IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMUNTING SIGNALS AND ELECTRIC CURRENTS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Edward Hughes, of New York, in the United
States of America, (but now residing in London,) Telegraphic Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
TRANSMUNTING SIGNALS AND ELECTRIC CURRENTS"
Sealed the 26th October 1858, and dated the 27th April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Edward Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th April 1858.
I, DAVID EDWARD HUGHES, of New York, in the United States of America,
but now residing in London, Telegraphic Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNALS AND ELECTRIC CORRENTS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements on the apparatus for which
Letters Patent were obtained, bearing date September 11th, 1855. In the
Specification of this Patent apparatus was described for transmitting printed
messages simultaneously from opposite points through the same line wire, the

page_text: apparatus at the distant stations receiving a synchronous action by means of
clockwork set in motion by the transmitted currents of electricity. The
circuit for the currents was closed by a helical coil of pins standing up from
a rotating barrel and coming into contact with levers raised by the depression
of keys which severally represented a letter of the alphabet; instead of this
barrel I now propose to use as a circuit breaker a rotating arm, which travels
continuously over a ring of pins so long as the apparatus is in action. These
pins are severally connected to their respective keys, which answer to the
letters of the alphabet or other signs, and are free to rise as their keys are
depressed. When one of these pins is raised the rotating arm will come in
contact therewith and complete the circuit, and an impress of the letter
denoted will be made on a travelling band of paper by the type wheel, which
rotates with the same speed as the circuit breaker. The pins rise through
elongated slots in a horizontal plate, and they are each provided with a
shoulder at their upper end, to catch against the slotted plate; as, however,
the circuit breaker rotates it pushes back the pin with which it has come in
contact, and the continued pressure of the finger on the key will force the pin
more into sight, thus indicating that the circuit is broken; the operator then
by taking his finger off the key allows the pin to drop into its normal
position.
In order to correct any irregularity that may have occurred between the
transmitting and receiving apparatus as respects their printing action, I mount
the type wheel loosely on its shaft and drive it by friction of contact, which
will permit of its easy adjustment. On an escapement arbor driven by the
clockwork I mount a segment having one tooth, which takes into a ring of
cavities formed on the type wheel, and corresponding in number with the
spaces between the types; as, therefore, each successive type is brought round
to give an impression, the segment tooth engages with a cavity presented to it
and ensures the proper adjustment of the type wheel on its shaft, giving
it a set backward or forward when required.
For the purpose of facilitating the transmission of electric currents between
distant places over one line wire, I arrange the two coils of an electro-magnet
so that while one is in connection with the line the other is in a shorter
circuit, of which a tube of water forms a part. By this arrangement I am
enabled to neutralize the effect of a current sent through the magnet from its
own station.
Another improvement which I propose to effect in the transmission of
signals, is to have a constant current from a voltaic battery in lieu of an
intermittent current on the line, and to obtain the required electric effects by.

page_text: neutralizing the battery by one sent from magneto-induction coils; thus,
instead of the circuit being broken or closed to charge or discharge the
electricity the current will be neutralized by a current of reverse direction
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Edward Hughes, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 27th October 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
EDWARD HUGHES, of New York, in the United States of America, (but now
residing in London,) Telegraphic Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said David Edward Hughes, Her special license, that I, the said
David Edward Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said David Edward Hughes, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING
SIGNALS AND ELECTRIC CURRENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I.
the said David Edward Hughes, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
KNOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Edward Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates, firstly, to improvements on the apparatus for which
a British Patent was obtained on my behalf in the name of Joseph Camp
Griffith Kennedy, and bearing date the Eleventh day of September, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five. In the Specification of this Patent

