Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th June, 1888
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
1
The various systems or apparatuses employed or proposed up to the present date for
synchronizing in multiplex telegraphy are based either on mechanical appliances acted
upon by correcting currents sent from one station to the other, or on variations of
speed electrically communicated to vibrating bodies, such as an electro-tuning fork,
by the correcting currents on the line, so as to synchronize the rotation of two brushes
revolving on two distributors placed at two distant stations.
In the first case, viz., synchronism by means of mechanical appliances, the receiving
brush either receives, alternately, the advancing or retarding motion necessary
for synchronism or, as is more often the case, receives only an advancing or only a
retarding motion; the transmitting brush at the first station being so adjusted as
always to retard or always to advance on the other brush at the second station.
In the second case, viz., synchronism by means of electro-tuning forks, two tuning
forks are employed, each regulating the speed of one of the brushes. One of the
tuning forks is kept automatically at the speed of the other by means of variations
produced in the current which keeps it vibrating. Such is, for instance, the case of
the system of synchronism by means of the phonic wheel of Paul la Cour.
But, in this last instance, there are several drawbacks inherent to the necessity of
having to vary the speed of vibration of the receiving tuning fork by means of
variations of current.
1° It renders necessary the use of tuning forks with thin prongs so as to obtain
easily sufficient variations in their rate of vibration; and such tuning forks are

page_text: necessarily subject to be frequently out by adjustment through the weakening of the
batteries, influences of temperature &c.
2° These sudden variations of speed produce irregularities which are very detri-
mental to the instantaneous character of the effect to be produced, on account of the
changes in the rate of vibration of the same tuning fork.
The synchronizing apparatus, forming the subject of the present invention, is based
on a combination of the various conditions above enumerated, so as to obtain a more
immediate and, above all, a more stable result. It aims at producing, on the receiving
brush, an accelerating, or a retarding, motion, according to requirements, and to do
away with the drawbacks of thin tuning forks with varying rates, by the use of tuning
forks as powerful as may be desired, the rate of which is theoretically invariable, the
speed of vibration of each one being unchangeable.
:―
The principal according to which these tuning forks are combined is the following
One of these instruments, placed at the transmitting station for instance, governs
the speed of a small electro-motor, phonic wheel &c. and, consequently, that of a brush
on a distributor, as will be explained hereafter.
At the receiving station are placed two tuning forks of which the first vibrates a
little quicker and the second a little slower (but, in each case, of the same quantity in
excess or in deficiency) than the tuning forks at the transmitting station. These tuning
forks can each govern, according to the correcting currents received from the trans-
mitting station, the speed of a second electro-motor, phonic wheel &c., which also
rotates a brush on a second distribution similar to the first.
The connections are so arranged that, according as the transmitting brush rotates
quicker or slower than the receiving, negative or positive current will be sent through
the line and will act, at the receiving station, on a polarised relay. This polarized
relay will then connect with the motor the circuit belonging to tuning fork I or to
tuning fork II so that the motor, phonic wheel &c., and consequently the brush on
the distributor, will be automatically accelerated or retarded. These actions are
repeated each time there is an appreciable difference between the relative positions of
the brushes at both stations, and the receiving brush will therefore be maintained at a
mean speed which will produce an almost absolute synchronism between the two stations.
This synchronism can be made as perfect as may be desired by making sufficiently
small and equal, the differences in excess, or in deficiency, between the two tuning
forks at the receiving station and the tuning fork at the transmitting station.
This new system of synchronism, herein described, is based therefore,
a). On the use of a single tuning fork at the transmitting station.
b). On the use of two turning forks at the receiving station.
Each one of these three tuning forks makes an invariable prearranged number of
vibrations as has just been explained, according to the degree of sensitiveness which
it is desired to attain in the correction.
c). On the use of electro-motors of any description, phonic wheels &c., acting
either directly, or through mechanical appliances on rotating brushes so as to make
them revolve at the speeds governed by the tuning forks.
This arrangement is therefore essentially different, for these various reasons, from
the systems heretofore proposed for the same object, and, amongst others, from the
synchronism produced by means of the phonic wheel.
