Improvements in Signalling by Electric Lamps.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1894-Accepted, 3rd Nov., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE BOUGHTON TELEPHOTOS COMPANY, of
Hudson Street, Buffalo, New York State, U.S.A.]
Improvements in Signalling by Electric Lamps.
I, HUGH DONALD FITZPATRICK of 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow in the
County of Lanark, Registered Patent Agent, C.E., do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manuer the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in signal telegraphy of the type heretofore
invented by me. My previous invention No. 22255°³ consisted essentially of a
number of electric lamps arranged in a continuous line and a number of keys
arranged upon a board. Each key being designated by a letter of the alphabet, or
a numeral, and electrically connected with the necessary lamps to form the dots
and dashes called for by the letter or numeral of the key in operation.
The object of my present invention is to perfect and add a particular construction
and arrangement of operating parts which connect the keys with the lamps. Such
construction consists essentially of a number of electric lamps arranged in a
continuous line, a bed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of metal strips
insulated from each other in such bed-plate and each electrically connected with
a separate lamp and contacting plates each operated by a separate key to complete
the circuits through different groups of the metal strips to light the lamps necessary
to produce the character desired.
My invention therefore consists.
First. In an improved arrangement, within the casing, of the wires which
connect the lamps with the insulated metal strips in the bed-plate, whereby their
alternatingly projecting ends on each side of the bed-plate are connected with the
lamps in the staff, with special reference to economy of space and accessibility in
repairing accidental disarrangement or breakage of parts.
Second. In combining with the keys and their operative attachments, a printing
mechanism which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or numeral
displayed upon the staff of lamps.
Third. In special mechanism combined with the keys and their operative
attachments for automatically and simultaneously feeding the ink-ribbon and the
tape upon which is recorded the letter or numeral displayed upon the staff of lamps
and for operating the tape-receiving reel.
Fourth. In a special device in connection with the keys, by means of which the
position of the different letters and numerals may be changed with relation to
the keys to effect different cyphers in the characters shown upon the staff of lamps,
and
Fifth. In the details of construction of the different parts herein before outlined
all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawings.
Figure is a top plan view of the casing showing the key-bcard automatic
printing mechanism and tape-reel.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with the easing removed showing interior
arrangement of wires and levers.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure Two with the levers removed showing
interior arrangement of wires and bed-plate with metal strip insulated therein.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the casing showing interior
arrangement of operative parts.

page_text: Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the same with casing removed and
portions broken away.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detached detail view showing connection of one of the
levers with the printing mechanism.
Figure 7 is a detached top plan view of the printing mechanism complete and
enclosed in its casing.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the printing mechanism complete without the
casing.
Figure 9 is a detached detail view of the ink-ribbon and tape feeding mechanism
and tape-receiving reel on the side opposite to that shown in Figure Eight.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of the tape-receiving reel shown in Figure Nine.
Figure 11 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the electric lamps and its
reflector and lens.
Figure 12 is a front view of one of the staff of lamps, from which the light is
thrown in one direction only.
Figure 13 is a side sectional view of the same.
Figure 14 is an elevation of another staff of lamps from which the light is
thrown in all directions.
Figure 15 is a top plan view of the same.
Figure 16 is a central vertical section taken in the line - of Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a horizontal section of Figure 14 taken in the line y-y, and
Figure 18 is a similar section taken in the line z―z.
Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the operative parts are assembled
in a casing of suitable configuration of which 1 is the side wall preferably of wood,
2 the main cover and 3 the cover for the key-board both of which are preferably
of heavy plate-glass and 4 is the base-plate the upper face of which is formed of
aluminum owing to its lightness, with a layer of wood secured to its under surface.
Centrally arranged upon the base-plate 4 and nearer its front end is the rectangular
bed-plate 5 formed of any non-conducting material preferably of hard rubber. In
grooves in this bed-plate 5 are loosely set at regular intervals apart and in a
transverse direction the parallel spring-pressed metal strips 6, see Figure 3. Every
alternate strip on one side of the bed-plate 5 extends slightly beyond the same and
has its projecting end provided with a binding post 7.
