IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: 1, ROBERT KIRK BOYLE, of 15 Mulgrave Street Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS to be as follows:-
"2
My invention relates to telegraphic apparatus which is intended particularly for
submarine cables or for a system of telegraphing in which alternate positive and
negative electric impulses are sent over the line.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a large electro-magnet
which is permanently charged with electricity from a strong local battery. Between
the jaws of this electro-magnet extend vertical wires which are supported by the
following means, that is to say: On the under surface of the base (which is of
wood or other bad conductor of electricity) are provided two brackets in each of
which is secured a stud and to each of these studs a wire is attached. Each
of these wires is provided with an insulating section and the upper ends of said
wires are secured to axles which turn freely in bearings formed on standards and
which are provided with buttons and with tightening nuts. By turning the buttons
in the proper direction the wires can be tightened and when they have acquired
the requisite tension the axles are locked by the said nuts. The wires between the
jaws are bent at their upper and lower ends and fastened to the other wires. From
one wire extends an arm and from the other wire extends another arm. The outer
end of one arm is provided with a hook which engages with an eye formed at the
outer end of an arin which extends from a wire. This wire passes loosely through
holes in lugs which extend from a bracket in the upper end of which is secured a
hair from which the last named wire is suspended. The lower end of this wire
dips into mercury contained in a cup. From this wire extends a second arm
between contact points which rise from the insulated head of a slide. This slido
is guided in lugs secured in one side of a block of hard india rubber or equivalent
material which is fastened on the base. From the slide extends a pin into a slot
formed in an arm which extends from a spindle turning freely in its bearings and
around this spindle is wound a cord extending from one end of a spring so that
when the spindle is free to follow the action of this spring, the slotted arm carries
the slide outward, but when the spindle is turned so as to wind up this spring the
slide is carried inward. On the spindle is mounted a ratchet wheel which is
subjected to the action of a propelling pawl and of a stop pawl. The propelling
Poins 11

page_text: pawl is L-shaped and is mounted on a pin secured in an arm which is connected
with a lever, the fulcrum of which is on a stud secured in a block and which carries
the armature of an electro magnet. The stop pawl is made in the form of a spring
secured to an arm which is connected to a lever the fulcrum of which is on a stud
and which carries the armature of another electromagnet. The propelling pawl is
subjected to the action of a spring which acts on a pin projecting from the tail of
said L-shaped propelling pawl and it is normally held in gear with the ratchet
wheel by the action of this spring. From the armature lever extends an arm
which bears against a pin and from said lever extends another arm which is
intended to act on the stop-pawl. In one of the arms is secured a secondary stop-
pawl. Whenever the first named armature is attracted the pawl propels the
ratchet wheel, the slide moves inward, and the spring is wound up on the spindle.
When the other armature is attracted both the propelling pawl and the stop-pawl
are thrown out of gear with the ratchet wheel; the spindle is free to follow the
action of the spring, and the slide is carried outward, but this outward motion is
checked by the secondary stop-pawl which is thrown in gear with the ratchet wheel
soon after the pawis have been raised out of gear, so that the outward motion of
the slide is limited, the ratchet wheel being permitted to revolve in an opposite
direction only for one tooth. At the same time the break between the arm and
contact point does not take place at once and the armature vibrates continuously
until a complete break is made and the ratchet wheel turns for several teeth.
On the opposite side of the block is situated a second slide and two electro-
magnets which act upon this slide in the same manner in which the above described
electro-magnets act upon their slide. In the head of the second slide are secured
two contact points between which extends an arm leading from a wire which
connects by an arm with-another arm_extending from one of the wires between the
jaws. The wire dips into a mercury cup; all these parts-being-counterparts of the
devices connected with the slide and other jaw wire so that they require no further
description. On the front or outer end of the second slide is secured a short tube
and on the outer end of the first slide is secured a guide. I provide a pen which
is made in the form of a syphon, its rear end being supported by the tube and
passing through this tube into an ink well, while its shank passes through a hole
in the guide and is bent, so as to bring the tip of said pen to bear upon a strip of
paper which is drawn over a support by clockwork or other means generally used
for this purpose. From this description it will be seen that when the first slide is
moved, the inner end of the pen swivels in the tube and the tip of the pen follows
the motion of the slide, but if the second slide is moved the pen turns in the guide
and its tip moves in a direction opposite to that of the slide.
