IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE USE OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR TELEGRAPHIC PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION.
I ROBERT KIRK BOYLE, of 15 Mulgrave Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE USE OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR
TELEGRAPHIC PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of, and apparatus for, facilitating
the use of electric currents for telegraphic operations, and is designed to provide
means whereby very considerable advantages may be obtained in respect to such
operations as compared with the means heretofore employed for effecting the same
purposes.
According to my said invention I construct instruments upon a distinct and
novel principle whereby the following advantages (amongst others) are obtained,
that is to say
First An instrument made according to my invention causes such a very incon-
siderable resistance in the circuit that a large number of instruments may be used
without adding very perceptibly to the amount of resistance existing in the line
itself, which-as will be apparent-is of considerable practical advantage under all
circumstances, and more especially in the case of long lines in which there are
many stations.
Secondly The use of my invention enables me to dispense entirely with the
costly relay-instruments heretofore employed, as it will fulfil all the purposes of a
relay in a very simple manner.
Thirdly-By means of my invention, the readjustment necessary in instruments
as heretofore used, by reason of atmospheric or other causes, is unnecessary, as my
instruments remain entirely unaffected by such causes, and are at all times in
condition to operate efficiently.
Fourthly The speed of transmission is increased as compared with all other
methods and instruments heretofore used.
Fifthly One apparatus will serve for use with from one to twenty line-wires.
My invention consists essentially in providing means whereby a vibratory or
undulatory motion may be imparted to a wire or wires (that is to say one for each
line-wire) stretched between two standards or supports and passing between the
jaws or pole-extensions of a large electro-magnet; the wire being so arranged with
C
i

page_text: respect to a contact stud that the said motion will cause the wire to touch and
recede from the stud so as to put into, and out of, circuit a local battery, the
current from which operates the sounder, pen, or other device for indicating the
words of a message.
"
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide two standards or supports,
one of which is of metal, and the other of wood, ebonite, or other suitable non-
conducting or insulating material. Thin stcel or other wires are stretched from
one support to the other and are fastened by screws or other means whereby their
tension inay be properly regulated. There will be as many of such wires as there
are line-wires to be placed in connexion with the apparatus, and each line-wire is
connected with one of the aforesaid stretched wires, preferably at the end where.
the latter are secured to the insulating standard or support. To the inetallic
support the earth wire is attached at the ends of the line. Upon the insulating
support I provide as many contact studs as there are wires, and each of these studs
is screwed into an arın or piece in such a manner that the said studs may be
adjusted nearer to, or farther from, the wire. One of the stretched wires passes
immediately above each of the studs but does not touch the same excepting at such
times as a current is passing through the line. The end of each arm or piece―
opposite to the end in which the stud is secured-has connected to it one end of a
wire which leads to the sounder or other device at which the message is to be
received, another wire from the other side of the sounder or other device leading
to one pole of the local battery whose opposite pole is connected with the metallic
support and thus with the ends of all the wires attached to that support; midway, or
at any convenient position, between the two supports I place a large electro-magnet,.-
between the jaws or polar extensions of which the stretched wires pass at a
sufficient distance apart to keep them from contact with each other. This magnet
is constructed as follows, that is to say, the two cores around which the fine wire is
coiled in the usual manner from the base of the magnet and are united by a metal
plate or piece by screws or otherwise; above the coiled portion the metal of each
leg is bent inward for a short distance about at a right angle to the coiled parts,
and is then bent at a right angle again in such a manner that two long arms, jaws,
or extensions are provided between which the stretched wires pass. A convenient
width for these jaws, and for the coiled portions, is eighteen inches but this may be
varied according to circumstances; along the entire width of the internal face of
each of these jaws I provide deep grooves which may be V-shaped or of any other.
form, and between each two grooves the metal is left with its flat surface forming a
projection considered with respect to the bases of the grooves. The two jaws stand
opposite to each other and the grooves in one jaw are opposite to those in the other,
the flat surfaces between the grooves being also opposite to each other in the same
manner. Each of the stretched wires passes through the jaws in such a position
that it lies parallel with, and between, the.flat surfaces or projections of the said
jaws. The ends of the coiled wire on this magnet are connected with the poles of
a local battery and are kept so continuously during the time the apparatus may be
required to work, that is to say, the magnet is kept continuously excited and there
is at all times a powerful magnetic field between the jaws..
.
When a current is sent through any one of the line-wires in connection with this
apparatus, it traverses the stretched wire appertaining thereto, and the result is that
this latter wire is, by the joint action of the magnet and of the line-current, caused
to be depressed and to come into contact with the stud below the said wire. This
action at once brings the local battery for working the sounders into circuit and the
particular sounder or other indicating device in connection with this wire is
operated. As soon as the line-current ceases to pass, the stretched wire is released
and rises out of connection with its stud and the said local circuit is broken, Thus
the required impulses may be sent for giving the necessary sounds or for operating
a pen or otherwise, the wire moving up and down or vibrating at the will of the
operator at the sending station.

