Improvements in Electrically Controlled Unison Motors.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted, 29th Nov., 1887
Improvements in Electrically Controlled Unison Motors.
A communication from JAMES FRANCIS MCLAUGHLIN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America, Electrician.
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved automatic electro-mechanical unison-motor.
In the accompanying drawings which form an essential part of this application
certain devices are shown which are sufficient for carrying out this invention; however
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to special appliances.
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing in elevation the essential features of
this invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the train of wheels of a clock movement geared
to and operating the upright shaft.
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section showing the different parts in side
elevation.
Figure 4 is a detail view in elevation of the magnets, local electrical connections,
armature, contact brushes &c.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 6 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation of a speed
governor for the instrument.
Figure 7 is a diagrammatical view showing conventionally two of the transmitters
for electrical type writers respectively located at two extremities of an open line
circuit and having each one of the unison motors in position to operate its central
shaft and included in the electrical circuit.
Like numbers of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views of the
drawings.
1 indicates a suitable upright frame supporting the different parts of the
instrument.

page_text: The train of wheels comprising the clock work movement are set into motion by the
large pinion or gear wheel 2 which is mounted loosely on the winding shaft 3 and
is provided with a pawl dog 4 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 5
which in turn is either keyed rigidly upon the shaft 3 or formed integral with the
drum 6 which is also rigidly mounted upon the shaft 3.
The ratchet wheel 5 is revolved normally by the cord 7 provided with a depending
weight 8 as shown more clearly in Figure 1. However it will bo apparent that the
equivalent of such construction would be a spring suitably arranged for normally
rotating said drum.
The wheel 2 meshes with the small pinion 8 on the shaft of which is a wheel
gearing with a pinion 9 which is mounted rigidly on the shaft 10 which carries the
governor wheel 11, the contact wheel 12 and the bevel
gear 13.
Upon a suitable projecting step bracket 14 is journalled the lower end of the
upright or vertical shaft 28 carrying on its upper end a universal joint 15 connecting
with the extension shaft arm 16, and provided near its journal bearing with a rigidly
keyed bevel pinion 17 as shown in Figure 3.
18 designates the speed governor which consists of two adjustable wings 19, 19,
vertically pivoted in the adjustable cross bar 20.
23, 23 are two curved springs respectively secured at one end to the under side
of the cross bar 20 by a small rivet and has its other bifurcated extremity suitably
fitted upon the head of each of the bolts 22 22 so that their tension will exert sufficient
pressure on each of the pivot pins 21, 21 to prevent the resistance of the air from
displacing the set position of the wings 19 19 (see Figure 6).
Upon and near the upper end of the governor shaft 24 is mounted securely a
circular collar or support 25 which forms a seat or bearing for the cross bar 20.
26 is a spring friction clutch which is secured on the shaft 24 by the pin 27 and bears
on the cross bar 20 equally on each side thereof; thereby preventing the said cross-
bar from being dislodged or turned by the revolution of the wings.
The shaft 24 is suitably supported in a rectangular frame 60 which is fastened to
the framework 1.
61 is a small pinion keyed on the lower end of the said shaft 24 and meshes with
the large wheel 11 by which construction rotary motion is transmitted to the governor
shaft.
governor
As shown in Figure 2 the shaft 28 is attached suitably on the end of the
shaft 24 in any convenient manner thereby simplifying the construction and dispensing
with the pinions 13 and 17 and the bracket 14.
The contact wheel 12 is as before stated journalled rigidly upon the shaft or
arbor 10 by a pin 29 which passes through an insulated transverse aperture 30 or
may be provided with an exterior sleeve of hard rubber or other insulation (see
Figures 3, 4 and 5).
The drum or wheel 12 is also insulated by a sleeve of hard rubber or other
insulating material 31 from the shaft 10 as shown in the above mentioned figures.
At any suitable point upon the periphery of the contact wheel 12 is imbedded or
otherwise secured a platinum contact pin or projection 32 as shown in Figures 1, 4
and 5; the object of which will be fully explained hereinafter.
33 designates an electro magnet provided with the usual yoke piece 34 which is
suitably fastened by screws or rivets to a non magnetic supporting bracket 35 which
in turn is supported conveniently and in proper relative location upon the frame
work 1 of the instrument (see Figures 1 and 4).
