IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS"
A communication from abroad by James Harris, Rogers of Washington
District of Columbia, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS" [A communication from abroad by James
Harris, Rogers of Washington; District of Columbia, United States of America]
TO
My Invention relates to a method of secret telephony, or telegraphy, in which
I use two or more circuits in such a manner that any one tapping but one of the
circuits is unable to obtain anything but a confused and unintelligible series of
signals. The said Invention also relates to apparatus employed in carrying this
method into effect.
The said Invention is partly based upon the use of an interrupted current as
distinguished from a pulsatory current. By an interrupted current I mean one in
which actual makes and breaks occur in the circuit, a pulsatory current being one
in which the current is alternately increased and diminished without actually
breaking the circuit.
According to this Invention I pass a message. sent from any transmitting
instrument through two or more circuits alternately in rapid succession. A receiver
is placed in each circuit so that the two receivers together give a continuous series
of signals, the one supplying what the other omits. I throw the current conveying
the message alternately on each circuit by means of a circuit-breaker which makes
and breaks contact with each circuit in succession.
Instead of having two receivers I may have each circuit actuate the same
receiver, in which case the message would be correctly reproduced by such

page_text: It is obvious from the above description that any one tapping but one of the
lines would only receive what would be absolutely unintelligible to him.
I will now proceed to describe the said Invention as adapted to telephony and
various modifications thereof. I provide a transmitter; a circuit breaker, revolving
between two contact-springs, a receiver a battery- and ground connections. The
circuit passes from ground through the battery, transmitter, one line, the uninsulated
part of the circuit breaker, through a contact point, the other line receiver, and to
ground again. The circuit breaker on breaking circuit with one of the springs
completes it with the other when the circuit passes through the line, receiver, and
ground as before. In this case it is evident that a message transmitted will
alternately pass through the two lines yet both will be received at the receiver and
delivered consecutively and sensibly.
Two circuits may be each provided with
battery, a receiver and grounded, as
in the previous case. In this instance both circuits pass around the receiver and
the circuit-breaker alternately breaks and makes, and vice versa thus throwing any
message uttered at the transmitter alternately over the two lines into the
receiver.
I may provide two distinct circuits similar to the former in every respect,
except that each has a circuit breaker of its own. The terminals of these lines are
in close proximity to each other and their circuit-breakers are so arranged that one
circuit breaker makes when the other breaks and vice versa. Consequently any
message uttered in proximity to the two transmitters will be transmitted over
-their-respective-lines-and-the-message-be-jointly-reproduced-by-the-two receivers.
Two circuits may have a common transmitter which is alternately thrown into
circuit with one or the other of the lines through contact-points. The effect is the
same as in the other cases.
It will be observed that although the message being transmitted is broken up, as
it were, and part of it sent over one line and part over the other the disjointed
fragments from the two lines unite harmoniously at the receiver. Thus any sound
uttered at the transmitter will be sent over the two lines in the fraginentary
manner, but will be faithfully reproduced at the receiving instrument.
From the above it will be noted that any interruption of any of the lines would
be instantly noted, by the person receiving the message, but no benefit could be
derived by the person tapping the line, as the signals he would hear would be
unintelligible. When two receivers are used it will be impossible to receive
intelligible signals over one of them, but when a receiver is placed to each ear the
disjointed sounds are carried by the auditory nerve so as to unite in the sensorium
and produce articulate speech. A third receiver might be employed on a third
circuit and applied to the teeth to act in conjunction with a receiver at each ear.
Any two of the well known receivers in general use may be used in my system
of transmission. But as above described I can use a single receiver for any
number of lines by including the inagnet of the receiver in each circuit.
It has heretofore been attempted to transmit articulate speech by rapidly
throwing currents from opposite poles of a battery upon a single line, but such a
plan is entirely and distinctly different, as will be obvious, from that described herein.
The two or more lines over which a signal is transmitted according to this
Invention may be carried to a common terminus by widely different routes, and
thus it will be impossible for any person wishing to do so, to make connections or
.tap both lines at the same time.
!
i
Thus it will be seen that by my Invention absolute secrecy in the transmission
of signals is ensured-a desideratum long sought for. The circuits in my system
should be connected up in the best and most approved ways for the transmission
of articulate speech, for instance, induction-coils may be used as will be well
understood.