The other set of alternate
strips project beyond the opposite side of the bed-plate 5 and are likewise provided
with similar binding posts 7. The alternating inner ends of these strips do not
reach quite to the outer side edges of the bed-plate 5 in this manner they are
entirely insulated one from the other.
On either side of the bed-plate at a short distance therefrom are the two parallel
rows of binding-posts 8, 8, corresponding in number to the binding posts 7 and
connected therewith by the short metallic wires 9 so as to permit of the slight
vertical play of the spring-pressed strips 6. Arranged on either side of the
base-plate 4 and just outside of the row of binding-posts 8, 8, midway between
them and the side edges of the base plate are the strips 10, 10, preferably of wood,
which curve inwardly at their rear ends parallel with the edge of the base-plate to
points near the opening 11 in the base-plate. These strips 10, 10 are raised above
the base-plate 4, being rigidly secured to standards 12. Their inner and outer
edges are covered with a layer of hard rubber.
Short metallic posts corresponding in number to the binding-posts 8 are fixed
horizontally through the elevated strips 10, 10 their projecting ends on either side
forming the inner rows 13 and outer rows 14 of binding-posts. The inner rows 13
of binding-posts are connected by wires 15 to the rows of binding-posts 8 upon the
base-plate 4 and wires secured in the two outer rows 14 of binding-posts are
assembled from each side at the opening 11 and extend in the form of a cable 16 to
the staff of lamps where they are separately connected in alternate order to the
row of lamps in the staff. In this manner each successive metal strip 6 in the
bed-plate 5 is connected with its corresponding successive lamp in the staff.
The first metal strip 6 is connected at its left hand end as just described with the

page_text: first lamp in the staff, the second strip 6 is connected at its right hand end in the
same manner with the second lamp in the staff and so on to the last strip in
the bed-plate 5. The strips are numbered in regular order from left to right the
odd numbers 1, 3, 5 &c. appearing successively on the different set of binding-posts
on the left side and the even numbers 2, 4, 6 &. in the same manner on the right side.
In this manner the path of the electric current from each numbered strip to its
correspondingly numbered lamp is quickly traceable through the different binding
posts bearing the same number and the individual wires connecting the same.
Should any lamp in the staff fail to light therefore, the locating and repairing of
the breakage or disarrangement of parts, becomes a very simple matter as the parts
affected can not only be quickly found, but by reason of their systematic arrangement
are easily accessible.
17, 17 are posts across which is secured a rod 18 upon which are pivoted a row
of levers 19. The forward ends of these levers extend to the front of the casing
and project a short distance through slots 22 in the wall 20 across the top of which
is screwed the keeper 21.
Under each lever 19 in the wall 20 are the vertical
sockets 23 containing the pins 24 having heads 25 between which and the floor of
the sockets 23 are confined the spiral springs 26 which force the heads 25 of the
pins 24 up against the forward ends of the levers 19 holding them in contact with
the keeper 21 until forced down. Each lever is provided with a hinged upright
post 27 which extends up loosely through the cover and is provided at its upper
end with a button 28 the whole forming spring-pressed keys above the bed-plate.
Each pin 24 is adapted to pass down through a horizontal recess 29 in the
bottom of the wall 20 and into a socket 30 in the bed-plate. The recess 29 is
filled loosely with metallic balls 31 which take up the length of the recess 29 with
the exception of a narrow space sufficient to allow of the passage of one of the
pins 24 down between two of the balls 31. With this arrangement only one key
at a time can be depressed, as when the pin under the depressed key has been
forced between two of the balls, the remaining balls in the recess are locked tightly
together and prevent the downward passage of all the other pins and the ends of
the levers which rest upon their heads. Consequently all the keys except the one
in operation are securely locked, thus entirely preventing the descent of more than
one key at the same time. Seated in the lower side of each of the levers 19 is a
contacting plate 32 provided with downwardly projecting portions either long, as
at 33 or short as at 34 to represent dashes and dots and combinations of the same.
