Improvements in and relating to Transmitting Instruments for Submarine Cable and other Electric Circuits.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES GOODWIN BURKE, of 5694, Halsey
Street, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America, Electrician.]
Improvements in and relating to Transmitting Instruments for
Submarine Cable and other Electric Circuits.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
In the practical operation of submarine telegraph cables of large static capacity,
it is found that the clearness of the signals and speed of signalling is very
materially affected by certain conditions of the current employed; its potential,
the duration of the contact between battery and line in transmission and the mutual
relations of reverse polarities, both as to the frequency of succession and relative"
strength. In the above respects, every cable involves different requirements and
presents conditions that must be fully and perfectly met in order to secure the best
results.
In the present methods of transmission and in those heretofore followed, in
operating such cables, impulses of the same polarity following in immediate
succession, with simply the "earthing" of the cable at the end of each impulse,
produce signals having no definition of the beats or impulses so that the number of
such impulses is only recognized by the wave or rise of potential, and whether
there be used as a receiving instrument a mirror galvanometer or a siphon recorder,
the receiving operator must possess and exercise no little skill to determine the
record with accuracy.
The object of the present invention is to give to the transmitting operator perfect
control over the length of actual contact for each impulse, so that the character of
the impulses may be varied to best meet the static conditions of a given cable, and,
furthermore, to enable him to vary the potential and relative periods of contact.
between reverse polarities, whereby the clements of the signals may be more
clearly defined, whether they consist of the same polarity or are made up of
impulses of direct and reverse current.
With this object I have invented an instrument for the purpose of controlling
automatically in an electric circuit the electric energy employed by regulating and
limiting through its contacts and adjustinent the actual contact duration of successive
impulses irrespective of the speed at which such impulses are made and inde-
pendently of each other when such impulses are of alternating polarity.
This may be effected in a variety of ways, but I have devised, especially for this
purpose, an apparatus comprising a wheel or wheels or any equivalent circular.
frame having on its periphery, contacts varying in extent as to the surface
presented by them in the manner herein set forth. This wheel or wheels is
rotated by a motor at the required speed, and conducting strips adjustable in the
direction of the axis of the wheel are designed to bear upon the contact. Suitable.
provision is made for establishing and maintaining the proper electrical connections.
The contact points or plates, as well as the metal framework of the wheel or
wheels are connected with the line or cable and when at rest and in their normal
position they are not in contact with either pole of the battery, but in direct
connection with earth, grounding the cable.
Provision is also made by the disposition of the contacts and the electrical
connections, that in the movement of the wheel or wheels the contacts are brought
alternately into engagement with the strips which form the battery terminals, so as
to produce alternations of polarity on the line or cable, but it is not material that
such alternate contacts shall be equidistant for it is designed that the wheel or

page_text: wheels may be stopped at a point between any two of such reversals, so that at the
will of the operator the reverse contact may be withheld from the line for any
desired period of time. By this arrangement the static capacity of the cable itself
in lieu of the battery contact may be utilized for prolonging any signals or part of
signals in, which it may be desired to manifest a difference of duration from some
other. But every complete operation or action of the wheel carrying the contacts
ensures the transmission of one impulse of a given polarity and one impulse of a
polarity the reverse of the one which preceded it.
In practice, I drive the wheel or frame that carries the contacts by a frictional
connection with the driving motor, whereby the said wheel may be readily stopped
or carried around when released for the purpose of making a signal. The wheel is
preferably held in its normal position by an escapement and a locking and releasing
lever, which latter may be operated by hand or by an electro-magnet, a battery and
one or more keys such as are commonly used.
One set or series of the detents of the escapement are preferably insulated from
the contact carrying frame and alternate with the others which are in metallic
contact with said frame and serve to connect the line to earth through the locking
and releasing lever whenever the wheel or frame is in its normal position of rest.
This apparatus and the manner of using or operating the same is illustrated in
accompanying drawings.
the
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus which embodies my invention.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of the device.
Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connections and circuits used in
operating the invention.
