US1879801A - Position indicator for elevators - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27, 1932.v J. M. GRAHAM ET AL 1,879,801

POSITION INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS Filed April 6, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l am KL ATTORNEYS I I --97 I /2C I /21 l INVENTO James M Graff sept. 27, 1932.

J. M, GRAHAM -ET AL POSITION INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS Filed April 6, 192e 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A'ITORN 5 Sept. 27, 1932- J. M. GRAHAM ET AL POSITION INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvENToR James M Gra/7am i C/ffo a' or an BY VW Aq'oNgEx/s Filed April 6, 1926 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES M. GRAHAM .AND CLIFFORD NORTON, OF NEW YORK,` N. Y., ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY :POSITION INDICATOR FOR ELEVATORS Application filed April 6, 1926. Serial No. 100,009.

This invention relates to improvements in *invention to provide an apparatus of this character in which all of the parts may be positively actuated to limit the possibility of the same becoming out of order.

It is a further object to provide suitable adjustments for the various operating parts of the mechanism so that uniformly built sets of the mechanism may be adjusted to the various conditions of any usual building in which the same are to be installed.

These and other objects will appear more fully from the following description when considered in connection with the drawings in which:

- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a bank of elevators showing our invention applied thereto, certain parts being in section and other parts being broken away, and certain other parts being diagrammatically illustrated.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the visual sig-y nalling device and the circuit controller constructed according to our invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the visual signalling device with parts broken away to show the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 4 isan elevational view, parts being in section, of the elevator operated controlling mechanism for the signallingeapparatus. y

Fig, 5 is an elevational View of a portion of the control apparatus shown in Fig. 4

showing the relation thereof tothe circuit vcontroller of Fig. 6.

Fig G is an enlarged elevational view of the circuit controller employed herein.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a similar section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofl a conductor shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 11 is an end view of the clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 10 with certain parts broken away.

`We have shown our invention as applied to a bank of four elevators in a building having eight floors to be indicated. While certain details of the elevator construction such as the supporting mechanism therefor is disclosed, it is to be understood that these are merely illustrative and are not a part of our invention.

Referring to the details of the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a plurality of elevator shafts 12a, 12b, 120 and 12d for the movable elevator cars, one of which is indicated at 14. Each of the elevators is controlled by suitable mechanism shown as typical cables 15 and pulleys 16 supported upon rotatable shafts 18. The signalling apparatus in the present embodiment of the invention is operated by the rotation of the shaft 18 which operates through the controlling mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 2() for moving the circuit controlling mechanism indicated generally at 22, resulting in suitable indications at the visual signalling device 24 foi` indicating the position and direction of movement of the elevator as hereinafter fully described. It is to be understood that each elevator is provided with a complete signalling apparatus comprising in the present embodiment the'elevator control shaft 18, signal operating mechanism 20, circuit controller 22 and one section of the visual indicating device 24.

The cont-rolling or transmitting mechanism for the signalling apparatus is constructed as follows. A suitable base 26 supports an upstanding bracket 27 and bearing brackets 28 and 29. The rotatable elevator shaft 18 carries a` bevel gear 30 which meshes with a 32, which in turn is geared to rotate the `transverse shaft 34 supported in the bearings 28 and 29, the gears connecting the shafts 32 and 34 being shown as covered by the gear housings`35. The gears 30 and 31 are preferably of the same size as are also the gears connecting the shafts 32 and 34 so that the latter shaft will rotate at the same rate as the elevator shaft 18.

The shaft 34 terminates in a. cross head 36 which carries a plurality of projecting clutch pins 37 (Fig. 10) positioned within openings 38 lwithin the clutch head 40. The head 40 is provided with a series of radial openings 42 (Fig. 11) in each of which there is mounted a slidable clutch member 43 pressed inwardly of the head by means of a coil spring 44 held in place by the adjustable nut 45. Since the several clutch members and spring are .similarly constructed only one is shown in detail in Fig. 11.

The inner ends of the clutch members are constructed to engage the outer surface of a hub member 46 positioned within the head 40 and secured to or formed integrally with the gear 48. The gear 48 is supported by the bearing pin 49 and meshes with an intermediate gear 50 supported upon the bearing pin 51 carried by the bracket 27, the gear 50 in turn meshing with an enlarged reduction gear 52 secured rigidly to a relatively small pinion 54 and supported by a suitable bearing pin 53 carried by the bracket 27. The pinion 54 meshes with the teeth 55 formed upon the supporting member or drum head 56 which supports the flexible operating member 63. The drum 56 is preferably adjustably supported with relation to the -bracket 27 as by means of the vertically adjustable bearing pin 57 the reduced shank portion 58 of which is adjustably supported within the slot 59 formed in the bracket 27 and suitably secured therein, as shown for example in Fig. 4. The adjustment provided by the slot 59 ermits the use of various sizes of drums 56 or pinions 54 so that by an eX- change of these parts an adjustment for a small or larger building may be readily accomplished.

