IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC. TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Professor Auguste Adolphe Favarger of Neuchatel,
Switzerland at present residing at Tëlford Road in the County of Middlesex
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC. TELEGRAPHS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Auguste Adolphe Favarger
at the Office of tho Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1883.
Professor AUGUSTE ADOLPHE FAVARGER of Neuchatel, Switzerland at present
residing at Telford Road in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS"
This Invention has for its object improvements in electric telegraphs and relates
both to instruments by which the message is received and is printed and the
transmitter to work with the said receiving instruments.
The receiving instrument is arranged upon a novel plan.
The whole of the letters or marks which it is intended to employ and transmit
by telegraph (say for example the twenty six letters of the alphabet but stenographic
or other conventional characters may be employed) are arranged in the form of a
nonogram and type are prepared in accordance with this monogram. The type
are arranged as in a type writer to print upon a travelling paper. They are so
mounted that they can all strike the paper simultaneously in which case the com-
plete monogram will be printed or by selecting the suitable type and causing these
only to strike the paper any letter in the monogram can be separately printed.
Each type is actuated by a separate electro-magnet and to print a complete
letter several of these magnets will be brought into activity.
There are on either side of the printer a range of terminals (say for example
eight in each row) and by devices hereinafter described a battery is connected at
these terminals, whenever a letter is to be printed. Suppose the connection with
the printer to be made through the second terminal in one range and the third
terminal in the other range. Then the current will flow perhaps through the 2, 21,
and 24, electro magnets and priot say the letter R. This done and the paper being.
moved connection is made with other terminals in each row and so another letter
[Price 1071

page_text: may be printed and so on. Eight terminals on either side will yield many more
permutations than will be requisite to print the letters of the alphabet, nevertheless
the number may be increased when desired.
The currents are supplied to the printer from a local battery in following
manner the battery poles are brought to two insulated arms like the hands of a
clock which by mechanical means can be caused to travel around a dial. When a
letter is to be printed these hands are simultaneously started into motion by means
of a current received through the line wire, and each arm is then carried mechani-
cally past a series of studs. There are (in the arrangement I am particularly
describing) two separate series of studs eight in each series corresponding to and
connected with the two ranges of terminals in the printer each terminal having its
corresponding stud.
After an interval of time another current arrives by the line wire and this
according as it is positive or negative raises one or other of the series of studs and
stops the arm passing over them. The arm will be stopped in electrical connection
with one or other of the studs according to the length of time the arm has been
allowed to run.
A third current negative or positive arriving by the line wire
stops the other arm in a similar way in contact with a stud of the other series.
The current then passes through the printer and prints a letter, it also causes the
arms to return to the starting point ready for the next signal.
The transmitter has a key board and a finger key corresponding to each letter it
is desired to print.
The further end of each key carries four parallel insulated springs two are
connected to the line wire and two are battery terminals, the one positive the
other negative.
When the key is depressed these springs are brought against a barrel which
rotates continuously. The barrel has metal strips upon it three for each key and
the arrangement of the strips is different for each key. As each strip comes
round it completes the circuit between two of the springs on the depressed finger
key and one of these being connected with the line wire and the other to a battery
having its other terminal to earth, a current then passes in the line. The position
of the strip on the barrel determines which pair of springs are connected, in other
words the direction of current sent onto the line. Also the position of the strips
on the barrel determines the intervals between the currents.
As already stated the first current resulting from the depression of a key starts
the travelling arms at the further end of the line, the second current stops one of
these arms and establishes the battery connection with a terminal on one side of
the printer and the third current stops the other arm and establishes the battery
connection with the other side of the printer. The local battery current then
passes through the printer and prints the letter corresponding to the key which is
depressed. The barrel operating with the finger keys has flanges upon it with
openings which prevent the keys being moved to establish contact except at the
proper times and when the keys have been moved the flanges retain them whilst
the series of three contacts is made.
The line currents may either operate directly at the receiving station or they
may operate by means of a relay and local batteries. In the case of long lines
the latter will be the method employed.
The arms or clock like hands are operated as follows:-immediately below them
there is a revolving disc driven in any convenient manner and approximately at a
speed corresponding with that of the barrel of the transmitter; exact synchronism
is unnecessary but if attained it would render the starting current unnecessary.