The armature 36 of the electro magnet is fastened in substantially a parallel plane
to the poles of the said magnet upon the armature lever 37 which is pivotally attached
at its lower end to an upright base on the bracket frame 35 and is provided at its
upper end with a platinum contact point 38 adapted to engage the pin 32 when its
lever is in its normal position.
39 is a suitable retracting spring adjustably secured at one end by a set screw 40 to
the bracket frame and is attached at its other end to the lever 37.
41, 41 are suitable adjusting screws supported and properly located in the frame

page_text: work 1 as shown and arranged as to be so adjusted with reference to the lever 37 as
to limit or restrict its play or reciprocation.
42 and 43 are two metallic contact brushes which are each fixed to and insulated
from the frame work 1 at their outer ends and bear respectively by their inner free
ends upon the drum or wheel 12; the brush 42 being in circuit with the battery 52
through any suitable circuit closer and switch, by wire 44 and the brush 43 in
circuit with the line and electro magnet 33 through binding posts 45 and wire 46
(see Figure 4).
47 indicates the wire electrically connecting the magnet 33 with the armature
lever 37.
By reference to Figure 5 of the drawings the tread of the drum or wheel 12 is
sufficiently wide to allow the pin 32 to be on one side of the line of contact of 'the
brushes 42 and 43.
In the said lines of contact and upon the periphery of the wheel 12 is let or inserted
a piece of insulation 49 whose surface conforms to the curvature of the surface of the
said wheel. This insulation piece 49 is so located with relation to the pin 32 that the
brush 43 will engage or pass thereupon just before and also at the time the pin 32 is
arrested by the end of the lever 37.
In explanation of the diagram or theoretical view shown in Figure 7 it will be seen
that two of the transmitters A and B before mentioned are locally and electrically
connected with a synchronal motor of the construction previously described, the line
between the station instruments A and B extending between the binding posts 45, 45
of the respective motors.
When the current passes through the inner brush arun 54 it is conducted down
through said shaft to another stationary brush arm 57 fixed to the side of the casing
and then as herein shown after passing through the circuit and the two motors
connected with the instruments A and B and influencing the relative operation of
said motors in a manner to be hereinafter described the current will pass through the
instrument B in an inverse order to that in instrument A and the segments and their
superincumbent springs, being raised up against the retracting springs 51, the current
passes through the said springs (they all being in contact and the brush rotating in
contact therewith) out down to a suitable switch as shown, the lever of which
is properly adjusted; thus the said current traverses through the said
switch and up around the transmitter B into an electro magnet 58 which
is located in proximity to a soft iron disc 59 also rigidly keyed to the central
shaft 56 of the instrument B; said magnet having its converted lower pole brought
around and up parallel and above the upper pole; therefore the disc will in its
revolution rotate centrally in the magnetic field between said poles and the current
previously described as having energized the magnet causes the attraction of said disc
thereby arresting the rotation of the central shaft with the two parallel arms attached
thereto respectively at the segment of the key and the key corresponding to the key
depressed at the other end of the line. The current upon the release of the current
closing key at instrument A then escapes from the magnet by a second wire which
connects with the switch, the lever of which being properly pointed allows the said
current to pass therethrough to ground.
It will be obvious that since the motor electrically connected with the instruments A
and B are upon a normally open circuit the armature lever 37 of each will be in its
normal inactive position and the pin or projection 32 on contact wheel 12 will be
obstructed by and supported upon the end of the said lever 37 thereby holding the
upright shafts 28 and 56 motionless.
In order to render the subsequent operation entirely comprehensive it will be
supposed that the instrument A has been used to transmit over the line to instru-
ment B and that during such operation no discrepancy of relative action has existed
then in accordance therewith the operation would be as follows:-
When the key 50 of the instrument A is depressed by the operator (as shown in
Figure 7) the circuit will be closed from the battery 52, and as the shaft 56 and
consequently the shaft 28 of the motor are both idle and the assumption being that

page_text: each pin 32, 32 of the respective motors is resting on the end of the lever 37 the
current will simultaneously pass from the retracting spring 51 through spring 53 its
corresponding segment; the brush 54; shaft 56; stationary brush 57; and wire 44
to the motor brush 42; contact wheel 12, pin 32, lever 37, wire 47, magnet 33,
binding post 45; line; binding post 45 of the motor of the instrument B and through
the said motor in an inverse order to that at the other end of the line; thereby
simultaneously energizing the respective electro-magnets 33, 33 causing the attraction
of their armatures and consequently the instantaneous withdrawal of the levers 37, 37;
which action will allow both of the contact wheels 12, 12 to start off simultaneously.