The following is a description of one of the combinations of apparatus and circuits
which can be applied, and of their working, and also the explanation of the Figures
illustrating this specification.
Figure 1 represents the arrangement of a system of synchronism produced
electrically between two distributors D and D¹ placed at two distant stations I and II,
connected by a single line wire.
At station I, an electro-tuning fork B is kept vibrating by means of a local
battery a, the current of which passes through the coil C of the electro-magnet of the
tuning fork. One the poles of the battery a is connected at m with the mass of the
tuning fork and the other pole with one of the extremities of the coil C; the other
extremities of coil C is connected with the contact screw d which can be advanced

page_text: until it just touches a platinum spring placed on one of the prongs of the tuning
fork B. At this instant, the circuit of battery a is closed, the electro-magnet attracts
the prongs of the tuning fork; but this attraction breaks the contact between dand
the circuit is then open and the prongs, no longer attracted by the electro-magnet C,
return to their original position. The spring p again touches the contact screw d, and
the connections being repeated, the tuning fork in maintained in a state of continual
vibration.
The other prong of the tuning fork is also provided with a small platinum spring p¹
which, at each vibration, makes a contact with a screw d¹.
These vibrations thus produce successive openings and closings of the circuit of
another local battery e one of the poles of which is connected with the mass m of
the tuning fork, and the other pole with the brush g of a small electro-motor, the
field of which is produced by the pole pieces N, S, of a permanent magnet, or with
the electro-magnet of a phonic wheel. The current, after passing through the
armature A of the motor,(or the electro-magnet of the phonic wheel)-
-comes out
through the brush g₁ to the contact screw p¹, passes thence to the spring p¹ and to
the mass of the tuning fork.
The successive currents thus sent through the armature A of the electro-motor, or
through the electro-magnet of a phonic wheel, will produce a motion of uniform
rotation determined by the speed of vibration of the tuning fork B.
The electro-motor shown on Figure 1 would rotate with a speed of one turn for
each vibration ; this speed would evidently be different in the case of the use of the
phonic wheel.
The spindle of the motor is made to turn a brush F on a distributor D, carrying
the contacts necessary for signalling either by means of reducing gear of some sort,
or directly in the case of a phonic wheel. In the Figure the spindle of the motor is
prolonged and carries a worm V which gears with a worm wheel keyed on the
shaft of the brush F. The brush thus receives a motion of uniform rotation on the
distributor D.
The brush Fat station II is similarly kept rotating on a distributor D¹ by means
of a small magneto-electric motor A', or of a phonic wheel. The motor receives the
current of a local battery el rapidly interrupted by means of one or the other of two
electro tuning forks B, and B. The fork B, vibrates a little quicker than the fork B
(by a quantity for instance) and the fork B, vibrates a little slower than the
fork B (by a quantity - a). These two tuning forks are kept vibrating by means
of two local batteries a, and a, like that of station I.
The local battery el is connected with the masses m, and m, of the tuning forks B₁
and B, and with brush g₁₁ of motor A¹. The current passes through A¹, through the
brush g₁, through the armature of a polarized relay R, through one or the other of
two contact screws and t¹ and through one or the other of two contact screws d'₁
or d according as the armature of the relay rests on t or on t¹. The motor A¹ or
the phonic wheel will therefore receive the interrupted currents produced by the
vibrations of B₁, or by the vibrations of B, and will turn a little quicker or a little
slower than the motor A, or the phonic wheel, at station I, according as the armature
of the relay rests on t or on t¹. The brush F¹ will therefore also rotate a little
quicker or a little slower than the brush F of station 1.
The two distributors D and D₁ are similarly divided, except in the following
particular-The space occupied on D by the two contact pieces and y is divided
on D into three contact pieces a¹, z and y. The contact pieces and y are
respectively connected with the positive pole and with the negative pole of a split line
battery H, the middle of which is put to earth. The contact piece on the
distributor D¹ (the intermediate contact pieces of the three above mentioned) is
connected with one of the extremities of the coils of the polarized relay R, the other
extremity of which is put to earth.
