IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Highton, M.A., of Putney, in the
County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
TELEGRAPHS."
Sealed the 1st August 1873, and dated the 13th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Highton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th February 1873.
I, HENRY HIGHTON, M.A., of Putney, in the County of Surrey, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in electric telegraphs.
On long lines with defective insulation the use of the gold leaf
instrument is especially advantageous, but special arrangements are
necessary to prevent the injury of the gold leaf by the strong outgoing

page_text: current. For this purpose I so arrange the finger key that when it is
depressed it gives rise to two currents, which tending to traverse the
gold leaf at the sending station in opposite directions neutralise each
other. I prefer that the arrangement should be such that both currents
may enter the line wire, and that the incoming currents may be
indicated by the gold leaf, whether the finger key be depressed or
otherwise, so that the line may be worked at both ends simultaneously.
This I do in the manner shewn in the Diagram annexed, as is there
indicated.
The zinc of one battery and the copper of another are both permanently
connected with the point a; the other copper and zinc are by means of
the finger key connected when and as required at the same instant with
the line and with earth. The result is that with a proper balance of
resistances two similar currents go to the receiving end of the line,
and two opposing currents balance each other on the instrument at the
sending end; or the finger key may be made to cut the gold leaf of
the sending station out of circuit whenever it is depressed, or to shunt
it, or where there are two wires available, one may be used as the
sending line and the other as the receiving line, so that the outgoing
current may not have to pass through a gold leaf.
To prevent the earth (or return wire) connections of the sending line
affecting the receiving instrument the sending key is caused to pass a
neutralising current through the receiving instrument.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Highton in the Great Seal Patent Office on 2
the 13th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HIGHTON, M.A., of Putney, in the County of Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year 3
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: and grant unto me, the said Henry Highton, Her special license that I,
the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Highton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
3diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Highton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :—
This Invention has for its object improvements in electric telegraphs.
On long lines with defective insulation the use of the gold leaf
instrument is specially advantageous, but special arrangements are
necessary to prevent the injury of the gold leaf by the strong outgoing
current. For this purpose I so arrange the finger key that when it is
depressed it gives rise to two currents, which tending to traverse the
gold leaf at the sending station in opposite directions neutralise each
other. I prefer that the arrangement should be such that both currents
may enter the line wire, and that the incoming currents may be
indicated by the gold leaf, whether the finger key be depressed or
otherwise, so that the line may be worked at both ends simultaneously.
This I do in the manner shewn in the Diagram A annexed.
As is there indicated the zinc of one battery and the copper of another
are both permanently connected with the point a; the other copper and
zinc are by means of the finger key connected when and as required at
the same instant respectively with the line and with earth. The result
is that with a proper balance of resistances, which is easily obtained, two

page_text: similar currents go to the receiving end of the line, and two opposing
currents balance each other on the instrument at the sending end.
If desired the adjustment may be so made as to allow the instrument
at the sending station to respond to some extent to the movements of
the key, the line will then be worked in the ordinary way and not
simultaneously at the two ends.
I claim as respects this part of my Invention the arrangement sub-
stantially as above described for telegraphing with a gold or metal leaf
instrument and batteries, which at the sending end are in opposition
through the gold or metal leaf, but not so in their influence on the line
circuit.
According to another method the finger key may be made to cut the
gold leaf of the sending station out of circuit whenever it is depressed or
to shunt it. One simple way of doing this is by arranging the ordinary
double sending key in the manner indicated by the Diagram B:-
Let A, B, be part of one of the ordinary sending keys; let O be an
insulated metallic disc or stud attached to it; let h be the gold leaf
instrument; let d, e, and 9, f, be two stout metallic wires connected
respectively with the top and bottom of the gold leaf. When C is
pressed down so as to send a current along the line let the disc or stud C
unite metallically d and the ends of the metallic wires so as to form
a shunt, which will divert and convey the greater part of the electric
current, which would otherwise pass through the gold leaf. I claim
this arrangement substantially as described for telegraphing with a gold
leaf or metal leaf instrument.
According to another arrangement where there are two wires available
one may be used as the sending line and the other as the receiving line,
so that the outgoing current may not have to pass through a gold leaf;
and then to prevent the earth (or return wire) connections of the sending
line affecting the receiving instrument the sending key is caused to pass
a neutralising current through the receiving instrument. This is effected
by causing the outgoing current to divide one part going into one line
wire and the other through the receiving instrument in connection with
the other line wire. By inserting a very large resistance the influence
on the receiving instrument is made just what is requisite to counteract
the disturbance which the instrument would otherwise experience.

page_text: I claim the means of working gold or metal leaf instruments in
connection with separate line wires, each working in one direction,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Highton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
HENRY (L.S.) HIGHTON.