Electric Selecting Devices.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
Electric Selecting Devices.
We SAMUEL S. BOGART of Schraalenburgh New Jersey U.S.A. and ELECTRIC
SELECTOR & SIGNAL COMPANY of West Virginia U.S.A. a Corporation duly
organized under the laws of the State of West Virginia 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 :-
Our invention relates to that class of instruments wherein a transmitting device
sends out a combination or a predetermined arrangement of electrical impulses to
any selected one of a series of selecting instruments, each of which is constructed
and adapted to respond to its own combination or predetermined arrangement and
to no other, by means of certain movable mechanical representations of the
electrical impulses controlled or worked out by the armature lever of an electro-
magnet operated by the transmitted impulses, to impel the movable mechanical
representations of the impulses to the end of its course or phase, operate a signal
or other device, return an answer-back message and restore the selecting instrument
to its starting point.
The accompanying drawings illustrate our invention of which
Figure 1 is a plan view of the selecting instrument, sounder, relay, answer-back,
transmitting key and signal bell as they are usually connected up in practice.
Figure 2 is a top view of the selecting instrument.
Figure 3 is a front view of the same.
Figure
a side view of the selecting instrument with the combination wheel
exposed to view.
Figure 5 a view of the other side showing the wheel with its pawl to return the
combination wheel past one of the spaces.
Figure 6 a perspective view of shaft with combination and spacing wheels when
the instrument is at zero and about to begin with the combination impulses to work
out the phase.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the same with the combination phase completed
and the lever for transferring the current shifted to the other contact.
Figure 8 a view of the releasing wheel with its pawl for checking it, with the
armature lever of the releasing magnet to throw out the pawls and restore the
instrument to zero.
Figure 9 a top view of the answer-back mechanism.
Figure 10 a side view of the same.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the apparatus.
Figure 12 an end view.
Figure 13 is a side view of the apparatus looking toward the combination
wheel.
Figure 14 is a view of the other side looking toward the spacing wheel.
Figure 15 a side view of check wheels with a portion of one wheel broken
away.
Figure 16 a front view of a cut-out device.
Figure 17 a side view of the same.
Figure 18 a front view of cut-out device with switch on opposite side of that
shown in Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a diagrammatic view of transmitter, selecting instrument, mechanical
apparatus, and answer-back.
Describing Figures 1 to 10 inclusive: Viewing Figures 2 and 3, illustrating top

page_text: and front views of the selecting instrument there are shown suitably secured to a
proper base, three magnets, marked A, B, and C, each provided with an armature
and armature lever mounted in the usual way to be attracted by the magnet and
retracted by a spring. The levers are marked respectively a, b, and c; the
levers a¹ and b' have attached to their ends the pivoted spring pawls, a², b², whilst
the bar or rod c, at the end of lever c' may be rigid. The magnet A through its
armature lever operates the combination wheel or sector; the magnet B operates
the spacing wheel or sector, and the office of magnet Coperating through its
armature lever is to actuate the releasing mechanism which allows the device to
be returned to zero; hence it will simplify the description to refer to these
magnets as the combination magnet, the spacing magnet and the releasing magnet
and their respective armatures or pawls in the same way.
A shaft D suitably journalled, carries three wheels d', d', d. The wheel d' is
provided with an exact mechanical representation of the fixed or predetermined
combination of impulses with which each of the many selecting instruments must
be furnished, and cach must have its own combination; it is therefore called the
combination wheel or sector. The combination selected as an illustration and
shown in the drawings, as will more fully appear by reference to Figures 6 and 7,
is 2-3-4-1-1, or when given by impulses would be 1, 2-1, 2, 3-1, 2, 3, 4—
1-1. Each of these we have called a member of the combination. Between
each of these members the wheel or sector is provided with a deep notch or space,
and separates each of the members of the combination from the one next adjoining.
The wheel d³ is also provided with teeth so arranged that when the combination is
properly worked out, its pawl 6 will turn the shaft and the combination wheel so
that one of the spaces of that wheel will pass the end of the pawl a', and allow
the pawl to lodge upon the first tooth of the next member of the combination
beyond this space. This wheel d' we have therefore called the spacing-wheel. On
the same shaft and intermediate the combination and spacing-wheels, is placed an
ordinary ratchet wheel which operates in conjunction with a spring retaining
pawl d, whose office is to enter into a ratchet on the wheel d³ at each impulse, and
hold the shaft with its wheels preventing it from returning backward. Suitably
journalled in the frame is the rock-shaft do, to which the lower end of pawl d' is
secured so that an outward movement of the pawl d' would give a corresponding
rocking movement to the shaft d³; secured also to this shaft are the arms d and d²,
whose upper ends are bent so as to project behind the combination and spacing
pawls a,b; thus when the arm is impelled outwardly, to rock the shaft d,
these two arms move with it and throw out the pawls a³ and 6ª, releasing all of the
wheels on the shaft so that they are free to be returned to the starting point or
zero.
