Improvements in Transmitters of Morse Telegraphic Apparatus for Continuous and Alternating Currents.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
Improvements in Transmitters of Morse Telegraphic Apparatus for
Continuous and Alternating Currents.
We, CESARE Rossi, of Sarzana, Civil Engineer, and PIETRO FORCIERI, of the
Postal and Telegraph Office, Sarzana, Electrician, both in the Kingdom of Italy,
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 invention relates to improvements in transmitters of Morse telegraphic
apparatus for continuous and alternating currents.
It is well known that with the continuous current system there are included
in the circuit not only the battery of one or both terminal telegraph stations
but also the corresponding apparatus and those of the intermediate stations
forming part of the circuit the current constantly flowing through all these
apparatus.
In connection with this system each of the stations is provided with a special
apparatus designed to automatically break and make the circuit. In the former
case the current from the battery from the terminal stations does not circulate
whilst the transmitter is operated regularly by the telegraphist, that is to say,
the transmitter closes in its turn the circuit for transmitting messages; in the
second case the current constantly flows through the line and the various
apparatus and the transmitter does not operate.
The apparatus which has hitherto been used for automatically making and
breaking the circuit has generally the disadvantage of keeping both hands of
the telegraphist occupied and of requiring a considerable amount of attention.
The same thing occurs with the American system wherein a special handle
is employed for the purpose of avoiding interruption.
It will, therefore be evident that the apparatus at present in use does not give
satisfactory results in practice.
By the improvements which we have made in the Morse transmitter the
telegraphist has simply to employ one hand, and the making and breaking of the
circuit is automatically effected during the transmission of messages.
A metal plate L, which is bent to a channel shape and open below, is placed
upon, and secured by means of screws a, a to the lever of the Morse transmitter.
To this plate there is pivoted a stirrup F, one end A of which is bent below
the lever of the transmitter. A small plate or table T of bone, ivory or other
insulating material is secured to the said stirrup. A spiral spring S is secured
at one end to the transmitter and at the other end to the stirrup. C is a contact
pin for effecting the breaking of the circuit.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The telegraphist as he transmits the message by depressing the knob or
handle P presses lightly with his fingers against the plate T which thereby
operates the portion A of the stirrup F. The said projection A. by moving away
from the pin C breaks the circuit. and the transmitter can operate regularly;
but after the desired message has been send the operator releases the plate T

page_text: and the spiral spring S will return the projection A and again bring it into
contact with the pin C.
Figure 1 shew's the apparatus at the moment when the message is being
despatched and the parts C and A are not in contact with one another:
Figure shews the apparatus at the moment when the message having been
sent the contact is again made by the spring between the parts C and A.,
In order that existing Morse transmitters can be employed without being
weakened we have applied the plate L to the lever; but it is obvious that the
said plate can be dispensed with by fixing the stirrup directly upon the lever,
as shewn in Figure 2. Furthermore, the spiral spring can be placed at the
back of the plate T as shewn in Figure 3.
It will also be obvious that the ends of the stirrup A, of the pin contact C
and also the ends of the spiral spring should be platinized or provided with
strips or wires n of platinum to ensure that they make good contact.
As above described, the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is applic-
able to continuous currents, but for applying the invention to the Morse trans-
mitter of different systems (alternating and continuous currents) we make the
modifications described below.
Figure 4 shews a Morse transmitter seen from above and illustrating the
modification in the construction of the parts for adapting an ordinary trans-
mitter to different systems. In the apparatus now in use, the clamps are placed
in the positions indicated by the numbers 1, 2 and 3 of Figure 4, whilst according
to.our invention the said clamps are moved to the positions shewn in dotted lines
and indicated by the letters a, b and c in the said Figure. Furthermore, these
modifications make the construction of the apparatus less costly and have the
advantage at the same time of reducing resistance and wear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The described apparatus applicable to the Morse transmitter whereby the
circuit can be interrupted by the operator by the hand he uses for transmitting
messages, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination herein before described and illustrated in Figure 4 for
adapting the Morse transmitter to different systems and for reducing resistance
and deterioration and also for rendering the apparatus less costly.
Dated this 5th dove of Wohm 1900
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.