Above the arms there is a stationary disc and in it there are two notches
diametrically opposite. The arms spring up into these notches and at the com-
mencement of each signal the arms are to be found held stationary by the notches,
one arm in each. The first signal current causes the attraction of an armature
which by its movement displaces the arms from the notches and brings them into
contact with the rotating disc beneath. By the disc the arms are then carried round

page_text: until each is stopped in the manner already described and the appropriate letter is
printed. The arms are then released and they are again carried round by the
rotating disc until they meet the notches in the upper disc. The arms then spring
up into these notches and remain stationary until again started by the first current
of the next signal.
In case a relay is employed this signal current is received by an electro-magnet
which is thus caused to attract its armature. In so doing the electro magnet
closes the local circuit of the starting magnet; at the same time it cuts itself out
of the line circuit and brings into the main circuit two other electro magnets
having polarized armatures. The second signal current arriving by the line wire
according to its sign causes one or other of the polarised armatures to be attracted
and the movement of the armature closes the local circuit of an electro magnet
which by attracting its armature raises one of the series of studs already referred
to and arrests one of the travelling arms. The third signal current being different
in sign from the second operates similarly to close the local circuit of another
electro-magnet which raises the other set of studs and stops the other travelling
arm.
The printing circuit being thus closed the letter is printed as already explained
and all the parts are caused to return to their original positions ready for the next
signal.
By a simplification of the monogram eight type may be made to print any letter
or figure sufficiently nearly for telegraphic purposes: hence there is no difficulty in
providing the printer with type sufficient to print several monograms simultaneously
in a row upon the paper and as by simply omitting parts the monogram becomes a
letter an entire word may by such an instrument be printed at one operation.
It will of course be necessary to extend the keyboard of the transmitter and to
make corresponding additions to the ranges of terminals in the printer and to
the series of studs which correspond to these but in this there is no practical
difficulty.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Auguste Adolphe
Favarger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th November 1883.
Professor AUGUSTE ADOLPHE FAVARGER of Neuchatel Switzerland at present
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
residing at Telford Road in the County of Middlesex
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
"
This invention has for its object improvements in electric telegraphs and relates
both to instruments by which the message is received and is printed and the
transmitter to work with the said receiving instruments.
The receiving instrument is arranged upon a novel plan
The whole of the letters or marks which it is intended to employ and transmit
by telegraph (say for example the 26 letters of the alphabet but stenographic or
other conventional characters may be employed) are arranged in the forin of a
monogram and type are prepared in accordance with this monogram-The type
are arranged as in a type writer to print upon a travelling paper. They are so
mounted that they can all strike the paper simultaneously in which case the
complete monogram will be printed or by selecting the suitable type and causing
these only to strike the paper any letter in the monogram can be separately
printed
Any number of type may be employed in constructing the monogram and the
larger the number of type the more exactly and elegantly the letters and figures
may be formed. Eight or nine type will however suffice to form letters which may
be read at sight without previous instruction-Fewer than this may be employed
but the letters then become reduced to arbitrary signs and the dispatches will be
printed in a sort of short hand which requires study to be able to read at sight.
I show at Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings a monogram to be printed by the
simultaneous action of nine type and the parts of the monogram are numbered on
the figure from 1 to 9 and each part is to be regarded as the impression of one of
the type with which the machine is furnished
At Figure 2 in the Drawing the entire alphabet as it is printed with these type
is given; the letters will with scarcely an exception be at once recognized from
their resemblance to the letters of ordinary printing and writing-The figures are
also given these are less frequently used and the signs which represent them are
less closely related to the forms in which the figures are usually written-By
adding additional type to the monogram the figures also may be formed with any
degree of accuracy which may be desired-This however would I believe be an
unnecessary complication and it would render the operation of the instrument less
rapid.
Each type is actuated by a separate electro magnet and to print a complete
letter several of these magnets will be brought into activity.
These printing magnets are called into activity by a local battery-Circuit
closers carried upon an axis are whilst the axis revolves arranged in accordance
with the intervals which elapse between the currents arriving through the line
wire and when arranged these circuit closers operate directly or indirectly to close
the circuit of the local battery through the printing magnets I have described at
some length in my Provisional Specification--I now however prefer a modification
but before describing more fully the mechanisin of the receiver I will explain the
construction of the transmitting instrument which I employ.
The transmitter has a key board and a finger key corresponding to each letter
or figure it is desired to print

page_text: The further end of each key carries four parallel insulated springs two are
connected to the line wire and two are battery terminals the one positive the other
negative.
