IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Clark, of Rathbone Place, in the County
of Middlesex, Executor of William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, deceased, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS."—A
communication from abroad by Secondo Roos, of 29, Boulevart St.
Martin, Paris.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th April 1867.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS," to be as
follows:-
The improved telegraphic manipulator forming the subject of the present
Invention is based on the number of electrical communications which may be
obtained by combining two and two a certain number of electric contact points.
With seven contacts 21 points of communication may be obtained, 28 with
eight contacts, 36 with nine contacts, and so on.
For example, supposing there are eight contacts, the electrical com
munications will be twenty-eight in number, and which I dispose around the

page_text: interior of a circular box, shown in the flat at Figure A of the annexed
Drawing; each of these communications is composed of two contacts, one for
the positive electrode of the battery and the other for the negative electrode.
The box, Figure A, is provided with a movable part, Figure B, having two
spring projections forming the electrodes of the battery, and which effect
contact with the points of communication. During the time the eight contacts
are isolated one from the other the circuit of the battery will not be closed in
any of the positions of the movable part in the box, but if two of the contacts
are placed in communication the circuit will be closed for one, and one only
of the twenty-eight positions assumed by the said moving part, and this is
.precisely indicated by the position of the two contacts in combination. A
galvanometer placed between the movable part and the battery indicates the
passage of said movable part over the communication corresponding to the
two contacts communicating one with the other. If instead of a galvanometer
a telegraphic apparatus be placed between the movable part and the battery
eight contacts will be sufficient, which may be placed in communication two
and two in every possible position so as to produce 28 distinct signals, and if
the apparatus is to produce a greater number of signals, 36 for example, nine
contacts will be required.
Apparatus may be variously arranged for establishing communication
between the contact points in pairs for producing a system of telegraphic
transmission to be operated by hand; or in a self-acting manner.
The following arrangement of this Invention is one of the most suitable for
facilitating the transmission of messages by self-acting means:-The characters
or type are first set up to form the message to be dispatched, each of which
characters has two inclined surfaces at their upper part, which for eight
contacts have each a thickness equal to that of the character itself, and one-
eighth of its total length; they are further differently disposed on each of the
divisions in eighths of the length of the character, so as to form twenty-eight
combinations. In order to facilitate the composition and correction of the
message I may stamp on the lower part of the character the letter to which
the combination corresponds. The composing stick is then placed in an
apparatus, which by the aid of an endless chain, set in motion by a weight,
slides it along under a comb having eight teeth or small levers disposed so as
to correspond exactly with the inclines of the characters, which teeth are
raised by said inclines in order to establish communication between the
electrical contact points, Figure C, which are for this purpose placed in
communication with the circular box. In order to apply the manipulator to
a Hughes' telegraphic apparatus I replace the box containing the studs and

