IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Timothy Morris and Robert Weare, both of Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, Electricians, and Edward Henry
Cradock Monckton, of Fineshade, in the County of Northampton,
Esquire, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 20th June 1862, and dated the 21st December 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Timothy Morris, Robert'
Weare, and Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, at the Office of the'
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 21st December
1861.
We, TIMOTHY MORRIS and ROBERT WEARE, both of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Electricians, and EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of
Fineshade, in the County of Northampton, Esquire, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHIC
COMMUNICATION, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH":-
According to our Invention the electrical current employed in communi-
cating signals is obtained by the medium of an induction coil, of the following.
novel construction:-Upon an iron core or a bundle of iron wires, two or more
layers of thick insulated copper wire or insulated copper ribbon are to be
[Price 8MM

page_text: coiled, one end of this wire or ribbon is attached to one side of a voltaic
battery, the other end is connected to one side of an automaton break of a
novel construction, and the other side of this break is attached to the other
side of the battery.
The improvements in this break are of such a nature as to render it self-
cleaning, whereby a more uniform action is obtained. Instead of causing a
spring to come in contact with a pin, as is generally done, we make the break
spring in two parts, or divide it so that the break pin passes between the slit
of the spring or between the two springs, by which means the friction keeps
the surfaces clean, thereby making better contact between the battery and
primary wire orribbon; to this break is attached what we term a "condenser,"
which is constructed as follows:-Sheets of gutta percha, india-rubber, or
varnished paper, or other insulating materials are cut to the desired size;
upon each sheet is laid a sheet of metallic foil, such as lead, tiu, zinc, or
metallic alloy, cut a little smaller than the sheets of insulating material, and
placed alternately to extend over the insulator at one end, for the
purpose of
being connected together in such a manner that if the condenser consisted of
fifty plates or sheets, twenty-five of them would be connected together at each
end, these ends being joined to the break, as before stated. Upon the thick
wire or ribbon, and carefully insulated therefrom, we coil a fine insulated
copper wire, and between each layer we insert a sheet of gutta percha, india-
rubber, or varnished paper, and as we increase the number of layers of wire,
we increase the thickness of the insulating material. The first end of this thin
wire may be connected with a line wire of a telegraph, or to the earth con-
nection. The last end of the coil to one side of an instrument, which we term
an interruptor," and the other side of the interruptor is to be joined to the
telegraph.
. The interruptor we construct in the following manner:-1
-Upon an insulated
stand we erect two metal pillars, having connecting screws to attach the wire
from the coil and the wire from the telegraph. Upon these pillars we arrange
an adjusting screw or screws, by means of which the conducting wire is divided
and may be adjusted to any amount of separation, according to the length of
the communicating wire.
The instrument as just described may be obviously varied in detail, the
object being the same, viz., to effect a break or interruption to the induced
current, or the wire itself may be simply severed and maintained at the
requisite desired distance of separation, to afford the maximum effect, the
electric spark flowing from one wire to the other across the space of inter-
ruption.

page_text: We find that by this Invention a greater and steadier amount of deflection
of the needle is obtained in the galvanometer than by the ordinary metallic
circuit. The condenser may be formed of other materials and in other forms
than that described, the principle being the same, the object of which is to
form a reservoir for the electricity to spread over which remains in the primary
wire when contact is broken; in short, the method is a substitute for a Leyden
jar or jars, which may themselves be substituted in lieu of the condenser
described, where space is not an object.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry
Cradock Monckton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st June
1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, TIMOTHY
MORRISand ROBERT WEARE, both of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Electricians, and EDWARD HENRY CRADOCK MONCKTON, of Fineshade, in the
County of Northampton, Esquire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her Most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry Cradock Monckton,
Her special licence that we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and
Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such other as we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward
Henry Cradock Monckton, our 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SUBMARINE AND OTHER TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION, AND IN APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said
Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
per-

