US1514854A - Switching system - Google Patents

Description

J. B. HARhOW SWITCHING SYSTEM Filed-Juiy s, 1919' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MZm Nov. 11 1924.

J. B. HARLOW SWITCHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5 1919 Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

is!) STATES JOHN B. HARLOW, OF UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN 1,514,854 PATENT OFFICE,

ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

, SWITCHING SYSTEM.

. Application filed July 5,

To all whom z'tmay concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN B. HARLOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Upper Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Systems, of which the following isa full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to switching systems and particularly to such systems employed in detecting the presence of marine org submarine vessels.

In systems of this character, especially those used in observing certain areas in which the operations of several fixedly positioned submerged vibration detectors each responsive to mechanical vibrations propagated through the water from a submarine or other source located within its effective range, are observed individually or binaually in pairs, it is desirable to provide means irquiring a minimum effort and time on the part of the observer for positively selecting the detectors to be observed. This feature is especially desirable in systems in which it is necessary not only to select stations of this nature, but also to select certain pairs of detectors at a station.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system of this nature in which the desired detecting station upon being selected isretained in a selected condition until released, thereby permitting the selec tion and reselection of the detectors therea singly or in pairs as desired.

In order to attain this object, in accordance with a feature of the invention a system in which the detecting and observing stations are interconnected by a plurality of metallic physical transmission line ,circuits is provided with switching means at each station, individually and selectively 1919. Seriafl No. 208,756.

similar reference characters indicating corresponding elements of the systems.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, an observers station A, which may be located at some convenient point on the shore, is provided with a sending or selecting key 1 controlling the application of current to a reversing relay 2 from a source of current 101 for'impressing current impulses of reversed polarity from a source of current 102 upon a circuit obtained by simplexing through suitable simplexing coils 47 and 52 a phantom circuit comprising side circuits, including conductors l5 and 6--7, respectively, and the associated simplexing coils 48 to 51 inclusive, leading to the detecting stations B and C. Although for the sake of clearness only two such detecting stations are shown, there may be and ordinarlly are, several such stations distributed over the area to be observed. A selector 8 serVers station A, is included in the simplexed phantom circuit at each of stations B and C. The selectively operated circuit controlling device disclosed in Patent No. 1,343,256 issued to Joseph C. Field June 15, 1920, may be used to advantage in this connection. A key 3 at the observers station A, controlling the polarity of the current supplied to the phantom circuit from a source of current 103, selectively controls a relay 11 at the selected station yto cause the closure of its contacts for selectively bridging associated relays 12 and 13 across the phantom circuit, such relays controlling the association of detectors 14, 15 and 16 thereat with the physical transmission circuits composed of conductors 45,. and 6'-7.

These detectors may be of any suitable type responsive to mechanical vibrations propa; gated through the water to cause variations in electrical conditions of an associated circuit, and may be suitably mounted in a triangular arrangement upon a fixedly positioned tripod or other framework. A key 17 at the observers station A. controls the application of current from sources 104 and 105 to the transmission lines through retardation coils 53 and 54 respectively. A. binaural observation'set 33, indicated within the dotted rectangle, also provided at station A, consists of receivers and 21 which may be of any usual type in series with condensers 18 and 19 respectively included in bridged relation to the physical circuits 67 and 45' respectively. The sounds produced by receiver 20 are conveyed'to ear piece 28 through serially interconnected air tubes 22, 24 and 26, while the sounds .produced by receiver 21 are conveyed to earpiece 29 through serially interconnected air tubes 23, and 27. The effective lengths of adjustable air tubes 24 and 25 are relatively varied by the shifting of a movable stop member which responds to the rotation of a hand wheel 32, the position of such member being indicated by the pointer 31 in relation to an associated scale.

In Fig. 2 a reversing relay 2 at the observers station A controlled by a key 1 supplies current impulses of reversed polarity from a source of current 102 to a phantom circuit comprising physical transmission lines or side circuits 45 and 67 and as sociated simplexing coils 48 to 51 inclusive. A selector 34 similar to selector 8 of the system shown in Fig. 1 is provided in the bridge ofthe" phantom circuit at each of stations B and C and is individually and selectively responsive to a predetermined series of, closely succeeding reversed current impulses received over the phantom circuit to advance its arm 35 to engage contact 36, in which osition it is mechanically retained. A relay 3%, bridged across the phantom circuit upon the engagement of arm 35 with contact 36 of the selected selector, controls the association of relays 38 and 39 with the physical lines 67 and 4'5 respectively. Keys and 46 at the observers station control the application of predetermined current polarities from sources of current 104 and 105 to the physical lines 45 and 6-7 respectively, to selectivelycontrol relays 39 and 38 for associating detectors 40, 41 and 42 at the selected station with such physical lines for binaural observation by means of an observation set 33 similar to that shown in Fig. 1. v

