Improvements in Electrical Transmitters and Indicators for Indicating and Recording Motion.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
AT
Improvements in Electrical Transmitters and Indicators for
Indicating and Recording Motion.
J, ROBERT MANN LOWNE, of Ravenscroft, Southend Road, Catford in the County of
Kent, Scientific Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in electrical transmitters and indicators, for
indicating and recording at a distance, rotary or linear motion, whether continuous
or intermittent, regular or irregular, and has for its object a practicable and reliable
method of utilizing for the purpose the electrical current from galvanic batteries or
storage cells, in such a manner that the current may only pass through the circuit
during the exact time of performing the work necessary to operate the indicating
mechanism, thereby exactly balancing the quantity of current used against the work
performed without any waste in order that the batteries or storage cells may keep up
their potential without unnecessary loss, a condition which is absolutely necessary in
practice for electrically registering mechanical movements for long periods of time.
According to my invention the manner in which I obtain this condition and the
practical result of insuring the perfect working of the indicator is as follows: In the
transmitting apparatus I attach to a spindle or axle caused to revolve by the circular
motion which is desired to be registered, a projection which by operating a lever or
levers or by coming directly in contact with a conducting medium may complete an
electrical circuit which would run through two conducting wires of any convenient
length to the indicator and operate the armature of an electro magnet, this armature
is so arranged that when it is drawn close to the electro magnet it causes metallic
contact to be broken and breaks the electrical circuit but at the same time it makes
metallic contact with a second electro magnet which is also electrically connected to
the transmitting apparatus but insulated from the first. It is not necessary to have
two armatures as one may serve for the two electro magnets, also it is not necessary
to have two conducting wires to each electro magnet as one wire may serve in
common with both, but three conductors must lead from the two electro magnets of
the indicator to the transmitter. I cause the armature of the two electro magnets to
operate a hand or hands upon a dial to denote revolutions or partial revolutions of
the spindle or axle carrying the projection.
As before mentioned three conductors lead from the indicator to the transmitter,
two of these conductors are insulated but the third one common to the two electro
magnets, need not be insulated. The two insulated conductors are each connected to
an electro magnet, the other end of the coil of each magnet has a contact breaker which
is operated by the armature in such a manner that metallic contact is always broken
from the magnet which has drawn the armature to it and always made with the
magnet from which the armature has receded.
It will be seen from the above that metallic contact is always cut off from the
magnet which has done its work and always thereby cuts off the electrical current,

page_text: and metallic contact is always made with the magnet which is ready to do its work
directly an electrical circuit is made. The electrical circuit is made by the trans-
mitter which is electrically connected to the three conductors and the indicator. The
two insulated conductors terminate in the transmitter and are arranged in such a
manner that the projection on the aforesaid spindle or axle alternately completes the
electrical circuit by making metallic contact with one of the insulated conductors
which circuit is imminediately broken by the armatury being operated by one of the
electro magnets of the indicator and cannot again be made until the other insulated
conductor is metallically connected with the projection, in which case the electrical
circuit is again made and again instantly broken by the armature being acted upon by
the other electro magnet of the indicator which again makes metallic contact with
the first electro magnet, and so the armature will be attracted first to one magnet and
then to the other every time metallic contact is made alternately to the two insulated
conductors by the projection on the spindle or axle of the transmitter which is
electrically connected to the non-insulated conductor which latter is connected in
common with the two electro magnets.
Under these conditions it does not matter how many times the projection may
make and break metallic contact with one insulated conductor, the inagnet in circuit
will only be operated once and cannot he operated again until the other insulated
conductor is metallically connected with the projection. By this means the electrical
current is always cut off immediately each magnet has done its work and the office of
the transmitter is only to complete the circuit of the magnet which is ready to do
its work, and the breaking of metallic contact in the transmitter is never the breaking
of the electrical circuit because this is always broken by one or other of the magnets
of the indicator, so that it does not matter how slowly the metallic contact may be
made in the transmitter or how long the contact may remain, or how often it may
be made and broken, the result is always the same in the indicator which only records
alternate contacts and the amount of current expended always equals the work done.
For maintaining this result it is necessary that the transmitter shall not make and
break contact more rapidly than the action of which the armature is capable and for
practical purposes where great speed is required to be registered, such speed would
have to be geared down for conveniently operating the transmitter.
