IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR PRINTING AND PRODUCING STEREOTYPING AND PRINTING SURFACES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Young, of No. 33, Blandford Square,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR PRINTING AND
PRODUCING STEREOTYPING AND PRINTING SURFACES."

page_text: books, and other ordinary printed matter, and also as a mechanical
writing or printing machine; secondly, of an apparatus very similar
to the former, but provided with some additional mechanism to allow
of its being used as a commutator for telegraphic purposes in electrical
connection with thirdly, another apparatus similar in some respects
to the former or second apparatus, but otherwise not having any keys
or treadle, and so constructed as to admit of its being used as a
recording instrument or apparatus in electrical connection with the
above mentioned "commutator" for telegraphic purposes.
I shall first proceed to describe the "typographer" or apparatus
intended to be used for general printing purposes, including those on
surfaces adapted for stereotyping. It consists, first, of a plain disc or
horizontal wheel provided with teeth or cogs revolving on a spindle,
and gearing into another toothed or bevelled wheel placed at right
angles to it, and which revolves around another spindle, and is moved
by the former. The motion however may also be communicated from
one wheel to the other by simple friction.
I propose making a number of holes or slits in the disc of the wheel
in a spiral form, proceeding from the centre to the periphery of the
wheel. I place the keys, which are all of the same length, and are
placed below the wheel, at right angles to one of its radii, on the
diameter of the line opposite the printing spot when the wheel is at rest.
These keys, which pivot on a bar attached to the frame or casing of the
apparatus, are furnished with pins or blades inserted at their ends,
which will enter the holes and stop the revolution of the wheel when
the keys at the other ends are depressed. I may provide these pins or
blades with springs so as to prevent their wearing too soon or grooving
the under side of the wheel. As some of the holes are very near the
centre of the wheel, I may, especially for these, use sliding bolts as
herein after described. Now as the key wheel gears into the type
wheel they will stop or move at the same time. It follows therefore
that as they move and stop when any particular key representing a
letter is depressed, and the key wheel is thereby stopped, the cor-
responding letter in the type wheel will be stopped, fronting the exact
spot of the printing surface where its impression is intended to be made,
as has been shewn in a similar case in my Provisional Specification,
No. 1912. I propose to assist the stoppage of the wheel, if necessary or
convenient, by placing a bar under the keys at the finger ends, to act on

page_text: two breaks. I may, however, also use this bar so regulating the action
of the clutch which is used for transmitting the movement of the
treadle. I move or cause the key wheel to revolve by means of a treadle
acting on a spindle on which the wheel pivots. This spindle is attached
to the wheel at its upper end, and its lower end works in a collar duly
supported, and at its extreme end terminates in a cone pulley or
bevelled wheel which is attached to it. This bevelled wheel is propelled
by a similar wheel which is provided with a square spindle worked by a
treadle and crank, and can be thrown out of gear by means of a clutch
which is made to move along the spindle.
The first mentioned spindle is formed as a tube, and within this tube
another tube is pivoted and worked. The upper part of the last
mentioned spindle revolves in a collar fixed in a platform situated above
the key wheel, and is provided with a bevelled or toothed wheel which
is acted on by another similar wheel working a screw and bolt to propel
the types or type rods against the printing surfaces. The lower end of
this spindle pivots in a bearing fixed to the frame of the table; it is
provided with a bevelled wheel at a short distance above its lowest end,
which works in connection with another fixed at right angles to it on a
square spindle which is provided with a crank and is worked by a
treadle. The last mentioned bevelled wheel can also be thrown out of gear
by means of a clutch, and these clutches are acted on by the treadles, the
right hand clutch by the left foot treadle, and the left hand clutch by
the right foot treadle, or the apparatus might be arranged so that one
treadle only may be used. I place the printing surfaces, such as paper,
and cause them to be moved and their progress regulated as mentioned
in my Provisional Specification, No. 1912, of 24th June 1872.
I may, if found preferable, use only one wheel as a key wheel and type
wheel combined, instead of having as already described a separate type
wheel placed at right angles to the key wheel; when I use only one
wheel I place the type rods parallel to the plane of the wheel passing
through holes in the flanges at the periphery when pressed outwards.
To push them outward in this apparatus I sometimes intend, instead of a
screw using a sliding bolt which will slide in the under side of a platform
sustained above the wheel by a casing which will partly surround it; this
bolt will have a pin in it, and this pin will pass through a slit in the
platform, and be acted on by a cam so as to impel the bolt against the
A 2

