IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Wilde, of the City of Manchester, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS,
AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 5th November 1861, and dated the 10th August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wilde at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
August 1861.
I, HENRY WILDE, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to several improved methods of con-
structing and arranging the permanent magnets and coiled soft iron cores
employed for generating currents of magneto-electricity.
First improvement.-Instead of making the permanent magnets of the
horse-shoe form, and placing the coiled soft iron cores on their outer
extremities, as has been before proposed, I construct them of a rectangular
bar of steel bent into the form of a hoop or ring, the ends of which are kept
a short distance from each other, so as to develope the magnetism imparted to
them. Upon each of the poles formed on the interior surface of the hoop,
one extremity of a cylindrical iron core wound with insulated wire is placed
at right angles to the chord of an arc, the centre of which is the opening in

page_text: the ring. The other extremities of the iron cores point towards the centre,
and before them a small piece of soft iron is made to revolve on an axis at
right angles to that of the hoop, for the purpose of generating the magneto-
electric current required. Two of these hoops with their coiled soft iron cores
may be placed one upon the other, with their similar poles together, in which
case the extra currents generated by one revolution of the soft iron may be
made to succeed each other in the order required by connecting up the wires
in a suitable manner, as is well understood. These circular magnets instead
of being made of one or more inflexible rings; may be constructed of a number
of straight strips of tempered sheet steel, which, after being magnetized, may
be bent so as to fit the interior of a circular or other suitably shaped case of
wood or non-magnetic metal; the tendency which they have to resume their
original shape being sufficient to hold them in the proper position without
screws.
Second improvement. I take a plain disc of sheet steel, out of which
sections are cut, in such a manner as to leave an equal number of radii
attached to the nave at the centre. The outer extremities of these radii after
being hardened are magnetized with dissimilar poles adjacent to each other.
A number of disks treated in this manner are bolted together with similar
poles in contact, so as to form a compound magnet. Upon each of the
extremities of the radii of this compound magnet, and at right angles to its
plane, the end of a cylindrical iron core wound with insulated iron is secured,
and before the other extremities a disk of soft iron with sections cut out
similar to those in the magnet is made to revolve on an axis concentric with
that of the permanent magnet, for the purpose of generating the magneto-
electric currents, required, the number and intensity of which may be varied
for one revolution according to the number of the radii contained in the
magnetic, and soft iron disks employed. In some cases this arrangement may
be modified; instead of the soft iron cores being placed on one side of the
radii, they may be placed on both sides, before which two soft iron disks
secured to the same axis, which passes loosely through the centre of the
magnet, are made to revolve by any suitable means. A number of these
compound magnets and disks of soft iron can be used together, by arranging
them with their centres in the same straight line, and prolonging. the shaft
upon which the soft iron disks are fixed.
t
Third improvement.-Two bundles of permanent rectilinear magnets are
laid parallel with dissimilar poles adjoining, and at a short distance from each
other. Upon each of the poles of these compound magnets a cylindrical iron
core wound with insulated wire is placed, so as to form a prolongation of their

page_text: extremities, between which and the two bundles of straight magnets an axis
somewhat longer and parallel with them is made to revolve upon suitable
bearings. Near each of the extremities of this axis a disk of soft iron cut out
in the manner already described is secured, and both of them are made to
revolve before the polar extremities of the coiled iron cores, for the purpose of
generating the electric current required. These currents may be made to
circulate either in the same or alternate directions, by changing the relative
positions of the two disks on the axis, and coupling up the ends of the insulated
coils in a proper manner. Two rectangular pieces of soft iron may be
substituted for the disks, in which case they may be secured to the axis either
at right angles, or parallel to each other, according as the currents generated
are required to be in the same or alternate directions.
The second part of my Invention relates to several new and improved
methods of constructing and arranging the various parts of the transmitting
instrument, described in the Provisional Specification of Letters Patent
applied for by me on the Eighth day of April One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one, Number 858.