page_text: apparatus was described for transmitting printed messages simultaneously from
opposite points through the same line wire, the apparatus at the distant
stations receiving synchronous action by means of clockwork, set in motion
by the transmitted currents of electricity. The circuit for the currents was
closed by a helical line of pins standing radially from the periphery of a
rotating barrel, and coming into contact with levers raised by the depression
of keys which severally represented a letter of the alphabet. For this barrel
I now propose to substitute as a circuit breaker a rotating arm, which is
caused to travel (by means of clockwork) continuously over a ring of pins
'connected severally to their respective finger keys, which answer to the letters
of the alphabet or other signs, and are free to rise as their respective keys are
depressed and come in contact with the rotating arm, thereby completing the
electric circuit. Instead of depending on the transmitted currents for ensuring
the synchronous action of the clockwork of the two communicating instruments,
I provide a mechanical arrangement that will enable the operator at one end
of the line to adjust the instrument at the opposite end, and when so adjusted
keep its type wheel in a position corresponding exactly with the type wheel of
the transmitting instrument. By these means I simplify my printing telegraph
apparatus, and at the same time render its action both rapid and sure, and,
besides sending a legible printed message which requires no translation, I
secure a printed copy of the transmitted message.
:
My Invention relates, secondly, to certain improved means of transmitting
electric currents to distant stations, whether in connection with my improved
printing instruments or with other electrical apparatus, the chief object being
to expedite the transmission of a succession of electric currents over one and
the same line wire.
In the accompanying Drawings, Sheet I. shews a sectional plan view of so
much of the improved instrument for transmitting signals as will explain the
arrangement of the pins and their connection with the finger keys; Sheet II.
shews a plan view of the clockwork and mechanism for feeding the paper to
the type wheel, and imprinting the message thereon; Sheet III. represents a
front elevation of the apparatus.
Fig. 1, Sheet IV., is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus. The
other Figures in the same sheet represent certain parts of the mechanism in
detail, and will be hereafter particularly referred to.
In Sheet V., Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation shewing the mechanism for
setting the escapement of the printing apparatus in action, and also the meaus
for adjusting the instruments at distant stations, so that they may print
with uniformity.

page_text: Sheet VI. shews in vertical section the circuit breaker, and also the
arrangement of the wires for conducting the electric currents to and from the
instruments.
The Diagram, Sheet VII. shews a modification of the means of conducting
the electric currents to meet special requirements. A, A, (Sheets I. to VI.)
represent the table of the instrument, and B, B, the framework; C is the
main driving shaft, to which is keyed the barrel for receiving the weighted
cord that gives motion to the clockwork. Mounted loosely on the shaft C is
a spur wheel D, which slips on its shaft when the barrel is wound up, but is
driven round by a click carried by the shaft when the mechanism is in action.
This wheel D gears into a pinion E on a horizontal shaft E', which carries also
a spur wheel E' in gear with a pinion F on a shaft F¹. A spur wheel F² on
the same shaft F¹ gears into and drives a pinion G (Fig. 1, Sheet IV.) on a
hollow axle G¹, through which passes a solid axle G2, that has its bearings like
the before-mentioned shafts in the framing B. Keyed to one end on the
axle G2 is a type wheel H (shewn detached at Fig. 2), which carries on its
periphery the letters, numerals, or other signs desired to be printed. In order
to communicate rotary motion to the type wheel axle, there is mounted on the.
hollow axle G an annular plate G³ provided with ratchet teeth at its periphery
(see the detached views, Figures 3). This ratchet plate is supported in a
grooved boss, and is connected by a pin to an escape wheel G* keyed to the
hollow axle. On the axle G an arm G is mounted, and secured thereto is a
spring click which takes into the ratchet teeth of the plate G³, and thus forms
a connection between the two axles G' and G. When they are required to
be disconnected, a spring stop piece g attached to the side framing (see Fig. 1,
Sheet V.) is thrust out by means of an arm g¹ on the axle g², and caused to
intercept the click as it is carried round by its rotating axle, and thereby lift
the click from contact with the ratchet teeth. To the hollow axle G¹ is keyed
a spur wheel G, which takes into and drives a pinion I on an axle I' (see
Fig. 4, Sheet IV.) In a line with this axle and fitting into a socket made
therein is an axle I'; to this axle is affixed an arm i (see detached views,
Figures 5), which carries a click for taking into the teeth of a ratchet wheel,
on the axle 1', and so connecting the two axles together. Projecting from a
bracket of the framing is a stud t, which as the click is carried round by the
arm i raises the click out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and disconnects the
shafts I and I2. At the outer end of the axle I a tooth or cam ³ is fixed for
the purpose of taking into the spaces formed in the periphery of a wheel H'
(see the detached view, Fig. 6) keyed to the type wheel axle. The spaces in
this wheel H for receiving the tooth or cam i correspond to the letters on