page_text: type rods. The type rods will return in position by means of springs; the
bolt will also have a recoil spring. The cam will revolve on a spindle.
2ndly. The commutator is very similar to the typographer, the
difference consisting in its type wheel, which may be a type wheel such
as above described, or a barrel wheel as described in the Provisional
Specification before mentioned, having an additional toothed wheel
attached to it so as to allow of its transmitting its motion to other
wheels, the revolving of which is produced by making and breaking
contact between a battery and line wire.
Another similar arrangement must for similar reasons be made with
the wheel of the screw which is used for propelling the types or type
rods against the printing surfaces.
3rdly. The recording apparatus differs from the typographer and
commutator in regard to its not requiring any keys nor any key wheel,
but it requires additional escapement wheels, the movements of which
are to be controlled by the clectric currents transmitted by the commu-
tator, so that its type wheel shall always revolve simultaneously with the
key wheel of the commutator, and the ratchet wheel and screw wheel in
the same way with their respective counterparts of the commutator.
To obviate the necessity of using three wires, one for each of the
movements, I propose to construct the commutator and receiving instru-
ment in such a manner as to insure by contact making apparatus in
each instrument, that when the key wheel of the commutator is put in
motion the successive currents thereby sent through the line wire shall
work the escapement of the type wheel of the receiving instrument, so
that the two shall move simultaneously and similarly, that when the
ratchet wheel or screw wheel of the commutator is in motion it shall
move the ratchet wheel or screw wheel of the receiving instrument. To
effect this two wires only are required, one for working the contact making
apparatus in the receiving instrument to admit the escapement wheels
of the type wheel, ratchet wheel, and screw wheel of this instrument
being worked in succession by the other wire.
I propose making my type wheels in either of the following ways :—
Firstly, a simple circular disc or wheel, with apertures to admit of short
type rods of one, two, or more inches in length, being inserted in a
position at right angles to the plane of the wheel; or, secondly, I may
insert tubes in these apertures first, and insert the type rods in these;

page_text: or, thirdly, I may attach two discs or wheels parallel to each other, with
a small interval between, and make the apertures (for the type rods in
both plates) to correspond.
I propose to perform the printing operations by the intervention of
electro-magnets and prepared paper, or with prepared paper alone; or
in the case of stereotype plates by pressure alone.
In these operations I do not confine myself to the use of a screw but
may also use a hammer or a sliding bolt worked by cams.
I propose at times to change the metal of the type rods so as to use
copper, brass, or steel, indifferently, the two former when printing by
means of electricity, or on a soft surface like gutta percha, and the latter
for stamping the letter on metal or wood, the former for stereotyping,
and the latter for printing from directly, as from type, or as in wood
carvings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Young in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
YOUNG, of No. 33, Blandford Square, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in
the thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Young, Her
special license, that I, the said William Young, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Young,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS, PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR
PRINTING AND PRODUCING STEREOTYPING AND PRINTING SURFACES," upon the

page_text: condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Young, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Young, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My improvements consist in the construction, firstly, of an apparatus
which I denominate a mechanical typographer, and intend should be
used for producing stereotype plates for printing newspapers, books, and
other ordinary printed matter, and also as a mechanical writing or
printing machine; secondly, of an apparatus very similar to the former,
but provided with some additional mechanism to allow of its being used
as a commutator for telegraphic purposes in electrical connection with
thirdly, another apparatus similar in some respects to the former or
second apparatus, but otherwise not having any keys or treadle, and so
constructed as to admit of its being used as a recording instrument or
apparatus in electrical connection with the above-mentioned " com-
mutator" for telegraphic purposes.
I shall first proceed to describe the "typographer" or apparatus
intended to be used for general printing purposes, including those on
surfaces adapted for stereotyping. It consists, first, of a plain disc or
horizontal wheel provided with teeth or cogs revolving on a spindle, and
gearing into another toothed or bevelled wheel placed at right angles to
it, and which revolves around another spindle, and is moved by the
former. The motion however may also be communicated from one
wheel to the other by simple friction.
I propose making a number of holes or slits in the disc of the wheel
in a spiral form, proceeding from the centre to the periphery of the
wheel. I place the keys, which are all of the same length, and are
placed below the wheel at right angles to one of its radii on the diameter
of the line opposite the printing spot. when the wheel is at rest. These
keys, which pivot on a bar attached to the frame or casing of the

