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 28th May 1861, and dated the 8th April 1861..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Wilde at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th April 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 improvements in the construction
of mechanism for converting the oscillatory motion of a magnetic needle into
an intermittant circular one, which is transferred to a finger pointing to the
letters of the alphabet, or other conventional signs engraved on a fixed dial.
Upon the arbor which carries the finger a spur and star wheel are secured at
a short distance from each other, and upon another arbor parallel to that
which carries the finger two other wheels exactly similar and opposite to the
others are also secured, and the spur wheels geared together. The star
wheels, which are a little less in diameter than the others, are so arranged
that a pin fixed in the end of a short lever, and oscillating between the
triangular-shaped teeth of the star wheel at the points where their peripheries

page_text: nearly touch each other, causes each wheel to move half a tooth for every
oscillation of the lever in the same direction relative to itself, though in
opposite directions relative to each other. To prevent the recoil of the wheels,
and to ensure the constant striking of the pin against the teeth in the same
position, hair spring catches are made to press lightly on the peripheries of
the star or spur wheels which fall behind the teeth when each oscillation is
completed. No contrivance is here required to prevent overrunning, the
motion being limited by the bottoms of the teeth of each wheel. It is not
necessary in this combination of wheelwork that the rotary motion should
depend entirely on the inclined planes formed by the triangular-shaped teeth,
for, instead of the star wheels, ratchet wheels driven by a curved hair spring
fixed by its centre to the extremity of the lever, and acting alternately on the
circumference of each ratchet, may be substituted. In this arrangement the
extremity of the lever, instead of vibrating in a line with the centres of the
wheels, is made to vibrate near their circumferences, the central portion of the
lever butting against the points of the teeth to prevent over-running, and the
length of the curved spring being so adjusted as to fall behind each tooth to
prevent recoil.
The second improvement is in the construction of the electro-magnetic
arrangements for propelling the combination of wheelwork before described,
for the purpose of giving motion to the finger. A number of permanent
magnetic needles equal in length, and lying parallel at a short distance from
each other, are made to cross the axis of the arbor which carries the propelling
lever at right angles with their similar poles in opposite directions. The
electro-magnets are formed by screwing two parallel rows of small soft iron
studs into the face of a rectangular plate, also of soft iron, each row con-
taining as many studs as there are needles in the arbor, which are placed at
the same distance, and exactly opposite to each other. The coils of wire
enveloping the studs in each row are so connected as to cause each adjoining
magnet in the same row to have dissimilar poles, but each magnet having at
the same time a similar pole to the one immediately opposite in the other row.
The central portion of the rectangular plate between the rows is cut out, so as
to neutralise the effect of the inverse magnetic induction. Two of these
compound electro-magnets may be used in conjunction, one on each side of
the permanent magnetic needles, and arranged with their dissimilar. poles
opposite each other, so that when the current is transmitted through the coils
the extremities of the needles vibrate between the polar surfaces of the electro-
magnets, all the attracting and repelling forces uniting to move the needles
backward or forward according to the direction of the electric current. For
.