Fourth improvement.-Instead of generating the magneto-electric currents
used for working the receiving instrument by the oscillations of a piece of soft
iron before the coiled poles of a permanent magnet, they may be generated by
the revolution of a piece of soft iron before the coiled poles of the circular
magnet described under the head of the first improvement, in which case the
-horizontal shaft which carries the revolving piece of soft iron is connected in
a suitable manner by means of spur and bevel gear to the vertical axis, on
which is keyed the disk, with a projecting tooth for regulating the number of
shocks transmitted into the circuit by the depression of the finger keys. In
the shaft which carries the revolving armature, and outside the instrument, a
recess is made, into which a catch is allowed to drop, when required, for the
purpose of keeping the finger at the zero point of the dial when the machine
is at rest. This catch is in metallic connection with the coils of wire, and
insulated from the rest of the instrument during the transmission of a
message; but when in contact with the shaft so as to lock it, a short circuit
is formed which permits the current to pass directly through the receiving
instrument without having to overcome the resistance of the coils surrounding
the soft iron cores. When the moving parts of the instrument are suddenly
brought to rest by the depression of a finger key, the revolving piece of soft
iron has a tendency to recoil and transmit more shocks into the circuit than
are required. This may be prevented by securing a ratchet wheel to the
armature axis, and allowing a spring click to drop behind the tooth of the

page_text: wheel at the moment the motion of the mechanism is arrested; or, instead of
which, a small friction disk may be substituted for the ratchet wheel, against
which a small fly wheel fitting loosely on the shaft is made to press by means
of a spring, so as to allow the fly wheel to run forward when the other parts
of the train are stopped, and so prevent the recoil by the friction thereby
produced. The revolving armature, which should be as light as possible, I
prefer to make of a thin rectangular piece of soft iron, the edges of which are
bent over at right angles in a direction away from the polar surfaces of the
magnetic cores for the purpose of giving the requisite amount of stiffness to
the plate when attracted by the magnets. This form of armature may also be
constructed by cutting out the interior portion of a solid piece of iron of the
same shape externally as the other armature.
Fifth improvement.-The compound radial magnet, with the coiled iron
cores on one side only, (as described in the second improvement,) is secured
to a suitable base plate, and before the polar surfaces of these cores a radial
iron disk is made to revolve upon a vertical axis concentric with the compound
permanent magnet, by means of a horizontal shaft and suitable bevel gear.
This iron disk has but half the number of radii as the permanent magnet, so that
the currents generated may be transmitted in alternate directions without the
intervention of a commutator. Near the extremity of one of the radial arms
of the soft iron disk, a small right angled or elbow lever is made to work upon
a stud projecting above its upper surface. One leg of this lever is parallel
with the radial arm, and the other leg is made to fit the interior of a circular
case which contains the apparatus, the action of which is as follows:-The
radial iron disk, with the elbow lever, is made to revolve immediately under
the key and letter circle (described in the Provisional Specification above
referred to) by means of a pulley fixed on the horizontal axis. When one of
the keys is depressed the motion of the disk is arrested in consequence of he
elbow lever impinging upon the key stud, the other leg being at the same
time forced in contact with the interior side of the circular case containing
the instrument, the object of which is to prevent the recoil of the disk. In
this arrangement the coiled iron cores and radii in the permanent magnet are
equal in number to the finger keys round the dial.
When the permanent
magnet contains a less number of radii than there are keys round the letter
circle the vertical axis is stationary, and the iron disk is allowed to run freely
upon it. Two pinions containing an unequal number of teeth are likewise
mounted upon the axis above the disk, the lower small pinion being keyed to
the shaft, and the other larger one is fixed to a radial arm, which also runs
loosely on the stationary, axis immediately under the finger keys. To this

page_text: arm the elbow lever, already described, is also fixed. Two other pinions also
containing an unequal number of teeth are secured together, and allowed to
run loosely on an arbor inserted into the upper surface of the radial iron disk.
