A NEEDLE SOUNDER FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Murray Rogers, Engineer, of 29, Moorgate
Station Buildings, London, EC., for the Invention of "A NEEDLE SOUNDER
FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Murray Rogers at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1879.
FRANCIS MURRAY ROGERS, Engineer, of 29, Moorgate Station Buildings, London,
E.C. 'A NEEDLE SOUNDER FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS."
This Invention is intended to enable the ordinary needle telegraph instrument to
appeal to the ear as well as to the eye of the clerk. I effect this in the following
manner: A wire from a local battery or other source of electricity is attached to
the dial plate or put into metallic contact with the needle, and thus the needle is
converted into a vibrating key capable of sending currents in either direction when
actuated by the commutator affixed to the instrument, or by the incoming current
from the distant station. The two ivory pins ordinarily used to control the
vibration of the needle are removed and replaced by pins of platinum or some
other metal not liable to corrosion. These are insulated from the dial plate, and
are in connection with one or more electro or permanent magnets provided with
light armatures capable of giving a well marked sound when attracted or released
by a current sent round the coils of the electro or permanent magnets. In order
that the beat of the needle to right or left may be distinctly rendered in sound
by the armatures I prefer to cause them to strike against metal, ivory, or wood
studs, or against metallic tongues or gongs, or a sounding box of wood or metal,
with or without an adjustable plug. If desired, the current can be taken from
below instead of above the centre of the needle.
I provide a switch or other suitable means by which either the sounder or needle
can be cut out of circuit at option of the clerk, or either can be worked from the
line or local battery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Murray Rogers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th May 1880.
FRANCIS MURRAY ROGERS, Engineer, of 29, Moorgate Station Buildings, London,
E.C. 06
A NEEDLE SOUNDER FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS."
The said Invention is intended to enable the ordinary needle telegraph instru-
ment to appeal to the ear as well as to the eye of the clerk. I effect this in the
following manner :--A wire from a local battery, or from the ordinary line battery,
or from some other source of electricity is attached to the dial plate, or put into
metallic contact with the needle, and thus the needle is converted into a vibrating
key, capable of sending currents in either direction when actuated by the commu-
tator affixed to the instrument or by the incoming current from the distant station.
The ivory pins ordinarily used to control the play of the needle are replaced by
pins of platinum or other non oxidizable metal, and I prefer to employ a ferrule
surrounding the pin composed of carbon or some other substance which, when
decomposed by the intense heat of the spark, shall form a gaseous oxide. The
metal pins with their ferrules are soldered to strips of brass insulated from the dial
plate, and so arranged that the dial plate may freely turn upon its centre. A wire
is led from each of the strips to the sounder or sounders, the magnets composing
which may be either of the class known as electro magnets or polarized magnets,
as is most convenient. They are fitted with light armatures capable of giving a
well marked sound when a current flows round the coils of either class of magnet,
and in order that the beat of the needle to right or left may be clearly rendered by
the sounder or sounders, I cause the armatures attached to them to strike against
pins composed of brass, ivory, wood, china, or any substance, metallic or otherwise,
that when struck by the armature will give a decided sound. If it be desired to
make the sounder repeat or actuate a distant sounder or other instrument I cause
the armature afore mentioned or the pin it strikes against to be put into connection
with the line or local battery, the striking point being tipped with platinum or
some non oxidizable metal, and the pin it strikes against being tipped in a similar
manner. When the armature is pulled against the pin a current will pass along
the repeating line or lines and actuate the instruments connected to it. I provide
a switch or interrupter by which the sounder or sounders can be cut out when
desired.
To enable my Invention to be the better understood I will proceed to describe it by
reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figs. 1 and Figs. 2 represent front
and side views of an ordinary single needle instrument, having either a magnetic
or what is known as an induced needle, and one method of applying my Invention
thereto. From the line or local battery A a wire is led to the terminal B, which is
connected by a piece of insulated wire to the pillar B', and which presses against
the underside of the dial plate by means of the spring shewn secured to its top.
The needle D is thus by means of the bridge E put into metallic contact with the
battery A. F1 and F are the two metal pieces shrouded with carbon, and these,
as shewn by the dotted lines, are in metallic contact with the segments G, and
through the rubbing contacts H with the two sounders I, the return wires from
which are led to the terminal J or direct to the zinc pole of the battery.
The switch K is shewn attached to the side of the instrument case; it can
however be placed in any convenient position.
Fig. 3 shews the way in which I cause the sounder to repeat or actuate another
instrument at a distant station. The insulated set screw A is connected with the
copper pole of a local battery D. The set screw B being forced up to the line wire
leading to the distant station, when the armature C is pulled by the magnet against

page_text: the set screw A, a current flows from the battery D through A, B, C, to line and
the distant instrument.
For cabins or noisy places I connect the pins F¹, F³, Fig. 4, with a bell or gong,
so that on the needle striking either pin the bell is caused to ring.
Having now described my Invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied to suit
circumstances without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but
I claim as under,-
1st. The use of the needle to convey the current.
2nd. The substitution of metal contact pins shrouded or not with a substance
the set screw A, a current flows from the battery D through A, B, C, to line and
the distant instrument.
For cabins or noisy places I connect the pins F1, F2, Fig. 4, with a bell or gong,
so that on the needle striking either pin the bell is caused to ring.
Having now described my Invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied to suit
circumstances without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but
I claim as under,-
1st. The use of the needle to convey the current.
2nd. The substitution of metal contact pins shrouded or not with a substance
giving off a gaseous oxide.
3rd. The use of a sounder or sounders.
4th. The use of a switch or interrupter.
5th. The use of a bell or gong.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Murray Rogers, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
20 Witness,
LEWIS WALTER ANGELL,
FRANCIS MURRAY ROGERS.
(L.S.)
29, Moorgate Station Buildings,
London, E.C.