It is thought that-the invention may be more fully comprehended from the following descriptionrof the operation of the system shown on the accompanying drawings.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, and assuming that it is desired to select the detectors 14, 15 and 16 at station B for observation, relay 2 is caused to transmit a predetermined number and arrangement of closely succeeding alternating current impulses from source of current 102 over the simplexed phantom circuit by a corresponding number of successive actuations and releases of key 1, one impulse being trans mitted for each actuation, and a second impulse of reversed polarity for each release of the key. Such impulses flowing through condenser 44 and the winding of selector 8 at station B cause the selector to advance step by step until it reaches its individual selective position.in which it is mechanically re-v tained. Other selectors which may be associated with the system also advance in response to such impulses, but not being adjusted to the completed series and consequently not retained, return to normal upon the cessation of the series for selecting station B. Relay 11 is thereupon operated over a circuit established from one side of bat tery 103, through one normal contact of key 3, the side circuit of the phantom circuit comprising simplexing coils 49 and 51 and conductors 6 and 7, the winding of relay 11, contact 10 and the arm of selector 8 engaged thereby, the side circuit comprising simplexing coils and 48 and conductors 4 and -5 and the other normal contact of key 3 to the other side of battery 103. The direction of flow of current through this circuit is such that lelay l1 closes its contact 55,

bridging relay 13 across the phantom circuit in parallel with relay 11. The operation of relay 13 in response to the current present in the phantom circuit bridges detector 15 across the line conductors 6 and 7, through contact 58 of relay 13, and the detector 16, across the line conductors 4 and 5, through contact 57 of relay 13. The actuation of key 17 supplies current from sources 104 and 105 to the physical line circuits throu 11 retardation coils 53 and 54 respective y, so that the current-varying devices associated with the detectors 15 and 16 cause variations in current in such physical circuits in response to the vibrations of the responsive members of the detectors. The characteristics of the simplexing coils and the other apparatus bridged across the physical circuits are so chosen as to present no material interference to the transmission of such currrent variations.

These current variations are transmitted through condensers 18 and 19 to receivers 20 and 21 respectively of the binaural observation set 33. The sounds being produced by receiver 20 in response thereto, areconveyed through air tubes 22, 24 and 26 to the earpiece 28, while the sounds produced by receiver 21 in response to these vibrations are conveyed through the air tubes 23, 25 and 27 to the ear piece 29. The movable stop member 30 is then shifted by means of the hand Wheel 32 until the observer, upon listening binaurally to the sounds emitted by the earpieces, receives the impression that the source of sound is straight ahead. The position of the pointer 31 relative to the associated scale when such an impression is obtained, indicates the angular relation of the observed source of vibration to a base line joining detectors and 16.

The observer thereupon actuates key 3 to interrupt the supply of current to the phantom circuit to release relays 11 and 13, disconnecting detecto-rs 15 and 16, and to subsequently apply current to the phantom circuit through the alternate contacts of the key. Due to the reversed direction of flow of such current from the source 103, relay 11 closes its contact 56. Relay 12 thereby bridged across the phantom circuit operates and the closure of contact 60 thereof bridges detector 14 across the line conductors 4 and 5, and the closure of contact 59 thereof bridges detector 15 across the line conductors 6 and 7. The sounds produced in-receivers and 21 in response to the vibrations of detectors 14 and 15 are then binaurally observed as in the previous instance, the position of the pointer 31 indicating the angular relation of the observed source of vibration to a base line joining detectors 14 and 15.

The actuation of key 1 to transmit over the simplexed phantom circuit a clearing,

out series of impulses adapted to step any operated selector beyond its retained position thereupon releases selector 8, the switch arm 9 thereof disengaging contact 10 to release relays 11 and 12, disconnecting the detectors 14 and 15, and restoring the system to normal.

In a similar manner, detectors at other stations, such as station C, Which may be associated with the system, may be selected and binaurally observed and the angular relation of the source of vibration to base lines joining each pair may be determined. From the various readings obtained in this manner, the location of the source of vibrations may be determined with precision.