This operation is performed by the armature lever c¹ and its arm c³, which strikes
against the bent arm as the lever descends, throwing it out, and releasing the
wheels; the magnet C, its armature lever c¹, and arm c, we call the releasing
magnet, releasing lever &c., respectively, as this is the whole office and function of
these parts.
Upon the shaft D is placed a drum d³, and a cord d is attached thereto, so as to
be wound thereon, the other end of this cord is provided with a weight, which
descends into a suitable well d" and which acts as a guide; a spring would answer
the purpose of the weight; as the wheels are impelled forward the weight is
lifted, a force is stored, and when the releasing armature has thrown out the pawls
and the shaft is released the instrument is returned and restored to its starting
point.
From the above description it will be seen that when the selecting instrument is
at work, the current is through the combination magnet, or the spacing magnet, or
the releasing magnet, but not through any two of them at once, that is to say,
when the combination wheel is operated the current is through the combination
magnet, when the spacing wheel is worked the current has left the combination
magnet and is through the spacing magnet, and when a false combination is

page_text: transmitted or when the combination is worked out to the end of its phase the
current is shifted to the releasing magnet to release the wheels and allow the
weight to return them to starting point.
Now the currents which operate the armature levers of the selecting instrument
all start from and end with the armature lever of the relay, and alternate through
the front and back stops thereof, that is to say: the combination and releasing
magnets are operated by the current from the front stop and the spacing magnet
by the current from the back stop, normally the current from the front stop
operates the combination wheel until a false impulse is sent out or the combination
is worked out to the end of its phase; it is in each of such cases transmitted
automatically to the releasing magnet to return the wheels to starting point, and
herein are defined the functions of the open cuts between the mechanical members
of the combination with which the combination wheel is provided.
Viewing Figures 6 and 7 will be seen a suitably pivoted or fulcrumed bell-
crank lever E; for convenience it is pivoted on the end of the shaft D, it is
provided with a spring contact plate e', the end of its upper arm lies directly in the
path of the combination pawl a³, but whilst this pawl is performing its duty in
turning the combination wheel, it is prevented by the teeth of the wheel from
engaging with the end of this lever (see Fig. 6), but when it is opposite one of the
open cuts between the members of the combination or at the end of its phase
(see Fig. 7) it acts upon this lever and operates it to shift the current to the
releasing magnet. Viewing the same figures it will be seen that the spring plate e¹
at the other end of the lever E, makes two contacts e and e³, when the current
from the front stop of the relay is normal it is through the combination magnet and
the bell-crank lever stands as shown in Figure 6, with its spring on contact e¹;
when the phase is worked out or a false impulse sent the pawl a throws the
lever E to contact e as shown in Figure 7, and the current is shifted to the
releasing magnet. On the face of the combination wheel is placed a pin e* which
travels with the wheel away from lever E (see Fig. 7) when the wheels are
released and fly back to starting point this pin strikes the lever E, shifts it back to
contacte, thus the releasing and returning devices have performed their work and
have restored the current from its front relay stop to and through the combination
magnet. It has been said that the office of the spacing wheel is to turn the com-
bination wheel from the last tooth of one member of the combination over the
space and lodge it on the first tooth of the next member. Viewing Figure 6 the
operation will be readily understood. The wheels are now at the starting point, a
properly prepared automatic transmitter may be used or an ordinary telegraph
key. If a key be used the operator gives the following impulses from the front
relay stop; 1-2; it will be seen now if he gives another the combination has
failed and the pawl a will operate the lever E and shift the current to the
releasing magnet; but instead of this he allows the relay armature lever to
go to the back stop, from whence the current is through the spacing magnet, the
pawl of that maguet is now resting upon tooth 1 of the spacing wheel, the impulse
from the back stop turns the shaft D and combination wheel until its pawl rests
upon tooth 1, behind the space; the operator then gives impulses on the front
stop 1-2-3, bringing the spacing pawl on tooth 2, of the spacing wheel; an
impulse from the back stop lodges the combination pawl on tooth 1, of the next member
of the combination; then from the front stop are given impulses 1—2—3—4 ;
then 1 from the back stop, and 1 from the front stop.