When the key is depressed these springs are brought against a barrel which
rotates continuously-The barrel has metal strips upon it on two parallel circles
making two series of properly arranged strips, to the right or left correspondingly
to the two couples of springs for each key and the arrangement of the strips is
different for each key. As each strip comes round it completes the circuit between
two of the springs on the depressed finger key and one of these being connected
with the line wire and the other to a battery having its other terminal to earth &
current then passes in the line. The position of the strip on the barrel determines
which pair of springs are connected, in other words the direction of current sent
onto the line. Also the position of the strips on the barrel determines the intervals
between the currents.
Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of the transmitting instrument which I employ.
It consists of a key board having 36 keys one for each letter of the alphabet and
one also for each 'figure.
Each key carries upon it four insulated springs marked A. B. C. D. Two of
these springs, viz, B and C are permanently connected with the line wire and the
other two are permanently connected with a pair of line batteries; the spring A
being connected with say the positive pole of one battery and the spring D with
the negative of the other line battery. The other poles of the battery are put to
earth.
Figure 4 which is a diagramatic view of both the transmitting and receiving
apparatus will serve to indicate generally the electrical connections.
E is a barrel placed over the finger keys and across their ends; by suitable
mechanism it is caused to rotate completely at an uniform speed. As will be
seen hereafter the receiving instrument contains a rotating part which is governed
to rotate in unison with the barrel. The barrel carries metallic strips E'. E¹. which
as the barrel revolves and as the ends of the finger keys beneath the-barrel are in
succession raised come into contact with the springs A B C D which the keys
carry. The keys are always raised at the same point in the revolution of the
barrel; mechanism is provided as hereafter described to ensure that the key shall
only be raised at this time.
When a key is pressed down by the finger a metal strip on the barrel in passing
will rub upon and electrically connect in the first place say the springs A and B
and then afterwards when this strip has passed successively and immediately
afterwards or after an interval of time has elapsed, another strip in like manner
will rub over and connect the springs C and D and again immediately afterwards
or after another interval of time another strip may again rub over the springs A
and B and so on,
Each strip in passing will in this way complete the circuit of one of the batteries
through the line wire and the instrument at the further station. The strips are
always so arranged that the currents transmitted on the line shall be alternately
positive and negative but each of the 36 keys (more or less) has its own special
arrangement of contact strips no two keys in this respect being alike.
To prevent the movement of the finger keys at any but the proper instant of
time stop levers G are provided (one for each key) and these as soon as the key is
pressed down catch or drop in beneath it at the further end and retain it until
the proper time for liberation arrives which takes place at the same point of
rotation for all the keys and is effected by means of projection H.
Figure 5 shows a vertical section of the transmitter; the lever seen in this
figure is in the position it occupies when retaining a finger key which has heen
depressed. Figure 6 shews the same parts but with the stop lever in the position
it occupies when liberating the key the catch has just been thrust back by a
projection H upon the barrel and the key consequently has risen,

page_text: When one key is retained no other key can be depressed all the other keys being
then lield up by a special mechanism provided for the purpose.
This control of the keys is effected by means of a chain I (see Figure 3) which
passes beneath them over guides or supports 11. The chain is fastened at its ends
but there is just slack enough to allow one key at a time to be depressed conse-
quently when one key is locked the others are immovable. In place of this
arrangement for controlling the keys another referred to in my provisional
specification may be resorted to, that is to say, the barrel operating with the
finger keys may have flanges upon it with openings which prevent the keys being
moved to establish contact except at the proper times and the same flanges when
the keys have been moved retain them whilst the series of contacts is made.
Figure 7 shows a plan, Figure 8 a side elevation and Figure 9 a transverse
section of the receiving apparatus. It consists of an axis K supported in suitable
bearings and driven in any convenient manner at the same speed as near as may
be as the barrel E of the transmitter. This axis has upon it a boss L of insulating
material which carries a number of metallic spring strips M M. M.
The outer ends of these strips normally occupy a guide groove within the fixed
ring N. There is however a gap or space in this guide ring seen at N' in Figure 8
where the ends of the blades can pass out of the groove and a similar gap or space
at N2 where they return again to it. When the end of one of the strips M is
displaced from the groove at the time it is passing the point N¹ it remains outside
and rubs against the side of the ring until in the rotation of the wheel it reaches
the point N when it will by its elasticity return to its place and again travel on
within the guide.