page_text: the purpose of adjusting the finger to the same sign at each station when they
do not correspond, a small pallet is fixed at right angles to the arbor con-
taining the permanent magnets, and directly over which a disc having one or
more pins on the face of it is made to revolve, by means of a button turned
by hand outside the instrument, each pin crossing the axis of the arbor, and
moving the pallet to and fro twice for each revolution of the disc. A small
metal polygon having the requisite number of sides is connected and made to
revolve with the disc, and against one of the sides a flat spring is made to
press, for the purpose of keeping the pins clear of the pallet when vibrating
by the action of the electro-magnets.
The third improvement is in the construction of mechanisin acted upon by
the electro-magnetic arrangement already described, for letting off a train of
wheelwork driven by a spring, and allowing an alarum to sound. Upon either
of the arbors carrying the star and spur wheels a small cam is secured, when
driven by the arbor raises a lever, which withdraws a detent from the fly
attached to the train, and permits a bell to sound. The lever is prevented
from coming in contact with the cam during the sending of a message by
means of a catch actuated by a button in front of the instrument, the same
action likewise serving to prevent the wheelwork running down by means of
another. catch, which comes in contact with the fly when the detent is
withdrawn.
The fourth improvement consists in arranging the various parts of a step-
by-step telegraph and alarum, so as to fit the interior of a globe, the indicator
occupying one hemisphere, and the alarum the other. On the outside of the
globe the button for actuating the finger by hand constitutes the polar axis,
the finger and button for winding up the alarum being a continuation of the
same straight line, constitute the equatorial axis of the globe.
The fifth improvement is in the magneto-electric apparatus for generating
the to-and-fro current transmitted through the signal instrument for the
purpose of moving the finger round the dial, the mechanical and electrical
arrangement of which is very similar in principle to that described under the
head of the second improvement, which is worked by magnetic action, while
the one which I am about to describe is driven by mechanical action.
For the purpose of carrying out this part of my Invention two straight bars
of soft iron, having lateral projections at each end, are screwed on to the opposite
sides of a bundle of rectilinear permanent magnets, all the lateral projections
being on one side and enveloped with coils of insulated copper wire. Two of
these bundles of magnets are laid parallel and arranged with their dissimilar poles
and lateral projections opposite each other. Two magnetic or soft iron bars are

page_text: fixed by their centres at right angles to an arbor, and made to vibrate between
the polar surfaces of the coiled iron armatures by hand or other motive power
for the purpose of generating the electric current; the coils being coupled
together so to deliver the currents simultaneously in one direction or the
other.
While the principle of this arrangement remains the same, it admits of
various modifications. First, instead of the arbor which carries the soft iron
or magnetic bars vibrating between the coiled armatures of two magnets, it can
be made to vibrate before one only; secondly, instead of the bundle of per-
manent magnets being rectilinear, they may be semicircular or of the horse:
shoe form, in which case the soft iron bars round which the wire is coiled,
project over the ends instead of over the sides; thirdly, a number of these
semicircular or horse-shoe magnets with their coiled armatures may be ranged
side by side, the polar surfaces in each row being in the same line, and the
requisite number of oscillating iron or magnetic bars being fixed to the arbor;
or, instead of a number of soft iron bars, a piece of sheet iron, fit up in a
similar manner to the fly of a clock, and equal in length to the whole series of
permanent magnets and coiled armatures, may be made to vibrate on the
centre of its longer axis to produce the same result. Any of the well-known
methods of generating a to-and-fro current by means of a soft iron armature
revolving before stationary coils placed in proximity to the poles of a permanent
magnet may be substituted for the one described for working the indicator, or
instead of which the primary or secondary current from a voltaic battery may
be employed, the current being alternately inverted by means of a revolving
commutator placed in the telegraph circuit.
The sixth improvement is in the construction of mechanism for transmitting
the proper number of shocks through the indicator, and thereby causing the
finger of that instrument to stop at any letter or sign required. Upon the top
of the case containing the magneto-electric arrangement already described, a
circular dial is fixed, round which a number of characters corresponding with
those on the indicator are engraved. On the outside of the letter circle, and
concentric with it, a series of finger keys equal in number and opposite to the
engraved characters are so arranged that when any one of them is depressed
by the finger, its lower extremity projects above the under surface of the dial,
and in so doing arrests the motion of a disc wheel having a projecting tooth on
its periphery, and revolving concentrically with the key and letter circle.
When the pressure of the finger is removed the key resumes its original
position by means of a spring, and allows the wheel to revolve until arrested
by the depression of another key. Upon the lower extremity of the vertical

