Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Electrically Trans- mitting Orders, Signals, or Indications from one place to another.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1900-Accepted, 16th June. 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Electrically Trans-
mitting Orders, Signals, or Indications from one place to another.
I, ALFRED UPTON ALCOCK, of Holmewood, Marine Avenue, Southend on Sea,
in the County of Essex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows;
This invention has reference inter alia to improvements in apparatus of the
kind for electrically transmitting orders, signals for indications from one place
to another in which the indicator of a receiving instrument is caused to move
synchronously with and in a corresponding manner to the indicator or other
movable part of the transmitting instrument by means of an electric motor the
magnetic field of which is rotated or changed' in a rotary direction by the action
of a circuit controller or commutator.
Apparatus of the kind referred to according to the present invention comprises
according to one construction, two similar electrically connected indicating instru-
ments for use at the sending and receiving stations or points respectively, and a
circuit controller or commutator for operating the two instruments simultane-
ously and synchronously, the instrument at the sending station serving as an
indicator to enable the operator at the sending station to move the commutator
to the desired extent to send any desired order, signal or indication and also to
show that the order, signal or indication has been correctly indicated on the
instrument at the receiving station.
In one arrangement of such apparatus each of the two indicating instruments
comprises an electric motor having a ring shaped field magnet wound with three
separate pairs of coils, the two coils of each pair being arranged in series and
diametrically opposite to each other and the direction of the winding of cach
pair of coils being so arranged as to produce opposite poles in the iron ring at
right angles to the pair of coils, and the three pairs of coils being so arranged that
their resultant fields are angularly displaced 60° apart around the field magnet
ring, and an armature mounted to rotate within the said field magnet and con-
nected to a pointer or indicator arranged to move over a suitably marked scale
or dial. The coils are similarly arranged in the two instruments, the three pairs
of coils of the instrument at the transmitting station being separately connected
at one end by three separate wires to three fixed conductors forming part of the
commutator, and at the other end by three other separate line wires to one end
of the three pairs of coils of the instrument at the receiving station, the other
ends of these coils being connected together. The armature of each motor
comprises two diametrically arranged sector shaped pieces of iron or steel con-
nected by a common spindle, the angle of each sector being preferably about 60°.
The commutator comprises the three fixed conductors herein before referred to,
connected to the coils of the motors, and two movable conductors which are con-
nected to electric leads supplying alternating or periodically varying electric
currents, or direct currents, preferably the former

page_text: In one arrangement the three fixed and two movable conductors, are arranged
within a cell charged with a suitable liquid, for example a dilute acid or alkaline
solution, or ordinary or distilled water, according to the electro-motive force of
the current used, so that they constitute electrodes, the movable electrodes being
so arranged relatively to the fixed ones that when one of them is centrally
opposite one of the fixed electrodes the other is midway between the two remain-
ing fixed electrodes. These electrodes, which are preferably made of platinum,
may conveniently be made of are shaped segments having an angular width of
60 each. The two movable electrodes which dip into the liquid and may be
arranged to rotate within the space bounded by the fixed ones, are supported by
a suitable carrier provided with means such as a crank handle and bevel gearing,
whereby they can be rotated as desired:
In order that the rotary armatures of the two motors shall move in unison and
the indicating needles connected thereto shall simultaneously' point to the same
orders or indications, the said armatures are polarized. When using direct
currents, the armatures may be permanently polarized; when using alternating
or periodically varying electric current each armature may be polarized by a coil
excited by alternating currents corresponding in phase to those which excite the
field magnet coils. In this case a transformer may be used having two windings
one of which has its two ends connected to the two movable electrodes of the
commutator, and the other has one end connected to one end of the first polari-
zing coil and the other to earth, the other end of the said polarizing coil being
connected through one of the three conductors between the two electric motors
to one end of the second polarizing coil the other end of which is connected to
earth. Means, such for example as magnetic brakes acting upon the armature
spindles, are or may be provided for damping the movements of the armature
and so rendering them and the pointers or needles attached thereto dead beat.
With the arrangement described upon rotating the movable electrodes in either
direction, the arinatures and pointers or indicators of the two instruments will
move accurately in unison therewith, the arrangement admitting of a very large
number of orders or indications being accurately transmitted from one place to
another.
Each motor may conveniently comprise an iron ring provided with six equally
spaced angular blocks of insulating material between which the field magnet
coils are arranged. The ring may be divided to facilitate the application of the
coils thereto and is supported above a base plate by three pillars of non-magnetic
material that carry a triangular supporting piece arranged above the coils and
to which a plate on which orders, indications, or scales are marked is fixed. The
armature spindle is journalled in the base plate and supporting piece and the
polarizing coil surrounding it is carried by an insulating support fixed to the base
plate. The fixed electrodes of the commutator may be secured to the inner side
of a hollow cylinder of insulating material fixed between top and bottom plates,
and the movable electrodes may be fixed to the exterior of a solid cylinder of
insulating material that is mounted to rotate within the hollow cylinder by
central screws, pivots or spindles that also serve to place the movable electrodes
in connection with an electric generator.
