CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Mirand, of Paris, in the Republic of
France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn, London, for the
Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
m
Sealed the 13th May 1853, and dated the 15th November 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Mirand at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th November 1852.
I, JOHN MIRAND, of Paris, in the Republic of France, and of
16, Castle St., Holborn, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING INTELLIGENCE" to be as
follows:-
This Invention consists, - First, of a system of telegraphic bells
consisting of a hammer striking against bell metal, of any suitable
shape, in consequence of the action of an electric current upon an
electro magnet. This set of bells is completely worked by means of
a weak current produced by a six-plate Daniel's battery. Second, of
an apparatus marked with figures serving to indicate from what

page_text: point the signal has been given. Behind each number of this ap
paratus there is an electro magnet and a brace, upon which is
suspended a plate bearing the number. When the electrical current
is established, the brace, being attracted, lets the plate fall, and
leaves visible the number corresponding to the plate from whence
the call came that was announced by the bells; the latter work at
the same time as the number becomes visible; and when the person
called raises the plate bearing the number just mentioned, this plate
establishes a contact with the mechanism placed behind it; this
contact sends the current into the commutator of the person who
has rung, and causes a plate to appear there, upon which is printed
Go on.
The mechanism showing these words is the same as
that which makes the numbers just mentioned appear. Third, of
several commutators with elastic contact with one or more nobs,
among which is that by which the answer "Go on"
can be
obtained. Fourth, of clastic fastenings to unite together the
wagons of a train, and permitting an electric communication to be
established between the railway guard and the engine-driver.
Figs. 1, & 2, represent the telegraphic bells of my Invention. In
Figure 1, the box is cut to show the front of the apparatus. Figure 2,
is a transverse and vertical section of the set of bells. A, A, are reels
round an electro magnet which is fixed upon a board B, B, by means
of screws, rods, and the plate C, C, C, C, in front; and in the place of
the axis of the electro magnets, moves a piece of soft iron or brace D,
having a hammer E, with its rod F. This brace, which is imme-
diately in front of the electro magnet, can receive a movement to
and fro in consequence of its mode of fastening, which consists of a
spring G, fixed on H. In its usual position (that is to say, when
the current is broken off), the brace D, is removed from the electro
magnet by the spring G, and is in contact with the small spring I,
fixed on L; the current passes through the piece L, the brace D,
the piece H, the electro magnet, and comes from the apparatus as
Figure 1, represents. When the circuit of the battery is shut, that
is to say, when one rings, the electro magnet attracts the brace which
bears the hammer, and the latter strikes upon the bell iminediately

page_text: the circuit is interrupted; the electro magnet is demagnetized, and
the spring G, brings the opening D, in contact with the spring I; the
current is again established to be again broken, and so on. Hence,
we can have a series of strikes, equal to the time that the finger is
left on the button of the commutator. It is easy to make one or
several strikes, or inake a continuous ringing, according as the
finger is left on the button or nob, or that it is touched. Five
strokes and two thrills, with the assistance of a conventional table,
would suffice to make a large number of combinations to answer the
wants of a house, an industrial establishment, or a railway.
Figure 3, represents a front view of a numeral sheet, and sup-
posed to be a section in the direction of its length. Figure 4, is a
transverse and vertical section of this sheet. This section and
Figure 3, are made to a scale double of the other Figures, which
are of their natural size. Figure 6, is a longitudinal section of the
commutators; and Figure 7, is a front view of the same. Figure 9,
represents a coinmutator, without the apparatus for replying: it is
the same as that represented by Figure 8; only the electro magnet,
the plate upon which are written the words Go on, and the nob or
button B, are suppressed. Figure 10, represents an arrangement of
use to establish an electric communication between the wires of each
railway carriage. The hooks A, A, are placed in such a way as to
establish between them as intimate a contact as possible; and the
spiral springs B, B, (this spring can be made more or less stout)
allow the rods C, C, to be drawn, when it is desired to seperate
the hooks A, and the wagons which they unite.
This is the way in which the apparatus works. One of the poles
of the battery is in communication with a wire passing in the button
E, of the commutator (Fig. 8); it passes afterwards into the spring
N, upon which the button S, of the commutator has just acted. In
its usual position, the spring N, is in communication with the spring
I; but when the button S, is pressed, it seperates from the spring
I, and comes in contact with the spring X. The spring I, commu-
nicates with a wire passing into the reels A, and the extremity of
which has just passed into the button B. The spring X, on the con-