These pinions are geered into those on the vertical axis, so as to form what is
known as a sun-and-planet motion, which when made to revolve carry round
the soft iron disk and radial arm at different velocities for the purpose of
transmitting the proper number of shocks through the receiving instrument.
The elbow lever placed at the extremity of the radial arm instead of impinging
against the interior of the circular case, may be forced against the interior of
a circular rim of wood or metal secured to the revolving disc for the purpose
of preventing the recoil.
Sixth improvement.-The magneto-electric arrangement above described
under the head of the third improvement is fixed to a suitable base of wood or
metal, and upon the axis or shaft which is placed between and parallel with
the two rectilinear magnets, one or more coarse screw threads are cut, of such
a pitch that when a properly shaped piece of metal forming the nut is
pushed backwards and forwards in the direction of its length, the screw shaft
revolves in alternate directions, and with it the soft iron armatures on its
extremities, for the purpose of generating the currents to be transmitted
through the receiving instrument. This nut is made to slide backwards and
forwards in a slot made through the top of the instrument and parallel with
the screw shaft. The length of the slot and the pitch of the screw are so pro-
portioned, that when the nut is made to slide from one end of the slot to the
other, as many effective shocks or currents are generated by the revolution of
the screw as there are signs on the receiving instrument, the finger of which
therefore makes one complete revolution.
On one side of this slot and parallel with it a double row of letters and signs
corresponding with those on the receiving instrument are engraved. Between
these parallel rows of letters and directly opposite to them a row of finger keys
are arranged, equal in number to the letters and signs on the receiving instru-
ment. When any particular letter or sign requires to be indicated, the corrc-
sponding finger key is pushed down, so as to allow its lower extremity to project
beyond the under surface of the top plate. The nut, which has a projection on
one side of it is then moved up to the finger key, which prevents more shocks
from being transmitted into the circuit, and therefore indicates the sign
required, until the pressure of the finger is removed, when the key resumes its
original position and allows the nut to be moved forwards until arrested by the
depression of another key. A metal stud, insulated from the rest of the instru-
ment, is placed at each end of the slot and connected with the coils, for the
.

page_text: purpose of establishing a short circuit by contact with the nut when the instru-
ment is at rest.
This arrangement of finger keys and letters may be used when the direct or
induced currents from a voltaic battery are employed for working the receiving
instrument, instead of the magneto-electric arrangement already described.
Through the centre of a rectangular base of wood a slot is cut in the direc-
tion of its length; each side of the interior of this slot is inlaid with a plate of
brass or other conducting metal, and connected with the wires of the receiving
instrument by means of suitable binding screws. A rectangular strip of sheet
brass, equal in length to the slot in the base, is divided into equal and unequal
spaces alternately by lines drawn at right angles to its length; all the wide
spaces and all the narrow spaces being equal to one another. The wide spaces
are then cut out half way through the width of the plate, and another strip of
brass, treated in a similar manner, is then placed with its rectangular projections
into the rectangular spaces of the other strip, but they are not allowed to touch
one another. This pair of strips are then placed near the edge of the slot and
parallel to it. Another pair of brass strips, exactly similar, are then placed on
the opposite side of the slot; each pair of strips are then connected with the
positive and negative poles of the same voltaic battery by means of binding
screws attached to the base.
A rectangular block of metal is made to fit the slot, and slide against the
two strips of metal connected with the receiving instrument. This block is
divided into two equal parts, which are insulated from each other in the direc-
tion of the length of the slot, and has also a piece projecting from each side
which rub alternately on the serrated brass strips when pushed from one end
of the slot to the other, for the purpose of transmitting the proper number of
inverted currents through the receiving instrument. In some cases the
arrangement of keys between the double row of letters may be dispensed with,
the pressure of the finger or a peg being sufficient to arrest the motion of the
sliding piece at any point, and correctly indicate the letter or sign required.
Instead of the serrated strips of brass being in pairs, and the projecting
pieces fitting into each other, they may be placed singly, one on each side of
the slot on the top of the instrument, and one on each side of the slot on the
under side, the sliding piece being made to rub alternately upon the serrated
strips of brass on both sides of the instrument.