Above the block are situated two relay magnets the armatures of which are
mounted on rock shafts and extend through the centres of the magnets being held
in contact with dead-stops respectively, by the action of springs. When the relay
magnets are vitalized, their armatures are drawn up against frontstops. The
electric impulses sent through the cable are alternately positive and negative, and
if an electric current of a given kind (say a positive current) passes from the cable
to one of the wires between the jaws, thence through the standards to the other
wire, and through n screw to ground, the wires are repulsed by the jaws of the
electro magnet in one direction, the arın of one of the wires between the jaws turns
a wire and throws one arm against a contact point, a circuit is closed from the
local battery through a wire, the mercury cup, another wire, an arm, a contact
point, a wire, the helix of one electro magnet and other wires back to the mid
b. ttery, the electro magnet is vitalized the arinature is attracted the pawls are
thrown out of gear with the ratchet wheel, the spindle follows the action of the
spring, and the slide moves outward and a short oblique mark is traced on the strip
of paper. By a succeeding electrical impulse of the same kind a second mark is
drawn on the strip of paper so that by four positive impulses the sign for the
letter is produced. By the movement of the slide the contact point is drawn
away from the arm the circuit through the electro magnet is broken, and the

page_text: movement of the slide is arrested. The current may press the wire with so much
force against the contact point (both said wires being elastic) that it may require a
movement of the ratchet wheel of several teeth to move the slide sufficiently away
to break contact between the arm and contact point, and when the contact is broken
the slide is at rest, until the current on the cable ceases. As soon as this takes
place the wire between the jaws falls back to its normal position, the arm is brought
up against a contact point, a circuit is closed from the battery through various
parts back to the battery, the armature is attracted, and the ratchet wheel is turned
so as to wind up the spring and to move the slide inward until the arm ceases to
be in contact with the contact point. In this position the slide is at rest and by
the inward movement of the slide the point of the pen has been carried back to the
centre line of the paper strip. The movement imparted to the tip of the pen is
increased by the movement of the second slide which is in a direction opposite to
that of the first slide.
When the current coming from the cable is negative the wires between the jaws
are forced toward each other and the movements of the slides are reversed, so that
by two negative impulses the sign for the letter I is traced upon the strip of paper.
If there is no current in the cable the pen occupies a position over the centre line
of the strip of paper, and by positive electric impulses the pen is moved towards
the left of the centre line, while by negative impulses it is moved towards the
right.
For the purpose of repeating the message from one cable to another I use relays
In combination with the slides. If a current comes over the receiving cable and
throws the arm of the suspended wire in contact with the contact point of the
first slide a current from a local battery will pass through various parts back to the
battery, the armature is thrown against its front stop, and a local battery is closed
on the transmitting cable. If the current coming over the receiving cable is of
such a nature, that it throws an arm in contact with the contact point of the second
slide, a battery is closed on a relay magnet, the armature is thrown against its front
stop, and a battery is closed on the transmitting cable, the current being of an
opposite kind of electricity to that thrown on the cable by the other battery.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the wires between the
jaws may practically be considered as one and the same wire forming a continuation
of the cable. Two branches (as above described) pass up between the jaws of the
electro magnet, but for many purposes a single wire passing up between said jaws
will be sufficient, said wire being repelled or attracted by the jaws as above stated
so as to move the first slide. The wire therefore takes the place of the armature
of the electro magnet, and with this armature are combined contact points in such
a manner that they begin to move as soon as contact is made and that by this
movement the contact is broken.
Dated this 10th
A1 1004
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: "
I, ROBERT KIRK BOYLE, of N° 15 Mulgrave Street, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to telegraphic apparatus, which is chiefly designed for use
in connection with submarine cables, for signalling or recording purposes, but which
is also applicable for use in connection which other telegraph systems.
My said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus, showing a portion only of an
electromagnet hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of the said apparatus, partly in horizontal
section.
Figure 3 is a plan or top view of the said apparatus, partly in horizontal section.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, (also drawn to an enlarged scale),
of a pen or recording device and means hereinafter described for supporting the
same.
