Improved Electrical apparatus cating with a Single-wire Telegraphic Circuit.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improved Electrical apparatus
cating with a Single-wire Telegraphic Circuit.
I, FRANCIS ALEXANDRE AMORIC, of Ismailia, Egypt, Telegraphist to the Société
du Canal de Suez do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a signal bell apparatus for use on all stations communi-
cating with a single-wire tolegraphic circuit, whereby a person at any one of the
stations can signal to another of the stations, without sounding the signals of the
other station..
It also indicates at all the stations of the line which parts are occupied, so that the
parts not occupied may be utilised for passing signals.
The apparatus consists of a clockwork mechanism, the barrel of which gears with
two trains of wheel-work which respectively drive two wheels, one of which is an
escapement wheel similar to the receiver of Breguet movement, while the other makes
one revolution in about 30 seconds. These two wheels are held stationary in the
position of repose by two levers fixed on the same axis as the armature of an electro-
magnet, which armature is polarized by a permanent magnet and can move in one
direction or the other according to the direction of the current sent from the line
wire through the electromagnet, the armature being held in a central position when at
rest, by two springs.
The axis of the escapement wheel carries an ivory wheel having a number of teeth
equal to the number of stations on the line, and between the teeth, in a varying
position determined by the number of the station at which the apparatus is situated,
is placed a contact communicating through the body of the apparatus with another
contact fixed on another ivory wheel fixed on the axis of the second wheel.
Two springs in communication with a local battery, on the circuit of which is a
signal bell, press constantly upon the ivory wheels and close the circuit when the two
contacts are in corresponding positions. If a current be sent in a certain direction
through the electromagnet, the armature is moved so as to cause the levers to release
Le

page_text: the two wheels driven by the barrel, the escapement wheel then advances one tooth
and the other begins to rotate. In sending other currents in the same direction the
escapement is caused to advance a corresponding number of teeth, without interfering
with the movement of the other wheel.
One or more pointers actuated by the escapement wheel indicate on a dial the
number of the calling and called stations. After a certain lapse of time the second
wheel automatically stops the clockwork movement again.
The currents are then repeated at intervals in the same direction as many times as
is necessary to turn the second wheel sufficiently to bring the second pointer to a
number on a dial indicating the station called.
The second wheel then presents its contact under the spring that communicates
with the battery of the bell signal, the ivory wheel of the first wheel having the same
position in all the stations, so that only the station at which the contact of the second
wheel is presented under the corresponding spring will have the local circuit closed,
and this station will be the one called; communication can then take place between
the two stations and when this is finished, the calling station, in sending a current in
the contrary direction will cause the armature to move and thus release the two
wheels, which will resume their original positions of rest.
In carrying out the above described general method of construction and operation
the arrangement preferably used is as follows: The second above described wheel
has three studs situated in a groove on its periphery, which act upon a stopping
spring provided with a stud that stops the motion of a flyer on the train of wheelwork
so that on the release of the flyer, the wheelwork is set in motion.
The before mentioned contacts of the ivory wheels are carried by metal sleeves or
spindles that make electrical contact with the body of the apparatus, and two springs
fixed on an ivory block and bearing on the contacts are respectively connected with
the two poles of the local battery.
The one dial has two sets of divisions on its circumference, and two pointers, the
one serving to indicate the calling station and the other the called station.
The other dial has a single pointer that indicates the movement of the calling
mechanism.
Assuming that station 7 desires to speak with station 3, the operator first makes
seven successive contacts with his manipulator, which may be of any kind; the
armature is thereby moved a corresponding number of times in one direction so that
the lever actuated thereby allows seven of the escapement teeth to pass, and the two.
pointers on the one disc are brought together to the division 7 on the dial, thus
indicating the calling station. Meanwhile the second wheel has also been set in
motion, by the lateral movement of the second armature lever which carries the spring
stop of the flyer and which also allows the one stud on the second wheel to pass.
The wheel having rotated through a certain distance, the next stud thereon presses
the spring stop forward and so stops the flyer again.
A cam on the axis of this wheel simultaneously lifts a lever which is thus made to
gear with the teeth of a wheel on a hollow spindle fitted upon that of the escapement
wheel, and thus stops the rotation of the one pointer of its dial which is fixed on this
axis. A further number of currents are then sent into the line for bringing the
second pointer on to the division 3 of the second dial. This independent motion of
the pointer is effected as follows. The escapement axis carries a spiral spring one
end of which is attached to the before mentioned second escapement wheel on the
hollow axis so that the two axes are connected. through that spring. Thus when no
obstruction is offered to either of the escapement wheels, the two pointers will both
move together, but when one is stopped, the other pointer can still be rotated with
its axis, the spiral spring being more or less wound up thereby. The said pointer is
brought to division 3 at all the stations, but it is only at station 3 that the pointer
when in this position causes the contact spring to make contact with the contact
piece of the ivory wheel. At the same time the second wheel has by its rotation
brought the contact of. the second ivory wheel under its contact spring, and thus the
local battery circuit at station 3 being closed, the signal bell will be sounded.

page_text: When the two stations are in communication the apparatus cannot be interfered
with by currents sent from another station owing to the armature of the electromagnet
being locked in a pocket on the second wheel which only allows the armature to move
in one direction, and from which it can only be released by a reversed current from
the calling station No. 7.
When the communication between Nos. 7 and 3 is finished, 7 sends a reversed
current, whereby the pointers of all the stations are liberated and brought back to
The escapement wheel having teeth of ratchet form, its lever is so arranged
that although it checks its rotation in the one direction, it will allow it to rotate freely
in the contrary direction.
zero.

page_text: Improved Electrical Signal Bell Apparatus for Stations Communi-
cating with a Single-wire Telegraphic Circuit.
I, FRANCIS ALEXANDRE AMORIO, of Ismailia, Egypt, Telegraphist to the Société
du Canal do Suez, 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 :-
This invention relates to a signal bell apparatus for use on all stations communi-
cating with a single-wire telegraphic circuit, whereby a person at any one of the
stations can signal to another of the stations, without sounding the signals of the
other stations.
It also indicates at all the stations of the line which parts are occupied, so that the
parts not occupied may be utilised for passing signals.
The apparatus consists of a clockwork mechanism the barrel of which gears with
two trains of wheel-work which respectively drive two wheels, one of which is an
escapement wheel similar to the receiver of Breguet movement, while the other makes
one revolution in about 30 seconds. These two wheels are held stationary in the
position of repose by two levers fixed on the same axis as the armature of an electro
magnet, which armature is polarized by a permanent magnet and can move in one
direction or the other according to the direction of the current sent from the line wire
through the electro magnet, the armature being held in a central position when at
rest, by two springs.
The axis of the escapement wheel carries an ivory wheel having a number of teeth
equal to the number of stations on the line, and between the teeth, in a varying
position determined by the number of the station at which the apparatus is situated,
is placed a contact communicating through the body of the apparatus with another
contact fixed on another ivory wheel fixed on the axis of the second wheel.
Two springs in communication with a local battery, on the circuit of which is a
signal bell, press constantly upon the ivory wheels and close the circuit when the two
contacts are in corresponding positions. If a current be sent in a certain direction
through the electro magnet, the armature is moved so as to cause the levers to release
the two wheels driven by the barrel; the escapement wheel then advances one tooth
and the other begins to rotate. In sending other currents in the same direction the
escapement is caused to advance a corresponding number of teeth, without interfering
with the movement of the other wheel.
One or more pointers actuated by the escapement wheel indicate on a dial the
number of the calling and called stations. After a certain lapse of time the second
wheel automatically stops the clockwork movement again.
The currents are then repeated at intervals in the same direction as many times as
is necessary to turn the second wheel sufficiently to bring the second pointer to a
number on a dial indicating the station called.

page_text: The second wheel then presents its contact under the spring that communicates
with the battery of the bell signal, the ivory wheel of the first wheel having the same
position in all the stations, so that only the station at which the contact of the second
wheel is presented under the corresponding spring will have the local circuit closed,
and this station will be the one called; communication can then take place between
the two stations and when this is finished, the calling station, in sending a current
in the contrary direction will cause the armature to move and thus release the two
wheels, which will resume their original positions of rest.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing shews a vertical section of the above
described apparatus; Figure 2 shews a plan, and Figures 3 and 4 opposite end
views.
The barrel A carries two toothed wheels which turn in contrary directions; the
one B drives the axis C on which are fixed the escapement wheel D and the ivory
wheel E; the other wheel F of the drum drives the axis G carrying the ivory
The
wheel El and a metal sleeve I having a groove in which are three studs a, b, c.
wheel F also drives the fly J which serves to regulate the movement and upon which
acts the stopping spring K actuated by one or other of the studs a, b, c.
The escapement wheel D and the metal wheel I are kept at rest by the levers L M
fixed on the axis N that is carried on screwed points de.
At the back of the apparatus is a permanent magnet O one of the poles P of which
polarizes the armature of the electro magnet R, fixed on the axis N.
This armature, when at rest, is held between the two poles of the electro magnet R
by means of two springs, one of which is shewn at Fig. 2 which presses the branch h
on the axis N upwards while the other g, shewn at Figs. 1 and 3 draws the branch
downwards.
The ivory wheel E has as many teeth as there are stations on the line; in one of
the spaces between the teeth is fixed a silver contact piece i carried by the metal
sleeve jas shewn at Figures 5 and 6. This contact is placed at the first space for
the first station, at the second for the second, and so on. The metal sleeve j is in
communication by the metal of the apparatus with the contact k carried by the second
ivory wheel H, Figures 5 and 7. A piece of ivory S carries two metal springs l m
which bear upon the ivory wheels EH, Figs. 5, 6 and 7. These insulated springs
are respectively connected to the two poles of the local battery, in the circuit of which
is included a signal bell. The studs a, b, c, on the sleeve I which is fixed to the
wheel H have for their object to cause the pointer T, Fig. 8, carried by the same axis,
to assume different positions that will be referred to presently. They bear con-
secutively against the spring carried by the lever M; this spring carries a small
studo which, impelled by the spring, opposes the motion of the fly J and consequently
stops the apparatus.
The apparatus has externally two dials V V₁; the first one has two pointers carried
by the axis C of the wheel E, and serving to indicate, the one, the station of the
caller, and the other the station called. The divisions of this dial are for this purpose
divided into two series each having as many numerals as there are stations, there
being nine such on the drawing. On the dial V the pointer T serves to indicate the
working of the calls; it is fixed on the axis of the wheel H.
The calls are effected in the following manner:-
Assuming that station 7 desires to call station No. 3, the operator first makes seven
contacts with his manipulator (whatever construction this may be); the armature Q
is then attracted seven times to the right of fig. 4 and the lever L allows as many
double teeth of the escapement wheel D to pass.
The two pointers of the dial V arrive together at the point 7 of the first series of
divisions, thus indicating the calling station. At the first emission of current the
wheel H will also have commenced to turn in the direction of the arrow, because the
spring the end of which is pointed, has been moved to one side by the lever M so
as to allow the stud c to pass.
The stud a bears against the end of the spring K causing it to bend whereby the
studo is brought in contact with the fly J and stops the motion. The pointer T of

page_text: dial V will then have arrived at 7, Fig. 8. At the same moment a cam X carried
by the same axis lifts a lever Y rocking on as shown in detail at Fig. 9, and having
a beaks engaging with the teeth of a wheel t on the boss of which is fixed one of the
pointers of dial V, thus holding this stationary.
The operator then makes by means of other currents in the same direction the
necessary number of contacts for bringing the second pointer of the dial V to the
numeral 3 of the second series. The movement of this pointer can be effected not-
withstanding that the other one is held stationary, by the following arrangement :-
The first pointer is fixed upon a sleeve that carries the wheel t and this sleeve is
carried by the axis of the wheel D which carries in addition a small wheel u. This
wheel, (fig. 10) carries a spiral spring » fixed by its inner end to the axis and by its
outer end to the wheel t. It will be seen that the two wheels move together as also
their pointers, if they are both free, but if the wheel t and its pointer are stopped, the
wheel u can turn under the action of the barrel A when a certain number of teeth of
the wheel D on the same axis are allowed to pass. The spiral spring is then
strained more or less, according to the distance between the two pointers.
All the apparatus on the line will therefore have their one pointer on the numeral 3,
but only at station No. 3 will the contact between the piece j and the spring / be
established.
The stud a will have passed away from the spring K and have allowed the wheel H
to turn until the. second stud b bears in its turn upon the spring K and this stops the
movement.
At this moment the contact of the wheel H will have arrived under the spring m
and the circuit of the signal bell will be closed, but only at station 3, the station
called enters the line on the calling side and puts the free side to earth in interposing
a resistance equal to that of the engaged side, these operations being effected by the
signalling apparatus in any known manner and forming no part of this invention.
The sleeve I has on each side a cheek with spaces so formed that the spaces in the
one cheek are opposite the solid part of the other.
The axis N of the armature carries a lever M the lower end of which is situated
near the sleeve I, and can move to the right or left with the armature when a space
in the right or left check of the sleeve is opposite it.
At the time above mentioned the armature Q cannot move to the right as the end
of the arm M would butt against the projection & Figure 7 but it can move to the
left because a space in the left cheek y opposite the arm M allows this to move in
that direction.
But to produce this movement the direction of the current must be reversed so as
to attract the armature to the left and the sleeve I being no longer held by spring K
turns slightly whereby the contact & will be removed from the spring m and the local
circuit being broken the signal bell will be put out of action.
This arrangement also prevents the apparatus from operating under the influence
of reversed currents in any other position than that for the signal bell, whereby
errors in making contacts are prevented.
During the exchange of messages between two stations the apparatus of the inter-
mediate stations therefore remain in the calling position, thus showing that the
operator there cannot work the line.
When the speaking is finished the called station reestablishes the communication
and the calling station sends a single current of the contrary direction whereby all
the apparatus are brought back to zero by the following arrangement.
The armature Q being attracted to the left (Fig. 4) the stud 6 escapes from the
spring K and the wheel H begins to turn. At the same time the lever L entirely
leaves the wheel D which is carried round by the clockwork and which takes with it
the pointer fixed thereto. But a stop c¹ carried by this wheel strikes against the
piece Z fixed laterally on the lever L Fig. 3, and stops it, thus the pointer of the
called station is brought back to zero.
As the wheel u has been carried round at the same time, being fixed on the same

page_text: axis, and the wheel t being held stationary by the beaks of the lever Y, the spiral
spring is still strained.
The wheel H carries around the cam X, and the lever Y being no longer supported,
yields to the pressure of the inclined teeth of the wheel t, and this can consequently
turn under the action of the spring e, carrying with it the second pointer. A stud a'
on the wheel bears against a stud on the wheel u and the two pointers are thus
stopped at the zero position.
The sleeve I in turning with the wheel H presents its third stud c to the spring K
which stops the mechanism. The pointer of the dial V1 will then have come back to
its original position.
The apparatus is so constructed that it can be worked either directly from the line
wire or through a relay.
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. Signal bell apparatus for stations on one and the same line wire wherein clock-
work mechanism sets in motion contact pieces by means of a detent actuated by one
or more currents sent in one direction by the calling station substantially as herein
described.
2. In apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claim the use of a contact
wheel with a certain number of teeth between two of which is placed the contact
piece, in a position corresponding with the number of the station where the apparatus
is situated, whereby only the signal bell of the particular station called will be
operated, substantially as herein described.
3. In combination with the contact wheel referred to in the preceding claim, the
use of a second contact wheel communicating with the signal bell, substantially as
herein described.
4. In apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claims, the use of a sleeve
with cheeks having gaps whereby the armature is prevented from moving except in
the direction required relatively to the position of the wheel with fixed contact,
substantially as herein described.
5. The use of studs fixed upon a wheel or sleeve turning with the contact wheel
referred to in the preceding claims, and serving to stop the apparatus at the required
position for indicating the called station, whether for actuating the signal bell or for
bringing back the pointers to zero substantially as herein described.
6. The use of two pointers mounted on one and the same axis and moving
together for indicating the calling station, while only one moves for indicating the
called station, the said pointers being connected by a spiral spring permitting the
motion of one while the other is stationary, and serving to bring back the second
pointer automatically to zero when the first has been moved into that position,
substantially as herein described.
7. The use of a lever so arranged as to allow of the motion of the escapement
wheel tooth by tooth when it is actuated in one direction, and to permit of its
completing its revolution, when moved in the contrary direction substantially as
herein described.
8. The use of signalling apparatus combined and operating as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.