• REF ID:A522226. 

(D··R A FT) 

A. Description of System. - This cryptograph consists of the following principal parts: 

1. A keyboard. 

2. A bank of 26 small lamps, 4-volt. 

3. A rotatable cipher wheel, 

4. A key-tape transmitter. 

5. Certain associated solenoids and relays, and a small electric motor. 

The general nature of these parts and their functions will be described briefly. 

l, The Keyboard; 

The keyboard, shown at l in Fig, 1, is provided with the standard arrangement 

of keys. Each of the latter operates an electrical contact~ as shown schematically 

i for the "Q" and "\'!" keys, Keyboards of this type are well-kn.own in the a.rt. It is 

not provided with aey pr int ing mechanism in· the model under consideration. 

2. The Light Bank: 

This consists simply of a bank of 26,~volt lamps, two of which are shown at 

10 in Fig. 1. The other G4 are wired in homologo~s ~anner to that shown for these 

two, one termine.~ being connected to a co21on conductor, 9, the other, to individual 

binding posts on a plate 1, to be desc:-ibed below. 

3. The Cipher Wheel: 

The cipher wheel is shown at 2 in ~1·g, 1, mh' h ~ ~ is w eel consists of 52 brush-type 

,..JA;_p_p_ro_v_e_d_f_o_r '""'R-e-le_a_s_e_b_y_N_S_A_o_n_1_1--2-1---2-0-13_p_u-rs_u_a_n_t-to-E-. 0-_-1_3_5_2_,fJ 

- l -
l 

REF ID: A52222. 

contacts arranged in two rings or sets of 26 each. One set is placed on the obverse 

face, 3, of the wheel 2, the contc:..cts being arranged equidistant from one another in 

a circle around the circumference of the ~ace. The other set is similarly placed on 

the reverse face, 5', of the wheel. The contacts on the obverse face are connected 

to those on the reverse face by r.iei;.ns of flexible condu.ctors which .pass through the 

interior of the wheel, as shown schematically in Fig. 1. 'i'he cipher wheel is fixed 

upon the shaft 7 which is driven by a motor operated coiled spring s. The contacts 

oS ~ of the obverse face, 3,/\cipher wheel press against ball-bearing type contacts arranged 

on the fixed plate 4; the contacts of the reverse face, 5, of the cipher wheel press 

agtJ.inst ball-bearing type contacts arranged on the fixed plate 6. The plates 4 and · 

6 each contain 26 contact~ arranged in a circle. The cipher wheel rotates between t~ese 

fixed plates 4 and 6 so thltt ench contact on the two faces of the cipher wheel presents 

.itself in turn to each contact on plate 4 and plate 6, respectively, as the cipher 

v1heel rotates.. The contacts of :plate 6 are respectively connected by conda.ctors to 

the contacts of the keyboard l; the contacts of plate 4 are respectively connected by 

conductors to 26 lamps only two of which are shown at 10. As show!i in Fig. 1, when 

the key "'Q" is depressed, assuming the ciphdr Vlheel to. be in the position indicated in 

- 2 -
e "REF ID:A52222f9 

the figure, a circuit is established as follows: 

from positive pole of battery 11 through conductor 12, closed contact at the 

''Q" key, conductor 13, contact 14 on fixed plate 6, contact 15 on cipher wheel 2, 

cond11ctor 16, contiict 17 of cipher v1heel 2, contuct 18 of plate ·4, conductor 19, 

through lamp 20, conductor 21 to negative of battery 11. Lamp 20 has a translucent 

glass \~indow before it, on which a letter is pai'1ted, say the letter ''W", Hence, 

· depression of the key"Q" on the keyboard gives the cipher resultant ''"\i", llllder the 

conditions s:pecified, 

S11ppose that the key 11W" of the keyboard is depressed, instead of ., ... ,, .... . By following 

the path set up, it will be seen that the ··t~" lamp will be lighted, '.i:hus, reciprocity 

is established between the keys on the keybo&rd and the lamps so that if, for exa.!?lple, 

Q= ~. in enciphering, U= Q in deciphering. ~he srune reciprocal relationship can be 

esta"blished throughout the alphabet by connecting the flexible conductors in the interior 

of the cipher wheel in an appropriate manner to paired coritacts on the obverse and 

reverse faces of the cipher wheel. 

If the cipher wheel were stut~onary, the relationship between the key depressed and 

the lamp illuminated would be fixed for each wiring of the interior of the cipher wheel. 

3 
e REF ID:A52222. 

But the cipher v;heel is rot~tablo i..nd hence this reh1.tiunshi:i;i cun be TJla.de variable. 

