IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANS- MITTING SIGNALS BY THE USE OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO THE REGULATING OF MACHINERY GENERALLY
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, of Saint James'
Street, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANS-
MITTING SIGNALS BY THE USE OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO THE REGULATING OF MACHINERY GENERALLY."
_ A communication.
Sealed the 11th December 1855, and dated the 11th September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Camp Griffith
Kennedy at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th September 1855.
I, JOSEPH CAMP GRIFFITH KENNEDY, of St. James' Street, Piccadilly, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
SIGNALS BY THE USE OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE TO THE REGULATING OF MACHINERY GENERALLY," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to transmit printed communications with
greater despatch and by a more simple arrangement of mechanism than is at
present employed.
In carrying out this Invention, clock-work is employed for driving the
mechanism, and the motion of a portion of the mechanism is rendered inter-
mittent by the detentive power of a permanent magnet. A series of spring

page_text: Jevers, answering to the movement of a set of stops, which indicate letters or
signs, and are depressed by the operator, are brought into a line with a row
of pins, projecting from & arranged helically around a metal barrel, which
receives a continuous rotation by means of clock-work. The same power also
drives (at the same speed) the type wheel, which prints the message sent.
At the stations which are to receive signals an electro-magnet is provided,
the coils of which are in connection with the battery at the..transmitting
station. Above this magnet a permanent magnet is mounted, the same being
hinged to a stand, and receiving a tendency, by means of a spring or otherwise,
to rise when the attraction between it and the iron of the electro-magnet
ceases, which will be the case while a current of electricity is traversing the
coils. The rise of the permanent magnet on its hinge will release the arm of a
crank axle, and allow that axle to revolve, a weighted cord being provided
for the purpose of driving it. A connecting rod from the crank axle transmits
motion to a rocking frame or lever which carries the platten. At every
rotation, therefore, of the axle the platten is raised and pressed against the
type wheel. A travelling band of paper, which passes between the type wheel
and platten, takes the impression of the lowest type, the type having been
previously inked by an inking roller revolving in contact with the type wheel.
The connecting rod, which is pendent from the crank axle, serves to rock a
lever, which, by reason of its connection with the permanent magnet, will
draw it down into contact with the soft iron of the electro-magnet, and the
current ceasing, it will retain that position, and thereby stop the printing
operation. A repetition current will, however, establish the condition requisite
for a repetition of the movement of the platen, and the letter or sign printed
will correspond to the stop touched by the operator, and thus any message
may be readily transmitted.
The frame carrying the set of spring levers which are actuated by the stops
is connected with the opposite pole of the battery to that with which the
electro-magnet is in connection. When the circuit is established, by the
contact of one of the spring levers with a corresponding pin on the barrel or
cylinder, the current passes from the electro-magnet coils to a spring lever,
which, bearing alternately upon a conducting and non-conducting wheel
mounted on the axle of the pin barrel, (as that barrel rotates) returns the
current through the barrel to the spring levers to the battery.
For the purpose of shutting off those stations which are not intended to
receive the message, a flanged wheel is mounted on the axle of the printing
wheel, with notches in it, corresponding to a blank on the type wheel, and a
given letter denoting the station. Upon this flange a spring bolt acts, and by

page_text: its pressure stops the rotation of the wheel; but when the notch corresponding
to the letter denoting the station is presented to the bolt, the bolt will be
thrown by a cam on the crank axle, before mentioned, and entering the notch
or clearing the flange, the wheel will be allowed to revolve, and the apparatus
at that station will operate, but, owing to no notch being presented to the bolt
at other stations, they will not receive the message.
In carrying out this Invention, it is very important that the speed of rotation
of the printing wheel and pin barrel should be adjusted to a great nicety. For
this purpose the detent is actuated by a vibrating spring, the free end of which
is weighted by a sliding weight or otherwise to ensure the proper speed of
pulsation. This contrivance, it will be understood, is also applicable to the
regulating of other mechanism.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th March 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
CAMP GRIFFITH KENNEDY, of St. James' Street, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, Her special license that I, the said
Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as 1, the said Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, 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 THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR
TRANSMITTING SIGNALS BY THE USE OF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT, PART OF WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO THE REGULATING OF MACHINERY GENERALLY,"
being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and