O is an electro magnet having a polarized armature O' which is mounted upon
an axis at 02. The currents from the line wire are allowed to pass through the
coils of this electro-magnet and so to the earth. As the currents in the line wire
are alternately positive and negative they cause the armature to oscillate between
the opposite poles of the magnet.
Os is a finger fast upon the axis of the armature. The finger as will be seen
is placed opposite the gap N' in the guide ring N and the strips M when struck by
the finger are able to yield; consequently they are thrust by the finger out of the
guide groove and to one side or the other according to the direction in which the
movement of the finger takes place. The currents are so timed that at each
movement the finger O³ may strike one of the strips M. fairly or in the centre of
its width.
In this manner certain of the strips are placed outside the guide groove whilst
others are permitted to remain in it and this takes place in accordance with the
currents which are received through the line wire.
The strips which are placed outside the groove as already stated remain outside
it, and pass around rubbing against the exterior of the ring until they arrive at the
second gap N' where they spring back and again enter the groove.
c
It will be seen that there are two sets of strips M nine strips in each set
corresponding to the number of type in the monogram. They come into action
alternately and whilst the strips of one set are being selected by the finger 03 in
the manner described those of the other set are inoperative. One strip of each set
corresponds to each printing magnet. These magnets are seen in Figure 10 and
are marked P P P. Between the two sets of strips M fixed upon the boss L two
spaces are left each of the width corresponding to a strip; these spaces are to
admit of the finger 03 passing from one side to the other without operating upon
any of the strips. This is necessary in some cases in order that every signal may
commence in the same way, say with a positive current and the movement of the
finger Os from left to right.
Upon the exterior of the ring N a series of 18 connecting screws QQ Q are
provided, viz, one pair of connecting screws for each of the printing magnets.
The screws are connected with-insulated metal contact pieces fixed upon the

page_text: ring in such position that the travelling strips M in passing around shall rub
upon them and place the contact pieces forming pairs in electrical connection.
Such strips are provided on both sides of the ring N so that contact may be
made with them by the strips M whether these strips be displaced from the central
groove to the right hand or to the left. The connection between the binding
screws Q and the printing magnets can be traced in Figure 4
Here B is a local battery connected at one of its poles to the blocks S S and one
end of each electro magnet coil is connected with these blocks. The other end of
each electro magnet coil is connected with one of its binding screws upon the ring N.
From the other binding screw Q of each pair a connection is taken to a block T
which is coupled with a contact spring U¹ normally out of contact with another
spring Us connected with other pole of the battery. L' is a metallic projection
from the boss L which at a given instant in its rotation rubs over and establishes
electrical connection between the two springs U', U'. This it will be seen closes
the local circuit through certain of the printing magnets, viz; those which are
connected with the contact pieces over which at the moment the strips M are
passing. The projection L' closes the local printing circuit at the instant when
the selection of the strips M by the fingers O³ is complete, that is to say, when the
ninth strip of the series has already passed the finger and is just coming to the
contact pieces between which, if it has been selected it has to make contact.
Hence when the projection L' thus closes the circuit the selected electro magnets
operate and cause their type to strike upon the paper and print a letter or figure
thereon.
Figure 10 to which reference has already been made shews the printing magnets
in plan together with their armatures and printing levers and the type carried at
their ends.
Figures 11 and 12 shew the same in elevation and section. Figure 13 is also an
elevation partly in section and shews the parts to a larger scale.
The levers strike downwards and the type are shewn all in their lowest
position.
Z is the travelling strip of paper upon which the message is printed, it travels
with an intermittent or it may be a continuous movement beneath the type.
Between it and the type there is the usual travelling silk band W saturated with
ink which when the type strikes upon the band is transferred to the paper.
If the movement of the paper strip be continuous it is necessary that the blow
of the type should be instantaneous and that it may be so I adopt the arrangements
shewn by the Figures 12 and 13.
The type as will be seen is carried by a spring-arm X pivotted at X' and another
arm X projects towards the armature of the magnet by which the printing lever
is operated.
The spring arm rests when permitted to do so upon a fixed stop X³ and a spring X+
presses it down against this stop.
The armature lever Y has a spring stud Y¹ projecting from it which when the
armature is attracted to the poles of the magnet operates against the arm X² and
raises the arm X away from the stop X³ at the same time overcoming the resistance
of the spring X+.