The manner o::.' its variation and its control \7ill now be presented. · 

The rim or tire of the cipher \,heel is provided \;i th 130 pins arranged in 5 sets 

t.H,"t',~~ 

or rings of 26 each. These.pins can be elevated into oper~tive~or left remaining in 

inoperative positions in grou.:ps of fives transversely to the ti:r:e, in accordance with 

the perr.lu.tations of the 5-u.nit or Daudot code. To explain v1hat is meant \'l'e may sey that 

, 

accordine to the Bau.dot code, the permutation of elements for t!:e letter 1~, for example, 

. \~ l 2 3 4 5 

~ represented t!ius: ++ - - - For our purposes we will let the·-t- sign indicate 

that a pin is to be elevated into its operative.position; the - .sien, that it is to be 

left in its inoperative position. In :B'ig. 2 there is shown a side elevation of a 

section of the tire of the cipher wheel, with the pins now being described. =rhe pins 

b.dicc.ted by dott.ed lines in· the figure represent pins which he.ve bee'n left depressed 

in their inoper~tive positions; the pins indicated by whole lines represent pins which 

ht ve been elevated into their operative positions. 'l.1he permu.ta.tions represente.d in the 

figure correspond to the B&.lldot signals for the letters·Y, Z and A. The. order of the 

letters in the figure is, of course, only illustrative, since all the pins can be 

arranged in operative or inoperative positions to correspond with any sequence of 

~~ ~ I J• - 4 - . 
e .REF ID:A52222. 

signals qf the Ban.dot code. This sequence may be varied at will. 

The function of the pins on the tire is to control.the set of. 5 contact~levers 

shown at 22 in l!'ig. 1. These contact-levers operate the contacts associated with them 

in such & way then when a pin is. in its operative position and can therefore present itself to the contact-lever, it presses ~eainst the latter and causes it to make contact 

at the right. lror~.ally these contact-levers are held aeainst the left contact, by the 

action of' individual tetractile.: springs. Pins in their inoperative position do not, 

of course, act upon these contact-levers. The function of the latter will be explained 

presently. 

On the rim of the ciph~r wheel, and near the edge of the reverse face, 5, ux 

there is a toothed _ring, or. ratchet wheel, shown in fig. 3. This ratchet wheel contains 

26 teeth, labeled 23. Associa.ted with the ratchet wheel is the pawl shown at ·24, 'Fig. 3. 

The ratchet wheel and pavsl, together viith solenoid 25 imd its a.rmature 41, Figs. l and 3.> 

control the movement of the cipher wheel in its rotation. 1!'he movement of the ci]j>tJ,er 

wheel is step-by-step, at intervals which will be explained subsequently in discussing 

the v1a.y in which the whole system functions. 

- 5 -
·e REF ID:A522226-

4. The Key-Tape Transmitter. 

The key-tape transmitter, 26, ~ig. 1, is a standard t~e transmitter such as 

is employed with printing telegraph equipuent of the Western Electric or L!orkrum 

t3Pe. It need not be explained, being well-known in the art. Sufficient to say 

here that a key-tape bearing.characters in the Baudot Code is passed through this 

transmitter., setting up contacts inside it in accordance with t.he Baudot Code. The 

transmiiter is, of course, also provided with a tape-stepping.magnet, 27, the fWlction 

of which is to move the tape forward at proper intervals. 

5. Operation of System: 

11he key-tape transmitter, 26, functions jointly \11th the set of contacts and' 

contact-levers a.t 22, in the following manner: 

}J"ote relay 28, which is energized by c11rrent from battery 29, through a path which 

includes all the ·contacts.and contact-levers of 22 and 26. Note also the illustrative 

set-up of contacts and contact-levers at 22 and 26 in Pig. 1, in which a specific case 

is presented. It is ·assumed· there that the arrangement of operative pins on the cipher 

wheel which are at that .. moment presenting themselves· to the contact-levers of 22 · 

_corresponds to the l3a11dot permutation for letter "Z". At the sa."!le moment the permutation 

- 6 -
REF ID: A52222 f9 

set-u.p within the key-tape transmitter, 26,also corresponds to the letter "Z". Note 

that in vie~ of the manner in which the contacts and contact-levers of 22 Emd 26 a.re 

interconnected, the circuit from battery 29 through relay 28 is completed only·when the 

whole set of electrical connections established at 26 coincides with the whole set of 

connections established at 22. Hence, if· "Z" is set u.p in key-tape transmitter, 26, 

relay 28 will operate only when "Z" is set up at 22. Similarly if any other letter, say 

,. .. 

''J~", is set up at 26 rel~ 28 will operate only when ''X" is set up at 22. The .. complete 

path of the current when such ·coincidence of connections at 22 and 26 is estab~."ished is 

as follows: 

/ 

from positi~e- of battery 29 along conductor .30, through all contact-levers and 

approppiat_e contacts of 26 and 22, conductor 31 to back contact 32, of armature 33, 

. winding of relay 28, condllCtor 34, to negative of battery 29. It is obvious that since 

the armature 33 and back contact 32 of relay 28 formj part of the circuit for energizing 

relay 28, as soon as the relay has received an impulse and armature 33 is attracted the 

circuit for energizing relay 28 is broken at cont~ct 32. If not prevented from falling 

back into its normal position un<ier the tension of its retractile spring, armature 33, 

on rel~ase of rel~ 28 would reestablish contact at 32 and would set up a chattering. 

- 7 -
e REF ID~A52222. 