page_text: 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 Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The object of this Invention is to transmit printed communications with
greater despatch and by a more simple arrangement of mechanism than is at
present employed.
In carrying out this Invention, clock-work is employed for driving the
mechanism, and the motion of a portion of the mechanism is rendered inter-
mittent by the detentive power of a permanent magnet.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1, Sheet I., shews in front elevation
the improved electro-magnetic printing telegraph complete; Fig. 2, Sheet 11.,
is a plan view of the same; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5, Sheet III., are sectional
elevations, shewing the details of the apparatus. Before entering into a detailed
description of the improved apparatus, I will first explain, by reference to the
Diagram, Fig. 7, Sheet IV., the principle of its operation. In this Diagram,
A represents an electro-magnet, situate at the station to which a communica-
tion is to be sent. The coils of this electro-magnet are connected with the
earth by a ground wire A, and by a line wire B with the platinum plate of
the battery C, which is situate at the station from whence the message is to
proceed.
The circuit is completed in the following manner :-A wire D from the zinc
plate connects with a spring lever E, which is carried by a post F, and bears
upon the periphery of a wheel G, so constructed as by its rotation to break and
restore the circuit in quick succession. This wheel is attached to a cylinder
H, provided with a helical line of pins projecting radially from its periphery,
and in front of the barrel lies a series of spring levers I, which, when moved
into position, will come in contact with the pins as the barrel or cylinder H
revolves. These spring levers are carried by a metal frame K, which is con-
nected with the earth by a ground wire K*; an arrangement of levers actuated
by a stop L is provided for each of the spring levers I, their object being to
bring the levers I severally, as required, opposite a pin on the
to complete the electric circuit. Referring now again to the station which is
to receive the message, and where the electro-magnet is situate, it must be
explained how this temporary magnet is employed in effecting the transmission
and the printing of the message. M is a permanent magnet, supported by a
barrel, and thus

page_text: hinge joint, and having a strong attraction for the soft iron wire of the electro-
magnet A, which attraction is, however, suspended on a current of electricity
being passed through the coils of the electro-magnet; a slight spring will then
suffice to raise the permanent magnet out of contact with the soft iron. This
movement, by rocking a lever M* connected to the magnet, will set free the
detent N of a clock escapement, and allow a crank to rotate and lift a lever O,
that carries a platen, and thereby press the platen against a rotating type
wheel P, the letters or signs on the periphery of which correspond to the pins
on the barrel H, and come into a position to print simultaneously with the
corresponding pins coming into contact with their respective spring levers I.
It will thus be understood, that on the depression of a stop L, say that stop
which corresponds to the letter A on the type wheel, the circuit will be com-
pleted when that pin on the barrel which corresponds to the letter A comes
round and touches the spring lever I, which is placed for the purpose.
current of electricity will then pass to the coils of the electro-magnet, the
attraction will cease, and the permanent magnet will rise and release the detent.
The clock-work will then cause the platen to rise and effect the impress of
the letter A on a band of paper, which travels forward between the type wheel
and the platen; but inasmuch as the rotation of the barrel H is continuous, the
contact of the pin and the lever will be but momentary; the current will there-
fore be quickly broken, and the permanent magnet will return to its depressed
position. The depression of another stop will again send a current of electricity
through the coils of the magnet, and the printing action will be repeated, the
paper being pressed by the platen against that letter on the type wheel which
corresponds to the depressed stop.
A
Having thus explained the principle of action of the improved apparatus, I
will proceed to describe the mechanism in detail.
In Sheets I., II., and III., A is an electro-magnet, above which is mounted
a permanent horse-shoe magnet B, carried by a cross bar b, which rocks on
centre pins b, b, projecting from pillars or supports b². Pendent from this
cross bar 6 is an arm &, to which one end of a coiled spring & is attached, the
other end being connected by a cord to a holdfast or tightening screw b³ in
the table of the instrument. On the transmission of a current of electricity
through the coils of the electro-magnet, the powerful magnetic attraction
which naturally exists between the permanent magnet and the soft iron of
the electro-magnet will be suddenly suspended, and the coiled spring will
draw up
the horse-shoc magnet B to the dotted position of Fig. 3, Sheet III.
A screw c, attached to one end of a rocking lever C, whose fulcrum pin is
carried by the pillars c', bears upon the magnet B, it being held in contact

