Autographic Telegraph.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 1st Mar., 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by THE WRITING TELEGRAPH COMPANY (Incorporated),
of the City and State of New York, United States of America.]
Autographic Telegraph.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in tlie County of
Middlesex, 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:-
In former Patents I have described means for varying the current in an electric
circuit in Autographic Telegraphs, in which the strength of the current is altered by
varying the pressure on a pile of carbon disks included in the circuit, the strength of
the current being gradually changed.
The extent of surface of the disks in contact is governed in that case by the varying
pressure brought to bear upon them, and the resistance is varied accordingly. In the
invention herein described the same effect is obtained by immersing one electrode to
a greater or less extent in a liquid constituting part of the other electrode; also by
the electrodes being brought nearer to, or farther away from each other; also by both
actions combined.
My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter
described and explained and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1, is a side view of my invention partly in section.
Figure 2, is a plan view thereof.
Figure 3, is one form of modification.
Figure 4, is a plan view thereof.
Figure 5, is another modification. .
Figure 6, is still another and,
Figure 7, is a plan view of Figure 6.
The transmitting instrument embraces in its construction two receptacles A, A¹,
containing a liquid. The latter consists of water,. which may be acidulated or have

page_text: mingled therewith carbon or other conducting powder. Almost any liquid may be
used. If the liquid consists of a material of high resistance, it is an advantage to mix
with it some substance, liquid or otherwise of higher conductivity. By so doing the
power of the battery will not be wasted in overcoming a great deal of useless resistance
and traveling through a large space unnecessarily for a small result. In the case of
some liquids used for insulating purposes, such as parrafine oil, shellac &c., they would
have to be largely mingled with better conducting material to get any result.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2; within each receptacle A, A¹, is located a plate B, B',
of platina or other metal connecting by wires 0, 0, with a battery not shown. The
electrodes D, D', are each pivoted to a projection d, d, or other suitable support so as
to swing into the liquid towards and away from the plate B, B. Conductors E, E',
extend from the electrodes D, D₁, and connect with the electro-magnets of the
receiving instrument not shown. The electrodes E, E¹, are operated by rods E, F,
connected thereto by universal joints, and pivoted in a socket to a ring G which
serves as a holder for a stylus, or may be directly moved by hand as in patent above
referred to. The universal joint f¹, permits of a variation of the movement of the
rods F, F, in addition to the two sliding directions in which the rods move at an
angle to each other. The socketed connection with the ring G, also aids in these
movements. By this construction the electrodes D, D', are gradually immersed in
the liquid and the resistance varied accordingly.
It will be observed also that the resistance will be farther increased or decreased as
the electrodes D, D³, are moved farther from or nearer to the plates B, B. Instead
of the universal joint f¹, the rods F, F, may be made flexible and the same result
obtained.
In the modification in Figures 3 and 4, the electrodes D, D³, move vertically in
the receptacles A, A¹, and are immersed in the liquid and move towards and away
from the plates B, B₁, of platina or other metal. Wires C, C, E, E', form the con-
nections for the circuit as in the preceding example. The electrodes D, D¹, may be
operated by any simple mechanism. In this case they are shown connected to an
oscillating disk M, M', in turn connected with the stylus or holder G, by rods F, F1,
attached thereto by universal joints ff.
In the modification in Figure 5, the electrode D, moves vertically and is.gradually
immersed in the liquid in the receptacle A, on the side farthest from the plate B, of
platina or other metal. The parts are duplicated and operated and the circuit formed
as in the other examples. In this case however, the electrode does not approach the
plate as in the former cases.
Referring to Figures 6, and 7, A, A', represent the two receptacles containing the
proper liquid. Within each receptacle A, A, is located a plate B, B', of platina or
other good conducting material connected by wires C, C, with a battery not shown.
The electrodes D, D', are suspended in the liquid from the rods E, E, which rods are
connected to the stylus or holder J. Conductors G, G¹ extend from sleeves g, g¹, on
the rods E, E, to which the electrodes D, DI, are fastened, and connect with the
electro-magnets of the receiving instrument (not shown). The rods E, E¹, slide in
bearings, e, el, on the receptacles A, A'. The latter are pivoted as at H, H', so as to
permit the movement of the stylus or holder J, to impart free play to the sliding
rods E, E. The latter are pivoted to holder ring in sockets f,, to further aid in
the play of the rods. It will thus be seen that as the electrodes D, D', are brought
nearer to or farther from the plates B, B1 by the action of the stylus or holder J, and
rods E, E, the strength of the current will be varied.
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. In Autographie Telegraphs the combination with a receptacle containing a
liquid forming an electrode of an adjustable electrode, immersed in the liquid, and
means for moving or adjusting said movable electrode by the hand of the writer
substantially as described.
2. In an Autographic Telegraph the combination with a stylus or holder of a

page_text: receptacle containing a liquid, included in an electric circuit, a movable electrode
arranged therein and connections between said holder and movable electrode so
arranged that the movements of the former may cause the latter to be more or less
immersed in said liquid substantially as described.
3. In an Autographic Telegraph the combination with a receptacle containing a
liquid of an electrode arranged to be immersed in the same, a stylus or holder, and
connections between said electrode and holder substantially as described.
4. In an Autographic Telegraph, the combination with two receptacles, containing a
liquid, of a stylus or holder and connections between said holder and receptacle, so
arranged that the movements of the holder will cause the electrode to be more or less
immersed in the liquid substantially as described.
5. In an Autographic Telegraph the combination with two receptacles containing
a liquid, of two electrodes arranged to be gradually immersed in the same, a stylus or
holder, and connections between said electrodes and holder, substantially as described.
6. In an Autographic Telegraph the combination with a receptacle containing a
liquid forming an electrode in an electric circuit of a pivoted arm forming an electrode
and immersed in the liquid, and a rod connecting said arm with a stylus or holder
substantially as described.
7. In an Autographic Telegraph, the combination with two receptacles containing a
liquid and forming electrodes in an electric circuit, of two pivoted arms, forming
electrodes immersed in the liquid, and two rods connecting said arm with a stylus or
holder substantially as described.
8. The combination with a stylus or holder of a receptacle containing a liquid,
included in an electric circuit, and connections between said holder and receptacle so
arranged that the movements of the former may bring the immersed electrode towards
and away from a plate in the liquid to vary the resistance in the circuit and the
strength of the current, substantially as described.
9. The combination with a receptacle containing a liquid, and included in an
electric circuit, of an electrode inmersed in the same, a stylus or holder, and
connections between said electrode and holder substantially as described.
10. The combination with two receptacles containing a liquid, of a stylus or holder
and connections between said holder and receptacle, so arranged that the movements
of the holder will cause an electrode immersed in the liquid to be brought towards
and away from a plate in the receptacle contained in the circuit substantially as
described.
11. The combination with two receptacles containing a liquid and included in an
electric circuit, of a stylus or holder, and sliding rods carrying electrodes suspended
in said liquid substantially as described.
12. The combination with two pivoted receptacles containing a liquid, and included
in an electric circuit, of a stylus or holder, and connecting sliding rods operating
electrodes, suspended in said liquid, so as to vary the resistance of the current
substantially as described.
BLA
ALLISON BROS.;
Agents for the Applicant.