AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC-PRINTING REGISTERS AND RETURN SIGNALS, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and
Boult, Agents for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC
ELECTRIC-PRINTING REGISTERS AND RETURN SIGNALS, AND APPARATUS
THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by B. E. Valentine, of New York
City, and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Attorney.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of the Firm of W. P. Thompson and Boult Agents for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex and
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM
OF AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC PRINTING REGISTERS AND RETURN SIGNALS, AND
APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by B. E. Valentine of
New York City, and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Attorney.
This Invention consists of automatically receiving and forming a permanent
register of electric signals. It consists of one or more transmitters or signal
boxes for sending signals by the breaking of a circuit. The chief features of the
signal box being a revolving wheel having on its first quarter the notches to
denote the nature of the signal. On the next quarter and on the third quarter
notches to denote the number of the station whence the signal is sent and on the last
quarter an independent contact surface to switch a main circuit through a bell
magnet to enable a return signal to be sounded at the transmitter.
The next feature of the system is a register to be placed at the end of the line
on the electric circuit which contains the signal boxes. This register contains a
series of wheels with type upon their peripheries for printing the signals sent.
These wheels are moved by a coiled spring in each step by step as permitted by

page_text: an escape mechanism governed by the action of a magnet and its armature con-
trolled by the signal wheel or transmitter. A trip mechanism allows the operation
of a more powerful spring which operating at the end of the signal upon other
geared wheels restores the printing wheels to unison.
Another trip mechanism causes a lever to impinge upon the type wheels and
print the signal by the aid of an inking ribbon automatically.
A revolving wheel in another part of the register which is in the main circuit
has different contact surfaces to afford a bearing for several springs which form a
scraping connection and automatically switch the electric circuits so as to operate
different wheels of the register in succession to correspond with the movements of
the different quarters of the transmitting wheel sending the signal.
Similar revolving contact surfaces and springs serve to temporarily switch in
and out of circuit electric connections which return an automatic signal to the
transmitter as soon as the signal is registered thus announcing to the sender of the
message its due receipt.
A revolving contact surface and spring likewise serve at a particular stage of
operations to cut out of circuit temporarily the relay magnet while the return
signal is being sent.
Another feature of the Invention consists of type wheels whose revolution is
governed by a clock or timepiece, so that type indicating the day hour and minute
are successively presented automatically to the printing lever. The results accom-
plished by this Invention and system are to automatically form a permanent printed
record of an electric signal or call sent from a distance; to return to the sender
automatically a signal that the message has been duly recorded; to automatically
print together with the signal the day hour and minute of sending the signal;
and to overcome the influence of the relay magnet by temporarily automatically
switching the same out of circuit.
This Invention and system of recording signals is valuable for fire alarms polico
signals, hotel annunciators and many other like purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th July 1882.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of the Firm of W. P. Thompson & Boult, Agents
for Foreign Patent Solicitors, 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
and 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "AN IMPROVED
SYSTEM OF AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC PRINTING REGISTERS AND RETURN SIGNALS,
AND APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by B. E. Valentine,
of New York, City and State of New York, one of the United States of America,
Attorney.
In the Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the register used for receiving,
recording, and printing the signals and the time when they are received. Figure 2
is a horizontal sectional view from the top of the said register. Figure 3 is a section
taken through line X X, Figure 1, looking toward the main drum. Figure 4 is a
similar section, looking toward the register wheels with the axle X' and the wheels
thereon taken away. Figure 5 is a plan, showing the various electric connections
in the system, both of the main circuit and of the local circuits, by which the
signals are communicated from the signal box and recorded at the register and the
various changes of electric circuits from the control of one type wheel to another
in the register.
This Invention has relation to the different systems of signalling and telegraphing
now in use such as fire alarms, district telegraph calls, hotel annunciators, et cetera.