The controlling element or chain 63 for the elevator signalling apparatus is designed to be supported upon the drum or head 56 and to this end a plurality of radially adjustable projections or pins 60 (Fig. 4) are adjustably secured within the slots 61 formed therein. It will thus be seen that the effective circumference of the drum formed by the pins 60 is adjustable within the length of the slots 61 to increase or decrease thel movements of the operating member 63 with respect to the angular movement of the drum 56 and shaft 18. Cylindrical spacers 62 are preferably provided upon the pins 60 for receiving the member 63.

It is considered desirable to limit the angular movement of the supporting head 56 to its normal angular movements so that if for any reason, such as slippage between the cables 15 and drums 16, the relation between the drum head 56 and position of the corresponding elevator should become out of adjustment the correct relationship between these parts will be automatically reestablished. To this end the stop members 64 and 65 are secured to the head 56 in position to be moved into engagementwith the pinion 54 when the extreme low and high positions respectively of the elevator have been reached. If desired the stop members 64 and 65 may be adjustably secured tothe head 56 or to another of the `movable elements of the mechanism for supporting the control member 63, for example the gear 52, so as to be accurately positioned with relation to suitable stop devices. It will be understood that if the movable controlling element 63 and head 56 should become out of adjustment with relation to the elevator 14, one of the stops 64 or 65 would engage the pinion 54 and retain the head 56 and lelement 63 in its extreme normal position while the elevator completed its movement in this direction, the clutch 36-46 accomodating relative movement between the operating shaft 34 and the operated gear 48.

For the purpose of reversing the electric control circuits hereinafter referred to, the reversing switch comprising the movable arm 66 and fixed bracket 68 are provided adjacent the transverse shaft 34 and supported 100 on the base 26. The bracket 68 is formed of an Iinsulating material such as bakelite or hard rubber and supports a plurality of separated conducting sections 70, 71 and 72, thc' sections 71 and 72 being spaced by means of 105 the insulator 73 havingfa surface flush therewith, as shown particularly in Fig. 5; The length of the sections 71 and 72 is such that a small reverse movement of the elevator will not reverse the indicating mechanism but, on 110 the contrary, a reversal of several feet in the elevator will be required before the indicator is changed, as will hereinafter more fully appear. Electric current is supplied to the terminal 74 of the conductor 70 by means of a 115 conductor 75 connected with a suitable source of current supply. The terminals 76 and .7T of the conductors 71 and 72 con nect with suitable conductors 124 and 125 respectively, dcsigned to lead the current supplied thereto to 120 the electric controlling mechanism 22. as described below. The arm 66 is also preferably formed of an insulating material and is mounted upon the shaft 34 for rotation with or with respect to the said shaft. To this end 125 the arm 66 has a separate section 78 slidably positioned upon pins 79 and pressed into en- `gagement with the shaft 34 by means of the springs 80 mounted on the pins 79 between the heads of thepins and the section 78. The

. ble member 63.

nsf/acci longitudinal position of the arm 66 upon the shaft 34 may be maintained by means of the fixed collar 82.

rlhe purpose of the arm 66 and bracket 68 is lto reverse the flow of current to the controlling apparatus 22 upon a reversal of the direction of movement of the elevator. The arm is accordingly supplied with an electrical conductor comprising the yoke (Figs. 4 and'9) the terminals 88 of which engage the slidable pins or brushes and 91. The yoke 85 is formed with a slot or opening 86 which may be slidably passed over the pin 84 c-arried by the arm 66. A suitable spring 87 i" holds the conducting yoke 85 in engagement withthe brushes 90 and 91 and the latter in engagement with the conductors 70 and 71 or 72. The spring 87 further serves to hold the arm` 66 in engagement with the collar 82. The clutch formed by the separate section 78 causes the arm 66 to be rotated with the shaft 34. For the purpose of limiting the rotative movement of this arm a rigid pin 92 projects from one face thereof a distance sufficient to permit it to be engaged with the upper surface of the bracket 68, with the result that the arm 66 is limited to a rotative movement of substantially 90. It will thus be seen that rotation of the shaft 34 in either direction causes the reversing switch to bridge the conductors 70 and 71 or 72 forsupplying current to one of the leads from the terminal 76 or 77 for the purpose referred to below.

The controlling mechanism for the signallintgdevices operated from the movable member 63 is indicated generally by the numeral 22 and may be positioned at any desired location along the elevator shaft. We have shown the same as positioned adjacent the` first floor so that relatively short conductors will .be required to couple the same with the signalling devices. The controlling mechanism 22 includes an inner housing 94 for slidably receiving the circuit controller 96 connected by means of the cable 97 with the flexi- Adjustment of the length of i the cable 97 may be provided by means of the turnbuckle 97 or other equivalent means. The housing 94 is 'formed of an insulating material such as bakeli'te and is provided with open ends permitting the passage of the controller 96 through the same. The housing includes the front wa'1l98 and rear Wall 99 connected by side walls 100. The front wall 98 is apertured to receive a plurality of slidable contact members or brushes and 111 formed in two series as indicated for example in Figs. 2-.and 7 The brushes 110 and 111 are pressed inwardly into engagement with the circuit controller 96 by means of the yokes 102 which may be formed as shown in Fig. 9. The yokes 102 are slidably arranged upon the pins 104 carried by the face plate 98 of. the housing 22. `Springs 105 are positioned upon the rods 104 and bear against suitable collars thereon and against the yokes to create an inward pressure upon brushes 110 and 111. The brushes 110 and 111 are connected in conducting relation by means of the yokes 102, each corresponding pair of brushes being coupled to separate binding posts 113 as by means of the conductors 109. Conductors 112 secured to the binding posts 113 and to binding posts 114 supply the electric current from either of the brushes 110 or 111 of each set to one of the signalling units as will appear moreJ fully below.