But the mechanical arrangements are such that when armature 33 is first drawn up to relay 

28 it passes by and is immediately engaged by lever 35 and held from.returning to its 

retracted position where it can reestablish contact at 32, wi-i;il lever ,35 is displaced 

,, 

by mechanical acti9n to be described lat.er. Armature 33 of relay· 28 also controis t"he 

solenoid 25, 6.lready referred to, which i~ turn controls the rotation of the cipb,er 

wheel, 2, in the following manner: 

The motor•operated coiled spring, 13 1 tends to rotate the ciper wheel in the 

direction indicated by the .arrow, say to the right. This rotation is step-by-step, 

controlled by the ratchet and pawl referred to above, in thi"s lllflnner: 

Assume 22 and 26 set up to different permutations so that relay 28 is not energized 

and hence contact 36 is closed. A current starts from positive of battery 37 through 

conductor 38, closed contact 36 1 conductor 39, b.ack contact 40, armature 41, conductor 

42, winding of solenoid, 25, conductor 43, to negative ·of battery 37. .impulse A momentary lvx-ne 

passes through 25 and causes armature 41 to be attracted, breaking the circuit at back 

contact 40, whereupon armature 41, under action of its spring, return_s _and again closes 

- e -
e REF ID:A52222. 

· the circ11it at 40. However, the mechanical arrangement is such that the momentary 

~ attraction of armat\lre 41 releases· the pawl, i:i8, associated with the ratchet on the 

'& 

cipher wheel and th11s allows the 41pher wheel, driven by coiled spring~. to advance 

one step. Th11s, the cipher wheel con~in11es to move, one step at a time, as long as 

contact 36 of relay 28 remains closed. When, however, contact 36 is opened, under 

the action of relay 28, and is held open by lever 35 as described above, solenoid 25 

cannot operate to withd:rawl armature 41, and hence the pawl 24 cannot be released, 

whereupon the cipher wheel cannot advance any further. As stated before, the first 

impulse through relay 28 causes ·armat11re 33 to be attracted, to pass by lever 35, which 

then engages the armature. Thus contact 36 remains open as long as lever 35 engages 

and holds it. It is only within this period, when the cipher wheel is stationary, 

that the keyboard, 1, can be manipulated, the mechanical arrangement being s11ch· that 

the keys of the keyboard are locked except when the cipher wheel is stationary. 

Suppose now a key is depressed. The cipher resultant will be determined by the 

position of the cipher wheel at this time, because the circu.it established through 

the cipher ~heel depends upon. the exact rel~tive position of this wheel with respect 

to plates 4 and 6. 

- 9 -
REF. ID:A52222f9 

I ; 

.-... 

When a key is depressed, the cipher resultant is shown by the illuminated lamp; 

the latter continues to be illwninated· so long as the key is held down. 

We return now to relay 28 and its other armE:.ture 43. The latter· controls the 

operation o·f the tape-ste~:iping magnet 27 of the key-tape transmitter 26, in the following 

manner: 

The tape-stepping magnet 26 is aetuated by battery 44, but the circuit is normally 

open at co~tact 45. When relay 28 is energized, however, contact 45 is momentarily 

closed, allowing tape-stepping magnet 27 to function. This causes the key tape to step 

forward to the next position. It will remain in that position until the next time relay 

28 is energized. 

There now remains to be described only- hoYI lever· 35 is controlled. 

The keyboard is provided with a universal bar, operable by every key. V/hen e. key 

is depressed and then released, the universal bar, near the close of its upward swing on 

return to norma1··posi tion, actuates the lever 35, a.'ld causes it to be withdrawn fro:n 

its engagement with armature 36. This immediately returns to its normal, retracted 

position, allowing contacts to be reestablished at 32 and 36. In the meantime the tapestepping magnet having been actuated as described above, one of two things can happen 

- 10 -
.. REF ID-:A522226e 

as regards the set up of connections in key-tape transmitter 26: either a new set 

of connections has been established, or, by chance , the Sl;U!le se"t a~ before has been 

established. These two cases are described in turn: 

ll) If a new set has been established, s~ a set corresponding to the Baudot 

signal for "X", the connecti o;.1s no l"onger match those set up at 22, which, as we have 

seen, correspond to the letter "Z". Consequently, immediately upon closing of contact 

36, solenoid 25 begins to function, allow fog t:!le cipher \r.iheel to step forwc:.rd. It 

will continue to do so Wltil that set up of pins on the tire corresponding to letter 

"X" presents itself to the contact-levers of 22, whereupon relay 28 is energized and 

the cycle has been completed. 

l 2) If, by chance, the next character on the key tape is the same as before l "Z" 

again), relay 28 is immediately energized. Solenoid 25 does not get a chance to 

function and the cipher wheel is held in place. Two letters are there~ore enciDhered 

at the same position of the cipher wheel. Of course,_if the key tape consists of ·a 

·series of "Zs" the cipher wheel will remain in position during the encipherment of a 

corresponding number of letters. 

- 11 -
, 

.• .. e· REF ID: A52222. 

B. Mechanical Details. 

. . . 'l1

he foliowing represent tent&.tive ideas regarding the physi~al construction of 

the cryptograph. 

The entire mechanisrri can probably be mounted upon a wooden· base not more than 

12 inches long by 12 inches wide. All parts should be rugged in construction, suitable 

for withstanding r.iore or lei:is ro·ugh·, usage in operation and transportation in the 

field. 