These projections have uniform contact with the spring strips 6 in the bed-plate 5
with which they come in contact in the operation of the apparatus. A collar 35
upon the rod 36 between the posts 17, 17 is connected by the wire 37 with the
lamps in the staff the source of the electric current being interposed between the
collar 35 and the lamps. In this manner the operative parts just described are all
electrically charged and the circuit is completed to light the lamps by the contact
of the projections upon the levers with the metal strips in the bed plate. In
Figures 12 and 13 I have shown views of my staff of lamps and in Figure 11 an
enlarged view of the special construction of lamp preferably employed by me.
The staff I make of sheet steel having the rear chamber 39 extending its entire
length the remainder of the staff being subdivided into the narrow transverse
chambers 40. In each of these chambers 40 I secure a lamp the shank of which
extends across the long chamber 39. In this chamber is arranged a rod 41 to
which the wire 37 is connected. One of the wires 42 of each lamp is connected
with this rod, the other wire 43 of which passes into the cable 16 leading to the
casing as shown in Figures 2 and 3. As seen in Figure 11 the globe 44 of my
lamp is preferably in the form of a door-knob, or slightly convex in front in order
to provide room for the spiral filiment 45 which emits a much more intense light
than the loop-shaped filiment. The door-knob shape also shortens the length of
the lamp thus permitting of a smaller and considerably lighter staff than would be
required with the ordinary form of lamp. Surrounding the globe 44 is the
parabolic reflector 46 having a highly polished interior surface and in its outer end

page_text: is secured the lens 47 especially designed for paralleling and thus concentrating
the rays of light from the lamp. In this manner 1 am enabled to greatly intensify
the light given out by the filiment and correspondingly increase the distance at
which it can be seen both by night and day. These lamps are connected as before
stated to the electric circuit aud each lamp is separately connected through
individual wires to its separate and distinct spring-strip 6.
Each light has a number corresponding to the several posts through which
its individual wires pass to its separate and independent spring-strip 6 in the
bed-plate 5.
The signals produced upon the staff of lights are in what are known as dots
and dashes, in this instance two contiguous lights constituting a dot and twelve
contiguous lights a dash with spaces intervening of twelve blank lights.
the staff of lamps just described the signal is thrown only in one direction.
With
Each key representing the letters of the alphabet has attached to it through
the intervening levers, a contacting plate with long or short projections, or both,
representing the proper dashes and dots and each projection when the key is
depressed comes in contact with a sufficient number of spring strips 6 to complete
the various circuits and illuminate the lamps connected with the several strips
touched. When the pressure upon the key is removed the spring 26 raises it and
the contact is instantly broken extinguishing the lights. The contacting plate
shown in Figure 4 is attached to the key marked K and has one long one short
and one long projection which touch when depressed first twelve strips then two
and again twelve leaving twelve strips untouched between each two projections
causing the lights connected with the touched strips to flash producing upon the
staff a dash a dot and a dash with the necessary blank spaces between.
With my
improved form and arrangement of globe, spiral filiment, reflector and lens it is
possible for me to omit every other lamp and produce equally good effects with a
corresponding reduction in the cost and operation of the staff and instrument.
In Figure One is shown an adjustable index frame consisting of the parallel
revoluble rods 48 equal in number and adjacent to the rows of keys 28. The
ends of these rods fit loosely in the bearings 49, and 50 are pinions keyed to the
rods at one side of the frame. These pinions 50 intermesh with a common
movable rack-bar 51 located underneath. One of the rods in this instance the
forward one extends beyond the frame and has at its outer end the thumb-
wheel 52. On turning this thumb wheel and with it the attached rod and its pinion
the rack-bar is caused to move in either direction at the same time actuating the
pinions on the other rods and in this manner the rods are all uniformly revolved
in the same direction. Upon these rods, iu positions adjacent to the keys 28 are
the blocks 53, upon the four faces of which are placed letters and numerals as
clearly shown in Figure One.