A is a metal base from which rises standards supporting a metal plate A¹. A
vertical spindle B is mounted between the plate A" and base A.
A disc or sleeve C" surrounds the spindle B near its lower end and is secured
thereto by a pin working in a vertical slot e in said spindle, so that the sleeve
turns with the spindle but has a limited movement thereon in the direction of its
length. Beneath the sleeve C" is a spiral spring D' surrounding the spindle and
adjustable by means of a nut d.
Mounted loosely on the spindle with its hub resting on the sleeve C" is the
wheel or circular frame O that carries the contact plates, hereinafter described.
Above this is a sleeve A' forming the hub of a gear wheel P that meshes with a
pinion B on the shaft of an armature E" of some suitable form of motor, of which
the magnets are designated by E¹.
The hub or sleeve A¹ is fixed to the spindle B and the motor therefore rotates
said spindle. The frame or wheel O being held in frictional connection with the
spindle between the two sleeves A and C turns with said spindle when not locked.
On the periphery of the wheel or frame are secured two series of contact
plates D and E. These plates are straight along one edge which is parallel to the
axis of the wheel, but inclined from their bases, which are at the middle line of
the peripheral surface to points at their ends, and are placed alternately that is, the
plates of one series opposite the spaces between those of the other series.
A contact strip F bears upon the lower series of contacts E. This strip is
carried by a metal block sliding between vertical guides M M' and adjustable
vertically by means of a screw NI turned by a head N.
A contact strip G is similarly mounted with capability of vertical adjustment
and bears upon the upper series of contacts D. The duration of contact, then
between the strips FG and the plates E D respectively when the wheel O is
turned, will depend upon the relative adjustment of the strips F G.
In the upper head C of the wheel or frame O are set as many pins J K. as
there are contact plates D E.
The pins J are set nearer the edge of the head than the pins K and are
insulated from the wheel, while the others are not. The two series of pins
alternate also in position.

page_text: To the bracket or arm B" is pivoted an armature lever H" acted upon by an
electro-magnet G' and a spring J" secured to an adjusting screw C', and having
a determined movement or play. Its end is formed or provided with a lug or
projection J that by the movement of the lever H" from one extreme position
to the other is brought alternately into engagement with the teeth or detents J
and K.
The magnet G is in a circuit including a battery G" and a key H¹ and it
is normally inactive. The spring J therefore draws over the lever H" and
keeps it in engagement with one of the teeth of the series marked K. When a
signal is not being sent, it will thus be seen, the wheel or frame O remains
stationary though the motor and spindle B may be revolving.
Referring now to Figure 4, for an explanation of the working of this device, one
pole of a divided battery F is connected to one of the contact strips as G, the
other is connected to strip F and the centre is grounded at H. To the metal frame
of the apparatus, which is in electrical connection with the plates D E, the line L
is permanently connected. A ground connection through the lever H" and con-
ductor from the line is maintained by the engagement of the lever H" with one
of the pins K.
•
At this time the strips G F are out of contact with their respective series of
plates. If the key H' is depressed, however, to send an impulse, the lever H" is
carried from engagement with one of the pins K over into engagement with the
next pin J, but in the movement of the wheel O, which occurs in the interval, one
of the plates D has been carried by the strip G and a positive impulse sent to line.
The reverse movement of the key H' and of the lever H" then permits the wheel O
to move another step until it is arrested by the engagement of the stop J with the
next succeeding pin which is one of the series K. Thus by depressing and raising
the key H' a direct or marking impulse and a reverse or clearing current are sent
to line and the line is then grounded, but the duration of contact which sends the
direct impulse and that which sends the reverse or clearing one is determined
entirely independently of the key H' by the adjustment of the contact strips E F.
For more ready comprehension a double series of contacts alternating in their
relative positions has been shown, but it will be obvious that since both series of
contacts have a common function that of connecting the battery to line only one
series is necessary,
for by placing the connecting strips or springs one before and
the other behind the widest part of the contacts, a sequence of alternations of
polarity will be produced by the revolution of the contacts.