page_text: wire, the extremity of which has just
This wire is prolonged, and has just
trary, communicates with a
passed into the button Y.
passed into the button F, of Figure 4. The wire passing through
the button B, of Fig. 8, comes, on the contrary, into the button E,
of Fig. 4.
Figure 4, represents two apparati, exactly alike, destined to make
two numeral plates P, P, move by means of two commutators; to
every numeral plate there is a corresponding commutator. When
the person who is in front of the commutator wishes to ring in
order to give notice, he presses the button S, of the commutator:
the current passes into the buttons Y (Figure 8), F (Figure 4),
into the electro magnet A, A, and comes out by the wire B, B,
which directly afterwards passes into the button K, to go thence
to the button Y (Figure 1); it goes through the set of bells,
the reels A, A, the piece H, the spring G, the brace D, the spring
I, the piece L, and through Q, rejoins the other pole of the bat-
tery. In this course, the current produces the magnetizing of the
clectro magnet A, A (Fig. 4); the piece of soft iron M, is at-
tracted, and the plate P, falls. Hereinafter is given a description
of the arrangements of this plate, as well as the mechanism placed
behind it. The same current produces also the magnetizing of the
electro magnet A, A, of the set of bells, and puts the latter in
movement. The person who is in front of the numeral apparatus,
warned by the sound of the bells, turns towards the numeral
table, and, by means of the number that the plate carries which
has just fallen, he knows who wishes to communicate with him.
He raises the numeral plate, and in raising it he causes a plate
situated in the commutator to fall, bearing the words Go on.
The person thus apprised that attention is paid to the signal,
transmits, by means of the bells, the despatch that he has to forward.
It is thus that the motion of the numeral plates is made, and that of
the plate of the commutator which transmits the answer. (The me-
chanism which causes these plates to move is exactly the same.)
The plate P, when it is raised, is retained by the piece M, which
enters a hole bored in this plate. The piece N, as seen in the

page_text: Drawing, has a conical point, which is introduced into another
hole bored in the plate P, in such a manner as not to touch this
plate. The piece N, is fixed to the extremity of a spring V, which
is completely isolated from the apparatus by means of a ring of
ivory or any other substance; so that the current which comes
through the button E, into the piece N, cannot find any outlet.
When the plate P, has fallen, the point of the piece N, is above
this plate, and consequently does not touch it. The person who is
at the commutator, after having rung to warn, lets go the button
S; the spring N, comes in contact with the spring I; the current
passes into the reel A, of the commutator (Fig. 8), into the pieces
B, E, & N, and stops there, not finding an outlet. The electric
current is then broken off; but when the person who is in front of
the numeral sheet goes to raise the plate P, in raising it lic
establishes a contact between the plate l', and the point of the piece
N (this contact will last until the point falls again into the aperture
made in the plate 1', already described). The current passes then
into this plate, into the rod 1, into the wire T, the button R,
and goes directly into the button Q (Fig. 1), without passing into
the set of bells. From the button Q, it goes to the other pole
of the battery; the circuit is thus shut, the magnetizing of the
electro magnet then takes place; the piece M, (Fig. 7,) is attracted,
and the plate bearing the answer Go on, falls. The mechanism
by means of which the plate is worked is exactly like that described
for the numeral slicets: only it is not traversed by any current.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said John Mirand in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th May 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
JOHN MIRAND, of Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the

page_text: sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jolin Mirand, Her especial licence that
I, the said John Mirand, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Mirand, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
INTELLIGENCE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Mirand, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Mirand, do hereby declare
the nature of iny said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:
My Invention consists,- Firstly, of a system of telegraphic bells,
consisting of a hammer striking against bell-metal of any suitable
shape, in consequence of the action of an electric current upon an
electro magnet. This set of bells is completely worked by means of
a weak current produced by a six-plate Daniels' battery. Secondly,
of an apparatus marked with figures serving to indicate from
whence the signal has been given. Behind each number of this
apparatus there is an electro magnet, and a brace, upon which is
suspended a plate bearing the number. When the electrical current
is established, the brace being attached lets the plate fall, and leaves
visible the number corresponding to the place from whence the call
came that was announced by the bells; the latter work at the same

