IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hemy Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS " A communication fiom abroad by Jean Joseph
Etienne Lenon, of Paris, in the Republic of Fiance, Engincer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Heniy Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1877
JOHN HLNRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIS" A communication from
abroad by Jean Joseph Etienne Lenon, of Pans, in the Republic of Fiance,
Engineer
This Invention relates to electric wilting telegraphs, and consists,—
1st In the arrangement and combination of a governor oi iegulator enabling
the desued synchionism to be obtained
2nd Of a mode of reversing the cuments of the batteries by a single contact,
which operation it is proposed to designate the "emptying" of the line
The synchronism is obtained by means of a species of governor having two arms,
which are hinged to a counterweight cast or formed with a hole through which is
passed a vertical spindle The lower part of the counterweight is provided with
two 10ds or guides, which pass through a plate and are united to a sleeve or collai
formed with a shoulder upon which travels a friction soller forming pait of a lever,
which has its fixed point or fulcrum on a sinall column or post, the other extremity
of the level is capable of approaching or receding from a small contact piece,
adjustable as required by hand while the apparatus is at work, this contact piece
18 placed upon a support forming part of the stand, and has for its object causing
the electric current to pass by its contact to the lever, which is connected by wies
of communication to an electio-magnet
Under the action of the pressure of the counterweight the aims of the governor
always tend to approach one another, but when the vertical spindle has acquired a
certain speed the two arms fly apart and raise the counterweight, which carries with
it the level, and establishes its contact with tho contact piece The current then

page_text: passes into the electro-magnet and the soft non of which the plate before mentioned
is compared, at this moment the spindle is subjected to a magnetic resistance, which
slackens the speed of the apparatus The diminution in the speed of the spindle
causes the arms to approach one another, which under the action of the counter-
weight are drawn nearer the centre, and the contact is interrupted The current
through the electro-magnet thus being suspended, the magnetic resistance ceases,
and the motor for actuating the clockwork duving the cylinder which sends or
receives the message tends to accelerate the speed of the spindle, which again causes
the arms of the governor to fly apart, and 10-establishes by the ascent of the counter-
weight the contact between the contact piece and the lever
It will thus be seen that the aims are compelled to remain at a normal distance
apart, which allows of a certain speed of rotation in the spindle, which is the last
moving part of the apparatus, and that according to the weight of the counterweight
or the degree of separation of the aims, a uniform speed is obtained in the last
novel, and in consequence a regular action in the apparatus
The spindle is actuated by means of bevel geaning, one wheel of which is carried
on an axis driven by the clockwork
When the apparatus is employed for sending messages, the message, written in
non-conducting ink upon metallic paper wound 10und the cylinder, is transmitted
by a style brought in contact by tuining a small axis, which carries two cams, one
of these cams, which raises the stylo, is made of ivory, whilst the other cam, which
lifts the whole system, comprising a pan, and an electro-magnet, and a frame oscil-
lating on an axis bearing upon a fixed bai, is of copper
When the apparatus is employed as receiver the pen traces the message upon the
white paper wound upon the cylinder, this pen is mounted on one end of a level,
which oscillates on a fixed point, and is provided at the other extremity with an
aimature attracted by the electio-magnet last mentioned at each passage of the
current
In order to work the pen of the receiving apparatus with sufficient speed to
register the interruptions of the line current and the passage of the currents, it is
necessay on the one hand to "empty" the line very quickly In order to obtain
this result the following apparatus is employed -A battery is provided which is
always on the line when one contact piece is insulated, but as soon as tho sud
contact piece is in communication with a conducting body, the current is locally
closed and passes through another battery, and this latter, which is a quantity
battery, is placed in connection with the line, which 18 changed with electricity of
an inverse pole, consequently the line is unmediately emptied or rather neutralized
by a fecble curent, which is not sufficient to charge the line with a current of
another pole If the current is again interupted the small battery censes to be on
the line, and the large battery becomes placed on the line This mode of emptying
the line thus consists of inter posing between the caith and the line a small group of
quantity elements, which serve the pupose of emptying the line instantaneously
The number of elements in the small battery should be, say, fiom 3 to 4 per cent.
of that in the large battery
L
A resistance coil ensures the current from the small battery passing on to
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
July 1877
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, 5
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIO TELEGRAPHS A communication from
abroad by Jean Joseph Etienne Lenou, of Pans, in the Republic of Fianco,
Engineer.