In a modified arrangement, suitable for transmitting a smaller number of
orders, say twelve, the commutator comprises three movable and two stationary
contacts. The movable contacts in the form of curved metal segments having
an annular breadth of nearly 120°, are fixed near together around a rotary
cylindrical block of insulating material and are electrically connected to tiree
insulated metal rings carried by the same spindle as the block and on which bear
three brushes that are respectively connected to the three wires connected to the
three pairs of field magnet coils of the motor of the electrical indicating instrument.
at the transmitting station. The three movable contacts rotate between the two
stationary contacts which consist of oppositely arranged brushes connected to the
two poles of an electric generator supplying alternating, varying or direct
་་ ་

page_text: currents. In other respects the arrangement is or may be similar to that herein-
before, described:
In a further modified construction of commutator designed to enable a greater
number of orders, say 24, to be transmitted, there is combined with the commu-
tator last herein described, a. supplementary commutator comprising three curved
metal segments of an angular width of about 60°, these segments being arranged
in line with and connected to the three metal segments of the main commutator
and separated from each other by segmental strips or extensions of insulating
material carried by a cylindrical block of insulating material which may be an
extension of the block carrying the three main segments. Upon the segments
of the supplementary commutator bear two oppositely arranged pairs of stationary
contacts or brushes, the contacts or brushes of each pair being disposed at a
suitable angle apart, say about 90°, and symmetrically on opposite sides of the
corresponding stationary brush of the main commutator to which, or the lead
connected thereto, each of the supplementary contacts or brushes of the pair is
connected through a resistance. By suitably rotating this compound commutator,
the armatures and pointers of the two indicating instruments can be simul-
taneously caused to take up any one of twenty four equally spaced positions
corresponding to different orders or indications.
The field magnet coils of the second or receiving instrument instead of being
connected together, may, when orders, signals or indications are to be simul-
taneously transmitted to two or more places be connected in series with the
respective pairs of field magnet coils of similar indicating instruments at the other
places, the ends of the coils of the last instrument only being connected together
as described.
In some cases the indicating instrument at the sending station may be omitted,
the three electrodes or contacts of the commutator at that station being then
connected direct to the three line wires leading to the field magnet coils of the
indicating instrument at the receiving station, the handle or mechanism provided
for working the commutator being connected with a pointer working over a
suitable order or indication dial.
When the indications to be sent are for example represented by degrees,
minutes and seconds, the movements of the pointer of the indicating instrument
or commutator, or of each indicating instrument when two or more are used,
may be caused to make two or more. revolutions to indicate 360° so that each
degree, minute and second can be magnified to facilitate the reading thereof.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement the armature spindle of the
indicating instrument, or the operating spindle of the commutator, is connected
to a spindle carrying a pointer which moves over a circular scale divided to
indicate only a fraction of 360°, the spindle being also geared to a counter or
separate indicating device to show the number of complete revolutions of the
pointer spindle. Thus the pointer may be fixed to the armature spindle and be
arranged to move over a circular scale representing one degree, sixty minutes
and sixty seconds, and the armature may be geared to a counter adapted to
register the rotations of the armature, each complete rotation representing one
degree.
In a modified arrangement for this purpose, there is combined with the three
phase motor of an indicating instrument worked by a commutator as herein de-
scribed, a rotary arm connected to the motor armature spindle and carrying a
pointer or indicator which, as the arm is rotated, is caused, as in known indi-
cating apparatus, to simultaneously move radially outward and travel over a
spiral scale of degrees, minutes and seconds extending through two or more
revolutions.
In another construction of apparatus according to this invention, and by means
of which orders can be sent from either of two stations to the other, there are
provided at each station, an indicating instrument having a three phase motor,
as herein before described, a commutator, and an electric generator adapted to be

page_text: connected up to the two brushes or electrodes of the commutator when an order
is to be sent. The three pairs of coils of each indicating instrument, arranged
as first herein described, are connected together at one end, their other ends being
separately connected to three insulated fixed contacts. Opposite to these three
contacts are three other insulated fixed contacts that are respectively connected
to the three fixed or movable electrodes or contacts of the commutator, according
as a commutator of the kind firstly or secondly herein described is employed.
Between the three pairs of fixed contacts are three movable spring contacts that are
respectively connected to three separate line wires extending between the two instru-
ments and are fixed to the armature of an electro magnet adapted to be excited
by the corresponding electric generator when the commutator handle is about
to be worked. One pole of the generator is connected to one of the two movable
or fixed electrodes or contacts, as the case may be, of the commutator, the other
pole of the generator being adapted to be connected to the second electrode or
contact of the commutator, as for example through a spring lever or contact;
when the operating handle is about to be worked. This handle is provided with
a pointer arranged to work over an order dial which may be that of the corre-
sponding indicating instrument.
The arrangement is, such that when the commutator handle of either instrument
is grasped to operate it, the electro magnet of the corresponding instrument
will be excited and move over the corresponding spring contacts so as to
complete the circuit of the corresponding electric generator through the
cominutator, the line wires, and the magnet coils of the instrument at
the opposite or second station, the field magnet coils of the instrument at the
sending station being cut out. Any desired orders can then be sent to the second
instrument. When the commutator handle of the first instrument is released,
the spring contacts are automatically moved back into a position to place the
field magnet coils of that instrument in connection with the line wires so that
such instrument can then receive orders from the opposite one. Means may be
provided for giving an audible or other signal at or near each instrument. when
the opposite instrument is operated.
Apparatus according to this invention may be used for various purposes other
than as a military or ship's telegraph or the like. Thus it may be used in con-
nection with or as a speed counter, the movable part of the commutator being
then arranged to be rotated by the body whose speed is to be indicated and the
armature of the motor of the receiving instrument being arranged to actuate
counting mechanism.
Dated th: 104 1
P T
1000
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Electrically Trans-
mitting Orders, Signals, or Indications from one place to another.
I, ALFRED UPTON ALCOCK, formerly of Holmewood, Marine Avenue, Southend
on Sea, in the County of Essex, but now of 11, Dyer's Buildings, Holborn, in
the County of London, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention has reference inter alia to improvements in apparatus of the

page_text: kind for electrically transmitting orders, signals or indications from one place
to another in which the indicator of a receiving instrument is caused to move
synchronously with and in a corresponding manner to the indicator or other
movable part of the transmitting instrument by means of an electric motor
the magnetic field of which is rotated or changed in a rotary direction by the
action of a circuit controller or commutator. Apparatus of this kind is shown
and described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated
14th January 1899 No. 934.
Apparatus of the kind referred to according to the present invention com-
prises according to one construction, two similar electrically connected indi-
cating instruments for use at the sending and receiving stations or points
respectively, and a circuit controller or commutator (hereinafter called the
commutator) for operating the two instruments simultaneously and synchron-
ously, the instrument at the sending station serving as an indicator to enable
the operator at the sending station to move the commutator to the desired
extent to send any desired order, signal or indication and also to show that the
order, signal or indication has been correctly indicated on the instrument at
the receiving station.
Fig. of the accompanying drawings shows, diagrammatically, one arrange-
ment of such apparatus, and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating the
working thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on the line A A of Fig. 6, and
Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line BB of Fig. 5 showing one construction
of electrical indicating instrument for use in carrying out the invention.
a and are the sending and receiving stations at which the two similar
indicating instruments are placed and c shows the place adjacent to a at which
the commutator is placed.
In the particular arrangement of such apparatus shown in Fig. 1 cach of
the two indicating instruments at a and b comprises an electric motor having
a ring shaped field magnet d wound with three separate pairs of coils e, f and y,
the two coils of each pair being arranged in series and diametrically opposite
to each other, and the direction of the winding of each pair of coils being so
arranged as to produce opposite poles in the iron ring dat right angles to the
pair of coils, and the three pairs of coils being so arranged that their resultant
fields are angularly displaced 60° apart around the field magnet ring. The
armature of the motor is mounted to rotate within the said field magnet and
is connected to a pointer or indicator arranged to move over a suitably marked
scale or dial j. The coils are similarly arranged in the two instruments. The
three pairs of coils e, ƒ and g of the instrument at the transmitting station a
are separately connected at one end by three separate wires k, and m respec-
tively to three. fixed conductors, and forming part of the commutator,
and at the other end by three other separate line wires g, and respectively
to one end of the three pairs of coils e, f and g of the instrument at the receiving
station b, the other ends of these coils being connected together at t. The
armature of each motor comprises two diametrically arranged sector shaped
pieces of iron or steel spaced apart and connected by a common spindle u, the
angle of each sector being preferably about 60°. The commutator comprises
the three fixed conductors n, o and p, which are connected to the coils of the
motors, and two movable conductors and which are connected to electric
leads a supplying alternating or periodically varying electric currents, or direct
currents, preferably the former, from a suitable source of electricity.
In the construction of commutator shown in Fig. 1, the three fixed and two
movable conductors are arranged within a cell charged with a suitable liquid,
for example a dilute acid or alkaline solution, or ordinary or distilled water,
according to the electromotive force of the current used, so that they constitute
electrodes, the movable electrodes and being so arranged relatively to the
fixed ones n, and p that when one of them is centrally opposite one of the
fixed electrodes, the other will be midway between the two remaining fixed

page_text: electrodes. These electrodes, which are preferably made of platinum, may con-
veniently be made of are shaped segments having an angular width of 600 each.
