AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF MULTIPLEX AND SELF-REVERTIBLE TELERADIOPHONE.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest Jules Pierre Mercadier, of Boulevard Saint Denis,.
No. 1, at Paris, Engineer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF
MULTIPLEX AND SELF-REVERTIBLE TELERADIOPHONE.'."
$
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Jules Pierre
Mercadier at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
10th September 1881.
"
ERNEST JULES PIERRE MERCADIER, of Boulevard Saint Denis, No. 1, at Paris,
Engineer. AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF MULTIPLEX AND SELF-REVERTIBLE
TELERADIOPHONE"
"
My Invention relates to a system of multiplex and self-revertible
diophone."
" telera-
By the word "teleradiophone " I mean a system of electric telegraph, in which
the signals are produced by radiophonic effects. At the same time the system,
owing to its own character, allows of transmitting several simultaneous signals
through a conductor in the required direction without its being necessary to add
any accessory arrangement, such as an artificial line, a bridge, a differential relay,.
&c., and it is therefore automatically revertible, hence the title "multiplex and
self-revertible."
The system is founded,―
1st. On the law of coexistence of the small Bernouilli movements applicable to
the small electric undulations that may be brought about in a conductor such as an
underground or submarine or aerial telegraphic line.
2nd. On the employment either of a continuous electric current flowing always
in the same direction, and consequently forming a permanent system, or of a circuit
in a permanent electro-statical state, obtained either by means of a pile or by any
electric generator. If in any points of this circuit, no inatter whether it be opened
or closed by itself or through the medium of the ground, there be produced any
simple, rapid, and periodical, or what is called " undulatory variations of
"

page_text: intensity, these modulations will spread by crossing each other along the circuit
without any sensible alteration; they may be received simultaneously without any
confusion in suitable receivers, such as telephones, condensers, or any vibratory
electro magnetic apparatus.
3rd. On the employment of radiophonic receivers made of selenium, lamp black,
platina-black, or any substance by which radiating energy may be transmuted into
sonorous energy, these receivers being so inserted into the circuit that any
radiations coming from one or more thermical, luminous, or actinic sources may fall
upon them. These radiations are made periodical in any convenient manner,
either by their passage into the openings arranged in a rotating wheel, or by
means of electro diapasons, or by the reflection of said radiations on a speculum,
the surface of which is made to vibrate by the effect of the voice with the aid of
either polarization or any other means.
Thus the effect of the voice causes the undulatory variations of intensity in said
circuit, and the result is that musical sounds, accords, songs, and clearly uttered
words may be reproduced at a distance. These variations may be considered as
resulting from the corresponding variations of the electric resistance of the
radiophonic receiver.
"
4th. On the employment of manipulators, permitting in such cases where the
voice itself is not reproduced, to express the utterances by " signals or signs of
sounds or accords, according to any conventional alphabet. These apparatus may
be very much varied; they may be arranged so as to either produce or suppress a
single sound, or to bring forth a series of high and low sounds combined according
to a rule of signs previously agreed upon, &c.
The simultaneous application of these principles constitutes the characteristic
novelty of my system.
I will proceed to describe how the Invention may be carried into effect, and will
take two extreme stations, A and A¹, separated by a long telegraphic line, in which
there are transmitting and receiving apparatus so arranged as to work in any
desired direction and quite independently of each other.
For the sake of clearness I will suppose only two such apparatus at each station,
but it will be easily understood that any unlimited number of them may be
arranged. As an instance, ordinary Morse signs are supposed to be required, a
continuous current being used for the purpose.
The continuous current coming from the pile successively passes into station A
of radiophonic receivers and telephones, then through the line, enters station A¹
and the radiophones and telephones corresponding with those of station A.
In front of each receiver (for instance that of the first apparatus of station A)
there are situated the openings of a wheel, made of glass, mica, or any material
whatsoever, and rotating continually and as regularly as possible round. an axis.
A diaphragm of the same size as the openings is affixed to a rigid shaft, forming a
prolongation of the lever of a manipulator, and when at rest closes the openings,
thereby checking the passage of the radiations coming from a given source.
It will be understood that it is suflicient to lower the lever of the manipulator to
make the said radiations pass through the wheel, operate upon the radiophonic
receiver, and thus bring about corresponding variations in the resistance of this
receiver, and consequently in the intensity of the continuous current which passes
through said receiver.