Current is supplied to the circuit controlling mechanism 22 by means of the conductors 124 and 125 leading respectively from the conductors 71 and 72 to the binding posts 126, 126@ and 127, 127e, respectively, from which conductors 116 lead to the four power terminals or brushes 122, 122a, 123 and 123@ respectively. Each pair of terminals 122 and 123 and 1220l and 123e maybe supported as shown in F ig. 8 wherein the yoke member 118 formed of insulating material is slidably mounted upon t-he pin 104 andnormally pressed inwardly by means of the compression springs 105. The yoke 118 carries pins 120 engaging with slidable brushes or contact members 122 and 123 for pressing the same inwardly into engagement with the controller 96. The mechanism shown in Fig. 8 for controlling the power terminals 122, 122e, 123 and 123e is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 7 for the brushes 110 and 111 the main difference being that the yoke 118 (Fig. 8) is formed of insulating material whereas the yoke 102 `(Fig. 7) is formed of conducting material. According to the above described construction either the conducting line 124 and conductor 7 0 are placed in conducting relation with the brushes 122 and 1220@ -or the conducting line 125 and conductor v70 are placed in conducting relation with the brushes 123 and 123m. The power line 75 is accordingly co neeted to either the terminals 122 and 122erl tir 123 and 123e dependent on the position of the reversing switch lever 66.

The circuit controller 96 is formed as a bar of insulating material upon one surface of which there are positioned a number of conduct-ing and insulating elements as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 placed in two series indicated generally by the numerals 128 and 128a. The conducting and insulating surfaces of the series 128 and 128@ are identical in construction but are arranged in reverse relation with respect to the length of the controller. insulating surface 129 (129a), a conducting element 130 (1300L), a relatively short insulating surface 131 (13101.), an elongated conducting element 132 (132a), and a fina-l insulating surface 133 (133e). The maximum length of the sections 128 and 128a is approximately twice the distance between the terminal contact devices 122, 123, and 1220,

Each section comprises anv Iza ful

l be attached to an end. o

128e of the circuit controlling a aratus. In order that the controller 96 wil e posim tively moved downwardly through the honen ing 22, a Weight 184 or eluivalcnt device may the same, as shown in Figs. Q and 6. The entire circuit contrct ling mechanism 2Q, 9,6 ma be enclosed in o, suitable casing, as shown or example at 15530 in Fig. Q, the outer face of the casing being; provided with a hinged closure (Fig. 1). l

The visual signalling device Q4 includes a easing 188 rovided with a hinged closure formed Wit a plurality of vertically arn ranged sections o frosted glass forming si ht elements 1&0, one such element bein v provi ed for cach elevator to be indicated 1n the sysu tern. Each ofthe elements 140 is preferably formed as an unbroken section of scmihtrans arent glass having indicating portions 140m, 40?) ete. for indicatin the various positions of the elevator associated therewith. The portions 14Go, 1406 etc. are defined by menno of transverse partitions 141 and vertical par. titions 1112 carried within the casing 138 and forming pockets 1.43 in each of which is positioned an electric light left. The lights 'i4/l are carried by a conducting buseboard lflli supported iroin the insulti/tin r huso plate 148 and terminating in the binding post 14o. A, power circuit 150 extends from the bind" ing post 1.46 to a suitable source ci' electric current supply (not shown) to complete the circuit formed with the conductor 7 5 shown in Fig. 5. The binding posts 152 carry spring.; contacts 153 positionelil adjacent the lights 1&4 for contact therewith for energizing the same when current is supplied to the tei minals 114; thereoli, as described above. The casing 138 may be completed by means oil the top and side Walls 139 and rear walls 111.1, supported by the angle irons 169e which i u turn support the insulating baseboard 1415i and other interior mechanism therein. It is preferred that each of the indicating sections 140 be formed as a single piece of frosted lass, as described above,so that the resultan t :indication will appear` as a continuous clon gated beam of light on the saine for indientl lng the position Yand direction oi movement of the elevator although obviously, if" desired7 it may be formed in separate sections. 'While We have shown only one signalling device Eil/t it is to be understood that this mechanism may be duplicated for other positions in which it is desired to indicate the position and direction of movement of the elevator.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. When any elevator is in Yits lowest operative position the parts of the signal controlling a )paratus will assume the position shown 1n lig. The drum head 56 will have been rotated clockwise to tho limit of its movement and the stop member del Will be substantially in enongeinent with the pinion 54;. The flexible element 63 will aerosol have been unwell-inl from the pins 60 andthe power lino to the lorml'iuln 1122i and l23a. The,