When the spindle or axle of the transmitter may be caused to revolve alternately
in either direction I employ with the indicator two extra electro magnets which I will
call reversing magnets, and two extra insulated conductors, which I will call the
reversing conductors, and which lead from the reversing magnets to the transmitter,
and I attach on the spindle or axle of the transmitter an extra projection which
makes metallic contact with the reversing conductors and reversing magnets, in exactly
the same manner as previously described with the first and second magnets, the
reversing magnets in like manner always breaking the circuit.
Attached to the armature of these reversing magnets I arrange any suitable
mechanical device for reversing the action of the indicator hand or hands.
In order that the electrical circuit may never be completed simultaneously with
two magnets I arrange the second projection with a frictional spring in such manner
that the spindle or axle carries the second projection up to and no further in one
direction than a fixed point, the metallic contact being made near or about such
fixed point, also I arrange another fixed point for the same purpose in the opposite
direction. The action being that the circuit is always completed in either of the
reversing magnets before it can be completed in either the first or second magnet.
This determines the direction in which the hand or hands will move when operated
upon by the first or second magnet. I employ the non-insulated conductor in circuit
with the reversing magnets in common with the first and second magnets, or instead
of having the two reversing conductors I may only employ one and have an extra
battery in circuit and make use of the two insulated conductors first mentioned, or I
may further reduce the number of conductors and only employ three for all the
magnets; in this case I modify the arrangements and employ two extra electro

page_text: magnets and cause the first and second magnets to work the hand or hands of the
indicator in one direction only, the two extra magnets working the hand or hands in the
other direction. I will call these four magnets the operating magnets. I then cause the
reversing magnets to determine the direction in which the hand or hands will move
electrically instead of mechanically, this I do by arranging a switch connected to the
armature in such a manner as only to connect the operating magnets which are
required for working the hands in the direction determined" and disconnect the
operating magnets which work the hands in the opposite direction.
In this modification I arrange the second projection in such a manner that after it
has completed the electrical circuit and the motion of the spindle or axle continues,
such projection is entirely thrown out of circuit and cannot again be put in until the
spindle or axle revolves in the opposite direction, when it is again put in circuit and
again thrown out by the spindle or axle continuing to revolve.
The action of the second projection is always to throw itself entirely out of circuit
after it has caused one or other of the reversing magnets to operate the switch leaving
the conductors clear for the operating magnets.
The non-insulated conductor is common to all the magnets and only one battery
is employed.
When a number of parts of a revolution of the spindle or axle of the transmitter
are required to be recorded I employ a number of projections instead of one for
making the metallic contacts or may have one projection which passes over a
number of metallic surfaces, alternately connected with the two insulated conductors,
which directly or indirectly makes metallic contact, or I may have a disc with slots
ent in or about its circunference, or such dise may have pius, or any device may be
employed for making metallic contact for alternately completing the electric circuit
with the two insulated conductors for the purpose described.
For denoting at a distance linear motion I employ exactly the same apparatus as
above described excepting that instead of employing the projections, pins or slots in
the form of a circle or dise I modify the arrangement and place them in a straight
line and dispense with the spindle or axle and employ any saitable travelling device
instead, for connecting the non-insulated conductor. The projection, pins or slots
may be any given distance apart, but in every instance whether the projections are
close or far apart they are arranged alternately on the two insulated conductors.
In like manner for denoting the direction, I employ the same apparatus as already
described excepting that the projection for making metallic contact with the
reversing magnets is carried by the travelling device."
Where convenient I prefer to reduce linear movement by any well known
mechanical means into suitable circular movement and employ the apparatus
according to my invention without the modification Inst mentioned.
In order that the electrical current may be economically used I preferably cause
the armature of the first and second magnets to lift up weights, which weights in
falling operate suitable mechanism for working the hand or hands of the indicator,
or I may employ springs instead of weights. The advantage of this is that the hand
or hands are not necessarily moved as rapidly as the armature and heavy hands may
be moved comparatively slowly after the electrical action has ceased.
In connection with the band I employ two ratchet wheels geared together so that
they may revolve in opposite directions and the weights operate suitable clicks.
which are capable of engaging with either of the ratchet wheels according to which
wheel they are pressed against, the clicks after moving the ratchet wheel block against
a stop which cause them to block the ratchet wheel, thereby preventing the ratchet
wheel from moving more than one tooth at a time and insuring the proper
movement of the hand. The clicks are symmetrical and placed between the two
ratchet wheels also the stop is placed in such a manner that it is capable of blocking
either side of the clicks and therefore of blocking either of the ratchet wheels, these
clicks are operated by suitable levers and springs, connected with the armature of
the reversing magnets. When the indicator hand is only required to move in one
direction I. employ clicks and stop for blocking a ratchet wheel in a similar manner

page_text: but in this case only one wheel is necessary and the clicks are always kept
against it.
