Application filed Apn'l Z6 1894=v To aZZ whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, HORACE EVERETT WAL- TER, of Richfield Springs, Otsego county, and State of New York, have invented an ImprovementinElectricSignalingApparatus,ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to imtric signaling systems, being especially usetowns and villages, beinginstalled and thereafter maintained at a small outlay.

In accordance with this invention a series ofsignal boxes are located at desirable points, and are each connected by an independent wire with a central office, and at said central ofiice automatic receiving mechanism is provided adapted to respond to the operation of the boxes, and also to retransmit the signal to the fire engine houses, tower strikers, and to any other electro-magnetically controlled indicating apparatus which may be employed. The signal boxes are so constructed and arranged that instead of transmitting a predetermined group of impulses, indicating the box number as is now commonly done, a single impulse is transmitted, that is to say, the normal condition of the circuit is merely changed, and such change in the condition of thecircuit sets in operation the central office apparatus. The signal boxes when pulled are set to continuously produce the change in the condition of the circuit required to set in motion the central olfice apparatus and remain so set until restored by means controlled from the central office, so that when once operated the signal so set will be transmitted, even though several boxes are pulled at or about the same time. Herein a special form of signal box is provided by which this abnormal change in the condition of the circuit may be affected but this part of my invention may be carried out in divers ways.

The signal box shown comprises a manually operated circuit closing device or switch which is adapted to close a short circuit around a high resistance coil which may be contained in the boxyso that the abnormal $erial No. 509,059. (No model.)

change in the condition of the circuit is produced by decreasing the normal resistance of the line, and a restoring electro-magnet is provided for each box, which is operated from the central office. -At the central ofitice a motor-driven box selecting device is provided, which is released by an electro-magnet con trolled by any one of the signal boxes, and when so released operates to select the particular box that has been pulled, and as soon as said box has been properly selected, the actuating motor of said selecting device is stopped, another electro-magnet being preferably employed for this purpose; but if two or more boxes have been pulled at or about the same time, or if a box is pulled during the time a signal is being transmitted from another box, the said receiving apparatus is so constructed aud arranged that the signals will all be received separately and successively, although not necessarily in the order that the boxes have been pulled.

The receiving apparatus herein shown comprises a series of terminals connected with the several independent wires, and a motordriven trailing arm or switch which when operating successively engages said terminals and when said switch arm engages that terminal connected to an independent wire, the normal condition of which has been changed, the stopping mechanism is brought into action. If however several boxes have been pulled, the trailing'arm will be stopped upon the first terminal that it arrives, that is connected with one of the independent wires, the condition of which has been changed, and after that signal has been received, it will be immediately again set in motion.

Rewinding and restoring devices are provided for the box-selecting device, which are herein represented as operated by the retransmitting device. The re-transmitting device comprises a series of contact pens, and a series of break wheels, one for each signal box, and an actuating motor adapted to rotate said wheels any predetermined number of revolutions, as for instance it may be arranged to transmit three rounds, and said motor is controlled by the stopping mechanism of the selecting device, or simultaneously with the stopping of said motor, so as to release said motor as soon as the selecting device has properly selected the box; and the contact pens which co-operate with said break wheels to make and break the circuit controlled by the rotransmitting device are connected by branch wir s with the selecting device in such a manner that any one of said pens will be electrically connected or included in the circuit, that its break wheel may transmit a signal depending upon the position of the co-operating parts of said selecting device. The re-transmitting device controls an electric circuit which includes any electromagnetically controlled indicators, tap bells, tower strikers, or whistle blowers, and the signal which is transmitted is therefore regularly indicated upon these various indicating instruments.

The break wheels will be notched to indicate the different boxes.

Figure 1, shows in front elevation the operating parts of a signal box,embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3, a front. elevation of the same on a smaller scale and placed in a case; Fig. 4, a front elevation of the operating parts of the central office apparatus, and Fi 5, a diagrammatical view showing the circuit connections.

