An Improved Automatic Circuit Closer for Telegraph Keys.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 31st Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1892-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Circuit Closer for Telegraph Keys.
I, CHARLES WARREN BRADFORD, of Clinton, in the County of Kennebec, and
State of Maine, United States of America, Shoe-maker, 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:→
My invention relates to an improvement in telegraph keys, its object being to
construct a telegraph key in such manner that the liability of accidentally leaving
the circuit open incident with keys of ordinary construction will be effectually
avoided.
With this object in view the invention consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter set forth,
and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved key, showing the same closed.
Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the position of the cutout when the key
is in operation.
Fig. 3 is a detail view.
A represents the base of the key, on which the uprights a are mounted, and in
these uprights the key lever B is mounted and provided with the usual adjusting
screws and springs. A platinum contact is located on the base, and another
platinum contact c is carried by the lever B, as usual. The key lever B is provided
in its under face and rearwardly of the contact point c with a groove d, in which a
lever C is pivotally mounted, the fulcrum of said lever being located at a point
about one-third the length of the lever from the contact points. The lever C is
provided at its forward end with a contact point e, adapted to engage the lower
contact point of the key, such engagement being normally maintained by means of
a flat spring f, located in the groove d and bearing on the top of the lever C.
desired, a coiled spring may be substituted for the flat one. The lever C is
preferably made of light metal and extends rearwardly to the rear end of the key
lever B.
If
The key lever B is provided at its inner end with a perforation adapted to receive
the lower screw threaded end of a small tube f¹, which projects upwardly from the
end of the key lever, and has fitted to it the operating button B¹, which button is
provided in its top with a recess g. A short rod h passes loosely through the
tube f, and at its lower end is connected with or bears upon the inner end of the
lever C, and at its upper end said rod has a disk E secured to it.
When the parts
are in their normal positions and the key is not in use, the contact point on the
forward end of the lever C is maintained in engagement with the lower contact of the
key by the spring f, said spring also causing the disk E to be maintained elevated,
as shown in Fig. 1.
When it is desired to operate the key, the button B' will be grasped by the
thumb and second finger in the usual manner and the forefinger will be pressed

page_text: upon the disk E, whereupon the lever C will be turned on its fulcrum and the
contact e carried thereby will be moved away from the lower contact of the key, and
the circuit will then be open and the key ready for operation to send messages.
It will be seen that the disk E is located normally some distance from the button B',
so that the end of the lever C, which carries the contact e, can be moved some
distance from the lower contact of the key when the key is being operated, the
disk E, by means of which said lever is operated, being adapted to enter the
recess 9 in the button B¹.
The key-switch constructed and arranged as above described is very simple and
efficient in the performance of its functions to automatically close the key and
maintain it closed when the key is not in use.
In some cases it may be desired to regulate the tension of the spring. For this
purpose a screw will be passed through the key lever B and made to bear on
said spring f
When the key lever is made of thin steel, the groove d may be omitted and the
lever C pivotally connected to its bottom in any suitable manner.
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 :-
1. In a telegraph key, the combination, with the lower contact and the key-lever,
of a pivoted lever carried by the key-lever, a spring for maintaining the pivoted
lever in contact with the lower contact of the key to normally close the circuit, a
set screw passing through the key lever and bearing on said spring, whereby to
regulate its tension, and means for moving the pivoted lever out of contact with
the lower contact of the key, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a telegraph-key, the combination, with the lower contact and the key lever,
of a pivoted lever carried by the key lever, a spring bearing on the pivoted lever
to force it into contact with the lower contact of the key to normally close the
circuit through the key, a set screw passing through the key lever and bearing on
the spring for regulating the tension thereof, a button carried by the key lever and
having a perforation and a recess therein, a pin passing through said perforation
and bearing on said pivoted lever, and a disk carried by said pin and adapted to
enter the recess in the button when the key is operated, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of December 1892.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.