page_text: the keyboard by the circular box of communication, also substituting the
movable part arranged according to this Invention for the one now used, the
bevil wheel of which is mounted on the axis of the part shown at Figure C.
I further unite by means of a cable composed of eight wires the eight lower
contact points of the box with the eight contact points of the comb; these
consist of eight springs, on which the levers bear when they are raised by the
projecting parts of the characters, and so establish the required communications
for the transmission of messages. In order to connect the two apparatus the
composing stick is formed of two racks having teeth inclined in opposite
directions. On a line with the teeth of the comb are mounted two pawls,
connected together in such manner that when one is raised the other falls into
gear, as shown in Figure D. One of these pawls serves to arrest the motion
of the composing stick, for which purpose it is provided with a lever arm, the
end forming the armature of an electro-magnet acting by repulsion; this is
effected either by employing an ordinary and a permanent magnet in com-
bination, or by an electro-magnet with double bobbins, or it may be a single
bobbin with double wire, and a permanent current circulating in one of the
bobbins, or in one of the two wires. In this manner the armature cannot be
detached from the electro-magnet except by the action of a spring in sufficient
tension, which is produced every time a current neutralizes or diminishes to a
sufficient extent the action of the electro-magnet retaining the armature.
The current, which is a local one, is derived from the telegraphic apparatus
by means of an appendage on the armature of the electro-magnet which
establishes an electric current, the duration being determined by an adjusting
screw. The second pawl serves with the second rack to return the parts to
position, that is, with the armature in contact. It will, thus be
seen that the
manipulator cannot pass from one letter to another until the first shall have
been transmitted by the telegraphic apparatus. The current established by
the manipulator only continues during the time of passing the movable part
before referred to over one of the divisions of the box, it is consequently
insufficient as a line current; and in order to obtain a current of sufficient
duration, and that can be regulated at will, I adapt a cam on the prolongation
of the cam axis, which in its motion raises a spring and causes it to bear
against an electric contact point, so as to establish a line current during the
whole time the cam axis is in motion if necessary. This mode of establishing
a line current provides a means of corresponding at great distances by means of
a Hughes' apparatus with relays, which do not in any way alter the conditions
in the transmission of the current. The relay consists simply of a wheel train
in which the last axis turns at a speed about equal to that of the cam axis,

page_text: and for which the armature of the electro-magnet serves as a disconnector.
In order to increase the rate of transmission it is preferable to have the circuit
constantly closed. This mole requires the two batteries to be arranged as
follows: The first or transmitting battery with one of the two poles of the
line, and the other pole united to the contrary pole of the second or neutra-
lizing battery, the second pole of which is in the earth. In this manner the
transmission is effected by a current derived from the earth, and operated by
the spring of the cam axis at the point of junction of the contrary poles of the
two batteries. In a state of rest the effect of the transmitting battery is
neutralized by the second battery, but at the moment the transmission takes
place the spring operating a current derived from the earth two distinct
circuits are established, one local from the neutralizing battery, and the other
of the line from the transmitting battery. The great speed attained by this
circuit is due to the fact that in a state of rest the two currents although they
are not manifest still exist nevertheless in the line, and on one of these
currents ceasing the other will not require a certain time to establish itself, as
is the case where the circuit is not constantly closed, and further a derived
earth current will discharge the line more completely and quicker than a
simple interruption. For a short circuit the two batteries should be about
equal, but the neutralizing battery should increase in greater proportion than
the transmitting battery if the length of the circuit is increased; for a line of
a thousand miles the neutralizing battery should be nearly double that of the
transmitting battery. I would further remark, especially for a local current,
that an induction current may be employed with advantage from its in-
stantaneous action.
The chief features of the Invention are,-
1st, the mode of reducing a number of electrical communications to a less
number of contacts.
2ndly, transmitting messages by the aid of characters of spécial form.
3rdly, making the manipulator form part of the telegraphic apparatus.
4thly, lengthening the duration of the 'line current by connecting it with the
cam axis.
5thly, forming relays with an electro-magnet acting by repulsion and
current of long duration.
6thly, transmitting with a constantly closed circuit.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Alexander Clark
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th December 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
CLARK, of Rathbone Place, in the County of Middlesex, Executor of William
Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, also in the County of Middlesex, who departed
this life on the 26th day of September, 1867, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto him,
the said William Clark, Her special licence that he, the said William
Clark, his, executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as he, the
said William Clark, his 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
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS," a communication to him from abroad by
Secondo Roos, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that he, the said William Clark, his executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under his, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manuer 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 Alexander Clark, as such Executor
aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet.
of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon
(that is to say) —
The improved telegraphic manipulator forming the subject of the present
Invention is based on the number of electrical communications which may be,
obtained by combining two and two a certain number of electric contact
points. With seven contacts 21 points of communication may be obtained,
28 with eight contacts, 36 with nine contacts, and so on.
For example, supposing there are eight contacts, t
the electrical communi

