IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHY
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor, of 355, Strand, and Nicholas
Antonio Calvo, of 50, Grosvenor Gardens, Pimlico, both in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHY."
Scaled the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 27th March
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor
and Nicholas Antonio Calvo at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 27th March 1876.
LUIS DE BEJAR Y O'LAWLOR, of 355, Strand, and NICHOLAS ANTONIO CALVO,
of 50, Grosvenor Gardens, Pimlico, both in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHY."
The Invention especially relates to improvements in the "auto-quinetic" appa-
ratus, for which Letters Patent of the United Kingdom were granted to Alexander
Browne, as of the Fourth day of July, A.D. 1873, No. 2327, and has for object
the simplification of the means described in the Specification of the said Patent,
whereby notices can be given from private houses or other places to certain
telegraphic stations, or to other places in case of fire, burglary, or other necessity
requiring immediate notice or attention.
It consists, firstly, of automatic receiving apparatus, so constructed and adapted
that on starting to work they interrupt the electric current traversing one wire
and establish a current in another, by means of which the messages are given ;
secondly, of sending apparatuses in the houses which are in electric connection
with certain manipulator instruments, which latter give current to the said
apparatus in the houses if no other sending apparatus is operating, and thus enable
such apparatus when set to work to send signals to the stations or other places,
but if other apparatus is operating, then they do not give current to their
corresponding apparatus until the one actually in operation has ceased its
action. The manipulator instruments are adapted to give various notices, messages,
or signals.
The special features of the present Invention are, firstly, that by the employment
of the above-mentioned arrangements, in connection with two general wires
only, one apparatus can never cut off or stop the transmission of signals from
Price C11

page_text: another that may be at that moment operating with the station until such latter
apparatus has ceased operating; secondly, that the apparatuses are so arranged
that they prepare themselves automatically, and despatch the messages from each
by turn, or in rotation only, without the necessity of the person who desires to
send a message knowing whether the line is free or not. And lastly, that one
apparatus may be adapted to serve for several houses or other places instead of a
separate apparatus being required for each.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor and Nicholas Antonio Calvo in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 27th September 1876.
LUIS DE BEJAR Y O'LAWLOR, of 355, Strand, and NICHOLAS ANTONIO CALVO,
of 50, Grosvenor Gardens, Pimlico, both in the County of Middlesex. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHY."
The Invention especially relates to improvements in the "auto-quinetic" (or
auto-kinetic) apparatus, for which Letters Patent of the United Kingdom were
granted to Alexander Browne, as of the Fourth day of July, A.D. 1873, No. 2327,
and has for object the simplification of the means described in the Specification
of the said Patent, whereby notices can be given from private houses or other
places to certain telegraphic stations or to other places in case of fire, burglary, or
other necessity requiring immediate notice or attention.
-
It consists, firstly, of automatic receiving apparatus so constructed and adapted
that on starting to work it interrupts the electric current traversing one wire and
establishes a current in another, by means of which the messages are given;
secondly, of sending apparatuses in the houses which are in electric connection
with certain apparatus at the stations, by which current is given to the said
apparatus in the houses, thus enabling any one of such apparatus when set to
work to send signals to the stations or other places if no other sending apparatus
is operating, but if other apparatus is operating then current is not given until
the one actually in operation has ceased its action. The manipulator instruments
are adapted to give various notices, messages, or signals.
The special features of the present Invention arc, firstly, that by the employment
of the above mentioned arrangements, in connexion with two general wires, only
one apparatus can never cut off or stop the transmission of signals from another
that may be at that moment operating with the station until such latter apparatus
has ceased operating; secondly, that the apparatuses are so arranged that they
prepare themselves automatically, and despatch the messages from each by turn,
or in rotation only, without the necessity of the person who desires to send a
message knowing whether the line is free or not; and lastly, that one apparatus
may be adapted to serve for several houses or other places instead of a separate
apparatus being required for each.