Circuit-breakers of any suitable construction may be employed in connection
with my Invention.
Another part of my present Invention relates to the system of telephonic

page_text: transmission by broken or interrupted currents in contradistinction to undulatory
currents as herein before set forth.
According to this part of the said Invention I provide certain improvements in
the organization of apparatus and running of circuits whereby the general efficiency
and excellence of the system are practically enhanced as hereinafter set forth.
I will describe these improvements as used in connection with three stations but
any desired and suitable number of stations may be placed in the same circuit.
The main lines which connect the stations form a complete metallic circuit so that
messages from any one of the stations may be sent in opposite directions around
the main circuit to any other one of the stations. The arrangement and apparatus
at each station are identical and it will therefore be sufficient to describe those at
one station. I provide a battery one pole of which is grounded and the other of
which is connected with the bottom of a transmitter, to the diaphragm, of which a
wire is connected. This wire is connected to an ordinary switch-lever upon which
the receiving telephone is hung as usual. Upon the end of the lever is an insulated
plate in contact with which the terminals of the sections of the main line or circuit
normally rest that is when the receiver is on the switch. Branch lines connected
respectively with the main lines both include helices which surround the core of
the receiver, the current passing from the receiver by the branch to contact plates
or springs of a rotating circuit breaker. A contact point is connected electrically
with the conducting portion of the circuit-breaker and is placed in proximity to
the contact on the switch-lever. Call or signal boxes are placed in the circuit at
each station.
While the receiver at any station is upon the switch-lever there is no current on
the line from the battery at that section, but upon its removal therefrom the circuit
is completed through contacts, circuit-breaker, one branch line, and contact, to one
main line, the current passing through the call-box at every other station, but not
through the receiver. Suppose the receiving telephone is lifted from the switch at
station A and some other station, say C, is called, the person at C lifts his telephone
from the switch, the circuit will be completed at both stations through the
branch lines which include the receiver, the current passing from the main line
at station A, according to the position of the circuit-breaker, as will be readily
understood, through one branch line at station C through circuit breaker, contact
points, switch lever, and transmitter to ground, a ground being made at each
station, A and C, when the receivers are removed from the switch levers. Con-
versations may now be carried on after the usual system of telephonic transmission.
When, however, a message is to be broken up for secret and fragmentary transmission,
say from station A, the operator at that station starts his circuit-breaker to rotating
while the operator at station C connects the plates by the switch thus cutting out
the circuit-breaker at that station. The message now being transmitted at A, will
be broken up into fragments by the circuit and a portion of such disjointed
fragments will be transmitted over one branch and over main line while others
will be sent over the other branch and main line to station C. The receiving
telephone at C being included in both circuits the disjointed fragments sent over
both the lines will be united in effect and rendered complete and intelligible to the
listener. The effect of the words, thus broken, up on the receiver will be as though
they were unbroken, their component fragments producing their effect on the
receiver and acting as a whole.
The operation just described is the same for all the stations included in the main
circuit. It will be observed that by the organization described only one wire
from station to station is employed, it being necessary, however, that a complete
circuit should be established around all the stations. A message from any station
is broken up and one set of unintelligible fragments sent in one direction over the
circuit, and another set in the opposite direction. Entire secrecy is thus ensured
and a practical and economical arrangement of the circuits and stations accomplished.
When employing an induction coil the transmitting instrument is included in
the primary helix of the induction-coil and the current from the secondary helix is

page_text: broken up and transmitted in opposite directions over the main line as described.
Three or inore stations thus equipped may be included in circuits or some of the
stations on a circuit may be organized.
I may employ two transmitters in close proximity. A sound uttered in their
vicinity equally affects both instruments. The switch in this case is divided by
an insulator and has contact-points which make contact respectively, with points,
which are respectively connected with plates arranged so that as the circuit
breaker rotates it breaks up the signal from the two transmitters, and throws
half the message from one transmitter in fragmentary portions upon one main and
one branch line, and half of the message from the other transmitter upon the
other line, the other portions of the message from each transmitter being lost. In
other respects it will be seen that this apparatus corresponds with those above
described and it will be obvious that it may be used in circuit with either of the
arrangements above mentioned, or any number of such instruments may be arranged
in circuit by themselves.
In one arrangement the transmitter is included in one branch of a split circuit
and the battery in the other. The operation of this apparatus is as follows-
When the diaphragm is depressed by the impact of the sound-waves, a large
portion of the current will be short-circuited through the transmitter to the ground,
and when the diaphragm vibrates from its contact button, the greater part of the
current will flow to the line. The current on the line is broken up into
fragmentary portions and transmitted as before. Instruments like these may be
used in connection with others in circuit, as in the other cases.
A transmitter may be included in the primary of an induction-coil, the
secondary going to the line and the current in it being broken up, as described.
In one arrangement the circuit-breaker is placed in the primary of one or two
induction-coils and the secondary goes directly to the main line. The primary wires of
the induction coils each extend to the circuit-breaker on one side and to a binding
post on the other the point being in electrical connection with the diaphragm of
the transmitter. One pole of the battery is connected with the button of the
transmitter while the opposite pole is connected by a wire with the circuit-breaker.
One end of the secondary wire of the induction-coil connects with one main line
and the other goes to ground and one end of the secondary of the induction-coil
connects with the other main line and the other to ground. It will be seen that
the current will flow from battery, through the transmitter, and through one or the
other circuits accordingly as the conducting portion of the circuit-breaker makes
contact with the primaries of the induction coils. From this it will be obvious
that as the circuit-breaker is revolved the current will be thrown alternately over
the two circuits mentioned, and thus, fragmentary portions of the message being
transmitted, will pass to main lines over the secondary wires of the induction-coils.
A number of apparatus like that just described may be arranged in circuit.
provide an improved circuit-breaker consisting of a centrally pivotted cross
from the arms of which depend contact pointers or arms which alternately dip into
mercury cups forming terminals of the main lines. The wire from the transinitter
connects with the arms. It will be obvious that as the cross is rocked the ourrent
from the transmitter will be alternately thrown on the main lines. The lower arm
of the pivotted cross is insulated and the cross is vibrated by an independent
battery in a very common way which need not therefore be described.
The circuit-breaker just described and the rotating breakers mentioned may be
operated in many ways. I have found a weight with an ordinary clock-movement
to be very efficient and have also used an ordinary clock movement or register such
as has been used to move the paper strip in "Morse " telegraphy. I prefer to
revolve the circuit-breaker by an electric.engine. Such apparatus is so simple and
so well known, and its application in the present case so obvious, that it is deemed
unnecessary to shew and describe it.
The circuit breaker may be revolved from ten to one thousand times a second
with good results.

page_text: At each station there are two branch lines or circuits one of which is grounded
through the circuit-breaker when the receiver is lifted from the switch, the other
remaining open or broken until the circuit breaker is rotated. It will also be
noted that when the line is in its normal quiet position-when none of the
telephones are in use-there is a continuous metallic circuit or line passing through
all the stations.
The two following are the forms of transmitters which I prefer to use in my
organization. One consists of a cup of mercury on the suface of which is placed
Bome broken carbon, on which latter a carbon disc or plate is laid. A diaphragm
may be used or not in connection with the carbon plate. The instrument is placod
in circuit with a battery as usual. The other comprises a cup of mercury on which
rests a carbon ball disconnected from the transmitting diaphragm.
Receivers of the "Bell" or other suitable form arranged so as to have their
cores common to the two circuits described, may be employed. While I prefer to
use the transmitters just herein before mentioned any of the ordinary practical
battery-transmitters may be employed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
TELEPHONES AND TELEGRAPHS," A communication from abroad by James Harris
Rogers, of Washington, District of Columbia United States of America
One part of this Invention relates to a method or system of secret telephony or
telegraphy in which I use two or more circuits in such a manner that anyone
tapping but one of the circuits is unable to obtain anything but a confused and
unintelligible series of signals. It also relates to apparatus employed in carrying
this method or system into effect
The said Invention is partly based upon the use of an interrupted current as
distinguished-from-a-pulsatory-current._By_an_interrupted_current.I mean.one.in.
which actual makes and breaks occur in the circuit, a pulsatory current being one
in which the current is alternately increased and diminished without actually
breaking the circuit.
According to this Invention I pass a message sent from any transmitting instru-
ment through two or more circuits alternately in rapid succession. A receiver is
placed in each circuit so that the two receivers together give a continuous series of
signals, the one supplying what the other omits. I throw the current conveying
the message alternately on each circuit by means of a circuit-breaker which makes
and breaks contact with each circuit in succession.
Instead of having two receivers I may arrange each circuit to actuate the saine
receiver in which case the message would be correctly reproduced by such receiver.
It is obvious from the above description that any one tapping but one of the lines
or wires would only receive what would be absolutely unintelligible to him.
In Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying Drawings which illustrate the first
part of the said Invention as adapted to telephony, and various modifications
thereof
Figure 1 is a diagram in which T is a transmitter, C a circuit-breaker revolving
between the two contact-springs c and c R a receiver, B a battery, and g, g¹ the
ground connections. The circuit extends from the ground through the battery B,
the transmitter T, the line m, the uninsulated part of the circuit-breaker, through
the contact point c, the line n, the receiver R, and to ground again. The circuit-
breaker C on breaking circuit with the spring c completes it with the spring c¹
when the circuit extends through the line n', the receiver R, and ground as before.
In this case it is evident that portions of a message transmitted at the receiver T
will alternately pass through the lines and n' yet both will be received at the
receiver R and delivered consecutively and sensibly.
Figure 2 is a diagram representing two circuits 2 and n¹ each provided with a
battery as shewn at B B', a receiver R, and grounded as in the previous case at g
and g. In this instance both circuits pass around the receiver R and the circuit-
bicaker C alternately breaks the circuit through the line n and makes the circuit
through the line n¹ and vice versa thus throwing any message uttered at the
transmitter T alternately over the two lines into the receiver R. Figure 3 is a
diagram shewing two distinct circuits similar to the former except that each has a
circuit-breaker of its own as shewn at C and C. The terminals of these lines are
in close proximity to each other and their circuit-breakers are so arranged that the

page_text: circuit-breaker C' completes the circuit through the line n when the circuit-
breaker breaks the circuit through the line n' and vice versa. Consequently
any message uttered in proximity to the two transmitters T, T', will be transinitted
over their respective lines and the message be jointly reproduced by the two
receivers.
Figure 4 is a diagram of two circuits n, n¹ having a common transmitter T
which is alternately thrown into circuit with one or the other of the lines through
contact points r, 1. The effect is the same as in the other cases. The relation of
the mouth pieces to the diaphragms in Figures 2, 3, 4 is shown in dotted lines in
those Figures.
The remaining Figures of the Drawings will be hereinafter described.
It will be observed that although the message being transmitted is broken up
as it were and part of it sent over one line and part over the other line the dis-
jointed fragments from the two lines unite harinoniously at the receiver. Thus
any sound uttered at the transmitter will be sent over the two lines in a
fragmentary manner, but will be faithfully reproduced at the receiving
instrument.
'
From the above description it will be understood that any interruption of one of
the lines would be instantly noted by the person receiving the message but no
benefit could be derived by the person tapping the line as the signals he would
hear would be unintelligible. When two receivers are used it will be impossible
to receive intelligible signals over one of them but when a receiver is placed to
each ear the disjointed sounds are carried by the auditory nerve so as to unite in
the sensorium and produce the effect caused by articulate speech. A third receiver
might be employed on a third circuit and applied to the teeth to act in conjunction
with a receiver at each ear.
Any two of the well known receivers in general use may be employed in my
system of transmission, but as above described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, I
can use a single receiver for any number of lines by including the magnet of the
receiver in each circuit.
It has heretofore been attempted to transmit articulate speech by rapidly
throwing currents from opposite poles of a battery upon a single line, but such a
plan is entirely and distinctly different, as will be obvious from that herein
described.
The two or more lines over which a signal is transmitted according to this
Invention may be carried to a common terminus by widely different routes, and
thus it will be impossible for any person, wishing to do so to make connections or
tap both lines at the same time.
Thus it will be seen that by this Invention absolute secrecy in the transmission
of signals is ensured, a desideratum long sought. The circuits in my system
should be connected up in the best and most approved manner for the transmission
of articulate speech, for instance induction-coils may be used as will be well
understood.
Circuit-breakers of any suitable construction may be employed in carrying the
said Invention into practice.
Another part of the said Invention relates to further improvements in the
system of telephonic transmission by broken or interrupted currents in contra-
distinction to undulatory currents hereinbefore set forth.
According to this part of the said Invention I provide certain improvements in
the organization of the apparatus and the arrangement of the circuits whereby the
general efficiency and excellence of the system are practically enhanced as herein-
after set forth.
In the accompanying Drawings
Figure 5 is a view of one arrangement of apparatus showing three stations.
A, B, C, in the same circuit.
Figure 6 is a vertical diagrammatic elevation of an improved circuit interrupter
or breaker.

page_text: Figures 7, 8, and 9 are views of organizations of apparatus somewhat different
from those shown in Figure 5.
Figure 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement in which induction-coils are
employed, and the primary broken and the secondary in the main, and
Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views showing the transmitters which I prefer
to employ in my apparatus.
Referring now to Figure 5 which best illustrates my improved arrangements,
the circuits being complete, three stations A, B, C, are shown, but any desired and
suitable number of stations may be placed in the same circuit Z. The main lines
which connect the stations form a complete metallic circuit, so that messages from
any one of the stations may be sent in opposite directions around the main circuit
to any other one of the stations. The arrangement and apparatus at each station
are identical, and it will therefore be sufficient to describe one station, the same
parts being correspondingly lettered at each station. M.B is a battery, one pole
of which is grounded and the other of which is connected with the bottom of a
transmitter T to the diaphragm of which the wire t is connected. This wire t is
connected to an ordinary switch-lever S upon which the receiving telephone R is
suspended as usual. Upon the end of the said lever S is an insulated plate P in
contact with which the terminals n m of the sections N. M of the main line or
circuit normally rest that is to say when the receiver R is hung upon the switch.
Branch lines N¹ and M' connected respectively with the main lines N and M both
include helices H, which surround the core of the receiver, the current passing
from the receiver by the said lines N' and M' to the contact-plates or springs QQ
of the rotating circuit breaker U. A contact point u is connected electrically with
the conducting portion u¹ of the circuit breaker and is placed in proximity to
the contact piece s on the lever S. Call or signal boxes ✗ are placed in the
circuit at each station.
While the receiver at any station is upon the switch-lever there is no current
on the line from the battery at that section but upon its removal therefrom the
circuit is completed through the contacts 8, u, the circuit-breaker U, the line N¹
or M', and the contacts or terminals n or m to the line N or M, the current passing
through the call-box at every other station but not through the receiver.
Supposing the receiving telephone R is lifted from the switch at the station A
and some other station say C, is called the person at Clifts his telephone from the
switch and completes the circuit at both stations through the lines N' and M¹,
which include the receiver, the current passing from the main line N or M at the
station A according to the position of the circuit-breaker, as will be readily
understood, through the line N' or M at station C through the circuit-breaker
the contact-points or terminals the switch-lever S and the transmitter to the
ground, a ground, being made at each station A and C when the receivers are
removed from the switch-levers. Conversations may now be carried on after the
usual system of telephonic transmission. When, however, as a message is to be
broken up for secret and fragmentary transmission, say from station A the operator
at that station starts his circuit-breaker U to rotate while the operator at station C
connects the plates Q, Q¹ by the switch y, thus cutting out the circuit breaker at
that station. The message now being transmitted at A will be broken up into
fragments by the circuit and a portion of such disjointed fragments will be trans-
mitted over the line N' and N while others will be sent over the line M and M to
the station C. The receiving telephone at the station C being included in both
circuits N, N', and M M³, the disjointed fragments sent over both the lines will be
united in effect, and rendered complete and intelligible to the listener. The effects
of the words thus broken up on the receiver will be as though they were unbroken,
their component fragments producing their effect on the receiver and acting as a
whole.
The operation just described is the same for all the stations included in the main
circuit. It will be observed that by the organization described, only one wire from
station to station is employed, it being necessary however that a complete circuit

page_text: should be established around all the stations. A message from any station is
broken up and one set of unintelligible fragments sent in one direction over the
circuit and another set in the opposite direction. Entire secrecy is thus ensured
and a practical and economical arrangement of the circuits and stations
accomplished.
In Figure 7 an arrangement wherein an induction-coil E is employed is shown.
In this case the transmitting instrument is included in the primary helix of the
induction coil, and the current from the secondary helix is broken up and transmitted
in opposite directions over the main line as described. Three or more stations thus
equipped may be included in circuits as in Figure 1, or some of the stations on a
circuit may be organized as shown in Figure 5 and some as shown in Figure 7.
In Figure 8 I have shown an arrangement in which two transmitters T, T¹ in
close proximity to each other are employed. A sound uttered in their vicinity
equally, affects both instruments. The switch S in this case is divided by insulating
material as at S³ and has contact points a, b, which make contact respectively with
points cd respectively connected with plates e, f so arranged that as the circuit-
breaker rotates, it breaks up the signal from the two transmitters and throws half
the message from the transmitter T in fragmentary portions upon the line M M and
half of the message from the transmitter T upon the line N', N the other portions
of the message from each transmitter being lost. In other respects it will be seen
that this apparatus corresponds with those above described and it will be obvious
that it may be used in circuit with either of the arrangements above mentioned or
any number of such instruments may be arranged in circuit by themselves. In
Figuro 9 the general arrangement is similar to that above described but the trans-
mitter is included in one branch of a split-circuit and the battery in the other.
The operation of this apparatus is as follows, that is to say. When the diaphragm
is depressed by the impact of the sound waves a large portion of the current will be
short circuited through the transmitter to the ground, and when the diaphragm
vibrates from its contact-button the greater part of the current will flow to the line t.
The current on the line is broken up into fragmentary portions and transmitted as
before. Instruments like these may be used in connection with others in circuit
as in the other cases.
I have shewn in Figure 7 a transmitter included in the primary helix of an
induction coil, the secondary helix going to the line, and the current in it being
broken up, as described.
In Figure 10 the circuit-breaker U is placed in the primary helix of one or two
induction coils b, d and the secondary helix goes directly to the main line. The
primary wires of the induction-coils each extend to the circuit-breaker U on one
side and to a binding post a on the other, the said post a being in electrical
connection with the diaphragm of the transmitter. One pole of the battery M B
is connected with the button of the transmitter while the opposite pole is connected.
by the wire Fg with the circuit-breaker. One end of the secondary wire of the
induction-coil & connects with the main line N and the other goes to ground, and
one end of the secondary wire of the induction-coil b connects with the line M and
the other to ground. It will be seen that the current will flow from the battery
through the transmitter and through the circuit a, b U g F or a, d U g F
accordingly as the conducting portion of the circuit-breaker makes contact
with the primaries of the induction-coils b and d. From this arrangement
it will be obvious that as the circuit-breaker is revolved the current will.
be thrown alternately over the two circuits mentioned and thus fragmentary
portions of the message being transmitted will pass to the main lines N and
M over the secondary wires of the induction-coils. This arrangement has been
found to work very satisfactorily. A number of apparatus like that just described
may be arranged in circuit as in Figure 5 the organization of this latter form of
apparatus being exactly similar to that shewn in Figure 5, except as above specified.
In Figure I have shewn an improved circuit-breaker U consisting of a
centrally pivoted cross U from the arms U*, U of which depend contact-pointers

page_text: or arms V, V which alternately dip.into mercury cups VI, V₁, forming terminals of
the main lines N. M. The wire t from the transmitter connects with the arms U* U*.
It will be obvious that as the cross is rocked the current from the transmitter will
be alternately thrown on the main lines N and M. The lower arm H of the
pivoted cross is insulated as shewn and the cross is vibrated by an independent
battery B¹ in the ordinary manner.
The circuit-breaker above described, and the rotating breakers mentioned, may be
operated in many ways I have found a weight with an ordinary clockwork-
movement to be very efficient and have also used an ordinary clockwork movement
or register such as has been used to move the paper strip in "Morse" telegraphy.
I prefer to revolve the circuit breaker by an electric engine. Such apparatus is
so simple and so well known and its application in the present case so obvious that
it is deemed unnecessary to show and describe the same.
The circuit-breaker may be revolved from ten to one thousand times a second
with good results.
It will be observed that at each station there are two branch lines or
circuits N, M' one of which is grounded through the circuit-breaker when the
receiver is lifted from the switch, the other remaining open or broken until the
circuit breaker is rotated. It will also be noted that when the line is in its
normal quiet position when none of the telephones are in use-there is a
continuous metallic circuit or line passing through all the stations.