Dated November 13th 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Electrical Transmitters and Indicators for
Indicating and Recording Motion.
I, ROBERT MANN LOWNE, of Ravenscroft, Southend Road, Catford, in the County
of Kent, Scientific Instrument Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in electrical transmitters and indicators for
indicating and recording, at a distance, rotary or linear motion, whether continuous
or intermittent, regular or irregular; and has for its object a practicable and reliable
method of utilizing for the purpose the electrical current from galvanic batteries or
storage cells, in such a manner that the current may only pass through the circuit
during the exact time of performing the work necessary to operate the indicating
mechanism, thereby exactly balancing the quantity of current used against the work
performed without any waste, in order that the batteries or storage cells may keep up
their potential without unnecessary loss, a condition which is absolutely necessary in
practice for electrically registering mechanical movements for long periods of time.
According to my invention the manner in which I obtain this condition, and the
practical result of insuring the perfect working of the indicator, is as follows.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 represents a plan of the transmitting apparatus electrically connected to the
battery Z and indicating magnets.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of an indicator for recording in both directions.
Figs. 3 and 4 show the upper and underside of the transmitting apparatus for
recording in both directions."
Fig. 5 is a section of parts drawn through the axle a of Figs. 3 and 4, and
Fig. 6 is a modification of the transmitter for recording in one direction.
In the transmitting apparatus, abcd Fig. 1, I attach to a spindle or axle a, caused
to revolve by the circular motion which is desired to be registered, a projection b,
which, by operating a lever or levers or by coming directly in contact with a
conducting medium c, may complete an electrical circuit, which would run through
two conducting wires cl c² of any convenient length to the indicator and operate the
armature 3 of an electro-magnet c'; this armature is so arranged that when it is
drawn close to the electro-magnet, it causes metallic contact to be broken from c¹ and
breaks the electrical circuit, but at the same time it makes metallic contact with a
second electro-magnet d, which is also electrically connected to the transmitting
apparatus by the conductors dc, but insulated from the first electro-magnet c'. It
is not necessary to have two armatures, as one arinature c³ may serve for the two
electro-magnets; also, it is not necessary to have two conducting wires to each
electro-magnet, as the one wire c2 may serve in common with both, as represented in
the drawings, but three conductors, one of which may be the earth, must lead from
the two electro-magnets of the indicator to the transmitter. I cause the armature c³
of the two electro-magnets c d, to operate a hand e or hands upon a dial e' to denote

page_text: revolutions or partial revolutions of the spindle or axle a carrying the projection b.
The contact points c and d may be increased in number or reduced, according to the
number of degrees of the circle it is required to register.
As before-mentioned three conductors lead from the indicator to the transmitter;
two of these conductors c¹¹ are insulated, but the third one c², common to the two
electro-magnets, need not be insulated. The two insulated conductors are each
connected to its respective electro-magnet; the other end of the coil of each magnet
has a contact breaker f, which is operated by the ar:nature 3 in such a manner that
metallic contact is always broken from the inagnet which has drawn the armature to
it, and always made with the magnet from which the armature has receded.
It will be seen from the above that metallic contact is always cut off from the
magnet which has done its work and always thereby cuts off the electrical current, and
metallic contact is always made with the magnet which is ready to do its work
directly an electrical circuit is made. The electrical circuit is made by the
transmitter, which is electrically connected to the three conductors, and the indicator
magnets. The two insulated conductors terminate in the transmitter and are
arranged in such a manner that the projection b on the aforesaid spindle or axle a
alternately completes the electrical circuit by making metallic contact, through the
points cor d, with one of the insulated conductors c¹ or d¹, which circuit is
immediately broken by the armature being operated by one of the electro-
magnets cor d of the indicator, and cannot again be made until the other insulated
conductor is metallically connected with the projection 6, in which case the electrical
circuit is again made and again instantly broken by the armatare being acted upon
by the other electro-magnet of the indicator, which again makes metallic contact
with the first electro-magnet, and so the armature will be attracted, first to one
magnet and then to the other, every time metallic contact is made alternately to
the two insulated conductors c' d' by the projection on the spindle or axle a of
the transmitter, which is electrically connected to the non-insulated conductor ",
which latter is connected in common with the two electro-magnets.