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and
Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention consists in improvements in telegraphic communication, and
in the apparatus employed therein.
According to our method of operating, the electric current employed in
communicating signals is obtained by the medium of an induction coil of the
following novel construction:-Upon an iron core, or a bundle of iron wires,
two or more layers of thick insulated copper wire or insulated copper
ribbon are to be coiled, one end of this wire or ribbon is attached to one
side of an automaton break of a novel construction, and the other side of this
break is attached to the other side of the battery.
The improvements in this break are of such a nature as to render it self-
cleaning, whereby a more uniform action is obtained.
Instead of causing a
spring to come in contact with a pin, as is generally done, we make the break-
spring in two parts, or divide it so that the break pin passes between the slit
of the spring or between the two springs, by which means the friction keeps
the surfaces clean, thereby making better contact between the battery aud
primary wire or ribbon; to this break is attached what is termed a "con-
denser," which is constructed as follows:-Sheets of gutta percha,india-rubber,
varnished A paper, or other insulating materials are cut to the desired size; upon
each sheet is laid a sheet of metallic foil, such as lead, tin, zinc, or a metallic
alloy, cut a little smaller than the sheets of insulating material, and placed
alternately to extend over the insulator at one end, for the purpose of being
connected together in such a manner, that if the condenser consisted of fifty
plates or sheets,twenty-five of them would be connected together at each end,
these ends being joined to the break, as before stated. Upon the thick wire
or ribbon, and carefully insulated therefrom, we coil a finer insulated copper
wire, and between each layer we insert a sheet of gutta percha, india-rubber,
or varnished paper, and as we increase the number of layers of wire we
increase the thickness of the insulating material. The first end of this thin
wire may be connected with a line wire of a telegraph or to the earth con-
nection; the last end of the coil to one side of an instrument which we term
an "interrupter," aud the other side of the "interrupter" is to be joined to
the telegraph.
The "interrupter" we construct in the following manner:-
:—Upon an

page_text: insulated stand we erect two metal pillars, having connecting screws to attach
the wire from the coil and the wire from the telegraph. Upon these pillars
we arrange an adjusting screw or screws, by means of which the conducting
wire is divided and may be adjusted to any amount of separation, according to
the length of the communicating wire.
Our Invention will be more completely understood by reference to the
Drawings hereto annexed, in which Fig. 1 represents the induction coil, con-
denser, and break; and Fig. 2, the interruptor.
A is the coil; B, the terminal from the first or inside end of the fine or
secondary wire; C, the last end of the secondary wire; the terminal B is
joined to the earth connection, the terminal C with the interrupter D, the
other screw of the interrupter is connected to the telegraph instrument H,
by means of the wire E, the other connection of the instrument H is con-
nected to the line wire or cable F, joined to the instrument I, and to the earth
connection by the wire G.
It will be observed that the insulating layers between each coil of the
secondary wire increase constantly in thickness; only a few layers are shewn
in the Drawing, but they may number from fifty to two or three hundred or
K is the con-
more, according to the number of layers of wire in the coil.
denser, in which plates or sheets of tin or other metal L are placed, and
insulating material M is inserted between each. The ends of these plates or
sheets are turned up, as shewn, and communicate alternately with each other
and with the coil. S is the break spring attached to the spring of the
hammer or armature; the break spring has a slot or division at its upper part
through which the pin or screw P penetrates, and whereby contact is
established, and vice versâ. The connections between the commutator T and
break are as ordinarily arranged. Any number of plates or sheets may be
arranged in the condenser, about seventy or eighty will be found in most
instances to afford immense power.
The interrupter as just described may be obviously varied in detail, the
object being the same, viz., to effect one, or, if necessary, more breaks or
interruptions to the induced current, or the wire itself: may be simply severed
and maintained at the requisite distance of separation to afford the maximum
effect, the electric spark flowing from one wire to the other across the space of
interruption.
By this Invention a greater and steadier amount of deflection of the needle
is obtained in the galvanometer than by the ordinary inetallic circuit, and the
needle is thus deflected steadily either to the right or left.
The condenser may be formed of other materials and in other forms than

page_text: that described, the principle being the same, the object of which is to form a
reservoir for the electricity to spread over, which remains in the primary wire
when contact is broken; in short, the method is a substitute for a Leyden jar
or jars, which may under certain circumstances themselves be used in lieu of
the condenser described, where space is not an object.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention'
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we would remark in
conclusion, that we do not limit or restrict ourselves to the precise details
herein expressed, as the same may obviously be varied or modified in various
ways without in any way departing from the principles of our Invention as
herein explained; but what we claim and desire to be secured to us by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent are, the "Improvements in Submarine
and other Telegraphic Communication, and in Apparatus connected there-
with" substantia lly in the manner herein described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Timothy Morris, Robert Weare, and
Edward Henry Cradock Monckton, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Twentieth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two
TIMOTHY MORRIS.
(L.S.)
ROBERT WEARE.
(L.S.)
E. H. C. MONCKTON. (L.s.)
no Cross