Thanks to this arrangement, in all the telephones placed side by side along the
circuit there is produced a musical sound, of which the number of vibrations per
second is equal to the number of openings in the rotating wheel which in one
second pass in front of the radiophonic receiver. Supposing, for instance, the
required sound to be do, I lower or raise the manipulator according to the Morse
sign method, and the telephones emit the sound do, which is heard for a longer or
shorter period of time. Thus the Morse signals are "acousticly" reproduced.
Now such transmission of a sound or sounds is most easily collected and rapidly
emitted. Experience has shewn that the manipulation may be effected quite as

page_text: quickly as in ordinary electric telegraphs. While one person manipulates and
transmits the signs into the manipulator, another may receive them by putting his
ear to the telephone, as will be explained further on.
The second apparatus of station A is arranged in the same way and with similar
organs of transmission and reception. The only difference is that its rotating
wheel brings about a different sound, which is obtained either by closely connecting
it with the wheel of the first apparatus, making it turn with the same speed, and
providing it with a different number of openings, or by giving it the same number
of holes, and causing it to turn with a different degree of rapidity, which may be
done in several ways, even if the same mover be used for all wheels, by the aid of
strings and pulleys of different diameters affixed to their shafta
Supposing now the sound brought about by the wheel of the second apparatus
to be mi, we see that if the two manipulators be made to work independently of
each other all telephones of the Morse signals will emit simultaneously. but
without any confusion being possible both the sounds do and mi.
The two apparatus at station A are similarly arranged. The only difference is
that the rotating wheels are here made to produce other sounds, for instance, sol;
Bi, &c.
I will suppose the most complex case, where the four apparatus work simultaneously
and independently of each other. In the four systems of signs which will be
simultaneously received in all the telephones there will be no confusion whatever.
All that is necessary is that each of the persons who will hear these signs should
listen to them in the following manner :-The person placed near the first telephone
at station A should listen to the "sol" signals coming from the first manipulator
at A¹; the person placed at the second telephone at A should listen to the "si
signals from the second manipulator at A¹; the one seated by the first telephone at
A should listen to the "do" signals coming from the first manipulator at A; the
one placed at the second telephone at A' ought to listen to the "mi" signals from
the second manipulator at A.
"
Experience has shewn that by means of this arrangement after a short while it
is easy to follow one transmission of this character after the other transmissions
have been abstracted; but at any rate either telephones which clearly reproduce
only one sound of any determined highness or pitch may be employed, or resonants
raising only one of the transmitted sounds may be adapted to the telephones.
A single radiant source may light two of the wheels through lenses and specula,
but either one or more sources may be adapted to each wheel, or the same source
may serve for three, four, or more wheels suitably arranged.
It is also possible to employ one source and one single receiver for several
transmissions by simply using a wheel provided with several series of openings,
the number of which may be varied at will; then placing in front of it a receiver
long enough to concentrate the pencil of rays upon the openings by means of a
cylindrical lens or any other suitable arrangement, and causing diaphragms of the
manipulators to place themselves in front of each series of holes with the aid of
articulated levers if necessary. As it suffices to light one point of a radiophonic
receiver to make it work, this receiver will when required simultaneously receive
all pencils of rays, and produce in the circuit, either simultaneously or separately,
all distinct effects without any confusion.
An electro diapason may be substituted for one of the wheels. The instrument,
continuedly supported either electrically or otherwise, vibrates; an appendix
provided with an opening then periodically allows to pass or cuts off the luminous
pencil directed upon the receiver, and thereby brings forth a sound of the same
pitch or highness as that of the diapason. The luminous ray may also be made
to reflect upon a speculum attached to the diapason, and vibrating with the
same:
Any sufficiently intense source will answer, and electric or oxyhydric light,
petroleum lamps, with or without oxygen, gas burners, &c., may be employed
indifferently.

page_text: +
A remarkable fact is that this system is perfectly adapted to lines. of great
length, as, for instance, radiophonic receivers with selenium of a great resistance
(from 30 to 100,000 ohms and above), working very well even with a very small
number of pile elements will answer the purpose.
I can employ, to take an example, an octuple revertible arrangement allowing of
effecting simultaneously 8 transmissions in one direction and 8 in the other, in all
16 simultaneous transmissions. The extreme stations may be provided with a
separate arrangement intended for communication with an intermediate station,
which is itself so placed as to transmit and receive the signals to and from either
side, i.e., to and from the extreme or the two near intermediate stations without
deranging the other stations. This system requires wheels with 8 series of
openings, of which 4 are to work on one side and 4 on the other side of the axis,
in order to separate as far as possible the diaphragms which produce the rhythm of
the signals:
I may add the following general remarks:-
1st. To this telegraphic system I can apply all abbreviatory or automatical
arrangements, permitting of transmitting rapidly the rhythmical signals, such as
perforated strips, &c., and all means allowing of booking these signals at the instant
when they are received.
