Improvements in Electric Telegraphs.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Telegraphs.
:
We, SECONDO Roos, FERDINANDO LURASCHI, and ETTORE LURASCHI, all
of 1 Corso Loreto, Milan, in the Kingdom of Italy, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in electric telegraphs.
L
The automatic commutator or switching device which forms the characteristic
feature of the invention cousists of four electro-magnets placed against a table,
and coupled in pairs by means of two shafts which carry each in an opposite
position the armatures of the two pairs of electromagnets.
$
Each of the said shafts moreover carries five small levers which are electrically
insulated from each other and from the shaft, and which are destined to establish
an electric contact by their extremities which are for this purpose provided with
small platinum plates.
The contact takes place through platinum points, provided on suitable springs.
Four of these springs are electrically insulated from each other and communicate
each with one of the four electromagnets.
The other springs, insulated from the rest of the apparatus communicate however
in certain pairs with each other.
When the springs have assumed any position under the influence of the electro-
magnets, this position is maintained for each shaft by the aid of a lever arm, which
carries at its extremity a pivotally connected member furnished with a tooth which
will according to the position of the levers place itself into the one or the other of
two notches provided in a corresponding piece. The tooth is maintained in the
Dotch by a helical spring which is adjusted by the aid of a set screw so that the
said helical spring ensures the equilibrium of the five springs which actuate
the levers applied upon the shafts.
1
Nine communication terminals serve to establish the communications of the
apparatus with the manipulator or key and with the local battery having two
"batteries, namely one for the current of the line and the other for the counter
current as well as with the line and the earth.
A
The conmutator or switching device comprises two circuits, one .local and the
other the circuit of the line.
'
The local circuit is formed, by the four electromagnets, one extremity of each
of which is connected and passes into the central terminal and from this terminal
into one of the poles of the local battery, the other pole of which is connected to
the manipulator or key. The manipulator or key is moreover connected to the
two exterior terminals, which latter on their part communicate with the two
extreme levers, and complete the local circuit; the switching device will act in the
following manner:
I
If one of the four positious which the apparatus can occupy is given, for instance
the position of contact of the two extreme levers with the two extreme springs and
if the current arrives from the manipulator or key through one extreme terminal;
the circuit will be completed by the electromagnet which lies nearest to said
terminal and the position of the switching device will not change; if on the
contrary the current arrives through the opposite extreme terminal, the circuit will

page_text: be closed by the electromagnet lying nearest to the latter terminal and the switch
or communicating device will take up the position in which one current only passing
through one of the extreme terminals will be enabled to cause the apparatus to
act. It is thus evident that for the operation of the apparatus it is necessary that
the local current shall alternately come from the manipulator or key and pass to
one of the extreme terminals and moreover that the electromaguets shall only act
successively in a definite order.
In establishing the communications of the circuit of the line-by connecting one
of the inner levers of one shaft with the negative pole of the battery of the line
and another inner lever lying on the same shaft with its positive pole, and likewise
one of the inner levers of the other shaft with the negative pole and another inner
lever of this latter shaft with the positive pole of the battery of the counter current
or small battery of the line; the innermost lever of the one shaft and the inner-
most lever of the other shaft with the line and likewise the lever lying nearest to
the outer lever on the one shaft and the lever lying nearest to the outer
lever on the other shaft with the earth--it will be seen that for a given
position there will pass into the line the current of the small battery through the
positive pole; while in the succeeding position it will be the current of the large
battery which will pass into the line through its positive pole, that is to say in the
same sense as the preceeding small current. On passing to a third given position
one will have the current of the small battery, through the negative pole in the
line and in a given fourth position the current of the large battery through the
same pole in the line. By suitably regulating the intensity of the two currents s0
that the large battery only can cause the receiving apparatus to act, (the small
battery only serving to destroy, the effects thereof while thus preparing the line for
a new emission of current from the large battery), it is evident that the trans-
mission will take place by an increase of potential of the counter current and by
.currents flowing alternately in the opposite sense for each signal.
By set screws which regulate the course of the springs which connect the levers
one can ensure that there shall be no interruption of the current: on the line and
even that the two currents of the line act, simultaneously during a longer or shorter
time. The advantages of these arrangements are the following:
Passage at zero and consequently clearness of the reception secured by the
transmission with currents flowing alternately in the contrary sense.
Smaller number of currents and therefore greater speed by the transmission with
increase of potential of the counter current.
Slighter retardation in. the manifestation of the current by the simultaneous
action of the current of the line and of the counter current, which action can be
regulated at will without increase of the maximum intensity..
rt
This switching device can be actuated at will by, a simple Morse-key.or for
obtaining a greater regularity by an automatic Wheatstone key, the. Hughes
apparatus may serve perfectly to operate the switching device and even in this
case the instantaneousness of the manifestation of the current is an essential
advantage; moreover one can establish the counter current as soon as the operation
is obtained, which realizes the best possible conditions for transmission with this
apparatus.