page_text: axis on which the disc wheel is keyed a crown wheel containing half the
number of teeth as there are characters on the dial is also secured with tho
teeth pointing downwards, which, when made to revolve immediately over the
arbor containing the soft iron or magnetic bars, causes them to vibrate before
the permanent magnets twice as many times as the wheel contains teeth for
one revolution of the axis, and thereby generates an effective current or shock
for every sign on the dial. The vibratory motion of the arbor being produced
by a properly shaped pallet placed at right angles to it, and acted upon by the
teeth of the crown wheel, motion at the same time being communicated to the
vertical axis through suitable bevel gear by means of a horizontal axis driven
by a handle or pulley outside the instrument. It is not always necessary in
this arrangement that there should be a revolving pointer on the outside of
the dial, the production of each sign being sufficiently indicated by the sound
emitted by the impact of the projecting tooth against the finger keys. A
pointer may, however, be applied, when required, in the same manner as on
other transmitting instruments. In some cases I modify the arrangement of
wheels on the vertical axis. The crown wheel, instead of being fixed at the
lower end of the axis, may be keyed on the upper end immediately under the
dial, the motion of the wheel being arrested by a projecting tooth on its
periphery in the manner already described and the pallet actuated by means of
suitable connecting rods or levers.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to several improved methods of
applying the motive power required for driving the transmitting instrument, so
that when the motion of the mechanism contained in it is arrested by the
depression of a finger key, the jerk may not be communicated to the hand or
feet, which are allowed to move uniformly during the whole of the time the
instrument is operated upon, the force being either stored up in a spiral spring
while the wheels are at rest, or converted into the heat of friction by means of
suitable pulleys or wheels.
of
I will describe several of the most simple methods of carrying out this part
my
Invention.
Near the extremity of the horizontal axis outside the instrument one end of a
spiral clock spring is secured, the other end being also connected with the inside
of a barrel which works loosely on the axis. Upon the outside of the barrel a
handle is secured, which, when made to revolve, winds up the spring when the
motion of the axis is arrested, the force accumulated giving a little additional
velocity to it when released, the amount of which is easily regulated by the
hand. On the outside of the barrel several teeth are cut, into which a catch
drops so as to prevent the spring from running back when the pressure of the

page_text: hand is removed, and to prevent the wheels running forward. When the
message is completed a finger key or button corresponding with the zero sign on
the dial is made to be permanently depressed when required, the same action
likewise serving to establish a short circuit through the apparatus, as is well
understood. When the transmitting instrument is driven by means of friction
a small pulley having a flat groove on its circumference is keyed on the
extremity of the horizontal axis, and into this groove a flat split ring is sprung,
to which the handle is attached and allowed to slip round when the motion of
the axis is arrested. For the purpose of working the instruments with much
greater rapidity, and leaving both hands of the manipulator at liberty, the
mechanism described may be driven by pedals, in which case a pulley is
substituted for the handle, and connected in a suitable manner with a spring or
frictional arrangement similar to the other. The driving apparatus which I
prefer to use is portable and formed by mounting a small fly-wheel in the
centre of a base of cast iron, and upon the shaft of which a pulley is secured,
as may also the spring or frictional arrangement if required, instead of being
on the instrument, in which case a small pulley is keyed on the horizontal axis,
and driven by a band from the loose pulley below, motion being communicated
to the fly-wheel by means of the pedals attached to the base plate acting through
suitable cranks or eccentrics.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Wilde in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th October 1861.
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 Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth 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 there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-