The two brushes. F and F rotate with unequal speeds; there will therefore be a
moment when brush F will be on one of the two contact pieces a or y, when F¹ will
At that instant, there will be sent through the line a positive or a negative
be on z.

page_text: $
current (according as F is on a or on y) which will reach and the coils of the
polarized relay R. This current will throw the armature of the relay on one or the
other of the two contact screws and according as F1 is falling behind or
advancing on F. The speed of motor A', or of the phonic wheel of station II, and
therefore that of F¹, will be immediately modified and the recurrence of these actions
will keep the two brushes in a state of almost absolute synchronism if the difference a
between the rates of vibration of the tuning forks is made sufficiently small.
As already stated, the motor makes one revolution for each vibration of the
tuning fork in the case of a phonic wheel the speed would be different. If tuning
forks with a great number of vibrations were employed, it is easy, so as to keep the
speed of the motor within proper limits, to adopt such arrangements as will reduce it.
For instance, it is easy to make use of motors with several permanent magnets
arranged around the armature. If the motor has four magnetic poles alternately
disposed, it will make only half a turn per vibration; for six poles, it will make
one third of a revolution per vibration.
The electro-magnets which keep up the vibrations of the tuning forks can also be
placed on a slide, so as to pull them forward or backwards in the axis of the prongs
according as it is desired to vary the amplitude and, consequently, by a very small
Instead of one
quantity, but sufficiently for adjustment, the rates of vibration.
electro-magnet placed in the axis of the tuning forks, the electro-magnets can be
placed externally, laterally, &c.
All that precedes refers to the use ef electro-motors, phonic wheels, &c., with direct
currents. The following is the arrangement proposed for the use of alternating
current motors.
Figure 2, referring to the use of alternating current motors, represents another
arrangement of the tuning forks.
The tuning fork B is provided, at the extremity of one of its prongs, with two
contact making pieces d and p, similar to those already described, so as to keep the
fork in a state of automatic and continual vibration by means of a local battery a and
of an electro-magnet C.
11
The extremity of the other prong is provided with two platinum springs p' and pl,
the one external and the other internal, which are, each one in its turn, brought into
contact with one or the other of two metallic contact screws d' and d¹¹, as the fork
vibrates.
These two contact screws are respectively connected with the positive pole and with
the negative pole of a split battery e e', the middle of which is connected with the
brush g of an alternating current motor A; the other brush g of the motor is
electrically connected with the mass m of the tuning fork.
Examination of Figure 2 will show that the vibrations of the tuning forks will send
alternately through the armature A of the electro-motor, currents of opposite
polarity. These currents will be emitted at equal intervals and will be of equal
intensity if, as is preferable, the battery e is made equal in strength to the battery e¹.
By these means, it is possible to make use of alternating current motors, and, by the
well known law of these apparatuses, the said motor will rotate perfectly synchronously
with the vibrations of the tuning fork B.
The electro-motors can be constructed according to any convenient principle.
Figure 2 shows the arrangement of each one of the tuning forks employed with
alternating current motors. As to the method of synchronism of the three tuning
forks employed at the two distant stations, it is similar to that hereinbefore described
in detail.
W. H. BECK,
115, Cannon Street, London,
Applicant.

page_text: New or Improved System or Apparatus for Synchronizing Electric
Telegraph Instruments.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Strect, in the City of London, Consulting
Engineer and Patent Agent 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, reference being had to the Drawings annexed
to the Provisional Specification accompanying my application for patent for this
invention, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The various systems or apparatuses employed or proposed up to the present date
for synchronizing in multiplex telegraphy are based, either on mechanical appliances
acted upon by correcting currents sent from one station to the other, or on variations
of speed electrically communicated to vibrating bodies, such as an electro-tuning fork,
by the connecting currenis on the line, so as to synchronize the rotation of two
brushes revolving on two distributors placed at two distant stations.
In the first case, viz. Synchronism by means of mechanical appliances, the receiving
brush either receives, alternately, the advancing or retarding motion necessary for
synchronism or, as is more often the case, receives only an advancing or only a
retarding motion; the transmitting brush at the first station being so adjusted as
always to retard or always to advance on the other brush at the second station.
