IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR GOVERNING SHORT OR LOCAL CIRCUITS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS ON LONG TELEGRAPHIC LINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," Southampton Buildings,
Buildings, London, Consulting
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED
FOR GOVERNING SHORT OR LOCAL CIRCUITS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS ON LONG
TELEGRAPHIC LINES."-A communication. from abroad by Edward
Seymour Hidden, of Millburn, New Jersey, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
Sealed the 29th April 1870, and dated the 15th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
. on the 15th December 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
Southampton Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRO-MAGNETIC CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR

page_text: GOVERNING SHORT OR LOCAL CIRCUITS FOR OPERATING SIGNALS ON LONG
TELEGRAPHIC LINES," a communication, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in relay instruments which
break and make electro-magnetic circuits when another electro-magnetic
circuit is broken or closed; such instruments are usually employed in t
connection with long circuits reaching from one place to another in such
manner that when the long circuit is opened or closed it shall act upon
the relay instrument so that the latter shall open and close a short
or local circuit at the locality where a telegraphic message is to be
received,
The method of opening and closing one circuit by means of the
opening and closing of another and of using a short circuit to work
the telegraphic recorder has already been adopted, and many instruments
have been devised for the purpose, one such instrument being described
in the Specification of an Invention for which Lettters Patent were
granted to George Little, bearing date the Eighth day of April,
A.D. 1867, No. 1053. The present Invention relates to further im-
provments in that instrument, and in the recording instrument described
in the Specification of another Invention for which Letters Patent were
granted to me, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, A.D. 1867,
No. 2960. These Specifications are referred to in order to shorten the
description of the present Invention.
The moving instrument in this relay which makes and breaks the
secondary circuit is in all cases a float arranged in a reservoir containing
liquid which is surrounded by a coil, the coil and float being similar
to those described in the former Specifications herein-before referred to,
and the float being caused to move up and down as therein set forth;
but I prefer to use a glass float as described in the latter of the two
said Specifications enclosing one or more permanent magnets or one or
more wire rods capable of being magnetized by induction, and by pre-
ference smaller in size than heretofore. The reservoir in which the
float moves is by preference like that described as preferred in the same
Specification except that it has no regulating tube and is partially com-
posed of glass, so that not only the vibrations but the normal position
of the float may be ascertained by inspection. This float as it moves
up and down makes and breakes the secondary circuit, and its oscillations
may be to a certain extent regulated and controlled by permanent
adjustable magnets. I prefer to make the glass part open at bottom

page_text: and air-tight, and to insert in the top a moveable stop, by preference a
screw, packed by a collar and nut or in some other suitable manner, and
at the bottom I make a bridge which is a flat rod with a hole in the
centre crossing the cylindrical opening diametrically. I prefer to make
the reservoir circular in all its cross sections, the lower part being
enclosed in the coil, which is by preference contained in a coil box
and connected with the long circuit, one end of the wire forming the
coil being connected with an insulated ring and thence through a wire
which bears upon the ring with a standard, and the other end of
the coil being in connection through the box with another standard.
The reservoir is filled wholly or partially with a suitable fluid and in it is
located the float with its enclosed magnets. To the lower part of the float
is to be attached a fork or trident. I prefer to make this fork of platinum
and of a piece of metal distinct from the magnet a rod contained in
the float, but I sometimes intend to fork the rod or magnet, in which
case the fork and magnet will be all in one piece, and I prefer that the
prong or prongs connecting with one cup herein-after described should
be longer than the prong or prongs connecting with the other cup, and
also to make one prong in the axial line of the stem of the float; this
prong is to pass through the aperture in the bridge and is guided by it,
and the trident or fork may be attached to the glass stem by a little wax
or, cement. Below the reservoir lie the two cups one in connection with
each polo of the secondary or local circuit by means of bent rods or wires
and I prefer that one of these cups should be annular and surround
the other. There is preferably an interval between the tops of the cups
and the bottom of the reservoir to give free access to the cups and the
prongs and to enable the operators to see all motions of the prongs and
also their normal position and thus facilitate adjustment. I sometimes,
however, intend to let the bottom of the reservoir touch and be in con-
nection with the cups so that no fluid can escape between them, and in
that case an opening closed by a small screw is made in the top of the
reservoir through which it can be filled. The cups contain mercury.
The vibrations of the float upwards are checked by the adjustable stop;
ts oscillation may to a certain extent be governed by a permanent
magnet adjustable in the cavity of the stop and another permanent magnet
below the float may also be applied. I prefer to make the cups adjustable
with reference to the reservoir and therefore cut a screw upon the block
n which the cups are formed, which screw is embraced by a nut; this
ut has a flange underlying another flange formed in another nut