page_text: It is obvious that by establishing the suitable connections this apparatus may
also fulfil the functions of a relay for any purpose in any well known manner.
It is also obvious that it may be used for working various kinds of indicating
apparatus such for instance as the ordinary sounders, or apparatus in which a pen
or the like is employed or even for apparatus in which the principle of utilizing
musical notes is adopted.
The apparatus above described is an efficient one, and the best known to me for
utilizing the principle upon which my invention is based, but it will be obvious
that the said apparatus may be varied in construction without departing from the
essential features of the said invention as above set forth.

page_text: I, ROBERT KIRK BOYLE, of 15, Mulgrave Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE USE OF ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR
TELEGRAPHIC PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improved apparatus whereby very considerable
advantages are obtained with respect to the use of electric currents for telegraphic
purposes.
My said invention comprises the employment, in combination with one or more
magnets having peculiarly shaped pole-pieces as described in the specification of
former Letters Patent dated 19th April, A.D. 1884, No 6590, of one or more wires
or similar electrical conductors each connected with a line-wire and arranged in
the magnetic field in such a manner that, when a current from the said line-wire
passes through the said wire or conductor, the latter will close a local circuit in
which are included a battery and a receiving instrument, and, when such current
ceases to pass, the said wire or conductor will open the said circuit. In this manner
the operation of the receiving instrument can be effected-by means of the local
battery by an operator at a distant station.
In some cases, each of the wires passes only once through the magnetic field, but,
in other cases, I prefer that it should-pass-two or more times through. the said field,
as I thereby obtain an increased effect with respect to the movement of the wire
for the purpose of making and breaking contact.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements as hereinafter
specified.
My improved apparatus affords the following advantages, amongst others, viz:-
It will fulfil the functions of a relay in a very simple manner, and, therefore,
enables me to dispense entirely with the costly relay instruments heretofore
employed. It causes very little resistance in the circuit; a large number of my
instruments or apparatus may be arranged in combination with one line-wire
without adding very perceptibly to the amount of resistance existing in the line
itself. It will be apparent that this is a considerable practical advantage under all
circumstances, and more especially in the case of long lines in which there are
many stations. My apparatus does not require the re-adjustment necessary (by
reason of atmospheric or other changes) in instruments heretofore used, as it
remains entirely unaffected by such changes and is at all times in a condition to
operate efficiently. Furthermore, it increases the speed of transmission as compared
with instruments heretofore used. Moreover one apparatus constructed according
to my invention will serve for use with from one to twenty, or more, line-wires.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shewn how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

page_text: Doyle & impts. in Faculating the Use of Electric Currents for Telegraphic Purposes.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my apparatus and a diagram of its
connections with the line-wires and with the receiving instruments.
Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1:
Figure 3 is an end elevation of part of an electro-magnet hereinafter described. *
Figures 4 and 5 are end clevations, and
Figure 6 a plan, partly in horizontal section, shewing various details of the said
apparatus.
Figure 7 is a side elevation.
Figure 8 a plan, and
Figure 9 a section on the line x', x¹, Figure 7, shewing a slight modification of
my invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the base of the apparatus, which may be of wood or other suitable material.
B is a standard or support of wood, ebonite or other non-conducting or insulating
material.. This standard is secured to the base A and is provided with a metal
strip C. D is another standard or support also secured to the base A and made of
metal, except when required for use at a way station, that is to say, a station
where there is no earth connection, in which case this standard or support must
be of insulating material, or the wires, hereinafter described, must be insulated
therefrom.
E, E are conducting wires stretched between the standards B and D. The ends
of these wires are passed through holes in the lugs or projections d on the
standard D. and are wound around short steel bars or rods (l, which prevent them
from being drawn through the apertures in the said lugs or projections; or they
may be otherwise secured for this purpose. The said wires are then secured to
the standard B in such a manner that their tension can be regulated. For this
purpose, I insert, in the standard B, screw-bolts b (Figure 6) having milled heads *,
and each formed with a groove b¹ and a perforation 62. The wire E is passed
through this perforation and the screw-bolt b is then turned until the wire has the
required tension. The bolt b is then firmly secured in the standard B by tightening
the thumb-nut b³.
The number of wires E should be equal to the number of line-wires F which
are used in connection with the apparatus; each line-wire F is connected with one
of the wires E through a screw-bolt b in the insulating standard B. G represents
the upper end of an ordinary telegraph-post carrying the said line-wires.
The metallic support D is connected to earth in the arrangement shewn in the
drawings, but, in the case of a way station, the wires E should be insulated from.
the said support and be so arranged as to conduct the electric current to the next
station.
c, c are adjustable contact springs, and c¹, c¹ are adjustable screws forming
contacts. Upon the insulating support B, I provide as many of these contact
springs and adjustable screws as there are wires E; each of the screws c¹ is inserted
in a lug or projection c² in such a manner that, by turning it in one direction or
the other, it can be moved nearer to, or farther from, the corresponding spring c.
Each of the wires E passes immediately above one of the springs c but is normally.
out of contact therewith. The springs c are made adjustable in the following
manner, that is to say, each of these springs is attached at one end to a screw-
bolt (Figure 6), which is passed through the support B, and secured by a thumb-
nut c; to adjust the spring c, the nut c* is slackened and the said bolt is turned
to move the spring nearer to, or farther from, the corresponding wire E, as required;
the said nut is then again tightened.
The screws c¹ are electrically connected by the metal strip C and wire h with
one pole of a local battery H; the other pole of this battery is connected by a
wire h, through the sounders I or other receiving instruments, with the springs c.
These springs are normally out of contact with the screws c¹.
J is an electro-magnet, which is secured to the base A in any convenient position
between the supports B and D. This magnet constructed as follows, that is to

