Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895

page_text: to be transmitted. The drawings (Figures 2, 6) show merely the keys at the sides
of the bank.
Between the several levers are set the partitions D, usually of vulcanite, the
same being seated at their upper ends within the slits of comb-bars d', d' that
extend across the machine (affixed to standards A') and at their lower ends within
corresponding grooves in the base-plate A. A tie-rod d³ passing through the feet
of the partitions holds them in place.
The several partitions have holes therein through which the rotating driver B
passes whilst around the said driver and between the partitions (Figure 8) are
incunted the series of circuit make-and-break rings E. The inner rim of each ring
is fluted to engage at will with the fluted driver and there is a central groove in the
ring fluting (Figure 8) to afford clearance for the dust and to insure a balanced
contact when the ring and driver are engaged.
On the outer rim the several metal rims. E carry insulating blocks e at proper
intervals. The insulation varies in keeping with the conventional signal for the
letter, character or word to be transmitted by the particular ring. The drawing
(Figure 1) shows a ring designed to send two dashes in succession which by the
Morse code signifies the letter M. It is also apparent that the ring referred to
has the double dash thrice repeated about its periphery. Space-pins el project
from the ring rim between each double dash ret. These serve as trips to check
the motion of the ring at the insulation block, on completion of the signal, as
presently detailed.
Ordinarily, the circuit rings E stand disengaged from the driver B but rest
instead upon the reciprocating shifters which as shown in Figure 1 are made in one
piece with the key-levers F by rounding the body thereof to conform to the ring
rim. In such shape the shifters also act as a brake to quickly arrest the revolution
of the ring on release from the driver. A wing projected from the key-lever
(Figure 3) and of like rounded contour affords a broad seat for the ring and
furnishes proper clearance for the space-pins on the ring which are conveniently
set along the middle of the circumference of the rim.
Under stress of the springs c² the key-levers F generally stand in uplifted
position and carry with them the series of circuit rings which are thus free from
the driver B and do not revolve. Near their front ends the levers pass between
the teeth of a comb-bar 9 affixed to standards A' on the base-plate and extended
across the machine. The bar serves to guide or determine the position of the
several levers and carries a rubber cushion against which an ear k on each lever
abuts to lessen noise and shock.
Ranged across the base-plate A near its front is a standard having notches
therein to receive the forked ends of the series of latches m. There is one latch
for each of the key-levers. The latches are pivotally set upon a rod n common to
all of them and carried by the standard l. Plate springs p bear upon the several
latches, below the pivot rod n, and maintain them upright with the rear fork
abutting against the standard. Each key-lever F is furnished with a lateral
stud 9 (Figure 3) to engage with the front fork of the adjacent latch. When the
lever is depressed, the stud q rides along the latch turning it slightly on its pivot n
against the stress of the spring p. At the limit of descent the lever cushions on
the rubber strip r, and at the same moment the latch m snaps over the stud 9 thus
holding the lever down.
The descent of the key-lever causes its arm f¹ to be withdrawn from beneath
the trip-pawl g' which is pivoted to the upper end of the latch m. The said pawl
drops accordingly against the face of the circuit ring E and rests in the path of
its space-pins e. The descent of the key-lever necessarily lowers the circuit
ring E which it controls and brings such ring into engagement with the rotating
driver B. At once the circuit ring begins to revolve and so persists for a distance
sufficient to transmit the desired signal. A battery s in circuit with an ordinary
sounder t (which may be at a distant receiving station) has one branch connectel
with the journal-box of the rotating driver B and the other branch joined to a

