Year: 1886

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention has for its object the transmission of practically, a large,
and theoretically any, number of telegraphic messages in the same direction
over a single conductor at the same time, and their reception separately and
simultaneously.
.
Assume three telegraphic relays, of ordinary form. Also assume that a current
sent into relay N° 1 causes it to move its armature so as thereby to close a local
circuit through relay N° 2; and that the movement of the armature of relay N° 2
closes a local circuit through relay N⚫ 3. After the armature of relay N° 1 starts,
and before it establishes the contact which allows a current to pass to relay N° 2,
I cause it to establish temporarily a circuit direct to line through the key of
operator N° 1. Operator N° 1 can then signal. As soon however as the armature
of relay No 1 has broken this contact with the line, it establishes the current to
relay No 2, and the armature of that relay moves in like manner and during its
passage establishes a line connection for operator N° 2. In the same way the
armature of relay N° 3 is started and a line connection made in the same manner
for operator N° 3. But, to the senses, these three relay armatures appear to move
simultaneously; and thus the line connections seem to be simultaneous and the
operators may write sensibly at the same time although really their signals go to
line at successive, but very rapidly recurring, intervals, and therefore do not
mutually interfere.
•
In the accompanying drawings,
. J
;
Figure 1 is a diagram showing the apparatus and arrangement of circuits at the
transmitting end of the line

page_text: Figure 2 is a diagram showing the apparatus and the arrangement of circuits at
the receiving end of the line; and
Figure 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the circuit-breaking wheel and
circuit therefrom.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.
I will first refer to the transmitting end of the line which is represented in
Figure 1.
W is a wheel or disc of insulating material having on its periphery equally
spaced contact plates w.
Attached to said disc, is a commutator w the contact
plates of which communicate with the contact plates w. x and y are springs or
brushes which bear against the commutator plates, the brush being on a plate,
when the brush y is on the insulated material between said plates and vice versa.
The brushes x and y communicate with the poles of a split battery X which also
connects with ground. Bearing against the plates won the periphery of wheel W
is a brush or spring z. Any suitable means such as a train of gearing operated by
a descending weight, is provided for causing the uniform rotation of the wheel W.
It will be readily understood that, by this arrangement the current from the
battery ✗ passes to the contact plates won wheel W alternately in opposite
directions, so that the brush or spring s conducts away, as it meets each contact
plate in turn, alternate positive and negative currents.
In
At 1 is a polarized relay, of which a, a are the magnets and b, the armature.
proximity to the armature b, I arrange two contact plates c, d insulated from each
other. With these plates the armature b makes electrical contact during its
passage or vibration between the poles of the magnets a, a. I arrange these
contact plates c, d and make them of such dimensions that, during all of its period
of travel except when it is passing over the narrow interval or strip of insulating
material between said plates, the armature b maintains electrical contact with one
or the other of said plates. The plates c, d, are connected to the terminals of the
local battery 6. Also in proximity to the armature 6 is a contact plate f. This
plate is so disposed that the armature b makes contact with it just at the middle
of its stroke, or rather just when said armature is passing over the interval or
partition of insulating material between the plates c and d. Consequently the
armature completes contact with the plate f when it is not in contact with either
plate c or d, and vice versa; I have spoken of the parts c, d and f as plates, and
described them as if the armature actually wiped across them. I do not mean to
limit myself to such specific arrangement because other devices may be arranged to
perform the same result.
The brush or spring & connects by wire v to the relay magnets,a, a and thence
to line. The contact plate f is also connected to line by wire g.
At h is another polarized relay, the magnets i, i of which are connected by.
wire ; to armature 6 and by wire k to a key t. This key makes and breaks
contact with the battery u. The armature m of the relay h is in local circuit with
a local battery n a sounder o and in branch with the two stops or points p and
with one or the other of which the armature m makes contact according as it is
moved to one side or the other.
I will now, before proceeding further, describe the operation of the above detailed
portion of my apparatus.
It has already been stated that the brush or spring z receives alternately positive
and negative currents as the contact plates w on wheel W successively pass under
it. The effect of these rapidly reversing currents entering the magnets a, a of the
polarized relay 1 is to cause the armature b to vibrate from one side to the other
as often as the direction of the energizing current is reversed. These currents
pass to line; but it should be clearly understood that they are not signalling
currenta. Their sole function is to vibrate the armature b in the first instance,
and a corresponding armature at the other end of the line, as will be explained
further on.