As they are placed in the drawing the keys opposite the several characters will
produce upon the staff of lamps the proper dashes and dots called for by each
letter or figure but if a cypher should be necessary it can quickly be effected by
turning the thumb-wheel 52 sufficiently to effect a quarter revolution of the rods
thus bringing the next adjacent face of each block 53 into view upon which the
several characters are so arranged that the letter A is shifted to the next block
upon which the letter B was before visible and so on through the alphabet and
numerals, the period formerly shown at the right hand end of the forward rod
being shifted to the left hand end of the rear rod where the letter A formerly
appeared. When a message is flashed with the characters thus arranged the key
which represented A will now on being depressed flash a period upon the staff of
lamps and so on through the several keys producing a cypher intelligible only to
those acquainted with the shift. Another quarter revolution of the rod 48 in the
same direction will produce a correspondingly different arrangement of the
characters visible forming cypher number two.
In this manner four differeut arrangements of characters can be employed of
which the first is the correct position with relation to the keys and the other three

page_text: are cyphers, the position of the pointed end 54 of the rack-bar 51 with respect to
the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, indicating the particular arrangement in operation. An
endless number of additional cyphers may be obtained by making the characters
on the faces of the blocks removable and interchangeable. For the purpose of
keeping an exact record of all messages displayed upon the staff of lamps I have
devised a special printing mechanism electrically connected to the keys and their
operative attachments which automatically and simultaneously paints upon a tape
each letter or numeral displayed upon the staff of lamps, the tape and ink-ribbon
being moved as required by suitable feed mechanism also connected with and
operated by the keys and their operative attachments. Arranged along the front
wall 20 (see Figures 5 and 6) are a series of metallic posts 54 secured at their
bases to the plate 55 of hard rubber which also extends underneath the wall 2
thus insulating the wall 20 and posts 54 from the base-plate 4. Secured to the
front faces of the posts 54 are the spring strips 56 held in position by the screws 57.
These strips 56 extend outwardly away from the posts their upper bent ends 58
extending at an angle over the tops of the posts as shown, for elastic contact with
the outer ends of the levers 19 which extend out through the wall 20 and over the
posts and their springs.
To each of the spring strips 56 is attached a wire 59 secured by the screws 57.
Upon the top plate 2 of the casing and centrally arranged thereon is the cylindrical
box 60, within which are concentrically arranged a series of magnets 61 corre-
sponding in number to the levers 19 and spring-strips 56. One of the poles of each
magnet is connected by one of the wires 59 to a separate spring-strip 56 and the
other pole of each of the magnets is connected by a separate wire 62 (see Figure 7)
to the binding screws 63 upon the concentric circular metallic plate 6+ which with
the magnets rest upon a non-conducting bed-plate. The plate 64 is electrically
connected to the main circuit by the wire 65. Around the outer edge of the plate
in which the magnets 61 rest and on its under side are pivoted a series of bars 66
similar to those employed in a type-writer. Their inner ends 67 being turned up at
right angles thereto each end bearing a letter or numeral corresponding to the one
marked on the magnet immediately above. A shoulder 68 at their pivoted ends
prevents their falling lower than the position shown on the right side of Figure 8
and also in Figure 4. A series of metal strips or armatures 69 are radially pivoted
to the under side of the bed-plate extending outwardly their outer ends embracing
loosely the loops 70, the lower ends of these loops encircling the bars 66 and resting
in the grooves 71 on the under sides of the bars 66. When the bars 66 are in their
extreme lower position the armatures 69 are held in a position just below the
magnets 61 and ready for action as clearly shown in Figure 8.