page_text: MENTS IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THERE-
WITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Wilde,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Specification thereof, reference being had to the two accompanying Sheets
of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon:-
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements in the construction
of mechanism for converting the oscillatory motion of a magnetic needle into
an intermittent, rotary, or circular one, which is transferred to a finger
pointing to the letters of the alphabet, or other conventional signs engraved on
a fixed dial. Upon the arbor which carries the finger a spur and star wheel
are secured at a short distance from each other, and upon another arbor
parallel to that which carries the finger two other wheels exactly similar and
opposite to the others are also secured, and the spur wheels geared together.
The star wheels, which are a little less in diameter than the others, are so
arranged that a pin fixed in the end of a short lever, and oscillating between
the triangular-shaped teeth of the star wheels at the points where their peri-
pheries nearly touch other, causes each wheel to nove half a tooth for every
oscillation of the lever in the same direction relative to itself, though in
opposite directions relative to each other. To prevent the recoil of the wheels,
and to insure the constant striking of the pin against the teeth in the same
position, hair spring catches are made to press lightly on the peripheries of the
star or spur wheels, which fall behind the teeth when each oscillation is com-
pleted; no contrivance is here required to prevent overrunning, the motion
being limited by the bottoms of the teeth of each star wheel. It is not
necessary, in this combination of wheelwork, that the rotary motion should
depend entirely on the inclined planes formed by the triangular-shaped teeth,
for instead of the star wheels, ratchet wheels driven by a curved hair spring
fixed by its centre to the extremity of the lever, and acting alternately on the
circumference of each ratchet, may be substituted. In this arrangement the
extremity of the lever, instead of vibrating in a line with the centres of
the wheels, is made to vibrate near their circumferences,. the central portion

page_text: of the lever butting against the points of the teeth to prevent overrunning,
and the length of the curved spring being so adjusted as to fall behind each
tooth to prevent recoil.
: -
This part of my Invention is illustrated in reference to the various Figures
in Sheet 1; these Figures are drawn about three times the real size to render
the Drawing more intelligible; Figure 1 being a front elevation, and Figure 2
a side elevation, partly in section, of the receiving instrument of a step-by-step
telegraph. a is the arbor which carries the index finger b; to the arbor a
are also secured the spur wheel a' and star wheel a²; c is another arbor
parallel to the arbor a; upon the arbor care fixed the spur wheel c' and star
wheel c, the spur wheels a' and c¹ being. in gear with each other; dis a lever
fixed to the arbor e, containing the permanent magnets e; to the end of the
lever d is fixed a pin d oscillating between the triangular-shaped teeth of the
star wheels a³ and c²; f and f¹ are hair spring catches pressing on the peri-
pheries of the star wheels to prevent the recoil, and to insure the constant
striking of the pin d¹ against the teeth in the same position.
Figure 3 represents a modification of the above; in this case; to the end of
the lever d, is fixed a curved hair spring d2, the extremities of. which act
alternately on the teeth of the ratchet wheels a³ and c³. When the lever d
oscillates on the arbor e, the requisite rotary motion is communicated to the
finger b; these wheels and other moving parts, not required to be made of
steel, may be made of aluminum or aluminum bronze, in order.to reduce their
weight.
The second improvement is in the construction of the electro-magnetic
arrangement for propelling the combinations of wheelwork, before described,
for the purpose of giving motion to the finger. A number of permanent
magnetic needles equal in length, lying parallel at a short distance from cach
other, are made to cross the axis of the arbor which carries the propelling
lever at right angles with their similar poles in opposite directions. The
electro-magnets are formed by screwing two parallel rows of small soft. iron
studs.or bobbins into the face of a rectangular plate, also of soft iron, each
row containing as many studs as there are needles in the arbor, which are
placed at the same distance and exactly opposite to each other.
The coils of wire enveloping the studs or bobbins in each row are so con-
nected as to cause each adjoining magnet in the same row to have dissimilar
poles, but each magnet having at the same time a similar pole to the one
immediately opposite in the other row. The central portion of the reetangular
plate between the rows is cut out so as to neutralize the effect of the inverse
magnetic induction.