page_text: say, the two cores j, around which the wire is coiled in the usual manner, are
united by a metal plate or piece j' secured thereto by means of screws or otherwise;
each core is extended above the coiled portion and is bent slightly inward and
then upward, as shewn, to form the two pole-pieces or polar extensions j*.
A convenient length for these polar extensions is eighteen inches but their length
will be greater or less according to circumstances. The pole-picces or polar
extensions are formed with a series of grooves or recesses 2 and projections j³
as described in the said former specification. The wires E are stretched between
the projections in such a position that each wire lies parallel with, and between,
the flat or other shaped surfaces of the projections, and the wires are a sufficient
distance apart to prevent their coming in contact with each other.
The ends of the wire k, which forms the coil of the magnet J, are connected with
the poles of a local battery K; the magnet is thus kept continuously charged or
excited, so that there is, at all times when the apparatus is likely to be required,
a powerful magnetic field between the said pole-pieces or polar extensions..
In the apparatus shewn in Figures 7, 8 and 9, two studs or bolts are fixed in
the supports B and D, for each wire E, as shewn at b, b, d, d², instead of one as in
the apparatus hereinbefore described; and the said wire is wound around thesc
four studs as shewu most clearly in Figure 8, so that it passes three times through
the inagnetic field. If desired it may be made to pass twice or any larger number
of times through the said fiel!.
The several parts of the said wire are preferably held closely together by means
of shellac or otherwise.
I thus obtain an increased effect with respect to the movement of the wire for
the purpose of making and breaking contact, without increasing the length of the
magnet; for instance, assuming the magnet to be ten inches in length and the
wire to be passed three times through the magnetic field, I obtain the same effect
as would result from the employment of a magnet thirty inches long.
In some cases, I bend the wire E so as to form an oblong frame and I pivot this
frame at its two outer corners, as at b, d, for example, (the other two corners
being left free) so that the magnetic action will cause the said frame to turn around
these points, when a current from the line-wire passes through the said wire E.
The contact is made and broken by meaus similar to those above described.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows, that is to say:-When a
-current is sent through either-of-the-line-wires F, it traverses the corresponding
wire E, and this wire is, by the combined action of the magnet and of the line-
current, depressed so that it moves the spring c into contact with the screw c¹ next
below the said wire, thereby completing the circuit in which are included the local
battery H (for working the sounders or receiving instruments I) and one. of the
said instruments, which is then operated by the current from the said battery. As
soon as the line-current ceases to pass, the wire E is released and resumes its
original position and the corresponding spring rises out of contact with the screw,
thereby breaking the local circuit. In this manner, an operator at a distant station
may transmit the required impulses for producing the desired signals, the wire
being moved up and down, or vibrated, at the will of the operator at the sending
station.
If desired, the apparatus may be so constructed that the upward movement of
the wire, or its movement in any other direction, will cause the said contact.
It is obvious that, by making the requisite connections, this apparatus may be
arranged to fulfil the functions of a relay, for any purpose, in a well known
manner.
It is, moreover, obvious that it may be used for working various kinds of
signalling or recording apparatus, such for instance as the ordinary sounders, or
apparatus in which a pen or the like is employed, or even for apparatus based upon
the principle of utilizing musical sounds.
My apparatus may be somewhat varied in construction without departing from
the nature of my said invention. For example, in some cases, instead of arranging

page_text: the circuits, in which the souuders or receiving instruments are located, in the
manner above described, I connect each of the said instruments to an arm or piece
carrying a contact stud, with which the stretched wire or conductor is adapted to
make contact, and which is attached to the aforesaid wooden support. I also
connect the said instrument with one pole of a local battery, the other pole of
which is connected with the aforesaid metallic support and thus with the ends of
of all the wires attached to this support. Moreover I sometimes substitute a
permanent steel magnet for the electro-magnet above described.
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 is
First. In an apparatus wherein one or more wires or conductors (each connected
with a telegraph line-wire) is, or are, arranged in a magnetic field for the purpose
above specified, the combination of adjustable contact springs or pieces with each
wire, in such a manner that the said wire, when actuated by the current, will
move one of the said pieces into contact with the other, substantially as, and for
the purpose, set forth..
Second. In the said apparatus, the arrangement of the said wires or conductors
in such a manner that each of them passes two or more times through the magnetic
field, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The improved electro-magnet constructed substantially as shewn in the
drawings, for the purpose specified.
Fourth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, or Figures 7, 8 and 9
of the drawings, and operating as, and for the purpose, specified.
Deted this 7th day of how TQUE
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.