page_text: the type wheel, and by the gearing of this tooth into the wheel H¹, the type
wheel receives a constant adjustment, whereby the presentation of only one
letter at a time to the paper to be printed is ensured. The outer extremity of
the axle I carries a snail cam if (see Sheet III.), from the side of which
projects a pallet to receive and support a rocking lever or frame H2, in which
is mounted a roller h for carrying the paper and effecting the impress thereon
of the type wheel. This roller is furnished with rings of teeth for creating
friction between it and the strip of paper to be printed, which is drawn from
an adjacent roller and held in contact with the roller h by a spring h¹ On the
axle of this roller h is a ratchet wheel, into the teeth of which a click h² takes
for the purpose of imparting an axle motion to the roller, and so passing
forward the paper after the impress of every letter. This click h² is carried
by a lever h³, which works on the same fulcrum as the lever or frame H2,
and has always a tendency to move upward by reason of a spring attached to
the main framing, bearing against the under side of a pin on the lever h³. As
therefore the axle I rotates and carries round the snail cam 10, the pallet
projecting therefrom will bear against a toothed termination of the frame H³..
and carry
it up
with its roller h, and thus cause an imprint to be made by the
type wheel on the overlying paper. The pallet will then escape from the
tooth of the frame H2, and allow it to regain its normal position. The
continued rotation of the cam i will cause the depression of the lever h³ and
the click h², taking (as before mentioned) into the teeth of the ratchet wheel
on the axle of the impress roller h, will impart an axial motion to that roller.
For throwing the impress roller out of action a lever his provided, which,
being depressed by the operator, will force the spring catch h² out of contact
with the ratchet wheel, and thus the rotary motion of the impress roller will
be suspended. The inking of the type wheel is effected by its rotating in
contact with an inking roller H³. Thus far I have traced the construction of
the mechanism in its relation to the operation of printing. In order to
regulate the speed of the clockwork, in lieu of using a pendulum, I apply to
the escape wheel G an anchor escapement, which receives its oscillating
motion from a vibrating rod g³ attached thereto.
I will now proceed to shew how the electric circuit is made and broken
for the purpose of sending a succession of currents through the instruments at
distant stations. Keyed to the hollow shaft G¹ is a bevil wheel which gears
into a bevil wheel on a vertical compound shaft K, K*, between the coupled
parts of which an insulating collar or tube of ivory k is placed. This shaft
is mounted on an insulated footstep or support placed in a circular box K',
which is bolted to the main framing. Affixed to the shaft K is a forked arm.

page_text: k, between the forks of which is mounted a lever, that receives a down-
ward tendency from the pressure of a spring affixed to the arm k'. The part
K✶ of the vertical shaft also carries an arm, which is connected (non-
metallically) with the arm k¹, and carries at its outer end an insulated steel cam
piece k (see the detached view, Fig. 7, Sheet IV.), that lies below the lever k³.
Metallic connection is made between the arm and lever ³, by a screw that
passes through the lever, and bears upon the end of the arm when the lever
is in its normal position. In the upper plate of the circular box K¹, a ring of
radial slot holes is made, and corresponding slot holes are made in the under
plate or inner flange of the box. Set up in these slots, and capable of sliding
vertically therein, are pins ke, which are severally connected to their respective
keys, which answer to the letters of the alphabet or other signs intended to
be transmitted and printed. These pins rise through the elongated slots in
the upper plate of the box K', when their corresponding key is depressed by
the finger of the operator, and they are each provided with a shoulder at their
upper end to catch against the slotted plate and stop its further ascent until
the lever has come round and made contact with the raised pin, and so
completed the electric circuit. When this has taken place, the cam k forces
back the raised pin, and the shoulder being now clear of the slotted plate, the
pin will rise higher with a jerk (caused by the continued pressure of the
operator's finger on the depressed key), and as the operator will feel this, he will
therefore know when to remove his finger from the key. As soon as he does
this, a coiled spring k will restore the raised pin to its normal position. It
will now be understood that as the lever by the rotation of the shaft K, is
swept over the circle of pins it will make contact in rapid succession with the
raised pins, and thereby cause electric currents to flow in the desired direction.
Let it now be supposed that the lever is so arranged on its shaft (the
speed of rotation of which corresponds with that of the type shaft), that it will
pass over the pins whose keys represent given letters or signs at the same
moment that the type wheel presents corresponding letters or signs to the
paper to be printed, an upward movement at that moment of the paper
roller will bring the paper into contact with the letter or sign indicated by the
current, and cause an impress of the letter on the paper. Repetitions of this
movement will of course spell out words and sentences at the desire of the
operator. The manner of producing the intermittent upward movement of
the paper roller will be best explained by reference to Sheet III., and Fig. 1,
Sheet V. In these views L is a permanent horse-shee magnet, and L' are
coils of insulated wire surrounding its poles; is an armature carried by an
elastic bell crank lever A, which has a tendency to bear up the armature and

page_text: lift it free of the magnet, such tendency being increased or diminished by the
application of a set screw to its elastic limb. Connected to this armature,
is one end of a doubled-armed rock lever 13, that has as its fulerum a stud
projecting from the side of the main framing. The upper end of this lever
13 forms a pallet for an escape plate keyed on the axle I2, (see Fig. 4,
Sheet IV.) to rest upon, and while it so remains in contact with the pallet
lever the rotation of the axle 12 is arrested. This suspension of action is
maintained by reason of the permanent magnet L attracting to itself the
armature l, and thereby keeping the pallet lever elevated. But if a current
be passed through the insulated coils L', the magnetic influence will for the
moment be counteracted, and the spring of the crank lever will lift the
armature, and simultaneously depress the pallet lever, when the escape plate
will be free to turn with its axle, which receives motion as before explained
through the click i, and ratchet wheel 2 from the axle I. The tooth on the
cam 2, which is keyed to the axle I, will then press against the tooth of the
lever H2 (Sheet III), and lift the paper on the roller h into contact with the
type wheel.
It only now remains to trace the course of the currents through the trans-
mitting instrument to the receiving instrument, in order to create a simulta-
neous action at distant stations. A wire m from the battery M, connected with
the earth (see Sheet VI.), is brought into electric connection with the levers K2
of the keys K³, and a wire m¹ from the vertical shaft K, communicates with
one coil of the magnet L, and thence passes off to the line wire. Immediately,
therefore, that by the depression of a key, one of the pins is carried up so as
to lift the lever k² as it passes over the said pin, and lifts it sufficiently to
break the metallic contact between its screw and the arm ³, the electric
current will pass up the pin k through the shaft K, and by the wire m¹
to the coil with which it is connected. This current will in passing round
the magnet neutralize its attractive power, and the armature will con-
sequently be free to rise. The pallet lever 3 will therefore fall and allow
the escape plate to complete one revolution. The axle 12 being thus
set free will cause the pallet or tooth on the snail cam to lift the lever
H, and an impress of the letter presented to the paper by the type
wheel will be obtained in the transmitting instrument. Supposing now the
Figure in Sheet VI. to represent the receiving instrument, and the current
that has just passed through the coil of the magnet to have reached (by
means of the line wire m² and the wire m¹,) that instrument, the current will
pass through one coil, thence, by the wire m', to the vertical shaft K, through
the parts ¹, k, l, and ³, to the part K* of that shaft; thence, by a wire m",