page_text: cations will be twenty-eight in number, and which I dispose around the
interior of a circular box, shown in, the flat at Figure 1 of the annexed
Drawing, each of these communications is composed of two contacts, one for
the positive electrode of the battery, and the other for the negative electrode.
The box, Figure 1, is provided with a part, Figure 2, fitted to turn therein,
having two spring projections forming the electrodes of the battery, and which
effect contact with the points of communication, During the time the eight
contacts are isolated the one from the other the circuit of the battery will not be
closed in any of the positions of the rotating part in the box, but if two of
these contacts are placed in communication the circuit will be closed for one
and one only of the 28 positions assumed by the said rotating part, this is
précisely indicated by the position of the two contacts in combination. A
galvanometer placed between the rotating part and the battery indicates the
passage of said part over the communication corresponding to the two contacts
communicating one with the other. If instead of a galvanometer a telegraphic
apparatus be placed between the rotating part and the battery eight contacts
will be sufficient, which may be placed in communication two and two in
every possible position, so as to produce 28 distinct signals; and if the appa
ratus is to produce a greater number of, signals, 36 for example, nine contacts
will be required.
Apparatus may be variously arranged for establishing communication
between the contact points in pairs for producing a system of telegraphic
transmission to be operated either by hand or in a self-acting manner.
The following arrangement of this Invention is one of the most suitable for
facilitating the transmission of messages by self-acting means: The characters
or type are first set up in a composing stick to form the message to be
dispatched, each of which characters have two inclined surfaces at their upper
part, which for eight contacts have each a thickness equal to that of the
character itself, and one-eighth of its total length; they are further differently
disposed ou each of the divisions in eighths of the length of the character, so
as to form twenty-eight combinations. In order to facilitate the composition
and correction of the message I may stamp on the lower part of the
character the letter to which the combination corresponds.
The com
posing stick is then placed in an appäratus which, by the aid of an endless
chain set in motion by a weight, slides it along under a comb having eight
teeth or small levers disposed só as to correspond exactly with the inclines of
the characters, which teeth are raised by said inplines in order thus to
establish communication between the electrical contact paints, Figure 3,
which are for this purpose in communication with the circular box. In order

page_text: to apply the manipulator to a Hughes' telegraphic apparatus I replace the box
containing the studs and the keyboard by the circular box of communication,
also substituting the rotating part arranged according to this Invention for the
one now used, the bevil wheel of which is mounted on the axis of the part
shown at Figure 2. I further unite by means of a cable composed of eight
wires the eight lower contact points of the box with the eight contact:
points of the comb, these consist of eight springs on which the levers bear
when they are raised by the projecting parts of the characters, and so
establish the required communications for the transmission of messages.:
In order to connect the two apparatus the composing stick is formed
of two racks having teeth inclined in opposite directions. On a line with
the teeth of the comb are mounted two pawls connected together in such
manner that when one is raised the other falls into gear, as shown in
Figure 4. One of these pawls serves to arrest the motion of the composing
stick, for which purpose it is provided with a lever arm, the end forming.
the armature of an electro-magnet acting by repulsion; this is effected.
either by employing an ordinary and a permanent magnet in combination, or
by an electro-magnet with double bobbins, or it may be a single bobbin with
double wire and a permanent current circulating in one of the bobbins or in
one of the two wires. In this manner the armature cannot be detached from
the electro-magnet except by the action of a spring in sufficient tension, which
is produced every time a current neutralizes or diminishes to a sufficient extent.
the action of the electro-magnet retaining the armature. The current, which.
is a local one, is derived from the telegraphic apparatus by means of an
appendage on the armature of the electro-magnet, which establishes an electric.
contact, the duration being determined by an adjusting screw. The second.
pawl serves with the second rack to return the parts to position, that is, with.
the armature in contact. It will thus be seen that the manipulator cannot
pass from one letter to another until the first shall have been transmitted by
the telegraphic apparatus. The current established by the manipulator only
continues during the time of passing the rotating part before referred to over
one of the divisions of the box, it is consequently insufficient as a line current ;
and in order to obtain a current of sufficient duration, and that can be regu-
lated at will, I adapt a cam on the prolongation of the cam axis, which in its
motion raises a spring, and causes it to bear against an electric contact point
so as to establish a line current during the whole time the cam axis is in
motion if necessary. This mode of establishing a line current provides a
means of corresponding at great distances by means of a Hughes' apparatus.
with relays, which does not in any way alter the conditions in the transmission