2nd. The radiating source used may be of any kind whatsoever, and the illumi-
nation may be effected by electric or oxyhydric light, petroleum lamps with or
without oxygen, gas burners, &c.
3rd. The effects of induction which may arise on the lines worked by such a
system are much less injurious than in ordinary systems, first, because the particular
rattling which results therefrom in telephones is quite different from the very pure
and clear musical sounds that are here produced by radiophonic transmissions, and
cannot be confounded, and, secondly, because the intensity of these musical tones
may be increased to a very vast extent by proportionately increasing the intensity
of the radiating source, which it is easy to manage.
4th. The above described system perfectly applies to lines of great length, since
it is possible, for instance, to employ radiophonic receivers with selenium or other
substances offering a great resistance (from 30 to 100,000 ohms and above) working
perfectly with a very small number of pile elements (from 1 to 10).
Thus the resistance of the lines (which possess themselves the greatest amount
of resistance ever known) becomes of little importance, as well as [that of the
-telephones-in-relation_to_the_resistance of the radiophonic receivers.
Moreover some auxiliary piles may be inserted if necessary in one or more points
of the circuit, in order to raise during the circuit the electric potential, which might
be injured by the losses which are experienced by certain lines, such as the aérial
line.
5th. This method of transmission is applicable to underground as well as to
submarine lines by reason of the continuance of the electric charge of the conductor,
and also on account of the limited amplitude of the electric waves which cause the
transmissions.
6th. It will be understood that all the foregoing explanations regarding such
arrangements as are supposed to have a continuous electric current are equally
applicable to cases where the conductor is maintained in a permanent electro-
statical state without any direct communication with the ground, no matter whether.
it contain any condensers in its circuit or not.

page_text: No text detected.

page_text: the annexed Drawings, Figure 1 represents two extreme stations A and A¹³,
separated by a long telegraphic line F, in which there are shown only two trans-
mitting and receiving apparatus so arranged as to work in any desired direction
and quite independently of each other.
For the sake of clearness the Drawing illustrates only two such apparatus at
each station; but it will be easily understood that any unlimited number of them
may be arranged. As an instance, ordinary Morse signs are supposed to be required,
a continuous current being used for the purpose.
The continuous current coming from the pile P successively passes into station A
of radiophonic receivers and telephones R¹, T¹, R², T2, &c., then through line F,
enters station A¹ and the radiophones and telephones R₁', T₁₁, R¹, T¹,, corresponding
with those of station A.
1
In front of each receiver (such as R¹) there are situated the openings of a wheel
made of glass, mica, or any material whatsoever, and rotating continually and as
regularly as possible round an axis a¹. A diaphragm o of the same size as the
openings is affixed to a rigid shaft forming a prolongation of the lever of a manipu-
lator M', and when at rest closes the openings, thereby checking the passage of
the radiations coming from a source S.
It will be understood that it is sufficient to lower the lever of M² to make the
said radiations pass through the wheel, operate upon the radiophonic receiver R',
and thus bring about corresponding variations in the resistance of this receiver,
and consequently in the intensity of the continuous current which passes through
said receiver.
Thanks to this arrangement in all the telephones T₁, T2, T, T
placed side by side along the circuit there is produced a musical sound, of which
the number of vibrations per second is equal to the number of openings in the
wheel I₁, which in one second pass in front of the radiophonic receiver. Supposing,
for instance, the required sound to be do, I lower or raise M¹, according to the
Morse sign method, and the telephones emit the sound do, which is heard for a
longer or shorter space of time. Thus the Morse signals are 'acousticly" repro-
duced. Now such transmission of a sound or sounds is most easily collected and
rapidly emitted. Experience has shewn that the manipulation may be effected
quite as quickly as in ordinary electric telegraphs. While one person manipulates
and transmits the signs into M¹ another may receive them by putting his ear to the
telephone T', as will be explained further on.
-The-second-apparatus-of-station-A-is-arranged-in-the-same_way_and_with_similar
organs of transmission and reception. The only difference is that its wheel I brings
about a different sound, which is obtained either by closely connecting it with the
wheel I¹, making it turn with the same speed, and providing it with a different
number of openings, or by giving it the same number of holes and causing it to
turn with a different degree of rapidity, which may be done in several ways, even
if the same mover be used for all wheels, by the aid of strings and pulleys of
different diameters affixed to their shafts a₁, a, &c.
Supposing now the sound to be brought about by the wheel I, to be mi, we
see that if the two manipulators M, and M. be made to work independently of
each other, all telephones of the Morse signals will remit simultaneously but
without any confusion being possible both the sounds do and mi.
The two apparatus shewn as being inserted at station A¹ are similarly arranged,
the only difference is that the wheels I, 1, are here made to produce other sounds,
for instance, sol, si, &c.
Now the apparatus marked with the same Figures 1, 2, are made to correspond;
this being so I will suppose the most complex case where the four apparatus work
simultaneously and independently of each other. In the four systems of signs which
will be simultaneously received in all the telephones there will be no confusion
whatever, all that is necessary is that each of the persons who wishes to hear these
signs should listen to them in the following manner :-The person placed near
telephone T should listen to the "sol" signals coming from M}; the person placed

page_text: at T, should listen to the "si" signals from M; the one seated by telephone T
should listen to the "do" signals coming from M¹; the one placed at T ought to
listen to the "mi" signals from M., &c.
Experience has shewn that by means of this arrangement, after a short while, it
is easy to follow one transmission of this character after the other transmissions
have been abstracted, but at any rate either telephones which clearly reproduce
only one sound of any determined highness or pitch may be employed, or resonants
raising only one of the transmitted sounds may be adapted to the telephones.
The Drawing shews in A a radiant source S which lights two wheels through
the lenses L, L, ₁, l, and the specula Pi and P,; but either one or more sources
may be adapted to each wheel, or the same source, may serve for 3, 4, or more
wheels suitably arranged.
It is also possible to employ one source and one single receiver for several
transmissions, as shewn in Figure 2, by simply using a wheel provided with
several series of openings, the number of which may be varied at will (there are
four shewn in the Drawing), then placing in front of it a receiver R, long enough to
concentrate the pencil of rays upon the openings by means of a cylindrical lens C
or any other suitable arrangement, and causing diaphragms O of the manipulators
to place themselves in front of each series of holes with the aid of articulated
levers V, V, V, V₁, if necessary. As it suffices to light one point of a radiophonic
receiver to make it work, this receiver will when required simultaneously receive
all pencils of rays, and produce in the circuit, either simultaneously or separately,
all distinct effects without any confusion. It is evident however that it is by no
means compulsory to limit the number of the series of holes to four, as shewn in
the Drawing.
Figure 3 illustrates a portion of a branch D of an electro diapason which may
be substituted for one of the wheels I₁, I., &c. The instrument continually
supported either electrically or otherwise vibrates in the direction of the arrow';
an appendix p provided with an opening then periodically allows to pass or cuts
off the luminous pencil directed upon the receiver R, and thereby brings forth a
sound of the same pitch or highness as that of the diapason. The luminous ray
may also be made to reflect upon a speculum attached to the diapason, and
vibrating with the same.
Any sufficiently intense source will answer, and electric or oxhydric light,
petroleum lamps, with or without oxygen, gas burners, &c., may be employed
indifferently.
A remarkable fact is that this system is perfectly adapted to lines of great
length, as for instance radiophonic receivers with selenium of a great resistance
(from 30 to 100,000 ohms and above) working very well, even with a very small
number of pile elements will answer the purpose.
Figure 4 represents, as an instance, an octuple revertible arrangement, allowing
of effecting simultaneously 8 transmissions in one direction and 8 in the other, in
all, 16 simultaneous transmissions. One only of the extreme stations is shewn as
being provided with a separate arrangement B intended for communication with
an intermediate station I which is itself so placed as to transmit and receive the
signals to and from either side, i.e., to and from the extreme or the two near inter-
mediate stations without deranging the other stations. This system requires
wheels with 8 series of openings, of which 4 are to work on one side and 4 on the
other side of the axis in order to separate as far as possible the diaphragms which
produce the rhythm of the signals.
I may add the following general remarks:-
1st. To this telegraphic system I can apply all abbreviatory or automatical
arrangements, permitting of transmitting rapidly the rhythmical signals, such as
perforated strips, &c., and all means allowing of booking these signals at the instant
when they are received.
2nd. The radiating source used may be of any kind whatsoever, and the illumi

page_text: nation may be effected by electric or oxyhydric light, petroleum lamps with or
without oxygen, gas burners, &c.
3rd. The effects of induction which may arise on the lines worked by such a
system are much less injurious than in ordinary systems, first, because the
particular rattling which results therefrom in telephones is quite different from
the very pure and clear musical sounds that are here produced by radiophonic
transmissions, and cannot be confounded; and secondly, because the intensity of
these musical tones may be increased to a very vast extent by proportionately
increasing the intensity of the radiating source which it is easy to manage.
4th. The above described system perfectly applies to lines of great length, since
it is possible, for instance, to employ radiophonic receivers with selenium or other
substances offering a great resistance (from 30 to 100,000 ohms and above), working
perfectly with a very small number of pile elements (from 1 to 10). Thus the
resistance of the lines (which possess themselves the greatest amount of resistance
ever known) becomes of little importance as well as that of the telephones, in
relation to the resistance of the radiophonic receivers.
-
Moreover some auxiliary piles may be inserted if necessary in one or more points
of the circuit in order to raise during the circuit the electric potential, which might
be injured by the losses which are experienced by certain lines, such as aerial lines.
5th. This method of transmission is applicable to underground as well as to
submarine lines by reason of the continuance of the electric charge of the conductor,
and also on account of the limited amplitude of the electric waves which cause the
transmissions.
6th. It will be understood that all the foregoing explanations regarding such
arrangements as are supposed to have a continuous electric current are equally
applicable to cases where the conductor is maintained in a permanent electro
statical state without any direct communication with the ground, no matter
whether it contain any condensers in its circuit or not.
Figure 5 represents the whole system or teleradiophone in action with a diapason
having two specula; Figure 6 shews another arrangement with a glass wheel
formed with openings; Figure 7 is a view of the diapason provided with its two
specula, and the devices which actuate it; Figure 8 is a front view, and Figure 9
a plan of the same; Figure 10 is a side view partly in section of the telephonic
apparatus Figure 11 is a front view, and Figure 12 a plan of the same; Figure 13
is a front view of the screen O.
In these Figures, A is a screw for fixing to the diapason a wire or piece of
iron or silver for severing the current at each vibration-of-the-diapason,-and-
re-establishing it at the following vibration so as to maintain its movement
electrically by means of the electro magnet B.
B, electro magnet having as many magnetizations and demagnetizations per
second as the diapason produces vibrations.
E, electric motor.
G, telephonic magnet which puts into vibration the blade V, Z.
H, H', acoustic tubes which allow the sounds emitted by the blade V, Z, to be
heard.
i, i, i, india rubber insulators.
K, Morse key for manipulating the screen O.
L, lantern containing an electric light regulator and producing a pencil of
parallel rays.
M, M', specula or mirrors carried by the blades of the diapason, and causing a
deviation of the luminous rays directed on the selenium pile S in such manner as
to cause synchronous alternations of the movement of the diapason.
O, screen worked by the key K.
p, pile actuating the electro-magnet B for maintaining the vibratory movement
of the diapason.
R, glass wheel moved by the electric motor E, and which can be substituted for

page_text: the diapason for the production of the luminous alternations. It is composed of
two glass discs, between which is a sheet of black paper formed with holes. The
number of holes which pass per second before the pencil of parallel rays from the
lantern L corresponds to the number of vibrations per second of the note which it
is wished to reproduce.
S, selenium pile of great resistance.
T, lens for concentrating the pencil of light upon the face covered with selenium
of the pile S.
V, Z, blade of soft iron vibrating only in unison with the excitations provoked
by the telephonic magnet G by the undulatory current produced by the corre-
sponding transmitting station.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the multiplex and self revertible
teleradiophone," substantially as hereinbefore described, the characteristic and
novel features of my said teleradiophone being,-
First. The combined use of radiophonic receivers or transmuters and of
telephones with a view to obtain at a great distance multiple and self-revertible
communications, substantially as described.
Second. The employment for the above purpose of rhythmical signals transmitted
either simultaneously or separately on the same aerial, underground, or submarine
telegraphic line in the same or in the opposite direction by one or more radiophonic
transmitters, the said signals being all received together in each of the telephonic
receivers and made distinct by a special system of tones adapted to each trans-
mission, substantially as set forth.
Third. The employment for the above mentioned purposes of telegraphic lines
through which passes a continuous electric current, or which are charged and
maintained in a determined statical state, the signals being due to the variations
of these electric quantities obtained by means of the radiophonic systems, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The employment in order to facilitate the distinction of the simultaneous
transmissions either of resonants so arranged as to raise only one sound at a time,
or of telephonic receivers which are made to give themselves to a sound of any
desired highness or pitch the predominant intensity, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combinations and arrangements of apparatus, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 5 to 13.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest Jules Pierre Mercadier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
) Witness,
ALBERT CAHEN,
Civil Engineer,
of Boulevard Saint Denis, 1,
at Paris,
E. J. P. MERCADIER. (L.S.)