Improvements in Telegraphic Transmitters.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Telegraphic Transmitters.
I, EDWARD PORTER, of 1, Belmont Street, Mossman, near Sydney, in the Colony of
New South Wales, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the facilitating for transmission of messages by
electricity, that is, a telegram transmitter.
In telegraphy as at present practised with dot and dash symbols, separate move-
ments of a key are required for each dot or dash signalled, thus necessitating a
multiple number of movements of the key, for every given number of letters in the
message to be sent.
In the invention herein described a single stroke of a key suffices to send a letter,
and messages may be sent by its means with great facility the instrument has a key
for each letter which when pressed actuates a part shaped to correspond to the code
signal of the letter of the key, and this part through the agency of mechanism, makes
and breaks the necessary electrical contacts for signalling the letter, the mechanism
concerned then recovers the normal arrangement of its parts, as the key returns to its
normal position, and without making electrical contact in doing so.
In order that my invention may be better understood, will now refer to the
accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this specification
and read herewith :-
Figure 1, is a perspective view of frame work, showing the key M¹ mounted and
also showing the connecting plates 0' for telegraph line, and Js for battery.
Figure 2, A section of the instrument through the key M¹.
Figure 3, A perspective view of key rod and appendages.
Figure 4, A perspective view of parts of contact regulator, and
Fig. 5 a detail view to be hereinafter referred to.
The key rod M, (Figures 2 and 3) is a round rod of polished steel, about one sixth
of an inch in diameter, and about eighteen inches long, attached to it are two metal
arms T and R, which hold an indented steel plate P between them. L, is a steel
plate in which the lower end of the key rod M moves, it is about one eighth of an
inch thick, and about three quarters of an inch wide, at L* there is a slot, the
width of the screw L' there, which binds the plate to the wooden strip, shown in
section, another slot occurs at J*, (Figures 2 and 3) about one eighth of an inch
wide, to admit the steel rod J. this rod has a collar at J' to prevent it from
passing through the slot there, and its lower end has a screw nut q, to bind the
plate L to its wooden support in the frame work as shown in section.
The rod J passes through a slot R' in the arm R, and its end k thence into a
corner slot at 1, where it is kept by its own tension, the purpose of the rod J,
is to prevent the key rod and its appendages from turning about, it thus obviates
the necessity of giving the key rod a rectangular section, at m**, where it moves
in its upper bearer m plate, this upper bearer plate is of steel, the same width
and thickness as the lower plate, and has slots at i, i, with screws ¹, i¹ to bind it
to the frame work.

page_text: The rod J and the screw I may interchange places if the arm R be lengthened
to cover the position of L' and have a slot there to receive the rod J, a support
being placed for the end K at a suitable level in the frame work.
The apertures in the bearer plates at m** and L² must fit the key rod M but
not tightly.
Between Land the end of the rod M a spiral spring N2 of steel wire is coiled
about the said key rod it is fastened to the key rod at 13, but the other end must be
left free, it works in a light metal tube N³ which screws on to the circular screwed
ridge Ni (Figure 3) this tube has a cap at its lower end provided with a hole to
allow the key rod to move in and out freely, while the spiral spring is retained within
the tube, as in Figure 2.
The spiral spring should have just sufficient tension to return the key to its normal
position, when released suddenly after a stroke, a less tension is necessary in this case
than when through the key not being released suddenly the moving part is prevented
from acquiring its full impetus, it may be stated here, that if the instrument be
placed so that the keys move obliquely, or horizontally, a lighter spring will
suffice.
The contact regulator consists of a steel band about one eighth of an inch thick,
and three quarters of an inch wide bent rectangularly as in Fig. 2 and 4, it has a
corner slot at K¹ to admit the rod J (Figure 2), n and n¹, are slots which admit the
sliding steel plate g, allowing it to move freely, this plate is about one eighth of an
inch thick, and about half an inch wide and about four inches long, and is provided
with a slot S, which with the slots m and m, receive the steel sliding plate b,
(Figure 2) said plate being shown in about actual size in Figure 5, this plate b, must
slide freely in the three slots.
=
Near the lower slot m, is a small hole r, Fig. 4 to receive the wire spring b¹
(Figures 2 and 5) which should have sufficient tension to hold the plate b up when
the arm R leaves it.
The plate b is a steel slip (Figure 5) and is notched at 81 21 91, the space from
s to g¹ is half an inch, and from 1 to 2 about one quarter of an inch.
There is a screw hole at h¹ (Figure 5) about one eighth of an inch in diameter, the
lower part of this hole is five eighths of an inch above the level of 8' 2'.
The plate or slip b (Figure 5) is put into its place by passing its upper end into
the lower slot m (Figure 4) and thence through the slot 8, and the upper slot m,
guiding the wire spring in through the hole r.
When the screw hole ¹ (Figure 5) is above the slot 8, a pin is screwed into it.
The top edge of the slot 8, where in motion, it rubs the edge g' z¹, should be bevilled
and rounded off as at s¹ Figure 2.
In the rectangular steel band (Figure 4) and between the points A and B, there is
a large slot A shown in dotted lines, below the rectangular brass plate c, and the
ebonite slip H. This slot seen in section in Figure 2, is for the purpose of insulating
the screws c¹ cl which binds the rectangular brass plate c, to the strip of insulating
material H. this strip of ebonite is about half an inch thick, about three quarters of
an inch wide, and five inches long.
The slot also insulates the brass connecting wire d, which is soldered to c, at d¹,
this wire is covered with an insulating coating, between the insulator H and the
insulator shown in section at Z (Figure 2).
The screw nut clamps the contact regulator tightly to the brass connecting plate J³
and the frame work et cetera between them.
The metal plate a (Figure 4) clamps the insulator H, to the rectangular steel
band E there being screw holes for the screws a¹, a¹, in the band, and smooth holes
for them in the plate a.
At G, the parts are clamped together similarly by the screw a².
The screw e passes through smooth holes, in the metal and ebonite, and screws into
the framework strip E¹ (Figure 2).
The contact maker is shown at v, y, wx, (Figures 2 and 4) v is an insulating pipe
of hard material, ebonite, glass, or a metal pipe packed with gutta percha, its purpose

page_text: is to insulate the brass wire from the plate g against which the pipe is pressed by
the tension of the wire, which has a bend or turn (Figure 2) the said wire having
a thickening at beneath the pipe, which thickening is bored with a screw hole to
receive the brass contact piece x, which must fit it tightly.
The pipe v may be omitted if an insulating cap be affixed to the plate g, at g*.
For convenience the tail piece y of the contact piece screws off, the said contact piece
being provided with a knob x¹, which makes electrical contact with the brass plate f,
when the sliding plate g through its end g² entering one of the indents of the
notched or code plate P allows it so to do.
These parts are shown in section in Figure 2, and likewise the insulator O, and the
brass connecting band at 01, which is clamped to O, between the screw nuts U and V.
The metal arm R, which is about one eighth of an inch thick, and half an inch wide,
is fixed firmly to the key rod, so that when the key is in its normal position the
notched slip b (Figure 2) is at its highest position in consequence of the arm pressing
against it.
The code plate P (Figure 4) is of polished steel one eighth of an inch thick, and
half an inch wide, and occupies the space between the arms R and T, its notches are
drawn as follows, place the key rod and its appendages in the normal position, and
nark where the point 92, of the plate g, touches the code plate, at half an inch above
this point, draw a horizontal line on the code plate, also draw a line parallel to the
edge of the plate, at one eighth of an inch from such edge.
Commencing where this parallel meets the horizontal line set out the code signal
upon it, allowing one eighth of an inch for a dot, one quarter of an inch for a break,
and three eighths of an inch for a dash, as shown in the heavy lines (Figure 4), now
draw another parallel line, one sixteenth of an inch inside the code signal, and draw
horizontal lines before each dot and dash, and diagonals after each dot and dash,―
the diagonals making an angle of about thirty degrees with the parallel lines-the
notches are now to be cut out right down to the lower parallel line, as shown
in (Figure 4).
The jump of the point g² and consequently that of the knob x, may be shortened,
if after marking the code plate, a small width, say one sixteenth of an inch be taken
off its edge, this will remove the points of the teeth as shown in Fig. 3.