In Figures 11 and 12 I have shewn two forms of transmitters which I prefer to
use in carrying my Invention into practice. That-shewn in Figure 11 consists of
a cup I containing mercury on the surface of which is placed some broken carbon J
whereon a carbon disc or plate J¹ is laid. A diaphragm may be used or not in
connection with the carbon plate. The instrument is placed in circuit with a
battery M B as usual. In Figure 12 I have shown a cup I containing mercury on
which rests a carbon ball I disconnected from the transmitting diaphragin 12
Receivers of the "Bell" other suitable form arranged so as to have their cores
common to the two circuits described may be employed. While I prefer to use the
transmitters shewn in Figures 11 and 12 it will be understood that any of the
ordinary practical battery transmitters may be employed.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, 1 wish it under-
stood that I claim-
First. The improvement in electric telephony or telegraphy consisting in
throwing portions of the message being transmitted upon one line, and other
portions upon another line, and reproducing such fragmentary portions in the
regular order of time in which they are transmitted, upon receiving apparatus at
the common receiving station of the lines whereby the message transmitted is
continuously and intelligently reproduced.
Second. The improvement in electric telephony or telegraphy, consisting in
sending portions of the message being transmitted over different lines as set forth,
and reproducing such fragmentary portions in the regular order of time in which
they are transmitted upon receiving apparatus at the common receiving station
of the lines whereby the message transmitted is continuously and intelligently
reproduced.
Third. A telephonic receiver, the magnet of which is included in two or more
electric circuits.
Fourth. The combination of a telephonic receiver, the magnet of which is
included in two or more electric circuits, a transmitting apparatus, and a circuit
breaker, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The electric circuit herein described for the transmission of telephonic
messages consisting of two main lines in combination with transmitting apparatus,
common to both lines at the transmitting station and receiving apparatus at the.
receiving terminals of the said lines, so arranged that portions of the message being
transmitted are thrown at the transmitting station upon one line and portions;

page_text: upon the other line such fragmentary parts of the message being united in the
receiving apparatus and the message intelligently reproduced at the receiving
station as set forth.
Sixth. The combination, substantially as set forth, of two or more electric
circuits, transmitting apparatus at one common terminus of said lines, receiving
apparatus at the other, and a circuit-breaker common to the lines at the trans-
mitting station, whereby a portion of a continuous message being transmitted is
thrown upon one line and a portion upon the other line in rapid succession and the
message fully and intelligently reproduced at the receiving station.
Seventh. The combination of a main circuit, two or more stations thereon, the
main lines extending from each station to the adjoining station on each side thereof,
receiving and transmitting apparatus at each station, and a circuit breaker at each
station which divides or breaks up the message being transmitted into fragments
and throws portions upon the main line in one direction, and other portions in the
opposite direction, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination of a normally continuous main circuit, two or more
stations thereon, transmitting and receiving instruments at each station and at each
station a circuit-breaker and two branch circuits, both of which encircle the core of
the receiver and which extend respectively from the circuit-breaker to the sections
of the main line which leave the station in opposite directions, substantially as set
forth.
Ninth. The combination of a continuous main line, two or more stations, thereon
and at each station transmitting and receiving apparatus, a circuit-breaker, branch
circuits both of which surround the core of the receiver and connect with their
respective sections of the main line, a call box, and switch which may connect the
branch circuits and cut the circuit-breaker substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination of a continuous main line, two or more stations thereon,
and at each station transmitting and receiving apparatus, a circuit-breaker branch
circuits both of which surround the core of the receiver and connect with their
respective sections of the main line, a call box, a switch which may be operated to
connect the branch circuits and cut out the circuit-breaker and a switch-lever which
throws the receiver into circuit and grounds the sections of the main line forming
two electric circuits when it is lifted from the switch, substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. The combination of the continuous main line which leaves the stations
in opposite directions as set forth, a transmitter and battery a circuit-breaker and
induction-coils, the secondaries of which go to line and in the primaries of which
the circuit-breaker is placed, substantially as described.
Twelfth. The combination of the inain line, the pivoted vibratory cross or beam,
its contact pointers or arms, the mercury cups forming the terminals of the main
lines, and an independent battery and magnet for vibrating the circuit-breaker,
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twentieth day of June in the year of our Lord Ono
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)