The apparatus may be connected up in several ways but as shown in the figures,
viewing diagram Figure 1, the circuit may be described as follows:
The main line entering at the top right hand as shown in Figure 1, and following
the direction of the arrow, runs to binding post 1 of the relay, through the coils
of the relay magnets and out at binding post 2, to post 3 of the key, and out at
post 4, to binding post 5 of the answer-back, thence to the answer-back wheel h',
and through its brush he, to binding post 6 of answer-back, and thence out.
to line,

page_text: The local circuits are as follows:
Starting from one pole of local battery and running to the left, enters at
armature lever of relay, and thence alternately to front and back contacts of the
relay. From the front contact it runs to binding post 9 of the selecting instrument,
thence to contact g, thence to contact spring f³, to plate e³, thence through spring e',
to and through the coils of magnet A to binding post 10 on selector; thence to
binding post 7, and through magnets of sounder to binding post 8, thence to
binding post 11 of answer-back, thence to tap, to one side of answer-back
magnets, thence to spring i, through it, to binding post 12, thence to the other pole
of battery, thus completing the circuit through the front stop of relay, which
operates the combination magnet of selecting instrument and the sounder.
The circuit from back contact of relay is as follows:
To binding post 13, thence to binding post 14 of selecting instrument, thence to
magnet B, through one side of magnets C and A, through binding post 10, to
common return, and through the same path from binding post 10, as that already
described to the other pole of battery. When the combination is completed on
selecting instrument and the lever E and its spring e' are thrown from contact e' to
contacte, the releasing magnet is thrown into circuit through lever E, and from
thence through loop to magnet A, and binding post 10, and through common return
from post 10 to the other pole of battery: when the answer-back mechanism has
closed the spring against, the bell is brought into circuit and the current runs
from one pole of battery through bell magnet, to binding post 15 of answer-back,
thence to springs,, to binding post 12, and thence to the other pole of battery.
All the circuits pass through the sounder except the bell circuit, and as these
circuits proceed from the front and back contacts of relay, the current through the
combination magnet proceeds from the front contact and that of the spacing magnet
from the back contact.
When the phase of the combination has thus been worked out the combination
pawl contacts at once with the arm of lever E throwing the current to the releasing
magnet, and at the same time the current is transferred to the answer-back magnet,
but the action of the releasing magnet is to release the weight, and the weight
turning the combination wheel, its pine would shift the lever E to contact e³, but
in order to keep the current in the releasing magnet I have an arrangement which
we will now describe. Viewing Figure 5, there is placed upon the shaft Dan
insulating wheel F, provided with the notch 1, and suitably supported on the
frame and insulated from each other are the contacts fff;f the middle one
is a spring inclining naturally to the contact f'; during the working of the wheels
on shaft D, a roller on the upper part of this spring runs around the surface of the
insulating wheel F, and keeps the spring f against the contact f³, when the com-
bination is completed this roller drops into the slot f¹, and the spring f³, contacting
with f, keeps the current through the releasing magnet and prevents the pawls a³
and 6 from operating the wheels until the current has passed to the answer-back
magnet, and from thence back to the selecting instrument, when the first impulse
from the back stop of the relay will again throw the roller upon the periphery
of the insulating wheel and restore the operating pawls to their respective
places.
The following mechanism is used to shift the current to the answer-back
magnet.
Viewing Figures 1 and 2, g is a contact point and gl a spring whose normal
position is away from the contact point; on the wheel d³ I have placed a pin g³
and have located it so that it strikes the spring and forces it against the contact
point when the instrument has completed its phase, this shifts the current to the
answer-back momentarily, long enough to start if off, as I will now explain.
Viewing Figures 9 and 10, which illustrate the mechanism of the answer-back, a
shaft as H is suitably mounted and journalled in a frame, a magnet ¹ is provided
with an appropriate armature lever, from which projects the pin h³; on the shaft H
is a lever provided with the arms h³, h; the arm his broad and flat so that it will

page_text: travel some distance over the pin h³ and hold it down whilst it travels, the pin is
normally in contact with this arm and holds it in a position of rest until released
and the arm is revolved by a clockwork of which the wheels and are shown
and need not be further described, the train of this clockwork is also connected
with the wheel, upon this wheel is cut the answer-back message and as it turns
transmits this message to the operator at the station through the spring contact
which bears upon the edge of the wheel and transmits the combination to the
station; when the current has drawn down the armature lever of the magnet h¹
and with it the pin 2, the arm begins to revolve in the direction of the arrow,
and although as already described the current is put momentarily through this
magnet yet the arm ³ when once released continues to revolve until stopped at a
point before the pin passes the end of the broad arm /³. Suitably supported on
the frame of the answer-back and insulated from each other are the three
contacts i,,; the middle one i, normally rests against the contact i; upon
the end of the arm is an insulating point h³ which revolves with the arm when
released and striking the contact i, forces it away from i, and against i³, this does
not occur, however, until the wheel h' has revolved and transmitted its message
back to the station; on the wheel A is a pin 40, and when the insulating point
has transferred the contact from i, to, a part of the arm comes in contact
with this pin and holds it in that position with the current transferred to the bell;
in which position it will remain ringing the bell until the signal is stopped by the
operator who turns the shaft H backward until the arm ³ passes the pin 2, which
springs up and catches the arm and at the same time the contact returns to
contact and transfers the current back to the selecting instrument the first
impulse through which, places the roller on the end of contact on the edge of
the insulating wheel F, taking the current out of the releasing magnet and
preparing the selecting instrument to receive its combination from the transmitter
when required.
The train of gearing shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, is intended to illustrate an
escapement device to retard the operation of the spacing magnet, the construction
of such escapements is well known and need not be described; a dash pot would
answer the same purpose and for many purposes the instrument may be operated
without any retarding device.
The following description relates to the form of apparatus shown in Figures 11
to 19 inclusive. I have shown and described above a three-magnet machine, the
combination and spacing wheels operated alternately by electrical impulses trans-
mitted through their respective magnets from the front and back stops of the
relay, and a check wheel, released by the armature lever of a releasing magnet
when the current is shifted to said magnet by completing the phase of the com-
bination or the transmission of a false impulse. In the apparatus hereinafter
described we dispense with the releasing magnet and its armature lever and
perform the entire service and function of working the combination and spacing
wheels each having a mechanical representation of the impulses required, and
positively impelling each by impulses from one stop of the relay, or by the
ordinary makes and breaks of a transmitting instrument without a relay, whilst at
the same time the wheels are checked at each impulse, and released by mechanism
operated by the armature lever of either the combination or spacing magnet.
In addition to this we have shown and described a cut-out device operated by
the receiving instrument as an example of mechanical work, performed thereby,
when its phase is completed and the instrument prepared for such work.
On a suitable base are erected the two magnets A and B provided with their
armature levers a' and 6', and their pawls a' and 63 as shown in Figures 11, 12,
13 and 14. The letters A, a', &c. refer to the combination magnet, lever, and
pawl; and B, b', &c. to the spacing magnet, lever and pawl. The combination
wheel a and the spacing wheel are mounted as shown in the figures on the
same shaft C, so that each wheel may be positively impelled by its appropriate
armature lever and its pawl, or the checking devices released as the instrument

page_text: responds to the impulses transmitted. On the same shaft C, are placed the
check-wheels D, D', (see Figures 12 and 15), each having ratchets on its periphery
the teeth of which are cut with their radial faces in opposite directions, for a
purpose to be fully explained. On the shaft C is also a drum e', and to the drum
a chain or cord is attached to be wound thereon when the shaft is turned in
working out the combination; and at the other end of the chain there is attached
a weight which rises or falls in a guiding well e³, and as it falls returns the wheels
to zero when the check-wheels are released; a spring would answer the same
purpose.
Now as the magnets receive their current through one stop of the relay, or by
direct makes and breaks of a transmitter, it follows that when an impulse is given,
the current is through the coils of both magnets, and consequently the armature
levers and their pawls both move together. In Figure 14, there is shown an
escapement mechanism with its detent marked K, K¹, K', connected with the
armature lever of the spacing magnet, and its purpose is to retard or give a slow
movement to that lever; these escapement mechanisms are so well known that no
further description of it is required. It will therefore be seen that the armature
lever of the combination magnet responds quickly to the impulse, whilst that of
the spacing magnet responds slowly, thus an impulse will at once impel the com-
bination wheel one tooth, and if it be prolonged will also impel the spacing wheel
and shaft C one tooth so that the combination and spacing wheels secured to the
same shaft co-operate together and are operated by long and short impulses from
the transmitting instrument.