page_text: Two of these compound electro-magnets may be used in conjunction, one on
each side of the permanent magnetic needles, and arranged with their dis-
similar poles opposite each other, so that when the current is transmitted
through the coils the extremities of the needles vibrate between the polar
surfaces of the electro-magnets, all the attracting and repelling forces uniting
to move the needles backward or forward according to the direction of the
electric current. For the purpose of adjusting the finger to the same sign at
each station, when they do not correspond, a small pallet is fixed at right
angles to the arbor containing the permanent magnets, and directly over which
a disc, having one or more pins in the face of it, is made to revolve by means
of a button turned by hand outside the instrument, each pin crossing the
axis of the arbor, and moving the pallet to and fro twice for each revolution
of the disc. A small metal polygon, having the requisite number of sides, is
connected and made to revolve with the disc, and against one of the sides a
flat spring is made to press, for the purpose of keeping the pins clear of the
pallet when vibrating by the action of the electro-magnets.
This improvement is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 4. e' are the magnetic
needles passing through and secured to the arbor e, to which is fixed the
propelling lever d; each magnetic needle consists of three bars with their
similar poles together, each compound needle being placed in opposite
directions, as indicated by the letters N and S. The electro-magnets are
formed by screwing the two parallel rows of studs or bobbins g, enveloped
with coils of insulated wire, into the face of the rectangular plates g¹; one of
these compound electro-magnets may be placed on each side of the magnetic
needles e¹, as shewn in the Drawing, and the number of electro-magnets in
each row, and of the magnetic needles in the arbor e, may be increased or
diminished according to the power required. The pallet h is fixed at right
angles to the arbor e; this pallet is acted upon by pins projecting from the
disc fixed to the arbor i, as shewn in plan in Figure 4. To the arbor i is
fixed the button projecting beyond the case of the instrument; 3 is a metal
polygon or star wheel (also fixed to the arbor) against which the spring *
presses to keep the pins in the disc ¹ clear of the pallet h, when it is vibrating
by the action of the electro-magnets. By turning the button, the signs on
the dial of this instrument are made to correspond with those at another
station, when from any accident they do not coincide.
The third improvement is in the construction of mechanism acted upon by
the electro-magnetic arrangement, already described, for letting off a train of
wheelwork driven by a spring, and allowing an alarum to sound. Upon either
of the arbors carrying the star and spur wheels a small cam is secured, which

page_text: when driven by the arbor raises a lever, which withdraws a detent from the
fly attached to the train, and permits a bell to sound. The lever is prevented
from coming in contact with the cam during the sending of a message by
means of a catch actuated by a button in front of the instrument; the same
action likewise serving to prevent the wheelwork running down by means of
another catch, which comes in contact with the fly when the detent is with-
drawn.
This improvement is shewn in Figures 1 and 2; upon the arbor c is fixed
a small cam or eccentric ct, which in revolving acts upon the lever fixed to
the shaft j, to which is also fixed the lever ; the lower end of this lever comes
in contact with the fly k, connected with a train of wheelwork actuated by a
spring. The lever is held in contact with the cam c by the spiral spring
one end of which is attached to the shaft j, and the other end to a stud fixed
in the frame plate; to the shaft j is also fixed the curved lever j, which is
raised when the alarum is to be stopped by the lever l', fixed to the shaft ;
near the other end of this shaft is fixed the lever . The shaft is turned partly
round by a button m' projecting through the case of the instrument; this
button is fixed to the shaft m, to which is also fixed a cranked stud working
into a slot in a disc ', fixed to the end of the shaft 1. The mode of operation
is as follows: When the parts are in the position indicated by the full lines,
the alarum is ready to be let off by the action of the electric current. After
the bell has sounded, the operator turns the button m³, so as to move the
shaft 7, until the lever raises the curved lever j' into the position shewn by
the dotted lines, thereby moving the lever j¹ beyond the reach of the cam c';
the lever at the same time comes in contact with the fly k, and thus prevents
the alarum from running down, the object being to stop the alarum during the
receiving or transmitting of a message. The alarum is wound up by the
button n fixed on the arbor n, to which is also fixed the bell n².
i
The fourth improvement consists in arranging the various parts of a step-
by-step telegraph and alarum, so as to fit the interior of a globe, the indicator
occupying one hemisphere and the alarum the other. On the outside of the
globe the button for actuating the finger by hand constitutes the polar axis,
the finger and button for winding up the alarum being a continuation of the
same straight line constitute the equatorial axis of the globe.
This
part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6, the latter
two Figures being shewn of their real size on Sheet 2; the case o containing
the various parts of the improved step-by-step telegraph and the alarum, as
above described, or any other arrangement of a step-by-step telegraph, is sphe-
rical or globe-shaped, and which may be made of brass or any other suitable