Such fixed and movable electrodes may conveniently be mounted, arranged
and operated in the manner described in my said former specification.. When
a commutator of the kind shown in Fig. 1 is employed, it is preferred to use
an alternating current in order to obviate any difficulty, due to polarisation,
that might arise if a direct current were used.
In order that the rotary armatures of the two motors at stations a and b
shall move in unison and the indicating pointers connected thereto shall
simultaneously point to the same orders or indications, the said armatures are
polarized. When using direct currents, the armatures may be permanently
polarized; when using alternating or periodically varying electric current, each
armature may be polarized by a coil 10 excited by alternating currents corre-
sponding in phase to those which excite the field magnet coils. For this
purpose a transformer may be used, as shown in Fig. 1, having two secondary
windings one of which, riz. 11, has its two. ends connected to the two movable
electrodes and re of the commutator and the other, riz. 12, has one end con-
nected to one end of the polarizing coil 10 of the motor at station and the
other to earth E, the other end of the said polarizing coil being connected
end of the
through one, say 4, of the three line conductors q, r, to one
polarizing coil 10 of the motor at station,b, the other end of this coil being
connected to earth E. Means, such for example as magnetic brakes acting upon
the armature spindles, are or may be provided for damping the movements of
the armatures and so rendering them and the pointers attached thereto
dead beat.
With the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, upon turning the movable electrodes v
and win either direction, the armatures and pointers of the instrument
at stations a and b will move accurately in unison therewith if the instruments
be in proper working order, the arrangement in each case being such that a
very large number of orders or indications can be transmitted from one place
to another. The mode of operation will be understood from Figs. 2, 3 and 4
wherein, for the sake of simplicity, the motor of each indicating instrument
is shown as having three single coils e, f, and arranged at equal angular
distances to one another around a common centre, instead of three pairs of
coils as in Fig. 1. The line NS at right angles to each coil represents the
direction of the magnetizing force of such coil when traversed by an electric
current. The large arrow 1, 1, or 1 in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 respectively, repre-
sents in each case the position of the resultant magnetic field of the coils e, f
and in each instrument when such instrument is traversed by a current, and
consequently the position of the armature and pointer of the instrument, and
the small arrows X indicate the direction of the current in the various parts
of the circuit for the different positions of the commutator shown. Upon
moving the commutator segments and , say into the positions shown in
Fig. 2, the coils g of the two instruments will be connected in series with the
two pairs of coils f and e of the said instruments, the two coils f and e of
each instrument being equally connected in parallel with one another. The
direction of the resultant magnetic field set up by the current flowing through
the three coils of each instrument will then be indicated by the arrow I which
will consequently also indicate the position of the pointer of the transmitting
instrument and also that of the receiving instrument. Upon turning the com-
mutator segments and in the direction of the arrow Y, the current passing
through each coil will gradually decrease and that passing through each
coile will gradually increase, whilst that passing through each coilf from the
segment to segment will be gradually reduced, due partly to the moving
apart of these segments and partly to the neutralizing action of current passing
from the segment to the segment o, the result being that the direction of
the resultant magnetising force indicated by the arrow Ib and consequently

page_text: also the pointer in each instrument will gradually turn in the direction of
the arrow Y (Fig. 2). When the commutator segments and have been
moved through 30° and into the position shown in Fig. 3, the coils g. and e
of each instrument will be connected in series with each other and. the currents
passing in opposite directions through the coils of each instrument will
neutralize each other and render each coil inoperative at this time, so that
the resultant magnetic field, indicated by the arrow Ib, and the pointer i in
each instrument, will occupy a position 30° in advance of that shown in Fig. 2.
Consequently the pointer of the receiving instrument will occupy the same
angular position as the pointer of the transmitting instrument. As the com-
mutator segments and care turned to a further extent in the same direction,
the current passing through each coil g will decrease and that passing through
cach coil e will increase whilst an increasing current in the reverse direction
will pass through each coil f until the parts have been moved through a
further angle of 30° and into the position shown in Fig. 4. The two coils g
and of each instrument will then be connected equally in parallel with one
another and in series with the corresponding coil e and the resultant magnetic
field, indicated by the arrow I, and the pointer will occupy the position
shown in Fig. 4, which is 30° in advance of that shown in Fig. 3, so that the
pointer of the receiving instrument will again correspond in angular position
to the new position of the pointer of the transmitting instrument. In this
way by the movement of the commutator segments in either direction, the
resultant magnetic field of the motor of the receiving instrument will be caused
to accurately follow the movements of the said commutator segments and
pointer of the transmitting instrument, so that the pointer of the receiving
instrument will at every moment correspond to the position of the pointer of
the transmitting instrument. So sensitive is this arrangement that very small
angular movements of the commutator segments, each say of a degree or a
fraction of a degree, will produce a corresponding movement of the indicator
of the receiving instrument, so that the apparatus can be used for transmitting
a very large number of orders, signals or indications.