page_text: to the other coil of the magnet, and so, by a continuation of the wire, to the
earth plate. The attractive force of the magnet being neutralized by the passing
current the armature will be set free, and the escape plate of this (the receiv-
ing) instrument being allowed to turn, its axle will bring up (by means of the
tooth of the snail cam, as before explained,) the paper into contact with the
type wheel, and cause the impress of the indicated letter. It will be under-
stood, that in order to insure the proper action of the two instruments, their
clockwork must be speeded to the same rate. A close approximation to this
may be readily attained, but as great accuracy is required in maintaining the
type wheels in the same relative position, I not only provide the means before
stated for ensuring a continuous adjustment of the face of the letters to the
paper, but also provide for the setting of the type wheels prior to the trans-
mission of a message, so that the position of the type wheels in the two
instruments shall correspond before a message is sent forward. For this
purpose, I mount on the type wheel shaft of each instrument a notched disc 96,
the notch of which corresponds with a blank space in the type wheel, and on
the axle g I mount a crank lever g³, from the lower limb of which a tooth pro-
jects laterally, and which also has a tooth or projection at its extremity, that
is capable of being brought within the line of rotation of a pin 3 on the escape
plate. By the pressure of the finger of the operator on the upper limb of this
lever g³, its pin 8 is pressed into the notch of the disc 9, and the movement
of the type wheel shaft is thereby suspended; this should in general be done
on the completion of a message.
Supposing now an operator wishes to transmit a message, the clockwork
being first set in motion he has simply to depress a key representing "blank"
on the type wheel; and when the lever k², in its continued rotation over the
ring of pins in the plate K', comes into contact with the raised pin, a current
of electricity will be sent through the coils L' of the two instruments; the
armature will therefore rise, set free the escape plate, and allow the pin 28 of
that plate to throw up the lever g³; this motion will restore the connection
between the type wheel shaft G2 and the hollow driving shaft G¹, and, simul-
taneously, the two instruments will print "blank" on the paper presented to
the type wheel. Thus it will be understood that the correct printing of the
transmitted message simultaneously on both instruments will not depend so
much on the synchronous action of the clockwork as on the attention of the
operators to lock their type wheel shaft, when it is not required to be in action.
The proper driving speed of the clockwork is maintained during the act of
winding by means of the maintaining spring Y which acts upon the wheel D,
as will be understood by reference to Sheet III.

page_text: I will now describe my improvements in transmitting currents of electricity
between distant places. For the purpose of facilitating the simultaneous
transmission of messages in opposite directions by the use of one main line
only, I use the contrivance shewn in Sheet VII. To permit of this action it
is necessary that the current from the home battery in passing through the
helix of the home magnet shall have no effect upon the home instrument. In
order to effect this I divide the current as at A, leading it off in opposite
directions by the wires 1, 2. The wire 1 is connected to the coil 3 of the
permanent magnet, and the wire 2 is connected, by an interposed switch 4,
with a column of water 5, from which a wire 6 leads back to the instrument,
it being clamped to a rod 7, in metallic contact with the part K* of the
central shaft K; a second wire 8 leads from this rod 7 to the other coil 9 of
the permanent magnet. When, therefore, by the depression of a key of the
home instrument a current is sent to the distant station, this current will, by
being divided and ascending the coils of the permanent magnet, effect no
neutralizing action of the attractive force of the home magnet, and con-
sequently the transmitted message will not be printed by the home instrument.
This instrument will, therefore, be ready to receive a message from the distant
instrument, the electric current from which will pass in the direction shewn
in the Diagram (Sheet VII.) by the red arrows, to what I have termed the
home instrument, descending through one of the coils, and passing through
the instrument to the other coil, through which it ascends and completes
the circuit by travelling through the earth wire 10, and so to the other
instrument.
Another improvement which I propose to effect in the transmission of
signals is to have a constant current from a voltaic battery in lieu of an
intermittent current on the line, and to obtain the required electric effects by
neutralizing the battery by a current sent from magneto-induction coils. Thus,
instead of the circuit being closed or broken to charge or discharge the
electricity, the current will be neutralized by a current of reverse direction
when a signal is required to be transmitted.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Means of
and Apparatus for Transmitting Signals and Electric Currents," and explained
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that
under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,―
First, the use of a rotating circuit breaker constructed and operating as
above described.
Second, the mode of securing the proper adjustment of the type wheels in
printing telegraph instruments, as above described.

page_text: Third, the modes herein described, of effecting the simultaneous transmission
of messages in opposite directions through the same line wire.
And, lastly, I claim the combined use of voltaic and induced currents for
ransmitting signals to telegraphing apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Edward Hughes, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the
year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
C. J. WINTERSGILL,
66, Chancery Lane.
DAVID E. HUGHES. (L.S.)