Improvements in Telegraphic Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Telegraphic Apparatus.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK EATON, Junior, of 409 & 415, Pearl Street, in the City of.
New York, State of New York, United States of America, Clerk, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in telegraphic apparatus in which provision
is made for transmitting a character, or series of characters, by means of a moving
mechanical pattern of the character, or series of characters, which coacts with an
electric circuit, and certain devices under the control of the electric circuit, to
designate, at a distance, the character, or series of characters, which correspond to
the pattern.
For efficient work, it is desirable that the force of the electric current be maintained
through the line, which may include one or more intermediate stations, and to this
end I have provided a system of reinforcing relays, which may be located at suitable
intervals along the line, at one or more of the intermediate stations, and while I have
chosen to illustrate these current reinforcing relays in connection with the instru-
ments for transmitting characters from mechanical patterns, 1 do not wish to limit
myself to such special use.
My present invention further provides for utilizing one set of pulsations of an
alternating electric current for disclosing the characters at a distant station, and the
opposite set of pulsations for controlling the pulsations of a local alternating current
motor, for actuating the several operating parts of the apparatus.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents the several parts of the apparatus at an intermediate station on a
telegraph line, it being assumed that the main line wire leading to the right, as the
sheet is held in reading, would connect with a successive instrument similar to the one
shewn, either with or without the current reinforcing relay, and in the same manner
as the main line wire, at the left of the sheet, connects with the instrument
shewn.
Fig. 2 represents the character disc in side elevation.
The instrument or apparatus which I have chosen to illustrate my present invention,
contemplates a mechanical pattern of the character or characters to be transmitted,
which pattern may be formed by punching holes in a strip of paper, the relative
positions of the holes determining the nature and successions of the characters
employed, as, for example, the letters composing the words of a message; an alternating
current electric motor for imparting motion to the perforated strip of paper; a com-
mutator for selecting the character at the receiving end of the line, corresponding to
any given perforation which may be temporarily brought into active operation; a
disc containing the characters to be transmitted by the machine, and arranged to
present the several characters in position to be selected by the commutator at the

page_text: sending station; a source of light and a shutter under the control of an electric
circuit, to admit light to the particular character which may from time to time be
determined by the mechanical pattern at the sending end of the line, and selected
by the commutator.
To make the drawings less confused, the supporting frames or pedestals for the
several operative parts have been omitted, it being understood that the parts may be
mounted in any well-known or approved manner.
A represents an alternating current motor; its armature shaft, in axial alignment
with a commutator B; and C, C¹, and c, c' are two sets of conducting wires, which
lead from its poles, denoted by a¹, a², the former to a pair of contact pieces D, D¹, and
the latter to a pair of contact pieces d, ', spaced a short distance from the contact
pieces D, D¹. Between the two pairs of contact pieces D, D', d, d', a vibrating
polarized arm E is located, and provided with contact pieces e, el, connected with the
poles of a battery 1', by wires f,f. The arm E serves as a pole-changer by making
contact alternately with the two sets of contact pieces D, DI, and d, d¹, under the
influence af an electro-magnet G, toward and away from the core of which, the positive
pole of the arin E is drawn and driven, as the magnet G receives the alternating
pulsations from the line wire, with which it has a shunt connection, as will be herein-
after more particularly described.
Near the motor shaft a is a counter shaft h carrying a metallic roller H, and driven,
by means of a pawl and ratchet hand connecting rod s leading to a cam or excen-
tric on the shaft a, one step for each complete revolution of the shaft a. The roller H
is adapted to receive the perforated pattern strip I, and cause it to pass, step by step,
in engagement with a series of electric conducting brushes, K, K¹, K, etc.., one for
each character within the scope of the instrument.
The brushes K, K, K, etc., when opposite a perforation in the strip I, make
electric contact with the roller H, and, through it, with the line wire L, coming, as
shewn, from the left to the instrument, and including, at the station here illustrated,
a helix for operating a shutter, as will be hereinafter more particularly
described.