The motor of each indicating instrument may comprise, as shown in Figs. 5.
and 6, an iron ring d provided with six equally spaced angular blocks 1 of
insulating material between which the three pairs of field magnet coils e, f
and are arranged. The ring may be divided to facilitate the application of
the coils thereto and is supported on a base plate 2 by three pillars 3 of non-
magnetic material that carry a triangular supporting piece 4 arranged above
the coil and to which is fixed a plate 5 on which orders, indications, or scales
are marked. The armature spindle is made of iron and journalled in the
base. plate 2 and supporting piece 4 and the polarizing coil 10 surrounding it
is carried by an insulating support 11 fixed to the base plate, 12 is a block
of iron that is carried by a spring blade 13 and is attracted to and caused to
bear against the armature spindle u, so as to act as a brake therefor when the
same is magnetized. Or each indicating instrument may be constructed as
shown in and described with reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of my said foriner
specification.
Figs. 7 and 8 are side and end elevations showing a modified construction of
commutator suitable for transmitting a smaller number of orders, say twelve.
Fig. 8 is a developed or flattened out view showing, full size, iliree movable
contacts forming part of such commutator. In this case the commutator com-
prises three movalile contacts 20, 21 and 22 and two stationary contacts 23 and 24.
The movable contacts 20, 21 and 22 in the form of curved metal segments having
an annular breadth of nearly 120°, are fixed near together around a rotary cylin-
drical block 25 of insulating material. These three contacts are electrically
connected to three insulated metal rings 26, 27 and 28 respectively carried by the
same spindle 29 as the block 25 and on which bear three brushes 30, 31 and 32
that are respectively connected to the three wires k, and m connected to the

page_text: three pairs of field magnet coils e, f, g of the motor of the electrical indicating
instrument at the transmitting station a and so indirectly with the indicating
instrument at the station b (Fig. 1) or it may be directly with the indicating
instrument at station if the commutator be provided with an indicator and dial
BO as to also serve as the indicating instrument instead of using a separate indi-
cating instrument like that at the receiving station.
The three movable contacts 20, 21 and 22 rotate between the two stationary
contacts 23 and 24 which consist of oppositely arranged brushes connected to
the two poles of an electric generator 33 supplying alternating, varying or direct
currents. In other respects the arrangement is or may be similar to that here-
inbefore described.
The operation of this arrangement will be understood from Figs. 73, 7b and 7°
which are similar views to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 respectively but showing the modified
construction of commutator just described connected direct to the indicating
instrument at station 6, the commutator being supposed to have a pointer
moving over a suitably marked scale. In this case upon moving the commutator
segments 20, 21, 22, and pointer into the positions shown in Fig. 7, the coil e
of the receiving instrument will be connected in series with the two coils f and
g which will be connected in parallel with one another and the direction of the
resultant magnetic field which will be set up by the current flowing through
the several coils is indicated by the arrow I which also indicates the position
of the pointer of the receiving instrument. Upon turning the commutator
segments and pointer through an angle of 30°, say into the position shown in
Fig. 7, the coils e and f will be connected in series and the coil g will be cut
out so that the resultant field indicated by the arrow I will be moved through
30°, as also will the pointer i which consequently corresponds in position to the
pointer of the transmitting instrument at a.. If the movable commutator seg-
ments and pointer it be moved through another 30°, .e. into the position shown
in Fig. 7, the two coils e and g will be connected up in parallel with each other
and in series with the coil f, and the resultant field, indicated by the arrow I°, will 3
be moved through another 30°, thereby again moving the pointer into a position
corresponding to the pointer 2. In this way by continuing the rotation of the
commutator segments 20, 21 22 through 30°, at a time, the coils e, f and 9 will
alternately be coupled up two in series with one cut out and two in parallel with
each other and in series with the third. Thus it will be understood that the 3
morable commutator segments and pointer can, by a complete rotation, be
caused to take up twelve successive positions located 30° apart and corresponding
to twelve different orders or signals on the dial of the transmitting instrument,
and that the pointer i of the receiving instrument will be caused to take up twelve
successive positions located 30° apart and corresponding to twelve different orders 4
or signals marked on the dial of that instrument and corresponding respectively
to those on the dial of the transmitting instrument.