page_text: of the current. The relay consists simply of a wheel train in which the last
axis turns at a speed about equal to that of the cam axis, and for which the
In order to increase
armature of the electro-magnet serves as a disconnector.
the rate of transmission it is preferable to have the circuit constantly closed.
This mode requires the two batteries to be arranged as follows:--The first or
transmitting battery with one of the two poles of the line, and the other pole
united to the contrary pole of the second or neutralizing battery, the second
pole of which is in the earth. In this manner the transmission is effected by
a current derived from the earth, and operated by the spring of the cam axis
at the point of junction of the contrary poles of the two batteries. In a state
of rest the effect of the transmitting battery is neutralized by the second
battery, but at the moment that the transmission takes place. the spring
operating a current derived from the earth two distinct circuits are established,
one local from the neutralizing battery and the other of the line from the
transmitting battery. The great speed obtained by this current is due to the
fact that in a state of rest the two currents, although they are not manifest,
still exist nevertheless in the line, and on one of these currents ceasing, the
other being firmly established, will not require a certain time for effecting the
same, as is the case where the circuit is not constantly closed, and further a
derived earth current will discharge the line more completely and quicker than
a simple interruption. For a short circuit the two batteries should be about
equal, but the neutralizing battery should increase in greater proportion than
the transmitting battery if the length of the circuit is increased; for a line of a
thousand miles the neutralizing battery should be nearly double that of the
transmitting battery. I would further remark, especially for a local current
that an induction current may be employed with advantage from its instan-
taneous action.
The following are modifications which may be made in the apparatus of
this Invention.
First, the external motor may be dispensed with, the composing sticks
being set in motion by the direct action of the local current on an electro-
magnet A, Figure 5, acting by attraction on the armature B forming a pro-
longation of the pawls C, C', regulating the motion of the composing sticks D;
in this case, in order to avoid friction, the latter travels on rollers G. In
order to facilitate the construction of the composing sticks, the two toothed
racks may be dispensed with and one be used instead, as at H, gearing with a
pinion P; in the same the pawls act on the two ratchet wheels R with teeth
set in inclined directions mounted on the same axis as the pinion, Figure 5.
Secondly, I may dispense with a greater part of the printing mechanism;

page_text: for which purpose I give the composing sticks D' a form similar to that of
jacquard plates, that is, I perforate them in regular series of eight holes with
sufficient space between for the rack, see Figure 6, the composition of the
messages being effected by the aid of small adjustable pegs M, Figure 7, two
for each row, which are introduced into the holes, and so as to reproduce the
same combinations as the characters. In this manner not only is almost
nine-tenths of the material reduced, but the distribution of the characters is
entirely dispensed with, as it is only necessary to turn the composing stick in
order to decompose the message.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the mode of reducing a number of electrical communications to a less
number of contacts, as before described.
Secondly, transmitting messages by the aid of characters of the special form
described.
Thirdly, making the manipulator form part of the telegraphic apparatus.
Fourthly, lengthening the duration of the line current by connecting it with
the cam axis.
Fifthly, forming relays with an electro-magnet acting by repulsion and
current of long duration.
Sixthly, transmitting with a constantly closed circuit.
Seventhly, utilizing the regulating current for producing the motion of the
composing stick.
Eighthly, the improved form of composing stick whereby the mechanism
required for the transmission of messages may be reduced to a minimum.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Clark, as such Executor, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
ALTVR
'זתיזם
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