Seventh improvement is in the method of regulating the tension of the band
proceeding from the portable pedal motion to the pulley on the transmitting
instrument, as described in the Provisional Specification before referred to.
Through the cast-iron base of the pedal motion, two or more screws are

page_text: inserted, with their extremities resting on the floor, which, when turned in one
direction or the other, lengthen or shorten the distance between the two
pulleys, thereby regulating the tension of the band. These regulating screws
may be inserted in the base of the transmitting instrument instead of in the
base of the pedal motion, to produce the same result.
Eighth improvement.-Suspending telegraph wires to the ordinary street
lamp posts or to brackets attached thereto.
Ninth improvement.-The application of a magnifying glass for reading off
the letters or signs on the indicating instrument; the object is to admit of the
moving parts of the instrument being greatly reduced in size, and consequently
capable of being actuated by very feeble currents of electricity.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Wilde in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
WILDE, of the City of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Wilde, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Wilde, my'
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Wilde, 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 ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Henry Wilde, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Wilde, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
(that is to say):-
:-
The first part of my Invention relates to several improved methods of
constructing and arranging the permanent magnets and coiled soft iron cores
employed for generating currents of magneto-electricity.
First improvement.-Instead of making the permanent magnets of the
horse-shoe form, and placing the coiled soft-iron cores on their outer extremities;
as has been before proposed, I construct them of a rectangular bar of steel
bent into the form of a hoop or ring, the 'ends of which are kept a short
distance from each other, so as to develope the magnetisın imparted to them.
Fig. 1 is a section, Fig. 2, another section, and Fig. 3, a plan, of a, magneto-
electric machine constructed according to this part of my Invention. Upon
each of the poles formed on the interior surface of the hoop a, placed within
the caso b, one extremity of a cylindrical iron core c, wound with insulated
wire, is placed at right angles to the chord of an arc, the centre of which is
the opening in the said hoop; the other extremities of the iron cores point
towards the centre, and before them a small piece of soft iron d is made to
revolve on an axis e, at right angles to that of the hoop, for the purpose of
generating the magneto-electric current required. Two of these hoops with
their coiled soft iron cores may be placed one upon the other with their similar
poles together, as shewn in Figs. 8 and 9 of Sheet 2, in which case the extra
currents generated by one revolution of the soft iron d may be made to succeed
each other in the order required by connecting the wires in a suitable manner,
as is well understood; but I wish to remark that I make no claim to the use
of a plate of soft iron revolving before the bifurcated poles of a permanent
magnet enveloped with coils of wire, excepting when arranged in the interior
of a hoop or ring, as shewn and described. These circular magnets, instead
of being made of one or more inflexible rings, may be constructed of a
number of straight strips of tempered sheet steel, as shewn in the Drawing,
which, after being magnetized, may be bent so as to fit the interior of a circular
or other suitably-shaped case b, of wood or non-magnetic metal, the tendency
which they have to resume their original shape being sufficient to hold them
in the proper position without screws.
Second improvement.-I take a plain disk of sheet steel, out of which
sections are cut in such a manner as to leave an equal number of radii
attached to the nave at the centre.
Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 5, an elevation of this improved magneto-electric
machine. The outer extremities of the radial arms a, after being hardened,
are magnetized with dissimilar poles adjacent to each other. A number of

page_text: radial magnets treated in this manner are bolted together with similar poles in
contact, so as to form a compound magnet. Upon the extremities of the
radial arms of this compound magnet, and at right angles to its plane, the end
of a cylindrical iron core c, wound with insulated wire, is secured, and before
the other extremities a disk of soft iron d, with sections cut out similar to
those in the magnet, is made to revolve on an axis e, concentric with that of
the permanent magnet a, for the purpose of generating the magneto-electric
currents required, the number and intensity of which may be varied for one
revolution, according to the number of the radial arms contained in the mag-
netic and soft iron disks employed. In some cases this arrangement may be
modified; instead of the soft iron cores c being placed on one side of the
radial arms a, they may be placed on both sides, before which two soft iron
disks d, secured to the same axis e, which passes loosely through the centre of
the magnet, are made to revolve by any suitable means. A number of these
compound magnets and disks of soft iron can be used together by arranging
them with their centres in the same straight line, and prolonging the shaft e,
upon which the soft iron disks d are fixed.