page_text: screwed to the bed plate. A screw plug holds up the flange, and by
means of the plug this flange can either be made fast or allowed to
rotate under considerable friction. By turning the nut the block in
which the cups are formed may be raised and lowered, the block being
kept from revolving either by flexible rods or by any device which will
prevent rotation while it admits of vertical movement.
The great peculiarity of this Invention may be defined as follows,
namely, that in it the points, wires, or prongs connecting with the two
cups of the local circuit are to be at the same end of the float while the
float is surrounded and can be worked by a single coil. I attach the
stand to gimbals just as an ordinary mariner's compass is attached, the
outside pivots of the ring being mounted in columns. A heavy weight is
attached to the stand and the apparatus will then level itself. Binding
screws may be used to steady the weight after it has settled in its
position.
I sometimes use prongs at the upper end of the float, but the prongs
should be close together. The reservoir then becomes a tube open at
the top and closed at bottom. I also use two prongs to make connection
with one of the cups and one with the other, but I prefer two prongs
only, and although they may be of the same length and dip into two
cups the mercury
in which is at the same level I prefer either to make
the prongs of different lengths, or to use a different level of mercury
in the cups, and thus work with one prong always in the mercury.
SPECIFICATION in pursuanec of the conditions of the. Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton
Buildings, London, Consulting Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-

page_text: trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 APPARATUS FOR MAKING AND BREAKING ELECTRO-
MAGNETIC CIRCUITS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR GOVERNING SHORT OR LOCAL CIRCUITS
FOR OPERATING SIGNALS ON LONG TELEGRAPHIC LINES," a communication to
me from abroad by Edward Seymour Hidden, of Millburn, New Jersey,
United States of America, Manufacturer, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
their hands and scals, 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 monthis next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
one of
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming part of this Specification:-
:-
My Invention relates to improvements in relay instruments which
break and make electro-magnetic circuits when another electro-magnetic
circuit is broken or closed; such instruments are usually employed
in connection with long circuits reaching from one place to another in
such manner that when the long circuit is opened or closed it shall
act upon the relay instrument so that the latter shall open and close
a short or local circuit at the locality where a telegraphic message is to
be received.
The method of opening and closing one circuit by means of the
opening and closing of another and of using a short circuit to work the
telegraphic recorder has already been adopted, and many instruments
have been devised for the purpose, one such instrument being described
in the Specification of an Invention for which Letters Patent have been
granted to George Little, bearing date the Eighth day of April,
A.D. 1867, No. 1053. The present Invention relates to further im-