In most of these systems the electric signal is sent by a signal box of ordinary con-
struction, such as is adapted for sending divers calls and an example of which is
shown at A in Figure 5 the revolution of the notched wheel R' breaking the electric
circuit and causing the signals occasioned by the breaks to be recorded at the
register. At the terminus or central office of the system the signals have (prior to
this Invention) been usually recorded or announced on a register by the dotting of
a paper tape, such as is used in telegraph offices, or by the stroke of a bell. Tho
ringing of the bell of course leaves no permanent record of the signal, and its use
is primarily to attract the attention of the person in charge of the register. The
marks usually made on the tape also are but for temporary purposes, and require
a permanent record to be made by hand if the message or signal is to be
preserved.
In signal boxes now in use in the district telegraph systems it is customary to
have divers signals cach one denoting a different purpose or object of the call, c. g
one signal to call a messenger another to call police, a third for fire, &c.-the several
calls being distinguished by the number of breaks in the circuit caused by notches
in the signal wheel.
The object of this Invention is to furnish mechanism which shall automatically
record and print in type legible to all, at a single impression of printing mechanism
the nature of the call and the source from whence it came by means of the words-
e.g. messenger, 65 & cetera.
The Printing Devices. In the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 is shown a system of
movable type wheels having upon their edges or peripheries type adapted for
printing this feature of the mechanism being substantially like the type wheels
used in the cancelling and dating stamps well known to the public. The impression
is to be made and printed on a strip of paper which is pressed in the usual manner
upon the typewheels at the point T, an inking ribbon or roller being used to furnish
the ink. N is the printing lever, or means by which the pressure is given which

page_text: produces the imprint. This lever N is pivoted at one end, while at the point na
spring furnishes the force which causes the imprint. N¹ is a bevelled projection
upon the upper part of the printing lever N which bearing against the periphery
of the wheel O on the shaft X, keeps the lever N away from the type wheels
during the revolution of the wheel O at all times except when the portion O comes
opposite to N at which point the projection N' falls suddenly into the notch O
causing an imprint on the paper and inking ribbon at T, and then by the continuing
revolution of the wheel O the projection N' operating on the beveled sido of the
notch causes the printing lever to resume its original position away from the
type.
"
دو
The Register. The type wheels Q'Q and Q³ are placed upon the shaft X
which is stationary, the type wheels revolving around it. On the peripheries of
the wheels QQ and Q³ are placed the type denoting the numbers of the signal
stations and the nature of the calls, wheel Q' having the numerals from 1 to 9
inclusive wheel Q2 the numerals 0 to 9 inclusive, while Q3 has upon it the words
"mess." "police »«fire
" cab
et cetera in number according to the number of
wants the signal boxes are adapted for. The three wheels Q1, Q2 and Q being
similar in construction and in their attendant wheels & cetera one of them Q' may
be taken for description as a sample of the three. Said wheel Q1 is actuated by a
spring which is preferably coiled up within the wheel like the spring in the
barrel of a watch. The inner end of this spring is firmly fixed to the shaft X, or
to a sleeve interposed between the shaft and the wheel Q' while the outer end of
the spring is fastened to the inner periphery of the wheel Q. After placing the
wheel Q on the shaft the spring is wound up by turning the wheel and is held by
the pawl and ratchet H which allows a movement of the wheel in one direction
independent of the other wheels. The spring Y₁ is wound up as aforesaid, sufficiently
tight to cause one or more revolutions of the wheel Q', if permitted to move the
same though in practice it is not intended to move the type wheels more than a
part of a revolution to bring any of the types to the printing point T. The
spring Yis allowed to partially unwind and move the wheel Q₁ by means of an
escape wheel E' hereinafter mentioned, and the spring Y₁ is wound up and
restored to its original tension by the reversing of the wheel Q' caused by the
movement of the wheel K which is geared into the toothed wheel I' connected
therewith. Attached to the wheel Q and on the same shaft is a second wheel G¹
which is geared into the cogs of a smaller wheel F', affixed to which is an escape
wheel El In the teeth of the wheel E play the pallets d d of the double
lever D¹.
M' is an electro magnet used in connection with an armature B' moving to and
from the magnet M'. This armature moving the lever D' will at each semi
vibration allow a single tooth of the escape wheel El to escape, producing a
consequent movement of the typewheel Q. In practice for convenience and
facility of operation it is preferred to have twenty teeth on the escape wheel E¹
and eighty teeth on each of the other wheels F¹ and G¹.
