A NEW TELEGRAPH AND IMPROVED TELEGRAPH OR SIGNAL APPARATUS, PARTS OF THE INVENTION, APPARATUS, OR MANUFACTURE BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1856

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Christopher Richard Norris Palmer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th March 1856.
I, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of the Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Telegraph Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for A NEW TELEGRAPH AND IMPROVED TELEGRAPH OR SIGNAL APPARATUS,
PARTS OF THE INVENTION, APPARATUS, OR MANUFACTURE BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES, to be as follows:-
I propose to work or strike bell or other signals from any one part or parts
of a steam or sailing ship, railway train, mine, coal pit, or building, to or at
any one or more distant part or parts thereof or therein, by means of an
exhausting cylinder and piston or air vessel (worked by hand or lever), causing
a partial or sufficient vacuum in one, two, or more distant signalia cylinders
(or air vessels) connected therewith beneath the pistons by a metal, gutta
percha, vulcanized india-rubber, or other conductor tube of about ths to
inch inner diameter, whereby I obtain or apply motive power to effect
sounding or detonating signals of unlimited power (also steam whistle signals),
by means of atmospheric pressure acting upon such distant pistons, or causing
vulcanized india-rubber or other air-tight vessels in distant cylinders to
collapse. I call this the atmospheric or vacuum principle working by exhaust-
ing cylinders. To obtain an increase of power at any one or more distant
points for telegraphic purposes, I make the distant signalia cylinders and

page_text: pistous or air vessels of greater internal diameter than the near or exhausting
cylinder, altho' the cubic contents of the latter are greater than the contents
of one or all such distant cylinders. I also apply this new principle in con-
structing improved telegraph apparatus worked by the compressive or elastic
properties of air.
Atmospheric or vacuum telegraph apparatus worked by exhausting cylinders
or vessels, Figures 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, to 23.
Inrproved telegraph apparatus worked by condensing cylinders and pistons
(or vessels) or by mouth-piece on ships, trains, and elsewhere, including new
union joints for connecting the conductor tube on railway trains, Figures 4, 5,
6, 7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, to 23.
An improved piston and rod, constructed of metal or wood and other mate-
rials, for working in the condensing or exhausting cylinders with or without
valves, Figure .8.
A reply telegraph for buildings, by which signals are worked to-and-fro by
means of one conductor only, Fig. 6 or 7 and 15, being at each end.
The new application of the following materials for constructing condensing
or exhausting cylinders for use on telegraph purposes in buildings, viz.,
glass, plain and colored, porcelain, china, papier machie, rose and box woods;
also the pedestals or foot slabs of marble, ormolu, china;-or- porcelain, the
barrels.or cylinders being fixed, air-tight therein, by adhesive material. I also
apply.gutta percha cast in moulds to the same purpose; also gutta percha
mixed (when in a liquid or soft state), with very fine marble powder or other
suitable earthy, or, metallic dust or plaster of paris. This material, I apply for
moulding many articles now made of gutta percha alone
:
The pistons and rods in these building telegraph cylinders will be of rose-
wood, box, glass, china, or porcelain, the, shape, packing, and lubrication
similar to Fig. 8. The hammer felt is turned in a quick action lathe with
slide. rest, and cut true by a razor, quickly sharpened.(without spoiling the
edge by undue pressure, on an ordinary hard, strop), on a strip, of vulcanized
sheet india-rubber th inch thick, placed under a smooth leather surface. This
basis is applicable for general purposes of sharpening. it'
An improved telegraphaconductor tube, for use in buildings and factories,
consists.of.gutta percha or composition, or zinc tubing, as thin as can be made,
about th. to. th sinchi inner diameter; in combination at the ends, joints,
and connections, or other parts, with single vulcanized; india-rubber tubing, of
same inner diameter...
...The improved signalia mechanism will be as shewn in Fig.13 to 17.
These mechanisms, boxes, and bells will also be fixed on marble and orna-

page_text: mental slabs, and with ordinary additions rendered applicable as library or table
bells, and string "ding-dong," if required on one bell.
I apply the apparatus for striking detonating or gunpowder signals, with
trifling alterations, into an, improved blasting apparatus, working on a new
principle, for use in mines, coal pits, and other blasting purposes. By the
power of my cylinders (exhausting or condensing) or mouth-piece, I discharge
gunpowder by friction of a match or otherwise at any one, two, or more
distant points, simultaneously or consecutively, if required. The conductor
tube will be about th inch. (inside diameter) valcanized india-rubber, gutta
percha, or other pliable or elastic material, and winding round a small
portable reel.
My improved telegraph' apparatus for mines-and pits will be, 1st, the atmo-
spheric or vacuum apparatus described, enlarged to the size required to effect
more distant signals at each piston stroke; 2nd, or smaller cylinders, working
signals by two or more quickly repeated strokes of the piston or air vessel
(exhausting or condensing), the usual valve at the foot (and also an escape or
air cock to be opened, after signal struck) being added; 3rd, a new mechanical
signalizing apparatus, Fig. H, by means of which I propose to strike one, two;
or more distinct and consecutive signals on one powerful bell at the bottom or
mouth of a mine or pit, and by additional wires and' bells, or gongs, or ålarums
of various sounds, I thus effect a code of signals for mining purposes. The
signalia mechanism and bells, Fig. 14, 15, will be applicable; if enlarged; the
metal box containing the latter will be aboat 3 & inch square by one inch.
depth. The conductor or pull will be of light galvanized or copper or twisted
wire or gutta percha, or other light material of 'sufficient strength. By pulling
the extreme end the signal trigger will be thrown up, and bell or an alarum
struck by mechanism, similar to Fig. H.
I apply this mechanical apparatus (with, alterations) for use: of guards and
drivers on railway trains (Fig. D), as an improved mechanical contrivance for
signalizing, the driver.
t
An improved apparatus or means of communication: from mast head to
the lielm, by which the signals "port," "starboard," &c. can be given 'by
mouthpiece, working a bell and gong (or bell and air whistle with reflector)
respectively, the conductor being of stout pliable tin or composition tubing,
to ths inch inner diameter, with vulcanized india-rubber tubing at each
end, and joints.
EXPLANATION OF SKETCHES.
.

page_text: Goings with the piston, Fig. 0, working therem, a piston valve opening
outwards is added.
2, a ditto, containing an air vessel of sheet vulcan india-rubber, or rubber
cloth or leather, with a circular metallic spring inside; has an outward valve.
3, an elastic exhausting air vessel without cylinder.
4, a condensing cylinder and piston, same as Fig. 1, except that valve
omitted in piston, and an air hole inserted in the cylinder.
5, ditto, with inward valve.
6, same as Fig. 2, with valve opening inwards.
7, do., containing a hollow and perfectly round ball of vulcanized india-
rubber.
8, the piston working in Figures 1, 4, 5 shews ordinary packing substituted
by a true surface of metal, leather, and pianoforte hammer felt in com-
bination, the latter saturated with almond oil and sweet oil; also has screw nut
and thread to press the oil to the surface, when required, on a voyage, &c.
10, a metal cylinder of treblet tube or castings, bored and perfectly true,
contains a metal piston about one inch depth x 2 diam., ground into cylinder
and working air tight when in use, without packing oil or other lubrication;
piston and inside cylinder are bronzed or varnished to prevent corrosion;
piston is light, and seated on a circular or gavanized metal spring, and is
worked by Fig. 1, 2, 3.
9, a similar cylinder with air vessel without valve, and containing a circular
spring.
11, a metal cylinder and ground in metal piston, same as Fig. 10, but
somewhat heavier (& varnished), felt circular washers, top and bottom, sweep
the cylinder.
12, ditto, with an air vessel without piston, spring, or valve.
14, 15, sketch of a metal box, about 2 & inch by 1 inch deep, and the
mechanism for working bell, alarum, or other signalia by condensing cylinders
or mouth-piece. The motions are of galvanized iron or steel, or varnished
brass or gun metal, or partly of each. A ring of vulcan india-rubber, about
th inch thick (off tubing by lathe), acts alone, or in combination with ordinary
metal spring action; a solid piece let into the box acts as a counter spring.
The bell is also seated on a washer of the same material.*
13, a new mechanism for striking bells, &c. by exhausting cylinders or
vessels.
16, a new union joint for connecting the telegraph tube on a train and ships.
This is constructed of moulded vulcanized india-rubber, and a metal, wood, or
gutta percha tube, generally to in. diam. Parts connect air-tight by

page_text: circular pressure round the tube; the enlarged end retains its position in the
recess described,
17, very similar, but constructed out of ordinary tubing, not specially
moulded for the purpose; is made of any length or diameter required.
20, one of two duplicate parts, precisely similar to each other, and when
coupled forming an hermophrodite joint (each half being perfect male and
female), constructed of vulcanized india-rubber, cast in an iron mould. One
portion of the bedded tube is glued or permanently fixed, the other part
projects about one inch or less.
21, also an hermophrodite joint, similar in principle, [and sometimes made of
gutta percha in combination with v. i. rubber and metal.] The rubber of
this joint is either moulded in one piece or formed of ordinary tubing cut off
true and square by a razor and lathe (front views of Fig. 20, 21, 2, are shewn.)
18, 19, neutral joints of same material for coupling tubes on railway
carriages; they fix in an outer flange or rim by snap or bayonet catch and
the spring of the rubber fixing the joint.
groove
19, 19, 19, other connecting joints for use on railway trains.
Figures A & B represent an iron, metal, or gutta percha conductor
(to about in. inner diameter), as fixed along the top or lower rail centre of
the carriages, and coupled together which end is presented by any one of the
above joints, Fig. 18 to 22.
C, a new mode of coupling where the single joints (as 16 or 17) are used.
E represents the bell mechanism (Fig. 14, 15,) fixed on Fig. 11, 12,
worked by passengers and guards blowing into a mouth-piece, [or by conden-
sing cylinders 4, 5, 6, 7,] thro' an iron and vulcan rubber conductor about
inch diameter or this in., connected by one or other of the above joints.
This improved apparatus shews the tube in each guard box and at the rear, to
be closed when not in use by the weight of the vulcan part of the tube bending
it over an angle, and acting as a self-closing valve when not in actual use. A
metal air whistle and sound reflector is also shewn, working by same apparatus
in lieu of the bell or alarum.
Figure F shews the same principle & apparatus with self-closing valves,
as applicable to steamers and vessels. This conductor is metallic, generally of
to inch stout pliable tin or composition pipe, in combination with vulcan
rubber tubing at all ends and branches, and the above single joints 16, 17,
where tubing or joints required for strain of ship at sea, &c. shews the
signalia cylinders 11, 12, attached to motions and bell, Fig. 14 or 15; also the.
metal air whistle and metal reflectors, before described.

page_text: Fig. G, similar. conductor apparatus for ships, representing officers on both
the port and starboard bows working signalia Fig. 15 on cylinders Fig. 9 or
10 by the exhausting cylinders 1, 2, or 3 thro' one conductor only; also stop
taps to cut off signalia not required to be in use.
H, the improved mechanical apparatus for,signalizing in mines and coal-pits.
D, the same, made applicable for railway trains, th to inch iron pipe
with wire; and a new mode of connecting being substituted.