page_text: material, and is supported in the ring o', forming the upper part of the
pedestal o; the spherical form of the case allowing the dial to be set to any
angle with the greatest facility without the aid of swivels or adjusting screws.
The button is in a line with the polar axis, and is for adjusting the index
finger by hand, as before described; the button n' for winding up the alarum
is in a line with the equatorial axis, while the button m² is for stopping the
alarum, as described.
The fifth improvement is in the magneto-electric apparatus for generating
the to-and-fro current transmitted through the signal instrument for the
purpose of moving the finger round the dial, the mechanical and electrical
arrangement of which is very similar in principle to that described under the
bead of the second improvement, which is worked by magnetic action, while
the one which I am about to describe is driven by mechanical action.
Two
For the purpose of carrying out this part of my Invention, two straight
bars of soft iron, having lateral projections at each end, are screwed on to the
opposite sides of a bundle of rectilinear permanent magnets, all the lateral
projections being on one side, and enveloped with coils of insulated copper
wire. Two of these bundles of magnets are laid parallel and arranged with
their dissimilar poles and lateral projections opposite each other.
magnetic or soft iron bars are fixed by their centres at right angles to an arbor,
and made to vibrate between the polar surfaces of the coiled iron armatures
by hand or other motive power for the purpose of. generating the electric
current; the coils being coupled together so as to deliver the currents simul-
taneously in one direction or the other. This improvement is shewn in
Figures 7 and 8, the former being an elevation in section, and the latter a
plan, of my improved magneto-electric apparatus; in these views p are straight
bars of soft iron, which are screwed to the permanent magnets p³, and the
lateral projections are enveloped with coils of insulated copper wire.
Between the magnets på is supported the arbor e, to which are fixed at right
angles the two magnetic or soft iron bars e¹, which are made to vibrate
between the lateral projections p'; but I use the soft iron bars in preference
since the electric currents generated therewith succeed each other with greater
regularity and intensity.
While the principle of this arrangement remains the same, it admits of
various modifications. First, instead of the arbor e, which carries the soft
iron bars e vibrating between the coiled armatures of two magnets, it can be
made to vibrate before one only; secondly, instead of the bundle of perma-
nent magnets being rectilinear they may be semicircular, or of the horse-shoe
form, in which case the soft iron bars p', round which the wire is coiled;

page_text: project over the ends instead of over the sides; thirdly, a number of these
semicircular or horse-shoe magnets with their coiled armatures may be ranged
side by side, the polar surfaces in each row being in the same line, and the
requisite number of oscillating iron bars e¹ being fixed. to. the arbor e. Or,
instead of a number of soft iron bars, a piece of sheet iron, fit up in a similar
manner to the fly of a clock, and equal in. length to the whole series of per-
manent magnets and coiled armatures, may be made to vibrate on the centre
of its longer axis to produce the same result; any of the well-known methods
of generating a to-and-fro current by means of a soft iron armature revolving
before stationary coils placed in proximity to the poles of a permanent magnet
may be substituted for the one described for working the indicator, or, instead
of.. which, the primary or secondary current from a yoltaic battery may be
employed, the current being alternately inverted by means of a revolving
commutator placed in the telegraphic circuit.
The sixth improvement is in the construction of mechanism for transmitting
the proper number of shocks through the indicator, and thereby causing the
finger of that instrument to stop at any letter or sign required. Upon the top
of the case containing the magneto-electric arrangement already described, a
circular dial is fixed, round which a number of characters corresponding with
those on the indicator are. engraved. On the outside of the letter circle, and
concentric with it, a series of finger keys equal in number and opposite. to
the engraved characters, are so arranged that when any one of them is
depressed by the finger, its lower extremity projects beyond the under surface
of the dial, and in so doing arrests the motion of a radial arm, or a disc wheel
having a projecting tooth on its periphery, and revolving concentrically with
the key and letter circle. When the pressure of the finger is removed the
key resumes its original position by means of a spring, and allows the wheel to
revolve until arrested by the depression of another key. The parts above
referred to forin no part of this Invention, having before been used, and they
are constructed in the usual manner. In some cases the finger keys may be
dispensed with, and a series of holes corresponding with the letters of the
alphabet are ranged round a circular and stationary dial, forming the cover of
the instrument. In this case the motion of the radial arm is arrested by a
moveable peg:
inserted into the required hole by the hand of the operator,
which peg is withdrawn and another inserted into another hole corresponding
to the next letter or sign required. The radial arm may be placed at the out-
side of the dial instead of beneath it, as shewn in the Drawing. It is evident
that this method of arresting the radial arm is also applicable when a rotating
armature is employed instead of the oscillating armature of soft iron, as shewn