1'he keyboard need be no lart;er than that of a portable typewriter of any standard 

make. 'l'he 26 contacts cart be mounted verticaily at the rear of the keyboard and · 

set in a horizontal line. 

'11he light bank can be mounted above and to the rear of the keyboard, and made to 

slope backwt.i.:i.·d about 30° from the perpendicular. The light. bank need be no larger 

than 9 inches long by 4 inches wide. The lamps and the windows in the front panel of 

the light bank should be arranged to correspond with the standard keyb·oard. The lamps 

should be of the stanQ..ard 3.5-volt type. 

In back of the keyboard and under the· light bank, firr'l_ly mounted upon the base 

board are the key-tape transmitter, the .~ipher. wheel, the. mot.or; an!i associated 

mechanism~. 12 -
: 

... .. • . ~ii REF. If: A52222-

·. • 

said 

Nothing more need be/about the-key-tape transmitter. A standard ~estern Electric 

or ~lorkrwn-Kleinschmidt transmitter will. serve the purposes admirably. 

The cipher wheel should be made of durable material but should weigh as little 

es ~ossible so as not to require a gr~at deal of power to rotate it. In dimensions 

it should be not. more than 6 inches in dia!!leter &nd 2 inches in thickness. It should 

be mounted upon the shaft in either a horizontal or vertical position, whichever 

seems most practicable. The motor which operates the coiled spring that drives the 

cipher wheel should be of the smallest capacity consistent v~ith its load, and should be 

·af the 110-volt, 60 cycle type.~ pto-A.. ~ ~ 1> ..,..a.z._ ~,.Oa- ~ ~ 

~ *~ cil..9 ,d~ :l..s--~~~;~~ . . 6t4or._,_.. ... tt; ~ 

~andard relays and solenoid Y!lB.Y be er.1ployed to perform the functions indicated 

in the preceding section. 

~-~~~~~-~+-~­

~-h>~ ~-~ ~ p, o-.J~ 
<· 

(DR A FT) \

':I..,:('\ . . ;.,/ 

'· !·-::>.." ~ ::..~· ,. d \ ~ 

A. Description of S7stem. 

This cryptograp~ consists ot the :following principal parts: 

l. A ke7board. 

2. J. bank ot 26 small lamps, 4-volt. 

3~ A rotatable cipher wheal. 

4. A key-tape tranem1ttor. 

5. Certain associated solenoids and rel83e, and a small electric motor. 

The gener~l nature ot these parts and their functions will be described brief'ly. 

l. Th~ K,!lboarda· , 

The keyboard, shown at 1 .in li'1g" 1, is provided with the stM1dard arrangement 

or keys. Each of the ~a.tter operates an electrical contact, as shown schematically 

tor tbe .. Q." and 11W" lteye. Keyboards of this type .are well-known in the art. It is 

not provided with any printing mechanism in the model wider consideration. 

Thie consists simply of a bank or· 26,~volt lamps, two ot which are shown at 

10 in Fig. l. The other 24 a.re vired in homologou.s manner to tbE.t shown for these 

two. one terminal beil1{5 connected to a co1anon conductor, 9, the other, to individual 

binding posts on a plate .q., to be described below. 

s. Tho Cipher Wheel: 

The cipher wheel is shown at 2 in Fig. l. This wheel consists or 52 brush-type 

--~ ... :11"~--:-·311..-.-·r-·- r...:" --·-·-. -. -------...-.r-r 
REF ID:A522226 

.--.._ .... - .... ..__,. 

contacts arranged 1.n two rings or sets or 26 eaob"! One set 1e placed on the obverse 

race, s, of the wheel 2, the contacts being arranged equidistant from one another in 

a circle around the oircumter~nce of the te.ce. The other set i.a similarly- placed on: 

the reverse face, J,. of' the wheel. 'l?he contacts on the obverse face are connected 

'. 

~~ 

rs , . 

I 

to those on the reverse· face by me&.ns of flexibl~onductora which pass thlt>ugh the 

interior of the wheel, ae shown schematically in Fis!i1't. !:Phe cip~r wheel is fixe4 :\I 

"" . ~- ~~ \MY't ~.t.~,~~ tt'~. 

upon the shaft 7 whieh is driven by a motor-operated coiled spr!ng19) ~he contacts 

{\. . 

ot the obverse face,. 31 cipher wheel press against ball-bearing t1Pe contacts. arranged ,.. 

on the fixed plate 4; tho conta\lte of' the reve:rae race.; 5, of the cipher wheel p·~ee 

