Iм- PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRaph Instruments
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRaph Instruments."-A communication
from abroad by George Lee Anders and Ebenezer Baker Welch, of
Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States
of America. ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1873.
I, BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPH INSTRUMENTS,” (a
communication to me from abroad by George Lee Anders, and Ebenezer
Baker Welch, of Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the
United States of America) to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in printing telegraph instru-
ments of the class known as "automatic step-by-step" instruments,

page_text: the principal object being the production of an instrument reliable and
rapid in its operation.
The improvements consist mainly in a series of mechanical devices
arranged and operating in combination with an electro-magnet and a
polarized magnet under certain electrical conditions that each of the
magnets shall release an escapement, the polarized magnet releasing the
type wheel escapement, and the electro-magnet that of the press mechan-
ism, and further in the manner of actuating these escapements separately
by two trains of wheels impelled by one mainspring.
The sides of the instrument case are connected at the top and bottom
by transverse bars or rods. Turning in the lower part of the sides are
the ends of a central arbor provided with a gear wheel having on its
outer face a ratchet wheel which engages with a pawl pivotted to the
gear wheel, and receiving on its top the pressure of a bent spring, the
other end of which is secured to the face of the gear wheel. Connected
with the arbor is a cylinder or drum having an outer projecting gear rin,
and attached to its inner periphery one end of a main or coiled spring,
the other end being attached to the arbor. Engaging with the gear rim
is a pinion connected with a second arbor which has on its other end a
Becond gear wheel which engages with a pinion of a third arbor provided
on its opposite end with a third gear wheel which engages with a pinion
of a fourth arbor, to the opposite end of which is connected a fourth
gear wheel which engages with a fifth gear wheel connected with a fifth
arbor, on which is an escapement wheel provided on its periphery with
projecting pins which engage with the ends of pallets connected with a
vertical rod, the top of which turns in a projecting plate attached to the
vertical portion of a right angled magnetized standard, the bottom or
horizontal portion of which receives the bottom of the said rod and
supports the lower portion of a vertical polarized electro-magnet,
between the poles of which extends the end of an armature connected;
(so as to be capable of turning to and fro laterally) with the upper
portion of the vertical rod. Attached to one end and extending along each
side of the armature, between it and the poles, are bent springs of brass
or other non-magnetic material, and of suitable strength and thickness.
Engaging with a sixth gear wheel is a pinion attached to a sixth arbor,
on which is a second escapement wheel provided with radiating arms
bevelled or otherwise suitably formed on the ends, which are held and
released by the toothed ends of arms or pallets radiating from the hub.

page_text: of a seventh arbor turning in the ends of the sides of the case. Extend-
ing from this hub is also a vertical arm which supports a horizontal
transverse armature situated opposite the poles of an electro-magnet
arranged longitudinally, or in any other suitable position in the
instrument and attached to one of the transverse bars first mentioned.
Connected with this vertical arm is one end of a bent spring which
extends downwards and impinges against the inside of one end of the
instrument case. The fifth arbor extends through one of the sides of
the case and is provided on the outside with a type wheel arranged on its
periphery with suitable letters or other devices, and on its other end
in the interior of the case with a latch which engages with teeth formed
in the upper edge of a unison bar provided with slots which slide on
screw stems connected with one of the sides of the case, and also
provided with a stem against which abuts one end of a bent spring, the
other end of which is held by a clamp attached to the same side of the
case. The under side of the unison bar is formed with teeth with which
engages the toothed end of a pivotted click or lever, the other end of
which connects with a cam attached to the end of the sixth arbor.
Projecting inward from the upper portion of the unison bar is a stop
which engages with the end of an arm radiating from the fifth arbor,
which is provided on its opposite end with a flange or collar, to which
is attached one end of a spiral spring the other end of which is
connected with the first mentioned escapement wheel so as to allow the
pins thereof to fall rapidly on the pallets. To the pivotted lover or click
is attached one end of another spring, the other end of which is
connected with one side of the case. Engaging with the first mentioned
gear wheel is a pinion attached to an eighth arbor, which is provided at
its opposite end with a seventh gear wheel which engages with a pinion
of a ninth arbor which has on its opposite end an eighth gear wheel
provided with pins projecting outward from the side of its rim and with
which one end of a lever arm pivotted to one of the sides of the case is
arranged to engage, a spring being attached to the lever arm and the
side of the case for the purpose of regulating the tension of the feed
roller. Projecting at a right angle from one end of the lever arm is a
tenth arbor which extends through one of the sides of the case, and is
provided on the outside with a feed and press roller having on its inner
face ratchet teeth which engage with the end of a vertical arm pivotted
to the said side and kept in position by a bent spring bearing against its
side, the upper end of the spring being secured to the outside of the