Upon the combination wheel a³, an exact mechanical representation of the
combination of each instrument is constructed, stamped, erected or cut, leaving a
space between the members thereof: and upon the spacing wheel an exact
mechanical representation of the spaces between the members of the combination
is placed; as shown in Figures 12 and 14, and in addition to the mechanical
representation of the combination on the wheel a³, and beyond them, there are a
series of ratchets which come into operation when the phase of the instrument is
completed for a purpose fully explained hereafter.
By reference to Figure 13, it will be seen that the combination there shown
represents the following impulses: 1, 2,-1, 2,-1, 2, 3,—1, 2, 3, 4,-1. As will
be seen these are members, separated by spaces between them, and each of these
spaces is represented by a raised piece about flush with the outer limit of the
teeth of the members forming the combination.
Now to work out this combination, the operator gives impulses as follows: 1,2,
which lodges the pawl behind tooth 1 of the wheel &³, still holding his finger on
the key the pawl acts and slowly turns the wheels until the pawl a³ lodges at 1,
on the next number, the 1, 2, again lodging pawl on the tooth of the wheel b³,
when a prolonged impulse lodges pawl a² on the first tooth of the next member of
the combination wheel, then impulses 1, 2, 3, the latter prolonged, then 1, 2, 3, 4,
the fourth a long one, then 1, when the phase of the combination is completed
and the instrument ready to perform work.
The instrumentalities by which the wheels are returned to zero, we will now
explain. They may be actuated by the armature lever of either the combination
or the spacing magnets. A rock-shaft E, is suitably journalled in the frame, to
which is secured the arms e, e², e³. The centre or middle arm is forked or branched,
and the branches are shown at e, e³ (Figure 15); a hook on the end of the arm e,
serves as a pawl to the ratchets of the wheel D, which checks the shaft at each
impulse and prevents it from returning backwardly, and a spring pawl on the end
of the branch e, co-operates with the ratchets on the wheel D', and prevents the
impulses from turning the wheels too far, thus the forward movement of the wheels
is checked by the spring pawl on the end of branch e, and the backward movement
by the pawl or detent on the end of the branch e; the arm e' (see Figure 13) is
slotted at the top, and a pin as a², secured to the pawl a' plays within this slot
whilst the pawl is at work responding to the combination impulses, a set screw or

page_text: other suitable stop as a, limits the downward movement of the pawl a²; secured
or pivoted to a suitable part of the frame is the piece a of suitable form; as shown
in the drawings it is in the shape of a wedge, it may be provided with a suitable
stop and spring as a' and a, so that it may lit as the pawl rises and return to its
stop when it is free, and on the pawl a' is placed the pin a; now it is evident that
this pin will escape the end of the wedge-shaped piece as the pawl descends, when
the pawl is in one of the notches or teeth which form the members of the com-
bination on the wheel, but should the pawl descend whilst its lower end is sliding
on one of the raised spaces between the members of the combination, this pin
strikes upon the upper surface or inclined plane of the wedge-shaped piece,
throwing the pawl outwardly as it descends; this movement causes the pin a* to
throw out the arm e', and rock the shaft E; as this shaft is rocked it releases
the branch arm et from the wheel D and the pawl from the spacing wheel,
when the weight drops and returns the instrument to zero; thus when the pawl a³
acts to release the check-wheel it would respond to a false impulse.
Now as the pawl on the end of the spacing armature lever b', frequently
descends and slides upon the raised spaces between the members of the com-
bination when proper impulses are given, it cannot be arranged so that it may
always throw out the catch-pawls and release the wheel whenever it so descends;
consequently we have made another arrangement to release the wheels by the
operation of this lever and pawl (see Figure 14). Suitably secured on the end of
the armature lever is the bar or rod; when one of the prolonged impulses
are given to turn the combination wheel until the combination pawl rests on the
first tooth of the next member behind the one just operated, the impulse should
stop when this is accomplished; but if it should be too long, the bar continues
to descend until its lower end strikes the arm of the rod e, the upper end of which
strikes a pin on the pawl b, throwing out the pawl and at the same time, turning
the rock-shaft E, releasing the pawl a and the check-wheels.
In connection with this selecting instrument we have arranged a cut-out for an
arc-light as shown in the drawings. In the place of this cut-out there may be
substituted other mechanical device or devices to be operated by instrumentalities
of the lock, such as a semaphore for example; and this work may be accomplished
by continuing to send electrical impulses through the lock when the phase of the
instrument is completed.
As already stated, the wheel or sector is provided with a mechanical
representation of the combination, and beyond the members of this combination
a series of teeth or ratchets to be operated in the same way, viz.: by impulses
transmitted through the coils of the operating magnet; these ratchet teeth are
shown at 9, 9, (see Figure 13). They may be of any number sufficient to
accomplish the work, or more than the number required for this purpose; for
example, the combination wheel shown in the figure is provided with fifteen of
these teeth, but the work required for operating the cut-out or other mechanical
device may be performed by any number less than the whole, say-six, eight,
or ten impulses which impel the wheel a distance equal to six, eight, or
ten teeth. The remaining number of teeth are then operated and impelled to
the end, at which point the answer-back is set off which returns a message to the
operator to inform him that the lamp has been lighted or extinguished or that the
semaphore has been properly worked. The mechanism for sending the current
to the coils of the operating magnets of the cut-out or semaphore and to the
answer-back, may vary according to the special construction of each machine. Con-
tact brushes may be arranged at one or both ends of the shaft, but as a simple and
convenient arrangement we have shown the contacts for these purposes grouped at
one end of the shaft and operated by the mechanism there shown. Upon the end
of the shaft C is secured the cam H. It may be described as made in, the
form of two concentric circles, the outer one being about or a little more than
a half circle, the ends of which run towards the inner circle by inclined planes,
shown at h¹,²; this wheel is also provided with a pin as ³. Suitably arranged

page_text: and insulated from each other are the switch brushes 1, 2, 3, 4, (see Figure 13).
The brushes 1 and 2 co-operate to control the current to the cut-out device, and
3 and 4 co-operate to control the current to the answer-back, and by the
arrangements of the instrument they are set to perform their respective services
when the sectors of the lock are in such positions as to require this service.
The brush 2 is slightly bent at its upper end where it may be provided with a
knob or roller as shown at ' and below this, we have provided the brush with the
contact point. The brush 4 is also suitably bent or curved at the top as shown
ath, so that when it is struck by the pin ³, the brush will contact with its
colleague 3; and below its upper end it is curved inwardly as at ', and when the
pin reaches this point, the brushes 3 and 4 are separated. Now in Figure 13,
the combination wheel or sector is shown at zero, ready to receive the combination
impulses. The wheel is turned by these impulses until the combination phase is
completed. This brings the cam H around until the point strikes the knob /*
on brush 2, and this occurs just at the end of the last member of the combination;
the brushes 1 and 2 are thus contacted and the current shunted to the operating
magnet cf the cut-out, and the lock is now in position to receive the impulses to
operate the cut-out; six or eight of these impulses are usually sufficient for this
purpose. Other impulses are then given until the pin has closed the
brushes 3 and 4. This sets off the answer-back, and the operator at the station
knows that the cut-out has been operated. When this occurs the spacing wheel
has also been turned and the pawl aª has been sliding upon the long uncut space
between the extreme ends of its members. Now a long impulse is given; the
arinature descends, operates the arm cand rocks the shaft E, releasing check
wheel D and pawl a; the stored force in the spring or weight then returns the
device to its starting point.
The mechanism for operating the cut-out and the manner in which it is combined
with the combination lock, we will now describe. Viewing Figures 16 and 17,
I is an electro-magnet provided with its appropriate armature lever i, and retractile
spring a pivoted pawl provided with its spring, is placed at the end of the
lever and reciprocates therewith; suitable stops as i, i, limit the downward
movement of the lever and pawl. Suitably journalled in the frame is the shaft L,
and on this shaft is the ratchet wheel ', usually provided with a proper pawl or
checking device; when the cam H in the lock instrument (Figure 13) has reached
a point where the switch brushes 1 and 2 are closed, the current is shunted to the
cut-out magnet 1, and hence with each impulse given to the armature lever of the
combination magnet, a corresponding impulse is given to the armature lever of
the cut-out magnet I. Thus the combination wheel and the cut-out wheel turn
together from the end of the combination impulses. From a suitable bar as ³ is
swung the arm, and attached to the free end of this arm are the pins or
lugs, (see Figures 16 and 18); secured to the wheel and turning therewith
is an arch or crescent shaped piece which bears against one of the lugs, and when
the wheel revolves, forces the free end of the arm to the other side. Journalled
to a suitable shaft which may be the shaft L, is the switch lever M, and the
spring m' is attached to the switch lever at one end and to the free end of lever *
at the other. The upper end of this switch lever contacts with the switch
brushes m³, m³, on one side, and m², m³, on the other. As this lever is moved, one
end of the spring moves with it, increasing the tension on the spring. At it moves
the angle of the spring to the lever changes and as the angle changes and the
force of the spring increases, it finally arrives at a point when the strain will
suddenly throw the switch lever to the other side; this occurs when some six or
eight of the impulses have been given; the remainder of the impulses are then
given, at the end of which the combination wheel is restored to zero, as already
described, at which point the crescent shape piece is upside down as shown in
Figure 18, and prepared to actuate the lug i", to return the lever to its original
position. A repetition of the impulses from the beginning will produce the reverse
action of the switch or semaphore.

page_text: Although the devices may be connected up in a number of ways, I will describe
the courses of the currents as they run in the way selected for illustration.
Figure 19 will serve for this purpose. In this figure we have shown no local
circuits and work the device direct from the main line without the interposition of
a relay.
When in normal condition with the apparatus ready to work the current,
beginning from one pole of the battery for example the positive pole, runs thence
to the brush of transmitter and through its combination wheel to binding post 1
of transmitting instrument, through magnets B and A to binding post 2, thence to
binding post 3 of answer-back, and through answer-back brush and wheel to
binding post 8, and thence to the other pole of the generator; thus the transmitter
and selector are in circuit and ready to impart and receive the impulses to perform
the required work; when the combination wheel has completed the combination
and has caused brushes 1 and 2 to contact with each other, the cut-out magnet
is brought into the circuit, and the current following the same course from the
positive pole of generator to binding post 1 of the selector runs thence to
brushes 1 and 2, binding post 6, thence to binding post 5 of cut-out device and
through its magnets and out at binding post 4 to binding post 3 of answer-back,
through its brush and wheel to binding post 8, and out to the other pole of generator.
The cut-out device is now ready to be operated by impulses from the transmitter.
When these impulses are given the pin closes the brushes 3 and 4, and sets off
the answer-back; the current then following the same course from the positive pole
of the generator to binding post 1 of selecting instrument runs thence to springs 4
and 3, thence to binding post 9, thence to binding post 7 of answer-back through
its magnet, to binding post 3, thence through brush and wheel to binding post 8,
and out to the other pole of generator. When the parts are returned to normal
position as already described, the current follows the course first described.
Should a relay be interposed in the circuit for use in telegraph service, the action
of the transmitter would be through the magnets of the relay, operating its
armature in whose local circuit the selector would be placed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In an electric selecting device a movable wheel, bar or sector, provided with
a mechanical representation of a fixed combination of electrical impulses, consisting
of a series of members, each member representing one or more of the electrical
impulses, and separated from the adjoining member of the combination; in
combination with an electro-magnet and its armature lever acting directly on the
wheel and responding to the transmitted impulses to positively impel the wheel or
sector to work out the combination, and means for transmitting the combination
impulses.
2. In an electric selecting device, a movable wheel, bar or sector, provided with
a mechanical representation of a fixed combination of electrical impulses, consisting
of members separated by a space or spaces, in combination with a movable wheel,
bar or sector, provided with a mechanical representation of the spaces between the
members of the combination on the combination sector, in combination with two
electro-magnets provided with their respective armature levers and responding to
the transmitted impulses, one to impel the combination sector, and the other to
impel the spacing sector, and means for transmitting the electrical impulses to each
of said magnets.
3. In an electric selecting device, two wheels or sectors mounted upon the same
shaft one provided with a mechanical representation of a fixed combination of
electrical impulses and the other provided with a mechanical representation of the
spaces between the members of the combination wheel, each of said wheels or
sectors operated by the armature lever of an electro-magnet, one of them by
B

page_text: impulses transmitted through the front stop of the relay and the other by impulses
transmitted through the back stop of said relay.
4. In an electric selecting device, a wheel or sector provided with a mechanical
representation of a fixed combination of electrical impulses, separated by a deep
cut between the members of the combination, and operated by a pawl and armature
lever of an electro-magnet acting directly on the wheel and responding to electrical
impulses transmitted through the magnet, in combination with means for checking
the wheel or sector at each impulse, an electro-magnet and its armature lever for
releasing the checking mechanism, and means operated by the armature lever of
the combination magnet for shifting the current to the releasing magnet to restore
the wheels or sectors to starting point.
5. In an electric selecting device, a combination wheel, a spacing wheel and a
check wheel each mounted upon the same shaft, the combination and spacing wheels
operated by electrical impulses transmitted through their respective magnets and
the checking mechanism released by an impulse transmitted through the releasing
magnet, in combination with means operated by the pawl of the combination magnet
to shift the current to the releasing magnet when a false impulse is transmitted or
when the combination phase is completed, and means for shifting the current back
to the operating magnets actuated by the return of the wheels to starting point.
6. In an electric selecting device, a selecting instrument, an answer-back
instrument and a signalling instrument each provided with its respective electro-
magnet, the selecting instrument provided with a movable wheel or sector responding
to its fixed combination of electrical impulses transmitted through its operating
magnet, in combination with means operated by the impelled wheel or sector to
shift the current to the answer-back, means operated by the answer-back magnet
to shift the current to the signalling magnet and means operated by restoring the
answer-back mechanism to its starting point to shift the current from the signalling
magnet and restore it to the selecting instrument.
7. In an electric selecting device, a wheel or sector provided with a mechanical
representation of a fixed combination of electrical impulses, an electro-magnet pro-
vided with an armature lever and its pawl to impel the wheel and work out the
combination in response to the electrical impulses, in combination with a checking
mechanism to hold the wheel or sector at each forward movement and prevent it
from returning backward, and mechanical devices operated by the armature
lever and its pawl to release the checking mechanism when a false impulse is
transmitted.
8. In an electric selecting device, two wheels or sectors mounted upon the same
shaft, one provided with a mechanical representation of a fixed combination of
electrical impulses consisting of a series of members with intervening spaces, and
the other provided with a mechanical representation of the spaces between the
members of the combination wheel or sector, in combination with a checking
mechanism to hold the wheels at each forward impulse, two electro-magnets and
their appropriate armature levers and pawls to work out the combination in response
to the impulses transmitted and means- operated by either magnet to release the
checking mechanism and means for returning the wheels or sectors to the starting
point when released.
9. In an electric selecting device adapted to respond to a fixed combination of
electrical impulses, a checking device consisting of two wheels having teeth or
ratchets with their radial faces cut in opposite directions, in combination with two
pawls co-operating with the wheels, one to limit the forward stroke and the other
to prevent a backward return of the wheels, means operated by the electrical
impulses for releasing the checking device when a false impulse is transmitted or
when the combination has completed its phase and means for returning the instru-
ment to its starting point when the checking device is released.
10. In an electric selecting device adapted to respond to a fixed combination of
electrical impulses, a wheel or sector provided with a mechanical representation of

page_text: the combination impulses consisting of a series of members with a raised space
between them, an electro-magnet with its armature lever and pawl to work out the
combination in response to the impulses, a checking device to prevent the backward
movement of the sector, and means operated by the sliding of the pawl on the
raised space between the members of the combination for releasing the checking
device to allow the instrument to be returned to starting point.
11. In an electric selecting device adapted to respond to a fixed combination of
electrical impulses, the instrument provided with a mechanical representation of
the electrical combination impulses and means for working them out and also pro-
vided with a wheel or sector having a series of teeth or ratchets, in combination
with mechanism for operating a cut-out or semaphore, having a wheel or sector
provided with a series of teeth or ratchets corresponding with those in the com-
bination instrument, and means for working the wheels in unison after the phase of
the combination instrument is completed.
12. In an electric selecting device, a wheel or sector adapted to respond to a
fixed combination of electrical impulses, and also to a series of additional impulses
to complete the course, means for transmitting to the instrument, first the fixed
combination of impulses, to the selecting instrument and then the additional
impulses to complete the phase of the wheel, in combination with a mechanical
device operated by the additional impulses transmitted after the combination
impulses.
13. In an electric selecting device, a wheel or sector adapted to respond to a
fixed combination of electrical impulses, and also to a series of additional impulses
to complete its course, in combination with a mechanical device adapted to respond
to a series of impulses to perform mechanical work, a transmitting instrument, and
means for transinitting first the fixed combination of electrical impulses to the
selecting instrument, means for shunting the current to the electro-magnet of
the mechanical device, and then the additional impulses to perform mechanical
work.
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