IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELE- GRAPHS
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HIGHTON, of Rugby, in the County of Warwick, Master of Arts, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of February, in the
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every
of them, by ourselves, or by our deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such
others as I, the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of fourteen years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPHS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso requiring me,
the said Henry Highton, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in the High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
annear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Henry Highton, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully and particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference
being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the words, letters, and
figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
In the electric telegraph's now commonly used on English railways, signals
are given by the motions of magnetic needles, which are caused to move to
either side by the action of electric currents passed in either direction through
coils of wire surrounding magnetic needles; and I have discovered that signals
can be exhibited in electric telegraphs by motions produced by electric currents
in strips of metallic leaf suitably placed in a very cheap form of signal appa-
ratus resembling a gold-leaf galvanometer. The Drawing hereunto annexed
represents a signal apparatus consisting of a glass tube A fitted in brass caps
a, a, at top and bottom, and having a strip of metallic leaf B (gold leaf being the
kind of metallic leaf which I usually employ) passing through its centre, loosely
hung in metallic contact with the said caps, the upper extremity of the metallic
leaf being fixed at right angles to its lower end, so that the metallic leaf, from
whatever direction seen, will present at some part its flat surface to the eye.
The caps a, a, which are moveable, in order that the metallic leaf may be
replaced, if broken) are placed in a circuit suitable for electro-telegraphic
communication. Near to the metallic leaf (as on the outside of the glass) is
placed either of the poles of a magnet C; and the effect of this arrangement
is, that when a current of voltaic electricity is cause.l to pass through the
circuit, and therefore through the metallic leaf B included in it, the metallic
leaf is deflected to one side or the other, according to the direction of the
current; and the distinct motions so obtained may be repeated and combined
and used for the purpose of designating letters or figures or other conventional
signals. One of the above-mentioned signal apparatuses is placed at each ter-
minus of telegraphic communication, and others may be placed at intermediate
points. Each terminus, and also each intermediate station is provided with a
voltaic battery, and with one of the key boards in use in single magnetic
needle electric telegraphs. The person in charge of the telegraph at either
terminus, or at any intermediate station, produces the requisite connexions for
causing an electric current to pass in either direction through the circuit, and
therefore through the metallic leaf of the signal apparatus of each terminal
or intermediate station, and thus cause the metallic leaf of all the signal appa-
ratuses to move simultaneously to either side, so as to give the required sigual
or signals. The key board of each terminal and intermediate station has a
handle, by moving which the person in charge of the telegraph at any station

page_text: can cause an electric current to pass through a circuit in connexion with a
system of alarums at the terminal and intermediate stations similar to those
in use in magnetic needle electric telegraphs. The method of forming such a
system of alarums, and the handles and other arrangements by which the
alarums are caused to act, are exactly similar to the corresponding parts and
arrangements in the ordinary magnetic needle electric telegraphs, which are
well known. By means of the alarum circuit and apparatus so combined
with the signal circuit and apparatuses a message from any station can be 'pre-
ceded or accompanied by audible sounds, so as to attract attention thereto,
as is well known.
Having described my Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, I would have it understood that I do not mean to confine myself
to the details of my description if the principles of my Invention be retained;
and I would also have it understood that I lay no claim to the use of metallic
leaf in galvanometers or otherwise, than for the purposes of my Invention, as
herein described. But what I claim as my Invention consists in the following
particulars (that is to say) :-
First, I claim the application of metallic leaf for giving of signals in electric
telegraphs.
Secondly, I claim the combining into one system of electric telegraphs, so
as to act together, two or more apparatuses adapted for giving signals at
different places by means of metallic leaf; and,
Thirdly, I claim the combining of alarum apparatuses in electric telegraphs
with apparatuses for giving signals by means of metallic leaf.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Highton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand night hundred and fonte civ

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HIGHTON, of Rugby, in the County of Warwick, Master of Arts, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of February, in the
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and every
of them, by ourselves, or by our deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such
others as
I, the said Henry Highton, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of fourteen years therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPHS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso requiring me,
the said Henry Highton, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in the High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the sa
Henry Highton, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, an
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully and particularl
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, referenc
being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the words, letters, an
figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
In the electric telegraphs now commonly used on English railways, signal
are given by the motions of magnetic needles, which are caused to move to
either side by the action of electric currents passed in either direction through
coils of wire surrounding magnetic needles; and I have discovered that signals
can be exhibited in electric telegraphs by motions produced by electric currents
in strips of metallic leaf suitably placed in a very cheap form of signal appa-
ratus resembling a gold-leaf galvanometer. The Drawing hereunto annexed
represents a signal apparatus consisting of a glass tube A fitted in brass caps
a, a, at top and bottom, and having a strip of metallic leaf B (gold leaf being the
kind of metallic leaf which I usually employ) passing through its centre, loosely
hung in metallic contact with the said caps, the upper extremity of the metallic
leaf being fixed at right angles to its lower end, so that the metallic leaf, from
whatever direction seen, will present at some part its flat surface to the eye.
The caps a, a, which are moveable, in order that the metallic leaf may be
replaced, if broken) are placed in a circuit suitable for electro-telegraphic
communication. Near to the metallic leaf (as on the outside of the glass) is
placed either of the poles of a magnet C; and the effect of this arrangement
is, that when a current of voltaic electricity is cause to pass through the
circuit, and therefore through the metallic leaf B included in it, the metallic
leaf is deflected to one side or the other, according to the direction of the
current; and the distinct motions so obtained may be repeated and combined
and used for the purpose of designating letters or figures or other conventional
signals. One of the above-mentioned signal apparatuses is placed at each ter-
minus of telegraphic communication, and others may be placed at intermediate s
points. Each terminus, and also each intermediate station is provided with a
voltaic battery, and with one of the key boards in use in single magnetic
needle electric telegraphs. The person in charge of the telegraph at either
crminus, or at any intermediate station, produces the requisite connexions for
causing an electric current to pass in either direction through the circuit, and 3
herefore through the metallic leaf of the signal apparatus of each terminal
r intermediate station, and thus cause the metallic leaf of all the signal appa-
atuses to move simultaneously to either side, so as to give the required signal
r signals. The key board of each terminal and intermediate station has a
andle, by moving which the person in charge of the telegraph at any station 40

page_text: can cause an electric current to pass through a circuit in connexion with a
system of alarums at the terminal and intermediate stations similar to those
in use in magnetic needle electric telegraphs. The method of forming such a
system of alarums, and the handles and other arrangements by which the
alarums are caused to act, are exactly similar to the corresponding parts and
arrangements in the ordinary magnetic needle electric telegraphs, which are
well known. By means of the alarum circuit and apparatus so combined
with the signal circuit and apparatuses a message from any station can be pre-
ceded or accompanied by audible sounds, so as to attract attention thereto,
as is well known.
Having described my Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, I would have it understood that I do not mean to confine myself
to the details of my description if the principles of my Invention be retained;
and I would also have it understood that I lay no claim to the use of metallic
leaf in galvanometers or otherwise, than for the purposes of my Invention, as
herein described. But what I claim as my Invention consists in the following
particulars (that is to say) :-
First, I claim the application of metallic leaf for giving of signals in electric
telegraphs.
Secondly, I claim the combining into one system of electric telegraphs, so
as to act together, two or more apparatuses adapted for giving signals at
different places by nicans of metallic leaf; and,
Thirdly, I claim the combining of alarum apparatuses in electric telegraphs
with apparatuses for giving signals by means of metallic leaf.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Highton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-six.