It is obvious from the foregoing that the type on the wheel Q' may be caused
successively to pass (by the revolution of the wheel) to the proper place opposite T
for printing their characters and that to cause any particular type or word to pass
down opposite the point T, it is only necessary to operate the lever D' a sufficient
number of times to allow the requisite escapement. The lever D' as before stated,
has attached at B' in armature for a corresponding electro magnet M¹. These are
shown in Figure 5 and the method of vibrating the lever D₁ to allow the
escapement is performed by the opening and closing at the signal box A of an
electric circuit in which the magnet M' is situated, the said relay closing up and
putting in operation, by means of its armature B, to which the lever D' is attached,
the local circuit of which the magnet M¹ and armature B₁ form a part in the
manner hereinafter described.
Upon the shaft X' are placed the other wheels Q, and Q³, constructed and
operated in a similar manner to the wheel Q-that is to say by inclosed springs

page_text: YY and geared wheels G2 G³ with corresponding escapements E' E³, armatures
B2 B3, and levers D2 and D³.
V is a barrel containing a powerful spring, provided with the ordinary ratchet
mechanism for winding the same and having a cog wheel for genring into others of
the train. This wheel V is geared into a pinion on the shaft X³ thereby causing
it to revolve the geared wheel L². It is obvious that a weight on a cord wound on
the axle of V can be substituted for the spring inside the barrel V where a perfectly
even power is desired. The revolution of the wheel L is governed as to speed by
the ordinary and well known escape mechanism consisting of a train of wheels and a
lever or fly wheel governor as shewn at WW and U. In this connection it
should be observed that the wheels L L' on the register and the signal wheel in
the signal box should have their governors so adjusted that they will revolve at
the same rate of speed and complete their revolutions simultaneously when started
together.
On the pinion of the wheel W is a shoulder stop t which revolving with the
pinion engages on the pin on the lever Z and stops the running of the train.
At on the wheel L2 is a notch which allows one end of the lever Z to drop into
it and bring the pin 2 down to engage with the stop on the pinion of W. The
other end of the lever Z engages with the escapement lever D', as shown in
Figure 1, so that as soon as the armature B' is moved by its magnet on the closing
of the local circuit, the lever Z is tripped and the wheels of the train commence to
revolve. At the end of one revolution of the wheel L, the end of the lever drops
into the notch allowing the stop on W* to check the movement of the train
until the lever Z is again tripped at a subsequent signal. The relative position of
the stop t on the wheel W2 and the pin v2 on the lever Z is such that whenever
the end of the lever is raised out of the notch v¹ the engagement between said
stop and pin will be broken, and the train WI W U will move if impelled, but
when the point of the lever Z drops into the notch v², the pin v² will be brought
into the line of rotation of the stop t, and the engagement of the stop and pin
again made and the train brought to rest.
L is a wheel of the same diameter and number of cogs as the wheel L² and is
designed to revolve simultaneously with L². This may be accomplished by having
the teeth of one geared into the teeth of the other, as shewn in Figure 1, or by
affixing them both firmly to the same shaft or axle X'. There should be however
a perfect insulation between these two wheels (or the system of cam-wheels
attached to them) as one of them is a part of the main circuit and the other is a
part of the local circuit. Their office is by means of the said cam-wheels which
they carry with them, to switch off the circuits to and from the relay, and to and
from the type wheel levers, respectively.