DESCRIPTION OF THE LINE.
Figure 1 of the Drawing. The general line consists of two wires a and b, one
end of each of which connect respectively with the terminals e and f, which are in
communication with two springs, the other ends of the said wires are united
together as shewn. The wires a and b are carried through the respective appa-
ratuses in connection with the line, as at C in the Figure; B is a battery, the
negative pole of which goes to earth, and the positive pole to the bobbin D cf L
Morse receiving instrument, and thence to the spring g. This spring g, as also
those connected with e and f, forming the respective ends of the wires a and b, bear
upon a cylinder of wood or ebonite A, which is caused to revolve by the samo

page_text: clockwork as moves the Morse receiving instrument. In the said cylinder A is
fixed a metallic plate, by which the circuit between y and e is closed when none
of the apparatuses are in action. If now in one of the apparatuses on the line,
such as that at d, in Figure 2, the communication is broken by putting the wire <<
to earth, by means of suitable mechanism provided for that purpose, the current
from the battery B passes by the bobbin D of the electro-magnet to the spring g,
thence by e, a, and d to earth, Tho clock work of the Morse instrument is thereby
set in motion, and the paper tape is unrolled from the cylinder A, the latter then
breaks the communication with the wire a and establishes it with the wire b (see
Figure 3), into which the battery now sends the current. At the same instant
a pointer in the apparatus at d is put in communication with the wire b. The
pointer turning on an axis touches a disc E, which has various signs formed on
it to indicate dashes and dots in communication with earth. When the pointer
is turned the lever of the Morse instrument will produce indications similar to those
transmitted by an ordinary inanipulator.
If it is attempted to work other apparatuses when one is already at work the
communication will be found broken at e by the apparatus then at work, and that
communication is not re-established until the said apparatus then at work has
finished its message.
When this is done that one of the several apparatuses that
have called which happens to be nearest to the station is in a position to transmit
a telegram, the others being left in such a position that they keep broken all
their various communications analogous to that at C, for example, in Figure 1, if
three apparatuses, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, call at once when the transinission from C is
terminated, and the communication between e and g and the wire a re-established
the communication between No. 1 and No. 2 being broken, and No. 1 having the
wire a put to earth is in a position to act. When it has finished its message it
re-establishes the communication with No. 2, and this latter will in its turn be in a
position to transmit its message, and so on.
In order to ascertain whether the line is in working order, a commutator may
be placed in the circuit, such commutator having a wheel, which after a certain
time closes the circuit with a bobbin A, see Figure a, by means of a metallic
projection c which causes the said wheel B in its revolution to close the communi-
cation c, d, and the current of the local battery P completes its circuit through
a and b, and the springs m, n, resting on another plate fixed to the cylinder A of the
Morse commutator, Figure 1, if the wire a of that Figure is in communication with
the spring g by means of the plate of the cylinder A. In this case the armature of
the electro-magnet is attracted and the current f, h, is closed, the wire b of Figure 1
going to earth by f, whilst is in communication with the wire the circuit of the
battery B, Figure 1, is closed as long as the communication c, d, remains closed by
the projection e on the wheel B, and the Morse instrument will be set in motion but
no signal will pass, no apparatus being at work. If the line is occupied, the com-
munication m, n, Figure a, is broken by the revolution of the cylinder, and con-
sequently, notwithstanding the closing of the communication e, d, by the wheel B,
the transmission of a message by any one of the apparatuses will not be prevented.
It would be found more economical to employ the method of continuous currents
in order to ascertain whether the line is in use or not. In this case instead of tho
wires a and b being united they are left separate and their ends put to earth, and
consequently the bobbin D is in continuous circuit with the battery. On breaking
the circuit the Morse instrument is set in motion, and the transmission is verified
by interruptions of the current by making and breaking contact of the wires a or b
with earth by means of the pointer of the alarm apparatus.