page_text: apparatus are furnished with pins or blades inserted at their ends, which
will enter the holes and stop the revolution of the wheel when the keys
at the other ends are depressed. I may provide these pins or blades
with springs so as to prevent their wearing too soon or grooving the
under side of the wheel. As some of the holes are very near the centre
of the wheel, I may, especially for these use, sliding bolts, as herein-after
described. Now as the key wheel gears into the type wheel they will
stop or move at the same time. It follows therefore that as they move
and stop simultaneously when any particular key representing a letter is
depressed, and the key wheel is thereby stopped, the corresponding letter
in the type wheel will be stopped fronting the exact spot of the printing
surface where its impression is intended to be made, as has been shewn
in a similar case in my Provisional Specification, No. 1912, 24th June
1872. I propose to assist the stoppage of the wheel, if necessary or
convenient, by placing a bar under the keys at the finger ends, to act on
two breaks. I may however also use this bar to regulate the action of
the clutch which is used for transmitting the movement of the treadle.
I move or cause the key wheel to revolve by means of a treadle acting
on a spindle on which the wheel pivots. This spindle is attached to tho
wheel at its upper end, and its lower end works in a collar duly sup-
ported, and at its extreme end terminates in a cone pulley or bevelled
wheel which is attached to it. This bevelled wheel is propelled by a
similar wheel which is provided with a square spindle worked by a
treadle and crank, and can be thrown out of gear by means of a clutch
which is made to move along the spindle.
The first-mentioned spindle is formed as a tube, and within this tube
another tube is pivoted and worked. The upper part of the last-mentioned
spindle revolves in a collar fixed in a platform situated above the key
wheel, and is provided with a bevelled or toothed wheel which is acted
on by another similar wheel working a screw and bolt to propel the
types or type rods against the printing surfaces. The lower end of this
spindle pivots in a bearing fixed to the frame of the table; it is provided,
as before stated, with a bevelled wheel at a short distance above its
lowest end, which works in connection with another fixed at right
angles to it on a square spindle, which is provided with a crank and is
worked by a treadle. The last-mentioned bevelled wheel can also be
thrown out of gear by means of a clutch, and these clutches are acted
on by the treadles, the right hand clutch by the left foot treadle, and

page_text: To obviate the necessity of using three wires, one for each of the
movements, I propose to construct the commutator and receiving instru-
ment in such a manner as to ensure by contact making apparatus in each
instrument, that when the key wheel of the commutator is put in
motion the successive currents thereby sent through the line wire shall
work the escapement attached to the type wheel of the receiving instru-
ment, so that the two shall move simultaneously and similarly that
when the ratchet wheel or screw wheel of the commutator is in motion
it shall move the ratchet wheel or screw wheel of the receiving instru-
ment. To effect this two wires only are required, one for working the
contact making apparatus in the receiving instrument to admit the
escapement wheels of the type wheel, ratchet wheel, and screw wheel
of this instrument being worked in succession by the other wire.
I propose making my type wheels in either of the following ways:—
Firstly, a simple circular disc or wheel with apertures to admit of
short type rods of one, two, or more inches in length, being inserted in
a position at right angles to the plane of the wheel; or, secondly, I
may insert tubes in these apertures first, and insert the type rods in
these; or, thirdly, I may attach two discs or wheels parallel to each
other with a small interval between, and make the apertures (for the
type rods in both plates) to correspond.
I propose to perform the printing operations by the intervention of
electro-magnets and prepared paper, or with prepared paper alone; or in
the case of stereotype plates by pressure alone.
In these operations I do not confine myself to the use of a screw but
may also use a hammer or a sliding bolt worked by cams.
I propose at times to change the metal of the type rods so as to use
copper, brass, or steel indifferently, the two former when printing by
means of electricity, or on a soft surface like gutta percha, and the
latter for stamping the letter on metal or wood, the former for stereo-
typing, and the latter for printing from directly, as from type, or as in
wood carvings.
**
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation of the machine I name a typo-
grapher; " Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same; Figure 3, Shcet 2,