In the second case, viz. Synchronism by means of electro-tuning forks, two tuning
forks are employed, each regulating the speed of one of the brushes. One of the
tuning forks is kept automatically at the speed of the other by means of variations
produced in the current which keeps it vibrating. Such is, for instance, the case
of the system of synchronism by means of the phonic wheel of Poul la Cour.
But, in this last instance, there are several drawbacks inherent to the necessity of
having to vary the speed of vibration of the receiving tuning fork by means of
variations of current.
1°-it renders necessary the use of tuning forks with thin prongs so as to obtain
easily sufficient variations in their rate of vibration; and such tuning forks are
necessarily subject to be frequently out of adjustment through the weakening of the
batteries, influences of temperature, &c.
2° These sudden variations of speed produce irregularities which are very detri-
mental to the instantaneous character of the effect to be produced, on account of
the changes in the rate of vibration of the same tuning fork.
The synchronizing apparatus forming the subject of the present invention is based
on a combination of the various conditions above enumerated so as to obtain a more
It aims at producing on the
immediate and, above all, a more stable result.
receiving brush an accelerating or a retarding motion according to requirements

page_text: and to do away with the drawbacks of thin tuning forks with varying rates by the
use of tuning forks as powerful as may be desired, the rate of which is theoretically
invariable, the speed of vibration of each one being unchangeable.
The principle according to which these tuning forks are combined is the following:
One of these instruments, placed at the transmitting station for instance, governs
the speed of a small electro-motor, phonic wheel &c., and, consequently, that of a
brush on a distributor, as will be explained hereafter.
At the receiving station are placed two tuning forks of which the first vibrates
a little quicker and the second a little slower (but, in each case, of the same quantity
in excess or in deficiency) than the tuning fork at the transmitting station. These
tuning forks can each govern, according to the correcting currents received from
the transmitting station, the speed of a second electro-motor, phonic wheel, &c. which
also rotates a brush on a second distributor similar to the first.
The connections are so arranged that, according as the transmitting brush rotates
quicker or slower than the receiving, negative or positive currents will be sent
through the line and will act, at the receiving station, on a polarized relay. This
polarized relay will then connect with the motor the circuit belonging to tuning
fork or to tuning fork II, so that the motor, phonic wheel &c. and consequently the
brush on the distributor, will be automatically accelerated or retarded. These actions
are repeated each time there is an appreciable difference between the relative positions
of the brushes at both stations, and the receiving brush will therefore be maintained
at a mean speed which will produce an almost absolute synchronism between the two
stations. This synchronism can be made as perfect as may be desired by making
sufficiently small and equal, the differences in excess or in deficiency between the two
tuning forks at the receiving station and the tuning fork at the transmitting station.
This new system of synchronism herein described is based therefore
a). On the use of a single tuning fork at the transmitting station.
6). On the use of two tuning forks at the receiving station.
Each one of these three tuning forks makes an invariable prearranged number of
vibrations, as has just been explained, according to the degree of sensitiveness which
it is desired to attain in the correction.
c). On the use of electro-motors of any description, phonic wheels &c. acting either
directly, or through mechanical appliances on rotating brushes so as to make them
revolve at the speeds governed by the tuning forks.
This arrangement is therefore essentially different, for these various reasons, from
the systems heretofore proposed for the same object, and amongst others, from the
synchronism produced by means of the phonic wheel.
The following is a description of one of the combinations of apparatus and circuits
which can be applied, and of their working, and also the explanation of the figures
illustrating this specification.
Figure 1 represents the arrangement of a system of synchronism produced
electrically between two distributors D and D placed at two distant stations I
and II, connected by a single line wire.