The Return to Unison :-K is a cogwheel upon a separate axle X', and geared
with the wheel I' which moves on the same shaft as and with a corresponding
movement with the type wheel Q to which it is affixed. It is obvious that as the
type wheel Q moves round in the direction of the arrow (under the vibrations of
the lever D and escapement E') the wheel K' will be carried round in the opposite
direction by the same force viz. the spring Y.
is a pin projecting from the face of the wheel K' at a point between the axle
and the periphery of the wheel, overlapped by the wheel L. The movement of
the type wheel Q, carrying the geared wheel K¹ in correspondence with it, will
carry down the pink to a point nearer the bottom of the register. The typewheels
QQ are also worked back to unison by means of the wheels and pins K³ ³, L²º
and K³L³ ³. The axles X and X are so placed relatively to each other that
the movements of the pin shall always be within a space covered by a segment
of the wheel L' when the latter is placed in a plane parallel with that of K. The
wheel K' is so geared that it makes only about one fifth of a revolution during the
greatest contemplated movement of the wheel Q' and a less distance in proportion
to a smaller movement of Q¹.
which as the wheel L'
On the wheel L' is a shoulder or beveled projection

page_text: revolves in obedience to the power exerted at V, will during the last part of its
revolution engage upon the projection (at whatever point it may have been
carried to by the partial revolution of the wheel K¹) and restore it to its original
position. The spring or other power at V being so much more powerful than the
spring in the wheel Q as soon as the projection comes in contact with the
pin it reverses the movement of the wheel K₁ and, in consequence of the gearing
of the latter will reverse also the movements of the wheels I' and Q thereby
winding up the spring Y¹ and carrying the type on the wheel back to their
original position or to unison ready to receive and record another signal. The
ratchet wheel H with its pawl connected with the wheel G prevents the wheels
G, H, F and E' from reversing with the other wheels 1' and Q' in consequence
of the movement of the wheel K' and allowing only a forward movement in one
direction by said wheels in obedience to the escape mechanism.
By reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the position of the
shoulder on the wheel L' with reference to the pin on the wheel K' when the
lever Z is dropped into the notch von the wheel L is just immediately above or
past said pin and that the wheel L' will make almost an entire revolution before
the shoulder is brought to travel over the arc of the wheel K₁ within which the
pin moves with the wheel. It will be remembered that the widest range of
inovement in the wheel K' does not take the pin out of the arc over which the
shoulder travels. It will also be remembered that the wheels L' L² have unison
gear. Now when the lever Z is tripped by the action of the escape lever D¹
(which is done at the first movement of the armature B¹) the wheel L³ is released,
and impelled by the spring in the barrel V, is turned with a velocity regulated by
the train WW2 U. The wheel L² is moved with equal speed and its revolution
brings the shoulder l' around beneath the axis X and on until it begins to move
over the are of the wheel K¹ in which the pin moves. During the time the
wheel L' is making the portion of its revolution just described-i. e. bringing the
shoulder from a point above the pin around to a point beneath it the register
wheel has been set to the proper number by the vibrations of the armature B¹
working the escape mechanism D d E' and the printing lever N T has been
sprung and made the required impression and as a consequence the wheel K' has
been turned more or less in the direction of the unfeathered arrow and the pin &¹
brought farther down the are covered by the shoulder . The shoulder l' starts
over the arc of the wheel K' which it covers and comes in contact with the pin /¹
sooner or later, according to the distance backward the pin has been carried,
which will be in accordance with the distance the register wheel Q is turned.
When the shoulder meets the pin the superiority in strength of the impelling
force furnished by the large spring in the barrel V overcomes the force of the
spring in the wheel Q¹ which has thus far moved the wheel K' and the motion
of the wheel K' is reversed. The shoulder acting against the pin ¹ drives the
wheel K in the direction of the feathered arrow until the pin is past the arc
over which the shoulder moves when the register wheel will be found to be
brought back to zero. The same operation has taken place with reference to the
register wheels Q, Q3 and this connected gear and all of the wheels will be back
to unison. The wheels L L are now brought to rest by the lever Z dropping
into the notch and the train W1 W2 U is caught by the stop and pin . When
another signal is given the lever Z will be again tripped the printing wheels
started, and the operation repeated.
O as heretofore stated is a wheel on the same shaft X as the wheel L' and has
the features already described which trip the printing lever N.