The signal box which I prefer to employin connection with my fire alarm system is designed to close a short circuit around a high resistance coil, to thereby decrease the normal resistance of the line, and when once operated will hold the circuit in its abnormal condition for a certain length of time, or until such time as the parts have been restored by an electro-magnet which is included in or otherwise operated by the circuit and controlled from'the central office. One form of such a signal box is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, wherein a base plate a of any suitable size and shape to support the operating parts has secured to it a stand a which receives a shouldered screw a Upon the shoulder of said screw a two independent hubs a 004, are loosely mounted, one of which as a is connected by a spring a with the screw a and is provided with a radially projecting hand lever or pull a, by means of which it may be turned, and also with a radially projecting arm a the end of which is oiiset or turned at right angles to the arm; and another of which as a has an arm a projecting radially beneath the offset end of the arm a and has also a short radially projecting arm a which bears upon a flat spring a secured to the base plate, and has also a short radially projecting stud (L12 which occupies a position beneath but normally free from contact with a flat contact pen e secured to a block a of insulating material, secured to the base plate a. An insulated stud a rises from the stand or, upon which the free end of said contact pen a normally rests. A plate or, cut away for a portion of its length and at two different points, is erected upon suitable pillars a", secured to the base plate a, and the hand lever a works in one of said cut away portions of said plate, the upper ends of which cutaway portions serve as limiting stops for said lever and the arm a works in the other cut away portion of said plate, the upper end of which cut away portion serves as a limiting stop for said arm, or in lieu of this plate any other form of limiting stops may be provided for said lever and arm.

The operation of the box is as follows:'lho hand lever a having been pulled or depressed, the olfset end of arm a bears upon and depresses the arm a turning its hub a and bringing the short arm orstud a, which is properly disposed thereon, up into engagement or contact with the flat contact pen a. A latch (1 formed on the pivoted armature lever of an electro-magnet (L21, is so positioned as to engage and hold the arm a when depressed, until such time said latch is withdrawn by the attraction of the armature. The circuit wire 2 is connected with the contact pen 0, and the circuit wire 3 with the frame, said wire 3 including the electro-magnet (1/ and when the stud a is brought into engagement with the contact pen a, the circuit will be closed. The wire 2 terminates at the ground plate 4, and the wire 3 extends to the central office. A high resistance coil 1) is connected between the wires 2, 3, say of one thousand ohms, for the purpose of keeping the line closed for testing purposes, this resistance being so high that although there is a current at all times passing over the line still it is not sullicient to operate the receiving relays (to be described). When the circuit is open at (0 (L13, as it normally is, the current passes through the high resistance coil, 1), but when the circuit is closed at (L (L13, the current takes the path of least resistance,short circuiti'ng said high resistance coil b. Hence a single change in the normal condition of the "circuit is thus produced by the operation of the signal box, and said change is one of decreased resistance. This circuit controlling device is designed to be placed in an ordinary iron case 0, having a door 0, provided with a glass face 0 as shown in Fi 3.