page_text: is a cross section of the same from side to side of the machine; Figure 4
is a plan; Figure 5 is a cross section of the same from front to back.
Sheet 3, Figure 6, is a side elevation of the same.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 is shewn a disc c, centred on a spindle b, and
capable of being made to revolve by the action of a treadle a'. The
spindle 6 pivots on a bed plate a², and passes upwards through the bed
plate of a table a, supported on columns a¹. The spindle b is provided
with a bevelled pinion a' close underneath the bed plate of the table a;
this pinion a gears into a bevel wheel as, which works on a shaft a,
which is supported by a bearing a', close to the wheel a³, and another a
at its opposite end. The action of the treadle a³ moves the crank pin
of the bevelled wheel a³ by means of the connecting rod a³, and this in
its turn moves the bevelled pinion a³, which drives the spindle b, and
this causes the disc c to revolve by means of a friction clutch b', adjust-
able by means of a nut 6' acting on the spring bª.
Sheet 2, Figure 4, and Sheet 3, Figure 7, shew plan views of the
revolving disc c. This disc is provided with a number of type rods c³,
equal in number if desired to what printers call a fount.
An enlarged view of one of these type rods is shewn in Sheet 3,
Figure 8, being a side view, and Figure 9 an end view. Each type rod
is placed parallel to the plane of the disc c, and therefore also parallel
to the upper casing h, and is constructed so as to have a to-and-fro
movement along the radii of the disc when necessary. The part of the
type rod situated nearest the periphery of the disc is provided with
a recess or cavity into which the tail of the type is inserted and is
surrounded by a bush of vulcanite or other non-conducting substance in
order to insulate it from the type rod. This is shewn by the darkened
part c, in Figure 8, Sheet 3. The type end of the rods rest in cavities
or holes adapted to their shape made in the rim of the revolving disc;
their other ends work in cavities or holes in an interior ring o¹. attached
to the plate of the disc. Each type rod is moreover provided with a
recoil spring surrounding it between the rim of the disc and the inner
ring c¹ just mentioned. The disc, as partly already stated, consists of a
plate pivoting on a spindle 6 to allow of its revolving, and has above it
a fixed casing supported on three columns h¹ resting on the bed plate a.
The plate of the revolving disc c is perforated with a number of holes
equal to the number of type rods used in it. These holes are arranged

page_text: in a spiral line so that each may have a position relative to a particular
type rod that will allow of the disc being stopped during its revolution
with that particular type rod opposite the printing point on the paper
when required.
Although in the Drawings I have shewn these holes in one con-
tinuous curve they may be otherwise arranged over the disc. A number
of levers termed keys, corresponding in number to the number of types
or type rods used in the disc, less those representing the spaces are
placed parallel to the front line of the machine, and also to any one of
the type rods when its letter end is immediately opposite the spot on the
paper where its impression has to be made. Figure 10, Sheet 4, shews a
side view of one of these key levers; its extremity A* is provided with a
screw f, which can be raised or depressed to suit an arrangement that
will hereafter be referred to. Above that part of the key lever indicated
by A' a pin f³ works between guide bars f", and is provided with a recoil
spring as shewn Figure 10, Sheet 4. The key lever is suspended
on a cross bar f³ which passes through all the key levers in the same
way, and is supported at intervals where necessary, and at either
extremity in bearings attached to the framework of the machine, and so
allows of the key lever having an up and down movement when
actuated.
In order to economise space, buttons indicating the letter to which
each key is appropriated are inserted in the keys in different rows as
three in the present instance; and in order to allow of these being
depressed more readily a hand lever is used instead of the finger. This
hand lever B is shewn at Figure 10 and Figure 11, Sheet 4. It pivots on
a square bar along which it can be made to slide to the right or left
indifferently, so as to admit of its being brought over any of the buttons
on the key levers at pleasure, it is provided with three pins e³ attached:
to its lower surface and placed each respectively over one of the rows of
buttons on the key levers, and as each button of one line alternates with
the buttons of the other two lines, it follows that each of those pins can
only touch one button at a time when the hand lever B is depressed.
This depression is effected by the extremities of the bar e working in
sockets or bearings attached to the framework of the machine which
admit of its turning partially on its centre. The hand lever B is also pro-
vided with an indicator or pointer e³ which passes over a plate e³ on which
all the letters used are marked, and so assists the player in his operations.