page_text: the opening D a signal indicative of that fact. At F are placed written or printed
instructions as to the working of the apparatus. At C is a handle with an
indicator, and at p, q, a series of holes corresponding to the number of telegrams
that can be given automatically by the apparatus. Or if preferred, the handle
A may be provided with an indicator a, Figure C, which on being turned
round is brought to bear upon one or other of the plates 7, 8, 9, 10, corrc-
sponding in number to the different telegrams to be transmitted by the apparatus.
In the rectangles G, Figure A, are written opposite cach of the holes p, q,
the different messages that the apparatus is capable of transmitting. In the
interior of the box is placed at D an electro-magnet with a lever or arma-
ture m, which acts as an escapement to prevent the revolution of the toothed
wheel A by the weight O, when the latter is wound up until a current passes the
bobbin D. The wheel A gives motion to a pinion B which transmits the motion by
an endless screw to a spindle F, which in its turn gives motion to the vane flyer Ġ
for regulating the motion of the apparatus. Upon the axis of the wheel A is
mounted a pointer n, which touches a disc of wood or hard india-rubber / in
which are mounted various metallic pins which are connected with the plates,
Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively of Figure C, which pins are touched by the
pointer in its revolution, thus giving the Morse receiver dots or dashes corre-
sponding to various signals which constitute the different messages. u, and r, s, arc
two bars of metal which establish communication with the line or put the same to
earth by means of the weight O carrying two springs and p which bear against
the bars u and 7, Figure B and Figure D. When the weight O rises to the top the
spring touches the upper parts of the bar which is insulated from the lower part 7,
and the spring touches the upper part of the bar u, the weight O thus closing
communication between u and s is of a wedge form on its upper side, and raises a
piece of paper or card supported between two rods m, n, so as to cause such piece
of paper or card to appear at the opening E, Figure A, by which means it is known
that the apparatus is so arranged as to give a message. The paper or card A dis-
appears on the descent of the weight O, being assisted in its descent by the two
small balance weights a, b, fixed thereto.
The electric arrangements of the apparatus are represented by the Figure C.
a is the wire indicated in Figure 2 by the same letter, and which, entering the
apparatus, is attached to the bar u from t, the continuation of the same wire a goes
to the apparatus next in order, being united in this apparatus to the bar .
From 8
a wire leads to the bobbin D, the other extremity of the said wire going to earth.
From the wire ba branch & leads to and is united to the axis of the wheel A; this
has the metallic plate, No. 1, in direct communication with the plate, No. 6, which
is connected with earth, and the plates Nos. 2, 3, &c. are connected respectively
with Nos. 7, 8, &c., the plates being insulated one from the other. The plate No. G
has as many holes in it as there are plates, Nos. 7, 8, &c., each hole corresponding to
holes in the said plates 7, 8, &c., shewn in Figure e. A key t, see Figure A, is
inserted in the hole in the plate 6, corresponding to the message to be sent, thus
putting to earth that part of the disc containing the desired message, enabling the
latter to be signalled.
In order to vary the messages, we may substitute for this system that already
described in reference to Figure C', the handle A replacing the plate No. 6.
WORKING OF THE CURRENT.
On winding up the weight O, the indicator paper or card A becomes visible
at the onening E the springs n
m brook the communication
On winding up the weight O, the indicator paper or card A becomes visible
at the opening E, the springs n, m, break the communication u, », and close
u, 8, putting the wire a, Figure 6, in communication with earth by means of
the bobbin D and plates 6, this puts in motion the apparatus turning the
pointer and setting in motion the Morse apparatus at the station.
If the key
is fixed, say, in the aperture of the plate No. 8, or if the indicator a, Figure C¹,

page_text: is brought over the plate 8 (which corresponds to the plate No. 8, of Figure C), the
part No. 3 of the disc goes to earth, plate No. 1 of the same disc being always
h
connected to earth, the cylinder of the "Morse" at the station turns and breaks
the communication with the wire a establishing it with the wire b, and this latter
being in communication with the axis of the wheel A, and consequently with the
pointer n, when the said pointer touches the metallic pins of the disc h which go to
earth, the communication will be closed and the lever or arinature of the Morse will
indicate as it receives them the currents sent by the manipulator.
