Patent GB-191113488-A (GB)
Title: Improved Apparatus for Employment in Flash Light Signalling.
Inventor: MELVILLE THOMAS
Filed: 1911-06-06
Granted: 1912-03-21
Abstract: 13,488. Melville, T. June 6. Code-signalling mechanism; recording signals. -A flash-signalling set comprises (1) means for transmitting complete Morse signals by the depression of character keys, and (2) a translating recorder which prints the received signal in ordinary characters on a paper ribbon, the controlling-lever being moved to right or left by the operator according to the duration of the observed flashes. Code-signalling mechanism. A key 324 and cam-disk 297, Figs. 1 and 5, are provided for each character. Each cam 298, 299, &c. has a lateral pin 302, 303, &c. at its forward end. As shown in Fig. 5, when a key 324 is depressed, it acts through a link 325 and bell-crank 311 to lift a trip lever 307, until, at one end, an adjustable fork 316 engages a universal bar 317, and at the other end, a spring-tensioned link 306 comes into the path of the pins 302 &c. At the same time, a common bar 330 is depressed and tensions a spring 337, which brings two wheels into gear so as to rotate the shaft 296, bringing the cam into action. The pin 302, engaging the link 306, tilts it and moves the end of the trip lever 307 on to the cam 298. For the duration of a " dot " flash, the cam 298 holds the trip lever 307 in such a position that the rear end of the lever, acting through the fork 316, universal bar 317, lever 295, and cord 294, holds open the shutter of the flash lamp. The remaining cams 299, 300, 301, coming into operation in turn, complete the proper sequence of short and long flashes. The completion of the signal is notified by a bell 345, the hammer 346 of which is operated through links 349 &c. by a tappet 353 and projection 356. Recording signals. The observer rocks a hand-lever A, Fig. 1, to the left for every " dot which he perceives, and to the right for every " dash," and at the end of the letter he pulls the lever forward and operates a depression bar B. These operations control translating-mechanism by which the letter is printed on a paper ribbon D. The type bars 2, Fig. 30, are arranged in a quadrant to strike on an anvil 193, Fig. 1, and are operated by levers 6, one of which is rocked by the bar B at each impression. The forward end of each lever 6 carries a slidably mounted striking-head 8, Fig. 29, which is normally just clear of the path of the depression bar B. All the striking-heads 8 are pressed by springs 9 against the edges of a set of eight stop-plates 31 ... 38, two of which are shown in Figs. 14 and 15. These stopplates are slidably mounted and are pressed by springs 20, 24, Fig. 14, towards the right in Fig. 29, and their edges are so toothed that when some of the eight plates are drawn forward, in a combination representing a particular letter, the striking head 8 corresponding to that letter moves forward into the path of the bar B. The stop-plates are controlled in pairs by setting-bars 45 ... 48, which are movable in a direction at right-angles to that of the stop-plates. Thus the setting-bar 45, Fig. 22, controls the stop-plates 31, 32, Figs. 14 and 15, the projections 49 on the bar 45 being so positioned that they normally bear partly against the projections 50 of the plate 31, and partly against the projections 51 of the plate 32. When the bar 45 is moved to the right, it permits forward movement of the plate 31, and when moved to the left it permits forward motion of the plate 32. The bars 45 ... 48 are shifted successively to right or left, according to the successive movements of the hand-lever A, by mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 10. The lever A is pivoted at 69 on a lever 70, mounted on a rocking-spindle 71, and is normally locked thereto by a latch 258 which can be lifted out of a slot 264 by a thumbbutton 262. The lever A carries a pair of cheeks 75, 76 by which it swings with it a frame 77 pivoted at 78. The frame 77 carries a spindle 79, having a crank 96 which engages by a pin-and-fork connexion with a bracket 98, so that each time the handle A is swung, the spindle 79 rocks on its axis. A cross-head 80. which slides non-rotatably on the spindle 79. carries a pivoted double-nosed lever 86, 87, Fig. 10, adjacent to the edges of the setting- bars 45 ... 48. The first time the lever A is swung to right or left, the spindle 79 is turned and brings the nose 86 or 87, Fig. 10, against a projection 99 or 100, Fig. 22, of the first bar 45, and the further movement of the lever A shifts the bar 45 to right or left, where it is held by a spring latch engaging in a notch 136 or 137. As shown in Fig. 6, the movement of the lever A also swings out a link 123 pivoted at 124 on the lever 70, and this lifts a pawl 119, which is slidably mounted in a slot of the lever A, on to the next higher tooth of a rack 118 on the frame 77. Accordingly, when the lever A is returned, the rack 118 is depressed until a fresh tooth engages under the detent pawl 125, and a frame attached to the rack is lowered against a spring 83 so as to carry down the cross-head 80 and the double-nosed lever 86, 87, Fig. 10, to the level of the second setting-bar 46. In this way the bars 45 ... 48 are shifted in succession. Finally, the handle A is pulled forward, tilting the lever 70 and its spindle 71, and freeing the rack 118 from its pawls. The spindle 71 operates at each end of the apparatus an arm 188, Fig. 29, which lifts a cam-lever 183 so as to withdraw a stop 185 and replacing- roller 190 from a sliding frame 172, which embraces the setting-bars 45 ... 48 and bears against the stop-plates 31 ... 38. Those stopplates that have been disengaged by the movements of the bars 45 &c. now move forward under the influence of their springs and permit the striking-head 8 of the selected type-bar to move into the path of the depression bar B. The operator then presses the bar B so as to print the character. On the return of the bar A from its swung-out position, a cam-device, which operates only in one direction of its movement, unlatches the bars 45 ... 48, which are returned by end-springs to their normal positions. Paper feed. The ribbon D is drawn from an adjustably-braked roller 191, Fig. 1, over a guide-sheaf 192 and the printing-anvil 193 on to a take-up spool 194, which is fed by a ratchet device operated through link-work from the rocking spindle 71. A guillotine shears 200 is provided. Inking - arrangements. The ink - ribbon C passes between rollers 224, 227, either of which can be operated by ratchet devices from the spindle 71, one or other of the pawls being turned back out of action. A plate 245, which carries intermediate guide-rollers, is moved laterally just before each impression and shifts the rollers 224, 227 along their spindles to bring the ribbon C over the ribbon D. This movement also is controlled by link-work from the rocking- spindle 71, and enables the operator to see what is being printed, the ribbon D being most of the time in view.