There remains to regulate the apparatus according to the power of transmission
of the cable.
The relay is composed of a powerful electromagnet which actuates, according to
the direction of the current of the line, a frame of very thin wire, supported by a
small aluminium shaft terminating in very thin steel pivots which oscillate vertically
in boles or upon counter pivots of ruby; the position of the said frame is such that
its vertical sides are under the action of the greatest lines of force of the poles of
the electromagnet. The support of the said frame is independent of the base, and
the frame can be adjusted by means of the screw, to make contact with the poles
of the electromagnet.
The frame is connected by silk threads to a small and very light aluminium bar
i

page_text: held by its centre in a fixed direction and actuated by a small and very light
spring, adjustable by a set screw.
Four platinum points on the said aluminium bar serve to establish the electrio
communications by means of four contacts.
The electric communications of the relay are established in the following
manner:
...
The extreme or outer terminals of the same establish a permanent communication
of a powerful local battery with the aforesaid electromagnet. The terminals which
lie nearest to the said outer terminals connect the wire frame with the line or
conductor of the cable and with the earth.
By these arrangements the wire frame is actuated by the electromagnet according
to the direction of the current of the line, and as this current flows alternately in
the contrary sense, the wire frame turns alternately to the left and to the right but
tends to come to the position of rest.
:
One utilizes this movement either for closing a local circuit and establishing a
current in the receiving apparatus or for interrupting, a local circuit in order to
cause the whole current to pass through the receiving apparatus.
In the first case two of the aforesaid four contacts which end in two inner
terminals, are connected by these said terminals which communicate with one of
the poles of a local battery, the other two of the four said contacts metallically
connected communicate through another inner terminal with the apparatus which
is in communication with the other pole of the battery.
In this manner irrespective of the direction of movement of the wire frame,
whether the same establishes the communication with the one or the other pair of
the aforesaid four contacts--a current flowing always in the same sense, causes the
receiving apparatus to act.
11.1
1711014
As it is possible to cause the four contacts to approach in a vertical sense so as
to leave a very small movement to the aluminium bar, one can cause the wire frame
to approach the poles of the electromagnet in order to have a very strong action
and a greatly reduced amplitude of movement.
"
By removing the communication by either disconnecting the one or the other
pair of contacts with their respective terminal or terminals, and setting one of the
terminals in communication with one pole of the local battery, which serves to
actuate the receiving apparatus and the other terminal in communication with the
other pole, the aluminium bar in its movement will only interrupt the circuit of the
local battery.
...
If one establishes at the same time a permanent circuit of this local battery with
the receiving apparatus by shunting the same according to requirement in such a
manner that through the circuit of the receiving apparatus, when the two circuits
are closed only a current passes, insufficient to actuate the apparatus, but sufficient
to actuate the same as soon as the whole current passes through this circuit, it is
evident that one can actuate the apparatus by simply breaking the circuit of the
battery by two of the said four contacts and by the aluminium bar,' which action is
certainly the most reliable and easiest to be obtained.
This relay can actuate the Morse-apparatus, the Wheatstone automatic, Hughes
and Hughes multiple automatic apparatus.
T
11
.*4.
!..
1
.ויי
T
HASELTINE, LAKE' & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
9:
1
...-
1.
i
...
1. t
'
G
j
"
band 9
1 2
LM 174
was

page_text: COMI DEI DI BUITICATION..
Improvements in Electric Telegraphs.
We, SECONDO Roos, FERDINANDO: LURASCHI, and ETTORE LURASCHI, -all
of 1 Corso Loreto, Milan, in the Kingdom of Italy, Engineers, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in electric telegraphs and is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings in which
i
Figure 1 is an elevation of an automatic commutator or switching device.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the said device.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the connections.
Figure 5 is a plan of the relay..
Figure 6 is an elevation of the same.
1 :
Figure 7 is a plan of a modification of the relay and
Figure 8 is an elevation of the same.
The automatic commutator or switching device consists of four electro-magnets
indicated by the letters a a in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and moreover marked by a
number 1, 2, 3, 4 in Figure 4 which gives the different electric circuits of the
commutator.
[
These four electromagnets are coupled in pairs by means of two shafts bb. These
shafts carry each in an opposite position the armatures of the two pairs of
electromagnets, the first pair being formed by the electromagnets 1 and 3 and the
second pair by the electromagnets 2 and 4 (Figure 4).
Each of the said shafts moreover carries five small levers c
and I
(Figure 4) which are electrically insulated from each other and
from the shaft, and which are designed to establish an electric contact by their
extremities which are for this purpose provided with small platinum plates.