The Consecutive Movements of the Register: From the foregoing it will be
seen that if by proper instrumentalities the type wheel Q is moved to any desired
position before the notch o on the wheel arrives opposite the projection N¹
when the last mentioned event takes place there will occur, through the instru-
mentalities of the wheels O and L' respectively as they revolve on the same axle,
first an impression by the printing lever N and subsequently the restoration of the

page_text: type wheels to their original position, winding up again to their original tension
the enclosed springs Y₁ etc. The projections and are so placed on their
wheels L' and K-viz. by having on that part of L' which in the beginning of
its revolution is most remote from contact with that they do not engage with
each other until after the act of printing has been accomplished.
It is obvious that the number of printing wheels which may be placed on the
shaft X may be increased to suit the demand; but in practice two wheels Q and
Qto print the numbers to indicate the station whence the signal is sent and one
Qto print the nature of the call will be found sufficient. Each of the type
wheels QQ moves on the fixed axle X2 by means of springs Y2 Y³ as in the case
of Q and are provided with similar wheels, escapements, levers, armatures, magnets
&c. as are provided for Q¹ in G' H' I' E' F' D' B' and M' and are respectively
returned to unison by wheels K' K³, fixed, on the shaft X' which actuates them all
simultaneously with the movement of K¹.
The circuit switching wheels &c. m m³ and m², and c c¹ c³ ³ are a series of wheels
on the shafts X³ and X respectively, used for forming contacts with springs or
"scraping connections" to open and close electric circuits, as hereinafter described.
These contact wheels are shown in Figure 1 on the two shafts X³ and X alongside
of the wheels L2 and L¹ respectively; but inasmuch as, as before stated, L' and L'
may be placed upon the same axle X³ the contact wheels in that case are all moro
conveniently placed side by side on the same axle as shown in Figs 2 and 5. Of
these contact wheels, c c c and c³ are in the local circuits-i.e. the circuits which
operate the magnets M M and M³. The other wheels m m¹ and m² are in the main
circuit or circuit on which the signal boxes are stationed. Circuits are formed through
these wheels by contact of their surfaces with circuit breakers or flexible springs
affording a scraping connection (shown in the Drawings by b', b³, b³, b³, 6º, 6º, 67,).
Each of the wheels c' c² c³ and m³ has a cam or projecting segment on about one
fourth of its periphery, so that during one fourth of a revolution a circuit will be
formed through it by means of its connecting spring or circuit breaker and
thrown off again during the balance of the revolution. Of these contact wheels m
of the main circuit and c of the local circuit are always in contact with the
scraping connections 61 and 62 respectively and m¹ of the main circuit is always in
contact with the contact spring is except at the notches shown on its periphery
which are on the last quarter of its revolution and are used for breaking the circuit
to send a return signal to the signal box A as hereinafter described. The cam-
wheels m² of the main circuit and c c and c³ of the local circuits are so arranged
on their shaft that their operating-cams shall come in contact with and leave their
respective contact springs or circuit breakers as follows: c¹ during the first quarter
of revolution; c³ during the second quarter of revolution ³ during the third quarter
of revolution, and m² during the last quarter of revolution.
The Operation of the Different Circuits :-The system by which the divers local
circuits are operated and the type wheels moved and controlled is shown in
Figure 5, where A represents the signal box on the main line (at a point retnote
from the register) froin which a signal is to be sent.
M is a relay magnet at the central station where the register is placed.
As the construction of the register has been explained and is shown in detail in
Figures 1 and 2, I show in Figure 5 only so much or such parts of the register in
their relative positions as is necessary to illustrate the workings of the electric
circuits viz: the escapement-wheels E' E E³ used in connection with the type
wheels Q' Q Q3 and their respective levers D' &c. and magnets M' etc. also the
circuit breakers and the contact wheels hereiubefore referred to which are all placed
on the shaft X.