Figures 6 and 7 are diagrams illustrating the operation of my apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A indicates an electro-magnet, which is permanently charged with electricity
from a strong local battery B (Figure 6). The pole-pieces of this electro-magnet
are divided or formed with grooves, as shewn, to interrupt or destroy the continuity
of their surfaces and thus form projections A', A. Between the projections A', A¹
and A³, A² are stretched the vertical wires 10, 11, which are supported by the
following means, that is to say-To the underside of the base-plate C (which is
of wood or other non-conductor of electricity) two brackets a, b, are attached; in
these brackets are secured the studs a¹, b. To the stud a¹ is fastened a wire 1.0¹
and to the stud b¹ is fastened a wire 11. These wires are provided with insulating
sections 10, 11*, and the upper ends of the said wires are secured to the pins or
bolts c, d, which turn freely in bearings formed in the standards c¹, d¹, and are
provided with milled wheels c, d and tightening nuts c³, d³. By turning the
wheels c, d in the proper direction, the wires 101, 11', can be stretched, and,
when they have acquired the requisite tension, the pins or bolts c, d are locked
in position by tightening the nuts c³, d³.
The wires 10, 11 are bent at their upper and lower ends, as shewn at 10, 11,
in figures 1, 3, and 6, and are fastened to the wires 10', 11¹. From the wire 10
extends an arm 12, and from the wire 11 extends an arm 13. The outer end of
the arm 12 is provided with a hook which engages with an eye formed at the outer
end of an arm 14, which projects from the wire 15. This wire 15 passes loosely
through holes in the lugs e, f, of the bracket g. In the upper end of this bracket
is secured a hair h whereby the wire 15 is suspended from the said bracket. The
lower end of this wire dips into mercury contained in a cup i. The wire 15 carries,
beneath the arm 14, a second arm 16 (Figures 1 and 4) which extends between
contact points 17 and 18 projecting from the insulated lead of a slide D. This
slide is guided in lugs k, secured to one side of a block E of hard india-rubber or
other suitable material, which block is secured to the base C. A pin 7 extends

page_text: from the slide into a slot formed in an arm m carried by a spindle o, which is
capable of turning freely in its bearings. Around this spindle is wound a cord pl
which is attached to one end of a spring p, so that, when the said spindle is not
held as hereinafter described, it will be partially rotated by this spring, and will
thereby cause the slotted arm m to move the slide D outward, but, when the
spindle is turned, by the means hereinafter described, so as to wind up the cord p²
and expand the said spring, the slide D will be moved inward.
On the spindle o is mounted a rachet-wheel q arranged to be acted upon by a
propelling pawl q¹ and a stop-pawl q². The propelling pawl q¹ is approximately
L-shaped and is mounted on a pin or stud fixed in an arm q*. This arm is con-
nected with a lever F which is fulcrummed on a stud q³ fixed in the block E, and
which carries the armature F¹ of an electromagnet F. The stop-pawl q* is a bent
spring secured to an arm » forming part of, or connected with, a lever G³, which is
fulcrummed on a stud ¹, and which carries the armature G¹ of an electro-magnet G.
The propelling pawl ql is acted upon by a spring 8 which is carried by the stud q³
and bears against a pin or projection 81 on the tail of the said pawl, and thereby
normally holds it in gear with the ratchet-wheel q. The armature lever G³ is
provided with an arm which also bears against the pin or projection 8¹, and
with another arm² designed to act on the stop-pawl q² to throw it out of gear
with the ratchet-wheel. The arm 7 carries another stop-pawl qʻ.
When the armature F¹ is attracted by the electro-magnet F, the pawl ql is
drawn back, and, when the said armature is released from the magnet and is
retracted by its spring F*, the said pawl propels the ratchet-wheel in the direction
indicated by the arrow, Figure 1. The slide D is thus moved inward and the
spring pis extended or expanded by the winding of the cord p² on the spindle o.
When the armature G' is attracted, both the propelling pawl ql and the stop-
pawl are thrown out of gear with the ratchet-wheel, one by the arm * and
the other by the arm 72; the spindle o is then free, and is rotated by the re-action
of the spring p, so that the slide D is carried outward, but this outward motion is
checked by the stop-pawl which is thrown into gear with the ratchet-wheel q. by
the continued movement of the armature G¹ after the pawls q', q² have been put
out of gear, so that the outward motion of the slide D is limited, the ratchet-
wheel being permitted to revolve in the direction opposite to that indicated by
the arrow only through a distance equal to one tooth of the said ratchet-wheel.