The commutator B which I prefer to employ, consists of three excentric rings b, b¹, b²,
fixed relatively to, and insulated from one another, and the whole fixed relatively to
the motor shaft a, with which the commutator is in alignment. The outer ring b has
alternate spaces of contact and insulation of equal length; the middle ring &, similar
alternating spaces of contact and insulation, but arranged to alternate radially with
the spaces on the outer ring; viz., to bring an insulation space on the middle ring
radially opposite a contact space on the outer ring; and the inner ring has a
continuous annular contact surface.
A
The contact spaces on the outer ring b, are provided with groups of contact
points k, k, k², etc., one for each character within the scope of the instrument, and
each electrically connected with its corresponding brush K, K1, K2, etc.
trailer M carried by the motor shaft is so located as to sweep the faces of the three
rings b, bi, b, each revolution of the shaft a, and, in so doing, make electric contact.
between each of the points k, k, k, etc., and the contact face of the inner ring which
is in permanent connection with the outgoing main line wire L, at the right, as
shown. As the trailer passes over the alternate insulation spaces on the outer ring, it will
make electric connection between the contact spaces on the middle ring band the
inner ring, and hence will electrically connect the outgoing wire with the shunt
wire 12, which connects the middle ring b¹ with the incoming main line wire, and
includes the magnet G. The alternate contact and insulation spaces on the commu-
tator, are made to correspond to the pulsations of the alternating current, the positive
pulsations being received through the outer ring, inner ring and main line L', to
operate the shutter at a receiving station, and the negative pulsations being returned
through the line wire inner ring 2, middle ring &, magnet G, and line wire L,
to the origin of the main line current.
As the positive pulsation passes along the main line wire, it will render the magnet G
neutral with respect to the positive pole of the arm E, and it will swing into contact

page_text: with the pieces d, d', causing the current from the battery F to pass through the
magnet of the motor A, and when the negative pulsation passes along the main line
wire, it will cause the magnet G to attract the arin E, and hence draw it into contact
with the pieces D, D₁, and hence cause the current from the battery F to pass in the
opposite direction through the magnet of the motor A.
The roller H, with its mechanical pattern, the commutator, and the motor A,
constitute the important elements of the sending division of the instrument or
apparatus.
The receiving division of the instrument or apparatus includes also the motor A,
and, in addition thereto, a disc N, having formed thereon, in an annular series, the
several characters included within the scope of the instrument, and mounted to rotate™
with the shaft a of the motor, to present the several characters, during each revolution
of the shaft, in alignment with an opening in the end o of the opaque tubular
casing O.
An opening in the opposite end o' of the tubular casing, admits light from a suitable
source, such, for example, as the electric light P, The interior of the casing is pro-.
vided with a polariscope, consisting of a pair of Nicol's prisms, Q, Q', set at right
angles to each other, and separated by a body of liquid , such, for example as bisul-
phide of carbon, possessing magnetic optical rotary power. Ordinarily, no light can
pass through. the prisms from the source P to the disc N. The helix hereinbefore
referred to, surrounds the body of the liquid q, and, when a current of electricity is
passed through the helix, it creates a magnetic field, which includes the liquid q,
causing it to rotate the beam of light, and sends it, through the analyzer prism Q!, to
that portion of the disc N which may be at that particular moment opposite the.
opening in the end o of the casing O.
The casing O, with its polariscope and helix L, constitutes an electrically operated'
shutter for disclosing the particular character at the receiving station which may be
selected by the commutator at the sending station, the movement of the disc N being
made to harmonise with the movement of the commutator at the sending station, to
present that particular character opposite the shutter which corresponds to the contact
point, k, l, etc., on the commutator, which is at that moment connected by the
trailer with the inner ring b², and hence with the main line wire L'.
The disclosed character at the receiving station may either be observed directly by
the eye of the person receiving, or the character may be photographed upon a sensiz..
tized film in a dark chamber q, the said film being conveniently made to. move
step by step by means of a pawl and ratchet 77, connected by a rod, angle
lever, and rod q', with a cain or excentric q" on the shaft of the motor A.
The operation is briefly as follows;—
The characters to be transmitted are determined by the perforations in the paper
on the roller H, and as the brushes K, K1, K2, etc., make electric contact with the
roller, the corresponding point h, k, 2 on the commutator, selects the character
determined by the perforation through which the brush makes contact with the roller H,
and causes that character to be disclosed at the receiving station, by permitting.
the light to pass the shutter.
To provide for creating a secondary current of any given ration in strength to the
primary controlling current, and hence to maintain the force or strength of the main
line current throughout the extent of the line, I introduce the following device at such
intervals as may be found desirable.
The main line wire L¹ is developed into a field R surrounding the rotary armature S
of a local dynamo, either of a constant type, or alternating, or polyphase, as desired
and from the field R the said wire extends to earth, as at T. The current induced in
the armature S may be either continued as the main line current, or its conducting
wire may be again developed into a field R' surrounding the rotary armature S¹ of a
second local dynamo, and the same arrangement may be still further repeated in the
same manner, until the force or strength of the current in the armature of the local
dynamo has reached a degree satisfactory for efficient work. One or more condensers U
"

page_text: of ordinary form, may be employed,. as found expedient. A current passing
through the primary circuit 11, R, creates a magnetic field, part of which lies in the
space occupied by the armature $; consequently a current is induced in the armature S
which is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field, multiplied by the rate
of cutting. The rate of cutting being constant, the strength of the current is pro-
portional to the strength of the field; but the strength of the field is proportional to
the primary current inducing it; and hence the strength of the secondary current
along R', is a multiple of the strength of the previous current along L, R. This
enables me to control a strong current by a weak one, and is of special advantage in
use on a line where it is necessary to employ weak or short impulses of current, or
both.
To enable an operator at any station to attune his own instrument without interrupting
his work, a shunt W may connect the line wire with the shunt wire L, and be
provided with switches w, w, one of which, w, is located between the terminals of a
by-pass wire W₁ of greater resistance than the wire W, to admit to the local instru-
ment sufficient current to enable it to be set in tune, while the greater proportion of
the current is allowed to pass it.
The particular embodiment of my invention which I have above described, is that.
which I at present prefer, but I do not wish to limit myself to the particular form of
shutter described, nor to the particular form of mechanical pattern, as slight changes
in these and other respects may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit and
scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A telegraphic apparatus, comprising a mechanical pattern of a character, or series
of characters, located at the sending end, means for moving said pattern, means for
presenting the character, or series of characters, corresponding to the pattern at a
predetermined point at the receiving end, a source of light, a shutter for controlling
the admission of light to the said character, or series of characters, at said predetermined
point, an electric circuit, including a commutator and said shutter, and means, under
the control of said moving pattern, for manipulating the said electric circuit, to operate
the shutter, and thereby admit light to the said character, or series of characters,
corresponding to the pattern.
2. Telegraphic apparatus comprising a line circuit, means for sending an alternating
current along the line, means for mechanically determining the characters to be
transmitted, means for disclosing the characters at the receiving end of the line, a
commutator at the sending end of the line, arranged to select the characters to be
disclosed, a motor for operating the commutator, a pole-changer connected with the
motor, and means, under the control of the commutator, for operating the said pole-
changer by pulsations of one nature, and for disclosing the characters by pulsations of
an opposite nature, substantially as set forth.
3. Telegraphic apparatus comprising a line circuit, means for sending an alternating
current along the line, means for determining the characters to be sent, means for
disclosing the characters at the receiving station, a motor at the sending station, a
pole-changer connected with the motor, a magnet for operating the pole-changer, a
commutator composed of electrically insulated sections, and means for connection
with the commutator, for alternately completing the line circuit leading to the dis-
closing mechanism at a distant station, and, through the pole-changer, operating
magnet at the sending station, substantially as set forth,
4. Telegraphic apparatus comprising a line circuit, means at a sending station for
mechanically determining the characters to be sent, means for disclosing the characters
at the receiving station, a commutator at the sending station for selecting the
characters to be disclosed at the receiving station, a motor for actuating the commu-
tator, and a shunt connecting the incoming and out-going wires at a station, said

page_text: shunt including a switch and a greater resistance connection around the switch,
substantially as set forth.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.