Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Recording Tele- graphic or other Signs, more Especially Applicable to Syphon Recorder Telegraphic Instruments.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Recording Tele-
graphic or other Signs, more Especially Applicable to Syphon
Recorder Telegraphic Instruments.
We GEORGE DRAPER of Winchester House No. 50 Old Broad Street in the City
of London, Secretary of The Eastern Telegraph Company Limited, and WILLIAM
HENRY ASH, of the same address, Superintendent of Telegraph Station 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 ordinary form of syphon recorder telegraphic instruments such as those at
present in use on submarine electric circuits and in which. signals are recorded by
means of the passage of ink from a syphon on to a strip of paper, the syphon cannot
be permitted to touch the paper in consequence of the friction which would be fatal
to the action of the instrument, and heretofore it has been necessary to electrify the
ink in order to cause it to spirt from the point of the syphon on to the paper.
In this method of working a strong battery and electromotor or other source of
power is required to generate a current of sufficiently high tension; it is difficult to
maintain sufficient electrification in damp weather and the working generally is
attended with numerous disadvantages.
The object of our invention is to obviate these disadvantages and to provide a
simpler means of causing the ink to pass from the syphon on to the paper without
the necessity of electrification.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shows a side elevation and figure 2 shows
a front elevation of the principal parts of our invention adapted for use in connection
with a syphon recorder telegraphic instrument.
We find that our said object can be accomplished by mechanically vibrating the
framework B from which the syphon A is suspended in a plane as nearly as possible
at right angles to that of the motion of the syphon from the action of the current
impulses, so as not to impede its free oscillation from that cause.
We prefer to do this by means of an electro magnet C, vibrating armature D,
contact spring E, and backstop screw F, forming an ordinary electric trembling bell
movement which is mounted on the framework in such a way that the vibrating
armature D works in the required plane as above described and operates to shake the
framework slightly.
It is found in practice that for each syphon there is a certain rate of vibration at
which the drops of ink will more readily flow, and it is desirable therefore to provide
means of adjusting the rate of vibration of the framework. This adjustment is effected
by a sliding bob or weight G capable of being moved along a rod Z in connection
with the vibrating armature D and of being fixed by means of a set-screw G¹ at the
position that is found by actual trial to produce the best flow of ink from the par-
ticular syphon.
His a small resistance coil of wire placed as a shunt across the contacts for the
purpose of reducing the sparking.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In an instrument for recording telegraphic or other signs, the method of causing
ink or other similar fluid to flow from the syphon on to the paper by mechanically
vibrating the framework from which the syphon is suspended substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. The combination with the arrangement for vibrating the framework from
which the syphon is suspended, of an electric trembling bell movement together with
means for adjusting the rate of vibration of the syphon substantially as hereinbefore
described.
A. F. SPOONER,
Agent for the Applicants.