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Dec.. 27, 1927.
1,654,350
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W. G. SHELTON
BLOCK LETTER SIGN
2 Sheets-Sheet 1
Filed Nov. 7, 1924
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Dec. 27, 1927.
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1,654,350
W. G. SHELTON
BLOCK LETTER SIGN
Filed NOV. '7, 1924
2 Sheets-Sheet 2
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Patented Dec. 27, 1927.
iiNiTEnf sTATEs PATENT
onirica.
WILLIAM GENTRY SHELTON, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., AASSIGiNOIR T0 HALLIWELL-SHELTON
ELECTRIC CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORAZIJION"> OF NEW YORK.
annex-LETTER sicav.V '
application aiea November t, i924. serial No. 748,356.
This invention rela-testo improvements in
illuminated signs of the block-letter type,
and l,aims to provide improvements therein.
'lille present invention-provides a block->
tionable or dangerous effect on the human
system when a part thereof is brought into
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contact with the high voltage part of the
device. - These signs, similarly to the block
l5 letter sign, adapted for -use as a unit of a letter signs now in use having incandescent
composite illuminated sign, in which the lamps, are used with others to form a com
brilliant lighting effect of gas-conducting posite sign, such as a wor-d or phrase. Cur
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tubes (Geissler tubes or the like) -may be rent from an ordinary lighting circuit (110
had by the use of apparatus which, (while `or 220 volts) for energizing the high fre
l@ making use of high voltages for producing quency current generating means 15, is taken
a high potential difference on the4 electrodes through suitable leads 17, 18, and as the cur
rent used is much less than that used for 65
ful or objectionable edects on the human block-letter signs of the same size and light
of the tube or tubes) will not produce harm
system, .and which will not violate laws and ing effect using filament lamps, and as the
löregulations generally established concerning high
frequency high voltage current is not
'ordinary lighting circuits (20-110-220 dangerous, the letter sign does not violate
volts for example) and apparatus used there civil regulations relating to ordinary light~
with.
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~ rll‘he invention further provides a device
30
ing circuits and attachments thereto.
The block-letter sign preferably comprises
20 'in which the eliiciency is high, and a good a box or casing 20, in which the high-fre- '
lighting eli'ect obtained with an expenditure quency current generating means 15 is
of a relatively small amount of energy, better housed. rl‘he casing preferably has a cover 75“
illumination being obtained with small high 25 which closes the box or casing 20, and
frequency currents than can be obtained which also preferably serves for supporting
- 25 with currents of lower frequencies, such as the illuminating tube 10. For protecting
those of induction coils andy alternating cur the tube 10 and for. concentrating the light
from said tube, a channel 27 is preferably
The 'invention further provides a block formed on said cover 25'. This channel has
rent
generators.
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letter sign having advantageous features as vthe outline of a. letter of the alphabet corre
30 regards the use and manufacture thereof.
sponding to the shape of the illuminating
An embodiment of the invention is illus-i tube 10, -and is conveniently formed by a
trated in the accompanying drawings, in flange 28, standing up from the’ face of said
which
l
.
cover.
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85
The cover yis >preferably cut out at
Fig. 12`is
is aaface
vertical
view section
thereof.;>on line
,
2-_-2, the bottom of said channel, as indicated at ‘
29.4 A plate of insulating material 33 (such>
as- sheet asbestos) is preferably arranged be- .
Fig. 3 -is a horizontal section on the line hind the face' of said cover 25ï andthe illu
Fig._1;
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Fig( 4 is a front view -with the face -o
cover of the sign removed;
j
minating tube 10 is conveniently fastened
thereto, as by means of straps 35. The plate
33 is conveniently held between flanges 37, 38
Fig. 5 is a .diagram of the electrical parts on the box and cover, one ofowhich has aand connections.
.
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down turned portion 39 >to close the `joint be 95
Referring to said drawings, numeral 10
designates ayrareñed gas~conducting illumi-.
tween said lianges.
_ 'y
The tube 10 is bent to the shape of a let
nating tube (such as a Geissler tube) andl ter ofthe alphabet, and as stated above, fits
15 _a means~ for generating high frequency in the correspondingly shaped channel .27,
current for illuminating said tube, a sepa' and to the' end that an equal illumination
rate high> frequency , current generating of all parts of the letter may be obtained
means 15 being provided for each letter .(or, in a convenient manner, the tube is bent into
60 tube 10 in the shape of a letter), the current a double outline of the letter. Thus'a con
for each letter sign or tube thereby being ’tinuous tube from end vto end, equally occu
100
small and notwithstanding the high voltages pying all parts of the letter, and not cross 1015y
of such a >generating means, having no objec
ing itself at any part, is attained. The tube
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consequently is able to lie flat against the wires 64, 65 connected to the conductor 62,
late 33, or otherl party ofmthe cover, and are connected to opposite sides of the pri
Hence may be well protected when in a chan maries 50. By this arrangement the two
l ` nel such as 27 formed by the flanges 28. ' rll'he transformers 40, 41 act so as to assist one
tube also occupies little space in a direction another in forcing'a current through the
perpendicular to the face of the letter, in tube 10.