b
Under these conditions it does not matter how many times the projection & may
make and break metallic contact with one insulated conductor, the magnet in circuit
will only be operated once and cannot be operated again until the other insulated
conductor is inetallically connected with the projection. By this means the electrical
current is always cut off immediately each magnet has done its work, and the office
of the transmitter is only to complete the circuit of the inagnet which is realy to do
its work, and the breaking of metallic contact in the transmitter is never the breaking
of the electrical circuit, because this is always broken by one or other of the magnets
of the indicator, so that it does not matter how slowly the metallic contact may be
made in the transmitter, or how long the contact may remain, or how often it may
be made and broken, the result is always the same in the indicator, which only
records alternate contacts, and the amount of current expended always equals the
work done. For maintaining this result, it is necessary that the transmitter shall not
make and break contact more rapidly than the action of which the armature of the
indicator is capable, and for practical purposes, where great speed is required to
be registered, such speed would have to be geared down forconveniently operating the
transmitter.
When the spindle or axle a of the transmitter may be caused to revolve alternately
in either direction, I employ with the indicator two extra electro-magnets g g², Fig. 2,
which I will call reversing magnets, and two extra insulated conductors g g, which
I will call the reversing conductors, and which lead from the reversing magnets to
the transmitter, shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and 1 attach on the spindle or axle a of
the transmitter an extra projection h, Figs. 3 and 5, which makes metallic contact
with the reversing conductors g g and reversing magnets g g' in exactly the same
manner as previously described with the first and second magnets e' d, the reversing
magnets in like manner always breaking the circuit. The extra projection,
Figs. 3 & 5, makes metallic contact by ineans of the slots h' passing under the
rollers and allowing such rollers to drop with their levers A³ into such slots, The

page_text: contact point, Fig. 3, is shown connected with the insulated conductor g², and.
the contact point is shown disconnected from the insulated conductor g³. The
projection b, Fig. 4, has slots which, by coming underneath the rollers n, allow
the levers n to drop into said slots and so make alternate contacts as described with
respect to Fig. 3. The axle a is firmly attached to the projection b, Fig. 4, but, as
before mentioned, is only attached to the extra projection h by means of a friction
spring, so that the projection b, Fig. 4, and the second projection h, Fig. 3, revolve
together only within the limits of the stops jj2, the arm j blocking against the
stops, prevents the further movement of the second projection h, and the first
projection revolves alone with the axle a." The action is similar in either direction.
o, Fig. 2, is a spring to ba'ance the weight of the armatures.
Attached to the armature of these reversing magnets I arrange any suitable
mechanical device for reversing the action of the indicator hand or hands. One
method, which I preferably employ, is shown in Fig. 2, in which i is a lever attached
to the arinature of the reversing magnets gg; are springs connected to the
lever and also connected to clicks or drivers for operating the hand e by means
of ratchet wheels
In order that the electrical circuit may never be completed simultaneously with
two magnets, I arrange the second projection I, Fig. 3, with a frictional spring j,
Figs. 3 and 5, in such manner that the spindle or axle carries the second projection
up to and no further in one direction than a fixed point j¹, the metallic contact being
made, by the partial rotation of the projection h, Fig. 3, near or about such fixed
point; also, I arrange another fixed point for the same purpose in the opposite
direction. The action being that the circuit is always completed in either of the
reversing magnets g' before it can be completed in either the first or second
magnet cor d, this determines the direction in which the hand e or hands will move
when operated upon by the first or second magnet. I employ the non-insulated
conduct or c² in circuit with the reversing magnets g g¹ in common with the first and
second magnets cd, or instead of having the two reversing conductors, I may modify
the arrangement and only employ one and have an extra battery in circuit and
make use of the two insulated conductors first mentioned. In this case the
non-insulated conductor c is not common to the reversing magnets, but the
extra battery is, and is not common to the first and second magnets. I also
modify the projection b and the extra projection in such a manner that it is
impossible for the two ever to be in contact at the same time; also, in this
modification the projection b and the extra projection must be insulated one from
the other. I have not represented this modification in the drawings as such will be
readily understood from the above description.
In recording a number of parts of a revolution of the spindle or axle a of the
transmitter, I may employ a number of projections b, as represented at Fig. 6,
instead of one, for making the metallic contacts, or I may have one projection
which passes over a number of inetallic surfaces alternately connected with the two
insulated conductors, as shown in Fig. 1, which directly or indirectly makes
metallic contact; or I may have a disc with slots cut in or about its circumference, b
Fig. 4, or such disc may have pins, or any device may be employed for making
metallic contact for alternately completing the electric circuit with the two insulated
conductors, for the purpose described.
For denoting at a distance linear motion, I employ exactly the same apparatus as
above described, excepting that instead of employing the projections, pins or slots
in the form of a circle or disc, I modify the arrangement and place them, as will be
readily understood, in a straight line and dispense with the spindle or axle and
employ any suitable travelling device instead of connecting the non-insulated
conductor. The projections, pins or slots, may be any given distance apart, but in
every instance, whether the projections are close or far apart, they are arranged
alternately on the two insulated conductors.
In like manner, for denoting the direction, I employ the same apparatus as already

page_text: described, excepting that the projection for making metallic contact with the
reversing magnets is carried by the travelling device.
Where convenient I prefer to reduce linear motion, by any well known mechanical
means, into suitable circular movement, and employ the apparatus according to my
invention without the modification last mentioned.
In order that the electrical current may be econo:nically used, I preferably cause
the armature c³, Fig. 2, of the first and second inagnets cd, to lift up weights kk,
which weights, in falling, operate the aforesaid clicks or drivers for working the
hande or hands of the indicator; or I may employ springs instead of weights. The
advantage of this is that the hand or hands are not necessarily moved as rapidly as
the armature, and heavy hands may be moved comparatively slowly after the
electrical action has ceased.
In connection with the hand I employ the two aforesaid ratchet wheels geared
together by the wheels, so that they may be driven in opposite directions, and the
weights operate the aforesaid clicks or drivers 23, which are capable of engaging with
either of the rachet wheels, according to which wheel they are pressed against by
the springs i, the clicks or drivers, after moving one or other of the racthet wheels I,
block against a stop m, which causes them to block either of the ratchet wheels,
thereby preventing the latter from moving more than one tooth at a time and
insuring the proper movement of the hand e. The clicks or drivers are symmetrical
and placed between the two ratchet wheels ; also, the stop m is placed in such a
manner that it is capable of blocking either side of the clicks or drivers, and
therefore of blocking either of the ratchet wheels; these clicks or drivers are, as
before stated, operated by the weights or levers & k' and springs connected with
the armature of the reversing magnets g g'. When the indicator hand is only
required to move in one direction, employ a click or driver and stop for blocking a
ratchet wheel in a similar manner, but in this case only one wheel is necessary and
the click is always kept against it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion, a
transmitter having two insulated conductors c¹ d' and one non-insulated conductor c²
or earth, the electrical contact being made alternately between one and the other of
the insulated conductors and the non-insulated conductor or earth, substantially as
described and for the purpose stated.
2. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording notion, an
indicator having two electro-magnets c d operating an arinature or armatures which
automatically breaks the electric circuit from the one magnet which has received
the current, and makes metallic contact ready for the other magnet to receive the
current, substantially as described and for the purpose stated.
3. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion, an
indicator having two electro-magnets c d and having two extra electro-magnets or
reversing inagnets g g', substantially as described and for the purpose stated."
4. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion, a
transmitter having four insulated conductors c¹ d¹³ ³ and one non-insulated
conductor c² or earth, the electrical contact being made alternately between one or
other of the insulated conductors and the non-insulator conductor or earth,
substantially as described and for the purpose stated.
5. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion, a
transmitter having two insulated conductors c d and one non-insulated conductor or
earth and having a projection 6 on an axle a, whose motion is to be recorded, for
alternately making electric contact with one or other of the two insulated conductors
and the non-insulated conductor or earth, substantially as described and for the
purpose stated.
6. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion, a

page_text: transmitter having two insulated conductors c¹ d', one non-insulated conductor c² or
earth, a projection b, an extra projection h, and two extra insulated conductors g² g³,
arranged and operating substantially as described and for the purpose stated.
7. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion, an
indicator having a weight or weights, or equivalent spring or springs, a click or
driver 2 or clicks or drivers 2 k³, blocking pin m, and ratchet wheel or ratchet
wheels, arranged and operating substantially as described and for the purpose
stated.
8. In electrical transmitters and indicators for indicating and recording motion,
the modification of the reversing conductors by employing the insulated
conductors c d in common with the reversing magnets, substantially as described
and for the purpose stated.
9. The arrangements of parts constituting my improved electrical transmitters and
indicators for indicating and recording notion, substantially as herein before set forth
and illustrated.
Datad this 11th day of August 1907
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.