Third improvement.-Two bundles of permanent rectilinear magnets are
laid parallel, with dissimilar poles adjoining, and at a short distance from each
other, as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7, the former being an end view, and the latter
a plan of another of my improved magneto-electric machines. Upon the poles
of these compound magnets a, which are formed of a number of separate
plates screwed together in the usual manner, cylindrical iron cores c, wound
with insulated wire, are placed, so as to form prolongations of their extremities,
between which and the two bundles of straight magnets a an axis e, somewhat
longer and parallel with them, is made to revolve upon suitable bearings.
Near each of the extremities of this axis e a disk d of soft iron, cut out in the
manner already described, is secured, and both of them are made to revolve
before the polar extremities of the coiled iron cores c, for the purpose of
generating the electric current required. The alternate strong and weak
currents from both ends of the magnets may be produced, either simultaneously,
successively, or equally, by changing the relative positions of the two disks d
on the axis c, and coupling up the ends of the insulated coils c in such a
manner that the currents generated simultaneously by the approach or
recession of the separate armatures before the magnets may pass through the
same conducting wire. It will also be seen by this arrangement that the
unequal currents caused by the approach and recession of the armatures can
be combined, and will succeed each other with equal intensity when the
armatures at one end of the magnets are made to recede from the soft iron

page_text: core, at the same time that the armatures at the other extremities of the
magnets are approaching the soft iron cores before which they rotate. This
method of equalizing the succession of inverted currents is also applicable to
the arrangement described in reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Two rectangular
pieces of soft iron may be substituted for the disks d, in which case they may
be secured to the axis e, either at right angles or parallel to each other,
according as the currents generated from both ends of the magnets require to
be produced either simultaneously, successively, or equally.
The second part of my Invention relates to several new and improved
methods of constructing and arranging the various parts of the transmitting
instrument of a step-by-step telegraph, described in the Specification of Letters
Patent granted to me on the Eighth day of April, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-one, No. 858.
Fourth improvement.-Instead of generating the magneto-electric currents,
used for working the receiving instrument by the oscillations of a piece of soft
iron before the coiled poles of a permanent magnet, as described in the
Specification above referred to, they may be generated by the revolution of a
piece of soft iron before the coiled poles of the circular magnet, described
under the head of the first improvement, and shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of
the present Specification, in which case the horizontal shaft e, which carries
the revolving piece of soft iron d, is connected in a suitable manner by means
of spur and bevel gear, as shewn in reference to Figs. 8 and 9, on Sheet 2, the
former being a sectional elevation, and the latter a plan of my improved
transmitting instrument. To the axis e, is fixed the pinion e¹, gearing into the
wheelf, fixed to the axis f, on which is fixed the bevel pinion fe gearing into
the wheel g, fixed to the vertical axis g', upon which is keyed the disk or
radial arm h, with a projecting tooth for regulating the number of shocks
transmitted into the circuit by the depression of the finger keys i. In the
shaft e, which carries the revolving armature d, and outside the instrument, a
recess is made, into which a catch k, see detached, Fig. 10, is allowed to drop
when required, for the purpose of keeping the finger of the transmitting
instrument at the zero point of the dial, when the machine is at rest. This
catch k, is in metallic connection with the coils of wire, and insulated from the
rest of the instrument during the transmission of a message, but when in
contact with the shaft e, so as to lock it, a short circuit is formed, which
permits the current to pass directly through the receiving instrument, without
having to overcome the resistance of the coils surrounding the soft iron cores c.