page_text: Now, leaving out of consideration for the moment the contact plates c and d and
local battery e thereto connected, it will be clear that inasmuch as during each
vibration the armature b makes temporary contact with the plate f, therefore,
during the period of said contact, circuit is established from the battery u through
the relay h to the armature b, plate f and so to line. Consequently during this
period of contact of armature b and plate fit will be perfectly possible to send
signals upon the line by manipulation of the key t. And furthermore if the
wheel W be rapidly rotated the vibration of the armature 6 will be correspondingly
fast, the times of contact of armature 6 and plate f will recur more frequently; in
fact so frequently as to be for practical purposes continuous and a sensibly
uninterrupted series of signals may be sent.
The circuit which includes the armature m of the relay h and also the local
battery n and sounder o is provided for receiving purposes and will be referred to
more particularly hereinafter in treating of the receiving end of the line.
Returning now to the contact plates c and d, which, as has been stated, are in
circuit with the local battery e, it will be observed that said battery e is split, and
is connected by the wire r to a polarized relay 2. This relay 2 is in all respects
like the relay 1. Its armature b¹ makes contact with plates c, d, and f¹ in the
same way as does the armature 6 with the plates c d and f. The plates c¹ and ď¹
are in circuit with the local battery e¹. The plate flis connected to line by the
wire g¹. At a¹ a¹ are the relay magnets. The armature 61 is connected to the local
battery u by wires and through the relay h¹; and in connection with the
armature m³ of said relay h¹ there is arranged a local circuit containing contact
points p¹ and ql, battery n¹ and sounder o¹ similar in arrangement and function to
the corresponding parts associated with the relay h. A key t¹ similarly arranged
to the key t is also provided.
When the armature b is in contact with either the plate d or the plate c and
hence is out of contact with the plate f, the circuit from the split battery e
proceeds as has been stated, to the magnets a¹, a', of relay 2 by wire r; said circuit
continues by wire s to the armature b of relay 1. Consequently when the
armature b is in contact with the plate d there is a closed circuit from one side
of the battery to said plate d to the armature b; thence by wire & to the
magnets a¹ a¹ of relay 2 and thence by the wire r back to battery e; or when the
armature bis in contact with the plate c then the circuit is completed from
the other side of the battery & Hence while the relay 1 is operated by the
reversing currents from the wheel W, the relay 2 is operated by the battery e in
local circuit, the current from which is controlled by the movements of the
armature b of the relay 1; for when the armature b of relay 1 is on the plate o the
current from the split battery e proceeds to the magnets of relay 2 in one direction,
and when said armature is on the plate d the current from said battery proceeds to
the relay 2 in the other direction; and therefore the armature 6 of the relay 2 is
caused to vibrate in manner similar to the armature b of relay 1.
Let it be supposed that the armature 6 of relay 1 is in the position shown in the
drawing; that is, in contact with the plate d. Let it further be supposed that the
next current which comes to the relay 1 from the wheel W is such as to reverse
the polarity of said relay 1. Then the armaturo b will move over to the plate c
making contact on the way with the plate f. As soon as the armature b completes
contact with the plate, then the circuit which includes said armature and the
relay 2, and which is broken during the period that the armature 6 is in contact
with the plate f, is re-established, and the armature b'of the relay 2 moves over
to make contact with the plate c¹,
The circuit is then established to the relay 2 so that its armature b¹ can begin to
move. Consequently, although, to the senses, the two armatures 6 and b¹ appear
to move at and in precisely the same instant, they in fact, move successively.
Hence the contact of armature 62 with its line contact plate f¹ occurs after the
contact of relay armature b with its line plate f; and therefore if the keys t and

page_text: be manipulated by two operators, their respective signals will go to line successively
and without interference, though apparently simultaneously.
At 3 is a relay in all respects like relays 1 and 2, and with it are associated
parts and mechanism also similar to the corresponding parts and mechanism
associated with relays 1 and 2; all, a¹, being magnets similar to a and a¹; 6" an
armature similar to b and b¹ and so on.