page_text: A plan view of the hand lever is shewn on Sheet 4, Figure 11, and
Figure 12 is a plan view of some of the key levers, pins, and screws just
described.
The screw f* on the end of the key lever rises when the lever is
depressed, and comes in contact with the bar i. This bar i is carried at
either extremity by a crank lever C. These give motion by means of
the connecting rod to the levers (Sheet 2, Figure 4) to which are
attached pawls acting on the ratchet wheels ; these being fixed on the
spindle communicate by the falling of the bar i, assisted by a spring ?
attached to the crank lever C (Sheet 4, Figure 10) an intermitted
rotation to the spindle », and through the bevel wheels, 27, №³, and the
pinion working into the rack 2, a lateral motion to the sliding
frame d¹ to which the rack 20 is attached (Sheet 2, Figure 4). As the
types are of various thicknesses the movement of the sliding frame d¹
must vary with each type. This variable movement is obtained by
raising or lowering each screw f' at the end of the key lever A, to suit
the particular type represented by each key lever, so that the screw in
the case of the thin type has to perform some part of its upward move-
ment before it comes in contact with the bar i, thus communicating only
a part of its movement to the latter, and so in like manner to the sliding
frame d¹.
As the spaces do not require any type rods, a more modified form of
key lever is sufficient to perform all the operation required of it, which
is simply to lift the bar i. There are three key levers devoted to spaces,
as th tk and nq,
When larger spaces are required, the action of turning the spindle i³
is effected continuously by the intervention of the rod by means of a
lever and the ratchet wheel j, which acts on the spindle **, as shewn
at Figure 4, Sheet 2, and Figure 6, Sheet 3. This lever, besides repeating,
may be used for single spaces, instead of any one of the three key levers
especially constructed for them.
On the completion of a line of printed matter, a self-acting. arrange-
ment is used for reversing the motion of the frame d by the action of
the tappets n and n³ on the rod n², striking at the commencement and
the end of the lateral movements of the sliding frame d¹ (Sheet 3,
Figure 6), a stud. n³ placed in some convenient position on the fork

page_text: lever n which throws the bevel wheel
in gear at the commencement,
and out of gear at the termination of the motion of the frame d' on
arriving at either end. A spring is placed on the spindle & carrying the
bevel wheel so as to press the latter well in contact with the bevel
wheels and (Sheet 2, Figure 4).
The rotatory movement of the roller d which carries the paper to be
printed on is obtained in the following manner:-A square spindle a
runs through the centre of the roller d, having its points supported at
each end in the carriages and d³, and near one end of the square
spindle and keyed on the same is the ratchet wheel d'. This wheel
(Sheet 3, Figure 6) is acted on by the pawl ď³ in the descent of the
vertical rod de to which it is attached, and the action of this rod is as
follows: On the rod d³, attached to the framework d', and partaking of
its lateral movements, is fixed a flexible piece of metal ď, which at the
side nearest the frame forms an incline for a certain distance, and further
on a level. It is further provided with a set screw d" to adjust the level at
different heights for the intervals between the lines of print. Now the
vertical rod de having a pulley d' attached to it, immediately above the
rod d, rolls up the incline d as the frame & is pushed forward by
the action of the ratchet and wheels described, and in so doing raises
the vertical rod d until the roller has reached the level, which it
follows until the frame d' has terminated its lateral movement, and
by coming in contact with the stud n³, as described, reverses its
movement and thereby allows the rod d to descend by its gravity,
assisted by a spring d" and by the action of the pawl & attached
to it to turn the ratchet wheel d' and with it the roller holding the
paper.
The action of the "typographer" is as follows :— The disc C carrying
the type rods having been made to revolve by means of the treadle a³,
the operator in order to stop any particular type opposite the point
where the printing is effected depresses the key lever A representing
that particular type by means of the hand lever B; this raises its other
end, situated underneath the pin f suspended above it, which then
enters the hole c¹³, Figure 7, Sheet 3, in the disc corresponding to
the type or letter required to be printed, and thus stops the disc.
In front of the machine and parallel to the line of key levers is a
D