When a certain key is depressed say the letter K (see Figure 4), in order to
flash upon the staff of lamps, a dash a dot and a dash which represents K in the
telegraphic alphabet, the instant contact is made between the projecting
portions 33, 33 and 34 upon the strip 32 carried by the lever 19 and the spring-
pressed metal strips 6 lying immediately under the projecting portions, the forward
end of the lever 19 comes in contact with the spring-strip 58 and the electric
current passes down the strip and through its connecting wire 59 to the magnet 61
belonging to the letter K. This magnet becomes energized and draws its
armature 69 into instant contact therewith. The quick upward movement of the
armature lifts the bar 66 bearing the letter K upon its inner end, a certain distance,
its acquired momentum completing its stroke and the letter which it carries is
thrown up into the small opening 72 in the base-plate and against the ink-ribbon 73
and tape 74 which are fed under the elastic roller 75 just above the opening 72 as
shown at Figure 8. In this manner the letter corresponding to the character
flashed upon the staff of lamps is automatically and simultaneously painted upon the
tape by the same electric current which illuminates the lamps. When the spring-
pressed key is released the contact at the spring strip 58 is broken and the
armature 69 being released, the letter-bar 66, 67 immediately falls by its own
weight to its normal position as shown. The ink ribbon 73 and tape 74 are

page_text: mechanically fed as required by the downward movement of the key and its lever
in the following manner.
Centrally secured upon the upper edge of each lever 19 is the hook-shaped
projection 76. In front of this row of projections 76 and mounted in standards 77
(see Figure 4) is the rock-shaft 78 having the ledge 79 rigidly secured thereto and
extending across its entire front side and just under the hook-shaped projections 76
upon the levers 19. A strip of hard rubber 80 is secured across the upper surface
of the ledge 79 to insulate the hook-shaped projections from the ledge when they
bear down upon the same. 81 is a rocker-arm centrally secured to the rock-
shaft 78 on the opposite side to the ledge 79. To the upper end of this rocker-
arm 81 is pivoted one end of the eonnecting rod 82, its other end being pivoted to
the lower end of the rocker-arm 83 rigidly secured to the rock-shaft 84 mounted in
the lower ends standards 85 within the casing 60 upon the cover 2. Between these
standards 85 is mounted the reel 86 around which one end of the ink-ribbon 73 is
wound. 87 is a ratchet wheel rigidly mounted upon the same shaft with the reel 86
having the dog 88 engaging therewith. 89 is an angular rocker-arm rigidly secured
to the rock-shaft 84. To the lower end of this rocker-arm is pivoted the curved
pawl 90 which engages with the upper side of the ratchet-wheel 87. In the upper
end of the angular rocker-arm 89 is pivoted the pawl 91 which engages with the
ratchet wheel 92 rigidly mounted upon the shaft 93 journalled in the standards 94.
The pawl 91 has the sliding weight 101 mounted thereon which serves to keep it in
engagement with the ratchet wheel 92.
Upon the shaft 93 is rigidly mounted the drum 95 around which the tape 74
passes. On the side of the drum 95 opposite to the ratchet wheel 92, is the gear-
wheel 96 (Fig. 7) rigidly secured to the shaft 93. This gear-wheel 96 intermeshes
with the smaller gear-wheel 97 (Fig. 9) which is secured to the friction roller 98
loosely mounted in slots 99 in the standards 94. The roller 98 is pressed down
upon the drum 95 by the spiral springs 100 located outside of the standards 94.
Within the standards 102 is mounted the reel 103 from which the ink-ribbon 73 is
unwound. The tape 74 is unwound from the outside reel 104 mounted in
standards 105 secured to the cover 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
It passes
therefrom into the casing 60 and upon the curved guide 106 secured to the
standards 94 which directs it to the elastic wheel 75 around which it is passed to
the drum 95 and from thence to the curved guide 107 secured to the standards 102.
From this guide it passes to the receiving reel 108 mounted in standards 109 secured
to the bed-plate 4 within the main casing.
This reel 108 is antomatically operated by the keys as follows.