To give the train of mechanism an initial start or impetus the operator will first
observe the location of the trailing arm upon the segments and will accordingly
depress the key corresponding to such segment in order to close the circuit for releasing
the armature lever from the escapement pin.
In this operation it will be understood that the current passes from the brush 42
through the wheel 12 and pin 32 to the lever 37 and inversely because the
brushes 43, 43 are upon the insulations 49, 49.
Now suppose that after the contact wheels 12, 12 at both extremities of the line are
started off together by the simultaneous withdrawal of the levers 37 the wheel 12 of
the motor of the instrument A is slightly in advance or is revolving at a greater rate
of speed than the corresponding contact wheel of the motor connected with the
instrument B; and furthermore it will be premised that during such revolution and
just at the time the contact wheel which is in advance completes its revolution, another
key 50 is struck by the operator at instrument A. Then in this case the current will
traverse the same path as before described up to the binding post 45 at the other end
of the line; but the circuit will be there broken inasmuch as the pin 32 has not yet
made contact with the lever 37 and as the brush 43 is already sufficiently upon the
insulation 49, to prevent the completion of the circuit therethrough; the said
insulation piece being as before stated of the required size to allow the brush 43 to be
thereupon at a time before the engagement of the pin 32 with the lever 37 equal to
the maximum difference of speed that can arise between any two motors shaft during
one revolution of either of them.
Therefore the line will be substantially open-circuited until the pin 32 of the contact
wheel 12 of the motor connected with instrument B making engagement or contact
with the lever 37 and when such contact is made the circuit will be completed from
battery 52 throughout the line to ground and the respective magnets 33 will be
simultaneously energized causing their respective armatures to be instantaneously
attracted and thereby permitting the contact wheels 12, 12 at both extremities of the
line to again start off at the same moment irrespective of any difference of meridian
time that may exist between places in which the instruments are respectively
located.
Upon the release of the key depressed, the circuit will be again broken the magnets
de-energized and the respective levers 37, 37, will be restored to their normal positions
obstructing the paths of their pins 32, 32, by the retractibility of the springs 39, 39.
Again it will be supposed that on the other hand the contact wheel 12 of the motor
of instrument B is somewhat in advance of the other at distant extremity of line, then
it will be obvious that the circuit will be open at the said corresponding contact wheel
at the other extremity until its pin 32 engages the contact points on the upper end of
the lever 37 at which time the circuit will be completed and the operation will be
identical with that just described.
The brushes 43 are only utilized to complete the circuit when one or more keys are
depressed during the interim of time while the contact wheels 12, 12 are revolving as
they (the brushes 43, 43) are not then upon the insulations 49, 49.
If there exists no discrepancy in speed between the two motors at the respective
extremities of the line it will be obvious that the circuit for the current will be con-
tinuously closed even though the respective pins 32, 32, are not in engagement with the
armature lever inasmuch as the brush 43 at one end is never upon the insulation
except when the pin 32 is in engagement with the armature lover.

page_text: By means of the speed governor 18 the motor may be so arranged as to revolve at
and rate of speed desirable by adjusting the wings 19, 19 at different angles to the
cross bar 20.
The universal joints 15, 15 are designed to allow the shafts 56, 56 sufficient
vertical and lateral motion when their discs 59, 59 are attracted by the poles of the
electro magnets 58, 58.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The means for synchronously revolving two or more separated shafts which
consists essentially of a train of wheels or other suitable mechanism for imparting and
transmitting rotary motion respectively to each of said separated shafts, a metallic
insulated drum or wheel revolved by the same mechanism herein before mentioned
and provided on its tread or periphery with a current conducting projecting pin or
stud and having a portion of its periphery of or formed of insulating material; the
two contact brushes or equivalent devices bearing normally at separate and relative
points upon the periphery of said drum or wheel and electrically connected substan-
tially in the manner described; an electro magnet included in the electrical line
circuit; a pivoted lever provided with the armature of the said electro magnet and
adapted to normally obstruct the passage of the current conducting pin; the electrical
connections; means for making and breaking the circuit and a suitable source of
electricity the whole being arranged to operate substantially as specified.