page_text: in Figures 7 and 8, and when a revolving tappet or commutator is used in con
junction with a voltaic battery. Upon the lower extremity of the vertical axis
on which the disc wheel is keyed, a crown wheel containing half the number
of teeth as there are characters on the dial is also secured, with the teeth
pointing downwards, which when made to revolve immediately over the arbor
containing the soft-iron bars, causes them to vibrate before the permanent
magnets twice as many times as the wheel contains teeth for one revolution
of the axis, and thereby generates an effective current or shock for every sign
on the dial. The vibratory motion of the arbor being produced by a properly
shaped pallet placed at right angles to it, and acted upon by the teeth of the
crown wheel, motion at the same time being communicated to the vertical
axis through suitable bevel gear, by means of a horizontal axis driven by a
handle or pulley outside the instrument. It is not always necessary in this
arrangement that, there should be a revolving pointer on the outside of the
dial, the production of each sign being sufficiently indicated by the sound
emitted by the impact of the radial arm, or of the projecting tooth on a disc
wheel against the finger keys. A pointer may, however, be applied when
required in the same manner as on other transmitting instruments..
This part of my Invention is also illustrated in reference to Figures 7 and 8:
q is a circular dial, around which characters corresponding to those on the
dial of the indicating instrument, shewn in Figure 5, are marked or engraved;
rare finger keys placed opposite the characters on the dial; s' is a radial arm,
or disc wheel, with a projecting tooth fixed on the vertical axis s, to which is
also fixed the crown wheel s², containing half the number of tecth as there are
characters on the dial; the pallet h on the arbor e takes into the crown
wheels. The vertical axis s is driven by any suitable means, the motion being
communicated through the shaft t and bevel pinions t¹ and s³.
In some cases I modify the arrangement of wheels on the vertical axis.
The crown wheel, instead of being fixed at the lower end of the axis, may be
keyed on the upper end immediately under the dial, the motion of the wheel
being arrested by a projecting tooth on its periphery, in the manner already
described, and the pallet actuated by means of suitable connecting rods or
levers, but I prefer the arrangement shewn in the Drawing.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to several improved methods of
applying the motive power required for driving the transmitting instrument, so
that when the motion of the mechanism contained in it is arrested by the
depression of a finger key, the jerk may not be communicated to the hand (or
feet, which are allowed to move uniformly during the whole of the time the