page_text: time as the number becomes visible, and when the called person
raises the plate bearing the number just mentioned, this plate
establishes a contact with the mechanism placed behind it; this
contact sends the current into the commutator of the person who
and causes a plate to appear there upon which is printed
"On Vient."
has rung,
The mechanisin showing these words is the same as that which
makes the numbers just mentioned appear.
Thirdly, of several commutators with clastic contact with one or
inore nobs, among which is that by which the answer "On Vient"
can be obtained.
Fourthly, of elastic fastenings to unite together the waggons of
a train, and permit an electric communication to be established
between the railway guards and the engine driver.
Figs. 1, and 2, represent the telegraphic bell of my Invention.
In Fig. 1, the box is cut to show the front of the apparatus.
Fig. 2, is a transverse and vertical section of the set of bells. A, A,
are reels round an electro magnet, which is fixed upon a board
B, B, by means of screws, rods, and the plate C, C, C, C, in front;
and in the plan of the axis of the electro magnets there is fastened
a piece of soft iron or brace D, having a hammer E, with its rod
F. This brace D, which is immediately in front of the electro
magnet, can receive a movement to and fro, in consequence of its
mode of fastening, which consists of a spring G, fixed on H. In
its usual position (that is to say, when the current is broken off),
the spring D, is removed from the electro magnet by the spring G,
and is in contact with the small spring I, fixed on L.; the current
passes through the piece L, the brace D, the piece II, the electro
magnet, and comes from the apparatus as Fig. 1, represents. When
the circuit of the battery is shut, that is to say, when one rings,
the electro magnet attracts the brace which bears the hammer, and
the latter strikes upon the bell immediately the circuit is inter-
rupted, the electro magnet is demagnetised, and the spring G
brings the opening D, in contact with the spring 1; the current is
again established to be again broken, and so on. Ilence, we can

page_text: have a series of strikes, equal to the time that the finger is left
on the bottom of the commutator. It is very easy to inake one or
several strokes, or make continuous ringing, according as the finger
is left upon the button, or that it is touched. Five strokes and two
reels, with the assistance of a conventional table, would suffice to
make a pretty large number of combinations to answer the wants or
a house, an industrial establishment, or a railway.
Fig. 3, represents a front view of a numeral sheet, supposed
to be a section of its length. Fig. 4, is a transverse and vertical
section of this sheet. This section and Fig. 3, are made to a
scale double of the other Figures, which are of their natural size.
Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section of the commutator; and Fig. 7, is
a front view of the same. Fig. 9, represents a commutator without
the apparatus for replying; it is the same as that represented by
Fig. 8, only the electro magnet, the plate upon which are written
the words "On vient," and the button B, are suppressed. Fig. 10,
represents an arrangement of use, to establish an electric communi-
cation between the wires of each railway carriage. The hooks A, A,
are placed in such a way as to establish between them as intimate a
contact as possible; and the spiral springs B, B, (these springs
springs can be more or less stout) allow the rods C, C, to be drawn,
when one wishes to separate the hooks A, and the waggons that
they unite. The following is the manner in which the apparatus
works: One of the poles of the pile is in communication with
a wire passing in the button E, of the commutator (Fig. 8);
it passes afterwards into the spring N, upon which the button
S, of the commutator has just acted. In its usual position the
spring N, is in communication with the spring I; but when the
button S, is pressed, it separates from the spring I, and comes
in contact with the spring X. The spring I, communicates
with a wire passing into the reels A, and the extremity of
which has just passed into the button B. The spring X, on the
contrary, communicates with a wire, the extremity of which has
just passed into the button Y. This wire is prolonged, and
is just passed into the button F, of Figure 4; the wire passing

