Year: 1886

page_text: I FREDERICK HERBERT WILLIAM HIGGINS of 17 Cornhill in the City of
London Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The receiving instrument as I prefer to construct it consists of a clock train
actuated by a weight and when the train is liberated it rotates a pair of type
wheels. The train drives a pinion which is loose on the axis of an escapement
wheel but connected with the escapement wheel by a light coiled spring. The
escapement wheel thus can be suddenly stopped without instantly arresting the
clock train and likewise the escapement wheel when set free can. move forward
under the influence of the connecting spring more rapidly than the clock train will
follow. This freedom is limited by stops and extends only to a portion of a
rotation of the escapement wheel. The escapement wheel has the usual ratchet
like teeth upon it and an anchor escapement of modified form engages with them.
The extremities of the escapement anchor are not pointed as is usual but the
anchor terminates in surfaces which may be concentric with the escapement wheel.
This construction leaves the ends of the escapement anchor thick and stout so that
the action of the escapement is less likely to be deranged by wear.
The escape-
ment anchor moves only through a small angle-As is usual in anchor escapements
each tooth of the escapement wheel as it comes up is stopped first by a surface on
the outer side of one claw or extremity of the anchor escapement, then by the
upward movement of this claw it is liberated and it passes on step by step whilst
other teeth operate and until it is stopped by another surface on the inner side of
the following claw of the escapement anchor from which again it is liberated by
the next movement of the anchor.
The stop surfaces on the escapement teeth are approximately radial and they
meet at a favorable angle corresponding surfaces on the claws of the escapement
anchor. There are also propelling surfaces on the escapement anchor which can
operate on the back of the teeth of the escapement wheel and urge it forward if
the oscillations of the anchor are more rapid than the escapement wheel would
otherwise follow with precision.
Rebound of the escapement wheel is prevented by a fine ratchet wheel and a
pawl engaging with its teeth.

page_text: Movement is imparted to the escapement anchor by means of a pin upon it
immediately over its pivot and this is embraced by a fork beneath an armature by
which the escapement is caused to operate. The armature is hung by pivots at its
upper edge and vibrates between a pair of electro magnets in the line circuit. The
armature consists of two pieces of soft iron connected by an intermediate portion
of brass. The soft iron pieces are each between a pair of electro magnet poles and
they are magnetized by induction from permanent magnets. The portion of the
armature in the vicinity of each pivot is cylindrical and it is received loosely into
a cylindrical hole in an iron block which is held between the poles of a pair of
horseshoe magnets. The armature thus magnetized is attracted and repelled by
the electro magnets as alternating currents traverse their coils-The armature
vibrates between fixed stops on the magnet poles and to prevent concussion other
spring stops are provided; they operate against an arm fixed to the armature and
projecting upwards from it.
On the axis of the escapement wheel the pair of type wheels are mounted; a pin
carried by an arm on the axis enters a hole in one of the wheels so that the type
wheels are compelled at all times to rotate with the escapement wheel. The type
wheels can however slide upon the axis to bring one or other of the wheels to the
printing position so that the characters on either wheel are available-One wheel
may carry the letters and the other figures and fractions, or any other characters
may be used. The type wheels are formed as polygons with a flat face for each
character and the character is cut or engraved on the face-Characters thus formed
print more clearly than those which present a curved surface. The sliding motion
along the axis is imparted to the type wheels by the arm of a rocking lever which
is received between two collars upon the neck of the type wheels. To prevent the
type wheels being accidentally shifted along the axis there is a notch in one of the
collars and the type wheels can only slide along the axis when the notch is
in position to let the collar pass a projecting arm fixed in a suitable position.
The printing electro magnet is in the same circuit with the escapement magnets
it attracts an armature connected with the printing lever which it thus lifts so as
to bring into contact with the underside of the type wheel a tape of paper which
lays along it and is supported upon a printing pad. The printing lever only
moves when there is a pause in transmission; the rapidly alternating escapement
currents are not sufficient to work the printing lever but a continuous current of
either polarity brings it into action. The printing lever also carries the small
rocking lever which gives movement end wise to the type wheels. In addition to
the arin which enters between the two collars on the type wheels the rocking
lever has two short arms one on either side of the fulcrum or axis-There are also
two pins on the axis of the escapement wheel-they are one step of the escapement
apart. When the change from one sort of character to another is desired the type
wheels are stopped with one or other of these pins directly below the axis.