page_text: Sheet 3, Figure 6; this pin does not come into operation until the
disc c has been stopped by one of the pins f³ having already entered
one of the holes c¹ in it by the upward action of one of the key
levers A. The bar c being then depressed by the action of the inter-
mediate levers c' and c and rod c³ communicates motion to the bell crank
(Sheet 1, Figure 2) and by means of the rod c¹ and the lever c" its
movement is conveyed to the pusher c', and thence to the type rod c³,
bringing the latter in contact with the paper Sheet 2, Figure 3.
The momentum of the disc is checked by a brake, acted on by the
hand lever B in the following manner (Sheet 1, Fig. 1) :-The bell crank
cº communicates motion to the bell crank c¹ by means of the connect-
ing rod c¹. One arm of the bell crank c" is made in the form of a
spring, and presses on a break c" in contact with the disc, and this
being provided with a set screw can be adjusted to give any required
pressure to a nicety.
Having now described the "typographer" and its action I shall
proceed to describe its application to telegraphic purposes. The action
of the typographer, according to the description given, involves six
principal processes or operations:-Firstly, the revolving of the disc in
order to bring each type rod opposite the printing point on the paper;
secondly, the pushing of the type rods against the paper; thirdly, the
lateral movement of the paper bearing apparatus after printing a letter,
or when blank spaces require to be made; fourthly, the actual printing
process; fifthly, the lateral return movement of the paper bearing
frame whenever a complete line of matter has been printed; and
sixthly, the movement of the roller on its centre or a plane surface
upwards to admit of a fresh surface of paper to be exposed for printing.
The three last operations, 4, 5, 6, being, however, effected by local,
electrical, and mechanical arrangements, do not require to be taken into
account when describing either the commutator or recording instrument,
it being understood that in both they are carried out in the manner
described for the typographer. It will, therefore, only be necessary to
refer to the three first named operations, No. 1, 2, 3, in order to explain
the actions of the commutator and recording instrument separately, and
how they are brought into electrical connection with each other for a
telegraphic purposes. Thus in regard to the commutator at the trans-
mitting station, it consists of a typographer such as above described,
with the following additions:- The hand lever B causes a metal

page_text: bar m attached to a spindle m¹ placed in the centre of a metal
ring g to revolve in one direction by the following mechanism.
Thus (Sheet 1, Figure 2) the hand lever B by means of the bar e*,
communicates motion to the lever g¹, and the latter by means of the
connecting rod g² to the lever g³. To this lever g³ are attached two pawls
acting in opposite directions in two ratchet wheels g* and 9', which, by
the intermediate gearing shewn in Figures 15, 16, and 17, Sheet 5, give
rotatory motion to the metal bar m attached to the spindle m¹. The
metal ring 9 is insulated, and consists of three segments insulated from
one another, and numbered respectively 1, 2, 3. The metal arm m
or contact making bar during its revolution passes in succession
over each of these metal segments, and is in contact with them then.
Now, each of the three operations, No. 1, 2, 3, already referred to,.
send a pulsatory current through a line connected with a battery by the
intervention of these different segments of the ring g and the contact
making bar m. Thus, to begin with No. 1, which is the revolving of
the disc, Figure 3, Sheet. 2. A cap D carrying a spindle D' attached to
the disc c has a spindle passing freely through the upper casing h.
this spindle D' above the casing an insulated step-by-step wheel ¹ is
fixed. A wire connected with the axis of the wheel leads to the earth
where it is fixed, and another wire is connected with the rim, and has its
end attached to the metal segment No. 1 of the ring 9. A ratchet
wheel c¹ and pawl c² (Sheet 2, Figure 4) are attached to the disc c to
prevent it turning in the wrong direction.
On
The arrangement for the operation of No. 2 of the commutator is
carried out in the following manner-To the crank lever c¹ of the
typographer an insulated bar x³ (Sheet 5, Figure 18) is attached and has
a to-and-fro movement in a line with the printing point. A part of one
side of this bar is made alternately of metal and vulcanite, or other non-
conducting substance. Its motion is a reciprocating one; but as there
is no electrical connection on the return stroke no pulsation is produced.
This bar is also provided with two wires, one in constant contact and
proceeding to the earth, and the other in intermittent contact with its
metal parts, with its other end attached to segment No. 2 of the
ring 9.
The operation No. 3 is effected in the following manner (Sheet 2,
Figure 3)-On the shaft is fixed a step-by-step wheel a³. From the
centre of the wheel, or in any other suitable part, a wire in constant.