page_text: therewith by the downward tendency imparted to it by the coiled spring c².
The opposite end of the lever C to that which carries the bearing screw c
forms a stop to the detent lever d of a crank shaft D. From the crank of this
shaft a rod d'is pendent, and from the rod d' hangs a chain d, which supports
one end of a rock lever d³, whose fulcrum pin is carried by the pillars c'. The
opposite end of the rock lever d³ is connected to a draw rod d*, pendent from
the cross bar of the permanent magnet B, and intended to draw down the
magnet (when elevated) into contact with the electro-magnet. The spring c²
connects the two levers C and d³ together. To a bracket bearing from the
main framing of the instrument one end of a bar e is jointed, and the other
end is jointed to the pendent rod d¹; to this bar a platen E is attached by
means of a binding screw, which renders it capable of adjustment to suit the
type wheel F, which is mounted just above it, and in its revolution brings the
several letters of the alphabet or other arbitrary symbols immediately above
the platen. A strip or band of paper g (kept at tension by any suitable con-
trivance) passes from the paper roller G, between the platen and the type
wheel, and thence out of the instrument, it being drawn forward by the bite
of the rotating wheel g³ against the cushion roller g³. It will now be under-
stood, that if a tendency is given to the crank shaft I) to rotate, by reason of
its connection with a clock movement, as will be presently explained, the
detent lever d will, immediately it is released from the lever C, fly round in
the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, and raise the pendent rod d'. This move-
ment of the rod d¹ will draw up the lever e, and, forcing the platen against the
type wheel, will produce an imprint upon the paper band of the lowest letter
on that wheel, the rise of the lever e being assisted by the upward pressure of
the spring e', which is affixed to the framing of the instrument, and bears
against the under side of the bar e. Immediately following upon this sudden
movement of the detent arm d, will be the rocking of the lever d³, and the
depression of the magnet B (by the downward tendency of the draw rod d')
into contact with the electro-magnet A, in which position it will be held firmly
until a current of electricity is again passed through the coils of the electro-
magnet; a repetition of the above-described movements will then take place.
For the purpose of transmitting messages to and fro between two given
places, it will be understood that two instruments will be required (one at each
station), which instruments must be so constructed and arranged as to work in
harmony, and permit of currents of electricity passing to and fro in opposite
directions in following seconds of time, or, in other words, of two messages
being sent from opposite ends of the same line wire by the alternate action of
the two instruments.

page_text: I will now describe in detail the mechanism employed for establishing and
breaking the circuit in a manner that will produce the imprint of any given
letter, as already explained, on a travelling band of paper. H is a metal
barrel or cylinder, provided with radial pins h, which are set helically around
it, and are equal in number to the number of signs intended to be indicated.
A continuous rotary motion is imparted to the barrel H by means of clock-
work, to be hereafter described, and thus the pins h will be each in their turn
brought into a line with a set of spring levers h', which are jointed to a metal
frame J, that is connected with the earth plate wire. The barrel H carries at
one end a notched wheel or circuit breaker I, on which a spring lever K
presses, and this lever is in metallic connection with the main conducting wire
of the telegraph. Insulated from the barrel H, but revolving with it, is a
second notched wheel or circuit breaker 1, which comes in contact with the
spring lever as the wheel I passes out of contact, and thus a circuit (for
currents running in opposite directions alternately) is continually broken and
renewed. The ends of the spring levers h nearest the barrel rest upon a
notched bar h, shewn detached at Fig. 6, Sheet III., and standing up between
them are levers h³ (Fig. 5), which are caused to rock on their fulcra by means
of draw rods h. These draw rods are actuated by the bell-crank levers h³,
which carry their respective stops h, answering respectively to sonie letter of
the alphabet or other arbitrary sign. By depressing a stop ho, the lever h³,
corresponding thereto, will push forward the spring lever h' contiguous to it,
and it will then fall from the shoulder on which it rested to a lower part of the
notch, and lie in a line with a pin on the barrel. As this pin comes round, it
will touch the spring lever h', and the circuit will be complete. At this instant
a letter or sign on the type wheel F at the signal receiving station will have
been presented to the paper band, and a current of electricity having now
entered the coils of the electro-magnet A at that station, the attraction between
the two magnets will for the moment cease. The detent arm d will therefore
be released, and the crank shaft D will cause the platen E to rise, and effect
the imprint desired upon the paper. The continuous rotation of the barrel H
will now cause the pin h, in contact with the spring lever h', to raise that
lever out of the lower part of the notch of the plate h², and the lever will then
by its own elasticity spring forward and rest upon the shoulder from which it
was pushed by the lever h³. The circuit will then be broken, and the detent
arm of the instrument at the other end of the wire will be again held fast, by
reason of the attraction being again established between the permanent and
temporary magnets.
It now remains to be explained how a return message can be trans-