against ball-bearing type contacts ·arranged on the fised plate 6. 

~~~· .··· .. ··. 

The/\.plates 4,~4 

6 each contain 26 contacts arranged in a ci~le. '!'he cipher wheel rotates betweer~·-_theee. · p 

fixed plates 4 and 6 so tiu.t -~~~:; 'l~o"f or the c1phor w~l. p~S•nh ' , 

~ Ao,,.~~~ lc..t..~ t'G..14, S"J '\ 't{\.t. ~~J. ~-..t;~· 

itselt _in tarn to each contact on plate t~' f'l&'be 61 iaaapaeti¥d"1 as the cipher:· D 

\ 

i\, 

wheel rotates. The contacts of plate G are respectively connected by ccinductor~ :~~--

the key ''Qn hf depressed, 
REF ID:A522226 

- l7:x~-­

~,l 

............. 

:the figure, a c.trc111"t 1s established as follo~ 

·. · c;rom positive pole of ~at~e17 11 through cond'IJCtor 12, closed contact at the 

• > 

.. Q" lte7, conductor 13, contact 14 on fixed plate &. oonto.ct 15 on cipher wheel 2, 

conductor 16 1 contuct 17 of cipher wheel 2, cont~ct 18 of plate 4• conductor 19, •: r. 

throu.gh lamp 20, condu.ctor 21 to negative 0£ battery 11. Lemp 20 has a tranel\lcent 

g~ass~ .1i;·;indow before 111., on which a letter is painted, say the letter '"'W". Hence, 

depression or the key"Q" on the keyboard gives ·the cipher resultant "W", llllder the 

conditions specified .. 

Su.ppose that the key 11W" of the keyboard is depressed, instead of "Q. "• By following 

the path set up. it v~ill be seen th;:.t the "t~ .. l~p will be lighted. Thus, reciprocity 

is established betwe~~ the keys on the keyboard and the lamps so that if, ror example, 

Q= W, in encipher_ing, W= Q in deciphering. The oa."llo reciprocal relat~onship oan be 

established throUBhou.t the alpha.bet b3 connecting the flexible conductors in the interior 

ot the cipher wheel in an appropriate manner to paired contacts on· the obverse and 

reverse faces of the cipher whoel. 

If the cipher wheel wore stationary, the relationship between the key depresied and 

the lnmp illuminated would be fixed for each wiring of tbe interior of the cipher wheel. 

-··--·. ·---· ··-·· ---··· .. -· --- - ···- ·-~~-~--;---:--·--.· ~- -· ~- -.,.,,--- __ .)_ -· ··: ·- ..... " ·'··---·. ·.' ·-.- - - -., .. ~., - · .. -·.,· ... =, ... ~. ~~,----------
REF ID:A522226 ..--. ,"&.·. 

.·. 

' . . · .. B~t the cipher wheel is·rot~table wi4 hence this relatiunship o6ll be made variable. 

Th~· manner or its variation ond its control will now be presented. 

2., . '. 

· 'The rim or tire or tho cipher \"ihoel is provided with 130 pins ananged in 5· sets . I\.. . 

)tO~it;t_..;,$ 

or rings of 26 each. These pine can be elevate·d into oporativ~or left remaining in 

i~operii.tive positions in gro11ps ot fives transversely to the tire, in accorcl&noe with 

SA\IA.ot 

the permu.tations of the 5 .. anit or B~dot code. · To explain vho.t 1~ mesnt ~- rtJfJ3 sq that· 

according to the B~dot code, the permutation of elements for the latte~ A. ror example, 

·~ l 2 3 4 5 

AM represented thus: .,. t- - • ... • :For our purposes we will let the + sign indicate 

that· a pin 1s to be elevated into its operative position; the - sien, that. it is to be 

I 

left in its inoperative position, In Fig~ ~ 2 thare 1e shown a ei~e.elevation~or ~ a 

"section of the tire or the cipher wheel, with the pine now being deecribed. !ha pins 

indicated by dotted lines in the figure represent pine which have been left depressed 

in their inoper~tive positions; the pins indicated by.whole lines represent pins which 

h~ve been elevated into their operative poeitions~ The perm~tatione represented in the 

figl.ll'e oorrespond to the Batidot &ignale for the letters I 11 Z and A. The order of the 

~-

letters in._., figure ~s. of course, only illu.atra.tive, sinoe ail the pins can be 

arranged in ope~ative or inoperative pos1t1on6 to correspond with ~ sequence or 

-4-

-- ···-------:-r--:"- """';"'I'"..---·-·-:-·---···· ··-"7-" ... -~~~.·-: ..... -·-·-:; .. :-=::.·:-.·-~·- ............... ~------·-,~---~' 
-. REF ID :A5222·26-:- .r---

-

~ 

- ~':~ ~-·· .. ' . . 

G>r .. ~··-

signals or the:· B&~t cods) ,:/his seqasnce nllLJ' be varied at will,. 

"The function of t~ pine on the tire 1e to control the set o! 5 conta.ct-lners 

shown at 22 in_ 11~. These contact-levers operate the contacts associated with them 

._:,... 

in such a "~ then ~~en a pin is in its operative position and can therefore present it-

,.r,:"· I 

self to the co.i:it-ac~~lever ~ it presses Ligainst the latter and. causes it to m&ke contact 

at the right~; .. / io~l-~y: these contact-levers are held aeainst the left· contact 11 by the 

.. ,,.. '(.: . 

action of i~di'.f_1duaf _;(.e.~ractl:iJ..e-;. springs~ Pins in their 1n.operativo position do n.oti . ·/~ . . 

ot cowi.11·~.:.: aci~. upori• ~h~se· contact ... levers. The function ot the latter will be explained . ··.. . >"::: .. ' \ : ; i 

. ... . ;' r:/ ~ \ .:°",~;. 

pre se.~t~_·)·.:·}, :, . ·.~ ·:.. .' 

' ' ' ....... I ' 

··on t~•f"riD'l. ~t .the cipher wheel, and near the edge ot the reverse f11Ce, 5• ax 

.. ' l{ 

ntn,.Z.,-.,r.:.~t~•tpxanxmxmxJtDXl! «xrnzxxz '' '*nrnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxletXXm • •• /:.: ••• :~··\ : :' 1: ~ ••• l ... >. . 

. t'~J 1e

1 

a\to4',hed.:r~·- ·or ratchet ·.wheel, shotm in Fi~ This ratchet· ~heel contains 

~~~-~~-~~: f.~3,Qv.Q.~~ ; 26. t~~~""-la't1eled 25.. .,As~ocia.ted with the ratchet wheel is . .,,;.a''~ the pawl shown at ~. rlg,..,s. .(. 