page_text: instrument is operated upon, the force being either stored up in a spiral spring
while the wheels are at rest, or converted into the heat of friction by means of
suitable pulleys or wheels. I will describe several of the most simple methods
of carrying out this part of my Invention. Near the extremity of the hori-
zontal axis t, outside the instrument, one end of a spiral clock spring is
secured, the other end being also connected with the inside of a barrel, which
works loosely on the axis. Upon the outside of the barrel a handle is secured,
which when made to revolve winds up the spring, when the motion of the axis
is arrested; the force accumulated giving a little additional velocity to it when
released, the amount of which is easily regulated by the hand. On the out-
side of the barrel several teeth are cut into which a catch drops, so as to
prevent the spring from running back when the pressure of the band is
removed, and to prevent the wheels running forward when the message is
completed; a finger key or button corresponding with the zero sign on the dial
is made to be permanently depressed when required, the same action likewise
serving to establish a short circuit through the apparatus, as is well under-
stood. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate this part of my Invention. These Figures
are drawn about one-half of the real size. u is a spiral clock spring, one end
of which is attached to the end of the horizontal axis t, the other end of this
spring is attached to the inside of the barrel u¹ loose on the axis t; to the
barrel u is fixed the ratchet wheel u, and the catch u³ is binged to a stud
fixed to the case of the instrument. When the transmitting instrument is
driven by means of friction, a small pulley having a flat groove in its cir-
cumference is keyed on the extremity of the horizontal axis t, and into this
groove a flat split ring is sprung, to which the handle is attached and allowed
to slip round when the motion of the axis is arrested.
For the purpose of working the instruments with much greater rapidity and
leaving both hands of the manipulator at liberty, the mechanism described
may be driven by pedals, in which case a pulley is substituted for the handle,
and connected in a suitable manner with a spring or frictional arrangement,
as above described. The driving apparatus which I prefer to use is portable
and formed by mounting a small fly wheel in the centre of a base of cast
iron, and upon the shaft of which a pulley is secured, as may be also the
spring or frictional arrangement, if required, instead of being on the
instrument, in which case a small pulley is keyed on the horizontal axis
and driven by a band from the loose pulley below, motion being communicated
to the fly wheel by means of the pedals attached to the base plate, acting
through suitable cranks or eccentrics. This part of my Invention is shewn

page_text: in Figures 11 and 12, drawn to half the real size; v is the base plate to
which is hingel the pedal ; at the end of the pedal is hinged one end of
the link 2, the other end being jointed to a stud projecting from the fly
wheel; this fly wheel and the grooved pulley v are mounted on a stud
fixed in a bracket cast with the base plate. A band from the grooved
pulley passes over the pulley on the horizontal axis t, shewn in Figure 7,
which pulley may be connected to the frictional or spring apparatus
described in reference to Figures 9 and 10.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
First, the improved combinations of mechanism shewn and described in
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, for converting the oscillatory motion of a
magnetic needle into an intermittent rotary motion.
Secondly, the improved electro-magnetic arrangement shewn and described
in reference to Figures 1 and 2, consisting of a series of electro-magnets
inserted into a plate of soft iron, and of a corresponding series of permanent
magnets passing through an arbor.
Thirdly, the improved combination of mechanism shewn and described in
reference to Figures 1, 2, and 4, for adjusting the index finger by hand from
the exterior of the instrument.
Fourthly, the improved combination of mechanism shewn and described in
reference to Figures 1 and 2, for letting off a train of wheelwork and
allowing an alarum to sound, and particularly the cam c' or other equivalent,
fixed on the axis of the index finger or other axis driven by the oscillating
magnet.
Fifthly, the placing the various parts of a step-by-step telegraph and the
alarum, either combined or separate, within a globe, as shewn and described
in reference to Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6.
Sixthly, the improved magneto-electric apparatus as shewn and as described
in reference to Figures 7 and 8.
Seventhly, the method of arresting the radial arm of a magneto-electric
or voltaic transmitting instrument of an alphabetic telegraph, by means of a
moveable peg or pegs, inserted by the hand of the operator into any one of a
number of holes corresponding with the letters of the alphabet ranged round
a circular and stationary dial.
Eighthly, the improved combinations of mechanism shewn and described in
reference to Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, for applying the motive power to the
transmitting instrument.

page_text: And, lastly, the application of a portable pedal motion, as shewn and
described in reference to Figures 11 and 12, for giving motion to the
transmitting instrument of electric telegraphs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Wilde, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
HENRY WILDE. (L.S.)