page_text: case, to which is also secured a clamp which holds one end of another
bent spring, the other end of which passes over and is curved so as
to bear upon and hold the paper slip which is fed along between it and
the feed roller. Over the type wheel is an ink roller connected by a
thumbscrew with one end of a lever arm, the other end of which turns
on a pivot connected with the exterior of one of the sides. Near the
bottom of each end of the case is a screw cup or binding screw,
from one
of which extends a wire which connects with the coils of the polarized
magnet, and thence continues to the coils of the electro-magnet and
down to the other binding screw.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 28th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BRISTOW
HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, 1
Gentleman, send greeting.
·
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Bristow Hunt, Her special licence that I,
the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Bristow Hunt, 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 PRINTING TELEGRAPH Instru-
MENTS," (a communication to me from abroad by George Lee Anders and
Ebenezer Baker Welch, of Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,
in the United States of America,) upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors or administrators by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
samic 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 Bristow Hunt, 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 in writing, and on reference being had to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:-
―
This Invention relates to improvements in printing telegraph instru-
ments of the class known as "automatic step-by-step" instruments, the
principal object being the production of an instrument reliable and rapid
in its operation.
The improvements consist mainly in a series of mechanical devices
arranged and operating in combination with an electro-magnet and a
polarized magnet under certain electrical conditions, so that each of the
magnets shall release an escapement, the polarized magnet releasing
the type wheel escapement and the clectro-magnet that of the press
mechanism; and, further, in the manner of actuating these escape-
ments separately by two trains of wheels impelled by one mainspring.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Printing Telegraph Instruments," I will now proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may
be performed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same
may be distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto onc Sheet of
Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures
and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof, that is to say,-
On the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents a top view ;
Figure 2, an exterior view of one side showing by dotted lines a portion
of the interior mechanism; Figure 3, a vertical longitudinal section
through one side looking towards the opposite side; and Figures 4 and 5
parts in detail of the improved instruments.
.
The sides A, A', of the instrument case are connected at the top by a
central transverse plate or bar B, and at the bottom by transverse rods
or bars C at each end. Supported by and turning in the lower part of
the sides A, A, are the ends of a central arbor D provided with a gear

page_text: wheel E having on its outer face a ratchet wheel F, with which engages
a pawl G pivotted to E, and receiving on its top the pressure of a bent
spring H, the other end of which is held by a clamp, or otherwise
secured to the face of E. Connected with D is a cylinder or drum I
having an outer projecting gear rim K, and having attached to its inner
periphery one end of a main or coiled spring L, the other end of which
is attached to D. Engaging with K is a pinion M connected with a
second arbor O, which has on its other end a second gear wheel O',
which engages with a pinion P of a third arbor P¹ provided on its
opposite end with a third gear wheel P", which engages with a pinion Q
of a fourth arbor Q', to the opposite end of which is connected a fourth
gear wheel Q, which engages with a fifth gear wheel R connected with
a fifth arbor R¹, having in the centre or in any required position an
escapement wheel Z provided on its periphery with projecting pins Z',
which engage with the ends of pallets T connected with a vertical rod U,
the top of which turns in a projecting plate U¹ attached to the vertical
portion V¹ of a right angled magnetized standard V, the bottom or
horizontal portion of which receives the bottom of U, and supports the
lower portion of a vertical polarized electro-magnet W, between the
poles N, S, of which extends the end of an armature X connected (so as
to be capable of turning to and fro laterally) with the upper portion
of U. Attached to one end, and extending along each side of X,
between it and N, S, are bent springs X, X", of brass or other non-
magnetic material, and of suitable strength and thickness. Engaging
with a sixth gear wheel p" is a pinion w attached to a sixth arbor w¹,
which has near the centre or in any required position a second escape-
ment wheel to provided with radiating arms w¹¹¹ bevilled or otherwise
suitably formed on the ends, which are held and released by the toothed
ends of arms or pallets A", A", radiating from the hub of a seventh
arbor B turning in the ends of A, A¹. Extending from this hub is also
a vertical arm C', which supports a horizontal transverse armature D¹
situated opposite the poles E' of an electro-magnet F¹ arranged longi-
tudinally or in any other suitable position in the instrument, and
attached to B. Connected with C¹ is one end of a bent spring C", which
extends downward, and impinges against the inside of one end of the
instrument case. R extends through A, and is provided on the outside
with a type wheel G¹ arranged on its periphery with suitable letters or
other devices, and on its other end in the interior of A¹ with a latch a,
which engages with teeth formed in the upper edge of a unison bar 6
t