page_text: through the button B, of Fig. 8, comes on the contrary into the
button E, of Fig. 4. It is to be noticed that Fig. 4, represents
two apparati exactly alike, destined to make two numeral plates
P, P, move by means of two commutators; for to every numeral
plate there is a corresponding commutator. When the person who
is in front of the commutator wishes to ring in order to give notice,
he presses the button S, of the cominutator, the current passes into
the buttons Y (Fig. 8), F (Fig. 4), in the electro magnet A, A, and
comes out by the wire B, B, which directly afterwards passes into the
button K, to go from there to the button Y, of Fig. 1.
It goes
through the set of bells, the reels A, A, the piece H, the spring G,
the brace D, the spring I, the piece L, and through Q, rejoins the
other pole of the battery. In this course the current produces the
magnetizing of the electro magnet A, A (Fig. 4); the piece of
soft iron M, is attracted, and the plate P, falls. Herein-after is
given a description of the arrangements of this plate, as well as the
mechanisin placed behind it. The same current produces also the
magnetizing of the electro magnet A, A, of the set of bells, and puts
the latter in movement. The person who is in front of the numeral
apparatus, warned by the sound of the bells, turns towards the
numeral table, and, by means of the number that the plate carries
which has just fallen, he knows who wishes to communicate with
him. He raises the numeral plate, and in raising it he causes a
plate situated in the commutator to fall, bearing the words "On
Vient." The person thus apprized that attention is paid to the
signal, transmits, by means of the bells, the despatch that he has to
forward. Thus the motion of the numeral plates is made, and of
the plate of the commutator which transmits the answer (the me-
chanism which causes these plates to move is exactly the same).
The plate 1', when raised, is kept elevated by the piece M, which
enters a hole bored in this plate. The piece N, (as seen in the
Drawing) has a conical point, which is introduced into another hole
bored in the plate P, in such a manner as not to touch this plate.
The piece N, is fixed to the extremity of a spring V, which is com-
pletely isolated from the apparatus by means of a ring of ivory or

page_text: any other substance, so that the current which comes through the
button E, into the piece N, cannot find any outlet at which to
escape. When the plate P, has fallen, the point of the piece N, is
above this plate, and consequently does not touch it. The person
who is at the commutator, after having rung to warn, lets go the
button S; the spring N, comes in contact with the spring I, the
current passes into the reel A, of the commutator (Fig. 8), into the
pieces B, E, and N, and stops there, not finding any issue. The
electrical circuit is then broken off; but when the person who is
in front of the numeral sheet goes to raise the sheet P, in raising
this sheet he establishes a contact between the plate P, and the
point of the piece N (this contact will last until the point falls
again into the aperture made in the plate P, already described);
the current then passes into this plate, into the rod I, into the wire
T, the button R, and goes directly into the button Q (Fig. 1),
without passing into the set of bells. From the button Q, it goes to
the other pole of the battery; the other circuit is thus shut, the mag-
netizing of the electro magnet then takes place; the piece M (Fig. 7),
is attracted, and the plate bearing the answer "On Vient" falls. The
mechanism by means of which this plate is worked is exactly like
that described for the numeral sheets; only it is not traversed by
any current.
The following is the manner in which the system of bells is
arranged, represented in Figs. 12, and 13. It consists of a hori-
zontal shaft, on which is fixed a cam or eccentric C, which may
be either simple or double. This cam turns with the shaft on
which it is fixed, sets in motion a hammer D, in the interior of the
bell-metal. The hammer is brought back by the cam, and towards
the fixed point E, by a spring F, acting on the lever N, which is
connected to the hammer, and turns with it round the centre P, as
seen in Fig. 13. The electro magnet G, G¹, is moveable, and the
electro magnet M, M, is fixed; they are magnetized by currents
passing in their interior, in such manner as to have each a negative
and positive pole. In the foregoing arrangement the reel G¹, is
rather heavier than the reel G, which is the cause that when the