At the central oiiice a box-selecting device is provided which is so constructed and arranged as to be set in operation by a change in the normal condition of the circuit at any one of the boxes and to be stopped when the movable member of said selecting device arrives at the proper position to indicate the box at which the condition of the circuit has thus-been changed. This box-selecting device, see Fig. 4:, consists of aseriesofsegmen ts or terminals '12,, arranged in a circle and secured to a hard rubber disk, and a continuone solid ring a arranged concentrically with relation to said terminals 72, and a trailing arm n having upon it trailing lingers n of, one of which as n co-operates with the terminals n, and the other of which co-operates with the solid ring a. The trailing or selecting arm n is secured to a shaft a carrying a ratchet IIO wheel and also a pinion, which latter is engaged bya sector a on the end of a sector-carrying arm n pivoted at 01 The sector is made quite heavy and is normally elevated and serves as the actuator for the trailing or selecting arm. A toothed wheel m is alsoconnected to the shaft n which engages a pinion m secured to a shaft carrying a toothed wheel m which engages a pinion secured to a shaft carrying a toothed wheel m", which engages a pinion m secured to a shaft carrying an escape wheel m with which co-operates a suitable pallet m bearing an upright projection 30. Two independent stopping or retaining devices are provided for this train of gearing, consisting of the horizontalarms 0, 0', extended in opposite ways, and loosely mounted upon the same pivot 0 each arm having a depending leg 0 o gadapted to cooperate with the projection 30 of the pallet. The arm 0 is held up in its elevated position by a shoulder or projection upon the armature 0 of an electro-magnet 0 and when in such position its depending leg 0 engages and holds the/projection 30' of the pallet so as to restrain the movement of the train. The arm 0' is likewise held up in its elevated position by a shoulder or projectioniupon the armature 0 of an electro-magnet 0 and when in such position its depending leg 0 is normally out of engagement with said projection 30. The armat-ures of said electro-magnets 0, 0 are both normally retracted, but when the armature of the electro-magnet 0 is attracted the arm 0 is released, which in turn releases the train, and when the armature of the electro-magnet 0 is attracted, the arm 0' is released, which in turn throws its depending leg 0 into engagement with the projection 30, and thereby stops the train. Hence the electro-magnet 0 serves as the releasing electro-magnet, and electro-magnet 0 as the stopping electro-magnet. When said arms 0, 0', are released, they fall onto stops or.projections s, s, rising from an arm 3, pivoted at s toa stud within an outer case not shown but of any ordinary form which may contain the operating parts of the central office apparatus. The free end of the arm .9 rests upon a cam s pivoted at .9 and by turning said cam, said arm 8 is raised sufficiently to restore the levers 0, and 0 and as said levers are restored the leg 0 will be removed from its engagement with the projection 30 of the pallet, and the leg 0 will be brought into engagement with said projection 30. I

The re-transmitting device herein shown consists of a series of break wheels 01, secured to a shaft which is driven by a normally wound motor mechanism of any suitable construction, the shafts or arbors of which have their hearing in the frame d, and a series of contact pens d are provided, one for each break wheel, and secured to a block d of insulating material. There will be one break wheel and contact pen for each box which is connected with the central office, and each break Wheel will be notched differently in order that the different box-numbers maybe retransmitted over the circuit which is operated by said re-transmitting device. A projection d on the pallet or pallet shaft d of said motor mechanism, enters the path of movement of a projection d secured to or connected with the arm 0', and the parts are so disposed with relation to each other that when the arm 0' is released bythe attraction of the electro-magnet 0 and thereby operates to stop the train of the box-selecting device, the said projection d will operate to release the motor-mechanism of the re-transmitting device.

An arm d is secured to one of the shafts of the motor mechanism of the re-transmitting device which is designed to make one complete revolution each time the said motor is released, and during the latter part of such revolution it engages a pin (1 on a vertical bar d sliding in suitable guide-ways provided for it, not shown, and lifts said bar a short distance or until said arm 61 passes out of engagement or by the said pin. Another pin d is secured to the vertical sliding bar d at a point beneath the sector-carrying arm 41, and as said bar is raised, engages and lifts said sector-carrying arm, thereby restoring it to its normal elevated position, and rewinding the motor-mechanism of the boxselecting device. Another pin (Z projects from the vertical sliding bar d at a point heneath a projection s of the cam 3 and as said bar d is raised by the arm 61 to rewind the motor of the box-selecting device, said pin (1 strikes the projection 8 and in passing by said portion turns the cam in one direction a short distance, but such movement of the cam does not operate the arm 8, but as soon as thearm d disengages the pin d and the bar 61 falls by gravity, the pin d will strike the .upper edge of the projection s of the cam,

and in passing by said -projection will turn the cam s in the opposite direction, thereby raising the arms and restoring the levers o, 0', and furthermore will move the projection (1 into engagement with the projection 61 and thereby stopping the operation of the motor-mechanism of the re-transmitting device. Thus it will be seen that each time the boxselecting device operates, the re-transmitting device is set in operation just as the selecting device ceases to operate, and that said re-transmitting device in addition to transmitting the box-number signal, restores the parts of the box selecting device to their normal position, and in so doing automatically stops itself.