The signal-box being in a normal position with its signal wheel R¹ at rest the
electric circuit throughout the main line will be as follows:-Commencing at the
main battery by the wire a¹ to the signal box and from the signal wheel R' through
the contact spring or circuit breaker out of the signal box along the wires a² a³
through the relay M' along the wires a' a' through the contact spring b¹ the

page_text: wheels m m¹ and by the contact spring 13 along the wire a to the main battery
again. As soon as the signal wheel R¹ commences to revolve and break the
circuit by the notches on its periphery and circuit breaker 1, the armature B' is
drawn by the spring n' away from the relay magnet M. The lever D' on which is
the armature B leaving the relay magnet M' is drawn by the spring n' to the
point where by its contact it closes and puts in operation a local electric current
on the register as follows: commencing at the local battery along the wire c¹ and
lever D the wires e² and es, the electro magnet M¹ wire et contact spring into the
cam-wheel c¹ out through the wheel c along the contact spring b² and wire e back
to the local battery. At each opening and closing of this local circuit by means of
the lever D operated by the main line and relay, the magnet M¹ will operate on
the armature B' and vibrate the lever D₁ permitting the movement of the escape
wheel E whereby the type wheel Q¹ will be stepped forward one space for each
break of the signal wheel R' until the number of notches shown on the first
quarter of the signal wheel (being in the case shown by the Drawing six in number)
have progressed the typwheel Q a corresponding number of stages thereby bringing
the figure 6 opposite the impress point T of the printing lever N.
It will be borne in mind that the axle X3 (and also X if the contact wheels are
placed on two axles) is so adjusted as to revolve at the same time and same rate
of speed as the axle of the signal wheel R', by the time therefore that the signal
wheel R has by its revolution announced the number of breaks on its first quarter
the revolution of the axle on which the wheel c' is placed will have carried the
cam of c' away from contact with the spring band will have brought the second
contact wheel or cam of c² in contact with the spring b³ the effect of which is to
put the magnet M¹ out of the local circuit (stopping the vibration of the lever D'
and the movement of the escape wheel E') and throwing the local circuit through
the magnet M² which thereupon brings into play its own armature and the
lever D. During the second quarter of revolution of the signal wheel R¹ the
breaks on its periphery (in this case five in number) operate the second type
wheel Q2 so as to bring the corresponding figure to the point of impact of the
printing lever N thus setting the type to print the number of the signal station.
The revolution of the signal wheel R¹ having been advanced to the end of its
second quarter, the wheels on the axle X3 will have been advanced in their
revolution to the ends of their second quarters respectively. The contact between
the cam c and the spring b³ will have terminated and a new local circuit formed
through the cam-wheel c³, the spring be and third magnet M³ over the intervening
wires ee. This third local circuit operates the lever 13 by means of its
armature attached, and permits the escapeinent of the wheel Es and consequent
advancement of the third type wheel Q on the periphery of which are placed the
type for printing the nature of the signal-such as "Mess'r" "Police" etc. the
number of spaces which the third type wheel Q³ is stepped forward is controlled
by the number of notches left uncovered on the third quarter of revolution of the
signal wheel R. At the end of the third quarter of revolution of the signal
wheel R and the consequent setting in position desired of the type wheels QQª
and Q³ the notch o² will be brought to its proper position as herein before described
to cause the printing lever N to take an imprint from the type while during the
completion of the fourth quarter of revolution of the axle X3, the typewheels Q' etc.
are restored to unison, or their original position by the wheels K¹ & cetera.
The Return Signal-During this fourth or last quarter of revolution a return
signal is transmitted from the register to the signal box A automatically for the
purpose of announcing to the sender of the signal the fact that his message has
been duly received and registered at the central station. To accomplish this return
signal this system automatically forms a new circuit on the main line during the
fourth quarter of revolution of the axle X3 and the signal wheel R. The normal
circuit in the main line is as already stated so far as the signal box A forms a part
of it, from the signal wheel R' through the contact spring or circuit breaker 71
directly out of the box at a². The new circuit in the main line is formed by

page_text: At the
having on the last quarter of revolution of the signal wheel R¹ the periphery of
the wheel cut away so that no contact will take place between the surface of the
wheel R and the circuit breaker v' during that portion of the revolution.
side of the signal wheel R' however at that portion-vis. the last quarter of
revolution is affixed a cam R which during the last quarter of revolution of the
wheel R¹ forms a contact with the spring or circuit breaker opening a circuit
through intervening wires a7 into the magnet Ms and out of the box, on to the
main line at the same point where the original circuit left the box. S is a bell
operated by a lever to which is affixed the armature of the magnet Ms. The
lever D is drawn by the armature toward the magnet M³ when the circuit is
formed through the magnet and is thrown by a spring against the bell when the
armature is released from the magnet by the breaking of the circuit. By the new
circuit inside the signal box the bell S will be rung whenever during the existence
of this new circuit it is broken. This is accomplished by the wheel m¹ which
revolves with the axle X³ on the register. This wheel m' has been in contact with
the spring at all times during the first three quarters of its revolution, but has on
the last quarter of its periphery one or more notches to break the contact with the
spring thereby opening the circuit and ringing the bell S in the signal box.