When the moving parts of the instrument are suddenly brought to rest by the
depression of a finger key, the revolving piece of soft iron d, has a tendency

page_text: to recoil and transmit more shocks into the circuit than are required. This
may be prevented, by securing a ratchet wheel to the armature axis, and
allowing a spring click to drop behind a tooth of the wheel, at the moment
the motion of the mechanism is arrested, as has before been practised. The
revolving armature d, which should be as light as possible, I prefer to make of
a thin rectangular piece of soft iron, the edges of which are bent over at right'
angles in a direction away from the polar surfaces of the magnetic cores, as
shewn detached in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, for the purpose of giving the requisite.
amount of stiffness to the plate when attracted by the magnets. This form
of armature may also be constructed by cutting out the interior portion of
a solid piece of iron, of the same shape externally as the other armature.
The fifth improvement consists of another method of constructing the
transmitting instrument, and is shewn in section in Fig. 14, in plan in Fig.
15, and partly in Fig. 16. The compound radial magnet a, with the coiled
iron cores c, on one side only, (as described in the second improvement of the
present Specification, is secured to a suitable base plate 6, and before the polar
surfaces of these cores a radial iron disk d, is made to revolve upon a vertical
axis g, concentric with the compound permanent magnet a, by means of a
horizontal shaft l, and suitable bevel gear. This iron disk d, has but half the
number of radial arms as the permanent magnet a, so that the effective
currents generated may be transmitted in alternate directions without the
intervention of a commutator. Near the extremity of one of the radial arms>
of the soft iron disk d, a small right angled or elbow lever is made to work.
upon a stud projecting above its upper surface; one leg of this lever is
parallel with the radial arm, and the other leg is made to fit the interior of
the circular case which contains the apparatus, the action of which is
as follows:-The radial iron disk together with the elbow lever, is made
to revolve immediately under the key and letter circle, (described in the
Specification above referred to) by means of a pulley fixed on the horizontal
axis. When one of the keys is depressed, the motion of the disk is arrested
in consequence of the elbow lever impinging upon the key stud, the other leg
being at the same time forced in contact with the interior side of the circular
case containing the instrument, the object of which is to prevent the recoil of the
disk. When the elbow lever is attached to one of the radial arms of the soft
iron disk d, the coiled iron cores c, and radial arms in the permanent magnet a
are equal in number to the finger keys round the dial.
When the permanent
magnet contains a less number of radial arms than there are keys round the
letter circle, the vertical axis g is stationary, and the iron disk d, is allowed to
run freely upon it. Two pinions g' and g², containing an unequal number of

page_text: teeth, are likewise mounted, upon the axis above the disk, the lower small
pinion being keyed to the axis, and the other larger one is fixed to a radial
arm m, which also runs loosely on the stationary axis immediately under the
finger keys. To this arm the elbow lever n, already described, is also fixed,
two other pinions of and o², also containing an unequal number of teeth are
secured. together, and allowed to run loosely on an arbor o, inserted into the
upper surface of the radial iron disk d. These pinions are geared into those
on the vertical axis g, so as to form what is known as a sun-and-planet motion,
which when made to revolve, carry round the soft iron disk d, and radial arm m
at different velocities, for the purpose of transmitting the proper number of
shocks through the receiving instrument. The elbow lever n, placed at the
extremity of the radial armı m, instead of impinging against the interior of the
circular case b, may be forced against the interior of a circular rim of wood or
metal, secured to the revolving disk d, for the purpose of preventing the recoil.
The relative proportions of the pinions g', g, o', and o³, must be such as to
produce as many shocks as there are finger keys round the dial; for one
revolution of the radial arm m, in the present instance the gearing is adapted
for a letter circle of 30 keys, and the soft iron armature is made to revolve
three times for one revolution of the arm m.
I wish to remark that I make no claim to the combination of finger keys
for regulating the currents of magueto-electric machines for working telegraphs,
excepting when the finger keys are used in combination with the improvements
above described.