Dashes of several lengths may be cut in the same code plate, thus if either of the
teeth in the code plate shown, in Figure 4, be filled off, a code plate will result having
dashes of three lengths.
In using the present "Morse" code of signals, obviously the code plates will vary
in length, with the different letters, but keeping that part of the key rod which is
above the arm T of constant length, and the part of the key rod below the arm R,
also of constant length, for all the keys, the operator will see at once by the part
protruding above the upper bearer, plate at m*, how far each key requires to be
pressed.
The code plate having been marked the precise position of the arm T can be
ascertained as it commences to press the slip b down (Figure 2) the moment the
point q on the code plate (Figure 4) reaches g² in the down stroke of the key, for at
this point the last contact of the code signal is broken.
In explaining how the mechanism is put together, and in speaking of the parts
pertaining to a single key, it will be understood that the like parts for all the keys
inay generally be attended to in conjunction.
Pass the lower end of the key rod through the lower bearer plate, fasten on its
spiral spring and covering tube and screw the plate loosely on to its support F and
slide this into its place.
The section Figure 2 shows two supporting strips, F F said strips being united at
their ends, so as to leave a long slot between, for the springs and tubes.
passes
In fastening on the lower bearer plate care must be taken that the rod J
through the slot R¹ in the arın R, the upper bearer plate is next put on to the key
rod and screwed loosely to its supports x*x* resting one end on the insulating
strip 0.

page_text: The strip E¹ (Figures 1 and 2) carrying the contact regulator is next slid into its
place and fastened.
The key rod is now adjusted to its exact position, so that when the key is down
and therefore the sliding plate b (Figure 2) is down, the point g² of the sliding plate g
is one sixteenth of an inch away from the edge of the code plate P, this edge being
at right angles to g.
The strip F to which is bound the insulator O which carries the brass connecting
plate 01 (Figure 1) and the contact maker (see Figure 2) is next fixed in its place,
the contact maker having been regulated in its tension so as to press its knob ¹ with
sufficient force against the plate f to make perfect electrical contact when allowed so
to do, through the point g² of the sliding plate g entering a notch of the code plate P.
The knob x is next adjusted by its screw, to just within one eighth of an inch
from the surface of f, the key being in its normal position (as in Figure 2). Contact
is made with the senders battery J³, (Figure 1), and with the telegraph line, to 0¹,
(Figure 1).
In explaining the mode of using my improved invention, I refer to a slight
modification of the system at present in use, intended to obviate the necessity of
having additional keys for figures.
The instrument is provided with thirty keys, of these twenty six are marked
respectively with the letters of the alphabet, and the remainder respectively with
the four marks O, +, *, &c.
The message to be sent being before the operator, let him press down in succession
the keys that spell out the first word, instantly releasing each key the moment it is
pressed home, and proceeding to the next, until the last letter of the word is pressed
home, the key for this letter is allowed to return to its normal position before
proceeding to the next word, in order to leave a slight break between the words.
When two like letters occur together, the second is denoted by using the key
marked O, when figures are to be sent, the first ten letter keys are to be used, these
being also marked respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, but their being intended for
figures, is indicated by putting down the key marked + before proceeding with them,
afterward when returning to letters, the key marked * is to be used before
beginning.
The key marked &c., denotes et cetera. As for the code plates of the three keys
marked 0, +, *, they might all be derived from the code plate of J, this code
plate, with its first tooth removed might denote O, with the middle tooth removed
it might denote + and with its last tooth removed it might denote *, or any other
convenient signals might be used.
In pressing down the keys regard must be had to the receiving capacity of the
operator at the receiving instrument as it is possible to move the keys too quickly
for their signals to be clearly apprehended.
Dated this Olst day of Anuil 1007
Improvements in Telegraphic Transmitters,
I, EDWARD PORTER, of 1, Belmont Street, Mossman, near Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This incantion solating to do
+141

page_text: of messages by electricity the said invention comprising an improved telegraphic
transmitter.