circuit :it i533 will he open niuce this terminalv roots upon. the insulation section 133e of the lmntrollel. '.lho emiductinp.; section 130e bridges the tm'ininal 'llla and the contact .lill hauling to the lowcrnulst light 144e causinar the corro.'goooding portion of the sight clement lll() to he illuuunatml. As the elcvator moves luilwarllly it causes a clockwise rotation ol tlujollaiit ilfl and a counter-clockl wine rotation ol" the drum head 5G with the result that the .fi-witch lever (lli moves finto position to brillan the eoxn'hletors 70 and 71 and the Yflexible lneinber lill is moved u wurd- .ly cnrryiin; with it the oirciilit contro ler 9u. .Aitor this movement han continued to a very slight extent the nnulueting section 180o of the controller lill will have lnoved out of en- {nurenleut with the Iuunh lilou and at about the suino time the switch lover (lo moves from the coiuluctor lit to the eoxn'luctor 7l. opening the oi reuit to the nominating line 12h und cloninp; the circuit between the supply lino lil. attached to the nunluol'or 71 and the source olf' electrical :supply 7h. This results in n supply ol? electricity inning available at the terminals 'll'l :unl lilac sothat inuluuli atcly the current in :nlpolied from the power terminal llillrr. to the ool'ltact brush Ill() oli' the lgufvermont ilulicntinf light 'lll/la. The power temnnul lit?, at thin time resto upon the in nulatirul; :tuition 'lV/ll of tho controller 9G and is inelliect'vo to prmlueo light nl; the Visual indicator. .An the controller Elli is moved up wardly .'fulcceftflivo hvuuhor-i lill) are contacted by the cond uctlnn; snol-ion lll?, oli the controller no that, by nzuznnn el the lends 112, succes-- sivo lights l/l/l :nul the corrmipolnling scc tioinl ot the vnunl. irnlicatoi' are caused to be illu,lninutefl und to rennlin illuininatlnfl until, the elevator macina; :,:ullstantully the end oil" its path ol' movement. The visual ell'oot on the ,ixn'liontor V|ufoducml by this operation io that ol? ou loufiaht column oil: light wl'iich lor thin, the lupa/ard movement ot the elevator han a lifnzffl or stationary baue cor responding to the punition olfI the elevator at the beginning nl 'its upward Jnovmncnt 'while the l'rec cud or top ol. the lengthening column lengtlnnin or projecto itsoll: in the direction ol the rinilu elevator giving the cli'ect oil a lln'uiulnu: [winter the end of which directif.; itself in :in upward direction no the elevator inovon while the position of the end nl; any time lurllrnitorl the position olf the elevator in` the nhntt. lll at any internlcdiuto position the elevator is reversed a eubnlanltal distance the :switch (lll is rotated to'opou the circuit leaulinc,` to the terminal 122e and scip nient 11,85?, and olor-:oo the circuit to the terw ltotntion of the shaft 34.- and the f switch .arm (lo :in n. countcr-clockwise direc tion will. have chilled the circuit from the.

. fixed base at a point corresponding to the position of the elevator at the uppermost possible end of its upward movement while the free or downwardly pointing end of the column extends or projects itself downwardly with the downward motion of the elevator thus giving thesame visual edect of a shaft or column of light pointing in the direction in which the downwardly moving elevator is temporarily proceeding. This lengthening inverted column builds up in the downward direction until the elevator is again reversed or reaches the end of its path of movement. When the controller 96 has reached the upper limit of its movement and the stop member 65 has reached a point adjacent the pinion 54, the lefthand section 128 of the controller is in the position of the righthand section 128a shown in Fig. 5 so that the uppermost signal light 1446 will be energized through the terminal 122 and conducting segment 130 of the controller. As the elevator is reversed and is moved-downwardly the operation of the partsis'the reverse of that just described, with the result that first the top light of the series is illuminated and thereafter each successive light is illuminated and remains il-I luminated until the elevator has reached substantially-the end of its 'path of movement whereupon the lights are all extinguished except that which indicates the present position of the elevator, namely the lower landing. As will be seen the visual effect of lighting the lamps seriatim on the downward movement of the elevator and retaining them in circuit is in this instance to produce an inverted column of light lengthening in the directionof movement of the elevator and having the base of the suspended column co- A inciding with the uppermost position of the elevator. The advancing of the end of the -inverted column or lengthening of the same downwardly /give's the effect of a pointing column of light extending or pointing in the direction in which the elevator proceeds while the location of the point or end at any time indicates'th'e position of said elevator.

In Fig. 1 the various positions of the eleva- Elevator No. 1 is descending and has almost reached the end of its path of'movementl so that the column of light is about to be extinguished.