page_text: acting power is at rest, the lower part of the circle that it describes
is occupied by the reel G. In this position, the contrary poles of
the two electro magnets G, G¹, and M, M, are facing; so that when
these electro magnets are in operation, they mutually repel cach
other, and the electro magnet G, G¹, will turn and set in motion
the
arrangement of bells. The principal piece of this arrangement
of electric bells consists in a commutator L, composed of two inc-
tallic cylinders, R, R, separated by an isolating ivory plate I. The
commutator receives the extremities of the threads of the reels
of the electro magnet G, G¹, and it is, besides, in contact with
two metallic pieces H, H', through which the current enters and
issues. The commutator L, by its rotary motion, changes at each
turn the poles of the electro magnet G, G'; so that ench pole is
constantly attracted by the pole of the electro magnet M, which is
in front, and repelled by the same pole as soon as it has passed
it. Each reel becomes alternately positive and negative pole, the
hammer D, its lever end, and the spring F, may be placed on the
other side of the cam C. In this case, the latter acts on the spring
F, to draw it backward, and, returning by its elasticity, it produces
the stroke of the hammer on the bell-metal, when the lever end
escapes.
Fig. 14, shown in plan and in section, represents a button. G,
and H, are the two threads of the battery. A, A, is the cylindrical
box of the button; it may be of china ware, or of any other suitable
substance. B, is the button. C, C, is a metallic plate, fixed by
means of screws on the box A, A. On the plate C, C, is fixed a
spring B, on which the button acts. This spring, when the button
is pressed, rests on a metallic piece F; and then, the electric serpent
being closed, the bells act; when not in operation, the spring D,
rests on an isolating plate fixed on the plate C, C.
Fig. 15, represents an arrangement of bells applicable to railway
carriages. It is arranged in such a manner, that if the commu-
nication between the head and the end of the train was to be
interrupted, the arrangement of bells at the head of the train
next to the engine-driver, would act immediately and warn him of

page_text: this separation. A, represents the part of the apparatus situated on
the locomotive near the engine-driver; and B, that situated in the
last carriage of the train. The part A, is composed of a system of
bells C, similar to the one already described in the Figs. 1, and 2.
D, is the battery. E, is a small electro inagnet, in which passes a
current produced by a supplementary battery F, placed in the last
carriage of the train. H, is an ordinary commutator, similar to the
one described in Fig. 10. C, is a commutator, of reversed construc-
tion; that is to say, that when the button is pressed, the two
metallic parts are separated, and the current is intercepted. I, is a
system of bells, placed in the last carriage, similar to the one placed
in the first. The following is the manner in which the apparatus is
worked. The current proceeding from the battery F, passes in the
wires indicated by the arrows 1, and 2, circulates in the electro
magnet E, issues from it in following the direction indicated by the
arrows 3 and 4, and goes to the other pole of the battery F. The
circuit is thus closed, and the magnetizing of the electro magnet E,
is produced. This electro magnet attracts the part P, and prevents
it from touching the button L. In this position, the current pro-
ceeding from the battery D, can no longer circulate, for the com-
mutator, H, and the separation of the pieces H, and L, prevent it
from doing so. But when the engine driver wants to communicate
with the guard placed in the last waggon, he will press on the com-
mutator H; the current of the battery D, will then pass in the wires
uniting the waggons, following the direction indicated by the arrows
5, and 6. It will then enter into the arrangement of the bells I, and
will issue to come out through the battery F; or, if desired by the
wire Q, indicated by punctuated lines, it will follow the direction
marked by the arrows 7, 8, and 9, and will go to the other pole of
the battery D, 5 and 6, bis. It will then enter in the system of
bells, and will issue in following the direction marked of the arrows
10, and 11. When, on the contrary, the guard wishes to speak to
the engine driver, he will have but to press on the button G; he
will thus interrupt the current of the battery F, and demagnetisc
the electro magnet E; the piece P, being no longer attracted, will

page_text: then be repelled by a small spring which it bears near the button I;
and the current of the battery D, will then pass in the system of
bells C, following the direction marked by the arrows, and will
return to the other pole of the battery. Thus, when the demagne-
tising of the electro magnet E, is produced (and it is evidently
produced every time that the breaking of the wires takes place,
which makes it communicate with the battery F), the system of bells
C, will ring, the current of the battery D, following the latter
direction, and remaining in the first carriage.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I claim,-
First, the two systems of electric bells herein described. Secondly,
the different communicators that I have also described, either ap-
plied to the handles of doors, or any other arrangement. Thirdly,
the electric apparatus, with numbers allowing to communicate with
a certain number of distant points. This arrangement is applicable
to houses, hotels, manufactories, railways, &c. Fourthly, the herein
described arrangements for connecting the electric wires of each
railway carriage. Fifthly, the arrangement shewn in Figure 15, by
which the engine driver is immediately warned in case of any car-
riages becoming detached from the train.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Mirand, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
J. MIRAND. (L.S.)