110, see Figure 2, is a rocker-arm rigidly secured to the rock-shaft 78. One end
of the connecting rod 111 is pivoted to the rocker-arm 110 its other end being
pivoted to lever 112 loosely mounted upon the shaft 113 which carries the reel 108.
A pawl 114 pivoted upon one side of the lever 112 engages with the ratchet
wheel 115 to turn the same and with it the reel 108. This reel engages removably
with the shaft 113 and is held in operative position thereon by the spring-pressed
keeper consisting of the rod 116 loosely mounted in two of the standards having
the enlarged head 117 with bevelled face 118 fitting into a correspondingly shaped
socket 119 in the reel 108. A collar 120 secured to the shaft 116 has interposed
between it and one of the standards 109 a spiral spring 121 which forces the
head 117 against the reel 108. On pushing back the head 117 the reel 108 may be
slipped off its shaft 113 when desired.
From the foregoing description it will readily be seen that when any of the keys
is depressed to produce upon the staff of lamps the character called for by the letter
of the key in operation the same electric current employed in lighting the lamps
will cause to be automatically and simultaneously printed upon a tape the letter or
numeral of the key depressed and the lever attached to the key in operation will
simultaneously and automatically cause the tape and ink-ribbon to be properly fed
and the tape printed upon to be wound upon the receiving reel by the interposed
mechanism herein before described.

page_text: The object or winding the printed tape upon a reet within the casing,
be readily removed for inspection when desired, is to preserve an accurate record of
all signals flashed from the staff, in order that any disputes which may arise can be
settled beyond question.
For this purpose it is my intention to employ a door in the side of the casing
adjacent to the removable receiving reel such door to be sealed and opened only by
persons other than the officials of the vessel.
In order that the signals may be seen in any direction I have devised a staff of
lamps of peculiar construction as clearly indicated in Figures 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18,
in which 125 are a series of metallic cylindrical sections provided at their top and
bottom with the four corner apertured projections 126. An opening 127 at the top
permits the incandescent lamp 128 to project up out of the same the lamp being
removably secured in a socket 129 in the base of the section 125. Each of these
sections are provided with a hinged door 130 through which access may be had to
the interior to adjust the lamp in position, remove the same when necessary and
connect or disconnect the wires.
Upon the top and bottom of the sections 125 are the circular sockets 131 for the
reception and retention between them of the cylindrical glass lenses 132 into which
the lamps 128 project when in position. The metallic sections 125 and lenses 132
are assembled as shown and held securely in removable position by the two rods 133
which pass through the apertured projections 126 diagonally opposite each other
upon the metallic sections 125 and are properly secured at top and bottom.
134, are two metallic tubes passing through the other diagonally opposite
apertured projections 126 and are designed to contain the electric wires connecting
the lamps to the key board. In one of these tubes are the wires 135 connecting the
lamps 128 separately to the brass-strips in the instrument and in the other tube is
the return wire 136 to which each lamp 128 is separately connected, the wires 135.
and 136 passing to the instrument in the form of a cable 137.
With the lamps and lenses arranged in this manner, the signals can be seen from
any point of view this staff being particularly valuable for use in the manœuvres
of a fleet.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a number of keys arranged upon a casing, each key
being designated by a letter of the alphabet or a numeral and electrically connected
with the necessary lamps to form the dots and dashes called for by the letter or
numeral of the key in operation and a printing mechanism electrically connected
therewith which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or numeral
displayed upon the staff of lamps.
2. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line a number of keys arranged upon a casing, each key
being designated by a letter of the alphabet or a numeral and electrically connected
with the necessary lamps to form the dots and dashes called for by the letter or
numeral of the key in operation a printing mechanism electrically connected there-
with which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or numeral
displayed upon the staff of lamps and mechanism connected with the keys for
automatically feeding the ink-ribbon and tape.
3. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line a number of keys arranged upon a casing, each key
being designated by a letter of the alphabet or a numeral and electrically connected
with the necessary lamp to form the dots and dashes called for by the letter or
numeral of the key in operation a printing mechanism electrically connected
therewith which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or numeral
displayed upon the staff of lamps and mechanism connected with the keys for

page_text: automatically reeding the ink-riddon and tape and winding the printed cape upon
its removable reel.
4. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a number of keys arranged upon a casing, each key
being designated by a letter of the alphabet or a numeral and electrically connected
with the necessary lamps to form the dots and dashes called for by the letter or
numeral of the key in operation, a printing mechanism electrically connected
therewith which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or numeral
displayed upon the staff of lamps and mechanism connected with the keys for
automatically feeding tho ink-ribbon and tape and winding the printed tape upon
a reel, such reel being sealed within the casing substantially as and for the purpose
stated.
5. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a bed plate of non-conducting material, a series of
metal strips insulated from each other in such bed-plate and each electrically
connected with a separate lamp contacting plates each operated by a separate key
to complete the circuit through different groups of the metal strips to light the
lamps necessary to produce the character desired and a printing mechanism
electrically connected therewith which automatically and simultaneously records
each letter or numeral displayed upon the staff of lamps.
6. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a bed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of
metal strips insulated from each other in such bed plate and each electrically
connected with a separate lamp, contacting plates each operated by a separate key
to complete the circuit through different groups of the metal strips to light the
lamps necessary to produce the character desired, a printing mechanism electrically
connected therewith which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or
numeral displayed upon the staff of lamps and mechanism connected with the keys
for automatically feeding the ink-ribbon and tape.
7. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a bed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of
metal strips insulated from each other in such bed-plate and each electrically
connected with a separate lamp, contacting plates each operated by a separate key
to complete the circuit through different groups of the metal strips to light the
lamps necessary to produce the character desired, a printing mechanism electrically
connected therewith which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or
numeral displayed upon the staff of lamps and mechanism connected with the keys
for automatically feeding the ink-ribbon and tape and winding the printed tape
upon its removable reel.
8. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a bed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of
metal strips insulated from each other in such bed-plate and each electrically
connected with a separate lamp contacting plates each operated by a separate key
to complete the circuit through different groups of the metal strips to light the
lamps necessary to produce the character desired, a printing mechanism electrically
connected therewith which automatically and simultaneously records each letter or
numeral displayed upon the staff of lamps and mechanism connected with the keys
for automatically feeding the ink-ribbon and tape and winding the printed tape
upon a removable reel, such reel being sealed within the casing substantially as and
for the purpose stated.
9. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a number of keys arranged upon a casing, each key
being designated by a letter of the alphabet or a numeral and electrically connected
with the necessary lamps to form the dots and dashes called for by the letter or
numeral of the key in operation and mechanism arranged within the casing and
acting in conjunction with the key in operation to automatically lock all the other
keys substantially as and for the purpose stated.

page_text: 10. A signal telegraph consisting essentially of a number of electric lamps
arranged in a continuous line, a bed-plate of non-conducting material, a series of
metal strips insulated from each other in such bed-plate and each electrically
connected with a separate lamp, contacting plates each operated by a separate key
t complete the circuit through different groups of the metal strips to light the
lamps necessary to produce the character desired and mechanism arranged within
the casing and acting in conjunction with the key in operation to automatically
lock all the other keys substantially as and for the purpose stated.
11. In a signal telegraph substantially as shown the combination with the keys
movably mounted in the casing and electrically connected with the lights in the
staff of an adjustable index-frame consisting of a number of rods journalled in
bearings each rod having a ratchet wheel engaging with a common rack bar and a
thumb-wheel upon one of the rods for revolving the series uniformly in the same
direction, and blocks upon the rods for each key, upon the four faces of which are
placed the letters of the alphabet and the numerals so arranged that on turning the
rods a quarter, half of three quarters revolution, the relative positions of the letters
brought into view are changed as many times to form cyphers substantially as and
for the purpose stated.
