Improvements in and relating to Receiving Instruments or Relays for Submarine Cable and other Electric Circuits.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES GOODWIN BURKE, of 569ª Halsey
Street, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Electrician.]
Improvements in and relating to Receiving Instruments or Relays
for Submarine Cable and other Electric Circuits.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co. Patent
Agents 45 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 :—
The subject of my present application is an improvement in receiving instru-
ments for telegraphic circuits, more especially those of great length and capacity
such as submarine cables, in which instruments of great sensitiveness are required.
The object of the invention is to produce a receiving instrument or relay that
will respond rapidly and accurately to the signalling currents which it is necessary
to use in such circuits to secure good results, and which will yield or produce a
clear and distinct record or succession of signals.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to use as the part of the instrument that
moves in response to the variations or impulses of the line current a magnetic
system of novel principle of construction and consisting essentially of two coils of
fine wire which are secured together at practically right angles and supported so
as to turn in a magnetic field about a vertical axis. The magnetic field in which
these coils are supported is produced by four poles preferably those of two
permanent magnets, placed with like poles opposite to each other.
The normal position of the coils with reference to these poles is that in which
opposite sides of each coil are in close proximity to opposite poles or poles of
unlike sign, so that each lies obliquely across the field from a north to a south
pole. The direction of winding or order of connections is such that a current
impulse through the two coils passes through both in the same direction.
I use
Such a device I may use as a relay or receiving instrument but in carrying my
invention into practical use I duplicate the coils and fields, that is to say,
two pairs of coils and two sets of field magnets, and mount independently of the
coils a recording or contact making device to which both pairs of coils are con-
nected and which both cooperate to move when influenced by a line current or any
variation therein.
The improvement which consists in the duplication of the moving coils and
magnetic fields is not, however, limited to the use of the particular form of coil
and field invented by me, for I may employ in carrying out this part of my inven-
tion other devices of a like character, though not, as I believe, with the
same results.
My invention also involves a particular and novel manner of connecting the
coils to the contact device, a new form of what is known as a shifting zero contact
and other features of construction the nature of which will be described in detail
by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved instrument adapted for use as a
relay, the field magnets being omitted.
'
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same partly in diagram, and
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the contact mechanism.
A is a suitable base on which are mounted three standards B, C, D, two of
which are adjustable on and with respect to the base. A convenient plan for
accomplishing this is to set the standards in steps B¹ D', which are moved in a
slot C by means of screws A'.

page_text: From each standard B, D is suspended a pair of coils E, F by means of fine threads
or other suitable filar supports e. The two coils of each pair are composed of fine
wire and are secured at substantially right-angles to each other. They are placed
in magnetic fields produced by permanent or other magnets G G', H H' which
are suitably mounted with like poles opposite to each other.
The normal position of the coils is that in which opposite sides of each coil are
in close proximity to opposite poles that is to say, each coil lies obliquely across
the field from a north to a south pole, and the direction of winding or order of
connections is such that a current impulse through the two coils of a pair passes
through each in the same direction, which imparts to the coils a tendency to
revolve about their axial support and to assume a position at right angles to
the normal.
The action of the coils is somewhat improved in certain cases, if the magnets be
turned slightly about the centre of oscillation of the coils so that two like poles
on one side are brought into closer proximity than the others, which effect is
probably attributable to the action of the magnetic forces or lines upon the faces
of the coils.
The two coils or pairs of coils are free to swing, the usual filar connection from
their lower ends being dispensed with. They are, preferably, connected together
in series in the line circuit I, in such order that in their movement under the
influence of the line currents, they tend to preserve their parallelism.
To the coils E, F, are attached light bars J J placed parallel to each other,
and the ends of said bars are connected by fine inelastic threads K K'.
Between the two pairs of coils and the magnetic field is the recording or
signalling mechanism. This may be of any proper character, but for purposes
of illustration I have shown, in the present case a contact device constituting a
relay for Morse signals.
L is a contact tongue or arm which is carried by a vertical spindle L' mounted
so as to turn with the utmost freedom in two horizontal arms L¹ L" extending from
the standard C. The arm L is adapted to vibrate between two stops one a of
metal, the other b of vulcanite or insulated.
An arm M is fixed to the spindle L' and to it are connected the two
springs N N, that are adjusted by means of screws N' N¹.
To the spindle L' is also fixed a bar J₁ to the ends of which the threads K K¹
respectively, are made fast.
A peculiar and important feature of the invention is the connection between the
contact arm L and the spindle L'. The latter turns freely on the spindle, thus
constituting what is known as the movable or shifting zero principle, but in lieu of
the ordinary frictional connection I cut screw-threads on the spindle and in the
perforation of the arm L, so that a movement of the spindle in either direction
after the arm J has come in contact with either stop à or makes a rubbing
contact between the spindle and the arm, and between the contact surfaces of the
arm and stop the last named effect being due to the vertical movement of the
arm L on the spindle L'.
The arm M and the stop a are the terminals of a local circuit containing a
sounder or receiving instrument P, and battery R, and this latter is operated each
time that the arm is shifted into contact with the stop a.
This will occur in consequence of every rise of potential following a drop in the
main line, for the coils E, F, being traversed by the main line current will be
turned more or less by each impulse or rise and acting in conjunction upon the
bar J through the threads K K will impart corresponding movements to the
spindle L'.
When a single pair of coils is used as a relay instrument I sometimes mount the
coils so as to turn freely on a vertical spindle carrying the contact arm and regulate
the frictional connection by a spiral spring surrounding the spindle between a collar
thereon and the bearing or plate connected with the coils through which the

