Improvements in Recording Telegraphic Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Recording Telegraphic Apparatus.
I, ANTOINE DAMASKINOS, of 2, Rue d'Arras, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Engineer, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
In submarine telegraphy, two different methods are employed to record the signals
representing letters or other characters, by the syphon recorder, according as to
whether short or long cables are used.
That used for short cables has the following disadvantages:
1st. The recording device is carried by the electro-magnetic coil itself, the
movement of which it constantly affects by its weight.
2nd. One end of the syphon always moves in the ink, which also interferes with
its movements, especially as they have to be rapid.
3rd. The other or inking end of the syphon rubs against the paper band which
passes in front of it, and which, by its roughnesses interferes with its movements,
which are, moreover affected by the cohesion of the liquid itself.
The method used for large cables also has many objections.
First, the resistance of the liquid to the rapid movement of the end of the syphon.
which is always immersed in it.
Second, the syphon inks the paper band which passes in front of it, by means of
a very rapid vibratory movement, effected by a special apparatus, which easily and
often gets out of order, and this method of inking has not only this inconvenience,
but, from its inertia, the syphon which vibrates so quickly opposes a considerable
resistance to its desired movement by the rapidly succeeding electric currents,
so that it does not answer instantly to their action, and prevents the operation
being as rapid as it should be.
Third, the apparatus is so small and delicate that it is easily broken, and, more-
over, it must always be kept in movement in order to prevent the ink, which
remains in its capillary tube, from drying up so as to completely close the latter,
as often happens.
Fourth, the signals given by this syphon are so puzzling that they can only be
read by persons who have had years of practice, and who, even then, often make
mistakes, and can generally only guess at the meaning.
The improved apparatus hereinafter described, so far from having these defects,
not only allows a greater number of signals to be given per minute, but, moreover,
these signals are easily legible by anyone.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1
is a side view, of the balanced oscillating device, A, B, C,-the figure to the right
is a front view of B, C,-and the next figure to the right, is a section of the ink
holder D, whilst Figure 2 is a view from above.
The whole, which weighs less than two grammes, can turn freely round a vertical
axis o, o, consisting of a platinum wire, and the part b, B, C,-which carries at its
bent end, B, C, the aluminium ink holder D,- is carried by a wire or thread 1, fin
such manner that the axis o, o is entirely relieved from the weight of the part b, B, C.
The force necessary to turn the whole round this axis will, therefore be very small,
and this force consists of small electrical currents which cause to oscillate a coil or
equivalent device of any of the ordinary well known kinds, at s, which coil or
equivalent device is connected by a thread of silk a' to the part A, B of the

page_text: oscillating lever, at the right of the axis o, o, at a point a, the distance of which
from the axis o, o is the eighth part of the distance b, B, so that when the current
is passed through the coil or equivalent device the thread a¹ is caused to move in
one or the other direction, and the lever A, B, and ink holder simultaneously move
through a very short distance.
The ink holder D carries at its lower part a small horizontal tube having at its
ends a small hole of 0.15 mm., by which it communicates with the aniline
ink in the ink holder D.
The shape of the ink holder D is such that the
extremities, e, e can touch during the oscillations of the lever, the paper band
which, having been first suitably folded by the folders P, P1 (Figure 3) passes in
front of them on both sides, and as it leaves the apparatus, is made to take its
original form by the flattening device P. The possible stroke of the lever at its
ends e e, being about 2 mm., it follows that the oscillations of the coil will not be
more than about a fourth of a millimêtre.
Figure 3 shews in perspective the whole of the apparatus described. The paper
band, which is about 16 mm. wide, being introduced at E passes under the folding
a
devices P, P', which give it the form " |
b
C
(a, b = c, d = 5 mm.,
and b, c 7 mm.), and it then passes in front of the ends e, e of the ink holder
which, as they oscillate by the action of the electric currents and of the twist given
by the platinum wires which form the axis o, o, mark it on the right and on the
left with a mark, smaller or larger according to the duration of the current which
moves the coil. The folding device serves to keep the band in the shape a, b, c, d,
so that it may be properly inked, and the flattening device Pu restores it to its
original form. The band, therefore, as it leaves the flattening device P will be
marked with marks which represent the letters or other characters of the message
transmitted.
The adjustable stops B2, B2 serve to stop the oscillations of the lever exactly at
the positions in which it must be for the points e, e of the ink holder to scarcely
touch the paper band which passes them. By this means there will neither be
pressure nor rubbing against the band, and, consequently, the force necessary to
produce the oscillations will be very small, and the more so that the movement
will always be in a direction perpendicular to the band, whilst the cohesion of
the aniline is insignificant. In order, on the one hand, to diminish the stroke of
the lever, and on the other, to render the contact as exact as possible, small
screws r, r, having rounded ends, are arranged just opposite the ends e, e of the
ink holder D, so that the paper passing over them becomes slightly curved. By
advancing each of these screws half a millimêtre, the stroke of the lever is reduced
to 2 millimêtres,--or less, if desired, so that by this means more signals, and
consequently, more messages, may be sent in the same time.
The modifications in the characters are as follows.-
1st. All the signals intended to mark points should be placed on one side, and
all those intended for dashes on the other side.
2nd. Since the signals representing points are all to be on one side or edge
of the band, for example its upper edge, and those representing dashes on the
other, or lower edge, there is no necessity to make the latter longer than the points,
since all confusion is rendered impossible.
3.-If, in signals of the same character, several points or dashes follow each
other, instead of separating them (in the transmitter) by spaces of 3.5 mm., they
may be separated by spaces of celluloid of 0.8 min., that is to say, as wide as
the points themselves. In this way a dash will be obtained which will be 3, 5, 7, etc.
times longer, and all confusion will be impossible.
Fourth. To connect to earth between the successive currents, there will be left
between the characters a band hollowed opposite the points and dashes of the same
character. For example, Figure 4 represents the signs constituting the letter a.
It will be seen that this letter is represented instead of a dash by two points placed

