An Improved Light Field Telegraph.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left 19th May, 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Light Field Telegraph.
I, ALEXANDER GLEN, of the Middle Temple, Barrister at Law do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus consists of a pair of light collapsible reels made with canes, a light
twin telegraph cable in lengths which can be conveniently carried in coils round men's
shoulders when not connected with the instruments & two sets of instruments (battery,
&
Morse key, & telephone). The reel has an iron or steel tube for its axis. It opens
collapses after the manner of an umbrella by sliding along the axis a block to which half
of the canes are hinged at one end. There is a spring catch to the block to hold the reel
open. The rest of the canes are hinged at one end to a block fixed on the axis. The
canes attached to one block cross those attached to the other & project so as to guide the
cable to the middle of the reel when winding it up. At one end of the axis there is a
crank with a handle, & also a loose handle through which the axis passes for the
person winding to carry in his left hand. At the other end of the axis there is another
handle to be carried by the person with the instruments. Two wires connected with
these instruments pass through the bandle to two flat concentric rings let into the
end of it, which constantly touch two brushes or strips of brass fixed to a wooden
block attached to the axis. Each length of cable is fitted at each end with a ferrule
to which one of the wires or sets of wire of the cable is soldered. The ferrule has a
pin inside & insulated from it, to which the other wire or set of wires of the cable is
soldered. Two lengths of cable are connected by inserting the ferrules into the ends
of a connecting tube, to which they are held by a bayonet catch, while an insulated
tube inside it connects the pins in the ferrules. The length of cable on the reel is
connected with the two brushes or strips of brass on the axis by similar connecting
tubes which are in contact with them.
With this apparatus a telegraph line can be quickly laid whereon men on foot can
go, a fresh coil of cable being placed on the reel as soon as the last is unwound. It
can be quickly picked up, each length of cable being disconnected & taken off the reel
as soon as it is wound up, & the next length connected with the reel.
Messages can pass (by means of the running contact through the handle of the reel)
while the line is being laid or picked up at either end or at both ends.
Dated this 10th day of August 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Light Field Telegraph.
I, ALEXANDER GLEN, of New Court in the Middle Temple, London, Barrister-at-
Law, 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:
The said apparatus enables a temporary line of telegraphic or telephonic communi-
cation to be rapidly laid, and after being laid, to be rapidly removed, over any ground
over which men can pass, without any material interruption of communication through
the line while the same is being laid or picked up at either end or at both ends at the
same time.
Such apparatus consists of the following parts:
:-
(1) Pieces of light twin telegraph cable, or cable with two wires or sets of
wire insulated from each other. Each piece should be at least half a mile long,
but must not be too heavy to be conveniently carried by a man when. coiled
into a hank. Each piece of cable has a plug" at each end. This plug
consists of a brass tube, inch long & inch external diameter, filled with

page_text: hard insulating material, and with a brass pin inch thick passing through it and
projecting about an inch beyond each end of it. One wire or set of wires of the
cable is connected with the inside of the tube, and the other wire or set of wires is
connected with the pin. The end of the cable should be passed into the tube and
through a hole in one side of it then round the outside of the tube to the opposite side
and through another hole into the tube again, before the wires are connected in order
to relieve the connexions from any strain; and the connections should be covered
with gutta percha for protection. The end of the pin which projects from the front
of the plug is split in order to ensure a better contact with the connector
mentioned below. A short pin projects from the side of the plug to hold it to
the connector.
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(2) Connectors, for rapidly connecting the pieces of cable. The connector
consists of a brass tube about two inches long and of half an inch internal diameter,
into each end of which one of the "plugs" above mentioned will fit, filled up to half
an inch from each end with hard insulating material, and having along the centre of
such material a brass tube of th inch internal diameter into which the split pin project-
ing from the plug fits. The outer tube has a right angled slot cut in it at each end into
which the short pin projecting from the side of the plug fits so that when the plug is
put into the connector and turned round slightly it is held as by a bayonet catch.
(3) A pair of light collapsible reels for winding and unwinding the cable. The
reel has an iron or steel tube for an axis, three feet long and inch external diameter.
At one end is a crank and handle for winding, and a loose handle through which the
axis passes; and at the other is another loose handle through which the axis passes.
A nut is screwed on each end of the axis. The axis also passes through two metal
blocks, one of which is fixed near the last mentioned handle, and the other of which
slides on the other end of the axis. Two set of canes, about inch diameter, and
2 feet 6 inches long are hinged to these blocks and to each other by pins passing
through them in such a manner that when the moveable block is pushed towards the
fixed block the canes open or spread out (after the manner of an umbrella with the
short ribs lengthened so as to cross the long ribs at right angles when opened) and
form a reel on which the cable may be wound, and when the block is pushed up to the
loose handle near the crank the canes lie parallel and close to the axis. The number
of canes is not material, six or eight hinged to each block will be sufficient: brass
tubes or ferrules are fitted to the ends of them and round the points where they cross
to prevent the pins from splitting them. The moveable block has a spring catch to
hold the reel open. This catch consists of a lever with two holes, through either of
which a pin projecting from the side of the axis will pass; the reel being held quite
open (for winding up the cable) when the pin passes through the hole nearest to the
block, and not quite open (for on winding the cable) when it passes through the other.
A wooden block is fixed to the axis between the fixed metal block and the handle at
that end, and from the face of this wooden block next the handle two concentric flat
metal rings pressed outwards by springs, or two metal brushes not in metallic conduct
with each other, project so as to be in continual contact while the reel is turned with two
flat metal rings let into the end of the handle opposite to them. The half of a
" connector above described is fixed to the wooden block, and the outer ring or
brush is connected by a wire or strip of metal with the outer tube of this connector,
and the inner ring or brush is connected in like manner with the inner tube of the
connector, or the inner ring or brush may be connected with the axis while a pin
passing through the axis fits into the inner tube of the connector. The two rings at
the end of the handle are connected by wires passing along through the handle with
the inner and outer tubes respectively of another half "connector" fixed to the other
end of the handle. So that if the plug at the end of one piece of cable be inserted
into the connector on the wooden block and the plug at the end of another piece into
the connector on the handle, electric currents can pass from either wire or set of wires
of one piece of cable to the corresponding wire or set of wires of the other without
interruption while the reel is being turned and the handle held fast.
"
(4) Two sets of instruments. Each set consists of a battery such as small sealed