Figs. 9 and 10 are side and end elevations and Fig. 11 a cross section on the
line CC of Fig. 9 showing a further modified construction of commutator designed
to enable a greater number of orders, say 24, to be transmitted. In this case there 4
is combined with a commutator constructed as herein before described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 8, a supplementary commutator com-
prising three curved metal segments 34, 35 and 36 of an angular width of about
60°, these segments being arranged in line with and connected to the three
main metal segments 20, 21 and 22 respectively of the main commutator and 50
separated from each other by segmental strips or extensions 37 of insulating
material carried by a cylindrical block 38 of insulating material which may be
an extension of the block 25 carrying the three main segments. Upon the
segments of the supplementary commutator bear two oppositely arranged pairs
of stationary contacts or brushes 39 and 40, the two contacts or brushes of each 55
pair being disposed at a suitable angle apart, say about 90°, and symmetrically
on opposite sides of the corresponding stationary brush 23 or 24 of the main

page_text: commutator, to which, or the battery lead connected thereto,, each of the supple-
mentary contacts or brushes 39 or 40 of the pair is connected through a re-
sistance 41. By means of this compound commutator twenty four resultant
fields can be successively set up at angular distances of 15° apart around the
field magnet ring of the indicating instrument at the receiving station or of each
similar indicating instrument, if two or more be used, so that by rotating such
compound commutator, the armatures and pointers of the indicating instruments
at the transmitting and receiving stations can be simultaneously caused to take
up any one of twenty four equally spaced and similar positions corresponding
to different orders or indications.
The operation of this arrangement will be understood from Figs. 9ª, 9b, and 9°
which are similar views to Figs. 7, 7b and 7 respectively but with the addition
of the supplementary commutator. In this case starting with the parts in the
positions shown in Fig. 9, corresponding to those shown in Fig. 7 in which all
the current passes through coil e and divides equally and returns through coils f
and g, upon rotating the compound commutator through an angle of 15° in the
direction of the arrow Y, the coil y instead of being cut out of circuit, as in
Fig. 7b, will be kept in circuit, as shown in Fig. 9b, through one of the right
hand brushes 40 and one of the right hand resistances 41 which is .so adjusted
as to reduce the current flowing through g to one half that flowing through f.
The current flowing through coil e will then return partly through coil f
and partly through the coil and the corresponding resistance 41, the result
being that the magnetic field represented by the arrow I will have been
displaced only through 15° instead of 30°, and the indicator of the receiving
instrument will be moved through 15°. Fig. 9° shows the positions of the parts
when the compound commutator has been moved through a further angle of 15°
in which position the coils e and f are placed in series with each other and the
coil g cut out, so that the resultant field and the indicator of the receiving
instrument will have been moved through a further angle of 15°.
When the resistance is adjusted to reduce the current in any one of the coils
to one half the normal, as stated, the radial length of each sector of the armature h
of the electric motor in the receiving instrument, should correspond approximately
to half the internal radius of the field magnet ring d.
For effective operation, the radial length of armature should not exceed the
ratio mentioned. In the case of a twelve order commutator, this ratio is not
important.
The field magnet coils of the receiving instrument instead of being connected
together as at (Fig. 1), may, when orders, siguals or indications are to be
simultaneously transmitted to two or more places, be connected in series with the
respective pairs of field magnet coils of similar indicating instruments at the
other places, the ends of the coils of the last instrument only being connected
together as described.
When the indications to be sent are for example represented by degrees,
minutes and seconds, the movements of the pointer of the indicating instru-
ment or commutator, or of each indicating instrument when two or more are
used, may be caused to make two or more revolutions to indicate 360°, so that
each degree, minute and second can be magnified to facilitate the reading thereof.
Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively front and side elevations showing one con-
struction of such an indicating instrument. In this example the spindle 44,
which may, as shown, be the armature spindle of an indicating instrument such
as hereinbefore described, or the operating spindle of the commutator, is con-
nected either directly, as shown, or indirectly, to a pointer 45 that moves over
a circular scale 46 divided to indicate only a fraction of 360°, viz. 10° in the
example shown, the spindle being also geared to a counter 47, or separate indicat-
ing device, to show the number of complete revolutions of the pointer spindle
and pointer 45.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the spindle 44 con-
;

page_text: nected to the pointer 45 is connected through gearing 48 to the pointer 49 of a
separate indicating device designed, to show the number of revolutions of the
pointer 45, or the number of degrees- through which it has been moved: In
the example, the pointer 45 is represented as having moved through 155°.
In a modified arrangement for this purpose, there is combined with the three
phuse motor of an indicating instrument worked by a commutator as herein
described, a rotary arm connected to the motor armature spindle and carrying
à pointer or indicator which, as the arin' is rotated, is caused, as in known
indicating apparatus, to simultaneously move radially outward or inward and
travel over a spiral scale of degrees, minutes and seconds extending through two
or more revolutions on a dial plate. Fig. 16 is a front elevation, and Fig. 16
"a section on the line D D of Fig. 16, showing an arrangement of this kind
wherein is the dial plate formed with a spiral groove in which works a pointer
or indicator carried by a sleeve mounted to slide on a radial arm fixed to the
armature spindle, the said grocre extending through two revolutions and having
a scale adjacent thereto divided into 360°. As will be seen by this arrange-
ment, the degrees and parts thereof can be made larger than where the scale is
circular and extends only once round the dial.
""
L
liga. 17 to 21 inclusive show how apparatus according to this invention can
be arranged so that orders can be sent from either of two stations to the other.