These features constitute a valuable and important improvement in the art of
controlling impulses in an electric circuit, and particularly so in cable signalling.
It is to be observed that the particular configuration of the contact plates D
and E, which is distinguished by a straight edge on one side parallel with the axis
of rotation of the wheel, and an inclined edge on the other side, is a necessary and
essential feature of the apparatus. This will appear upon consideration of the
character of the signalling currents required. These currents are alternately
positive and negative, and while their actual and relative durations may vary very
considerably, it is essential that a fixed relation between the periods of initial
contacts be preserved. An inclination of both sides of the contact plates might
result, with a difference in the vertical adjustment of the bearing strips in an over-
lapping of the signals, and short circuiting of the strips.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inver-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
! —
First. In a cable transmitter, the combination with a key, of an. automatically
actuated contact maker locked and released by the said key and provided with
contact surfaces adjustable relatively to one another, whereby the duration of
contact for a given movement may be varied, as set forth.
Second. In a cable transmitter, the combination, with a locking and releasing

page_text: key, of a wheel or carrier carrying contact plates, of varying width, a motor for
revolving said carrier when released by the key, and contact strips adapted to bear on
the said plates and adjustable with respect thereto, whereby the duration of contact
for a given movement of the carrier may be varied as described.
Third. In a cable transmitter, the combination with a locking and releasing key,
of a frame or carrier provided with two series of contact plates of varying width, a
motor for revolving said carrier when released by the key and positive and negative
contact terminals adapted to bear on the two series of plates respectively, and
independently adjustable with respect thereto, whereby the duration of contact for
a given movement of the said carrier may be varied, as described.
Fourth. In a cable transmitter, the combination, of a revoluble frame or carrier
provided with two lines or series of contact plates of varying width, a source of
power acting constantly on said carrier, a series of pins or stops constituting an
escapement on said carrier, contact strips adapted to bear on the series of contacts
respectively and adjustable with respect thereto, whereby the width of contact
surface presented to said strips may be varied and a fever or key acting in
conjunction with the escapement to lock or release the carrier, as set forth.
a
Fifth. The combination, with a cable or line of high static capacity, and
transmitting battery, of a revoluble frame or carrier provided with two series of
rows of contacts of varying width connected to line and alternately disposed, two
contact terminals from the positive and negative poles of the battery adapted to
bear on the rows of contacts respectively, and adjustable with respect thereto,
whereby the width of contact surface presented to said strips may be varied,
a motor for rotating the carrier and a key for locking and releasing it, as herein
Bet forth.
Sixth. The combination, with a submarine cable and a transmitting battery, of
stationary and moving contacts adapted to connect the opposite poles of the
battery alternately to line, means for adjusting the relative width or extent of
the surfaces in contact and consequently the duration of contact for a given
movement of the contacts, and a key or controlling device for locking and releasing
signals to be transmitted.
Seventh. The combination, of the revoluble carrier or wheel, the contact plates
of varying width, the adjustable terminals bearing on the contacts, the two rows or
series of escapement pins or stops, one row being insulated from the wheel and the
contacts, and the locking and releasing lever adapted to be connected to earth and
engaging with the teeth of each row alternately.
Eighth. In a circuit controlling device, a contact maker revolved by a source of
power and having angular contacts, one of the sides of such angles being parallel to
the axis of revolution, in combination with connecting contacts adjustable along the
line of said angular contacts, as set forth.
Ninth. In a circuit controlling device, the combination of a movable circuit
maker having contacts varying in superficial area, one side of such contacts being
a right line and two connecting sources of electrical energy, said connecting
contacts being independently adjustable along the line of the movable contacts, as
described.
Tenth. The combination, of a contact maker revolving at a uniform speed and
carrying angular contact plates forming one part of an electric circuit, of two
connecting strips constituting the terminals of independent courses of electrical
energy of opposite polarity and forming alternately the other part of said circuit
and adapted to produce successive alternations of polarity occupying equal intervals
of time and independently adjustable with respect to said revolving contacts, whereby
the duration of their respective engagement may be varied.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant: