Improvements in Apparatus for the Production and Simultaneous Transmission of a Series of similar Electrical Impulses or Currents to different Termini.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for the Production and Simultaneous
Transmission of a Series of similar Electrical Impulses or
Currents to different Termini..
I GEORGE DOWNING, of 8 Quality Court Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
" IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION AND SIMULTANEOUS
TRANSMISSION OF A SERIES OF SIMILAR ELECTRICAL IMPULSES OR CURRENTS TO
DIFFERENT TERMINI" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the utilization of electrical currents it is often desirable and of great
advantage to be able to control automatically by a single apparatus a number of
electric circuits (derived either from a single or from separate sources of current)
which are entirely independent of each other, and which have termini locally or
geographically apart, in such a manner that given impulses or currents inay be
simultaneously transmitted or set up in said circuits.
An apparatus conveniently embodying a preferred form of my Invention is
represented in the accompanying Drawings and hereinafter described.
In carrying my Invention into effect I make use in the first place of a series
of any suitable electric circuits or continuous electrical connections through which
a current is intended to be set up, preferring, however, to employ wires of any
ordinary character. I also provide such suitable sources of current as may be
desired, and, in connection with the series of separate electric circuits aforesaid,
employ an apparatus substantially of the character of that represented in the
Drawings, and hereinafter more particularly described, the said apparatus being
one adapted to readily and reliably accomplish the object of the Invention.
In the construction of the foregoing apparatus I preferably make use of a
casing, framing, housing or kindred containing device of insulating material or
mounted on a suitable insulating base, as is ordinarily the custom in electrical
instruments.
This casing contains and supports the operative parts of the apparatus and the
terminals of all the separate circuits.
In the accompanying Drawings A represents the above casing, consisting
conveniently of a top or table a, erected upon suitable standards a¹.

page_text: The casing is adapted to contain one or a series of traveling rods B (represented
in detail in Figures 4 and 6) the same being formed of ebonite or other insulating
substance, and being in the form represented in the Drawings, so introduced into
the casing as to be capable of a slight vertical movement with respect thereto.
The upper extremities of said rods pass through apertures in the table, which
conveniently serve as guides or slide bearings for said extremities, the said
apertures being preferably in line, in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2. The
lower extremities of the traveling rods are conveniently stepped in framing bars a*,
being a part of the casing, and are encircled by spiral springs b, interposed between
said framing bars and collars d or kindred devices on the traveling bars, which
springs are adapted to resist the downward thrust of said traveling rods, and by
their resilence to return or lift them to normal position.
Other devices than spiral springs, collars and framing-bars may of course be
substituted for the purpose of lifting or returning to a given normal position the
said traveling rods.
I simply instance the devices described as convenient for the purpose.
Erected and supported above the table is what I term an "impulse bar" C, the
same being a rigid bar of any material, formed to cover the upper extremities of
all the traveling rods.
It is conveniently mounted at its extremities upon four supports c, the same
being preferably springs which are adapted to be compressed when the bar itself
is depressed.
Other supports may be substituted for springs, or, in fact, all supports, as such,
be dispensed with. The impulse bar is best actuated by a finger key D of any
usual construction, and conveniently of that represented in Figure 4.
This key may itself be actuated by a secondary coil or otherwise, if desired.
It is obvious that if the impulse bar be depressed so as to encounter the traveling
rods the latter will also be depressed.
In the arrangement of the parts represented, and for the reasons hereinafter set
forth, a series of switch keys, E, are adapted to be interposed between the impulse
bar and the traveling rods, so that when the impulse bar is depressed it makes
contact with the switch keys, and through the latter with the traveling bars.
Each switch-key is pivoted to a swivel-stud F, as represented in Figures 4
and 5, the said swivel-stud being 'adapted to be rotated upon or with respect
to the table, and so to rotate the switch-key away from beneath the impulse bar.
That extremity of the switch-key which is adapted to be interposed between the
impulse-bar and the traveling rod with which said switch-key is intended to
operate is conveniently made oval-ended, as clearly represented at e' in Figure 5
so as to permit of the tilting of the switch key in the depression of the impulse-bar
without interfering with the contact of the impulse-bar and extremity of the
traveling rod with said switch key.