Elevator No. 2 is at-rest at its highest landing and elevator No. 3 is at rest at the lowest landing. Elevator No. 4 is ascending and has reached the position indicated, namely the fourth floor.

By the above described instrumentalities we provide means for indicating at a glance the positior" and direction of movement of an elevator. While we prefer to employ a single and continuous column of light for each elevator it will be understood that if desired the indicating portions thereof may be separated units for indicating the different positions of the elevator. Changes may also be made for adapting the apparatus for particular buildings by illuminating the indicating portions of less than the whole number of indicating portions thereof. For example it may be preferred to have only the terminal lights l44a or 1445 illuminated when the elevator is in an intermediate position. This can be readily accomplished by placing only the selected contacts 110 and terminals 122, 123, 122e and 123a in position to be engaged by the whole length of the conductors 132 and 132erl and permitting the other contacts 110 to be engaged by relatively short side extensions of these conductors. Various other changes may be made in the out departing from our invention, the limits of which are to be ascertained from the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. ln an elevator signalling apparatus, the combination with an elevator, of an electric controller operating synchronously with the elevator and electric lighting devices controlled thereby and operating by the same series of lighting devices to build up a gradually lengthening column of light indicating the position and either directon of movement of the elevator, said column for the upwardV travelof the elevator lengthening upwardly and having a lixed base maintained in position corresponding to the down position of the elevator and for the down travel being an inverted column which lengthens downwardly while its base is maintained in position corresponding to the up position of the elevator.

2. ln combination with a vertically movable elevator, a signalling mechanism comprising a plurality of electrically energized elements, means controlled by the position of said elevator for .successively energizing said elements, said means causing'certain of the energized elements to remain in an energized state after succeeding elements have been energized, and means responsive to the movement of said elevator when the direction of movement of said elevator is reversed for deenergizing said energized elements but retaining a final element in energized condition as the first element for the succession energized in reverse order as the elevator reverses its travel.

3. ln an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of signal lights formed with separate Contact points, a circuit controller, means for conducting electric current to a terminal adjacent said circuit controller, said circuit construction by those skilled in the art withcontroller including an elongated electrical engagement with said contact points and said terminal, said elongated conductor being of a length capable of bridging substantially all of said contact points while in circuit with said terminal and means responsive to the movements of said elevator for moving said controller relatively to said contact points and terminal for lighting and maintaining lighted successive lights corresponding to points reached and passed by said elevator.

4. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of signal lights,`duplicate sets of contact points for said lights, a circuit controller, means for conducting electric current to a plurality of terminals adjacent said circuit controller, said circuit controller including a plurality of elongated electrical conductors positioned to be engaged by said contact points and by said terminals, said elongated conductors being of a length capable of bridging substantially all of said contact points while in circuit with one of said terminals, said elongated conductors being arranged in opposed relation on said circuit controller to cause one of said conductors to be moved into contact with one of said sets oflcontact points as the other conductor is removed away Jfrom the other of said sets and means responsive to the movements of said elevator for moving said controller relatively to said contact points and terminals for lighting and maintaining lighted successive lights corresponding to points reached and passed by said elevator.

5. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of signal lights for indicating the position of said elevator, means for lighting lights corresponding to the various positions of said elevator and for maintaining said lights lighted atersaid elevator has passed said positions, said means including plural sets of spaced contacts for said lights arranged in separate series, a circuit controller having plural conductors and insulators, said circuit controller being movable relatively to said contacts to cause said conductors and insulators to be moved along and engaged with successive contacts of said sets, means for conducting electricity to a position adjacent said circuit controller, said meansvterminating in duplicate terminals positioned at spaced points to be engaged by the conductors and insulators of said circuit controller, and means responsive to the position of said elevator for moving said circuit controller.

6. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of signal lightsv for indicating the position of .said elevator, means for lighting lights corresponding to the varous positions of said elevator and for maintaining said lights lighted after said elevator has passed said position said means including plural sets of spaced contacts for said lights arranged in separate series, a circuit controller having plural sets of spaced conductors, said circuit controller being movable relatively to said contacts to cause said conductors to be moved simultaneously along and engaged with successive contacts of said sets, means for conducting electricity to a plurality of spaced positions adjacent said circuit controller, said means terminating in plural terminals positioned to be engaged by the conductors of said circuit controller, means responsive to the position of said elevator for moving said circuit controller, and reversible means for closing the electric circuit to one of said terminals and opening the circuit to the other, said last named means being responsive to the direction of movement of said elevator.

7. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of signal lights for indicating the position of said elevator, means for lighting lights corresponding to the various positions of said elevator and for maintaining said lights lighted after said elevator has passed said positions, said means including duplicate sets of spaced contacts for saidlights arranged in separate series, a circuit controller having duplicate conductors and insulators, said circuit controller being movable relatively to said contacts to cause said conductors and insulators to be moved simultaneously beneath successive contacts of said sets, means for conducting electricity to a position adjacent s aid circuit controller, said means terminating in duplicate sets of spaced terminals positioned to be engaged by the conductors and insulators of said circuit controller, said terminals of each set being spaced a distance substantially equivalent to the entire length of said sets of spaced contacts of said lights, and means responsive to the positions of said elevator for moving said circuit controller.

8. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of electrically operated signals, separate contacts for said signals, means for conducting electricity to a point adjacent said contacts, spaced terminals for said conducting means, said contacts and terminals being arranged in substantial alinement, a circuit controller having conducting sections movable relatively to said contacts and terminals and in engagement therewith, said conducting sections of said circuit closer comprising a relatively short section capable of ridging the space from one of said terminals to one of said contacts and a relatively long section capable of bridging substantially all of said contacts and terminals and means responsive to the movements of said elevator for moving said controller relatively to said contact points and terminals for lighting and maintaining lighted successive lights corresponding to points reached and passed by said elevator.

9. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of electrically operated signals, spaced rows of separate contacts for said signais, means for conducting electricity to a point adjacent said contacts, plural sets of spaced terminals for said conducting means, each set of terminals being placed in one ot the rows of contacts, a circuit controller having two series of conducting'sections, insulated from one another and movable relatively to said contacts and terminals and in engagement therewith, each series of said conducting sections of said circuit closer comprising a relatively short section capable of bridging the space from one of said terminals to one of said contacts and a relatively long section capable of bridging substantially all of said contacts and terminals and `means responsive to the-movements of said elevator for moving said controller relatively to said contact points and terminals for light-- ing and maintaining lighted succ-essive lights corresponding to points reached and passed by said elevator.

10. In an elevator signalling apparatus, a plurality of signal lights for indicating the position of said elevator, conductors leading from said lights and terminating in spaced contact points, the spaced contact points of successive lights forming two parallel series, means for conducting electricity to points adjacent said contact points .and terminat-` ing in conducting terminals forming the ultimate contact points of said series, the contact points of each light being connected in conducting relation, the corresponding terminals at each of the ends of said series being insulated from one another, a circuit controller movable relatively to said contact points and terminals, said controller having two electrically insulated portions, each yadapted to be engaged by one of said series of contact points and terminals, each portion of said controller including conducting and insulating sections for causing a plurality of said lights to be energized in succession and to remain in an energized condition for a predetermined portion of the movement of said elevator, and means responsive to the movementsv of said elevator for moving said controller relatively to said contact points and terminals for lighting and maintaining lighted successive lights corresponding to points reached and passed by said elevator.

11. In combination with a movable elevator, an electrically actuated signalling mechanism therefor, including a series of lights, a controlling member formed with electrically insulated conducting members, plural sets of contact members for each of said lights, said conducting members being each constructed to be moved progressively into and out of engagement with one of said sets of contacts and means for selectively connecting one of said conducting members at a time with a source of electric current supply and means responsive to the movements of said elevator for producing relative movement of said controlling member with respect to said contacts.

12. In an elevator motion and position indicator, a commutator, mechanism for actuating said commutator operatively connected with the means for moving the car, a series of lamps lighted seriat-im by said commutator and maintained in lighted condition on movement of the car in one direction and a reversing switch operatively connected with the actuating mechanism and reversible thereby for automatically extinguishing the whole series of lighted lamps upon reversal of the movement of the `actuating mechanism and at the same time connecting the same lamps into a circuit for lighting seriatim in the reversed order when the commutator reverses its movement.

13. A luminous position and direction of movement indicator for elevators comprising in combination a vertically arranged series of lamps, circuit controlling means for lighting said lamps seriatim in one order starting with a lowermost lamp of the series for the up movement, and in reverse order starting 'with an uppermost lamp for the down move- 'movement and for the up movement representing a standing column with a fixed base and a top growing upwardly as the elevator rises.

14. A luminous position and motion indicator for elevators comprising a series of lamps and a commutator therefor, means for moving said commutator synchronously with the motion of the elevator and connected to 'said lamps and controlling and maintaining the lighting of said lamps, said commutator acting on thel series of lamps in an order and succession to produce by the same lamps the effect of a line of light having a fixed end and an advancing or projecting end projecting in one direction for one movement of the elevator and a fixed end and advancing end advancing in the opposite direction for the other or opposite movement of the elevator.

15. In a luminous position-and motion indicator for elevators, the combination of a series of lamps, 4a commutator means for moving said commutator synchronously with the elevator for controlling the lighting of said series of lamps in an order which reverses with the reversal of movement, means for maintaining the circuit of the lighted lamps for either direction of movement of the-commutator, and means for collectively and automatically extinguishing the lamps lighted on the reversal of movement of the elevator, said lamps being lighted and maintained to produce a. luminous column inverted or upright for the down and up movements of the elevator respectively, the direction in which said column extends from its base corresponding to a limit of motion of the elevator indicating for bot-h the up and down movement the direction in which the elevator is moving.

16. Electrical signalling mechanism for indicating the direction of movement and position of an elevator comprising a series of lamps and a synchronously moving commutator means for moving said commutator synchronously with the elevator and having an elongated conducting section for lighting the series of lamps seriatim in one order upon movement in one direction and maintaining them lighted and another conducting section for lighting the lamps in the reverse order upon movement in the opposite direction and a transfer switch for automatically completing the connect-ions through the lamps and one or the other of said sections automatically by reversal of movement of the elevator.