12. In a signal telegraph substantially as described, the combination with
contacting plates operated by separate keys of the spring-pressed metal strips
insulated from each other in a non-conducting bed-plate and projecting alternately
from opposite sides of the bed-plate, the alternate projecting ends on each side
being loosely connected by short wires to rows of binding-posts secured in the bed-
plate and elevated strips on both sides beyond and over the rows of binding-posts
upon the bed-plate, the elevated strips having metal rods extending horizontally
through the same, the inner ends forming rows of binding-posts wired to the rows
of binding posts upon the bed-plate and the outer ends forming rows of binding-
posts connected separately to the lamps in the staff substantially as shown and
described.
13. In a signal telegraph the combination with the levers 19 operated by the
keys 27, 28 and carrying the contacting plates 32, of the spring strips 58 mounted
upon the insulated posts 54, the magnets 61 separately connected by wires to the
spring-strips 58 the armatures 69 adapted for contact with the magnets 61 and the
letter bars 66 loosely hung to the armatures 69 by the loops 70 and adapted to be
forced up against the ink-ribbon and tape to print upon the tape the letter of the
key in operation substantially as shown and described.
14. In a signal telegraph the combination with the levers 19 having hooked
projections 76, of the rock-shaft 78 with transverse ledge 79, the rocker-arm 81
connecting rod 82 rocker-arm 83 upon the shaft 84, the angular rocker arm 89
upon shaft 84 carrying the pivoted pawl for engagement with the ratchet-wheel 87
for actuating the ink-ribbon reel 86, the weighted pawl 91 pivoted to the rocker-
arm 89 adapted for engagement with the ratchet-wheel 92 for actuating the
drum 95, the spring-pressed friction roller 98, the elastic roller 75, the ink-ribbon
reel 103 and the guides 106 and 107, the whole arranged to automatically feed the
ink-ribbon and tape from the outside reel 10+ substantially as shown and
described.
15. In a signal telegraph the combination with the levers 19 having hooked
projections 76, of the rock-shaft 78 with transverse ledge 79, the rocker-arm 110,
the rod 111 loosely connecting the rocker-arm 110 with the rocker-arm 112
upon the shaft 113, the pawl 114 pivoted to the rocker-arm 112 engaging with the
ratchet-wheel 115 for actuating the tape-receiving reel 108 mounted upon
shaft 113 all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.
16. In a signal telegraph the combination with the levers 19 having hooked
projections 76, of the rock-shaft 78 with transverse ledge 79, the rocker-arm 110,
the rod 111 loosely connecting the rocker-arm 110 with the rocker-arm 112
upon the shaft 113, the pawl 114 pivoted to the rocker-arm 112 engaging with the
ratchet-wheel 115 for actuating the tape-receiving reel 108 removably mounted
B

page_text: upon the shaft 113 and held in place thereon by the spring-pressed rod 116 with
head 117 all arranged and operating substantially as shown and described.
17. In a signal telegraph the combination with the levers 19 carrying the
contacting plates 32 and operating keys 27, 28, of the spring-pressed pins 24
having heads 25 aud adapted for vertical play in the sockets 23 in the wall 20 and
sockets 30 in the bed-plate and the horizontal recess 29 in the wall 20 containing
the balls 31 all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose stated.
18. In a signal telegraph a staff of lamps consisting of a narrow longitudinal
chamber for the reception of the wires leading to the lamps a series of short
transverse chambers for the reception of the lamps and electric lamps secured in
such chambers and wired to the key-board substantially as shown and described.
19. In a signal telegraph a staff of lamps consisting essentially of a series of
hollow metallic sections carrying the lamps and a series of hollow cylindrical lenses
interposed between the hollow metallic sections and surrounding the lamps which
project up into the same the hollow metallic sections and lenses being secured
together in a continuous line and the lamps being electrically connected to the key
board substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of Iul 1801
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow.