IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC CALLS FOR TELEPHONES AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Wellesley Lake of 21 Addison Gardens North
"
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC
CALLS FOR TELEPHONES AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES A communication
from abroad by William C. Lockwood, of Brooklyn in the County of Kings
State of New York United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Wellesley Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December 1881.
ARTHUR WELLESLEY LAKE of 21 Addison Gardens, North in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC CALLS FOR TELEPHONES AND ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES A communication from abroad by William C. Lockwood of Brooklyn
in the County of Kings State of New York United States of America
33
I employ the power of a weight or spring to ring the gong or to work such other
mechanism as may be required to loudly and distinctly attract attention.
The weight spring or analogous mechanical power is kept stored ready for use
so soon as the proper electrical condition is induced which latter may be effected
from either end of the line. The mechanism for operating the call ensures that the
weight shall be kept constantly wound up. The call is induced by what may be
termed "overwinding the weight or spring. The same signal is induced at both
ends of the line by the over winding at either end A fixed framework supports
the bearings of a train of gear wheels One wheel receives on a windlass a cord
which supports a sufficiently heavy weight The windlass is connected to a train
of wheel work by a ratchet and is wound by the application of a suitable key
Turning the windlass in one direction winds up the weight liberating it allows
the weight to exert the mechanical force due to its gravity to turn the train of
wheels It turns one wheel slowly and a second wheel faster and the third wheel
faster still A hammer is mounted on a wire connected to a rocking shaft to
which is fixed a lever
The long arm of this lever is in position to be actuated by suitable pins on one
of the wheels

page_text: The short arm of this lever is subject to the force of a spring secured to a fixed
point When the train of wheels before referred to is turned the force of the said
spring is sufficient to induce a vigorous blow of the hammer against the gong after
each passage of said pin A second spring is connected to an adjustable centre
and stands by its elastic force a little distance from the periphery of the quickest
of the running wheels. Helical coils of insulated wire, encircle cores and are held
by a support in a position close to the spring The said spring is either entirely
or partly of soft iron The adjustable centre of the spring is moved up and down
by set screws, so that it shall tend to stand a very little distance away from electro
magnets When a circuit is formed through the coils the spring is drawn forcibly
down and exerts a pressure on the quickest running wheel which produces sufficient
friction to arrest its motion and hold the train of wheel work with the suspended
weight motionless.
A third spring of steel or other conducting material is fastened to a fixed point
and tends by its elastic force to press gently down upon a stop. The point or post
is connected to the positive wire from the helix
The second post is connected to the earth while the negative wire from the helix
is connected to and constitutes the main wire leading over proper insulated con-
nections as usual to the other end of the line where a corresponding apparatus is
employed
The battery maintains a gentle but constant current through the helices and
consequently maintains the magnetism of the cores, and holds the second spring
forcibly upon the quick running wheel. It produces this effect equally at both
ends of the line and consequently holds the train of wheels stationary at both ends
of the line so long as the current is flowing.
There are two points where the circuit is liable to be broken One is at the
third spring at one end of the line and the other is at a corresponding spring at
the other end of the line Both ends of the line are provided with a similar set of
apparatus, except that there need not under all circumstances be a battery at both
ends of the line If two batteries are employed the same current flows through
each and neither can work except the circuit is complete Both will in such case
impart their force to the current
But if a sufficiently strong battery is employed at one end of the line it is
sufficient under ordinary conditions.
The third spring at each end of the line extends over or beyond the stop The
arrangement of parts is such that a sufficient winding up of the apparatus will
elevate the weight and bring it in contact with the free end of the said spring
Then a continuance of the winding motion will lift the spring out of contact
with the stop This will break the circuit
It will be understood that a similar apparatus being employed at both ends of
the line, the winding up of the weight at either end sufficiently to lift the third
spring at the end will break the circuit
The moment the circuit is broken, the electro magnets, at both ends of the line,
lose their power and the second spring at each end of the line immediately lifts
itself clear of its corresponding quick wheel and allows its train of wheels to turn
and its weight to descend
This will induce a slow rotation of the first wheel and a series of strokes of the
hammer upon the gong at both ends of the line. All that is necessary to send a
call over the line and to cause the respective gongs to sound at both ends of the
line is to wind up either weight to a sufficient height to lift its respective third
spring
So soon as the apparatus which has been thus "over wound" at one end of the
line has run down sufficiently to allow its third spring to again rest on the stop
the circuit is again closed, and the apparatus at both ends is brought to rest by the
re-invigoration of the electro-magnets at both ends. The mechanism is enclosed in
a suitable case which provides no other means for obtaining access to the apparatus
to break the circuit than by turning the windlass and over-winding the weight,

page_text: It thus becomes necessary in order to send a call that the weight shall be fully
wound up
The sending of an occasional call from each end ensures that the
apparatus is always fully wound up ready to act on the receipt of a call from the
other end of the line
It will be seen that the alarm is given by power contained in itself A simple
turn of the winding crank or corresponding key or button breaks the current and
sounds the alarm until the spring is brought back to close circuit
It only
requires a very little current to magnetise the soft iron cores sufficiently to hold
the spring to the quick wheel and make sufficient friction to hold the alarm
silent
Modifications may be made in many of the details I can use a greater or less
number of wheels in the train I can use springs and various other mechanical
means as a substitute for the weight With any form of mechanical motor which
requires to be wound up, my Invention ensures that it shall be kept wound and in
condition for prompt action
I have in my experiments used the apparatus with a closed circuit battery,
maintaining a constant circuit when the apparatus is out of use, and causing it to
act by an interruption of the circuit. The arrangement of the electro-magnets
relatively to the second spring may be reversed and employed to carry out this
Invention and also the corresponding arrangement of the stop relatively to the
third spring It will be understood that before, or simultaneously with the turning
of the crank, the switch lever which should be conveniently adjacent must be
turned to break the connection which ordinarily obtains between this end of
the line and the earth and to make a connection between this end of the
line and the battery But it will be understood that the connection from the
battery to the main line is still incomplete after the switch lever is turned until
the weight is over-wound The over winding of the weight at the end of the line
makes the connection complete over the main line and through the connection to
the ground which still obtains at the other end, and thus through the electro
magnets at both ends of the line Thus conditioned the force of the electro-
magnets takes off the brakes and allows the weights at both ends to run down and
induce the proper striking of the gong at each end
So soon as the weight at one end has run down sufficiently to disconnect the
lever from the stop, the alarm will stop
Care must be taken with this mode of working to turn the switch before and
after each operation. This can be made automatic by the opening and closing of
a door which covers the winding crank, or by the ordinary provision for changing
a switch by the lifting off and hooking on of the receiving instrument One
modification which may be adapted with proper conditions in other respects will
make the winding of the weight quite up-change the lever or contact-piece, so as
to make the connection instead of breaking it In such case the running down of
the weight will break the connection instead or making it

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur Wellesley Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1882.
Arthur WellESLEY LAKE of 21 Addison Gardens North in the County of
Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC CALLS FOR TELEPHONES AND ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES " A communication from abroad by William C. Lockwood of Brooklyn
in the County of Kings State of New York United States of America.
I employ the power of a weight or spring to ring the gong or to work such other
mechanism as may be required to loudly and distinctly attract attention. The
weight spring or analogous mechanical power is kept stored ready for use so soon
as the proper electrical condition is induced which latter may be effected from
either end of the line. The mechanism for operating the call insures that the
weight shall be kept constantly wound up. The call is induced by what may bo
termed "overwinding" the weight or spring. The same signal is produced at both
ends of the line by the overwinding at either end.
The accompanying Drawings form a part of this Specification, and represent
what I consider the best means of carrying out the Invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus at one end of the line with the
inclosing case removed. It will be understood that the apparatus at the other end
of the line may be exactly similar. Figure 2 is a side elevation with the inclosing
case applied, which prevents access to the apparatus except through the winding
up of the weight by means of the crank which extends outside of the case at a
convenient position at the front. The additional Figures represent a modification,
and will be described farther on.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Referring to Figure 1 a fixed frame work supports the bearings of a train of
gear-wheels B. C. D. The wheel B receives on a windlass, A. the cord e which
supports a sufficiently heavy weight E. The windlass A is connected to the train
of wheel work by a ratchet J (see Figure 5) and is wound by the application of a
suitable key. Turning the windlass A in one direction winds up the weight E.
Liberating it allows the weight to exert the mechanical force due to its gravity to
turn the train of wheels. It turns the wheel B slowly the wheel C faster and the
wheel D faster still.
P is a hammer mounted on a wire p connected to a rocking shaft, r, to which
is fixed a lever R. The long arm of this lever is in position to be actuated by the
pins B' on the wheel B. The short arm of this lever is subject to the force of the
spring T secured to a fixed point t. When the train of wheels B. C. D. is turned
the force of the spring T is sufficient to induce a vigorous blow of the hammer P,
against the gong after each passage of a pin B'.
H is a spring connected to an adjustable centre h, The spring H stands by its
elastic force a little distance from the periphery of the quick running wheel D.
I. I. are helical coils of insulated wire, encircling cores i. i. and held by a
support I in a position close to the spring H. The spring H is either entirely or
partly of soft iron. The adjustable centre h. is moved up and down by set screws F
so that it shall tend to stand a very little distance away from the electro magnets I i.
When a circuit is formed through the coils I, the spring H is drawn forcibly down
and exerts a pressure on the wheel D which produces sufficient friction to arrest
its motion and hold the train of wheel work, with the suspended weight E
motionless.
M is a spring of steel or other conducting material fastened to a fixed point m,
and tending by its elastic force to press gently down upon a stop l. The post m is

page_text: connected to the positive wire from the helix I. The post 7. is connected to the
earth (not shown) while the negative wire from the helix I i, is connected to and
constitutes the main wire leading over proper insulated connections as usual to the
other end of the line, where a corresponding apparatus is employed.
The battery G maintains a gentle but constant current through the helices, and
consequently maintains the magnetism of the cores i and holds the spring H, forcibly
upon the quick running wheel D. It produces this effect equally at both ends of
the line and consequently holds the train of wheels B. C. D stationary at both ends
of the line so long as the current is flowing.
There are two points where the circuit is liable to be broken. One is at the
spring M at this end of the line and the other is at a corresponding spring at the
other end of the line. Both ends of the line are provided with a similar set of
apparatus except that there need not under all circumstances be a battery G at
both ends of the line. If two batteries are employed the same current flows
through each, and neither can work except the circuit is complete. Both will in
such case impart their force to the current; but if a sufficiently strong battery is
employed at one end of the line it is sufficient under ordinary conditions.
The spring M at each end of the line extends over or beyond the stop l. as
indicated. The arrangement of the parts is such that a sufficient winding up of
the apparatus will elevate the weight E and bring it in contact with the free end
of the spring M. Then a continuance of the winding motion will lift the spring M
out of contact with the stop l. This will break the circuit.
It will be understood that a similar apparatus being employed at both ends of
the line the winding up of the weight E at either end sufficiently to lift the
spring M at that end will break the circuit. The moment the circuit is broken, the
electro magnets I. i at both ends of the line lose their power and the spring H at
each end of the line immediately lifts itself clear of its corresponding quick wheel D
and allows its train of wheels to turn and its weight to descend. This will
induce a slow rotation of the wheel B and a series of strokes of the hammer P upon
the gong Q at both ends of the line.
All that is necessary to send a call over the line and to cause the respective
gongs Q to speak at both ends of the lines is to wind up either weight E to a
sufficient height to lift its respective spring M. So soon as the apparatus which
has been thus overwound at one end of the line has run down sufficiently to allow
its spring M to again rest on the stop 7. the circuit is again closed and the apparatus
at both ends is brought to rest by the reinvigoration of the electro magnets I. i. at
both ends.
I inclose the mechanism in a suitable case and provide no other means for
obtaining access to the apparatus to break the circuit than by turning the
windlass A and overwinding the weight E. It is thus necessary in order to send
a call that the weight E shall be fully wound up. The sending of an
occasional call from each end insures that the apparatus is always fully wound up,
ready to act on the receipt of a call from the other end of the line.
It will be seen that the alarm is given by power contained in itself. A simple
turn of the winding crank or corresponding key or button breaks the eurrent and
sounds the alarm until the spring is brought back to close circuit. It only
requires a very little current to magnetize the soft iron cores sufficiently to hold
the spring to the quick wheel and make sufficient friction to hold the alarm
silent.
It will be observed that only a portion of the whole number of coils around the
cores of the electro magnet are made by the wire before it traverses to the vicinity
of the spring M and that another portion of the convolutions around one or both
the soft cores is made afterward. The wires extend up again to the electro
magnet after having passed the brake in order to complete the proper number
of convolutions and extend thence to the battery or to the earth as the case
may be.
I attach importance to the directness of the action of electro magnets I. i. on the

page_text: quick wheel D through the medium simply of the spring armature H with its
delicately adjustable support between the pinching screws F.
Modifications may be made in many of the details. I can use a greater
or less number of wheels in a train B. C. D. I can use springs and perhaps
various other mechanical means as a substitute for the weight E. With any form
of mechanical motor which requires to be wound up my Invention ensures that
it shall be kept wound and in condition for prompt action.
I have in my experiments used the apparatus with a closed circuit battery in
the form shewn maintaining a constant circuit when the apparatus is out of use
and causing it to act by an interruption of the circuit; but a very obvious reversal
of the arrangement may be made in which the elasticity of the springs H will
induce pressure on the quick wheel D and the force of the electro magnets when
induced for the purpose of making a call will lift the spring H at each end of the
line and allow the signal to be made. With such arrangement the current does
not flow except during the brief period while one weight is wound quite up.
requires two batteries (see Figure 4) with ordinary switch connections for allowing
either one without the other to make a complete circuit over the main line and
through the electro magnet at both ends thereof.
It
Figure 3 shews the reversed arrangement of the electro magnets I. i relatively
to the spring H which may be employed to carry out this Invention, and also the
corresponding reversed arrangement of the stop . relatively to the spring M,
Figure 4 is a plan view of the ordinary switch connection.
It will be understood that before or simultaneously with the turning of the
crank A¹ the switch lever which should be conveniently adjacent must be turned
to break the connection which ordinarily obtains between this end of the line and
the earth and to make a connection between this end of the line and the battery,
but it will be understood that the connection from the battery to the main line is
still incomplete after the switch lever is turned until the weight is overwound
The overwinding of the weight at this end of the line makes the connection
complete over the main line and through the connection to the ground which still
obtains at the other end and thus through the electro magnets at both ends of the
line. Thus conditioned the force of the electro magnets takes off the brakes and
allows the weights at both ends to run down and induce the proper striking of the
gong at each end, so soon as the weight at this end has run down sufficiently to
disconnect the lever M from the stop the alarm will stop. Care must be taken
with this mode of working to turn the switch before and after each operation. I
can make this automatic by the opening and closing of a door which covers the
winding crank or by the ordinary provision for changing a switch by the lifting
off and hooking on of the receiving instrument (Not represented.) I prefer
with this open battery arrangement to employ a spring , attached to the stop l,
so as to maintain the connection between the stop 7, and the spring M for a
considerable period and thus insure several repetitions of the strokes of the
hammer. This modification which may be adopted with proper conditions in other
respects will make the winding of the weight quite up change the lever or contact
piece so as to make the connection instead of breaking it. In such case the
running down of the weight again will break the connection instead of making it.
I esteem such an arrangement an equivalent of the one described.
I claim as my Invention.-
1st In an electric call the combination with an electro magnet and suitable
electrical connections, the spring or controlling lever M and stop 2, arranged, as
shewn relatively to the weight or motor E operated by winding means A, so that
the winding of the apparatus by changing the circuit from one condition to
another makes the call and the running down of the apparatus, by changing
the circuit again to its previous condition, discontinues the call as herein
specified.
2nd The combination of an electro magnet, an armature also serving as a brake,
à train of mechanism controlled by said brake, a weight or equivalent motor

page_text: changing its position as the machine runs down, and a spring or contact piece M
stop l. and suitable electrical connections arranged to be seperated by the adjust-
ment of the machine for work and to come in contact and close the circuit by the
working of the machine as herein specified.
In witness whereof I the said Arthur Wellesley Lake have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Nineteenth (19th) day of June in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ARTHUR WELLESLEY LAKE (L.S.)