17. A motion and position findicator for elevators comprising in combination a series of electric lamps, a commutator, and means for moving said commutator synchronously with the elevator, said commutator controlling the lighting of said lamps and maintaining the lighting of them in series beginning with a. lamp thereof corresponding to the position from which the elevator starts its movement to produce a luminous column whose advancing end corresponding to the last lighted lamp of the series represents the motion of the elevator while the position of said advancing end indicates the position of the elevator, the length of the column representing the extent to which the elevator has moved from said starting position.

18. In an elevator signal system, in combination with an elevator, means to indicate the progress and direction of travel of the elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of floors and arranged in single file formation on said panel, a circuit to each of said index eleme-nts, means for closing (and holding closed) each of said circuits in succession as the elevato-r arrives adjacent the respective floors, and means operable upon the reversal of the elevators direction of travel at any location in its path of travel to open all of said circuits and at the same time' close all the circuits previously open, said means further operating to maintain a closed circuit to the index element representing the floor at which the reversal of the elevator occurs; the opening and closing of all said circuits occurring simultaneously. A 19. In an elevator signal system, in combination with an elevator, means to indicate the progress and direction of travel of the elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of ioors and arranged in single file formation on said panel, a circuit to each of said index elements, means for closing (and holding closed) each of said circuits in succession as the elevator arrives adjacent the respective floors, and means operable upon the reversal of the elevators direction of travel at any location in its path of travel to open all of said circuits and at the same time close all the circuits representing the floors not reached by the elevator at the time of its reversal said means further operating to maintain a closed circuit to the index element representing the floor at which the reversal of the elevator occurs.

20. In an elevator signal system, in combination with an elevator, means to indicate the progress and direction of travel of the elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of floors and arranged in single file formation on said panel, a circuit to each of said index elements, means for closing (and holding closed) each of saidcircuits in succession as the elevator arrives adjacent the respective floors, means for re-opening all said circuits except the one last closed, said means operating upon the reversal of the elevators direction of travel at any location in its path of travel, and means for reclosing (and holding closed) each of said circuits in the reverse succession as the elevator retraces the same portion of its path of travel.

2l. In an elevator signal system, an elevator, means to indicate the position of said elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of floors, and arranged in file formation on said panel, means for indicating on said panel the direction of travel and also the progress of said elevators, said means comprising electrical means for causing the progressive energization of the same index elements in synchronism with both the u pward and downward movements of said elevator from floor to floor, said electrical means including circuits to said index elements and a commutator current maintaining switch movable in synchronism with the associated elevator, means for rendering said commutator switch ineffective with respect to the maintenance of said circuits, and means for maintaining a current in the circuit to either extreme index element irrespective of the operation of said last-named means.

22. In an elevator signal system, an elevator, means to indicate the position of said elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of floors, and arranged in file formation on said panel, and means for indicating on said panel the direction of travel and also the progress of said elevator, said 1r means comprising electrical means for causing the progressive energization of the same index elements in synchronism with both the upward and downward movements of said elevator from floor to floor, said electrical means including circuits to said index elements and a commutator switch movable in synchronism with the motion of the associated elevator, said commutator switch comprising an elongated carriage having an electrical contact surface and a plurality of contact segments equal in number to the number of iioors, said contact segments being disposed adjacent said carriage.

23. In an elevator signal system, an elevator, means to indicate the position lof said elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of floors, and arranged in le formation on said panel, means for indicating on said panel the direction of travel and also the progress of said elevator, said means comprising electrical means for causing the progressive energization of the same index elements in synchronism with both the upward and downward movements of said elevator from floor to floor, said electrical means including circuits to said index elements and a commutator current maintaining switch for said circuits, said commutator switch comprising an elongated carriage having an electrical contact surface and a plurality of contact segments equal in number to the number of floors, said contact segments being disposed adjacent said carriage, and means for connecting said carriage with said elevator for proportionate movement therewith.

24. In an elevator signal system, an elevator, means `to indicate the position of said elevator comprising a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of lioors, and arranged in file formation on said panel, means for indicating on said panel the direction of travel and also the progress of said elevator, said means comprising electrical means 'for causing the progressiver energization of the same index Y elements in synchronism with both the upward and downward movements of said elevator from floorto floor, said electrical means including circuits to said index elements and a commutator current maintaining switch movable in synchronism with the motion of the associated elevator, said commutator switch comprising an elongated carriage having an electrical contact surface and aplurality of contact segments equal 1n number to the number of floors, said contact segments being disposed adjacent said carriage, and means for rendering said carriage ineffective with respect to the maintenance of all of said circuits with the exception of the circuit to either extreme index element.

