Improvements in Recording Measuring Apparatus, also applicable to Signalling and Telegraphic Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Recording Measuring Apparatus, also applicable
to Signalling and Telegraphic Instruments.
I, FRANK BENJAMIN LEA, of 43, Criffel Avenue, Streatham Hill, in the County
of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:―
My invention relates to measuring instruments in which an index or indices is or
are used for the measurement of pressure, quantity potential or energy, and has for
its object the rendering of such instruments self-recording, and obviating the
friction caused by a stylus or the like as hitherto employed. My invention also is
applicable to signalling and recording telegraphic instruments.
In carrying my invention into effect with reference to measuring instruments
generally I employ a double conductor, suitably insulated for carrying an electric
current, and which may form part of, or may constitute the index. Said conductors
terminate in a fine platinum point, or said point may be made of any other metal or
A band or
alloy that is of high electrical resistance and also is not readily fusible.
strip of paper is caused to pass by clockwork or other automatic movement at right
angles to the direction of movement of the index, and in such a position that the
heating of the platinum or other point by the passage of the electric current causes
the paper to be marked although the index is at no time in contact with the paper.
In recording instruments as hitherto constructed, it has been found that the friction
of a stylus or point in marking a paper or card has been considerable, and also
variable, thus rendering the reading and recording untrustworthy.
My invention may be adapted to electrical measuring instruments, such as volt-
meters, am-meters, ohm-meters and the like, and the ordinary scale and index or
pointer may in addition be employed for direct reading. The current required to
raise the point to a sufficiently high temperature may be in this case taken as a
In other
shunt across the terminals, or between any two points in the circuit.
cases of adaptation, in which the measuring instrument is not electrical, such for
instance as a barometer, pyrometer or the like, said current may be derived from
any type of constant battery, and may be continuous or periodic, an unbroken line
indicating the record in the former case, and a series of dots or dashes in the latter
case, both marking the abscisse upon the ordinates which represent periods of time.
The strip of paper may if necessary be chemically prepared, so that the marking
may be produced by a lower degree of temperature than is requisite when ordinary
paper is employed.
My said invention is applicable to any existing recording instrument, or for
rendering any measuring instrument self-recording without causing the reading of
the index or scale, or the curve representing the time record to be unreliable by
reason of friction.
In applying my invention to signalling or telegraphic instruments, I arrange the
index or pointer in the manner hereinbefore described, causing motion to he
imparted to it from the line, or telegraphic cable, and deriving the heating current
from an independent source. Thus, the index or pointer remaining in its normal
position when no current is passing through the line or cable, a datum line is
recorded upon the moving paper, and the markings above and below this line caused
by the line current, may be read off according to any predetermined code, as a
message or signal, and this modification may be substituted for a syphon recorder,
the other portions of the instrument remaining intact, or a new instrument may be
constructed based upon said modification.
Deted this 21st day of May 1890
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Recording Measuring Apparatus, also applicable
to Signalling and Telegraphic Instruments.
I, FRANK BENJAMIN LEA, of 3. Wavertree Road, Streatham Hill, in the
County of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, 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 measuring instruments in which an index or indices is or
are used for the measurement of pressure, quantity, potential or energy, and has for
its object the rendering of such instruments self recording, and obviating the
friction caused by a stylis or the like as hitherto employed. My invention also is
applicable to signalling and recording telegraphic instruments.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of
the device, and Figure 2 a plan view thereof.
In carrying my invention into effect with reference to measuring instruments
generally, employ a double conductor a a suitably insulated at for carrying an
electric current, and which may form part of, or may constitute the index. Said
conductors a a' terminate in a fine platinum point, or said point may be made of
any other metal or alloy that is of high electrical resistance, and which is also not
readily fusible. A band, strip or coil of paper A is caused to pass by clockwork B,
or other automatic movement at right angles to the direction of movement of the
index, and in such a position that the heating of the platinum or other point c by
the passage of the electric current from a battery or other source C causes the
paper to be marked, although the index is at no time in contact with said paper.
In recording instruments as hitherto constructed it has been found that the
friction of a stylus or point in marking a paper or card has been considerable, and
sufficiently variable as to render the reading and recording untrustworthy.
My invention may be adapted to electrical measuring instruments such as volt-
meters, ampère-meters, ohm-meters and the like, and the ordinary scale and index
or pointer may be also employed for recording as well as for direct reading. The
current of electricity required to raise the point c to a sufficiently high temperature
may be taken as a shunt across the terminals of the instrument or between any two
points in the circuit. In other cases of adaptation in which the measuring instru-
ment is not electrical, such for instance as a recording barometer, pyrometer or
other instrument of a like nature, said heating current may be derived from any
type of constant battery C, and the burned line may be continuous or periodic, an
unbroken line indicating the record in the former case, and a series of dots or dashes
in the latter case, both marking the abscisso upon the ordinates which represent
periods of time.
In order to produce the necessary intermittent heating effect, I
may employ a make and break in connection with the clockwork driving the paper,
such for instance as the two spring contacts d and which are pressed together
periodically by the can wheel e. I do not however confine myself to this, or any
special type of make and break, nor to the general arrangement of the apparatus as
shewn by the drawing, which has been chosen as an example illustrative of the
principles embodied in my said invention.
The strip or coil of paper may be chemically prepared, so that the marking may
be produced by a lower degree of temperature than is requisite when ordinary
paper is employed.
My said invention is applicable to any existing recording instrument, or for
rendering any measuring instrument self recording without causing the reading of
the index or scale, or the curve representing the time value of the measured record
to be unreliable by reason of friction.
In applying my invention to signalling or telegraphic instruments 1
index or pointer in the manner herein before described, causing motion to be
arrange the

page_text: imparted to it from the line or telegraphic cable, and deriving the necessary heating
current from an independent source. Thus, the index or pointer remaining in its
normal position when no current is passing through the line or cable, a datum line
is recorded upon the moving paper, continuous or dotted, and the markings above
and below this line caused by the movement of the index as influenced by the
fluctuations of the line current, may be read off according to any predetermined
code, as a message or signal, and this modification may be substituted for a siphon
recorder, the other portions of the instrument remaining intact, or a new instrument
may be constructed, based upon said modification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In a recording measuring instrument of any kind, the construction and use
of an index or indices which is or are heated by an electric current, in combination
with a moveable strip, band or coil of paper, without actual contact therewith
substantially as described..
Second. In a recording measuring instrument as referred to in the preceding
claim, the method of heating said index or indices continuously or intermittently
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Third. The use or employment of an index or indices which is or are heated
continuously or intermittently by an electric current, in combination with a record-
ing telegraphic or signalling apparatus.
Bated this 9th day
February 1991.
TO
(na sma no
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.