GG are a set of terminals, suitably formed or supported in successive equidistant
or other predetermined order in the casing, and connected with a series of circuits
designated in Figure 3, for instance, as from 1 to 14.
A series of these circuits is arranged in connection with each traveling. rod
employed. The terminals of each series of circuits are preferably placed, upon
opposite sides of the traveling rods, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Each of the traveling rods is equipped with a series of conducting contact bars,
I, arranged in successive equidistant or other predetermined order, correspondent
to that of the terminals aforesaid, on said bars, and so relatively disposed with
respect to the said terminals of the said circuits that when a given traveling rod
is depressed the contact-bars which it carries are brought into contact with
opposing pairs of terminals of the circuits in connection with said rod, so as to
establish connection between each of said pairs of terminals simultaneously.
The contact-bars are conveniently made in the shape of disks of metal, as shown
in Figures 4 and 6, which are conveniently held apart at suitable predetermined

page_text: intervals by means of collars i of ebonite or kindred nonconducting material, which
are adapted to be slipped upon the traveling rods.
ر
Other devices than disks may of course be employed. Disks are simply the most
convenient contrivances. The terminals are either rigid or flexible, and are spaced
to correspond to the spacing of the contact bars of the traveling rods.
"
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus
conveniently, embodying my improvements, and equipped with ten traveling rods,
cach having connections with fourteen circuits, the switch-keys being represented
as all thrown out of range of contact with the traveling rods.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation, and
Figure 3 a transverse elevation of the apparatus represented in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevational detail of the principal operative
parts of the apparatus.
Figure 5 a detail of one of the switch-keys, and
Figure 6 a detail of one of the traveling rods.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Such being a description of a convenient construction of my apparatus, it is
obvious that when the switch-keys are in such position relatively to their swivel
as to be interposed between the impulse-bar and the series of traveling rods with
which they respectively operate a depression of said impulse-bar, such as is caused,
for instance by the finger-key will occasion the tilting of all of the switch-keys,
the depression of all of the traveling rods, and the contact of all of the contact-bars
with which said rods are equipped with the terminals with which they respectively
operate, so as to make connection throughout all of the circuits which are in
connection with said traveling rods, whereby in, for instance, such an apparatus
as is represented in Figs. 1 and 2 in which ten traveling rods, each operating in
connection with fourteen circuits, are represented, one hundred and forty circuits
would be instantly established.
When, on the contrary, it is desired not to throw into operation any particular
series of circuits, by simply swiveling out of range any given switch key or keys
any given single series or separate series of circuits are thrown temporarily out of
operation, the descent of the impulse bar being without effect upon such traveling
rod or rods as are for the time being not covered by their switch key or keys.
The entire switch-key arrangement is therefore one of convenience and when it is
desired uniformly to actuate all of the traveling rods with which the casing is
equipped the impulse-bar may be arranged to make direct contact with said
traveling rods.
It is obvious that many purely mechanical changes both in the construction and
arrangement of my apparatus may be made without departing from the principle
of the Invention.
The arrangement represented is simply a cheap and convenient arrangement.
Thus, for instance, I can use a secondary coil or magnet either to actuate the
impulse-bar direct or to actuate the finger key. The principle of the Invention
residing in the arrangement of the traveling rods, which are equipped with the
contact-bars, and are thereby adapted, when depressed, to establish connection-
simultaneously through a series of independent circuits, it is also obvious that any
required number of traveling rods or their equivalent, may be arranged in any
suitable casing or housing, and that they may be equipped with any desired
number of contact-bars, and may make connection each with any desired number of
separate circuits.
I can use as contact bars or points an eccentric or lever motion, or flexible pieces
of metal so that all the contacts are simultaneous or any simple mechanical device
without departing from the principle of the Invention.
The reception of the impulses so as above adapted to be transmitted by means of
the apparatus described may be by any of the well known processes, chemical or
mechanical, or by the ordinary Morse register or sounder.