A movement of the printing lever then takes place which brings one of the shorter
arms of the three armed rocking lever against the pin on the escapement axis and
so the lever and type wheels are caused to move. These movements take place at
times corresponding to blanks on the type wheels and a stop on the printing lever
coming against a corresponding stop on the type wheels prevents the paper being
then raised into contact with the type wheel.
The tape of paper after passing along the printing lever and beneath a guard
upon it (which is perforated at the point where the printing takes place) passes a
nipping pawl carried upon a lever mounted on a stud-axis projecting from the
frame and also another nipping pawl on a fixed support mounted at the end of the
stud axis. The nipping pawls will both allow the paper to advance past them but
they prevent it from being drawn back. When the printing lever falls a pin
upon it operates in a slot in the pawl lever and a movement is imparted to the
lever causing the pawl which it carries to pass back along the paper. When the
printing lever rises this pawl again advances and carries the paper on past the pawl
on the fixed support.

page_text: When the type wheels are allowed to run for several revolutions they are
brought to rest at the zero or blank position by an arm carried by one of the axes
of the clock train but so disposed that it can easily be moved around the axis to
which it is held only by friction. Each time that the printing lever moves a
projection upon it strikes this arm and brings it back to a starting point but when
it is not so brought back it gradually advances until a stud upon it is in the path
of an arm on the escapement wheel and so the wheels are brought to rest.
All the instruments in circuit are thus simultaneously brought to the zero point
and so it is insured that all shall act in unison.
The clock train is put in motion by a barrel on which a cord is wound at one
end whilst the other end is made fast in a convenient position.
A pulley with the weight upon it hangs in the bight of cord. The winding
spindle passes through this barrel but is not fast with it; it carries a spur toothed
pinion and also a ratchet wheel.
The barrel has a disc upon it and on the face of the diso are other spur wheels
in gear with that on the spindle. The first wheel of the clock train is also
mounted on the spindle and it carries a pawl engaging with the ratchet wheel
thereon; it also has a ring of pins or internal teeth with which the pinions carried
by the disc of the barrel engage. It results from these arrangements that as the
cord unwinds from the barrel it carries the first wheel of the train with it whilst
in winding the force applied to the spindle tends to turn the barrel and the first
wheel of the train and in opposite directions so that whilst the weight is raised the
stress necessary to maintain the clock train in movement is maintained: hence
winding does not interfere with the working of the instrument and no signals are
lost. To prevent overwinding another ratchet is provided on the barrel and there
is a pawl to engage with it. When the weight is raised sufficiently high a part in
connection with it comes into contact with this pawl and lifts it towards the ratchet
teeth and the winding is stopped without any strain being thrown on the cord.
1000

page_text: I, FREDERICK HERBERT WILLIAM HIGGINS of 17 Cornhill in the City of London
Electrical Engineer 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 :-
The receiving instrument as I prefer to construct it consists of a clock train
actuated by a weight and when the train is liberated it rotates a pair of type
wheels. The train drives a pinion which is loose on the axis of an escapement
wheel but connected with the escapement wheel by a light coiled spring. The
escapement wheel thus can be suddenly stopped without instantly arresting the
clock train and likewise the escapement wheel when set free can move forward
under the influence of the connecting spring more rapidly than the clock train will
follow. This freedom is limited by stops and extends only to a portion of a rotation
of the escapement wheel. The escapement wheel has the usual ratchet like teeth
upon it and an anchor escapement of modified form engages with them-―The
extremities of the escapement anchor are not pointed as is usual but the anchor
terminates in surfaces which may be concentric with the escapement wheel. This
construction leaves the ends of the escapement anchor thick and stout so that the
action of the escapement is little likely to be deranged by wear. The escapement
anchor moves only through a small angle. As is usual in anchor escapements each
tooth of the escapement wheel as it comes up is stopped first by a surface on the
outer side of one claw or extremity of the anchor escapement, then by the upward
movement of this claw it is liberated and it passes on step by step whilst other
teeth operate and until it is stopped by another surface on the inner side of the
following claw of the escapement anchor from which again it is liberated by the
next movement of the anchor.
The stop surfaces on the escapement teeth are approximately radial and they
meet at a favorable angle corresponding surfaces on the claws of the escapement
anchor. There are also propelling surfaces on the escapement anchor which can
operate on the back of the teeth of the escapement wheel and urge it forward if
the oscillations of the anchor are more rapid than the escapement wheel would
otherwise follow with precision.