page_text: mitted between the intervals that must necessarily elapse between the follow-
ing signals of the same operator. By reference to the Diagram, Fig. 8,
Sheet IV., the arrangement of the wires for connecting the operations of
the two instruments will be clearly seen, one instrument being supposed to
be situate at London and the other at Birmingham. A, A, are the electro-
magnets, connected permanently by a wire 1 with their respective circuit
breakers I, and with the earth by a wire 2. The suspended line wire 3 is
connected at either end with the spring levers K, K, and the metal frames
which carry the spring levers h', that bear against the radial pins h of their
respective barrels H, are connected with the earth by the wires 4, 4. In order
therefore to send a message from Birmingham to London while the attendant
is operating at London, as above described, the attendant of the Birmingham
instrument has merely to depress a stop, and the current will pass along the
line wire 3 to London, enter the instrument at the lever K, pass thence to the
wheel I, (the lever K being at that moment in metallic contact with that
wheel,) and so to the electro-magnet A. The attraction will then cease between
the electro-magnet and the permanent magnet of the instrument, and the
printing action will then take place. In order to ink the printing surface of
the type wheel F, it is caused to revolve in contact with a flanged inking
roller f, which is borne up against it by a spring f¹. Before transmitting a
message to a distant station, it will be necessary to exclude all the other
instruments which are in connection with the line wire from receiving and
recording the message. For this purpose the following contrivance is provided
in each instrument :-L is a sliding bolt, capable of being moved towards the
flange of a cog wheel M by means of a cam d³, attached to the crank shaft D).
This wheel M is mounted on the axle of the type wheel, and revolves with it.
The flange of the cog wheel M has a slot opposite the blank on the type
wheel F, and also another slot opposite any given letter which designates the
station to which the instrument belongs. Thus, for example, the letter A may
represent London, the letter B Birmingham, and the letter C Coventry. The
first action of the electric current is to start all the instruments on the route,
and at the same time to move the bolt L nearer to the flange of the wheel M.
The next movement of the crank shaft D will send the bolt L against the
flange M.; or if a slot be opposite the bolt, the latter will pass through, and
being in form properly adapted to the flange, will permit the instrument to
run; but if no slot is opposite the bolt, the same is forced against the flange,
and the revolution of the wheel is stopped by friction of contact. Suppose
then it is desired to communicate from London to Birmingham, to the ex-
clusion of Coventry: both instruments being ready to receive, the first closing