The watts consumed in a block letter sign
contrast to the space occupied by filament
lamps.
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of the present construction is about one
Any suitable high frequency current gen twentieth of those consumed in an equiva
erating means 15 may be used. rl‘he simple -lent filament lamp block letter )sign As
form here illustrated and adapted'for use heretofore explained the sign is safe to lian
with a lighting circuit having either alter dle, is simple iii- construction, may be eco
nating or direct current, comprisesfone or nomically manufactured, and is well adapted
two transformers 40, 41, to the secondary or to stand the usage to which` these ~signs are
`
80)
secondaries 43 of which a terminal 45, or subjected.
the terminals 45, 46 of the illuminating tube .'l‘he inventive ideas herein set forth may l0 are connected (as by means of wires`48, receive a variety of structural embodiments,
10
15
Figs. 2--4). The primary or primaries 50 and are not limited to the embodiment herein
of the transformer 4() or transformers 40,> 41 specifically shown and described. Y
are in an oscillating circuit comprising a con
20
What 1 -claim’isz
.
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1. An illuminated letter unit of a com
denser 55, and spark-gap ,56 having termi
nals 58, 59. The condenser is charged posite illuminated sign, each unit compris
through the leads 17, 18 to a lighting cir-v ing a casing, a channel in the lshape of _a
cuit and in one of these leads a kick coil 60 `- letter attached to said casing, an illuminating
One of the terminals of the> tube bent to the shape of a letter within said '
25 is placed.
spark-gap 56, as 58 is movable to make and channel, means in said casing for generating
" break a circuit through lead 17, kick coil 60, a .high frequency current for illuminating
terminals 58, 59 (when in contact) conductor said tube, said high frequency current being
primaries) 50 of transformer 40, (or trans 'system,«and leads to a-~lighting circuit for
formers 40,v 41) and' conductor 67 and supplying current to said high frequency
branches 68, 69 thereof to the other lead 18 current generator, _said casing comprising a
l ' 62,_branch conductors 64, 65 the primary (or of al kind which does not shock the’human
30
96.
connected to the lighting circuit. This mov box and a cover, said box and cover con»
able ,terminal 58 of-the spark gap is in the st_ituting a weather-tight enclosure for said
f35
magnetic inliuence of the kick coil 60, and high frequency'generator, and said illumi
breaks the circuit at the spark gap 56 as
soon as current begins tovflow in the circuit.
The inductive kickof the- coil 60 resulting
- from the breaking of the circuit, chargesthe
k40 condenser- 55 with current at a relatively
nating tube being mounted on said cover. .
2. An illuminated letter unit of a com
posite illuminated sign, each unit comprising
a casing, a channel in the shape of a letter
attached to said casing, an illuminating tube
105
bent to the shape of a letter within said>
tential of the gap 56 is exceeded, results in channel, means in said casing for generating „
a disruptive discharge across said spark gap -a high frequency ,current for illuminating -.
high voltage which when the sparking po
56, setting up high frequency oscillations> said tube, said high frequency current being
45
50
from said condenser 55, through the primary of a kindfwhich does _not shock\the.huinan
(or primaries) 50 of the transformer 40 (or system, and leads to a lighting circuit for
transformers 4'0, 41).` ÁThe secondary (or supplying current to said high frequency
1 10
secondaries) 43 respond with (similar high current generator, said casing fcomprising a
frequency `currents which are forced to flow hanged box, and a lianged cover, said flanges
tlirougli_tlie illuminating tube 10, and there over-lapping to exclude weather, and said lia
by villuminate the same. When the movable box and cover constituting'a weather-tight .
terminal 58 'of the spark gap, again makes enclosure for said high frequency generator,
contact with the terminal 59, a similar action and said illuminating tube being mountedv
` to that just described takes place, and an
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other V'chain of high frequency condenser
on said cover.
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3. An illuminated letter unit of'a com
posite illuminated sign, each unit compris
'
The removable terminal 58 is conveniently ing a casing, a channel in the shape of a
normally pressed against the terminal 59 by. letter attached to said casing, an illumi
' means of an adjustable weight 70 and a piv nating tube bent to the shape of a letter
within said channel, means in said ~casing
60 oted lever v72 having an arm 75 on whic
for generating a high frequency current for
the terminal 58 is carried. i
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oscillationsJ takes place.
Where two transformers 40, 41 are used
they are connected ’ so that current flows
125
illuminating said tube, said high frequency
current being of a kind which does not Shock
through the primaries thereof in opposite the human system, and leads to a light-cir
directions. It will be seen that the branch cuit for supplying current to said high fre
130
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1,654,350
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quency current generator, said casing l'com~ prísing a channeled part and a Hat plate be
prising a flanged box and a tlan ed cover, hind said channeled part, adapted to be held
said flanges over-lapping to exclu e Weather between said channeled part and box.
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and said box and cover constituting a
5 Weather-tight enclosure for said high frequency generator, and said illuminating tube
being mounted on said cover, said cover com-
.ln Witness whereof, ` I have hereunto
Signed my name.`
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WÍLLIAM GENTRY SHELTON.