Rebound of the escapement wheel is prevented by a fine ratchet wheel and a
pawl engaging with its teeth.
Movement is imparted to the escapement anchor by means of a pin upon it
immediately over its pivot and this is embraced by a fork beneath an armature by
which the escapement is caused to operate. The armature is hung by pivots at its
upper edge and vibrates between a pair of electro magnets in the line circuit. The
armature consists of two pieces of soft iron connected by an intermediate portion
of brass. The soft iron pieces are each between a pair of electro magnet poles and
they are magnetised by induction from permanent magnets. The pivot pieces or
portions of the armature in the vicinity of the pivots are cylindrical and are received

page_text: loosely into a cylindrical hole in an iron block which is held between the poles of
a pair of horse shoe magnets. The armature thus magnetised is attracted and
repelled by the electro magnets as alternating currents traverse their coils. The
armature vibrates between fixed stops on the magnet poles and to prevent con-
cussion other spring stops are provided; they operate against an arm fixed to the
armature and projecting upwards from it.
On the axis of the escapement wheel the pair of type wheels are mounted; a pin
carried by an arm on the axis enters a hole in one of the wheels so that the type
wheels are compelled at all times to rotate with the escapement wheel. The type
wheels can however slide upon the axis to bring one or other of the wheels to the
printing position so that the characters on either wheel are available. One wheel
may carry the letters and the other figures and fractions, or any other characters
may be used. The type wheels are formed as polygons with a flat face for each
character and the character is cut or engraved on the face-Characters thus formed.
print more clearly than those which present a curved surface. The sliding motion
along the axis is imparted to the type wheels by the arm of a rocking lever which
is received between two collars upon the neck of the type wheels. To prevent the
type wheels being accidentally shifted along the axis there is a notch in one of the
collars and the type wheels can only slide along the axis when the notch is in
position to let the collar pass a projecting arm fixed in a suitable position.
The printing electro magnet is in the same circuit with the escapement magnets-
it attracts an armature connected with the printing lever which it thus lifts so as
to bring into contact with the underside of the type wheel a tape of paper which
lays along it and is supported upon a printing pad. The printing lever only moves
when there is a pause in transmission: the rapidly alternating escapement currents
are not sufficient to work the printing lever but a continuous current of either
polarity brings it into action. The printing lever also carries the sinall rocking
lever which gives movement end wise to the type wheels. In addition to the arm
which enters between the two collars on the type wheels the rocking lever has two
short arms one on either side of the fulcrum or axis-There are also two pins on
the axis of the escapement wheel-they are one step of the escapement apart.
When the change from one sort of character to another is desired the type wheels
are stopped with one or other of these pins directly below the axis. A movement
of the printing lever then takes place which brings one of the shorter arms of the
three armed rocking lever against the pin on the escapement axis and so the lever
and type wheels are caused to move. These movements take place at times corre-
sponding to blanks on the type wheels and a stop on the printing lever coming
against a corresponding stop on the type wheels prevents the paper being then
raised into contact with the type wheel.
The tape of paper after passing along the printing lever and beneath a guard upon
it (which is perforated at the point where the printing takes place) passes a nipping
pawl carried upon a lever mounted on a stud axis projecting from the frame and
also another nipping pawl on a fixed support mounted at the end of the stud axis.
The nipping pawls will both allow the paper to advance past them but they prevent
it from being drawn back. When the printing lever falls a pin upon it operates in
a slot in the pawl lever and a movement is imparted to the lever causing the pawl
which it carries to pass back along the paper. When the printing lever rises this
pawl again advances and carries the paper on past the pawl on the fixed support.
When the type wheels are allowed to run for several revolutions they are brought
to rest at the zero or blank position by an arm carried by one of the axes of the
clock train but so disposed that it can easily be moved around the axis to which it
is held only by friction. Each time that the printing lever moves a projection
upon it strikes this arm and brings it back to a starting point but when it is not
so brought back it gradually advances until a stud upon it is in the path of an
arm on the escapement wheel and so the wheels are brought to rest.
All the instruments in circuit are thus simultaneously brought to the zero point
and so it is insured that all shall act in unison.

page_text: The clock train is put in motion by a barrel on which a cord is wound at one
end whilst the other end is made fast in a convenient position.
A pulley with the weight upon it hangs in the bight of cord. The winding
spindle passes through this barrel but is not fast with it: it carries a spur toothed
pinion and also a ratchet wheel.