page_text: thus, consequently no confusion between them is possible. The central line is
also shewn hollowed as indicated so that the line connects with earth when the
roller in the middle of the carriage passes over it, and it passes necessarily a short
time after one of the other rollers, either that for the points or that for the dashes,
leaves the point or points on which it was running. In this way at each interruption
of what may be called the registering current, a discharge from the line will follow,
which will be longer in proportion as the space to be moved over by the central
roller is larger.
5th. The carriage, which is represented in perspective in Figure 9, is shewn in
Figure 10 in a section passing through the rollers. It is provided with three
instead of two rollers, so that one is always on the side representing points, the
central one on the line to earth or discharge, and the third on or under the signals
intended to represent dashes. Figure 9 also shews three terminals, of which one is
connected with the + current, one with the - current, whilst the central one T
always communicates with earth.
Figure 5 represents the letter R, which consists of a point, dash, and point, but
which is here represented.
Figure 6 represents the letter F, that is to say in points, dashes, points, and it
shews how the two points following each other are composed to form the character.
Instead, therefore, of the representation . there will appear upon the band
, the dash being of a length triple that of the simple
the representation
point.
-
Figure 7 represents the letter V, that is to say,
represented upon the band thus
which will be
the dash being five times as long as the
simple point. The entire alphabet will be represented as follows:-
'
It will be seen that no confusion in reading is possible, seeing that the eye easily
makes a distinction between lines, the length of which varies in the proportion
of 1, 3, 5, and 7.
In the same improved system, the ten figures, and the bar in fractions, would be
It will be seen that here, too, no confusion is possible.
In Figure 3 are shewn other regulating screws R, R, which give to the trough-
shaped guide L, L, a slight movement round an axis which is not shewn in the
figure, but which is in the direction of the line o, o at the bottom of the hollow part
of the guide. By these screws the whole device can be adjusted so that the ink
holder D remains at a short distance from the paper band when no current is
passing through the coil. The four screws V, V, V, V, are for the purpose of
adjusting the apparatus in a horizontal position by means of a spirit level.
My improved apparatus will not only be free from the disadvantages of the
syphon recorder, but it will possess the following advantages.
1st. It is more sensitive and requires a smaller force to operate it.
2nd. The capillary part of the tube e, e being scarcely 1 mm. (Figure 1, section),
it will not require to be continually in movement to prevent it from being stopped.
It will be sufficient if no messages pass for 3 or 4 hours, to work it by hand in order
to prevent the ink from drying at its ends, and in any case, by passing a fine point
into these holes it can be set going again.
3rd. The quantity of ink used is so small that the contents of the small ink
holder D will suffice for at least 500 messages.

page_text: 4th. The number of signals for the 27 letters of the Morse alphabet being 86,
and that of the alphabet described being only 56, it follows that for the same
message the number of signals to be transmitted will be considerably reduced,
whereby other things being equal, it will be possible to send more messages in a
less time.
5th. The signs for the same letter being separated by 3.5 mm., the letters of the
same word by 7 mm., and those of different words by 12 mm., and the movement of
the carriage, and that of the band, being uniform, no confusion will be possible, the
more so as the signs are marked on both edges of the band.
The stroke of the balanced lever being 2 mm. at most, the speed of the
transmitting carriage and of the band may be increased without inconvenience, and
many more messages obtained than by the syphon recorder.
7th. The movement of the carriage being uniform and mechanical, and the
composition of the message by the telegraphic characters described above being
capable of being made without any mistake on the one hand, and the paper band
travelling with a uniform movement on the other hand, it follows that the signals
which the balanced lever of the receiver gives will be so well defined that no error
will be possible in reading them.
8th. Since the whole work is done mechanically, any one will be able to compose
and send the messages without mistake, and instead of ten or twelve years of
practice to become a good operator, a few days' work will suffice to attain the same
result, and even more surely.
9th. The number of messages, being capable of being thus considerably increased,
submarine cable companies will be able, by diminishing the cost of messages, to
double their receipts.
The novelty of the present invention consists more especially in the use of the
balanced lever described, and of the telegraphic characters for-the transmission
and recording of signals, whether those on the Morse system or on any other and
whatever method may be used for their transmission and receiving.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved telegraphic recording apparatus, characterized by
1. A support of suitable shape, having adjusting screws for the purpose of
adjusting it in a level position.
2. A guide for the paper which received the signals, turning upon a pivot so
that it can be exactly adjusted in the direction of the movement of the paper.
3. A balanced lever carrying an ink holder, in combination with a support and
means of adjustment.
4. The particular arrangement of the characters produced, in combination with
the said balanced lever.
Dated this 15th day of November 1201