25. In an elevator signalling apparatus,

the combination 4with an elevator car, ofan indicator panel having a plurality of light transmitting areas representing, in order, different locations in the elevator hatchway to which said elevator car may move, each of said areas being displayed when illuminated from the rear of said panel, and mechanism actuated in accordance with the position and direction of travel of said elevator car for controlling the illumination of said areas from the rear of said panel to build up, by the same series of light transmitting areas, a gradually lengthening display of successive areas indicating the position and either direction of movement of the elevator car,

said display of successive areas for the upward travel of the elevator car having a lixed base maintained in the position corresponding to the down position of the elevator car and lengthening toward the position corresponding to the up position of the. elevator car in accordance with upward car travel, and, for the downward travel of the elevator car, having a fixed base maintained in the position corresponding to the up position of the elevator car and lengthening toward the position corresponding to the down position of the elevator car in accordance with downward car travel.

26. In combination'with an elevator car vertically movable between a lower and an upper terminal, a signalling mechanism comprising a plurality of electrically energized elements, means controlled by the posit-ion of said elevator car for successively energizing said elements, said means causing certain of the energized elements to remain in an energized state after succeeding elements have been energized, and means, effective in the event said elevator car, during a trip from either terminal,v reverses before it arrives at the other terminal, for breaking the energizing circuit of said energized elements and for completing an energizing circuit for such elements as would correspond with the movement of said elevator car in the direction from the terminal not reached to the floor at which such reversal takesv place.

27. In combination with an elevator car, means to indicate the progress and direction of travel of the elevator car, comprising', a signal panel at a floor, a group of index elements equal in number to the number of floors and arranged in single file formation on said panel, a circuitto each of said index4 elements, means for closing (and holding closed) each of said circuits-in succession as the elevator car arrives at a position in the elevator shaft corresponding thereto, and means operable upon a reversal in the direction of travel of the elevator car at any location in its path of travel to open the energizing circuit of said energized elements and at the same time to .complete an energizing circuit for such elements as would indicatemovement of the elevator'car intheopposite direction from the terminal floor to the floorv at which such reversal takes place.

28. In combination with a vertically'movable elevator car operable between two terminal positions; an indicating panel having arran ed in single file formation thereon a p urality of small, substantially uniform areas representative of different points, in-

cluding said terminal positions, in the travel of said elevator car, each of said areas being displayed by illumination passing therethrough from the rear thereof; and means actuated in accordance with the position and direction of travel of said elevator car for causing, when said elevator car is at either of said terminal positions, the display of only the area representative of the terminal position at which said elevator car is located, and for causing, when said elevator` car is between said terminal positions and progressing from. either terminal position toward the other, the continuous display of the area representative of the terminal position from which said elevator car is progressingv and also the continuous display of successive' areas extending from such displayed terminal area to an area indicative of the position of said elevator car.

.29. In an elevator signalling apparatus, the combination with an elevator car operable between two terminal positions; of an indicator panel having a plurality of light transmitting areas representing, in order, diferent locations in the elevator hatchway, including said terminal positions, to which said elevator car may move, each of said areas being displayed when illuminated from the rear of said panel; and mechanism actuated in accordance with the movement of said elevator car for causing theJ illlumination of only the area representative of the lower terminal when said elevator car is at the lower terminal position, and for causing, when said elevator car is away from said lower terminal and is progressing in the direction of the upper terminal, the continuous illumination of the area representative .of the lower termina-l and also the continuous illumination of the other areas,exclusive of the area rep- -resentative of the upper terminal, successively in accordance with the movement of said elevator car in the hatchway past the loca-l tions corresponding'thereto, and for causing, when said elevator car arrives at the upper terminal, the illumination of the area represenative of the upper terminal and the eX- tinguishment of the illumination for all other areas.

BOJA position and direction-of-travel india space from said first named terminal signal light; a plurality of intermediate signal lights, representative of different points in the travel of said elevator car between said two terminal floors, mounted on said signal panel in single file formation in said space etween said two terminal signal lights; and switching mechanism actuated in accordance with the movement of said elevator car for causing the energization of only the terminal signal light for the lower terminal ioor when said elevator car is at the lower terminal floor and the energization of only the terminal signal light for the upper terminal floor when said elevator car is at the, upper terminal floor, and for causing, when said elevator car is between said terminal floors on a trip in a direction from either terminal floor, the continuous energization of the terminal signal light for the terminal oor from the direction of which such trip is progressing and also the continuous energization of certain of said intermediate signal' lights in accordance with car travel so as to form a continuous suc-J cession of energized signal lights of which the end removed from the energized terminal signal light is indicative of the position of said elevator car, whereby the position of the elevator car is always indicated whether the elevator car is betweenterminal floors or is at either terminal floor, and the direction of travel of the elevator car when it is between terminal loors is represented by the direction in which the continuous succession of energized signal lights extends from the energized terminal signal light.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 1st day of April A. D. 1926.

JAMES M. GRAHAM. CLIFFORD NORTON.

cator for an elevator car, comprising a signal panel; a terminal signal light for the lower terminal floor served by the elevator car mounted on said signal panel; a terminal signal light for the upper terminal Hoor served by the elevator car mounted on said panel at

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