page_text: metallic plate insulated from the frame. The plate t¹ carries a series of spring
contact pieces u forked at their free front ends and brought to bear lightly upon
the several circuit rings E. When the metal part of the ring E makes contact
with the spring piece u riding thereon, the circuit is closed thereby and may be
traced from the battery s through the line wire and sounder, and by the return
wire to the plate t¹, spring piece u, ring E, driver B and so to the opposite
side of the battery. The successive dots and dashes to complete the signal are
produced by variations in length of the metallic parts of the ring having the
insulator blocks between them.
As the signal is finished, the next space-pin e on the ring E encounters the
trip-pawl and forces it forward, thereby rocking the latch m on its pivot n
until the heel of the said latch withdraws from the stud 9 on the lever F.
The said lever is thus free to rise again to its normal position under stress of
its spring and in rising it lifts the circuit ring E out of engagement with
the shaft B and arrests its movement, whilst the arm fl of the said lever raises
the pawl g clear of the ring. All of the parts are thus restored to the normal
state in readiness to allow for transmission of the next character or, as may be
requisite, to repeat the same character over again..
If multiple repetition of the same signal is desired, as in calling a distant
station, this can be effected by holding the trip-pawl gl out of action, clear of
the path of the space pins on the circuit ring E. A pivot bar w arranged
above the rings carries a set of fingers x which stand opposite the series of
pawls 9. A thumb lever y pivoted on the frame (Figure 7) has a cam z to
bear against the last finger of the set. By turning the lever, its cam z rocks
the bar w against the stress of the spring 20 and thus brings the fingers forward
Hence when the selected
in position to prevent the drop of any of the pawls g'.
key-lever is depressed and held down by its latch the individual pawl gl
pertaining to the latch m must stay uplifted by which expedient the circuit
ring E continues to revolve on the driver B until the finger is withdrawn at
the will of the operator to allow the pawl g' to descend and effect the release of
latch m, lever F and ring E.
When the machine is not in use, provision is made for arresting the movement
of the rotating driver B, and for establishing a short circuit around the machine.
The end ring 21 of the series of rings (Figures 5) is of metal but has a rim 21"
of insulating material, e.g., gutta percha. A metal screw 22° in contact with the
ring attaches a spring-piece 22 to the rim 21ª whilst at its free end the said
spring piece bears against the circuit plate t¹. The key-lever F¹ to control the
ring is mounted as usual; its lug k near the front thereof seats within a slot just
below an ear 23 on the lock-bar 24. The said lock-bar pivots in the standards A¹
and extends across the machine in close proximity to the lugs k of the bank of
key-levers.
With the parts in the position shown by Figure 5, the "stop" key-lever F¹
stands depressed and is there held by its latch m'; the end-ring 21 is in engagement
with the driver B and holds it from rotation whilst the lock-bar 24 is thrust to the
rear by its spring 25 and comes beneath the series of lugs k on the key-levers to
keep the levers out of action. The circuit is established from driver B by the
end-ring 21, screw 22ª, and spring piece 22 with plate t' so that the main line is
kept closed.
This condition of the parts persists until it is desired to bring the machine into
play. For which purpose, a stub key-lever F2 pivoted at 26 on the standard A'
(Figure 4) has its "start button (Figure 2) depressed. This causes the arm 27
of the said lever F to impinge upon and draw forward the finger 28 of the
latch m'; the latch m³ rocks on its pivot, releasing the "stop" lever F1 which
rises at once to disengage the ring 21 from the driver B and then allow the
said driver to rotate. The rise of the lever Fl enables its lug k to encounter
the ear 23 of the lock-bar 24 whereby the bar is thrust forward (to the position
shown by full lines in Figure 1) and no longer obstructs the bank of key-levers

page_text: which can, accordingly, be depressed at will. The insulated rim 21ª prevents.
the key-lever F', in contact therewith, from effecting a short circuit through the
plate t¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In telegraphic apparatus, the circuit make-and-break ring interchangeably
supported at its inner rim upon the rotating driver, and alternately at its outer
rim upon a reciprocating shifter, controlled by the character key, substantially as;
and for the purpose, described.
2. In telegraphic apparatus, the combination, with a rotating toothed driver
included in the electric circuit, of a make-and-break ring provided with serrations
to engage with the said driver, a contact spring bearing upon the said ring to
hold it in engagement and complete the electric circuit, a character bearing
key-lever constituting a shifter break to engage and disengage and arrest the
motion of the said ring, and a pivoted latch to hold the key-lever in its depressed
or actuated position, said latch being provided with a trip pawl to be actuated
by the revolving ring, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
3. In such apparatus the means for holding the trip pawl clear of the path of
the ring when multiple repetition of the same signal is required, substantially as
described.
4. The apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.
Dated this 12th day of February 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.