Improvements in and relating to Electrical Switches, Chiefly Designed for Use in Connection with Apparatus for Obtaining Synchronous Movements.
Year: 1889

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by EDWARD FITZGERALD LAW, of the Army and Navy
Club, Pall Mall, in the County of Middlesex, Major, Reserve of Officers, at
present residing in Constantinople, in the Empire of Turkey.]
Improvements in and relating to Electrical Switches, Chiefly
Designed for Use in Connection with Apparatus for Obtaining
Synchronous Movements.
1
1. HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention and in what mamer the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to electrical switches, chiefly designed for use in connection
with apparatus of the kind or class described in the specifications of former Letters
Patent dated respectively 15th December 1886 No. 16,485, 5th September 1887
No. 12,025, and 5th March 1888 No. 3359, for obtaining synchronous movements for
the purpose of transmitting electric impulses to operate and control type-setting
machines, type-writers or the like. My improved switch is, however, also applicable
for use in connection with other apparatus.
In the said former specifications, apparatus is described for obtaining or ensuring
the synchronous rotary movement of two or more wheels or discs at sending and
receiving stations distant from each other. This apparatus comprises brushes attached
to the said wheels and bearing upon rings of contact strips or segments, so that, when
the brushes at the sending and receiving stations bear upon corresponding segments
of the rings at these stations, electric impulses may be transmitted through the said
segments for the purpose of operating keys, levers or the like, and also, in some
instances, for controlling reeds or vibrators forming part of the apparatus. The
proper adjustment of the said apparatus, when starting the same, is frequently a
difficult and tedious operation, for the reason that the rotating brushes at the different
stations must bear simultaneously upon corresponding contact strips or segments,

page_text: otherwise the wrong key, lever or the like will be operated when an impulse is
transmitted. This difficulty has, in some measure, been diminished by so arranging
the ring of contacts at the receiving station that it is capable of rotary adjustment.
The main object of the present invention is to facilitate the starting or adjust-
ment of apparatus such as that referred to in the said former specifications. For
this purpose, I provide a switch having two series of contacts, in each of which
series there are as many contacts as there are contact strips or segments at the
receiving station for conducting the electric impulses from the sending station to
the keys, levers or the like; one of the said series of contacts is made adjustable
relatively to the other series thereof; or, if desired, both of the said series are
made adjustable relatively to each other. The contacts of one of the said series
are connected with the said strips or segments of the ring at the receiving station
and the contacts of the other series are connected with relays for closing and
interrupting local circuits for operating the keys, levers or the like.
In using this switch; should the rotating brushes at the sending and receiving
stations, when started, not bear upon corresponding contact strips or segments, the
ring of segments at the receiving station is first adjusted until the brush at this
station bears upon either of the segments employed for the transmission of impulses
for operating the keys or levers, or for driving the reed or vibrator, at the same
time that the brush at the sending station bears. upon either of the segments
employed at this station for the same purpose. Then if the position of the brush
relatively to the segments at the receiving station does not correspond with that
of the brush at the sending station in respect of the conduction of the impulses
to the proper relays, the connections are altered by adjusting one series of contacts
of the switch relatively to the other until the correct connections are obtained.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a switch constructed according to
the present invention.
"
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of the said switch.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 1.
· Figure 3 is an underside view of the said switch, and
Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which I combine the said switch
with the apparatus described in the said former specification No. 3359.
The diagram Figure 4 is similar to Figure 1 of the drawings accompanying the
said former specification No. 3359, with the addition of my improved switch, and
the parts corresponding with those described in the said former specification are
marked with similar reference letters. M is my improved switch, which is placed
between the commutator A' and the relays L, L¹ L².
This switch, which is more clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, comprises a
number of contact studs c, c1, c2 which are fixed in a plate 2 of insulating material.
The number of the said contact studs corresponds to the number of segments b, 1, 7,2
for operating the levers or keys, and the said studs are arranged in sets and
correspond in number of sets to the number of driving segments a which are
arranged on the commutator for operating the reeds. Each of the said studs is
connected with one of the strips or segments b, 61, 62. Contact springs d, d', d² are
attached to a disc or carrier m of insulating material provided with a handle m
whereby it may be rotated or adjusted for the purpose hereinafter specified. Each
of the said contact springs is connected with one of the relays L, L, L² for closing
and interrupting local circuits for operating the keys or levers of the type-
composing or other machine. A spring n is fixed beneath the plate and is provided
with a stud or projection n' adapted to enter one or other of a series of notches or
depressions m² in the underside of the disc m and thus retain it in either of its
operative positions. A stop-pin is fixed in the underside of the disc m so that it.
will come in contact with one or the other side of the spring n and thus limit the
rotary movement of the said disc and prevent injury to the wires connected with the
springs d. d, d arising from undue twisting of the said wires.
P
Referring to Figure 4, the operation of the apparatus is as follows, viz. :—the
operator at the sending station first starts the apparatus at that station; the switch J

page_text: at the receiving station being closed, a series of impulses is transmitted from the
battery B through the device D, the strips or segments a and the rotating brush at
the sending station, and through the line, the resistance H, the switch J, the
controlling magnet of the reed C and the key K to earth, returning thence to the
battery B. If necessary, the operator at the receiving station adjusts the said reed
until he obtains the greatest regular-amplitude of vibration thereof; he then starts the
motor whereby the brush is rotated. This brush will rotate in perfect synchronism
with the brush at the sending station. It is probable, however, that it will, on
starting the apparatus, be in a wrong position relatively to that at the sending station.
The ring of segments must, in this case, be rotated until the shunted impulses from
the sending station are received through the brush and the driving segments a and
through the device D'. The switch J is then opened so that the reed will receive
its impulses only through the brush and the driving segments a. When the
device D is not required to act, it may be short-circuited by closing the switch J.
The operator at the receiving station, by momentarily depressing the key K, the
depressions of which are indicated at D, signals to the operator at the sending station
that he desires him to send a pre-arranged signal, upon the receipt of which the
operator at the receiving station turns or adjusts the disc m of the intermediate
switch M. until the impulses are transmitted to the proper relay. Then, by further
depressions of the key K, the operator at the receiving station informs the operator
at the sending station that his adjustments are complete. The transmission of impulses
for working the type-composing or other machine inay then proceed by means of the
segments, 1, 2 situated between the driving segments.
In the diagram Figure 4, the ring of segments at the receiving station is shown in
the correct position for the transmission of the impulses for driving the reeds, that is
to say, in such a position that the brush f of the commutator at the receiving station
will make contact with one of the strips or segments a of the said commutator, at the
same time that the brush of the commutator at the sending station makes contact
with one of the strips a thereof. The parts are not, however, in the proper position for
the transmission of the impulses for working the type-composing or other machine.
The required adjustment can be very readily made by means of the intermediate switch,
by simply turning the disc m thereof until the contact springs. marked d, d', d² in
Figure 4 are in contact with the studs marked e, c¹, c² in this Figure.
If the apparatus for obtaining synchronous movements is made without the driving
segments above referred to, it is not absolutely necessary that the ring of segments
should be capable of rotary adjustment.
It will therefore be seen that, by my present invention, I provide for easily and
rapidly adjusting the apparatus to ensure the transmission of the impulses from the
battery E to the proper relays for working the levers or keys of the machine, that is
to say, to ensure the successive connection of the circuit-closing devices F, F1, F2
with the corresponding relays without altering-the relation between the stationary and
synchronously moving parts.
It is evident that my improved switch is also applicable for many telegraphic and
other purposes where apparatus for obtaining synchronous movements is required to
be rapidly adjusted.
Moreover the construction of the said switch may be somewhat modified without
departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance, the contact studs may,
if desired, be arranged in a single circle instead of in sets as above described; the
studs may be rotated and the springs remain stationary; or the studs and springs
may be arranged on concentric cylinders, or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. The combination with apparatus for obtaining synchronous movements for
electrical purposes, of means whereby the required adjustinent for ensuring the
conduction of the transmitted impulses to the proper relays or other devices which it

page_text: is desired to operate, can be effected at will without altering the relation between the
stationary and synchronously moving parts, substantially as described.
Second. The improved electrical switch constructed and operating substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Third. The combination of the improved switch hereinbefore described and shown
in Figures 1, 2, and 3 with apparatus such as is described in the said former
specifications for maintaining the synchronous rotation of wheels at stations distant
from each other, substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings
and for the purpose above specified.
10:11
1° T
10011
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.