The barrel has a disc upon it and on the face of the disc are other spur wheels
in gear with that on the spindle.-The first wheel of the clock train is also mounted
on the spindle and it carries a pawl engaging with the ratchet wheel thereon: it
also has a ring of pins or internal teeth with which the pinions carried by the disc
of the barrel engage.
It results from these arrangements that as the cord unwinds 1
from the barrel it carries the first wheel of the train with it whilst in winding the
force applied to the spindle tends to turn the barrel and the first wheel of the train
and in opposite directions so that whilst the weight is raised the stress necessary to
maintain the clock train in movement is maintained; hence winding does not
interfere with the working of the instrument and no signals are lost. To prevent
overwinding another ratchet is provided on the barrel and there is a pawl to engage
with it. When the weight is raised sufficiently high a part in connection with it
comes into contact with this pawl and lifts it towards the ratchet teeth and the
winding is stopped without any strain being thrown on the cord.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily 2
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printing telegraph instrument constructed in
accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same. Figure 3
is a transverse vertical section taken on the line A. A. in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a 2
plan. Figure 5 shews separately the escapement wheel with some of the parts
working in connection therewith. Figure 5* shows the escapement anchor separately.
Figure 6 is a section through the winding barrel and shows the winding spindle
and the first wheel of the clock train Figure 7 is an end elevation of the winding
barrel showing especially the flange thereon and the spur wheels which this carries. 3
Fig. 8 is an elevation of the first wheel of the train and shows the pins or teeth
with which the spur wheels on the barrel engage.
.
a, a is the frame of the instrument b is the escapement wheel, it is fixed upon
the axis b¹ and b² is a spur pinion mounted loosely on the same axis, but limited
by stops to about half a turn of independent rotation. 6³ is a coiled spring which 3
connects the pinion b' with the escapement wheel b. o is the escapement anchor,
it is mounted on the axis c¹. The details of the escapement wheel and anchor are
clearly shown by Figure 5 and Figure 5*.
The stop surfaces 6* on the teeth of the escapement wheel are approximately
radial and the corresponding stop surfaces c* of the escapement anchor when they
meet the teeth of the wheel are also approximately radial to the axis of the wheel.
Other surfaces b** and c** on the wheel and anchor are propelling surfaces and
operate when the wheel tends to lag, to force the wheel forward. The blunt ends
of the anchor between the surfaces c* and c** form intermediate surfaces, and are
so shaped as just to keep clear of the teeth of the escapement wheel.
The armature consists of two soft iron pieces d. d. connected by a piece of
brass d. The pieces d. d are continued in cylindrical form to the pivots on either
side and they enter in the soft iron blocks e. e. which are located between the poles
of the horse shoe magnets ff. g. g. g. g. are the several parts of a multiple electro
magnet, which actuates the armature and when rapidly alternating currents are 5
transmitted by the line wire through the coils of this electro magnet, the armature
oscillates with corresponding rapidity. The fork d' which the armature carries
then gives motion to the escapement anchor c, the fork embracing a pin upon the
anchor as the drawing indicates. d³ is a pin projecting upwards from the arma-
ture and playing between the two check springs h. h. is a fine ratchet wheel 5

page_text: provided on the escapement axis to prevent recoil and i¹ is a pawl which engages
with the teeth of this wheel. ij are inking rollers, bearing lightly on the surface
of the type wheels and supplying ink to them. k, k, are a pair of type wheels;
they are fixed upon a boss k¹, which is mounted so as to be able to slide freely
along the escapement axis b¹. b is an arm clamped upon the axis b¹ and carrying
a pin entering a hole in one of the wheels k and thereby compelling the wheels to
rotate with the axis kk are collars upon the boss k¹ The collar k* serves in
conjunction with a fixed stop to prevent the type wheels sliding along the axis,
except when intentionally actuated by the mechanism provided for the purpose.