page_text: The said Invention relates to clectic witing telegraphs, and consists,―
First In the application, arrangement, and combination of a governor or regulator
for enabling the requisite synchronism to be obtained.
Second Of a node of reversing the currents of the batteries by a single contact,
which operation it is proposed to designate the "emptying" of the line
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Diawings, the same letters of reference
indicating coresponding parts in all the Figures
Figure 1 of the Diawings represents an end elevation of a telegraphic writing
appaintus consta ucted according to this Invention with a governor or regulator for
obtaining synchronous action
Figure 2 is a corresponding sectional plan of the same
Figure 3, a transverse section showing the aurangement of the cylinder which
transmits or icceives the message, and also the writing pen and the tiacing style
And Figue 4 is a diagram illustrating the general arrangement of the system and
the mode in which the operation of "emptying" of the line is performed
The synchronism is obtained by means of a governor or regulator having two
ans a, Figure 1, each hinged at one end to an upright spindle A, and at the other
end to a counterweight P, cast or other wise formed with a hole in its centre, through
which is passed the vertical spindle A The counterweight P is provided with two
rods oi guides a², which pass through a plate D, and are united to sleeve or collar p
formed with a shoulder p¹, upon which travels a fiction roller q¹ canied by a lever T
mounted at one end upon a fixed point or fulcrum 7 on a small column or post c,
the other extremity of this lever is capable of approaching to or receding fiom
small contact piece S, which is capable of being adjusted by hand as requned
while the apparatus is at work this contact piece S is mounted upon a support or
bracket g called by the stand G, its object being to cause by its contact the electric
cutient to pass to the lever r, which is connected by wires of communication to an
electro-magnet B
Under the action of the pressure of the counterweight P the arms a of the
governor always tend to approach cach other, but whon the vertical spindle A has
acquired a certain speed the two aims extend or fly apart and raise the counter-
weight P, and with it the levoir, establishing thereby contact with the pieco S
The current then passes into the electio-magnet B and into the plate D, thereby
subjecting the spindle A. to a magnetic resistance which retaids the speed of the
apparatus
The diminution in the speed of the spindle A causes the aims a under
the action of the counterweight P to approach each other and to be drawn nearer
the centre, whereby the contact of the lever r with the piece S is interupted, and
consequently the current through the electro-magnet B suspended The magnetic
resistance then ceases, and the motor for actuating the clockwork employed in
diving the cylinder H, Figure 3, which transmits of icceives the message, tends to
accelerato the speed of the spindle A, which again causes the aims of the governor
to separate, and 10-establish by the ascent of the counter weight the contact between
the pieco S and the lever T
It will thus be seen that the arms a are compelled to remain at a normal distance
apart to admit of a certain speed of rotation in the spindle A, which is the last
moving part of the apparatus, and that according to the weight of the counter-
weight P or the degree of soparation of the arms, a uniform speed of the last mover,
and consequently a uniform action of the apparatus is obtained
The spindle A is actuated, as shewn in Figure 1, by means of bevel gearing e, e¹,
the wheel e being called on an axis E, diven by the clockwork which actuates the
cylinder H
When the apparatus is employed for transmitting messages, the message is
written with non-conducting ink upon metallic paper wound round the cylinder H,
and is transmitted by a style N, which is brought into contact with the cylinder H
by means of a cam l, composed of ivory and fitted on an axis or shaft m,
this axis

page_text: o shaft m also carries another cam L, composed of copper, which is caused to bear
when required upon a fixed bai O for the purpose of raising out of action the whole
Bystein, coinpiising a pen I and an electro-magnet J, which are called on a frame K
fitted to oscillate on an axis h
When the apparatus is employed as a receiver the pen I is brought into contact
with the cylinder H, and caused to trace the message upon white paper wound
theicon, this pen is mounted on one end of a lever 2, which oscillates on a fixed
point, and is provided at the other extremity with an armature I', attracted by
the electro-magnet J at each passage of the curent
In order to work the pen I of the receiving apparatus with sufficient speed to
register the passage and interruptions of the line current it is necessary to "empty"
the line very quickly In order to effect this the arrangement shown in the diagiam,
Figure 4, 18 employed A battery Z is provided, which is always on the line when
the contact piece Y is insulated, but as soon as the said contact piece is in commu-
nication with a conducting body the circuit is locally closed and passes through a
quantity battery X, which is placed in connection with the line, which is changed
with electricity of an inverse pole, consequently the line is immediately emptied or
rather neutralized by a feeble current, which is not sufficient to change the line with
a current of another pole If the current is again interrupted the small battery X
ceases to be on the line, and the large battery Z becomes placed on the line
mode of emptying the line thus consists in interposing between the earth and the
line a small group of quantity elements, which seive the purpose of emptying the
line instantaneously.
This
The number of elements in the small battery X. should be, say, from 3 to 4 per
cent of that in the large battery Z
A resistance coil compels the current from the small battery X to pass on to
the line
Having now described and particularly ascertamed the nature of the saud Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is 01 may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secued to me by the heiein-before in pait iccited
Letters Patent is,-
Fist The application and use to and in electric wilting telegraph apparatus of a
regulator or governor for the purpose of establishing perfect synchronism between
the sending apparatus and the receiver, substantially as herein-before described
Secondly The combination of apparatus for enabling the line cunent to be
reversed by a single contact with the view of emptying the line, substantially as and
for the purpose herein-before described
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal this Twenty-seventh day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven
TATT RAT