This outward movement of the slide D does not immediately cause the breaking
of the circuit between the arın 16 and contact point 17, and, as the contact is not
steady but is slightly vibratory, the armature G' vibrates until a complete break
is made, the ratchet-wheel q is thus permitted to rotate, in the direction opposite
to that indicated by the arrow, through a distance equal to several of its teeth.
On the side of the block E, opposite to that carrying the slide D, is arranged
another slide D* and two electro-magnets which act upon the said slide in a manner
similar to that in which the electro-magnets F, G, act upon the slide D. In the
head of the slide D* are secured two contact points 17*, 18*. Between these
contact points passes an arm 16* extending from a wire 15*, which dips into &
mercury cup i, and which is connected by an arm 14* with the arm 13 extending
from the wire 11. All these devices are duplicates or counter-parts of the devices
connected with the slide D and wire 10, they, therefore, require no further
description.
On the front or outer end of the slide D✶ is a short tube t, and on the outer end
of the slide D is a guide t' (most clearly shown in Figure 5). P is the pen or
recording device which is made in the form of a siphon; one of its ends is
supported by the tube t and passes through this tabe into the ink-well Q, while
its shank or middle portion passes through a hole in the guide t', and its other end
is bent so that the tip thereof will bear upon the strip of paper S, which is drawn
over the support R by clockwork or other means such as are generally used for this
purpose. From this description it will be seen that, when the slide D is moved,
the pen P swivels in the tube t at one end and its other end follows the motion

page_text: of the said slide; but, if the slide D* is moved, the pen turns around the point
where it is held in the guide t¹ and its tip moves in a direction opposite to that of
the slide D*.*
Above the block E are arranged two relay magnets H, I, (Figures 1 and 3) the
armatures H*, I* of which are mounted on rock-shafts h¹, and extend through
the cores of the magnets. These armatures are normally held in contact with the
stops, by means of the springs h³, is, which are fixed in the studs h*, *, and
can be adjusted, to press the armatures more or less firmly against the said stops,
by turning the said studs in one direction or the other. When these relay magnets
are magnetized, their armatures are moved into contact with the stops h, is, as will
be hereinafter more fully explained with reference to Figure 7.
I will now proceed to describe the operation of the above described apparatus,
referring to the diagram Figure 6. If an electric current of a given sign (say a
positive current) passes from the cable W through the screw b¹ to the wire 11 thence
through the standards d, c¹ to the wire 10 and thence through the screw a' to
earth, the wires 10 and 11 are repelled by the electro-magnet and move in the
direction of the arrows 19 and 20, the arın 12 of the wire 10 turns the wire 15 and
throws the arm 16 against the contact point 17, a circuit is thus closed from the
local battery B✶ through the wire 21, the mercury cup i, the wire 15, the arm 16,
the contact point 17, the wire 22, the electro-magnet G and. the wires 23 and 24
back to the battery B*. The electro-magnet G is thus magnetized, the armature G¹
(Figure 1) is attracted, the pawls q', q are thrown out of gear with the ratchet-
wheel q, the spindle o follows the action of the spring p, the slide D moves outward,
and a short oblique mark is traced on the strip.of paper S by the pen P. By a
succeeding electrical impulse of the same kind, a second mark is drawn on the strip
-of-paper, and so on; these marks-by-their-direction-and-number-indicate-the-letters-
of the alphabet, four positive impulses (for example) producing the sign for the
letter "h," as shewn in Figure 4. By the movement of the slide D, the contact
point 17 is drawn away from the arm 16, the circuit through the electro-magnet G
is then broken and the slide D ceases to move. The action of the current may
cause the arm 16 to press with so much force against the contact point 17 (both the
arm and wire being elastic) that it will require a considerable movement of the
ratchet-wheel to move the slide sufficiently away to break contact between the
arm 16 and the contact point 17. When the contact is broken, the slide is at rest,
until the current in the cable ceases. As soon as this takes place, the wire 10 falls
back to its normal position, the arm 16 is brought up against the contact point 18, a
circuit is closed from the battery B* through the wire 21, the mercury cup i, the
wire 15, the arm 16, the contact point 18, the wire 26, the electro-magnet F and
the wires 25 and 24 back to the said battery; the armature F¹ (Figure 1) is thus
attracted by the said electro-magnet and the ratchet-wheel 9 is turned so as to
extend or expand the spring p and move the slide D inward until the arm 16
ceases to be in contact with the contact point 18. In this position the slide is at
rest, but, by the inward movement of the said slide, the point of the pen has been
carried back to the centre line of the paper strip. The movement imparted to the
tip of the pen is increased by the action of the slide D*, which is moved, by the
wire 11, in a direction opposite to that of the slide D.