In the modified form of the system shown in Fig. 2, key 1 is actuated and released as tact 61 of relay 37, Winding of relay 38,.

conductor 6, retardation coil 54, and the other normal contact of key 46 to the other side of battery 105. A corresponding circuit is also established for relay 39 extending'from battery 104 through one normal contact of key 45,'conductor 5, contact 62 of relay 37, winding of relay 39, conductor-4, retardation coil 53, and the other normal contact of key to the other side of battery 104. The direction of current flow through these circuits is such that relay 38 is operated to close its contact 68 and relay 39 is operated to close contacts 64 and 65, bridging detector 40 across line conductors 6 and 7 by the closure of contact 68 of relay 38, and detector 41 across line conductors 4 and 5 by the closureof contacts 64 and 65 of relay 39. Current is supplied to the current-varying devices of detector 40 over a circuit established from one side of battery 105 through one normal contact of key 46, conductor 7 contact 68 of relay 38, currentvarying devices of detector 40, conductor 6, retardation coil 54 and the other normal contact of key 46 tothe other side of battery 105. Current is also supplied to the current-varying device of detector 41 over a similar circuit established from one side of battery 104 through one normal contact of key 45, conductor 5, contact 64 of relay 39, current-varying device of detector 41, contact 65 of relay 39, conductor 4, retardation coil 53 and the other normal contact of key 45 to the other side of a battery 104. I

As described in connection with the system shown in Fig. 1, detectors 40 and 41 are then binaurally observed by set 33 and the angular relation of the source of vibration to the base line adjoining such detectors is determined.

The observer then actuates key 45 to release relay 39 for disconnecting detector 41 and to subsequently apply current of reversed polarity from the source of current 104 to the circuit including relay 39, causing such relay to close contact 63. Detector 42 is thereby bridged across the line conductors 4 and 5, and since detector 40 remains in bridgeof line conductors'ti and 7, such detectors are then binaurally observed through the medium of the set 33 as previously described and the angular relation of the source of vibration to a base line joining detectors 40 and 42 is determined. The operating circuit of detector 42 differs from that previously described for detector 41 in the substitution of contact 63; for contacts 64 and 65 of relay 39, and in the substitution of the alternate -for the normal contacts of key 45.

Key 46 is then actuated to release relay 36 for disconnecting detector 40 and for subsequently supplying current of reversed polarity from the source of current 105 to the circuit including such relay, causing it to close contacts 66 and 67 thereof to bridge detector 41 across line conductors 6 and 7. Detector 42 remaining associated with line conductors 4 and 5, the angular relation of the source of vibration to the base line joining detectors 41 and 42 is determined through the use of the binaural observation set 33 as previously described. The operating circuit of detector 41 differs from that previously described for detector 40 in the substitution of the contacts 66 and 67 instead of those formerly included in circuit? with detector 40.

The observer then transmits a series of alternating current impulses over the phantom circuit by the suitable actuation of key 1, thereby restoring selector 34 and associated relays 37, 38 and'39 to normal. Key 46 is then released, preparing the system for a further series of selections. As in the case of the system shown in Fig. 1, other stations such as station C similar to station B may be selected in a similar manner, the results of such observations providing data enabling the observer to definitely locate the source of vibration.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switching system, a line conductor, a selecting and a selectable station associated therewith, switching means at said selectable station, means at said selecting station for energizing said switching means,

additional switching means at said selectable station controlled by the operation of said first-named switching means, and means whereby said second-named switching means may be selectively connected with said line conductor after the operation of said firstnamed switching means.

2. In a switching system, a plurality of selectable stations interconnected by a phantom circuit, a selecting station also connected therewith, means at the selecting station for applying alternating current impulses to the phantom circuit, a plurality of electrical devices at each selectable station, switching means at each selectable station individually responsive to a particular series of such impulses, means controlled thereby for preparing a metallic circuit including the side circuits of the phantom circuit, means at the selecting station for impressing difierentiated current impulses on the metallic circuit, and means included in such metallic circuit and responsive to dlfi'erentiated current impulses applied thereto at the selecting station for selectively connecting the associated electrical devices to the physical c1rcu1ts.,

3. In a signaling system, a plurality of conductors interconnecting a receiving and a plurality of transmitting stations, a signal receiving means associated therewith at the receiving station, a plurality of signal transmitters at each transmitting station, means at each transmitting station selectively controlled by code impulses impressed upon one circuit including predetermined ones of the conductors, selective means in said circuit for closing a circuit including some of said conductors, selective means in said circuit for connecting said transmitters to certain of said conductors, and code impulse transmitting means and current controlling means at the receiving station for respectively selecting said transmitting stations and operating said second selecting means to connect said transmitters.