This cutting in "of the circuit through the magnet M in the signal box and
ringing of the bell by the notched wheel m¹ of the register will take place during
the last quarter of revolution of the signal wheel R₁ and of the axle X³ after the
original signal has been received and printed at the register and while the
typewheels Q &c. are being restored to unison.
"
"
Cutting out the Relay. The next feature of this Invention provides a method
of automatically cutting out" the relay magnet M' during the aforesaid fourth
quarter of revolution while the return signal is being given. It is a fact well
known to those familiar with electro dynamics that if there are two or more
electro magnets in circuit upon the same line in order to operate the armatures of
all of them simultaneously under a given electrical current, the power of resistance
of the respective magnets must be similar. Thus if the magnet M' of the relay is
of one hundred ohms the magnet M5 operating the bell in the signal box must also
be of one hundred ohms or thereabout otherwise only one of them.-viz. the
stronger would operate its armature when the current was sent through both.
The magnet M usually required at the relay is of comparatively high power and if
a magnet of a like number of ohms were placed in each signal box on the main
line the expense would be unnecessarily great. A magnet of only a few ohms
resistance is sufficient to operate the bell in the signal box if the effect of the relay
magnet M* can be overcome during the period when said bell is to be sounded.
I overcome the effect of the relay magnet M by automatically cutting it out of the
circuit during the time when the return signal is to be sent through the magnet M³,
which period it will be remembered is the time occupied by the last quarter of
revolution of the wheel R' and the axle X³. The normal circuit on the main line
is as heretofore stated from the wheel m by the contact spring b₁ along the wire a³
and through the relay magnet M by the wire a³ to a³. As the electric current
always takes the shortest course between two points, if a more direct connection is
made between the wheel m of the register and the wire a³ running to the signal
box the current will pass along the more direct route and obviate the effect of the
relay magnet. This short-cut is provided during the last quarter of revolution of
the axle X3 by the cam wheel m² which, during the last quarter of revolution
comes in contact with the spring 67 thereby switching the current off the longer
route a which runs through the relay M and sending it along the shorter line a
which connects with a³ at a point beyond the relay. The effect therefore of the
fourth quarter of revolution of the wheel R¹ will be to cut in upon the main
circuit the bell and magnet M15 while during the same period of time the effect of
the fourth quarter of revolution of the axle X3 is to cut out from the inain circuit
the powerful relay magnet M' and during the same time to break the main circuit
on the wheel m' of the register so as to ring the bell in the signal box. The

page_text: completion of the revolution of the axle X3 and the signal wheel R' restores the
circuits and contacts to their original and normal positions ready for any further
signals.
The Time Registering System.-The foregoing portion of this Specification
describes the means by which the nature of the signal and the station from
which it is sent may be automatically printed by the register; but it is often
important that the time when the signal is sent shall be also noted in connection
with the registry of the signal. The Invention provides for the combination with
such register of an automatic system for printing the day, hour and minute when
such signal is received. In this part of the Invention is combined with the register
an old Invention which, apart from the combination in which it is here used, is
well known to the public. It consists of an automatic time stamp, wherein a
series of type wheels to print the day, hour, and minute &c. are moved intermittently
by a spring controlled by a lever tripped once cach minute by the movements of a
time piece. The revolving type wheels for printing time as aforesaid, are of
substantially the same size and with type of corresponding character as the type
wheels Q' etc. on the axle X. The axle X5 on which the time printing wheels
revolve is independent of the axle X2 on which the type wheels Q of the register
revolve but is placed end to end with said axle X2, so that all the type wheels
(both the signal printing and time printing) shall revolve in parallel planes side by
side, the movements of the time printing wheels J being controlled by a chrono-
meter and the movements of the signal printing wheels being controlled by the
electric circuits as described in this Specification. Both sets of wheels however
impress their type on the same paper simultaneously by the movement of the
lever N the printing tablet or contact surface of which extends across all the type
wheels of both classes. In the Drawings the position of the time-printing wheels
is shown at J in Figure 2.