2. The two instruments respectively located at two extremities of a line circuit and
each consisting essentially of suitable mechanism for rotating their respective main
shafts; a metallic drum or wheel also rotated by said mechanism having a portion of
its periphery formed of or provided with insulation for the purpose described; a
current conducting pin or stud located also upon the periphery of said wheel at a
certain distance from the insulations; two contact brushes or equivalents normally
bearing at relative and different points upon the said drum or wheel and included in
an electrical circuit; an electro magnet also included in the said circuit; a pivoted
reciprocating lever carrying the armature of the electro-magnet and adapted to obstruct
the path of the before mentioned current, conducting pin or stud when in its normal
inactive position; and the electrical connections within the said instruments in com-
bination with the line circuit; means for making and breaking said circuit and a
suitable source of electricity.
3. The two instruments or motors respectively located at two extremities of a line
circuit and each consisting essentially of suitable mechanism for rotating their
respective main shafts; a speed governor for controlling the speed of said main shafts;
a metallic drum or wheel also rotated by said mechanism having a portion of its
periphery formed of or provided with insulation for the purpose described; a current
conducting pin or stud located also upon the periphery of said wheel at a certain
distance from the insulation; two contact brushes or their equivalents normally
bearing at relative and different points upon the said drum or wheel and included in
the electrical circuit; an electro magnet also included in said circuit; a pivoted
metallic reciprocating lever carrying the armature of the said electro magnet and
adapted to obstruct the path of the before mentioned current conducting pin
when in its normal inactive position; and the electrical connections within the said
instruments in combination with an electrical line circuit; and a suitable source of
electricity.
or stud
4. The combination of two wheels or drums each mounted upon and insulated from
a rotating shaft and each having a portion of its periphery provided with insulation ;
two metallic pins or studs secured respectively upon the peripheries of said wheels or
drums; two pairs of contact brushes or their equivalents, bearing respectively in pairs
upon the drums or wheels at different points; two electro magnets located each in
proximity to its respective armature; two armatures respectively affixed to two
reciprocating pivoted levers; two metallic reciprocating pivoted levers adapted each to

page_text: normally obstruct the path of each of the current conducting pins or studs; the
respective electrical connections; means for making and breaking the circuit; and a
suitable source of electricity as shown and described.
5. The combination of the metallic drum or wheel mounted on and insulated from
a rotating shaft and having a portion of its periphery formed of insulation; a metallic
pin or stud secured at a predetermined point upon the periphery of the drum or
wheel; the shaft; means for rotating same; the contact brushes bearing normally
at relative and different points upon the said drum or wheel; an electro magnet; a
pivoted reciprocating metallic lever carrying the armature of the said electro magnet
and adapted to normally obstruct the path of the metallic pin or stud; the electrical
connections; the circuit; and a circuit closer as specified.
6. The combination of the train of wheels actuated by a suitable motive power;
the main shaft of the motor provided with an universal joint for the purpose described;
an adjustable speed governor arranged to control the rate of speed of the said motor
shaft and the electro mechanical devices for intermittently arresting and correcting
the speed of the main shaft and its actuating mechanism substantially as shown
and specified.
;
7. The combination of an electro magnet in circuit with its armature; an armature
pivotally supported opposite to its electro magnet; a pivoted reciprocating metallic
lever carrying said armature and provided with suitable retracting springs; a drum
or wheel having a portion of its periphery formed of insulation and provided with a
metallic projecting pin or stud; said wheel or drum being in circuit with a source of
electricity through a suitable device for making and breaking the circuit from said
source; the two contact brushes normally bearing at relative and different points on
the periphery of said drum; means for making and breaking said circuit; and the
circuit as specified.
8. The combination of the two motors of the construction substantially as described
and located respectively, at separate extremities of a line circuit and each having a
clockwork mechanism operating by a weight or its equivalent; a speed governor; a
main shaft provided with a drum having a portion of its periphery formed of insulation
and provided with a current conducting pin at a relative distance from said insulation;
the contact brushes bearing normally at relative and different points upon the said
drum; and the electro mechanical devices such as shown for synchronously controlling
and automatically correcting the relative speed of said motors; with a line circuit and
means for making and breaking said circuit as specified.
9. The combination with an insulated drum or wheel having a piece of insulation
located upon its periphery of current conducting pin located also upon the periphery
of said drum or wheel at a relative distance from the insulation; mechanisin for
normally rotating said drum or wheel; two contact brushes bearing normally upon the
periphery of said drum at relative and different points, and out of line with the current
conducting pin; the electro mechanical auxiliary escapement devices; the circuit, and
a suitable source of electricity as specified.
Dadh: 19th J
1 1007