page_text: spindle passes. Such a construction provides a shifting zero contact which is
generally necessary in instruments of this character.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this 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. In a telegraphic instrument two coils mounted or supported on a vertical
axis at substantially right angles and movable within a field of force produced by
four magnetic poles of which those in proximity to the opposite sides of the same
coil are of unlike polarity, as set forth.
Second. In a telegraphic instrument the combination with two bipolar or horse-
shoe magnets symmetrically arranged and presenting like poles, of a coil mounted
in the field formed by said poles and held obliquely to the field with opposite sides
in proximity to the poles of unlike sign.
Third. The combination with a vertical spindle carrying a contact arm vibrating
between fixed stops, the coils mounted thereon with a frictional connection
and the magnets for producing the field of force in which the coils move, as
described.
Fourth. The combination with two coils or pairs of coils mounted or supported
by independent torsional supports independent magnetic fields in which said coils
are mounted and free to turn the coils being connected with a signalling or cable
circuit and adapted to turn in the magnetic fields in the same direction, of a
recording or signalling mechanism and flexible connections between the movable
parts thereof and each of the coils whereby both the latter cooperate in the
operation of the same, as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with two coils and two magnetic fields in which said
coils are mounted, and adapted to turn in the same direction when traversed by
the signalling currents, of a contact arm, a bar or lever at right angles to the axis
or shaft of said arm, bars carried by the coils and connections between the same
and the bar moving the contact arm, as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with two pairs of coils, the coils of each pair being
secured at right angles and movable in fields of force produced by four magnetic
poles, of which those in proximity to the opposite sides of the same coil of each
pair are of unlike polarity, of a recording or contact lever and connections
between the same and the coils, whereby movements of said coils in response to
signalling currents impart corresponding movements to the contact arm, as set
forth.
Seventh. The combination with two suspended coils movable in magnetic fields
and having their lower ends free of a contact lever between the two coils, bars or
arms extending from the axis of the contact lever and each coil and threads
connecting the same with one another, as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with two freely suspended coils movable in independent
magnetic fields and bars attached to said coils, of a vibrating contact or
recording arm connected by threads to the said bars, and means for adjusting each
coil to and from the contact arm, as set forth.
Ninth. A shifting or movable zero contact arm composed of a screw-threaded
spindle or part adapted to be turned in response to signalling currents or impulses,
in combination with an arm or lever having the part engaging or surrounding
the spindle threaded, and limiting or contact stops between which said arm
vibrates, as set forth.
Tenth. The combination in a telegraphic receiving instrument with stops, as a b
a contact arm, as L, and a screw threaded spindle or part movable in response to
current impulses, and upon which the arm L is mounted, as described.
Eleventh. The combination with the spindle L', the arm L turning freely
thereon, the stops, as a, b, the arm M extending from the spindle, and the springs
for adjusting the position of said spindle, of the bar J" attached to the spindle, the

page_text: movable coils E, F the bars J and J¹ carried by the coils and the threads K K'
connected to the ends of all the bars, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.