The contact takes place through platinum points, provided on suitable springs rr,
Figure 3. These springs with platinum points are--in order to simplify the
explanation of the circuits-simply represented as follows
1:
2º D¹ A B C¹, E¹ C D 1' 3º,
1° AS R¹ B³, S'I E R¹ 4º (Figure 4).
Four of these springs 10 20 30 40 are electrically insulated from each other
and communicate each with one of the four electromagnets bearing the same
number.
The other springs, insulated from the rest of the apparatus communicate
however in pairs with each other, namely each spring with that which carries the
'same letter.
When the springs have assumed any position under the influence of the electro-
magnets, this position is maintained'for each shaft by the aid of a lever arm I,
Figure 3 which carries at its extremity a pivotally connected member G furnished
with a tooth n which will according to the position of the. levers place itself into
the one or the other of two notches pivoted in a corresponding piece P. The tooth
is maintained in the notch by a helical spring X which is adjusted by the aid of a
set screw V so that the said helical spring ensures the equilibrium of the five
springs which actuates the levers applied upon the shaft.
Nine terminals serve to establish the communications of the apparatus: with the
manipulator or key and with the local battery; with two batteries, namely a large
one for the current of the line and the other for the counter current; and finally
with the line and the earth.
The commutator or switching device comprises two circuits, one local and the
other the circuit of the line.

page_text: The local circuit is formed, as in Figure 4, by the four electromagnets, one
extremity of each of which, ZI Z Z Ziv is connected and passes into the central
termiual P L and from this terminal into one of the poles of the local battery, the
other pole of which is connected to the manipulator or key.. The manipulator or
key is moreover connected to the two exterior terminals M' M', which latter on
their part communicate with the two extreme levers namely M¹ with c¹ and M'
with, and complete the local circuit; the switching device will act in the
following manner:
If one of the four positions which the apparatus can occupy is given, for instance
the position of contact of el with 40 and c with 1º, and if the current arrives from
the manipulator or key through the terminal M the circuit will be completed
by the electromagnet 40 and the position of the switching device will not change; if
on the contrary the current arrives through the, terminal M³, the circuit will be
closed by the electromagnet 1° and the switch or communicating device will take
up the position 2° 1° in which one current only passing through the terminal M¹
will be enabled to cause the apparatus to act, and to cause the same to take up the
position c¹ 2030 and thus for taking the position of 4° 3° it is necessary that
the current arrives through the terminal M. and through the terminal M¹ for the
position 4° and 1°. It is thus evident that for the operation of the apparatus
it is necessary that the local current shall alternately.come from the manipulator or
key, and pass to the terminal M' and M2 and moreover that the electromagnets
shall only act successively in the order 1° 2° 3° 4°.
VIII
In establishing the communications of the circuit of the line as will be seen
from Figure 4 by connecting the lever with the negative pole of the battery of
the line and with its positive pole, and likewise c with the negative pole and. c'
with the positive pole of the battery of the counter current or small battery of the
line; and I with the line and likewise c" and c¹x with the earth-it will be seen
that for the position e' 4° and 10 there will pass into the line the current of the
small battery through the positive pole; while in the succeeding position e 2º c 1º
it will be the current of the large battery which will pass into the line through its
positive pole, that is to say in the same sense as the preceding small current. On
passing to the position 20 30 one will have the current of the small battery
through the negative pole in the line and in the position c 4° 3° the 'current of
the large battery, through the same pole in the line. By suitably regulating the
intensity of the two currents so that the large battery only can cause the receiving
apparatus to act, (the small battery only serving to destroy the effects thereof
while thus preparing the line for a new emission of current from the large battery),
it is evident that the transmission will take place by an increase of potential of the
counter current and by currents flowing alternately in the opposite sense of each
Bignal
:..
By the screws q Figure 3 which regulate the course of the springs one can
ensure that there shall be no interruption of the current on the line and even that
the two currents of the line act simultaneously during a longer or shorter time.
The advantages of these arrangements are as follows:-
:-
:
"
Passage at zero and consequently clearness of the reception secured by the
transmission with currents flowing alternately in the contrary sense.
Smaller number of currents and therefore greater speed by the transmission with
increase of potential of the counter current.
Slighter retardation in the manifestation of the current by the 'simultaneous
action of the current of the line and of the counter current, which action can be
regulated at will without increase of the maximum intensity.
.:!
This switching device can be actuated, at will by a simple Morse-key or for
obtaining a greater regularity by an automatic Wheatstone key, the Hugues
apparatus may serve perfectly to operate the switching device and even in this case,
the instantaneousness of the manifestation of the current is an essential advantage;
moreover one can establish the counter' current as soon as the operation is
.1 :

page_text: obtained, which realizes the best possible conditions for transmission with this
apparatus.