'?he ·ratcll~t. ::wheel e.nd\P?-~~-~-. together with solenoid 25 &.nd its armature 41, F.iga~ and 3.) 0·1 ., 

.. ~· *" : ;: . -~ . . . 

control -t~e:: mo-vement of. the cipher wheel ln its rotation~ The movement or t~· ... · .. · ··.'·t. '·, . i ,., ......... 

wheel io atep-b7 .. step, at. intervals vJhich will be cxpla1ned eubaequently in 41scuse s.ng._ ··., J • • 

the wa.y in which the: w~_l:e···11yst._em functions. 

·.~ 

I -5- . I ·-. -:-. ...........-~- -~~ --,-~.--~---.,,.,.--,... ·-:: ....... ~..,.,."",_,.....,.. __ .. ,..,,.,_,, ....... -~--·· .. ------ --·-:-~~ .. -:.-..::.~...J-< 
REF ID: A52222 6-. 

'· 

~ '.?be ke7-tape transmitter, 26, Fi8"l1 is a stand.ad. t~ transmitter eu.ch as 

iB employed with printing telegraph equipmant. or ·the We&tern Electric er Morkrwn 

type. It need not be explained, being well-known 1n the art~. Sufficient to sa:r 

& • 

here that a key-tape bearing characters in the Jaudot Code is.passed throagh this 

transmitter, ~ettiog up contacts inside 1t in acoord.Dnce with the .Baudot Coda,_ The 

tranemitter is; of course, also provided •1th a tape-stepping magnet, 27, the function 

of which is to move the tape forward at propor intervalse 

~~ . ~~~.la ·~ 

IJ.'he key-tape transmitter, 26,/\.fwictions .Joint.ly with the set or contacts and 

contact-levers at 22, in the following manner: 

lote ral&J' 28, which is energized b7 cm:rent f'rom battery 29• through a path which. 

e~ oJv ~,ATJ ~o a-.l ~~ cA.~~ ~ ~I. - !ncll1des all the contacts and contact-levers of 22 and ~)/\Note also the illustrative 

set-up ot co~tacte and contact-levers at 22 and 26 in P~, in which a epec1f1o case 

is present.ad. It 1e aeeumed tM.re that the arr.anger:ient of. operati"le pine on the cipher 

wheel which are at that moment presenting themselves to the contaot•levera or 22 

corresponds to tbe Baa.dot perm\ltation f'or lotter "Zn. At the s~ moment the permutatioi 

- 6 ... ·~------·---- - ----==-=- ----- -------·-":"'~------:-:--:- ---. - -·-- -· ~----~ --.-::· 
REF ID:A522226 

-

set-up within the key-tape transmitter, 26,also corresponds to the letter UZ". lote 

that in view of the manner in which the contacts and contact-levers of 22 end 26 are 

interconnected, the circuit from battery 29 through relay 28 is complete~ only when the 

·•hole set of electrical connections eetabliehed at 26 coincides with the whole aet of 

connections established at ~. Bence,. if "Z" is set u.p in ke7-tape transmitter, 26, 

rel..,- 28 will operate only when "Ztt is set u.:p at 22. Similarly if' an:, other letter, sq· 

"X .. , 1e set up at 26 relq 28 will operate onl7 when "X" ~e set up at 22~ The complete 

path of the cu.rrent when such coincidence of co.nnec~ions at 22 and 26 is establiahed 1s 

as f ollo11s: 

poom positi,~:; of battery 29 along conductor 30 1_ throue;h all Qontact .... levers and 

apprfiJ.lf;~'C!o contacts of 26 and 22. cond.Wltor 31 to back contact 32, ot armature 33.,. .. ·. ........ . 

winding 01' rel8'f 28., condaotor 34, to negative of batter7 29. It .1a obv1oue that since 

the armature .:33. and l;>ack contact 32 of' relay 28 form; po.rt .. of the circuit for energizing 

rela7 28., ae aoon .as the rela_y has received an impulae and armature 33 is attracte~ the 

. ~~.111.~ ,_,,.,.~~~ ~o..μ."t;~K~. 

c1rca1t for energlzing .r.ela;r 28 1s broken at cont&.ct 32. 1,..u not prevented rrom ftll}ltz:g 

~ck ·~ into its normal position tlft!'e.1 __ twa..•'aii1t e'f 11Js NtnacH;!e sp11lf18,_.a"B:d'.,.. H, " - ~~~ 

on release ot releq 28)~ol11d reestablhh contact at .~and would set up a chattering. 