page_text: Le Clanché cell, a Morse key, and a telephone. The battery may be carried in a case
or pouch attached to a man's belt, the key being in the case over the battery, and a
pocket in front of it holding the telephone, and the short piece of. cable mentioned
below when not in actual use. It is convenient to use a flat telephone with a strap.or
elastic band to pass round the head and hold the telephone to the ear of the operator.
One wire of the telephone is connected with one pole of the battery and with one
wire or set of wires in a short piece of cable about 18 inches long, and the other wire
from the telephone is connected with the front of the Morse key. The other pole of
the battery is connected with the back of the key under the thumb piece, and the
second wire or set of wires of the short piece of cable is connected with the middle of
the key. The outer end of the short piece of cable is fitted with a plug in the manner
already described so that it may be connected either with the connector on the handle
of a reel, or (for a fixed telegraph station) with a connector on the end of a cable.
The connexions above mentioned are such that when the key of either set. of
instruments is pressed down, an electric current passes from one pole of the
battery under that key along one wire or set of wires of the cable through the
telephone of the other set of instruments and back by the, other wire or set of wires
of the cable to the other pole of the battery. The telephones might if required be. so
connected as to be used for communication by voice without the Morse key. If more
than about 2 miles of cable are to be paid out a stronger battery will be required..
To pay out the cable one piece which has previously been coiled by means of the
reel into a hank of the proper size, is placed on one of the reels while closed, the reel.
is then opened and the spring catch holding the pin on the axis at the first hole
prevents it from closing again. The plug on the outer end of the hank is connected
with the instruments of the station which is to remain behind and the plug on the
inner end of the hank is put into the connector on the fixed wooden block on the axis
of the reel. The operator puts the plug which is on the end of his short piece of
cable into the connector on the handle of the reel and holds that handle in his right
hand, or if the handle is provided with a hook or strap. may fasten it to his belt.
Another man takes the loose handle at the other end of the axis of the reel in his left
hand and as these two move away the cable is paid out behind them. Other hanks of
cable are carried over their shoulders by the same and if necessary additional men..
When one piece of cable is paid out the reel is closed a fresh hank is placed over it,
and the reel opened. The plug at the end of the cable paid out is then taken from
the connector on the wooden block on the reel and placed in a connector on the outer
end of the fresh hank, and the plug on the inner end of that hank is placed in the
connector on the wooden block. The paying out of the fresh hank may then be
proceeded with.
To pick up the cable, the reel is opened to the full extent, the plug at the end of
the cable on the ground is put into the connector on the wooden block on the reel,
and the operators short cable is connected with the handle. The two men then follow
the line of the cable, the man on the right holding the second loose handle in his left
hand and turning the crank handle with his right. The projecting ends of the canes
guide the cable to the centre of the reel, and enable the men to pick it up while
moving rapidly. When a piece of cable is wound up, it is disconnected and the next
piece is connected with the reel. The reel is then closed, and the hank taken off, and
may if required be given to a spare man to carry forward to the station in front. The
next piece of cable is then wound up in the same manner. The hanks before being
taken off the reel should have one or more straps fastened round them, that they may
keep their shape and size, and not become entangled.
The annexed drawings show the mode of construction of the plugs and connectors
and of the collapsible reel hereinbefore mentioned ; & the following table explains the..
letters of reference used in such drawings.

page_text: ging cares together,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that
I do not claim
(1) The application of a running or continuous electrical contact to the end of a
telegraph line whereby communication may be carried on continuously while the 2
telegraph station is moving.
(2) The winding or unwinding of a line on or from a reel carried by men.
The use of a light twin cable in connexion with telegraphic or telephonic
apparatus.
(4) The method described in the paragraph numbered 4 of connecting or joining up a
telephones batteries and Morse keys.
(5) The method of connecting two electric wires or sets of wires with two other
wires or sets of wires by means of a plug and tubes.
(6) The mode above described of making a reel so as to open, keep open, and close,
as required.
But I declare that what I claim is:
(1) I claim the method of laying and removing a telegraph or telephone line
rapidly by means of a cable divided into lengths which can be conveniently carried
by men on foot without any cart or barrow, and which are so prepared that they can
be instantly connected with or disconnected from each other or the instruments,
substantially as above described.
(2) I claim the method of laying and removing a telegraph or telephone line by
winding the same by lengths or pieces off or on a collapsible reel sufficiently light to
be carried quickly by two men on foot, and so constructed that the system of line
and apparatus is constantly ready for the transmission of messages during the opera-
tion of laying or removing the line, substantially as above described.
(3) I claim the combination of pieces of light twin cable, plugs, connectors, light
collapsible reel, running or continuous contact for two currents through the handle
between the cable on the reel and the cable leading to the instruments, and portable
set of telegraphic or telephonic instruments, for rapidly laying and removing a field
telegraph for military or other purposes substantially as above described.
Dated this Nineteenth day of May 1890.
ALEXR, GLEN.