In telegraphy as at present practised with dot and dash symbols, separate move-
ments of a key are required for each dot or dash signalled, thus necessitating a
multiple number of movements of the key, for every given number of letters in the
message to be sent.
In the invention herein described a single stroke of a key suffices to send a letter
and messages may be sent by its means with great facility, the instrument has a
key for each letter which when pressed actuates a part shaped to correspond to the
code signal of the letter of the key, and this part through the agency of mechanism
makes and breaks the necessary electrical contacts for signalling the letter, the
mechanism concerned then recovers the normal arrangements of its parts, as the key
returns to its normal position, and without making electrical contact in doing so.
In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now refer to the
drawings left with my Provisional Specification, in which :
Figure 1 is a perspective view of frame work, showing the key mounted and also
showing the connecting plates for the telegraph line, and for the battery.
Figure 2 is a section of the instrument through the key.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the key rod and appendages.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of parts of the contact regulator, and
Figure 5 is a detail hereinafter referred to.
The key rod M, (Figures 1, 2 and 3) is a round rod, of polished steel, about one
sixth of an inch in diameter and about eighteen inches long, attached to it are
two metal arms T and R, which hold an indented steel plate P between them.
L is a steel plate in which the lower end of the key rod M moves, it is about one
eighth of an inch thick, and about three quarters of an inch wide, at L* there
is a slot, the width of the screw L' which binds the plate to the wooden strip F
shown in section, another slot is provided at J*, (Figures 2 and 3) about one
eighth of an inch wide, to admit the steel rod J, this rod has a collar J¹, to
prevent it from passing through the slot, and its lower end has a screw nut 9,
to bind the plate L to its wooden support F in the frame work as shown in
section.
The rod J passes through a slot R¹ in the arm R, and at its end k into a
corner slot at k', where it is held by its own tension, the purpose of the rod J
is to prevent the key rod and its appendages from turning, thus obviating the
necessity of making the key rod of rectangular section at m** where it passes through
the upper bearer plate m*. This upper bearer plate is of steel the same width and
thickness as the lower plate, and has slots at i, i with screws ', to bind it to the
frame work.
The rod J and the screw L¹ may be made interchangeable if the arm R be
lengthened to cover the position of L¹ and have a slot therein to receive the said
rod J, a suitable support being arranged for the end k at a suitable level in the
frame work.
The apertures in the bearer plates at M and L2, must fit the key rod M but not
tightly.
Between the plate L and the end of the rod M a spiral spring N2² of steel wire is
coiled about the said key rod, it is fastened to the key rod at L³ the other end being
left free. This spring is arranged in a light metal tube N³ which screws on to the
annular projection N¹ (Figure 3) and has at its opposite end provided with a hole to
allow the key rod to move in and out freely, while the spiral spring is retained
within the tube, as shown in Figure 2.
The spiral spring should have just sufficient tension to return the key to its
normal position, when released suddenly after a stroke, a less tension is necessary
in this case than when, through the key not being released suddenly, the moving
part is prevented from acquiring its full impetus, it may here be stated, that if the
instrument be placed so that the keys move obliquely, or horizontally, a lighter
spring will suffice.

page_text: The contact regulator consists of a steel band about one eighth of an inch thick,
and three quarters of an inch wide bent rectangularly at G, E and B as shown in
Figures 2 and 4 it has a corner slot at k¹ to admit the rod J (Figure 4). n and n¹,
are slots through which the sliding steel plate g is adapted to move freely, this
plate is about one eighth of an inch thick, and about half an inch wide, and four
inches long and is provided with a slot S, which with the slots m m, receive the
steel sliding plate b adapted to slide freely in the said slots said plate being shown
about actual size in Fig. 5.
Near the lower slot m, is a small hole r Fig. 4 to receive a wire spring 61
(Figures 2 and 5) which should have sufficient tension to hold the plate b up when
the arm R leaves it.
The plate b is a steel strip (Figure 5) and is notched at 81 1 g1, the space from s¹ g¹
is half an inch, and from 8 to z¹ about one quarter of an inch.
There is a screw hole at h¹ (Figure 5) about one eighth of an inch in
diameter, the lower part of this hole is five eighths of an inch above the level
of 81 21.
The plate or strip 6 (Figure 5) is put into its place by passing its upper end into
the lower slot m (Figure 4) and thence through the slot S, and the upper slot m,
guiding the wire spring in through the hole r.
When the screw hole h¹ (Figure 5) is above the slot S, a pin is screwed into it.
The top edge of the. slot S, where the edges g¹ 21 rubs against it, should be
bevelled and rounded off (as at S¹, Figure 2).
In the rectangular steel band E (Figure 4) and between the points A and B, there
is a large slot A shown in dotted lines, below the rectangular brass plate c and the
ebonite strip H, this slot which is seen in section in Figure 2, is for the purpose of
insulating the screws c'c' which binds the rectangular brass plate c to the strip of
insulating material H, this strip of ebonite is about half an inch thick, about three
quarters of an inch wide, and five inches long.
The slot also insulates the brass connecting wire d, which is soldered to
at d¹,
this wire is covered with an insulating coating between the insulator H, and the
insulator shown in section at Z (Figure 2).
C₂
The screw nut clamps the contact regulator tightly to the brass connecting
plate J³.
The metal plate a (Figure 4) clamps the insulator H to the rectangular steel
band R there being screw holes for the screws a¹ a¹, in the band, and smooth holes
for them in the plate a.
At G, the parts are clamped together similarly by the screw a².
The screw e passes through smooth holes, in the metal and ebonite, and screws
into the frame work strip E¹ (Figure 2).
The contact maker is shown at v, y, w, x, (Figures 2 and 4), v is an insulating pipe
of hard material, ebonite, glass, or a metal pipe packed with gutta percha, its
purpose is to insulate the brass wire t from the plate y against which the pipe is
pressed by the tension of the wire, which has a bend or turn (Figure 2), the said wire
having an enlargement at w beneath the pipe, which enlargement is bored with a
screw hole to receive the brass contact piece x, which must fit it tightly.
The pipe v may be omitted if an insulating cap be affixed to the plate g at g¹.
For convenience the tail piece y of the contact piece screws off, said contact piece x
being provided with a knob a¹ which makes electrical contact with the brass plate f
when the sliding plate y, through its end g² entering one of the indents of the
notched or code plate P allows it to do so.
These parts are shown in section in Figure 2, and likewise the insulator O, and
the brass connecting band at 01, which is clamped to O, between the screw nuts
U and V.
The metal arm R which is about one eighth of an inch thick, and half an inch
wide, is fixed firmly to the key rod, so that when the key is in its normal position
the notched strip b, (Figure 2) is at its highest position in consequence of the arm
pressing against it.

page_text: The code plate P, (Figure 4) is of polished steel one eighth of an inch thick, and
half an inch wide, and occupies the space between the arms R and T its notches are
drawn as follows; place the key rod and its appendages in normal position, and mark
where the point 92 of the plate g touches the code plate, at half an inch above this
point, draw a horizontal line on the code plate, also draw a line parallel to the edge
of the plate at one eighth of an inch from such edge.
Commencing where this parallel meets the horizontal line set out the code signal
upon it, allowing one eighth of an inch for a dot, one quarter of an inch for a break,
and three eighths of an inch for a dash, as shown in the heavy lines (Figure 4), now
draw another parallel line, one sixteenth of an inch inside the code signal, and draw
horizontal lines before each dot and dash, and diagonals after each dot and dash,-
the diagonals making an angle of about thirty degrees with the parallel lines-the
notches are now to be cut out as shown in (Figure 4).
The jump of the point g² and consequently that of the knob x¹, may be shortened,
if after making the code plate, a small width, say one sixteenth of an inch be
taken off its edges, this will remove the points of the teeth as shown in (Figure 3).
Dashes of several lengths may be cut in the same code plate, thus if either of the
teeth in the code plate shown, in Figure 4 be filed off, a code plate will result having
dashes of three lengths.
In using the present "Morse" code of signals, obviously the code plates will vary
in length, with the different letters, but keeping that part of the key rod which is
above the arm T of constant length, and the part of the key rod below the arm R,
also of constant length, for all the keys the operator will see at once by the part
protruding above the upper bearer plate at m, how far each key requires to be
pressed.
The code plate having been marked the precise position of the arm T can be
ascertained as it commences to press the strip b, down (Figure 2) the moment the
point q on the code plate (Figure 4) reaches g² in the down stroke of the key, for at
this point the last contact of the code signal is broken.
In explaining how the mechanism is put together, and in speaking of the parts
pertaining to a single key-it will be understood that the same remarks apply to all
the keys generally.
Pass the lower end of the key rod through the lower bearer plate, fasten on its
spiral spring and covering tube and screw the plate loosely on to its support F and
slide this into its place.
The section Figure 2 shows two supporting strips F F, said strips being united at
their ends, so as to leave a long slit between, for the springs and tubes.
In fastening on the lower bearer plate care must be taken that the rod J, passes
through the slot R¹ in the arm R, the upper bearer plate is next put on to the key
rod and screwed loosely to its supports x*x* resting one end on the insulating
strip 0.
The strip E¹ (Figures 1 and 2) carrying the contact regulator is next slid into its
place and fastened.
The key rod is now adjusted to its exact position so that when the key is down and
therefore the sliding plate b (Figure 2) is down, the point g2 of the sliding plate g is
one sixteenth of an inch away from the edge of the code plate P, this edge being at
right angles to g.
The strip F¹ to which is bound the insulator O which carries the brass connecting
plate O¹ (Figure 1) and the contact maker (see Figure 2) is next fixed in its place,
the contact maker having been regulated in its tension so as to press its knob x¹
with sufficient force against the plate f to make perfect electrical contact when
allowed so to do, through the point 92 of the sliding plate g, entering a notch of the
code plate P.
The knob x¹ is next adjusted by its screw, to just within one eighth of an inch
from the surface of f, the key being in its normal position (as in Figure 2).
Contact is made through J³ with the battery (Figure 1) and with the telegraph
line through O¹ (Figure 1).

page_text: In explaining the mode of using my improved invention I refer to a slight
modification of the system at present in use, intended to obviate the necessity of
having additional keys for figures.
The instrument is provided with thirty keys of these twenty six are marked
respectively with the letters of the alphabet, and the remainder respectively with the
marks: +* &c.
The message to be sent being before the operator, he presses down in succession
the keys that spell out the first word, instantly releasing each key the moment it is
pressed home, and proceeding to the next, until the last letter of the word is pressed
home, the key for this letter is allowed to return to its normal position before
proceeding to the next word, in order to leave a slight break between the words.
When two like letters, occur together, the second is denoted by using the key
marked O, when figures are to be sent, the first ten letter keys are to be used, these
being also marked respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, but their being intended
or figures, is indicated by putting down the key marked +, before proceeding with
them, afterward when returning to letters, the key marked is to be used before
beginning.
The key marked &c., denotes et cetera, as for the code plates of the three keys
marked O, +, *, they might all be derived from the code plate of J, this code
plate, with its first tooth removed might denote O, with the middle tooth removed it
might denote + and with its last tooth removed it might denote *, or any other
convenient signals might be used.
In pressing down the keys regard must be had to the receiving capacity of the
operator at the receiving instrument as it is possible to move the keys too quickly
for their signals to be clearly apprehended.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
An instrument for use, in sending telegraphic messages as hereinbefore described
using in combination the following three items :-
First, a key which upon being pressed once, causes the transmission of the
requisite short currents of electricity for signalling any letter or symbol, in
accordance with any code of signals, formed of dots or dashes, or formed of dots
and dashes, or of dashes of two or more lengths.
Second, a key acting through the agency of a piece or parts notched, indented,
or shaped, so as to correspond to any signal for a letter or symbol, in accordance
with any code of signals formed of dots or dashes, or formed of dots and dashes,
or of dashes of two or more lengths.
Third, A piece or part which after the aforesaid short currents of electricity
for signalling any letter or symbol, have been transmitted, prevents any further
current of electricity from being transmitted by the mechanism pertaining to the
key, while this mechanism recovers the normal arrangement of its parts, which it
does as the key returns to its normal position, all as and for the purposes herein-
before described and as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of December 1847
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.