The sixth improvement is another improved transmitting instrument, and it
is represented in plan in Fig. 17, and in section in Fig. 18. The magneto-
electric arrangement, above described under the head of the third improve-
ment, is fixed to a suitable base of wood or metal; and upon the axis or shaft e,
which is placed between and parallel with the two rectilinear magnets a, one
or more coarse screw threads are cut, of such a pitch that when a properly
shaped piece of metal, forming the nut p, is pushed backwards and forwards
in the direction of its length, the screw shaft e revolves in alternate directions,
and with it the soft iron armatures & on its extremities, for the purpose of
generating the currents to be transmitted through the receiving instrument.
This nut p is made to slide backwards and forwards in a slot made through
the top of the instrument, and parallel with the screw shaft e. The length of
the slot and the pitch of the screw are so proportioned, that when the nut p
is made to slide from one end of the slot to the other, as many effective shocks
or currents are generated by the revolution of the screw e as there are signs
on the receiving instrument, the finger of which therefore makes one complete

page_text: revolution. On one side of the slot and parallel with it a double row of
letters and signs, corresponding with those on the receiving instrument, are
engraved. Between these parallel rows of letters and directly opposite to them
is a row of conical recesses corresponding to the said letters and signs. When
any particular letter or sign requires to be indicated, a peg is inserted into the
corresponding recess by the operator. The nut p, to which a projection p¹ is
attached is then moved up to the peg, which by stopping the rotating of the
screw prevents more shocks from being generated and transmitted into the
circuit, and therefore indicates the sign required until the peg is removed,
when the nut is at liberty to be moved forwards until arrested by inserting the
peg into another of the conical recesses. Instead of a moveable peg and
recesses finger keys, similar to those shewn in Fig. 14, may be employed for
arresting the motion of the nut p; but I prefer the recesses and the moveable
peg as being more convenient. A metal stud q insulated from the rest of the
instrument is placed at each end of the slot, and connected with the coils c,
for the purpose of establishing a short circuit by contact with the nut p when
the instrument is at rest. At one end of the instrument a spring r is secured
to a fixed stud r, the spring and stud forming part of the telegraphic circuit,
when the other extremity of the spring is in contact with the stud r². A
stud is insulated from the transmitting instrument, but is in metallic con-
nection with the coils of the receiving instrument; the object of this spring
and studs is to adjust the finger of the receiving instrument to the correspond-
ing sign on the transmitting instrument by causing currents to be produced
by sliding the nut p to and fro, without acting upon the instruments at the
distant stations. The arrangement of conical recesses or finger keys and
letters may be used when the direct or induced currents from a voltaic battery
are employed for working the receiving instrument, instead of the magneto-
electric arrangement, already described.
Fig. 19 is a plan of an improved transmitting instrument, constructed for
being used in conjunction with a voltaic battery, and Fig. 20 is a transverse
section of the same. Through the centre of a rectangular base of wood s, a
slot is cut in the direction of its length; each side of the interior of this slot
is inlaid with a plate s¹ of brass or other conducting metal, and connected with
the wires of the receiving instrument by means of suitable binding screws s²;
a rectangular strip of sheet brass t, equal in length to the slot in the base, is
divided into equal and unequal spaces alternately by lines drawn at right
angles to its length, all the wide spaces and all the narrow spaces being equal
to one another. The wide spaces are then cut out half way through the width
of the plate and another strip of brass t¹ treated in a similar manner is then

page_text: placed with its rectangular projections into the rectangular spaces of the other
strip t, but they are not allowed to touch one another. This pair of strips are
then placed near the edge of the slot and parallel to it. Another pair of brass
strips, exactly similar, are then placed on the opposite side of the slot, each
pair of strips are then connected with the positive and negative poles of the
same voltaic battery by means of binding screws t2 attached to the base. A
rectangular block of metal u is made to fit the slot, and slide against the two
is
strips s¹ of metal connected with the receiving instrument. This block
divided into two equal parts, which are insulated from each other in the direc-
tion of the length of the slot, and has also a piece u¹ projecting from each
side, which rub alternately on the serrated brass strips t, when pushed from
one end of the slot to the other, for the purpose of transmitting the proper
number of inverted currents through the receiving instrument. Instead of the
serrated strips of brass being in pairs, and the projecting pieces fitting into each
other, they may be placed singly, one on each side of the slot on the top of
the instrument, and one on each side of the slot on the under side, the sliding
piece u being made to rub alternately upon the serrated strips t of brass on
both sides of the instrument.
On Sheet 4, Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 22, a plan; Fig. 23, an
end elevation; and Fig. 24, a transverse section of a modification of the
improved magneto-electric arrangement, shewn in Figs. 6, 7, 17, and 18, in
combination with the apparatus known as Brett's telegraph. a, are the
magnets; c, the coils; d, the soft iron armatures, fixed on the axis e, which
is turned round by hand or other power; to the axis e is fixed the pinion e',
gearing into the wheel v¹ fixed to the key shaft v, of the usual construction;
immediately over the key shaft is the dial plate, through which there are a
series of holes corresponding to the pins on the key shaft, and the letters and
signs on the dial plate; the currents are generated by the rotation of the arma-
tures d, and the number to be transmitted into the telegraphic circuit is
governed by inserting the moveable pegs w into the required holes of the dial
plate, as described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me on the
Eighth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, No. 858.
When the motions of the key shaft v, armatures d, and axis e, have been
arrested, the wheel e² is allowed to slip round on the shaft e in the usual
manner, and the amount of friction required for driving the apparatus is regu-
lated by lock nuts e³. The key shaft v is held at the zero point of the instru-
ment when at rest by the peg on the lever x, taking into a hole in a collar
fixed to the axis e; the same action likewise serves to establish a short circuit
through the instrument, as described in reference to Figs 8, 9, and 10.

page_text: The seventh improvement is illustrated in Figs. 25 and 26, which represent
two views of a pedal motion, similar to that described in the Specification of
the former Letters Patent above referred to. This improvement consists in
the method of regulating the tension of the band proceeding from the portable
pedal motion to the pulley on the transmitting instrument. Through the cast
iron base Y of the pedal motion two or more screws y¹ are inserted with their
extremities resting on the floor, which when turned in one direction or the
other lengthen or shorten the distance between the two pulleys, thereby regu-
lating the tension of the band. These regulating screws may be inserted in
the base of the transmitting instrument, instead of in the base of the pedal
motion to produce the same result.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved magneto-electric machine, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly, the improved magneto-electric machine, as shewn and described
in reference to Figs. 4 and 5.
Thirdly, the improved magneto-electric machine, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 6 and 7, that is to say, the placing of the stationary coils
and soft iron cores on the extremities of straight magnets, before which the
armatures revolve. I also claim the method of equalising the succession of
inverted currents from magneto-electric machines with stationary coils by
changing the relative positions of the separate armatures, revolving on the
same axis.
Fourthly, the improved transmitting instrument of a step-by-step telegraph,
as shewn and described in reference to Figs. 8, 9, and 10. I also claim the
improved mode of constructing the armatures of magneto-electric machines, as
shewn and described in reference to Figs. 11, 12, and 13.
Fifthly, the improved transmitting instrument, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 14, 15, and 16.
Sixthly, the improved transmitting instrument, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 17 and 18; and I also claim the use of a screw and sliding
nut for generating currents of magneto-electricity, as described.
Seventhly, the improved transmitting instrument for regulating the currents
of electricity generated by a voltaic battery, as shewn and described in refer-
ence to Figs. 19 and 20.
Eighthly, the improved transmitting instrument, as shewn and described in
reference to Figs. 21, 22, 23, and 24.
And, lastly, the application of regulating screws to the pedal motion, or to

page_text: the base of the transmitting instrument, as shewn and described in reference
to Figs. 25 and 26.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wilde, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
HENRY WILDE. (L.S.)