When a negative current is received through the cable, the wires 10 and 11 are
caused to approach each other, and the movements of the slides D, D* are the
reverse of those above described, so that by two negative impulses (for example)
the sign for the letter "I" can be traced upon the strip of paper, as indicated in
Figure 4. If there is no current in the cable, the pen P occupies a position over
the centre line of the strip of paper.
For the purpose of repeating the message from one cable upon another cable,
I use the relays H, I, in combination with the slides D, D*, as shown in Figure 7.
If a current from the receiving cable W throws the arm 16 of the suspended wire 15
against the contact point 17 of the slide D, a current from the local battery B¹ will
pass through the wire 27, the electro-magnet I, the wire. 28, the contact point 17,

page_text: the arm 16, the wires 15 and 29 back to the battery, the armature I* is thrown
against its stop and the local battery B2 is closed on the transmitting cable W¹,
If the current from the receiving cable W is of such nature that it throws the
arm 16* against the contact point 17* of the slide D*, the circuit including the
battery B³ and the relay magnet H is closed, the armature H is thrown against
its stop, and the battery B is closed on the transmitting cable W¹, the current
being of an opposite kind of electricity to that thrown on the cable by the
battery B².
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the wires 10 and 11
may practically be considered as one and the same wire forming a continuation of
the cable.
•
In the apparatus shewn in the drawing, two wires 10 and 11 are 'stretched
between the poles or pole-pieces of the electro-magnet A, but for many purposes a
single wire stretched between the said poles or pole-pieces will be sufficient, the said
wire being repelled or attracted thereby as above explained so as to actuate the
slide which carries the contact points. This wire constitutes, or takes the place of,
the armature of the electro-magnet A, and with this armature are combined the
contact points, in such a manner that they begin to move as soon as contact is
made, and by this movement the contact is broken.
In some cases I employ more than two wires stretched between the poles or
pole-pieces of the electro-magnet. Each of the said poles or pole-pieces is then
grooved so as to form several projections thereon corresponding in number with
the wires employed.
It is obvious that the peculiarly shaped pole-pieces above described may be
formed on, or attached to, two separate magnets instead of the two limbs of a
single magnet.
If desired, the said wires are arranged to make contact by means other than those
above described, for the purpose of relaying, or repeating, signalling, or recording.
I sometimes substitute for the electro-magnet shewn in the drawing, a permna-
nent steel magnet formed with poles or pole-pieces having projections as above
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. An electro-magnet or permanent magnet formed or provided with the
peculiarly shaped pole-pieces, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
Second. An apparatus comprising one or more electro-magnets or permanent steel
magnets such as are herein described and two or more wires forming continuations
or parts of one or more telegraph lines or cables and arranged in the magnetic
field between the pole-pieces as, and for the purpose, specified.
Third. The combination, with a magnet or magnets and one or more wires
arranged in the magnetic field, of a pen or recording device, and mechanism through
which the pen is actuated by the said wire or wires, substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with the wire 10 forming a continuation or part of
the line or cable and stretched between the poles or pole-pieces of a magnet, of the
arm 12 extending from the said wire and acting on the wire 15, which is arranged
to dip in the mercury cup i, the arm 16 extending from the wire 15, the contact
points 17 and 18 secured in the head of the slide D, and mechanism controlled by
the position of the arm 16 in relation to the said contact points and serving
to impart motion to the slide D, all substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Fifth. The combination of parts comprising the ratchet-wheel q, the spindle o,
the spring p, and the electro-magnets F, G, and their armature-levers carrying
the pawls, all arranged and operating substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.

page_text: Sixth. The combination, with an electro-magnet and a wire constituting, or
arranged in the place of, an armature and carrying an undulatory electric current
(such as those used in submarine telegraphy), of contact points capable of
reciprocating movement and controlled by the current in the said wire, as, and for
the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The employment, in combination with the slide or slides carrying the
contact points, of the relays or electro-magnets H, I, included in circuits controlled
by electrical impulses from the receiving cable or wire, the armatures of the said
magnets, and the stops which, together with the said armatures, form parts of the
circuit of a local battery and of the transmitting cable, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.