By referring to Fig. 5, wherein a diagrammatical view of the circuits is shown, the apparatus is constructed for ten signal boxes, and hence there are ten independent wires as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, ll), ll, 12, leading to the central station, all being connected to a single wire 13, which is connected with the ground plate G, and contains the main battery B, and also a circuit breaker, one member of which as 14 is carried by the arm 0, and the other member of which as 15, is adapted to co-opcrate therewith. \Vhen any signal is sent in from a box, and the arm 0 released, as will be hereinafter described, the wire 13 is opened at 14, 15, until such timeas said arm is restored.

Each independent wire 3, to 12 inclusive, contains a relay 16, the armatures of which are arranged as represented in Fig. 5, to close a normally open circuit 17, containing a local battery 18, and also the electro-magnet o, and the circuit closers operated by said relay 16 are arranged in multiple are.

When the resistance is removed from any signal box as by short circuiting it, the relays 16 will attract their armatures and thereby close the local circuit 17 and operate the releasing magnet 0 Branch wires 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, are connected with the wires 3 to 12, outside the relay 16, and also with the terminals n of the box-selecting device, and a single wire 29 connects the continuous ring a with the ground plate Gr, said wire 29 including the electro-magnet 0 the circuit breaker 30, 31, one member of which as 31 is borne by the arm 0, and also the auxiliary battery B which may be an open circuit battery. As the box-selecting device is released the switch or trailing arm n successively connects the branch wires 19 to 28inclusive with the wire 29, thereby successively shunting the relays 16, but as soon as the arm n arrives at that terminal which is connected with an independent wire wherein the resistance has been short circuited, then the battery B will operate the electro-magnet 0 and simultaneously therewith the restoring electro magnet contained in the box.

The relays 16, are wound so as to offer a high resistance, say from seventy-five to one hundred ohms, to prevent the box-selecting device from establishing a circuit with the first line that it connects with, after it has been started, and causing the stopping electro-magnet o to operate and stop the boxselecting device in connection with the wrong line.

For illustration suppose the relays 16 to be wound so as to offer but little resistance, and with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5, the box on line 4 should be operated, the box selecting device would start up, and as soon as the arm n closed on the first segment, the circuit would be established as followsz-From battery B, over wire 29, circuit closer 30, 31, stopping electro-magnet 0 wire 29, ring a, commutator segment, wire 19, wire 3 to its point of attachment with wire 4, then wire 4 to ground at box, and by reason of the strength of the battery B, the stopping electro-magnet 0 would be operated, and the box selecting device stopped in connection with line 3. \Vhereas, if said relays were wound so as to offer high resistances, or it separate resistance coils should be provided as a substitute therefor, when the arm a closed on the first segment as above referred to, a closed path for the current would be established, but the resistance of the relays 16 of two lines would have to be overcome in order that the stopping electro-magnet 0 could operate, and the battery B is too feeble to overcome these combined resistances, and at the same time operate said electro-magnet 0 but when the commutator arm n comes in contact with the commutator segment leading to the box line that has been operated, then the relay 16 of said box line is shunted, and the battery B, having no resistance to overcome, except the normal resistance of the line, operates the stopping electromagnet 0 Thus it will be seen that while the commutator arm successively establishes closed paths for the current, the stopping electro-magnet 0 will not operate until a path is established having no resistance.

If two box lines with low resistances at the central station should be pulled simultaneously, the same result as above set forth would follow, whereas if resistances were supplied, the box-selecting device could not stop until its movable member made proper connection with the right line.