page_text: contact with it leads to the earth where it is fixed, and another in
intermitted contact with it is connected at its other end with the
segment 3 of the ring g.
The action of the commutator will then be as follows:-When the
operator depresses the hand lever B he moves the metal arm m as
already described, and brings it in contact with segment No. 1, of the
ring g.
A pulsatory current will then be transmitted from the disc c
to the line connected to the arm m, and to a battery, and leading to the
receiving station, as will be more fully described further on. The
continued depression of the hand lever B causes the contact bar m to
continue its revolving, and by passing over an insulated part between
the segments to break contact with the contact with the segment
No. 1 of the ring 9. It then passes on to segment No. 2. When No. 2
operationis carried on by a pulsatory current proceeding from the bar x,
pushing the type rod which passes along the line wire, as in the case
of operation No. 1, already described. The hand lever B having
now completed the downward stroke, and being released the recoil
of the spring e, Figure 2, Sheet 1, raises it, but the levers and
rod g¹, g², and gs, and the intermediate gearing shewn in Figures 15, 16,
and 17 (Sheet 5) still causes the contact bar m to continue to revolve
in the same direction, and passing from the metal segment No. 2 to
the insulated part dividing the segments, it breaks contact with the
pusher or operation No. 2, and then comes into connection with seg-
ment No. 3, which causes a pulsatory current to proceed from
the paper propelling mechanism No. 3, and thereby transmits the
current along the line wire, as in the case of No. 1 and No. 2, to the
receiving station.
It may be mentioned that as it will sometimes happen that the
paper bearing apparatus will required to be continuously moved for a
time, on account of blank spaces being required, it will then be
necessary to stop the revolution of the contact making bar m, so as to
keep it on the segment No. 3. This is effected in the following
manner: -
The hand lever B is provided with a lug, as shewn at e¹, Figure 11,
(Sheet 4,) and that part of the handle is capable of being turned. This
lug is turned downwards, so that it may rest on a bar y in front of the
key levers, in which position the hand lever is maintained whilst the

page_text: operator works the lever and thereby continues moving the paper-
bearing apparatus for the time required. When this is effected, the
hand lever is released and rises to resume its operation as before. There
is another lug which, by the twisting of the hand lever B, allows
of a letter being repeated when required, see Figures 13 and 14,
Sheet 4.
The action of the commutator having been now described, the
method adopted to transmit the pulsatory currents of the three
operations, Nos. 1, 2, 3, will be now explained. The contact making
bar m is attached to a spindle but insulated from it. On this spindle is
a step-by-step wheel in combination with a spring or wire, as already
described. The wire proceeding from the spring.is in connection with a
battery, and terminates at the receiving station. There it is attached
to a magnet and escapement wheel. This causes the spindle carrying a
contact making bar m³ (Sheet 6, Figure 23), similar to the one used in
connection with the commutator at the transmitting station, to revolve.
Now it follows that the movements of the contact making bar m³ at the
receiving station will exactly follow those of the revolving bar m,
(Sheet 6, Figure 15) at the transmitting station by this arrangement.
The movement of the hand lever of the commutator, at the transmitting
station, will thus regulate the exact progress and position of the contact
making bar m³ at the receiving station, as well as that of the
commutator, and it can thus be brought into contact with any number
of points, as desired, or three, as required in this instance, for operations
No. 1, 2, 3, as effected by the commutator at the transmitting station.
The operations Nos. 1, 2, 3, of the commutator are not effected at the
receiving station by means of the line wire just referred to, as it is only
used to work the contact making bar m³ at the receiving station.
Another line wire attached to the contact making bar m of the
commutator, and in connection with a battery is continued to the
receiving station, and attached to the contact making bar m³ there.
All the pulsatory currents of No. 1, 2, 3, are transmitted through this
second line wire to the contact making bar m³, and thus to the
corresponding parts of the recording instrument, which are worked by
the intervention of magnets and escapement wheels, as will be now
described.