Fig. 17 shows such apparatus diagrammatically; Fig. 18 shows diagrammatically
and to a larger scale than Fig. 17, one of the indicating instruments and adja-
cent parts used in such apparatus. Figs. 19 and 20 show respectively in plan
and side elevation, one of the contact making and breaking devices used in
the apparatus, and Fig. 21 shows in side elevation, one of the instruments and
its support.
At each station a and b there are provided au indicating instrument 5.1 having
a motor constructed with three coils or three pairs of coils arranged as herein-
before described, a commutator of the kind shown in Figs. 7 and 8. and an
electric generator 50 adapted to be connected up to the two brushes 23 and 24
of the commutator when an order is to be sent. The three pairs of coils of
each indicating instrument 51, are connected together at one end, as shown at t
in the left-hand instrument illustrated in Figure 1, the other ends of the three
pairs of coils being separately connected by wires q', and s¹ to three insulated.
fixed contacts, 52, 53 and 54 (Figs. 17 and 18). Opposite to these three con-
tacts are three other insulated fixed contacts 55, 56 and 57 that are respectively
connected to the three movable contacts 20, 21 and 22 of the commutator by
separate conductors k, l, m respectively, the connection being made through
the brushes 30, 31 and 32 and metal rings 26, 27 and 28 (Fig. 18), as in the
arrangement of commutator herein before described with reference to and shown
in Figs. 7 and 8. Between the three pairs of fixed contacts 52, 55; 53; 56;
and 54, 57 are three movable spring contacts 58, 59 and 60 that are respectively
connected to three separate line wires q, r s extending between the two instru-
ments at a and b. The three contacts 58, 59 and 60 are fixed to a pivoted shaft (1
(Figs. 19 and 20) to which is also fixed the armature 62 of an electro-magnet 63
adapted to be excited by the corresponding electric generator 50 when the com-
mutator handle 7 is about to be worked. The armature 62 and spring con-
tacts 58. 59 and 60 are normally held in the position shown in Figs. 17 and 20
by the spring 61. The electro-magnet 63 may, for the purpose mentioned, be
connected up in a shunt circuit between the two brushes 23 and 24 of the com-
mutator. One pole of the electric generator 50 may be connected to the fixed
contact 24 of the commutator by a conductor 50, the other pole of the generator
being adapted to be connected to the second contact 23 of the commutator, as
for example through a conductor 50 and a spring lever or contact 65, when
the operating handle is about to be worked, the said handle 7 being con-
nected to the brush 23, and the said spring lever or contact 65 being arranged
to bear against the handle when the two are simultaneously grasped. The

page_text: handle 7 is provided with a pointer 66. (Figs. 17, 18 and 21) arranged to work
over the order dial of the corresponding indicating instrument at a or b.
As will be seen, the arrangement is such that when the commutator handle 7
and spring contact 65 of either instrument at a or bare grasped to operate the
commutator, the electro-maguet 63 of the corresponding instrument will be
excited and move over the corresponding spring contacts 58, 59 and 60, so as
to complete the circuit of the corresponding electric generator 50 through the
commutator, the rubbing contacts 26-30, 27-31 28-32, conductors k, l, and m,
contacts 55-58, 56-59, 57-60, the line wires q, r, s and the field magnet coils
of the instrument at the opposite or second station, the field magnet coils of
the instrument at the sending station being cut out. Any desired orders can
then be sent to the second instrument in the manner hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 74, 7, 7". When the commutator handle 7 and spring
contact Go of the first instrument are released, the spring contacts 58, 59 and 60
are automatically moved back by the spring 64 (Fig. 20) so as to bear against
the contacts 52, 53 and 54 respectively so as to place the field magnet coils of
that instrument in connection with the line wires q, r, s, so that such instrument
can then receive orders from the opposite one. A commutator of the kind
shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, or of the kind shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 can,
if desired, be used in the arrangement shown in Figs. 17 to 21 in lieu of that
shown in these figures, the transmission of orders being effected in the manner
herein before described with reference to the apparatus shown in such figures.
Means may be provided for giving an audible or other signal at or near each
instrument when the opposite instrument is operated. The means shown for this
purpose in Fig. 17 comprises an electric bell 67, the circuit of which is arranged
to be closed through a battery 67", by one or more contact makers 67 adapted
to be actuated by the armatures 67° of electro-magnets the iron cores 67 of
which are arranged to be excited by currents passing through their windings 67°
each of which is in circuit with or forms part of the corresponding line
wire q; r or ș, at each station.
Apparatus according to this invention can be used for various purposes other
than as a military or ship's telegraph or the like. Thus it can be used in con-
nection with or as a speed counter, the movable part of the commutator being
then arranged to be rotated by the body whose speed is to be indicated and the
armature of the motor of the receiving instrument being arranged to actuate
counting mechanism.
