Patent GB-190418252-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Automatic Electric Telegraph Transmitters.
Inventor: HENN OSTER
Filed: 1904-08-23
Granted: 1904-12-08
Abstract: 18,252. Henn, O. Aug. 23. Telegraphs.-A telegraphic transmitter is described which enables certain messages to be transmitted by simply setting a pointer. The transmitter consists of a dial a having a number of spaces bearing messages, a pointer b adapted to be set to any space c on the dial, a clockwork mechanism wound up by setting the pointer, a roller e having contact-wings f corresponding to the spaces on the dial, and rotated by the clockwork, a rack i adapted to be displaced axially by setting the pointer, a contact-finger k on the rack which is moved by the rack to the corresponding ring, and an arresting-device to prevent the rotation of the roller while the pointer is being set. Fig. 1 is a rear elevation and Fig. 3 an inverted plan for a normally-closed circuit. To set the pointer, the handle d is pulled somewhat forward and turned until the pointer is in the required space c, into which it then falls. The cylinder e of insulating- material carries a number of rings f in electric connection. They are of equal breadth and carry short and long slots corresponding with the Morse code ; the lowest ring is of greater breadth and corresponds to the first empty space of the dial. The toothed wheels g, h are on the axle of the pointer ; the wheel g gears with the rack i, and the wheel h is provided with teeth only over a part of its circumference corresponding with the movement of the pointer over the empty space of the dial and gears with a pinion l having the same number of teeth. The pinion l and the ratchetwheel m are fast on the spindle of a spring barrel, which is thus wound up one turn by moving the pointer b through the empty space on the dial. A bevel-wheel o on the spring barrel gears with another bevel-wheel p on the axle of the roller e, thereby causing the code slots on a ring f to pass beneath the contact-finger k. The spindle of the wheels g, k is bored axially, so that the rod on which the pointer b and handle d are mounted can slide but cannot rotate in it. A spring r is arranged so as to draw the rod with the pointer b inwards. This spindle further contains two longitudinal slots w through which passes a pin x, which rigidly connects a ring y sliding on the sleeve v with the sliding rod inside ; the ring y moves the levers z, z' so that the lever z<1> arrests the clockwork so long as the handle d is withdrawn. During the movement of the pointer over the empty space, the finger k passes over the holes of the broad ring f and thus actuates an alarm. For normally-closed circuits, the current passes from the terminal s through the apparatus to the contact k and thence through the rings f and a contact sliding on their lower full portion to the second terminal, the slots when passing under the contact k breaking the circuits. Otherwise, the connection between the now insulated terminal s and contact k is through an insulated strip parallel to the rack i and upon which the contact k slides. For normally-open circuit, the roller e has an external insulating- coating through which metal contacts project. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate another modification, in which the rings a' of the roller b<1> interrupt the circuit in a purely mechanical manner. The projections on the rings actuate the lever c<1> which actuates the lever d<1>, both of which are mounted on a plate c<1> which slides on guides f<1> and is set in a similar manner to the first-described form. The actual contact-piece i is carried by the front end of the lever d' and is insulated by a hard-rubber plate h', and normally connects the two contact-rails k<1>, being held in this position by a spring l<1>. A device is attached by means of which a signal is actuated as long as the pointer is not returned to zero. One of the two contact-pieces q<1> is connected to one of the rails k<1>, the other piece to the other rail through the signal device, and an insulated contact-piece n<1> carried by the plate e' places the two pieces q<1> in electric contact when the pointer is at zero.