page_text: contact making bar m forming part of the commutator at the trans-
mitting station. The bar m² revolves immediately above a metal ring ge
divided into three metal segments by three intervals made of some
non-conducting material, such as vulcanite or ivory for instance, and is
in constant contact with it at the part of its arm which passes over the
ring. The latter is perfectly insulated, and it is therefore by the bar m²
coming in contact with the metal segments that the electric current
passes through these from the arm m² in the manner already described
for the similar mechanism of the commutator to the wire attached
respectively to each of its three metal segments 1*, 2*, 3*, each
representing similar operations to those of 1, 2, 3, of the commutator,
see Figures 22, 23, 24, Sheet 6 and 7. Thus when a pulsatory current
proceeds from segment 1× it passes along the wire attached to it to a
magnet t, with which the other end of the wire is in connection. The
armature of this magnet t by the action of the current produces an
oscillating movement in the anchor & of an escapement. wheel, which
being actuated by a spring or weight is thereby caused to revolve. Now
as the disc, Figure 23, Sheet 6, is centered on the axle of this
wheel it revolves at the same time and synchronously also with the
disc c of the commutator. Again (see Figure 23, 24, Sheet 6 and 7) the
current proceeding from the segment No. 2* of the ring 9ª also causes
an escapement wheel t' to revolve in the same way by the intervention
of a magnet t, and the axle t* of this wheel * causes a cam & placed on
it to revolve with it. This cam t is shewn at Figures 22 and 24,
Sheet 6 and 7, and actuates a pusher ts, which propels a type rod in the
same way as already described for the commutator. The particular
form of the cam fallows the pusher and consequently the type rod
to recoil by means of a spring, when the printing of the letter of the
type has been effected. Again (see Figures 22, 23, 24, Sheet 6 and 7)
the current proceeding from No. 3* segment of the ring 9' also acts on
a. magnet to and escapement wheel to, and to the axle t¹ of this wheel
is fixed a toothed wheel t¹ working in the rack t₁ of the paper bearing
frame of the recorder, and moves it synchronously by this means with
the one of the commutator.
.
Figures 25 and 26, Sheet 7, are enlarged views of the above-mentioned
magnet with its escapement wheel..
Figures 22, 23, and 24, Sheets 6 and 7, shew handles p¹, p³, p³, for
rewinding the clockwork in connection with the onerations of 1*. 2*.3*

page_text: The handle p is used for rewinding the actuating weight of the drum in
connection with the spindle of the contact making bar m².
When I employ an electric current to cause the types to produce
impressions upon chemically prepared paper, I pass the paper over a
metallic roller, which is coupled to one pole of a battery. The other
pole of the battery is coupled to a metal spring clip, through which the
types have to pass when they are propelled forward against the paper.
The circuit is thus completed through the chemically prepared paper,
and an impression corresponding to the surface of the type produced
upon it; or I may effect the printing with the aid of ink in the following.
manner :-I use a perforated cylindrical reservoir of ink attached to a
wheel, the latter being driven by contact with a rim on the type disc
causes the types to be inked by contact with the surface of the cylinder,
the said surface being covered with some soft and pervious material,
which gets saturated with the ink oozing from the perforations in the
reservoir. This arrangement is shewn on Sheet 7, Figures 27 and 28,
where c¹ is an elevation of the revolving disc c, the rim on the same c*,
the driven wheel attached to the perforated reservoir o*, and provided
with a funnel c" for filling it.
Although in the foregoing description I have alluded more especially
to the use of discs revolving horizontally, I may also cause them to
revolve in a vertical plane. The type rods also in place of being ranged
radially around a disc may be ranged around its circumference and
parallel with its axis, or I may in some cases use for telegraphic purposes
a cylinder with a number of holes ranged in a spiral line around its
circumference, or a number of pins projecting from it to act as stops in
place of the stops being at one of its ends as when a disc is used. When
such a cylinder is used the type rods will be placed parallel to its axis.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would state that I do not confine myself to the
precise details of construction of the typographer, or of the commutator,
or recording instruments for electric telegraphs herein-before described;
but what I claim is,―

page_text: 2. The combined arrangement of commutator for electric telegraphs,
substantially as described.
3: The combined arrangement of receiving instrument for electric
telegraphs, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Young, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
WILLIAM YOUNG. (L.S.)