Having thus described this Invention as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I wish it understood that I do not limit myself to all the details of
construction which are shown as the most convenient way of putting the Invention
into practice, nor do I limit myself to the combined working of all the features, for
it is obvious that some of the features-e.g. the automatic return signal &c.--may
be useful independently of the printing mechanism. On the other hand I do not
wish to be understood as claiming broadly the operating of type wheels by
electricity, nor broadly a time printing printing machine, but
What I do claim and desire to secure by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is
First: In a register, constructed substantially as described, for recording electric
signals, the combination of the intermittently moving type wheel Q the spring Y
the escapement lever D' and its intervening mechanism for permitting an
intermittent movement of Q¹, the electro magnet M' with its armature for
governing the intermittent movements of the escapement lever and the engaging
wheels L and K¹ with their trains, substantially as described for winding up the
spring Y¹ and returning the type wheels to unison.
Second In a register for recording electric signals, the combination of two or
more intermittently moving type wheels Q Q &c., with their governing and
actuating attachments Y' &c. E &c. D' &c. substantially as described with the
cam-wheels c, c¹³, c², & etc. and contact springs or circuit breakers bb &c. and
electro magnets M² M² &c. for changing the local circuits successively through said
magnets substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Third. The combination of a signal printing register, substantially as described,
whose intermittently moving type wheels are controlled by the electro magnets M'
&c. of a local electric circuit and a time printing register, substantially as described
whose type wheels are controlled by a chronometer or time piece with the printing
lever N automatically operating substantially as described to imprint by the same
impress both the electric signal and the time when it is received substantially as
specified.

page_text: Fourth. The combination of one or more signal boxes A the main line of an
electric circuit, a relay, and an automatic printing register (forming part of a local
circuit) constructed with a series of spring register wheels having escapements
operated by the electric current for moving them, and with a counter-moving
mechanism which is impelled by a force superior to that of the register wheels and
which engages with them during a part of its revolution to throw them back to
unison after the printing is done so that the electric signal and number of the
station from which it is sent will be automatically recorded and printed and then
a return signal automatically sent to the signal box and the parts restored
automatically to their original position by the mechanism herein described or its
equivalent.
Fifth. In a signal register having a type wheel, or series thereof, mechanism to
operate the same, as described to present the desired number or mark at a given
point and provided with a spring or springs which impel the wheel or wheels in
one direction in combination with means for reversing said register wheel or
wheels, and bringing them back to unison consisting of a trip mechanism and
unison wheels impelled by a greater force than the register wheels having
engagement with the register wheels, during only a part of their revolution
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination of the revolving wheel and contact surfaces m and m';
a register for recording electric signals an electric circuit of which the signal box A
for automatically breaking the circuit forms a part and with the simultaneously
revolving wheel and contact surfaces R¹ and R2 located in the said signal box and
mechanism for switching the circuit through the magnet M' and with the contact
spring and circuit breakers forming part of the above named electric circuit
substantially as described for the purposes of automatically announcing a return
signal.
Seventh. The combination with a revolving contact surface m for sending a
return signal of the electric circuit of which the signal box A forms a part the
relay magnet M² revolving contact segment m² and intervening connections for
automatically cutting the magnet M' out of circuit temporarily and restoring it to
circuit, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Eighth. The herein described means for automatically cutting out and restoring
the relay magnet M from and to an electric circuit consisting of the combination
of the revolving contact surfaces m¹ and m³ with the contact spring band circuit
breaker 7 main battery lines a¹ a³ of the circuit and line as for short circuiting,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
ALFRED J. BOULT. (L.S.)