IM- PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George May Phelps, of Brooklyn, in the State
of New York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George May Phelps
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th December 1872.
I, GEORGE MAY PHELPS, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York,
United States of América, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TELEGRAPHS," to be as follows:-
This instrument is adapted to transmitting or receiving. The trans-
mitting portion of the instrument consists in a pulsator wheel revolved
by a frictional connection to a train of gearing having a weight or
spring; said wheel operates a pulsator lever that sends pulsations along
the line in consequence of making and breaking the connection with the
battery, and the receiving instrument has a type wheel that is rotated as
hereafter described by such pulsations, and the type wheel and pulsator

page_text: wheel move synchronously. An arm or arms connected with the pul-
sator wheels revolves below a circular! range or two semicircular ranges
of finger keys, and is arrested by depressing one of such keys. The type
wheel at the receiving instrument is stopped at the same point, and the
printing effected by the pause that allows a local battery to operate.
The type wheel is revolved by clockwork, and its movements are
controlled by pallets or an escapement that is moved by the pulsations
acting in electro-magnets.
One of my especial improvements relates to a circuit changer that
revolves with the type wheel and directs one pulsation through one
magnet, and the next through the other magnet, thereby moving the
escapement in first one direction and then the other by the movement
of the armature between said magnets.
In cases where two lines of wires are used to operate the telegraph
instruments the pulsator closes the circuit to first one line and then the
other, and at the receiving instrument the two magnets are in the same
line, so that the armature that moves the type wheel is attracted first
one way and then the other.. The line wires pass also through compound
coils that are on opposite sides of a horse shoe magnet on the printing
lever, hence the printing is effected when the polarity of the current is
changed. The clockwork is regulated-in its speed. by a weight on a
spring arm revolving within a stationary shell. The pulsators are made
with spring arms so as to yield and keep the circuit closed the proper
period. A unison mechanism made of a screw on the type wheel shaft
and weighted levers is employed.
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George May Phelps in thic Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, GEORGE
MAY PHELPS, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of 3
America, send greeting.

page_text: The type wheel is revolved by clockwork, and its movements are
controlled by pallets or an escapement that is moved by the pulsations
acting in electro-magnets.
Another portion of these improvements relates to a circuit changer
that revolves with the type wheel, and directs one pulsation through one
magnet and the next through the other maguet, thereby moving the
escapement in first one direction and then in the other.
1
In the Drawings Fig. 1 is a general plan of the instrument with the
finger key plate removed; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the machine withi
the enclosing case in section; Fig. 3 shows the gearing that revolves
the type wheel; Fig. 4 is an elevation, and Fig. 5 a horizontal section
of the revolving circuit changer; Fig. 6 is a side view of the local
circuit closing magnet; Fig. 7 is a plan of the finger key plate; Fig. 8.
is a section of the same, and Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrative of the
connections.
From the spring barrel a the gearing extends to and revolves the
shaft upon which is a wheel c that gives motion to the shaft c¹ and
governor d revolving within the stationary shell a.
The pulsator
wheel e is upon the shaft b, and is driven by a frictional connection, so
that the wheel may be stopped while the train of gearing continues to
revolve. In the periphery of this wheel e are projections or cams equal
in number to the characters and blanks of the type wheel. A lever e¹
upon the fulcrum 2 provided with a roller 3 against the edge of
the wheel e, a contact spring 4, and a retractile spring 5, forming my
improved pulsator that opens and closes the circuit with the insulated
contact screw 6, with which the conductor f is connected that passes
from the line binding screw f¹, through a small magnet g and to 6, and
as the pulsations are produced by the vibrations of e¹ they pass along
through the frame of the machine and the receiving portions of the
instrument, and from the binding screw g¹ to the line ground or battery
connection.
It is to be understood that two machines, one at each end of the line,
made as herein described, are employed in sending and receiving, and
that one or more intermediate instruments can be connected in the
circuit to receive from or send to the other stations, all the machines 3
operating simultaneously in receiving from the one sending instrument.
In order to arrest the pulsator wheel e at the letter to be printed, the

page_text: designated key is depressed, and its end coming into the line of the
arm h³ or h³ upon such wheel e stops the further rotation, and produces
a pause in the pulsations that causes the printing to be operative. A
lover is pivoted upon the frame of the clockwork, one arm of the lever
extends as a spring 10 adjacent to the fricton wheel 11 on the shaft c² of
the governor, and another arm 12 is contiguous to the pulsator lever e¹.
Above the finger key plate * of the instrument is a crank arm ³ that
is connected by a shaft with the cam 13 below said plate adjacent to the
spring lever k¹. When the instrument is set for sending the message
the lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and is inoperative. When
the instrument is prepared for receiving the cam 13 is turned to move
the lever by the lever ¹, and in so doing the governor is stopped by
the friction arm 10 and wheel 11, and the arm 12 presses the pulsator
lever e¹ so as to keep the circuit closed at the points 6, 4.
The spring barrel and train of gearing serve to revolve the vertical
shaft l, and turn the type wheel shaft n by a gear wheel and pinion.
The type wheel m contains the desired characters and spaces, and tho
escapement whicel o upon the shaft n contains half the number of teeth
that there are projections upon the pulsator wheel e. A rock shaft 15
carries the pallets 16 and armature 17; this armature is between two
electro-magnets p and q; hence, when one magnet is energized the
escapement will allow the type wheel to move one space, and when the
other magnet is energized the armature is moved the other way, and
thus a step-by-step movement is allowed to the type wheel. At the
end of the shaft n is a circuit changer made of one or two arms 7 secured
to the shaft, and the cnd revolving in contact with the compound
disk s, &¹, that is, made as shown in Fig. 5 of two insulated plates, each
with half the number of projections that there are upon the pulsator e;
and the projections from the back disk & extend out sidewise and are
between the projections around the disk s, the surface of the pro-
jections being flush with cach other so that the arm will revolvo
around freely, but when in contact with the projections of 8¹ the
pulsation of electricity coming from the shaft as aforesaid, and thence
through the type wheel shaft n and arm will pass by s¹, and the screw
and wire 20 to the magnet p, thence to the binder g'; and when the
arm is in contact with the pulsation will pass by the screw and
wire 21 to the magnet 2, thence to the binding screw y¹. The position
of the parts is such that the pulsation through s' and p will attract the

page_text: armature, and allow the movement of the type wheel and arm r, so that
when the next pulsation is sent it will go through the arm and disk s
to the magnet q, and this will again move the parts so that the arm »
will move into contact with the next projection upon s¹; and so on, thus
the movement of the type wheel simultaneously changes the connections
so that the pulsations go first through one magnet and then through the
other.
The printing roller t is in a frame swinging upon the axis 23, and
having a limited movement regulated by the jaw and set screw 24 to
adjust said jaw.
The armature lever u¹ and armature 25 swing upon the fulcrum 26,
and arc operated by the electro-magnet w, and the lever u¹ and frame t
are connected so that the printing is effected when the magnet wis
energized. There is a local battery w* connected with the magnet w
through the binding screws 28, 29, contact screw 30, and armature x
of the electro-magnet g. While this magnet g is energized by the line
pulsations passing through it, the balanced armature x is kept from
contact with 30, but as soon as the pulsation ceases the circuit
through 30 is closed and the local magnet w energized to effect the
printing. The rapidity of movement causes the frame t' and roller t to
move further than the lever u and give the impression, and then fall
away from the type wheel m. The armature x is made with a spring
end x¹ contiguous to the contact screw 30, and this screw 30 is at an
inclination to the arc in which the armature end vibrates. The object
of this is to ensure a slight sliding motion between the screw 30 and
spring to keep the surfaces clean, and the spring x¹ prevents a
rebound at the point of contact, hence the pulsation to the printing
magnet is full and definite.
The strip of paper passes above the roller t between that and the small
roller 35 carried by the spring y, said spring serving to guide the paper,
and the feed is effected by revolving the roller by the pawl 36 as the
roller and its frame descend.
A screw upon the type wheel shaft gives end motion to a shaft 3S
and and weighted unison finger 39, so that after two or more turns of the
type wheel consecutively the finger 39 will be brought into the path of
a stop upon the type wheel, and arrest the further movement of the
same until the printing lever u' is operated, which swings the detent

page_text: from the screw, and allows a weighted lever or spring us to press away
the unison finger by sliding such finger with its shaft in its bearings.
This is done at each impression, because the unison is not to be self-
acting except when the type wheel is preferably rotated several times to
3bring it into operation for adjusting all the instruments in the line.
.
By the use of weights instead of springs upon the unison mechanism
there is no risk of the parts becoming disarranged or inoperative, because
the power of the weights remain uniform, and they are not subjected to
change of adjustment in cleaning the instrument, nor to injury by
breakage as the springs heretofore employed.
In cases where two line wires are employed the circuit changer shown
in Figs. 4 and 5 is to be dispensed with, and the pulsator e¹ made double,
and a second circuit screw 6 employed, so that the connection is closed
to one wire when the lever e¹ is moved one way, and to the other wire
when the lever e¹ is moved the other way. One magnet p is connected
to one line wire, and the other magnet q to the other line wire. With
these changes the other parts may remain as before described, and the
instrument will operate correctly. The Diagram, Fig. 10, illustrates said
connections.
In cases where it is desired only to use one line wire the connections
may be made as in the Diagram, Fig. 11, so as to send alternate positive
and negative pulsations over the main linc, and. these going through
both magnets p and q will move the armature 17 first one way and then
the other, because said armature is a permanent magnet so as to be
attracted and repelled alternately, the printing being effected by a pause,
as before.
In cases where two line wires are employed, and it is desired to dis-
pense with the magnet y and local battery wt, the same can be effected
by changing the parts and connections, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The
magnets p and q are in the separate line circuits connected to the
binding screws g³, and these magnets operate upon the armature 17 and
type wheel m, as before, and the pulsator e¹ sends a current through first
one line and then the other. The magnet w that operates upon the
printing lever ¹ is made double and compound, that is to say, there are
two helices upon each core, and these are connected as shown, so that the
magnets are energized cach movement of the pulsator e³, but the arma-
ture 25 is a permanent magnet, and the polarity is arranged so that

page_text: there is not any movement of the armature 25 except by reversing the
polarity of the circuit sent. This is effected automatically when the
type wheel has been set, and the pulsations stopped by the particular
key that is depressed, hence the printing will be effected when the
current is reversed, and at no other time. The reversing lever as is
operated automatically or by hand to reverse the polarity of the current
from the battery when the printing is to be effected.
The partial elevation Fig. 13 and plan view Fig. 14, illustrate a
modification of this Invention, in which the armature 17 is a permanent
magnet, and the movement thereof results from reversing the polarity
of the alternate pulsations over one wire. As the pulsator e¹ is vibrated
by the pulsator wheel e the positive current passes from the screw f¹
to 60, thence by 61, 2, bed at, magnets p, q, to the line g¹ and distant
instrument, and by the connections in the same instrument at the
receiving station when positioned to "take" the message, returns by the
ground through ƒ*, 62, 63, 64, & 66 to the negative battery screw ƒ³.
When the pulsator c¹ is moved the other way to that shown the current
is reversed, and comes from f¹, 60, through 68, 63, 62, +, to the ground,
and returns through g¹, magnets p and q, bed a¹, 2, 69, 65, 66, to binding
screw f³.
The magnets p, q, at the sending and receiving stations will always
be in the electric circuit, and the pulsations will correspond, and the
polarity will be changed according to the direction of the current, and
the permanent magnet armature 17 will be vibrated between them and
held to either magnet alternately, according to the polarity, and this
vibration of the armature 17 acts through the lever 70 upon the step-by-
step mechanism or impelling pallets 16 to move the type wheel m and
set the same in the proper position, the type wheels at sending and
receiving stations corresponding. The impression magnet w is in the
local circuit, the battery wires of which are connected to 28 and 29, the
wire from 28 going to the magnet w. From w the wire connects with
the insulated spring 71 and spring anvil at 72, thence by the frame and
to 29. The spring 71 and anvil 72 are moved by the vibration of the
lever 70 and double incline 73, so that the circuit at 72 is constantly
being closed and broken, and the local battery does not exert sufficient
power in the electro-magnet w to move the armature 25 and lever u'
thereof until the pause occurs in stopping the type wheel. Then the
lover acts by a blow upon the tail of the bent lever t¹ carrying the

page_text: This instrument is
is
roller t, and imprints the paper against the type.
provided with a plate *, lever ³, handle and lever ³, and ranges of
finger keys similar to those shown in Fig. 7, and when the handle
turned to "send" the arm or lever is simply out of the way, and
5 allows of the free rotation of the pulsator wheel c and arms h¹³, h³.
When the handle is turned to "take" the arm ' takes against the
arm 12 of the lever k, moving said lever and bringing the spring
brake 10 against the disk 11, and this stops the rotation of the pulsator
wheel e.
At the same time a pin on k¹ acts against the arm 12, opening
the circuit at 66, and closing the circuit at the post 62, so that at the
receiving station, the pulsator being stopped, the current will come in
either by the line or ground, and pass through 62, lever 12, bed a³, and
wire to the magnets p, q.
In Fig. 15 a side view of another modification of this Invention is
shown, and Fig. 16 is a plan view. In this case there are two line
wires, and they pass separately through the magnets p and q, and also
through the printing magnets w, ws. Each magnet w or woe is made of
two separate coils or helices, the wire from the helix of the magnet q
leading as shown through the sections 80 of the magnets w, w0º, and tho
wire from the magnet p leading through the sections 81 of the magnets
20, 20º, and these wires ultimately reach the ground connection from f*,
as hereafter described.
If a positive current passes through cither por q the magnet 25 will
be attracted, say to the magnet 10°, because both magnets will be so
charged that their respective poles will attract or repell, and hence the
magnet 25 will remain in the normal position shown, but if the current
passing through por q is reversed, so as to be a negative current, the
poles of the magnets 10, 108, will both be reversed, and hence the
maguct 25 will be moved toward the magnet w, and there held until the
polarity is again changed. An arm from the magnet 25 operates the
bent lever that swings upon the axis 26, and carries the impression
roller at one end. The arms h³, 1³, revolve beneath the keys and
below the plate carrying the pulsators and connections, shown in
Fig. 12, and when the arm h¹ or ² is stopped by pressing down a finger
key the pulsator wheels and pulsators are stopped.
The central shaft bis revolved by friction and gearing, similar to that
shown in Figs. 1, 2, 13, & 14. Upon the shaft 6 is an escapement
wheel e, with the same number of teeth as the wheel o, and this in

page_text: •
revolving gives vibration to the swinging lever e', and arteriitely closes
and breaks the circuits through the line wires to the magnets p, q, the
points 90 and 91 acting as circuit closers. The connections from these
points 90, 91, to the wires may be of any desired character. I have
shown the insulated springs 92, 93, as bearing upon the insulated blocks
of the lever c¹ that carry the points.
The spring and supporting block are also insulated, and are con-
nected to one pole of the battery, as hereafter set forth.
From the binding screw f¹ the metallic connection is by the wire 95,
spring 96, insulated tongue 97, on the lover s³, points 99, 100, spring
and blocks, also insulated and connected to the block and spring r³, so
that a positive current will be sent by either of the line wires to the
respective magnets of the receiving instrument. Upon the sleeve that
carries the wheel e is also a wheel e' with ratchet teeth corresponding in
number to the characters and spaces upon the type wheel, and said
sleeve also carries an arm or arms h², h², which are beneath the plate 7,
and are the same as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
The wheel is driven continuously by a pinion u³ on the upper end
of the shaft b, and acts by a friction at its under side to press the detent
arm toward the teeth of the wheel e', but the inclines of said teeth
constantly press back said detent, while the wheels e, et, and armis h³, h²,
are revolving; but when they are stopped the friction of u* carries the
detent 63 into the teeth of et, and taking a stud 6ª upon the insulated
levers, and moving that sufficiently to separate 99 and 100, after
connecting and b, so that without giving a separate pulsation at the
receiving station the polarity of the current is changed through either
of the magnets p and q, causing the horse-shoe magnet 25 to be moved
and effect the printing as aforesaid. After the detent 6s has connected *
and 8, the electricity passes from the negative pole of the battery"
through f, and wire to spring 98, and insulated tongue c' on the
lever 88.
When the instrument is used for sending a communication, the
lever is in the position shown in Fig. 16, so that the negative pole ƒ³
is connected with the ground through the wire 95, spring 98, tongue c³,
spring, and block h³, stud hº, lever k, spring a³, and wire to the
binding screw f', and ground; or when the negative current is sent to
the distant station the positive polo f¹ is connected to the ground

page_text: 4233
lever will be disconnected from the stud º, and in metallic contact by
the spring with the wires that pass from the magnets 10, 20º, and p, q,
the current going through the lever k to the spring and wire to the
binding screw ƒ*.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is,-
First. The pulsator wheel e, lever e¹, and springs 4 and 5, combined
with the circuit screw 6, for opening and closing the circuit by the
wheel e, substantially as set forth.
Second. The lever k, spring brake 10, and arm and pin 12, in combi-
nation with the pulsator lever c¹, for stopping the motor and closing the
circuit simultaneously, substantially as set forth.
Third. The two magnets p and q acting in opposite directions upon
the armature 17 and escapement 16, o, for the type wheel m in combi-
nation with the circuit changer acted upon by the type wheel shaft to
direct the pulsations alternately through the magnets p and q, substan-
tially as set forth.
Fourth. The electro-magnet g in the main line circuit in combination
with the armature x, circuit screw 30, electro-magnet w,, local circuit
and printing lever, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The sliding shaft 38, and stop 39, and weighted pawl taking
the screw upon the type wheel shaft in combination with the weighted
lever u³; substantially.as and for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The weighted armature and electro-magnet 9 in combination
with the circuit closing spring a¹, point 30, and main and local circuits,
substantially as specified, and operating as set forth.
Seventh. The adjustable governor mado with a centrifugal brake d
revolving within a conical shell &, in combination with the revolving
arm or arms h³, 1ª, and range of finger keys, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Eighth. The revolving arms /', ², driven by a frictional connection
to the motor, in combination with the spring finger keys and pulsator
e, e', substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Ninth. The pulsator e, e¹, and switch 66, with their respective connec-
tions to the battery, line, and ground, substantially as shown, in combi-
nation with the lever k, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The armature 17, vibrating between two electro-magnets by
the change of polarity in the current, in combination with the lever 70,
impelling pallets 16 and wheel o for moving the type wheel, substantially
as set forth.
Eleventh. The vibrating circuit closer 73, actuated by the type wheel
lever, in combination with the printing magnet and percussion impression
roller t, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The pulsator e¹ made with the yielding circuit closers 64 and
68, insulated from the circuit closers 61 and 69, and in contact with the 1
spring 63, in combination with the circuit closers 60 and 65 and connec-
tions, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. Two magnets operated alternately through two line wires,
in combination with armatures, escapement, type wheel, and printing
mechanism, substantially as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, and for the 2
purposes set forth.
Fourteenth. Two electro-magnets operated through separate line wires
to set the type wheel, in combination with an electro-magnet operated
by the reversal of the electrical current to give the impression, substan-
tially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George May Phelps, have hercunto
GEORGE M. PHELPS. (L.S.)
Witnesses,
CHAS. H. SMITH, 121, Nassau St., New York.
GEO. T. PINCKNEY,
وو
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