At station I, an electro-tuning fork B is kept vibrating by means of a local
battery a, the current of which passes through the coil C of the electro-magnet of
the tuning fork. One of the poles of the battery a is connected at m with the mass
of the tuning fork and the other pole with one of the extremities of the coil C; the
other extremity of coil C is connected with the contact screw d which can be advanced
until it just touches a platinum spring p, placed on one of the prongs of the
tuning fork B. At this instant, the circuit of battery a is closed, the electro-magnet
attracts the prongs of the tuning; but this attraction breaks the contact between.d
and p, the circuit is then open and the prongs, no longer attracted by the electro-
magnet C, return to their original position. The spring p again touches the contact
screw d, and the same actions being repeated, the tuning fork is maintained in a state
of continual vibration.
The other prong of the tuning fork is also provided with a small platinum spring ph
which, at each vibration, makes a contact with a screw d¹.

page_text: These vibrations thus produce successive openings and closings of the circuit of
another local battery e, one of the poles of which is connected with the mass m of the
tuning fork and the other pole with the brush y of a small electro-motor, the field of
which is produced by the pole pieces N S of a permanent magnet, or with the electro-
magnet of a phonic wheel. The current after passing through the armature A of the
motor (or the electro-magnet of the phonic wheel) comes out through the brush g' to
the contact screw d', passes thence to the spring p' and to the mass of the tuning
fork.
The successive currents thus sent through the armature A of the electro-motor,
or through the electro-magnet of a phonic wheel, will produce a motion of uniform
rotation determined by the speed of vibration of the tuning fork B.
The electro-motor shown on Figure 1 would rotate with a speed of one turn for
each vibration; this speed would evidently be different in the case of the use of the
phonic wheel.
The spindle of the motor is made to turn a brush F on a distributor D,
carrying the contacts necessary for signalling either by means of reducing gear
of some sort, or directly in the case of a phonic wheel. In the figure, the spindle
of the motor is prolonged and carries a worm V which gears with a worm wheel 1,
keye on the shaft of the brush F. The brush thus receives a motion of uniform
rotation on the distributor D.
The brush F, at station 11, is similarly kept rotating on a distributor D' by
means of a small magneto-electric motor A¹, or of a phonic wheel. The motor
receives the current of a local battery e rapidly interrupted by means of one or
the other of two electro-tuning forks B, and B. The fork B, vibrates a little
quicker than the fork B (by a quantity + a for instance) and the fork B, vibrates
à little slower than the fork B (by a quantity a). These two tuning forks are
kept vibrating by means of two local batteries a₁ and a, like that of station I.
2
The local battery e¹ is connected with the masses m, and m₂ of the tuning
forks B, and B, and with brush g₁₁ of motor A¹. The current passes through A,
through the brush g₁, through the armature of a polarized relay R, through one
or the other of two contact screws and t¹ and through one or the other of two
contact screws d¹, or d¹, according as the armature of the relay rests on t or
on t'. The motor A', or the phonic wheel, will therefore receive the interrupted
currents produced by the vibrations of B₁, or by the vibrations of B, and will
turn a little quicker or a little slower than the motor A, or the phonic wheel at
station I, according as the arinature of the relay rests on t or on t. The brush Fi
will therefore also rotate a little quicker or a little slower than the brush F of
station I.
The two distributors D and D₁ are similarly divided, except in the following
particular The space occupied on D by the two contact pieces x and y is
divided on D into three contact pieces ¹,, and y'. The contact pieces and y
are respectively connected with the positive pole and with the negative pole of a
split line battery H, the middle of which is put to earth. The contact piece,
on the distributor (the intermediate contact pieces of the three above mentioned)
is connected with one of the extremities of the coils of the polarized relay R, the
other extremity of which is put to earth.
The two brushes F and F rotate with unequal speeds; there will therefore be
a moment when brush F will be on one of the two contact pieces a or y, when Fl
will be on .
At that instant, there will be sent through the line a positive or a
negative current (according as F is on æ or on y) which will reach 2 and the
coils of the polarized relay R. This current will throw the armature of the relay
on one or the other of the two contact screws t and t, according as F¹ is falling
behind or advancing on F. The speed of motor A', or of the phonic wheel of
station II, and therefore that of F, will be immediately modified, and the recurrence
of these actions will keep the two brushes in a state of almost absolute synchronism
if the difference a between the rates of vibration of the tuning forks is made
sufficiently small.

page_text: As already stated, the motor makes one revolution for each vibration of the tuning
fork in the case of a phonic wheel the speed would be different. If tuning forks
with a great number of vibrations were employed it is easy, so as to keep the speed
of the motor within proper limits, to adopt such arrangements as will reduce it.
For instance it is easy to make use of motors with several permanent magnets
arranged around the armature. If the motor has four magnetic poles alternately
disposed, it will make only half a turn per vibration; for six poles it will make one
third of a revolution per vibration.
The electro-magnets which keep up the vibrations of the tuning forks can also be
placed on a slide, so as to pull them forward or backwards in the axis of the prongs
according as it is desired to vary the amplitude, and, consequently, by a very small
quantity, but sufficiently for adjustment, the rates of vibration. Instead of one
electro-magnet placed in the axis of the tuning forks, the electro-magnets can be
placed externally, laterally &c.
All that precedes refers to the use of electro-motors, phonic wheels &c. with direct
currents. The following is the arrangement proposed for the use of alternating
current motors.
Figure 2, referring to the use of alternating current motors, represents another
arrangement of the tuning forks.
The tuning fork B is provided, at the extremity of one of its prongs, with two
contact making pieces d and p, similar to those already described, so as to keep the
fork in a state of automatic and continual vibration by means of a local battery a and
of an electro-magnet ().
The extremity of the other prong is provided with two platinum springs pl and pl,
the one external and the other internal, which are, each one in its turn, brought into
contact with one or the other of two metallic contact screws d' and d" as the fork
vibrates.
These two contact screws are respectively connected with the positive pole and
with the negative pole of a split battery e el, the middle of which is connected with
the brush g of an alternating current motor A; the other brush g of the motor is
electrically connected with the mass m of the tuning fork.
Examination of Figure 2 will show that the vibrations of the tuning forks will
send alternately through the armature A of the electro-motor currents of opposite
polarity. These currents will be emitted at equal intervals and will be of equal
intensity if, as is preferable, the battery e is made equal in strength to the battery e¹.
By these means, it is possible to make use of alternating current motors and, by
the well known law of these apparatuses, the said motor will rotate perfectly
synchronously with the vibrations of the tuning fork B.
The electro-motors can be constructed according to any convenient principle.
Figure 2 shows the arrangement of each one of the tuning forks employed with
alternating current motors. As to the method of synchronism of the three tuning
forks employed at the two distant stations it is similar to that hereinbefore described
in detail.
Instead of using an alternate current electro-motor or a phonic wheel, the vibrations
of the tuning forks may be made use of to regulate the speed of a mechanical motor
driven by clockwork, either by means of a spring or weight. In this case the
alternating currents produced by the vibrations of the tuning forks pass through the
armature of a special electrical apparatus which plays the part of a brake when
the speed is in excess of what is wanted, or accelerates the motion when it is too slow.
This electric brake consists likewise of an alternate current motor, but with this
difference that it is not expected to do the total work of revolving the apparatus, but
simply that of regulating the speed of the clockwork mechanism according to the
wants of the synchronism.
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 :-
Ր lastne tuning fork governing the speed of an electro-

page_text: motor. phonic wheel, etcetera and through it, of a brush rotating on a distributor at
one station, and of two tuning forks with fixed rates of vibration, vibrating the one
quicker, and the other slower than that of the first station and governing each one
in its turn, and according as may be required, the speed of a second electro-motor,
phonic wheel etcetera and consequently the speed of a second brush roiating on a
second distributor placed at another station so as to keep the two brushes in
synchronism the two stations being connected by a single line wire, as herein-
before described, and illustrated in Figure 1 of the Drawings.
Second. The combination of three tuning forks placed at two distant stations,
but each provided, on the same prong, with external and internal contact pieces by
means of which it is possible to make use, for the motion of the motors at both
stations, of alternating current motors so as to produce a state of synchronisin
between the brushes rotating on the distributors placed at these two stations and
connected by a single line wire as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figure 2
of the Drawings.