m is the printing lever, it is mounted on an axis at m¹ and the same axis also has
an arm upon it which carries an armature in front of the poles of the printing
magnet n. m³ is a spring which is adjustable by means of an eccentric m³ to draw
down the printing lever and hold it in the position in which it is shown against
an adjustable stop o. The attraction of the magnet n. when sufficiently continued
overcomes the spring m³ and lifts the printing lever until the paper tape, which is
supported upon a pad m' comes into contact with the type. p is a three armed
lever carried by the printing lever, and having its fulcrum at p¹, a pin on one arm
of this lever enters between the collars and k³ in connection with the type
wheels. The shorter arms upon the lever p are in position to come into collision
with the pins 65 and 66 fixed in the escapement axis b₁ provided that the escape-
ment axis be suitably placed at the time when the printing lever rises. These
pins are not in the saine plane: one of them is a step in advance of the other. If
the printing lever be raised when the pin 60 is in position to operate then the type
wheels will be drawn outwards along the axis-Or supposing the type wheels to
be already outwards and the printing lever to be raised when the pin b is in
position then the type wheels will be thrust inwards and back to the position
which they are shown to occupy in Figure 3 of the drawings. These movements
can only take place when the notch * in the disc k coincides with the extremity
of the fixed projection l.
m³ is a projection on the printing lever m which when the lever is raised for the
purpose of shifting the type wheels comes into contact with an arm 67 clamped
upon the axis 61 and this prevents the printing lever rising to its full extent so
that the paper tape is not then brought into contact with the type wheels me is
the shield on the printing lever beneath which the paper tape passes-beyond this
shield the paper tape passes beneath the nipping pawl ql mounted upon a lever q
which can turn about the stud axis q fixed on the frame. The paper passes
between the teeth of the pawl q' and a fixed semi-cylindrical surface al secured to
the frame. q* is a slot in the pawl lever q and m' is a pin on the printing lever
engaging with this slot and causing the two lovers to move together r is a
stationary piece clamped upon the end of the stud q² it carries a pawl r¹ which by
a spring is caused to nip the paper lightly between its teeth and an overhanging
lip or flange upon the piece r. The clock train is not fully shown by the
drawings this being ordinary mechanism: 8 is one of the axes of the train, it
makes one revolution whilst the axis b¹ makes sixteen revolutions or thereabouts
s' is an arm mounted upon the axis s in such manner as to be carried around
with it by friction but each time that the printing lever rises a pin me upon it
comes against the arm 8 and raising it at one end depresses the other extremity
which is in the neighbourhood of the type wheels. When the printing lever
remains for some time inoperative this arm s¹ rises until the projection 81* at its
end comes into the path of the arm 67 as this arm rotates with the type wheels.
The type wheels are thereby stopped to be liberated again however when the
printing lever next operates.
t is the first wheel of the clock train it engages by means of the pawl t¹ with the
ratchet wheel u which is fast upon the winding spindle u. u2 is a spur wheel
also fast upon the winding spindle u. vis a barrel mounted freely upon the
spindle uit receives a cord around it from which the actuating weight is hung.
v is a flange on the barrel v carrying the toothed wheels in gear with the

page_text: wheel. The same pinions also engage with a circle of pins t² t upon the first
wheel t. of the clock train. The action of this gear in maintaining the driving
power whilst the weight is wound up has been already described.
is a ratchet on the barrel v and w. is a pawl which when the weight is fully
raised by winding is lifted into the teeth of the ratchet and so the winding is
stopped without any strain being thrown on the cord.
Some of the improvements above described are applicable to machines having
only one type wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim as my improvement in electric telegraph printing receiving instruments is:
1. The escapement wheel and anchor with stop surfaces meeting approximately
radially to the centre of the escapement wheel. Also with propelling surfaces and
with intermediate surfaces on the escapement anchor approximately concentric with
the escapement wheel substantially as described.
2. The apparatus actuating the escapement consisting of the divided armature
polarised through its pivot pieces by a permanent magnet and situate between the
pole pieces of a compound electro magnet substantially as described.
3. The type wheels formed as described from polygon wheels with flat faces by
engraving or cutting the required letter or character on each flat surface sub-
stantially as described.
4. The mechanism for shifting the type wheels along their axis to bring one or
other of them into use consisting of a part carried on the printing lever and
engaging with the said wheels which part when at the proper time the printing
lever is raised is moved by being so brought against pins or projections rotating
with the type wheels substantially as described.
5. The mechanism for advancing the paper consisting of the retaining pawl r
and lip or flange, and the driving pawl q¹ and surface a¹ the said driving
pawl being mounted on a lever q. actuated by the printing lever substantially as
described.
6. The combination with an electric telegraph printing receiving instrument of
gear substantially as described in respect to Figures 67 and 8 by which whilst
winding the maintaining power is continued in operation and the working of the
instrument not interfered with.