Improvements in Printing Telegraphs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1890-Accep'ed, 9th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Telegraphs.
- I, GEORGE BLACK SCOTT of 16, Broad Street. New York City, United States of
America, Telegraph Superintendent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I will describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming
part of this Specification wherein figure 1 is a perspective view of the working parts
of my improved printing telegraph, the frame having been omitted to more cicarly
shew the working parts, and figure 2 is a side elevation of a modified form of the
type-wheel actuating mechanism.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.
The object of my invention is to construct a printing-telegraph in which the type-
wheel shaft will be propelled by power derived from the impulses sent over the line in
the ordinary working of the instrument.
My invention consists in a printing-telegraph provided with a ratchet wheel and
pawl arranged to be actuated by a magnet placed in the main circuit, or one of the
magnets commonly used in printing-telegraphs; the said ratchet wheel being con-
nected through the medium of a spring with the type-wheel shaft, all as hereinafter
more fully described.
The type-wheel shaft A, is provided at one end with the type-wheel B, and at the
opposite end with the scape-wheel C, in the usual way. The scape-wheel C is engaged
by pallets a, a, carried by the oscillating armature D, which is supported by the
shaft a. The armature D is encircled by a helix E, outside of which is arranged
a permanent magnet F, with inwardly-turned polar extremities which attract the
armature D.
The printing lever G, which presses the paper against the type-wheel B, is secured
to a rock shaft H, journaled in the frame of the machine, and carrying the armature I.
Below the said armature I, is arranged the printing magnet J, which is made to act
upon the armature I in the manner presently to be described.
The type-wheel shaft A is provided with a pinion K, which is engaged by a spur
wheel K, carried by the sleeve b, mounted loosely on the shaft c, near one end thereof.
To the opposite end of the shaft c is attached the boss d, of the ratchet wheel L. To
the ratchet wheel is secured one end of a spiral spring M, the opposite end of which is
attached to the spur wheel K.
In the frame of the machine (not shown) is journaled a rock shaft N, which carries
au arm O, to the free end of which pivoted a pawl e, which is adapted to engage the
ratchet wheel L, the pawl being forced into engagement with the ratchet wheel by a
light spiral spring f, connected with the pawl and with the arm O.
The rock shaft N carries an armature P, which is within the field of a magnet Q,
placed in the line circuit. A spring R, is connected with the arm O and arranged to
oppose the pull of the magnet Q. The spring R is provided with a tension-adjusting
key g, a thread h, being wound on the key and connected with the spring.
The escapement armature D is oscillated by rapid reversals of the current on the
line. The same alternating current draws down the armature P in opposition to the
pull of the spring R and releases the armature, allowing the spring to act. The
downward pull of the said spring brings the pawl e into engagement with the ratchet
wheel L, thus causing the ratchet wheel to turn, thereby winding the spring M with
sufficient tension and frequency to impart to the wheel K¹, all the power required to
operate the type-wheel shaft A, thus avoiding the necessity of winding the propelling
mechanism of the printer at stated intervals.
I dispense with a retaining pawl in connection with the ratchet wheel L, as I have

page_text: fonnd by experiment that the inertia of the wheel prevents any retrograde movement
in the intervals between the engagement of the pawle with the ratchet wheel.
Whenever the rapid alterations of the current cease and the current is allowed to
flow continuously in one direction for an appreciable length of time, the printing
magnet J becomes energized and the printing takes place in the usual manner while
the type-wheel is at rest.
In the modification shown in Figure 2 an arm 0', is connected with the printing
lever G, forming a prolongation thereof, and carries at its free extremity a spring-
actuated pawl el, which engages a ratchet wheel L', on the shaft c¹. The arm O' is
drawn down by the retractile spring R', thus operating the shaft c', through the
medium of the pawl e¹, and ratchet wheel L'. The impulses which accomplish the
printing being less frequent than those which actuate the escapement, the gearing
for operating the type-wheel shaft will have to be modified so as to multiply the
revolutions of the shaft c' sufficiently to cause the scape-wheel upon the shaft A' to
keep up with the escapement.
In connection with my devices I use an alternating current generated by a battery,
and alternated or reversed by a pole-changer of any ordinary well known construction;
or I generate alternating currents by means of a magneto-electric machine known as
the "Siemens H" armature machine. I have shown this form of alternating current
generator in my drawing, but I do not confine myself to this machine, as I may
employ any known means of producing alternating currents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. In a printing-telegraph receiver, the combination, with the type-wheel shaft, of
spring-actuating mechanism for driving the type-wheel shaft, an electro-magnetic
spring winder, a telegraph line permanently including the magnet of the spring
winder and adapted to be operated by every pulsation passing over the line, an alter-
nating current generator connected with the line, a scape-wheel magnet inserted in
the line circuit, and escapement mechanism constructed to control the operation of the
type-wheel, substantially as described.
2. In a printing-telegraph receiver, the combination, with the type-wheel shaft, of
a propelling spring for maintaining the rotation of the shaft, a ratchet wheel connected
with the spring, a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet, a retractile spring connected
with the pawl, and constructed and arranged in conjunction with the pawl to move
the ratchet wheel and wind the propelling spring, a winding electro-magnet placed in
the line circuit, an armature held within the field of the electro-magnet and connected
with the pawl-carrying arın, and an alternating current generator connected with the
line, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of July 1890.