As the armature approaches the poles of the magnet it allows the arm X³ to
escape and immediately the spring ✗* causes the return of the spring arm carrying
the type. The type strikes a sharp blow upon the ink carrying band and the
paper beneath it and prints its mark. The stop X³ is so set that the type can only
touch upon the surfaces beneath it by the flecture of the spring arm X.
When the electro magnet ceases to attract its armature the armature falls back
and the spring stud Y at its end passes the arm X³ the end of the stud being
inclined to admit of its operating in this manner.
In order to ensure that the axis K shall rotate at the proper speed that is to say
so that the movement of the finger O³ shall always take place as near as may be

page_text: when the centre of a strip M is opposite to it I have provided synchronising or
controlling apparatus as follows:-
a is a wheel of insulating material fixed on the axis and having triangular
pieces of metal inlayed in its edge. A portion of this wheel is shown to a larger
scale at Figure 14-6 is a metallic brush or contact spring attached to the axis of
the armature O' and as the armature oscillates the brush makes a light contact
with the edge of the wheel. The dotted lines in Figure 14 show the paths over
which the end of the brush may pass, they are oblique in consequence of the
rotation of the wheel whilst the brush is in movement. When the wheel is in
true time with the currents arriving by the line wire the brush passes without
touching either of the triangles but if the time be not true it touches and makes
electrical contact with one or other of the triangles according as the wheel is too
fast or too slow and the time during which the contact lasts is longer or shorter
according as the inaccuracy is greater or less.
In Figure 14 the triangles upon the wheel are marked alternately + and -
which is to indicate that if either of the + series be touched by the brush the
series be
wheel is going too fast and requires to be retarded and if either of the
touched the wheel is going too slow and requires to be accelerated. The triangles
of one series are connected with an insulated wheel c¹ and those of the other series
with an insulated wheel c. d is a local battery connected at one terminal with
the coils of the two electric magnets e. e. The other ends of these coils are
connected respectively with the wheels c¹ c by means of springs pressing upon
their peripheries.
-
Thus it will be seen that when the brush touches upon the triangles marked
with the
sign it completes the circuit of the battery d through one of the
magnets e and when it touches the triangles marked with the + sign it completes
the circuit through the other magnet. Each magnet when the current passes
through it attracts its armature and the armature carries a wheel and axis f.
These parts are further illustrated by Figures 15 and 16. These figures show
especially the parts relating to synchronising the rotation of the axis with the
currents arriving by the line wire. When either armature is attracted the wheel
which it carries is brought into contact with the periphery of a disc g mounted on
the axis K and the wheelf is caused to rotate. It has on its axis a pinion (or
rather in actual practice it would be caused by intermediate gearing to give slow
movement to a pinion) which gears with a double rack h. The double rack carries
upon it in a bearing one end of an axis i and the other end of this axis can turn
in and slide through a stationary bearing k.
This axis has upon it a wheel which is always in contact with the face of the
disc g and is so caused to rotate rapidly-The wheelf has fan blades f¹ upon it so
that its rotation may be resisted by the air especially as the speed increases.
The double rack h is suitably supported by guide rollers and as will be seen the
rotation of one of the wheels f thrusts it forward towards the centre of the disc g
and the other draws it out away from the centre
In the one case the resistance to the rotation of the axis is diminished and
therefore its speed increases; in the other case the resistance is increased and the
speed diminishes.
The arrangements which I have described may be varied-thus I may employ a
keyboard with nine keys only each key corresponding to a printing magnet-In this
case the operator will require to remember the combinations by which the various
letters are produced and will have accordingly to depress several keys at a time
I may also as suggested in my previous Specification provide for the simultaneous
printing of several monograms by a repetition of the parts and extension of the
keyboard and in this way I may print several letters simultaneously other variations
may also be made
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim,
First. The construction of a telegraphic receiving apparatus with type such that

page_text: printed all together they produce a monogram; and so arranged that any desired
combination of the said type can be printed simultaneously producing thereby
separately the letters and signs which are comprised in the monogram substantially
as described
Second-The method of selecting the combination of type required vis: by
transmitting through the line wire a succession of currents with suitably adjusted
intervals such currents at the receiving station bringing about a corresponding
adjustment of circuit closers carried by a rotating axis which circuit closers in turn
operate (directly or indirectly) to close the local circuits of the printing magnets
substantially as described
In witness whereof I the said Professor Auguste Adolphe Favarger have here-
unto set my hand and seal this Twelfth day of November in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
A A ΠΑΠΑΡΑΓΟ