1
There remains to regulate the apparatus according to the power of transmission
of the cable.
24
The relay Figures 5 and 6 is composed of a powerful electromagnet A A which
actuates, according to the direction of the current of the line, a frame C Figure 6,
of very thin wire, supported by a small aluminium shaft terminating in very thin
steel pivots which oscillate vertically in holes or upon counter pivots of ruby; the
position of the said frame C is such that its vertical sides are under the action of
the greatest lines of force of the poles PP of the electromagnet A A. The
support S Figure 5 of the said frame C ie independent of the base and the frame
can be adjusted by means of the screw X to make contact with the poles of the
electromagnet.
The frame C is connected by silk threads to a small and very light aluminium
bar B, Figure 5 held by its centre in a fixed direction and actuated by a small and
very light spring R, adjustable by a set screw V'.
"
Four platinum points on the said aluminium bar serve to establish the electric
communications, by means of four contacts qqq q
II ILI
The electric communications of the relay are established in the following
manner:
[1
The extreme or outer terminals E E¹ Figure 5 of the same establish a permanent
communication of a powerful local battery with the aforesaid electromagnet A A.
The terminals L, T, connect the wire frame C with the line or conductor of the
cable and with the earth.
:
By these arrangements the wire frame C is actuated by the electromagnet
according to the direction of the current of the line, and as this current flows
alternately in the contrary sense, the wire frame C turns alternately, to the left and
to the right but tends to come to the position of rest.
One utilizes this movement either for closing a local circuit and establishing a
current in the receiving apparatus or for interrupting a local circuit in order to
cause the whole current to pass through the receiving apparatus.
In the first case the contacts qq, Figure 5, which end in two inner
terminals. D E are connected by the said terminals D E which communicate with
one of the poles of a local battery, the other contacts qq, metallically connected
communicate through the terminal F with the apparatus which is in communication
with the other pole of the battery.
III
In this manner-irrespective of the direction of movement of the wire frame C,
whether the same establishes the communication q¹qш or o̟ o̟¹-
-a current flowing
always in the same sense, causes the receiving apparatus to act.
III
As it is possible to cause the contacts qq to approach toward the contacts qq
so.as to leave a very small movement to the aluminium bar B, one can cause the
wire frame C to approach the poles of the electromagnet A A in order to have a
very strong action and a greatly reduced amplitude of movement.
By removing the communication of F with one of the inner terminals, that is to
say with one of the contacts q q by separating the terminals DE or the
contacts qq, by setting the terminals D or q¹ in communication with one pole of
the local battery, which serves to actuate the receiving apparatus, and the other
terminal E or 9 in communication with the other pole, the aluminium bar B in its
movement will only interrupt the circuit of the local battery.
If one establishes at the same time a permanent circuit of this local battery with
the receiving apparatus by shunting the same according to requirement in such a
manner that through the circuit of the receiving apparatus, when the two circuits
are closed-only a current passes, insufficient to actuate the apparatus, but sufficient
to actuate the same as soon as the whole current passes through this circuit, it is
evident that one can actuate the apparatus by simply breaking the circuit of the
battery by the contacts qq and by, the bar B, which action is certainly the most
reliable and easiest to be obtained.

page_text: Figures 7 and illustrate respectively in plan and elevation, a modification
applied to that part of the relay which has for its object to effect the interruption
and the closing of the local circuit of the receiving apparatus and which is
represented by the small aluminium bar B of Figure 5.
In this modification the frame C carries, normally fixed to its axis of rotation a
small aluminium rod D, the ivory extremity of which engages with a fork E.
connected to the small aluminium bar F which can turn in the horizontal direction
around a vertical pivot G. This bar F, while moving in one or the other.
direction, according as the frame G turns from the right to the left or vice versa,
moves the thin vertical leaf springs of steel M' M" which bear respectively against
the platinum points V₁ V" forming the extremities of the set screws, T¹ and T").
out of contact with the said points. In this way the interruption of the circuit of
the receiving apparatus, terminating in the screws A A" can be obtained in both
cases of movement of the bar F.
This relay can actuate the Morse-apparatus, the Wheatstone automatic, Hughes.
and Hughes multiple automatic apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that.
what we claim is :-
The form of commutator or switching device, the method of telegraphic
transmission over long cables by currents flowing alternately in an opposite
direction and by an increase of potential of the counter-current of the line, and the
relay permitting, by the closing as well as by the interruption of a local circuit, to.
operate the Morse, the Wheatstone automatic, the Hughes, the Hughes multiple
automatic apparatus, and in general any apparatus acting by currents
different duration or by currents emitted from distances at different time--
intervals.
of a
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants..