IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENERAL ELECTRIC TYPO-OMNITELEGRAPHIC MACHINES, AND IN THE MODE OF WORKING THEM
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by François Thierry Hubert at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, -on the
28th December 1865.
1, FRANCOIS THIERRY HUBERT, of Amersham Vale, Deptford, in
the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENERAL ELECTRIC
TYPO-OMNITELEGRAPHIC MACHINES, AND IN THE MODE OF WORKING THEM," to
be as follows:-
These machines and the mode described are for transmitting and re-
ceiving simultaneously with one apparatus at each end all messages
printed or written in any language or characters, as well as drawings, maps,
or whatever may be despatched together at one time or separate.
The regular action of these apparatuses requires the strict observance
of the physics, chemistry, and mechanics laws. This regular action is
obtained by an horizontal metallic lever provided with a tube hermetically
closed and containing quicksilver in a proportion calculated to the length
of the acting machine. This horizontal metallic lever oscillates underneath
by the attraction and repulsion of two fixed electro-magnets when they are
magnetized or demagnetized by the current of a special electric battery,
and then regulates the movement of the principal mechanical power. The
pendulum of an electric clock can serve to cause the action of this hori-
zontal lever by magnetizing and demagnetizing át each oscillation the two
electro-mugnets proceeding as it is described.

page_text: The mechanical power consists, 1°, with two wheels having each sixty
teeth, both fixed to an horizontal cylinder turning on its axle. One of
these wheels is an ordinary toothed wheel, and the other is a ratchet
wheel. 2°, a weight with a rope proportinated to the length of the appa-
ratus is hanging from the cylinder for causing the power. 3°, the said
horizontal lever, to which are fixed the escapements for keeping and regu-
lating the motion of the said ratchet wheel. 4°, escapements ascending
or descending ad libitum, when they must act on the acting ratchet wheel,
and then causes a regular and intermittent motion. 5°, a level or tube with
quicksilver is fixed to the said lever. It follows its movements up and
down, and the quicksilver passes alternatively from one side to the other
side. 6º, an ordinary wheel with fifteen ordinary teeth catching in the
aforesaid ordinary wheel No. 1. It is fixed to an horizontal cylinder com-
manding four revolutions in one minute and two seconds to two excentrics of
7 inches (0m 20° French measure), of course which revolving keeps in motion
the principal mechanical frame. 7°, the said excentrics. 8°, two said
electro-magnets, magnetized or demagnetized as it is laid for attracting and
répulsing alternatively the two metallic extremities of the said horizontal
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metallic lever.
Only one conducting wire is sufficient for keeping in a regular action all
these described mechanical machines, to be lodged at every station, what-
ever may be their number, in a telegraphic line. This wire can be also
used in same time for the conventional correspondence of the administra-
tion with the officers attached thereto. This private administrative corre-
spondence through this wire is for avoiding doubt, error, or confusion, and
not causing any delay in any station in the direct and simultaneous trans-
mission and reception of despatches. If I give a preference to the con-
ducting wires embedded in a submarine cable protected the 10th of October
1865, under the No. 2605, I nevertheless untilise advantageously (but
.specially) all conducting wires now in .use.
This
Machines. Several dimensions are given to these machines.
described as follows is of a proportionate and sufficient size for reproducing
a page of six columns of the Times in one hour two minutes thirty seconds,
maximum of time required for the transmission of any quantity of de-
spatches, if their number be ten times more considerable, but with appa-
ratuses of a larger dimension. All consist, 1°, of a cast-iron frame or
pedestal with two well fixed steel slides, upon which in its length moves a
frame carrying the mechanism. The boxes, their supports, and the levers
of the cambs are affixed thereto. Steel rods are running through the holes

page_text: These holes are lined with
2°, a moving cast-iron frame with
disposed at each end of the said pedestal.
copper for diminishing the friction.
copper bearings moves to and fro on the aforesaid steel slides. In this
frame are fixed in the same manner two steel slides, upon which'in its
width works the superior part of the instruments.., To the center and in
each side are enclosed the two heads of a screw with two same but con-
trary threads and two copper nuts. Bearers for supporting escapements,
cambered levers, and springs are strongly fixed to this moving frame.
When apparatuses are to carry more than six metallic plates two double
screws instead of one are required, then by the interposing a third wheel
of the same-dimension between the two wheels the apparatus will revolve
as with only one. In a part of the screw, but unscrewed, are two opposite
ratchet wheels; the one, after having been screwed to a plate, directs the
tables in one direction; the other, being also screwed to a fixed plate, bring
again the said tables in their primitive position. Consequently when one
of them is not acting its escapement is raised; the other one being
descended-causes-a regular and intermittent motion, then: a level-following
the movement up and down carry the quicksilver contained in a tube to the
nethermost side. 3°, another double frame with copper bearings, support
two isolating tables moving in two contrary directions. 4°, upon these
isolating tables are the metallic plates for keeping the metallic paper and
also the chemical paper hereafter explained. All maps, drawings, are
written with a thick isolating ink on metallic paper, and printed messages
with a thick isolating ink prepared with dense linseed oil. Such writings,
as well as anything in print and also the metallic paper must be dry. 5°,
a special lever acts like a beam; in a box in the uppermost part of the
apparatus one isolating arm is provided with a metallic style, and the other
arm with a commutator. This lever is one of the principal and the most
useful and sensitive piece of the apparatus. As long as the style touches
an isolating.trace of ink, the style arm springing up the commutator arm
falls instantaneously about 0-03937 part of one inch over a button for
opening promptly and rapidly the current of transmission which is herein-
after explained. But when the style ceases to be isolated by a trace of
isolating ink it remains attracted on the surface of the metallic paper, as
long as it finds again another trace of isolating ink the commutator arm
being sprung up breaks the circuit.
All transmissions are received to the corresponding station upon an
hygrometric paper prepared with yellow cyanure of potassium and iron,
with cristallized azotate of ammoniac; each time the current through the

page_text: receiving style run through the said paper, passing from the positive pole
to the metallic plate negative pole, a decomposition takes place under the
style and produces beautiful blue traces on the white hygrometric paper,
which are the despatches received.
The power to be given to the electro-magnets and the number of ele-
ments of the batteries to be employed are in proportion of the distances
and the power required by the dimensions of the apparatus.
For avoiding in all circumstances the too strong waving or the inequa-
lities of the current of a principal battery, and to keep it in a permanent
state with a more regular and perfect intensity, the current or the electro-
motive power proportioned to the length of distance to be run over tra-
verses a weak battery composed of one or two elements in proportion of
the number of elements required, grouped, and acting of the principal
battery. For the short or long distances or in change of weather with the
said commutator the current is ad libitum augmented or diminished of a
number more or less considerable of elements.
For transmitting one or any quantity of despatches to several stations
at once without confusion a special conducting wire to the earth is reunited
to the main conducting wire, and through it the circuit is established and
returns to the earth after having produced a satisfactorily decomposition.
This conducting wire to the earth is very useful for neutralizing ad libitum
the effective force of the electric discharge produced by the battery of
transmission.
For avoiding and preventing the accidents caused by the atmospheric
electricity I use the Breguet's apparatus called (Paratonnerre,) or Breguet's
ligthning conductor.