The armature b¹ of relay 2 is in circuit with the magnets of relay 3 through
the wires 7 and 8¹. Hence; the movement of armature 611 occurs after the
movement of armature b¹ and three operators may manipulate respectively the
three keys t, t¹ and t¹¹. Other relays may be added in like manner, so that as
the result of this system, theoretically any number of operators may transmit,
sensibly, simultaneous messages over a single line conductor, so that the capacity
of said conductor is thus indefinitely increased.
Passing, now to the receiving end of the line, Figure 2, it will be apparent that
the arrangement here is substantially the same as at the transmitting end. Thus
there are three sets of relays I, II, and III, in all respects like relays 1, 2 and 3.
The mechanism associated with relays I, II, and III, and marked respectively A,
B, C &, and A', B¹, C¹, &° and A, B, Cu, &c, corresponds to the mechanism
associated with the relays 1, 2 and 3 and marked a, b, c &, and a¹, b¹, c¹, &° and
a, b, c, &°. The line communicates with the magnets A of relay I and thence
connects to ground through a resistance Y. The keys T, T¹, and T" also
communicate with ground.
The first current which comes over the line is the one from the wheel W, and
this passes through the coils of relay I through the resistance Y and so to earth.
But this current starts the armature 6 of relay 1; equally it starts armature B of
relay I at the receiving end of the line. Consequently these two armatures move
precisely together. Therefore the armature 6 makes contact with its line plate f
at the same time as the armature B makes contact with its line plate F. Therefore
a clear circuit is opened for the current from battery u through the key t,
armature .b, and plate f to line, over the line to plate F, armature B to key T
and earth. In fact there are two paths for the current at the receiving end; that
already stated and to the earth through the resistance Y. The object of interposing
resistance in the direct earth connection is to cause the greater part of the current
to pass to earth by way of the relay H and key T.
The current from battery u after coming over the line passes by plate F. to
armature B and so to relay H. With a direct current from a battery it is of
course necessary to adjust a polarized relay in a certain way so that its armature
will be vibrated; otherwise with the relay as ordinarily arranged an alternately
reversing current would be necessary. As this mode of adjusting polarized relays
is known to electricians generally it is not necessary to describe it here; but it
should be understood that whether through an actually alternating current, or
whether through a direct current with a suitable adjustment of relay, the
armature M of the relay. H is set in vibration. During its vibration, which is
very rapid, this armature strikes the stops P and Q, but does not remain in contact
with either of said stops for a long enough time to close the circuit from the local
battery N which passes through the sounder O. But if the key at the other
end of the line is opened then the armature M makes contact with one or the
other stops P or Qand remains in contact as long as the key is held open.
In this way the sounder O is caused audibly to indicate the signals. When
the armature 6 of relay 1 leaves the line plate f. and makes contact with
the plate c, the current is passed to relay 2. The same thing happens at the
receiving end. The armature B of relay I reaches its contact plate C at the same
instant as the armature b of relay 1 reaches its contact plate c. But relay is
connected to relay II in the same way as relay 1 is connected to relay 2. There:
fore when relay 1-goes out of operation, relay I also goes out. And when relay
as it then immediately does, comes into play, so also does, relay II. And similarly

page_text: relays 2 and II go out together, and relays 3 and III come in; and so on for as
many corresponding pairs at opposite ends of the line as may be present.
The consequence is that each receiving operator has the line opened for him to
receive, at and for precisely the same intervals as does a corresponding sending
operator have the line opened for him to transmit. Each sender will write
independently of all other senders; the receiver of that sender's message will
receive independently of all other receivers.
Referring now to the wheel W, the period of contact of each contact plate w
with the brush & is of course but momentary, and simply long enough to allow the
current to energize the magnets a, a of relay 1; and, as, has already been explained,
a separate battery u, is employed whence the signalling current is supplied to line.
I can however dispense with the battery u and obtain both the signalling and
energizing current from the battery X. by the arrangement shown in Figure 3.
On the wheel W are two sets of contact plates w and wlll. The plates ware
much shorter than the plates will and the two sets of plates are so disposed on the
periphery of the wheel that the plates w come opposite the interval between
the plates w and vice-versa. The brush z connects as before by the wire v
with the magnets a, a, of relay 1; a second contact brush z¹ connects by wire u¹
with the key t. When the brush z is on the contact plate w, the brush z¹ is not in
contact with any contact plate will and vice versa, when the brush z¹ is in contact
with a contact plate w111 the brush is not in contact with any contact plate w.
Consequently the current from the battery a passes first by contact plate w and
brush to energize the magnets of relay 1 and then by contact plate will and
brush to the signalling key and line and so on alternately. As only a
momentary current is required to energize the magnets of the relay, the contact
plates ware made short; and as the signalling current must be maintained during
the period while each relay in turn comes into operation for that reason the
contact plates will are made long.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
First. The improvement in the system of multiple telegraphy, substantially
as herein set forth, which consists in utilizing the intervals occurring between
the successive movements of the armatures of two or more electro-magnets placed
successively, so that the armature of the first electro-magnet closes a circuit and
allows an energizing current to pass to the second electro-magnet, and so on, to
cause said armatures, during said intervals to close successively (but sensibly
simultaneously) two or more circuits to main line.
Second. The improvement in the system of multiple telegraphy, substantially
as herein set forth, which consists in utilizing the intervals between the successive
movements of the armatures of two or more electro-magnets placed successively and
at each end of the line, the said electro-magnets at each end being disposed so that
the armature of the first electro-magnet closes a circuit and allows an energizing
current to pass to the second magnet and so on, to cause said armatures during
said intervals to close successively (but sensibly simultaneously) circuits through
two or more signalling instruments to and through two or more receiving
instruments from inain line.
Third. In combination with a circuit including a source of electricity a circuit
breaker, an electro-magnet and line, a circuit including the armature of said
magnet, a line connection, closed by said armature, a signalling apparatus and a
source of electricity, substantially as described.
Fourth. In combination with a circuit including a source of electricity, a circuit
breaker, a commutator, a polarized relay and line, a circuit including the arinature
of said relay, a connection to line closed by said armature, a signalling apparatus,
and a source of electricity, substantially as described.

page_text: Fifth. In combination with a circuit including a source of electricity, a circuit
breaker, an electro-magnet and line, a circuit including the armature of said
magnet, a connection to line closed by said armature, a circuit breaker, and the
aforesaid source of electricity, the said circuit breakers operating alternately to
establish their respective circuits, substantially as described.
Sixth. In combination with a circuit including a source of electricity, a circuit
breaker, an electro-magnet and line, a local circuit closed by the armature of said
magnet, an electro-magnet in said local circuit, and in circuit with armature of
said last mentioned electro-magnet, a connection to line closed by said armature, a
signalling apparatus and source of electricity, substantially as described.
Seventh. In combination with a circuit including a source of electricity, a circuit
breaker, an electro-magnet and line, a circuit including the armature of said
magnet, a connection to line closed by said armature, a signalling apparatus and
a source of electricity; a local circuit closed by the aforesaid armature and an
electro-magnet in said local circuit, and in circuit with the armature of said last
mentioned electro-magnet; a line connection closed by said armature, a signalling
apparatus and a source of electricity, substantially as described.
Eighth. In combination with the line, and at one end thereof a source of
electricity, a circuit-breaker and an electro-magnet, and a circuit including the
armature of said magnet, a connection to line closed by said armature, a signalling
apparatus and a source of electricity; and at the other end of the line an electro
magnet and ground connection and a circuit including the armature of said magnet,
a connection to line closed by said armature, a receiving apparatus and ground,
substantially as described.
Ninth. In combination with the line and at one end thereof a source of
electricity, a circuit breaker, and an electro-magnet, a circuit including the arma-
ture of said magnet, a connection to line closed by said armature, a signalling
apparatus and a source of electricity, a local circuit closed by said armature, and an
electro-magnet in said local circuit, and in circuit with the armature of said last
mentioned electro-magnet, a line connection, closed by said armature, a signalling
apparatus and a source of electricity; and at the other end of the line, an electro-
magnet and ground connection, a circuit including the armature of said magnet,
a connection to line closed by said armature, a receiving apparatus and ground,
a local circuit closed by said last mentioned armature and an electro-magnet in said
local circuit, and in circuit with the armature of said last mentioned electro-
magnet, a line connection closed by said armature, a receiving apparatus and
ground, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.