page_text: provements in that instrument and in the recording instrument described
in the Specification of another Invention, for which Letters Patent were
granted to me, bearing date the Twenty-first day of October, A.D. 1867,
No. 2960. These Specifications are referred to in order to shorten the
description of the present Invention.
The moving instrument in this relay which makes and breaks the
secondary circuit is in all cases a float arranged in a reservoir containing
liquid which is surrounded by a coil, the coil and float being similar
to those described in the former Specifications herein-before mentioned,
and the float being caused to move up and down as therein set forth;
but I prefer to use a glass float as described in the latter of those two said
Specifications enclosing one or more permanent magnets, or one or more
wire rods capable of being magnetized by induction, and by preference
smaller in size than the aforesaid float. The reservoir in which the float
moves is also according to my present Invention by preference like that
described as preferred in the same Specification, except that it has no
regulating tube and is partially composed of glass, so that not only the
vibrations but the normal position of the float may be ascertained by
inspection. This float as it moves up and down makes and breaks the
secondary circuit and its oscillations may be to a certain extent regulated
and controlled by permanent adjustable magnets, as described in the
said former Specifications.
are 1 is a vertical section through the entire apparatus showing
my improvements in the most approved form; Figure 2 is a similar
vertical section of the same apparatus without the levelling contrivance
herein-after described; Figure 3 is a section of the fork or trident shown
in Figure 2 drawn to an enlarged scale; Figures 4 to 10 inclusive exhibit
modifications of parts of the apparatus also drawn to an enlarged scale
and which are herein-after referred to.
In this Drawing a is the reservoir and a¹ the glass part. I prefer to
make the latter open at bottom but otherwise air-tight, and to insert in
the top a movable stop by preference a screw a³ packed by a collar and nut
or in some other suitable manner, and at the bottom I make a bridge a³
which is a flat rod with a hole in the centre, crossing the cylindrical
opening diametrically. I prefer to make the reservoir circular in its
cross sections, the lower part being surrounded by the coil 6 which is by

page_text: preference enclosed in a coil box and connected with the long circuit
as described in my said former Specification, one end of the wire forming
the coil being connected with the insulated ring 6', and thence through
the wire c which bears upon the ring with the standard c², Figure 1, or
c', Figure 2, and the other end of the coil being in connection through
the box with the standard c³, Figure 1. The reservoir is filled wholly or
partially with a suitable fluid and in it is located the float d with its
enclosed magnets. To the lower part of the float is attached a fork
or trident e, Figures 1, 2, and 3, modifications whereof are shown in
Figures 4, 5, and 6. I prefer to make this fork of platinum and of a
piece of metal distinct from the magnet or rod contained in the float,
but I sometimes fork the rod or magnet, in which case the fork and
magnet will be all in one piece, and I prefer that the prong or prongs
connecting with one cup herein-after described should be longer than
the prong or prongs connecting with the other cup, and also to make one
prong in the axial line of the stern of the float. This prong is to pass
through the aperture in the bridge and is guided thereby. The trident
or fork may be attached to the glass stem by a little wax or cement.
Below the reservoir lie two cups g, g', one in connection with each
pole of the secondary or local circuit by means of bent rods or wires d',
and I prefer that one of these cups should be annular and should
surround the other. There is preferably an interval between the tops
of the cups and the bottom of the reservoir to give free access to the
cups and the prongs and to enable the operator to see all motions of
the prongs and also their normal position, and thus facilitate adjustment.
I sometimes, however, intend to let the bottom of the reservoir touch
and be in connection with the cups so that no fluid can escape between
them, and in that case an opencing closed by a small screw similar to
the screw a is made in the top of the reservoir through which it can
be filled. The cups contain mercury. The vibrations of the float upward
are checked by the adjustable stop; its oscillation may to a certain
extent be governed by a permanent magnet adjustable in the cavity
of the stop, and another permanent magnet below the float may also
be applied, as described in my former Specification. I prefer to make
the cups adjustable with reference to the reservoir and therefore cut a
screw upon the block in which the cups are formed which screw is em-
braced by a nut h; this nut has a flange underlying another flange k formed
in another nut screwed to the bed plate l. A screw plug m holds up
the flange on the nut h, and by means of the plug m this flange can