;
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In apparatus for electrically transmitting orders, signals or indications
from one place to another, the combination, of two similar indicating instru-.
ments located at the transmitting and receiving stations and electrically con-
nected together by three line wires, a commutator for operating the two instru-
ments simultaneously and synchronously, and an electric generator, each of the
indicating instruments comprising a rotary current motor having three coils
or sets of coils with iron core or cores, a polarized armature free to rotate under
the magnetic action of said coils and core or cores, a dial bearing the orders,
signals or indications to be- sent, and a pointer operated from the armature and
arranged to work over the said dial, and the commutator comprising three elec-
trodes connected by three conductors to the transmitting instrument, two elec-
trodes arranged in proximity to the three electrodes and connected to the
electric generator, a cell charged with liquid into which the electrodes dip, and
means for rotating one set of electrodes in relation to the other, substantially
as described.
2. Apparatus for electrically transmitting orders, signals or indications from
one place to another constructed, arranged and operating substantially as herein-

page_text: before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the
drawings annexed.
3. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to, the combination with one or
more electrical indicating devices located at the receiving station or stations, or
at the transmitting and receiving stations, and comprising or each comprising
a rotary current motor having three coils or sets of coils with iron core or cores,
a light armature free to move under the action of the rotary field set up by the
coils when traversed by an electric current, a stationary polarizing coil surround-
ing the armature spindle, a dial bearing the orders, signals or indications to be
sent or received, and a pointer operated from the armature of the said motor and
- arranged to move over the said dial, of au electric generator, and a commutator
comprising three movable contacts consisting of curved metal segments having
an angular breadth of nearly 1207 and fixed near together around a cylindrical
block of insulating material, and connected by three conductors to the coils of
the electrical indicating instrument or instruments, and two oppositely arranged
fixed contacts or brushes connected to the poles of the electric generator and
bearing against the movable contacts, the whole being constructed, arranged
and operating substantially. as herein before described with reference to
Figs. 7 to 8 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
4. For use with an indicating instrument having a rotary current motor con-
structed with three coils or three pairs of coils, a commutator having two sets
of contacts for connection to three line wires, two sets of contact brushes for
connection to an electric generator, and resistance devices arranged between
one of the said sets of brushes and the generator, the several parts being so
arranged that upon turning the commutator through a complete revolution, the
pointer of the indicating instrument can be caused to intermittently take up
twenty four successive positions, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to for electrically transmitting
orders, signals and indications, a compound commutator comprising a main com-
mutator having three segmental contacts adapted to be connected to the three
line wires leading to an electrical indicating instrument or instruments and con-
tact brushes arranged to bear on the segmental contacts and adapted to be
connected to an electrical generator, and a supplementary commutator also
having three segmental contacts that are separately connected to the three
segmental contacts of the main commutator, and contact brushes that are
arranged to bear upon the segmental contacts of the supplementary commu-
tator and are connected to the fixed contact brushes of the main conductor or
to the conductors leading therefrom to the electric generator through resistance
devices, the arrangement being such that by rotation of the segmental contacts
relatively to the contact brushes, the armature or armatures of the electrical
indicating instrument or instruments connected to the said compound commu-
tator can be caused to take up any one of twenty four positions corresponding
to different orders or indications, substantially as described.
6. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a compound commutator con-
structed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
7. An electrical indicating apparatus of the kind herein referred to wherein
the dial is provided with a scale divided to indicate only a fraction of 360°
and the spindle of the rotary current motor carrying the pointer that moves
over the said scale is geared to a separate indicating device adapted to show
the number of complete revolutions of the pointer spindle, substantially, as.
herein before described with reference to Figs. 12 and 13; and to Fig. 14 and 15
of the drawings annexed.
8. In apparatus of the kind herein referred to an electrical indicating instru-
ment comprising a three phase motor adapted to be operated by a commutator
as herein described, a dial plate having a spiral scale of degrees, minutes and
seconds extending through two or more revolutions, and a rotary arm. con--

page_text: nected to the armature spindle and carrying a pointer or indicator, which, as
the arm is rotated, is caused to simultaneously move radially outward or inward
and travel over the said spiral scale, as herein before described with reference
to Figs. 16 & 16 of the drawings annexed.
9. Apparatus for transmitting orders, signals or indications from one place
to another comprising two indicating instruments located respectively at the
sending and receiving stations and cach having a rotary current electric motor
and an indicating device proper worked by the said motor, a rotary commutator
and electric generator at each station, line wires normally.connecting the said
indicating instruments, and means whereby the line wires can be disconnected
from, either indicating instrument at will and placed in connection with the
commutator at the corresponding station, substantially as described.
10. Apparatus for transmitting orders, signals or indications from one place
to another, constructed arranged and operating substantially as herein before
described with reference to Figs. 17 to 21 inclusive of the drawings annexed!
Dated this 10th day of May 1900.
W. LLOYD WISE,
40, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.