page_text: provided with slots 6', which slide on screw stems c connected with A',
and also provided with a stem d against which abuts one end of a bent
spring e, the other end of which is held by a clamp e¹ attached to A'.
The under side of 6 is formed with teeth, with which engages the toothed
end of a pivotted click or lever f, the other end of which connects with
a cam g attached to the end of w². Projecting inward from the upper
portion of b is a stop with which engages the end of an arm i radiating
from R', which is provided on its opposite end with a flange or collar R",
to which is attached one end of a spiral spring R₁, the other end of
which is connected with Z, so as to allow the pins thereof to fall rapidly
on T. To fis attached one end of another spring k, the other end of
which is connected with A¹. Engaging with E is a pinion attached to
an eighth arbor m, which is provided at its opposite end with a seventh
gear wheel o, which engages with a pinion p of a ninth arbor p', which
has on its opposite end p" which is provided with pins p projecting
outward from the side of its rim, and with which one end of a lever r
pivotted to A is arranged to engage a spring q, being attached to r and
▲ for the purpose of regulating the tension of the feed roller. Projecting
at a right angle from one end of is a tenth arbor ¹, which extends
through A, and is provided on the outside with a feed and press roller t,
having on its inner face ratchet teeth t¹ with which engages the end of a
vertical arm U pivotted to A, and kept in position by a bent spring U'
bearing against its side, the upper end of U₁ being held by a clamp U
or otherwise secured to the outside of A, to which is also secured a
clamp ', which holds one end of another bent spring v¹, the other end of
which passes over and is curved so as to bear upon and hold the paper
slip which is fed along between it and t. Over G¹ is an ink roller H¹
connected by a thumbscrew H with one end of a lever arm I', the
other end of which turns on a pivot I" connected with the exterior of
A. Near the bottom of each end of the case is a screw cup or binding
screw K", K, from one of which K" extends a wire L' which connects
with the coils of W, and thence continues to the coils of F, and down
to K!!!
The oneration of the machine is as followe
The nowar naas

page_text: train operating Z, and the type wheel mechanism, both escapements
being thus operated by one spring and independently of cach other.
On power being applied to the mechanism, when a number of clectrical
pulsations alternating in their direction are passed through F' and W
simultaneously, D¹ of F¹ is drawn up and held to E', while x of W feels
the attractive force of the pulsations alternately on opposite sides, and is
kept vibrating laterally, thus releasing Z and giving a discontinuous
motion to G¹. As soon as a cessation of these pulsations occurs D¹ is
drawn back by C", the press mechanism is released, and an impression
is taken, G now being at rest.
b
It will be seen that as F' and W, with their respective releasing
mechanisms are in the same circuit, the combined effect is such that
when one of the alternating electric pulsations is passed through them
× of W is attracted to the opposite pole, and remains there while D' of F
is attracted to E¹ of the same, and as soon as the attractive force of the
electro-magnet has ceased it is withdrawn by C", thus operating Z and
the press mechanism so as to give an impression of the letter on the
paper slip. When two or more pulsations are passed through F¹ and W
the latter admits the advance of a corresponding number of letters on G¹,
and when the pulsations are suspended a sufficient length of time for Cu
to withdraw D¹ the press mechanism is released and an impression taken,
and so on until the desired word or message is printed. When a number
of these instruments are connected up in one circuit the unison of G¹ is
obtained by b, with whose upper teeth a engages so as to carry 6 along
one tooth at each revolution of G¹, and is there held by f, one end of
which engages with the under teeth of b, and its other end engages
with g of the press mechanism so as to release 6 at the operation of thic
press; is then drawn back to its original position by e, f being regu-
lated in its action against g, and the teeth of by k. When G¹ makes
three revolutions or feeds along three of the upper teeth of 6 without
being released by the press mechanism will engage with i and bring
G¹ to rest at a standard point. X, X", on cach side of X have an
important function in the operation thereof, first by being of suitable
thickness and of non-magnetic material, they prevent X coming in
contact with N, S, of W, and in the second place they aid X in freeing
itself from one pole while it is being and is neutralized by the current,
thus carrying it within the influence of the superior attractive force of
the opposite pole.

page_text: It will be seen from the foregoing description that the operation of
the electro-magnet is arranged so as to release the printing mechanism
at the cessation of the momentary impulses transmitted simultaneously
through it in conjunction with the polarized electro-magnet which
releases the type wheel mechanism.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
Improvements in Printing Telegraph Instruments," together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the
Invention communicated to me by the above named George Lee Anders
and Ebenezer Baker Welch,—
Firstly. A polarized electro-magnet, and an electro-magnet in the
same circuit, in combination with two escapements.
Secondly. A polarized electro-magnet and an electro-magnet in com-
bination with electric currents, transmitted simultaneously in alternate
directions, with a cessation of the same to effect an impression of the
desired letter.
Thirdly. The method of operating two trains of wheels by one main-
spring.
Fourthly. The arrangement of springs X', X", of brass or other non-
magnetic material of suitable thickness and strength on each side of a
polarized armature X, all substantially as and for the purposes specified.
And Fifthly. The mechanical arrangement of the unison bar b
operating substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June in the year of
BRISTOW HUNT. (L.S.)