4. In a signaling system, a plurality of conductors, a receiving station'including a signal'receiving means associated therewith, a plurality of transmitting stations also associated therewith, a plurality of signal transmitters at each transmitting station, means at each transmitting station selectively controlled by code impulses impressed upon a circuit formed of the conductors, selective means in said circuit for closing a circuit including some of said conductors, means in said circuit forselectively connecting said transmitters to certain of said conductors, and means for transmitting code impulses and current controlling means at the receiving station for respectively selecting said transmitting station and operating said second selecting means to connect said transmitters.

5. In a switchin system, a plurality of line conductors, a selecting station and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith, means at the selecting station for selectively applying current to each of two circuits including the line conductors, means at each selectable station selectively responsive to said current, switching means at each selectable station, means controlled by said first named means for connecting said switching means to said line conductors, and means independent of the first named means for selectively controlling said switching means after said switching means is connected to said line conductors.

6. In a switchin system, a plurality of line conductors, a se ecting station and a'plurality of selectable stations associated therewith, a plurality of electrical devices at each selectable station, means at the selecting station for selectively applying current to said line conductors, means at each selectable station selectively responsive to ourrent received over said conductors, a polarized relay at each selectable station, means controlled by the firstnamed means at each selectable station for connecting said polarized relay thereat to said line conductors, means at said selecting station for selectively operating said polarized relay after it is connected to said line conductors, and a plurality of additional relays controlled by said polarized relay for selectively associating said detectors with certain of said-line conductors.

7. In a switching system, a simplexed circuit comprising a plurality of metallic line circuits, a selecting and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith, means at said selecting station for applying current to said simplexed circuit, switching means at each selectable station selectively responsive to current received over said simplexed circuit, switching means at each selectable station controlled by the operation of said first-named switching means, and means whereby the second-named switching means at each selectable station may be connected with the line circuits of said simplexed circuit after the operation of the firstnamed switchin means thereat.

8. In a switching system, a plurality of metallic line circuits, a selecting and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith, means at the selecting station for applying current to a phantom circuit including said line circuits, means at said selecting stations for applying current to a simplexed circuit including a phantom circuit, switching means at each selectable station selectively responsive to current received over the simple-xed circuit, additional switchingmeans'at each selectable station controlled by the operation of said first-named switching means, and means whereby said secondnamed switching means is connected with said phantom circuit after the operation of said first-named switching means to be selectively controlled by current received thereover. Y

9. In a switching system, a plurality of metallic line circuits, a selecting and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith, means at the selecting station for applying current to a phantom circuit including the line circuits, means at the selecting station for applying current to a simplexed circuit including the phantom circuit, switching means at each selectable station selectively responsive to current received over the simplexed circuit, an additional switching means at each selectable station controlled by the operation of said firstnamed switching means, means whereby said second-named switching means is connected with the phantom circuit upon the operation of said first-named switching means to be selectively controlled by current received thereover, a plurality of electrical devices at each selectable station, and means associated with said second-named switching means for selectively connecting said electrical devices to the line circuits.

10. In a switching system, a plurality of metallic line circuits, a selecting and a plurality of selectable stations associated therewith,,means at, the selecting station for selectively applying currents of difierent polarities to a phantom circuitpin'cluding the line circuits, means also at the selecting station for selectively applying currents of different polarities to a siinplexed circuit including the phantom circuit, a plurality of electrical devices at each selectable station, an electromagnetic step-by-step selector at each selectable station adapted to be selectively advanced into a predetermined position in response to the series of closely succeeding current impulses of reversed polari ty received over the simplexed circuit, a polarized relay at each selectable station connected with the phantom circuit upon the advancement of the selector thereat into its predetermined position, and thereafter controlled by the current applied to the phantom circuit at the selecting station, and means controlled thereby for selectively connecting the electrical devices with the line circuits.

11. In a signaling system, a plurality of signaling paths interconnecting a single rereceiving and a plurality of transmitting stations, a signal receiving means at the receiving station, signal transmitting means at the transmitting stations, means associated with said transmitting means for selectively signaling the transmitting station, and

means controlled over certain ones of such paths to selectively connect the signal transmitting means with such paths.

12. In a signaling system, a plurality of signaling paths interconnecting a single receiving and a plurality of transmitting stations, a signal receiving means associated with the paths at the receiving station, signal transmitters at each of the transmitting stations, means associated with said signal transmitters for selectively signaling the transmitting station, means thereby selectively connected with certain of such paths, and means controlled thereby to selectively connect the signal transmitters with the paths.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 2nd day of July A. 1)., 1919.

JOHN B. HARLOW.

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