page_text: either be made fast or allowed to rotate under considerable friction. By
turning the nut h the block in which the cups are formed may be raised
and lowered, the block being kept from revolving either by the flexible
rods d' or by any device which will prevent rotation while it admits of
vertical movement. Provision is made for limiting the length of
vibration of the float and for adjusting the cups with relation to the
normal position of the float, and I prefer that there should be an open
space between the reservoir and the cups, all of which points are
advantageous in the use of the instrument.
The great peculiarity of this Invention, however, may be defined as
follows, namely, that in it the points, wires, or prongs connecting with
the two cups of the local circuit are to be at the same end of the float,
while the float is surrounded and can be worked by a single coil.
1 In the apparatus described in the aforesaid Specification of George
Little the rule of construction is that the two connections with the
local circuit shall be at opposite ends of the float. The exception is
represented at Figure 6 of the Drawings accompanying that Speci-
fication, where the connections are both at the lower end of the float,
but in that case the prongs are wide apart and necessarily so as two coils
are employed each enclosing one of the prongs. The rule of construction
of my apparatus is under all modifications thereof that the connections
shall both be at the same end of the float and so arranged in reference
to the latter and its magnet or magnets that it can be worked by a
single coil.
It has been found in a long course of experiments with various forms
Little's apparatus that it is not always reliable when feeble currents
come over the main line owing to the fact that the connections between
the wires of the local circuit may be made and broken by the pendulum
like swinging or oscillating motion of his floats as well as by the up-and-
down motion derived from the coil. This fault is especially observable
when the up-and-down movements are rapid and of small extent and
under such circumstances this relay is most required. This fault was
clearly traceable to the arrangement of the connections at opposite ends
of the float, but the same fault exists in the modification illustrated in
Figure 6 of his Drawing, where the prongs although both at one end
of the float are so wide apart that a feeble oscillating motion will much
impair the usefulness of the apparatus. This difficulty is obviated by
having two prongs at the same end of the float so near together that

page_text: the oscillating motion does not affect their position with reference to
the mercury in cups, and so combined with the float that the latter may
be and is worked by a single coil.
Experiments with this apparatus have proved that it is a great:
improvement upon the aforesaid apparatus of Little, and its reliability
is still further increased by combining a guide, namely, the aperture in
the bridge, with the float and prongs at a point near the end of the:
prongs, it being clear that by the use of such a combination even wide,
oscillations of the float bulb will but slightly alter the relative level
of the prongs.
My apparatus is to be used as described in the aforesaid Specification.
of Little. I prefer for obvious reasons to level the stand before putting.
it in operation. In order to effect this readily, and as far as possible to
prevent careless operators from neglecting this precaution, I attach the
stand 1, Figure 1, to gimbals exactly as an ordinary mariner's compass
is attached, the outside pivots of the ring being mounted in columns,
as clearly shown in the same Figure. A heavy weight q is attached to
the stand by preference to the nut m and the apparatus will then leve!
itself. Binding screws & may be used to steady the weight after it has
settled in its position.
I sometimes use prongs at the upper end of the float, as illustrated by
Figures 7 to 10 inclusive. The reservoir then becomes a tube open at
the top and closed at the bottom. I may also use two prongs to make
connection with one of the cups and one with the other, as shown,
but I prefer to use only two prongs, and although they may be of the
same length and dip into two cups, the mercury in which is at the same
level, I prefer either to make the prongs of different lengths or to use
a different level of mercury in the cups, and thus work with one prong
always in the mercury.
Having thus, fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,—
First. A float with a reservoir and single coil and two prongs and
cups both at the same end of the float combined and operating together,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second. The reservoir open at bottom in combination with a float and
prongs and cups arranged below the reservoir, substantially as and for
the purpose described.

page_text: Third. The combination with the relay apparatus of the levelling
contrivance, substantially as specified.
Fourth. In combination with a reservoir open at bottom and a float
and prongs two mercury cups adjustable vertically with reference to the
reservoir, for the purpose and substantially as described.
Fifth. In combination with a float reservoir and coil, all substantially
as described, a guide applied to the float near the end thereof where
the prongs are located, substantially as specified.
Sixth. The cups with a screw on the outside thereof in combination
with the revolving nut and the connecting wires to prevent revolution
and permit vertical movement of the cups, and in combination with
these elements the screw plug and the flanges whereby the nut may be
jammed, substantially as described.
Seventh. The weight attached to the screw plug when the nut in
which the latter rests is supported by gimbals, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. TEARE,
Clerk to Mess. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Southampton Buildings,
London.