Branch wires 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, are connected respectively to the terminals n of the box-selecting device which are connected with the branch Wires 19 to 28, inclusive, and said branch wires 32 to 41 are connected respectively with the contact pens d? which co-operate with the break wheels (Z of the re-transmitting device, and a wire 42 leads from or is electrically connected with the break wheel shaft which contains a bat tery B and also any suitable indicating instruments 13 such for instance as tower strikers, whistle blowers, electric indicators, tap bells, &c., and said wire is connected to the wire 29, and includes a circuit closer 43, 44, 44, the member 43 of which is borne by the arm 0', so that when the arm 0 is operated to stop the train of the box-electric device, the circuit containing the indicating devices and which is operated by the retransmitting device will be closed. The re-transmitting circuit is therefore normally open. Thus it will be seen that each time any box is pulled, the box-selecting device will be set in motion, and stop upon arriving at the proper terminal, and thereupon the retransmitting apparatus is set in motion, and the box-number signal transmitted to the dilferent points desired, and thereafter the boxselecting device is rewound; and its releasing and stopping levers re-set, just as the retranslnitting apparatus ceases to operate.

If more than one box has been pulled the signals of the other boxes remain set until the arm 0 is restored to its normal position, and the common wire 13 closed at 14,15, and then the box-selecting device will be at once again setin motion, and the above described operation repeated. Therefore any number of boxes may be pulled at any time,

' and all the signals will ultimately be received.

Lil

As a testing device I may use a series'of contact pens 100, arranged upon a board 101, and connected respectively with the wires 3 to 12 inclusive by branch wires 102, and a manually operated switch arm lat,'pivoted to said board which is connected with the line wire 13 at a point near the battery B.

I claim 1. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a central station, abox selecting device at said central station set in motion by the operation of any one of the signal boxes and stopped when the particular box operated has been selected, a re-transmitting apparatus set in motion upon the stopping of the box-selecting device, com prising a series of circuit controllers, one for each signal box, a circuit operated by said re-transmitting apparatus, and indicating apparatus operated bysaid circuit, substantially as described.

2. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a central station, a box-selecting device at said central station, and its actuating motor, and an electro-magnet operated by any one of said signal boxes for releasing said motor, a stopping electro-magnet controlled by said selecting device, operating to stop said motor when the selecting device has selected the box which has been operated to start the box-selecting device, a motor-driven re-transmitting device at said central office controlled by said box-selecting device, comprising a series of circuit controllers, one for each signal box, and a circuit operated by said re-transmitting apparatus, and indicating apparatus operated by said circuit, substantially as described.

3. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes each adapted to effect a single change in the condition of the circuit bypulling the box, independent wires connecting them with acentral office, a box selecting device set in motion by the operation of any one of the signal boxes and stopped when the particular box operated has been selected, and a retransmitting apparatus set in motion upon the stopping of said box-selecting device, comprising a series of box-number wheels and contact pens, and a motor, a circuit operated by the said re-transmitting apparatus, and indicating apparatus contained in and operated by said circuit, substantially as described.

4. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, each adapted to effect a single change in the condition in the circuit by pulling the box, in-

dependent wires connecting them with a central oflice, a box-selecting device at said central office, its actuating motor, a releasing electrdmagnet for said motor operated by any of the signal boxes, and a stopping electro-magnet for said motor in electrical connection with and controlled by said box-selecting device, operating to stop the motor when the box which has been operated is selected, a re-t ansmitting device, a motor for operating it, released by the stopping electromagnetof said box-selecting device, acircuit operated by said re-transmitting device, and indicating devices operated thereby, substantially as described.

5. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a central station, a box-selecting device at said central station, setin motion by the operation of any one of the signal boxes and stopped when the particular box operated has been selected, a re-transmitting apparatus set in motion upon the stopping of the box-selecting device, a circuit operated thereby, and indicating apparatus contained in and operated bysaid circuit and restoring devices for the cooperating parts of said box-selecting device operated by the motor of said re-transmitting apparatus, substantially as described.

6. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes each adapted to be set in its abnormal position to effect a single change in the condition of the circuit by pulling the box, a latch for holding the parts thereofin their abnormal posi tion, independent wires connecting said signal boxes with the central office, a box-selecting'device at the central office set in motion by the operation of any one of the signal boxes, and stopped when the particular box operated has been selected, and an electromagnet in each box operated when the boxselecting device has stopped, to release the latch and thereby permitthe parts to resume their normal positions, substantially as described.

7. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, each adapted to effect a single change in the condition of the circuit by pulling the box, independent wires connecting them with a central office, a box-selecting device at said central oflice, its actuating motor, a releasing electro-magnet for said motor, operated by any one of the signal boxes and a stopping electro-magnet for said motor in electrical connection with and controlled by said boxselecting device, operating to stop the motor when the box which has been operated is selected; and a restoring electro-magnet in each box, operating simultaneouslywith said stopping electro-magnet that the parts of the box may resume their normal position, substantially as described.

8. In an electric signaling apparatus, the

combination of several signal boxes, ind ependent wires connecting them with a central office, a. box-selecting device at said central oliiee comprising a series of termin als for said independent wires, a switch arm contacting successively with said terminals, a motor for rotating it, a releasing electro-magnet for said motor operated by any one of the boxes, a stopping eleetro-maguet forsaid motor, elec trically connected with and controlled by said box-selecting device, and an automatically operated re-transmitting apparatus comprising a series of box-number wheels, and contact pens electrically connected with the terminals of said box-selecting device, a circuit operated thereby, and indicating devices op,- erated by said circuit, substantially as described.

9. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of several signal boxes, independent wires connecting them with a central ot'fice, a relay included in each wire at said central office, wound to offer a high resistance, said independent wires being joined at a common point beyond said relays a boxselecting device at said central oi'fice, its act uating motor, a releasing electro-magnet for said motor, the circuit of which is operated by any one of: the aforesaid relays, an electromagnet for stopping said box-selecting device, included in a branch wire shunting the high resistance relays, substantially as described.

10. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, each adapted to be set to produce a change in the normal condition of the circuit by pulling the box and to remain set until the parts thereof have been restored by means controlled t'rom the central office, independent wires connecting them with the central office, a box-selecting device at said central office, the actuating motor of which is set in motion by the change in the condition of the circuit produced by any one of said signal boxes, an electro-niagnetically operated stopping device for said box-selecting device, which is connected successively with said independent wires as the box-selecting device operates, and operating to stop said box-selecting device upon connecting it with one of the independent wires wherein its normal condition has been changed, and a restoring electro-magnet in each box for the parts thereof, and means for operating them when their circuits are connected with the box-selecting device, substantially as described.

11. In an electric signaling apparatus, a circuit controlling device consisting of a circuit closer comprising a contact pen (L13, a stud a projecting from a rotatable hub, which is adapted to be brought into engagement with said contact pen, a hand lever independent of but adapted to turn said hub, a latch for holding the hub with its stud a in engagement with said contact pen, and an electromagnet for releasing said latch which is controlled from the central office, substantially as described.

12. In an electric signaling apparatus, a circuit controlling device consisting of a circuit closer, comprising the contact pen (L13, and stud a projecting from a rotatable hub a the latter being adapted to be brought into engagement with the former to close the circuit, the spring pressed hand lever a secured to a hub (t the arm a projecting from said hub a and having an offset end adapted to engage a projection on thehub a", to turn said hub a when the lever is pulled, but returning independently thereof, a latch for holding the hub a with its stud a, in engagement with said contact pen, and an electromagnet for releasing said latch which is controlled from the central otfice, substantially as described.

13. In an electric signaling apparatus, a circuit controlling device consisting of a circuit closer, comprising the contact pen (L and stud 01, projecting from a rotatable hub (0 the latter being adapted to be brought into engagement with the former to close the circuit, the spring pressed hand lever a secured to a hub a the arm a projecting from said hub a and having an offset end adapted to engage a projection on the hub of, to turn said hub or', when the lever is pulled, but returning independently thereof, a latch for holding the hub a with its stud a in engagement with said contact pen, and an electromagnet for releasing said latch which is controlled from the central ollice, a high resistance coil, and short circuit around it closed by said circuit closer 01, substantially as described.

14. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of signal boxes, each adapted to be set to produce a change in the normal condition of the circuit by pulling the box and to remain set until the parts thereof have been restored by means controlled from the central office, independent wires connecting them with the central office, a box-selecting device at said central office, a releasing electro-magnet therefor common to all said independent Wires, a circuit breaker also common to all said independent wires operated by said releasing electro-magnet, means for stopping said box-selecting device upon electrically connecting it with one 01": the independent wires wherein its normal condition has been changed, arestoring electro-magnet in each box, and means for operating said restoring electro-magnets, when their circuits have been electrically connected with the box-selecting device, and a restoring device for said common circuit breaker, whereby the box-selecting device is again placed in electrical connection with the independent wires, to be operated by a change in the normal condition of any one of them, substantially as described.

15. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of independent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operative electric connection withsaid wires, starting mechanism for said box-selecting device operated by a change in the normal condition of any wire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wires having its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected with said box-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having a circuit controlling device with a pull for setting it in its abnormal position, to effect a change in the condition of the circuit, a latch for holding it so set, and an electro-magnet. for releasing said latch when its wire becomes operatively connected with the box-selecting device, substantially as described.

16. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of independent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operative electric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for said box-selecting device operated by achange in the normal condition of any wire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wires having its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected with said box-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having a circuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also 'an electromagnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in its abnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomes operatively connected with the box-selecting device, a normally wound re-transmitting device set in motion by the box selecting device when one of the independent wires becomes operatively connected therewith, a circuit operated by it, and indicating devices operated by said circuit, substantially as described.

17. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of independent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operative electric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for said box-selecting device operated by a change in the normal condition of any wire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wires hav-' ing its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected with said box-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having a circuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also an electromagnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in its abnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomes operatively connected with the box-selecting device, a circuit breaker common to all said independent wires operated in'conjunction with the starting mechanism of said box-selecting device, and a restoring device therefor, substantially as described.

18. In an electric signaling apparatus, the

combination of a series of independent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operative electric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for said boX-selectingdevice operated by a change in the normal condition of any wire, a stepping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wires having its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected with said box-selecting device, a signal box connected in each wire, having a circuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also an electro magnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in its abnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomes operatively connected with the boxselecting device, a circuit breaker common to all said independent Wires, operated in conjunction with the starting mechanism of said box-selecting device, and a restoring device therefor, a normally wound motor for operating it, set in motion by the box-selecting device when one of the independent wires becomes operatively connected therewith, box-number circuit controllers operated by said motor, a circuit op- I erated by them, and indicating devices operated by said circuit, substantially as described.

19. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of independent wires, a box-selecting device successively making operative electric connection with said wires, starting mechanism for said box-selecting device operated by a change in the normal condition of any wire, a stopping mechanism therefor operated when one of the wires having its normal condition changed becomes operatively connected with said box-selecting device, a signal boX connected in each Wire, having a circuit controlling device, with means for operating it, and also an electromagnet for retaining the circuit controlling device in its abnormal condition with the signal set, until its wire becomes operatively connected with the box-selecting device, a normally wound re-transmitting device set in motion by the box-selecting device when one of the independent wires becomes operatively connected therewith a circuit operated by it and indicating devices operated by said circuit, a winding device for said box-selecting device operated by said re-transmitting motor, substantially as described.

.20. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a series of terminals at a central ofice and independent wires leading therefrom,a motor-driven switch arm for successively engaging said terminals, an electromagnetically operated stopping mechanism for said switch arm, adapted to be electrically connected with said terminals by said switch arm, a releasing magnet for said motor, and a circuit breaker, both common to all the independent wires, and restoring device therefor, operating aftera signal has been received,

a series of signal boxes, one for each inde- In testimony whereof I have signed my pendent wire, a circuit controlling device in name to this specification in the presence of each box, means for operating it to set the two subscribing witnesses.

signal, and an electro-magnet in each box for HORACE EVERETT WALTER. 5 retaining the circuit controlling device in its Witnesses:

abnormal position until operated from the L. IRVING THA'ICHER,

central office, substantially as described. WILLIAM MOSELEY.

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