- 7 - ------·-----=-· _______ __,,.,_ ·:-... ,,.,. - -...... . ----:-~--=-------:1':"':':..=~........c=---- -~~· - -· ·---r-r·-.--
REF I~:A522226 -. ·-

But the mechanical arrangemente are ~h that wh.en armatu~ 33 1e f'irat drawn. up~ rel19 

·'· 

;_ ~:' 

28 _it passes bj and "is immediately engaged b7 lever SS and held •om returning to· its . . . ~( 

retracted position where it can reestablish contact at 321 until lever 35 is dieplace4' 

· · by mechanical action to be described later. Armature 33 ot relq. 28 also ··controls the 

solenoid 25 1 already :referred to, which in turn controls the xotat1on of the cipher 

wheel, 2, in the following manner: 

g 

The motor-oper.ated. coiled spring, •, tends to rotate the ·c.iper wheel in the 

direction indicated by the arrow, say to the right. !his ro~at1on is step..b7-etep; 

controlled by the ratchet and pawl referred to above,, in this manner: 

~~~~ 

Aaa~/'22 end 26 set up to 41tteren~ permutations so that relq 28 1.s not energized 

and hence contact. 36 is closed. A current st~rts from pos.itive of batter1 ~7 through 

conductor 5~, closed contact 3~, conductor 39, back contact.40, armature 41, condt10tor 

42, winding of. solenoid, 25, concmctor 43, to .negative of battery 37 •. 

immilse 

A momentary ._.. 

passes throagb. 25 and causes a~ture 41 to be attracted., breaking the circuit at back 

contact 401 where11pon ams.tu.re 41, ·Wlder action or 1te spring, returns and ag&iri:;tloses 

- 8 -

-- -·· ---···=----·-:-;.-•• --:.-;;:;;:;:;-;;:~-"':;'--=ra:=T:"- ---.-.-...;:;-"'1:.-"'S"'Z"=_ ............. -=--;.,:-:-· .. -
REF ID :A52.222.6 _,,....... 

the circuit at 40, However~. the mechanical arraneement 1s euoh t...-..,·the momentary ....... 

. ~ attrac~ion of armature 41 releases the pawl. !-&, associated with· the ratchet on the 

9 

cipher wheel and thus allows the ~1pher wheel, driYen.by coiled epring,ar, to advance 

one step. Thus, the cipher wheel continues to move, one step at a time, as long·aa 

contact 36 o~ relq ·28 remnine close~. When, however, conta.ct ;)6 is opened, ~der. 

th~ action of relay 28;, and is held open by lever 35 as desori"bed above, 19olenoid 25 

cannot operate to withdrawf armature 4~, and hence _the pawl 24 .cannot be released,:~; 

whereupon the cipher wheel cannot advance .al>l further'! Aa stated before, the first ., ·.:. 

impulse through rel.,- 28 causes a.r!!lllture· 33 1io be aUracted, to pass b7 lever 35, which:. . . .. ~ ... 

then engages the arnature., 'fhus contnot 36 remains·open ae long as lever ~5 e.ngti.geit· 

and 'holds it.. It is only within _this period, when the c1pher wheel is stationar7, 

ff' -ttif{r· · - . ' ' 1f.Jii.~· 

that the keyboard~ l, con be ~lpula.tad, the mei~1cal a.rraoge~nt being sue~ that 

:~::·~·~;: .. · ·.':.·;.' 

the keys or the keyboard are "locked except when the cipher wheel is stationary. 

. Suppose nQw a key 1.s depressed"" The cipher ·resultant will be. determined by the 

position of the cipher wheel at this tim~, because the c1roW.t established through 

the cipher wheel depends upon the exact relative position of this wheel with respect 

~\_ ·to plates 4 and 6. 

t-.. 

.... g· -

. -.-· .,:":.":':..._:.:.: -=-=-----, .. .._ . .,_ .. :. ·-:~ -~~.,...,-· ---~· "'"-'-' -.- ·-·. ···----------·····--·- ---:---:-:-.·.~""--~~~---
REF ID:A522226 , ......... 

When a key is depressed, the·'·cipher resultant is shown b7 the illuminated lamp; 

the latter oontinaee to be illuminated so long as the key ls held down. 

We retur~ now to relq 28 and 1ta other ar$ture 43. The latter oontrola the 

opero.t!on of the t_ape-etepp1ng m&f51let 1!7 of tbs key-tape t.ranemitter 26, in the following 

manner: 

The tape-stepping magnet 26 is-~tuated b1 ba\tery.44,. but the oircllit is normally 

open &t contact 45. Whon relay 28 is energized, however, contact 45 1e momentarily 

closed, allowing tape-stepping moenet 2!1 to function. Thie causes the key tape to step 

forward to the next position. It will remain in that ·position lU1til the next time rel~ 

28 is energiBad. 

There now remaJne to be described only how lever 35 ia con~rolled~ 

The keyboard is ?_)rodded with a wiiverea.l bar, operable b7 ever1· ke1. When a keyis depressed a.'ld than released, the wiiversal bar, near the cloee ·or its upward swing on 

return to ~orms.l position, actuates the lever 35~ and causes it to be withdrawn from 

