IMPROVEMENTS IN CIRCUIT CLOSERS FOR TELEGRAPHIC KEYS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JULIUS NEIFING, of Dyer, in the County of Lake, and State of Indiana,
U.S.A., Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN CIRCUIT CLOSERS FOR TELEGRAPHIC KEYS, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
In the ordinary telegraphic instruments now in use by operators in sending
dispatches, there is a switch which is pivoted so as to turn horizontally to one side
to open the circuit while the key is being used for sending, and which is turned
back to close the circuit for receiving signals.
is
It frequently happens in practice that an operator, after using his key to send a
message, forgets to turn the switch back to close the circuit. The consequence
that mischievous delays occur in receiving signals and messages.
Means have heretofore been devised for automatically closing the circuit, but
such devices have not been generally adopted owing to numerous imperfections in
their organization.
The object of my invention is to prevent such evils by providing an improved
automatic closing switch that may be readily applied to any key; that will
always keep the circuit closed when the key is not being used for sending; and
that can readily be moved to open the circuit by the act of operating the key.
In the appended drawings-
Figure 1 is a plan view;
Figure 2 a side elevation, partly in section, of an ordinary telegraphic operator's
instrument with my improvement applied; and
Figure 3 is a view of the securing plate.
As the instrument is so well known it will be unnecessary to describe it in detail.
A indicates the arm of my improved switch which is pivotally secured to a
metallic plate a that is attached to the bed-plate of the instrument-preferably by
means of the spindle b that secures the anvil F to the bed plate I. The plate a is
insulated from the anvil by suitable packing. The switch is oscillated along side
of the key D. The platinum contact stud E on the inner end of the switch arm
normally bears upon the anvil F by force of a spring G secured to the plate a thus
closing the circuit with the same effect as by means of the ordinary switch. When
the circuit is closed by my improved switch it "runs" from the anvil through the
contact stud and the switch to the plate a and thence to the bed-plate of the
instrument, or vice versa.
It will be observed that the switch is provided with a thumb piece H, located
to one side of and in close proximity to the thumb-piece of the key; and in

page_text: figure 2 the method of operating it to open the circuit is clearly shown. The
tension of the spring, tending to keep the switch closed, can be regulated so that
only a very slight pressure will be required to press down the thumb piece and
open the circuit. The result is that every time an operator uses his key for
sending he can, without extra effort, and with entire convenience and certainty,
open the circuit in the very act of touching and using the key. Then the instant
he removes his hand from the key, the switch. will, with perfect certainty,
automatically close the circuit.. Thus the delays and disturbances of the working
of instruments which now occur will be wholly avoided. My improved switch is
readily applied to any operator's instrument without materially altering its
structure. To most readily accomplish this result the plate a is bifurcated so that
the position of the contact stud E may be regulated relatively to the anvil to
accommodate anvils of different sizes. The thumb-piece H is also adjustable
on the arm A by means of a set screw, as shown, to accommodate keys of different
lengths.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved circuit closing switch adapted to be applied to an ordinary
telegraph operator's instrument, substantially such as herein described and
illustrated in figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2. An improved circuit-closing switch adapted to be applied to an ordinary
operator's instrument so that the circuit is opened by the hand of the operator in
the act of manipulating the key and automatically closed when his hand is
removed said switch consisting of the combination of the securing plate a, the
spring arm A pivoted thereon, and the contact stud E carried by the spring arm,
substantially as set forth.
3. The herein described circuit-closing switch adapted to be applied to an ordinary
telegraphic instrument consisting of the combination of the bifurcated securing
plate a, the spring arm A pivoted thereon, and the contact stud E carried by the
spring arm, substantially as set forth.
4. The herein described circuit-closing switch adapted to be applied to an
ordinary telegraph operator's instrument consisting of the combination of the
adjustable securing plate a, the spring arm A pivoted thereon, and the contact-
stud E carried by the spring arin.
5. The combination of the securing plate, the spring arm pivoted thereon, means
for adjusting the length of the spring arm, and the contact stud carried on the
inner end of the arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified..
6. The combination of the securing plate, the spring arm pivoted thereon, the
adjustable thumb piece mounted on the outer end of the spring arm, and the
contact stud carried on the inner end of the arm, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
nto the day of
Lonto
XXL
IXXL
JULIUS NEIFING.
George F. Gerlach,
Carpmael & Co.,
Notary Public.
Agents for the Applicant,
26th February 1884.