72
Figure 5 represents the arrangement of the connexions of the sending apparatus
when it is desired to increase the number of messages. The mechanism for esta-
blishing clectric communications between the line and the apparatus are the same,
differing only from that described in this respect, namely, that for the plates
Nos. 7, 8, &c., of the Figure C, there are substituted three plates a, b, c, Figure 5.
The plate a is in communication with carth. bare as many plates as there are corres-
ponding compartments upon the signal disc A, and c communicates with one of the
compartments of the said disc. Let us imagine that there are three of these systems
of bars or plates. The first No. 1 (which may be that marked c seen in profile) is
connected with the sign No. 1 of the disc A. No. 2 is connected with the sign No. 2
of the disc, and No. 3 with the sign No. 3 of the said disc, the lower plate a of each
set of plates 1, 2, and 3 is in communication with earth, and the plate c of each set
1, 2, and 3, is in relation with the signs on the disc A representing the same numbers.
The first set of plates represents the letter A, and if the key is fixed in one of the
holes, say No. 1 of that set of plates, when the apparatus, Figure B, is set in motion
the indicator n will give A, and the No. 1, that is to say, two signs which may represent
a telegram or message. If the key is fixed in the next system of plates, the letter
B is transmitted in signs similarly to A with the number corresponding to the hole in
which the key is fixed. If it is desired to acknowledge the telegrain from the
station it is only necessary to fix an ordinary magnetic needle and helix at a, and
to take care to connect it to the wire b (after completing the transmission of the
message by the apparatus) the interruption of the current from the station produces
oscillations of the magnetic needle, or it may effect blows of a hammer upon a bell,
or indicate by means of the sound of the lever of the electro-magnet of the apparatus
thus converts it into an acoustic telegraph. If desired, a single alarm apparatus
may be placed in a large building, and connected with the different apartinents or
points therein by any suitable communications, electric and secret contact makers
may be applied where necessary. In Figures 7 and 8 motion is given to the wheel
A by means of clock work, such clockwork being arranged so as to give several
messages without the necessity of winding it up. Besides the signal disc there is a
snall cylinder A provided with insulated plates a, b, c, d; the springs No. 1, 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, touch these plates. When the apparatus is working, the springs Nos. 1
and 2 and 3 and 4 are respectively over the plates a and b. The spring No. 1
is connected to the positive pole of a small local battery P, and the negative pole
has conductors to all the different calls or communicators in the circuit. No. 2
is the end of the wire of the bobbin A of the apparatus. The springs
and 4
are the inlet and outlet of the wire a of Figure 1, and the spring No. 5 is a
conductor connected to the outlet wire from the bobbin which extends its rami-
fications to all the before-mentioned cells or communicators. The spring No. 6 goes
to earth.
In the position shewn in the Figure 7, if the extremity of the wire m is united
with n, the circuit of the battery P is closed, and the electro-magnet allows move-
ment of the clockwork and the turning of the cylinder into the position represented
by Figure 8. Since the line which forms the wire a is broken and the electro-
magnet is in circuit, if the line is free the current from the station passes by
the electro-magnet, the lever or armature is attracted permitting the pointer to
continue turning and the message of alarm is transmitted to the station. If
the line is occupied the cylinder of the apparatus cannot be moved into the second

page_text: position until a current is sent from the station by the wire a which will set it in
action.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be perforined, we would have it understood that what we
claim as our Invention is-
The various combinations and adaptations of apparatus and lines arranged and
operated, substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the Drawing and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor, for myself and on
behalf of the said Nicholas Antonio Calvo, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
LUIS DE BEJAR Y O'LAWLOR. (L.S.)
Patentee.