its engiagement with armature 36. 'Rhis imaediatel7 returns to its normal, retracted . . 

position, allow1ns contacts to be reestablished at 32 and 36.. In the meantime the tapesteppi~ magnet .having been actuated as described above 0 one ot two things can happ~m 

- 10 -

---------=-..<'"'··-------~-,-------· .. -..:-~ :--·.-.-~·.-.;;:;:..;."":":=z.~ ;r:-·;.-,__ __ 
REF ID:A522226 -~ 

as reg&.rds the ee~ up of connections in k&,1-tapa transmitter 2G:. either a new set 

of connections has been established, or, by chance , the _BQCtG sot ao before has been • 

established. 'Ehese two ca.sea are. described in turn: · 

(l) It a new set bas been estapli&had, s~ a set corresponding to-the Buudot 

signal tor "X", the CO.QnOctions no longer match tho.se set up at 22, which, as tre ha.\!.e 

·seen, corx·eepond to the letter ""Z"4! Conse4uentl7, irnmedfatelT u.~1on closing of contact oi" 

~i:A ~~' \'\e~ u.--~ -b-~1 ~ ~lv ~\·Ao~.~~~~ 

s·6 I\ soleao14 25 begins to run.ction, allowing the cipher wheel to step _:rorwi.\l'~~ It 

will continue to do so until that set up or pins on the tire corresponding tc letter 

if ~~~~ ~~,~~~~J. "X" presents itself to the contact-leverH or 221 whereupon ralay 28 is energizei;"and. 

the cycle tws bean completed • 

. (2) If; by chance~ the next charaater on the key t&i)e 1a the some ae before ( "Z" 

again),, relay 28 .is imodiately energizedil Sol,.enaid. 25 &Jea not ~t a chance· to 

fanction and the cipher _wheel is held 1n pluce. Tv'JO letters are therefore en~iphered 

at the su.me poBition ot the Ci!Jher wheel.. Of 00l1rse, it the key tape eons~i3ts of a ... ; 

. . . 

eer iee ot "Zs" tho c1J?her wheel will r9[QS.in in p,oaition du.ring the oncil>he.~ent of a 

corresponding numbe_r· ~t letters. 

~ 11 -

-,--~· =-"'··=·---_,, __ . ~--=-·---·-·- -- . ···-~.-..·.-----
. .. REF I-D-: A522226 ,,--....._ 

,.·. 

..... - ' ' . 

B. Xeohan1cal Details. 

!he following reprosent tentative ideas regarding the pJ17siaDl construction of· 

the aryptograph. · . 

The entire mechanism can probably be mounted upon a wooden base not oore than 

12 inches long by 12 inches wide. All parts should be rilgged in construction, suitable 

for withstanding more or less rouglF- usage in operation and transportation in the 

!ield. 

The keyboard need be no larger than that of a portable _t;ypewriter of M1' standard 

make. The 26 contaats can bo t'lolUlted vertically- at the rear or the keyboard and 

I 

set in a horizontal line. 

~he light 'bank cen be mounted above and to the rear of the kefboard, and_ made to. 

slope backward about ·30° f'rom the perpendicular. '!he light bank need be no larger 

.,. than 9 inches long by 4 inches wide.. The lamps and the windows in the front panel of 

the light bank should be arranged to correspond with the standard, ke1board. 'fb.e lMpe 

sboald 'be of the standard 3.5-volt tne. 

In back of the keyboard and under the ~1ght bank, firmly mounted upon the base 

board are the key-tape transmitter, the cipher wheel, the motor, and associated 

mechanisme. - 12 -

-- ~-~--~~--.•. ::--:. _,.,.,,._,.,.__ 
REF·"ID:A522226 

. •• .... 

said 

lothing more need be/ a'boo.t the ke:r-tape trarurflitter.. A standard Western Electric 

·or .llortrwn-Eleinschmldt transmitter 11111 serve the purpoaee admirabl1. 

'llhe cipher wheel should be made of durable material but should wigh ae little 

as possible so as not tQ reG.uire a. groat deal or power to rotate it. Iii dimensions 

it s~l.lld be not more tha.A 6 tnchH in dia.."'leter and 2 1nohea in thickliess~ It should 

be mounted ~pon the -shaft in either ~ hori&on~al or 'Vertical position,_ whichever 

seems· most practicable. The motor which opera~ee the coiled spring that drives the 

cipher wh~el should be ot the smallest capac1t7 consistent with ita load, and should be 

ot "Ille 110-volt, 60 .0101e tne.~ ~.._$~~\'ft.>.~ ...ia..Q.~ hp!V~~~""- ·,~~ i~~~~ ~lz.~ala,s and solenoids may be employed to perform the functions indicated 

in the preceding section. 

~T Qt,~ .... ~-~ ~ ,ti i~ -~il 

·s~"-,-~ z.ew-)..,., \ ..:... v-<&.v ~18 -~?- ~~ -·'-1 "'o ~ 

,_..~.:J..e -:;< .. 

- 12 -

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~;,:::;::;;;;; .... ---~---~·~·-···--=~-:;;;:;;;:--.. ....... ~~---~-~-~---~;;,;;.-·----~--·~------------------n 'I 'I 

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