page_text: and breaking of the circuit starts all the instruments at the same time, and by
the first revolution of the crank shaft the bolt in each approaches to the flange.
The next breaking and closing of the circuit, if effected while the slot in the
Birmingham instrument is opposite the bolt, forces the bolt through the slot,
does not suspend the operation of the instrument B, but no slot being
opposite B in the instrument at Coventry, the corresponding bolt there is
forced against the flange, and instantly suspends the movement of the wheel.
The clock-work mechanism for driving the crank shaft and the barrel
and type wheel consists of two distinct trains, which are operated by weighted
cords 1, 1, (see the detached sectional view, Fig. 4, Sheet III.,) wound around
their respective barrels 2, 2*. On the axle of the barrel 2 is a cog wheel 3,
which gears into and drives a pinion 4 on an arbor 5, which carries also a
wheel 6. This wheel 6 gears with a pinion 7 on an arbor 8, which also
carries a cog wheel 9, that gears into a pinion, 10 on the crank shaft D,
and thereby drives that shaft as soon as its detent arm d is released from
the tail of the lever C, as already explained. A cog wheel 11 on the arbor
5 gears into a pinion on the hub of the wheel g, and thereby gives to
that wheel an intermittent motion, which is communicated to the band of
paper that is to receive the printed message. The movement of the train
of wheels which drives the barrel H and type wheel F is regulated by an
escapement, which, while it permits of the continued rotation of the wheels,
will prevent the weighted cord 1 on the barrel 2* from running down
suddenly. On the axle of this drum is a cog wheel 3*, which gears into a
pinion 4*, on the arbor of which is a wheel 5*. This wheel 5* gears into
a pinion 6, mounted on an arbor which carries a cog wheel 7*, in gear
with a pinion on the arbor 8 of the type wheel. An escape wheel 9* is
keyed to this arbor, and into the teeth of the wheel the pallets of the pallet
lever 10 take. The pallet lever works on a fulcrum pin 11, and attached
to its outer end is a rod, which connects it with a vibrating string 12", secured
at one extremity to the framing of the instrument. The impulse commu-
nicated to the pallet lever by the escape wheel is communicated by the rod 11*
to the spring 12*, which, being thereby set in vibration, will act like the
pendulum of a clock, and effect alternately the release and re-engagement of
the escape wheel. A shifting bar 13* is provided for determining the extent
of vibration of the spring 12 This arrangement of vibrating spring I
propose to apply in lieu of a pendulum to clock-work generally, and other
mechanism, the speed of which requires regulating. The rotary motion given
to the type wheel F by this arrangement of mechanism is imparted to the
barrel or cylinder H by means of a cog wheel 14, on the barrel shaft gearing

page_text: into the flanged wheel M, which has the same number of teeth as the wheel
14*. It will thus be understood how the pins on the barrel (which pins
severally answer to a letter or other symbol on the type wheel) come severally
into a line with the spring levers h, for the purpose of completing the circuit
at the moment that their corresponding letters on the type wheel arrive at the
required position for printing.
Having now explained the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that,-
First, I claim the employment of the retaining or holding power of the
natural magnet for arresting the action of the instrument, whether the same
be applied in the manner herein described or in any similar manner producing
like results.
Second, I claim combining with the permanent magnet an adjustable spring
almost sufficient to sever it from its connection with the soft iron of the
électro-magnet, and a lever, or its equivalent, for restoring the permanent
magnet to its contact position after being separated from the soft iron of the
electro-magnet, as explained.
Third, I claim the employment of two cog wheels or circuit breakers in the
same instrument so arranged that one shall be in connection with the electro-
magnet and the other with the transmitting cylinder or barrel H, and also the
combined use of instruments constructed as above explained, the same being
so arranged that the connection will alternate at each station for every letter
between the electro-magnet and the transmitting cylinder of the same instru-
ment in such manner that the through connection is always simultaneously
through the transmitting cylinder of one station and the electro-magnet of
the other station, whereby the instrument at each station can at the same
time be transmitting a message and receiving a message; it being understood,
however, that I do not claim in general the use of a single wire for the
simultaneous transmission of different messages by means of rapid changes of
connection, which is not new, but only the peculiar manner as above claimed,
in which I have applied it in connection with my machine.
Fourth, so arranging a bolt, and operating the same by a cam or its equi-
valent, that it shall act like a brake upon the wheel attached to the shaft of
the type wheel, and so preclude the intelligence from the station or stations on
the circuit from which it is desired to withhold the communication.
Fifth, I claim the employment of a vibrating spring, properly weighted at
its extremity, if necessary, for governing or regulating the movement of the
type wheel, and this I claim for governing the speed of other machinery
without limiting its use to its connection with electro-magnetism.

page_text: Sixth, I claim printing messages by the aid of electro-magnetism from a
continuously moving type wheel printing while in motion.
Seventh, I claim the arrangement of a cylinder with pins arranged helically
thereon to operate by contact with metallic points in order to close and break
the circuit when this is combined, for the purposes herein set forth, with the
system of stops and levers so arranged that any desired point may be thrown
within the range of revolution of its corresponding pin, where it will be retained
until it is struck by the said pin.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Camp Griffith Kennedy, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
JOS. C. G. KENNEDY. (L.S.)