page_text: The uses of the device are not, moreover, confined to telegraphic purposes. As
constructed this device may be used to control a number of independent electric
circuits, so as to transmit the same impulse or message to a number of points
simultaneously, in ordinary telegraphy forming practically a multiplex telegraph;
or it may be used to control the current to a series of torpedoes or other explosives
in warfare or mining, or for the firing of broadsides. Again, the apparatus may bo
employed, in connection with properly prepared fillets or bands, as a transmitter of
facsimile Roman-letter messages, this latter arrangement requiring certain modifi-
cations which will be explained in a subsequent application for Patent.
I have described a series of travelling rods.
It is proper for me to state that my apparatus would be equally operative with
but a single traveling rod provided with contact bars making connection with two
or more circuits, and that in such arrangement it would of course be possible to
dispense altogether with the impulse-bar and to occasion the depression of the
single traveling rod by the finger or by a finger key or kindred device.
I have also represented and described the traveling rods as adapted to be
depressed in order to ensure the contact between the contact-bars with which they
are provided and the terminals of the circuits.
It will be easily understood that any mechanic could so arrange the apparatus as
to cause the contact aforesaid to result from an upward or from a lateral movement
of the said traveling rods.
It is also obvious that the casing, housing or framing represented may be modified
in construction in various ways, its sole office being to contain the assembled
operative members of the apparatus in such manner that the terminals are fixedly
supported with reference to the traveling rods and contact-bars with which the
latter are provided.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1-In an apparatus for the simultaneous transmission of given electrical impulses
to different termini, the combination of a series of independent electrical circuits,
each of which is connected with an independent service of current, and is provided
with adjacent terminals arranged in predetermined order, a suitable casing, housing,
or framing for containing the above mentioned terminals of all the circuits, a
traveling rod provided with a series of contact-bars arranged in predetermined
order correspondent to that of the terminals aforesaid; and normally out of contact
with said terminals but adapted to make contact between them, means for actuating
the traveling rod so as to bring its contact bars into contact with said terminals,
and means for returning said traveling rod and bars out of. the abovementioned
contact, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2-In an apparatus for the simultaneous transmission of given electrical impulses
to different termini, the combination of a series. of independent electrical circuits,
cach of which is provided with adjacent terminals arranged in predetermined order,
a suitable casing housing or framing for containing the above mentioned terminals
of all the circuits, a traveling rod or series of traveling rods, each provided with a
series of contact-bars corresponding in order and number to the aforesaid terminals,
and an impulse-bar common to the traveling rods aforesaid, the arrangement being
such that a movement of the impulse-bar occasions a movement of the traveling
rods and the contact of the contact-bars with the terminals with which they are
respectively adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
3-In an apparatus for the simultaneous transmission of given electrical impulses
to different termini, the combination of a series of independent electrical circuits,
each of which is provided with adjacent terminals arranged in predetermined order,
a suitable casing housing or framing for containing the abovementioned terminals
of all the circuits, traveling rods, each provided with a series of contact bars
arranged in predetermined order correspondent with that of the terminals aforesaid,

page_text: means for returning said traveling rods to their normal position after enforced
movement therefrom, and an impulse-bar common to the traveling rods aforesaid
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4-In an apparatus for the simultaneous transmission of given electrical impulses
to different termini, the combination of a series of independent electrical circuits
each of which is provided with adjacent terminals, a suitable casing framing, or
housing for containing the above mentioned terminals of all the circuits, a series of
spring-controlled traveling rods, each provided with a series of contact-bars
corresponding in number and order with the terminals aforesaid, an impulse-bar
and switch-keys adapted to be interposed between the traveling rods and the
impulse-bar or to be removed from interposition, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
5 In an apparatus for the simultaneous transmission of given electrical impulses
to different termini, the following instrumentalities in combination: a series of
independent electrical circuits, each of which is provided with adjacent terminals,
traveling rods provided with adjacent terminals, traveling rods provided with a
series of contact-bars corresponding in number and position to said terminals and
adapted to make contact between the same, but normally out of contact with said
terminals, an impulse-bar common to all of the travelling rods, and adapted to act
upon all of them in such manner as to cause their contact with the terminals
aforesaid, means for actuating said impulse-bar and a suitable casing, framing or
housing for containing the said assembled instrumentalities substantially as and
for the purpose specified.