IMPROVEMENTS GALVANOMETERS AND RELAY APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH IN PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Leon Alexandre Brasseur, of 30, Rue Fousny, St. Gilles-
lez-Bruxelles, and Stanilas William Meldon de Sussex, of 157, Rue du Progres,
Bruxelles, both at present residing at the Grosvenor Hotel, Buckingham Palace
Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
GALVANOMETERS AND RELAY APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH
IN
PURPOSES."
:
1
Sealed the 12th June 1878, and dated the 23rd January 1878..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Leon Alexandre Brasseur
and Stanilas William Meldon de Sussex at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on, the 23rd January 1878.
LEON ALEXANDRE BRASSEUR, of 30, Rue Fousny, St. Gilles-lez-Bruxelles, and
STANISLAS WILLIAM MELDON DE SUSSEX, of 157, Rue du Progres, Bruxelles, both at
present residing at the Grosvenor Hotel, Buckingham Palace Road, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANOMETERS AND RELAY APPARATUS FOR
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH PURPOSES."
This Invention has more especially for its object to construct a relay apparatus
applicable for use with long lines of submarine cables. For this purpose we
combine with the moving arm or needle of a galvanometer a contact apparatus,
which operates to complete a circuit for every increase or decrease of the passing
current, in whatever position the needle or moving arm of the galvanometer may
be in.
We prefer to suspend the needle or arm by a thread horizontally above magnets,
which act upon it as herein-after described. One end of the arm has descending
from it a light wire carrying a thin plate of metal, which dips into liquid contained
in a pan. The other end of the arm carries a small horizontal axis insulated from
it. From the axis descends a light wire arm, carrying a light metallic plate, which
also dips into a pan of liquid, and the plate is radial to the thread or centre upon
which the galvanometer arm swings. From the axis passes another light wire arm,
terminating at its end in a point projecting downwards. Below the point is a small
ID 73

page_text: cup containing mercury or other liquid, and carried by the arm of the galvanometer.
When the galvanometer arm is at rest, in whatever position the arm may be, the
point is kept above the mercury in the cup by a light counterbalance weight, but
whenever any increase, or it might be decrease, of the current passing through the
coils of the galvanometer takes place, the position of the galvanometer arm or
needle is altered, and the point is thereby caused to dip into and make contact with
the mercury in the cup. One of the pans containing liquid is coupled up with one
pole of a battery, and the other with a wire leading to a printing or other receiving
instrument, or with another telegraphic line, so that whenever the point dips into
the mercury in the cup a current passes from the battery to the receiving instru-
ment or line wire, and thus we are enabled to obtain a printed record of the
signals sent through long submarine cables, or transmit the signals to another line
wire.
The oscillations of the needle of the galvanometer are produced as follows:-
Below the needle is a permanent horse-shoe magnet, with the poles of the magnet
uppermost. Each pole has standing up from it two cylindrical cores, each sur-
rounded by a bobbin. The needle is suspended horizontally above the cores, and
rests centrally between them, with one of the cores on either side of each of its
ends. The current from the telegraph line is caused to pass through the coils of all
the bobbins, and the coils are arranged so that the magnetism of one of the cores
standing up from each pole of the magnet is increased, whilst the other is
decreased. Thus the needle is caused to swing round in one or other direction for
every increase or decrease in strength of the passing current, and remains in
equilibrium between them so long as the strength of the passing current continues
uniform.
It is not necessary that a single permanent magnet should be used; it might be
divided into two or more. The needle also may either be suspended as above
described, or may be otherwise suspended or pivotted.
Galvanometers formed in this manner may not only be used as part of a relay,
as described, but may also be used for other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Leon Alexandre Brasseur and Stanilas William Meldon de Sussex in.
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd July 1878.
LEON ALEXANDRE BRASSEUR, of 30, Rue Fousny, St. Gilles-lez-Bruxelles, and
STANILAS WILLIAM MELDON. DE SUSSEX, of 157, Rue du Progres. Bruxelles, both at
present residing at the Grosvenor Hotel, Buckingham Palace Road, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GALVANOMETERS AND RELAY APPARATUS FOR
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH PURPOSES."
This Invention has more especially for its object to construct a relay apparatus
applicable for use with long lines of underground or submarine cables. For this
purpose we combine with the moving arm or needle of a galvanometer a contact
apparatus, which operates, as herein-after described, to complete a local circuit, for
every increase or decrease of the passing current, in whatever position the needle
or moving arm of the galvanometer may be in. Thus even though very weak
currents are passed through the line, the signals sent may be recorded, and the
working of the relay will not be interfered with by the permanent charge of under-
ground or submarine cables.
These results we obtain,-
First. By the polarization of permanent magnets when a current passes.
Second. By the combination causing the polarization to be proportional to the
charge in the line, and the armature to deviate more or less and proportionally to
the charge existing in the cable or line.
Third. By the armature carrying a make and break contact apparatus, by which
signals can be registered in whatever position the armature may be in.
Our Invention, and the manner in which we carry it into effect, will readily be
understood from the Drawings hereunto annexed, which we will now describe.
Figure 1 shows a plan; Figure 2, a side elevation; and Figure 3, an end view of
the apparatus.
A is a permanent magnet, with the north pole at N and the south pole at S.
B is a piece of soft iron abutting at S upon the permanent magnet A, and capable
of being raised or lowerd by the screw V, shewn in Figures 2 and 3, and in dotted
lines in Figure 1. This piece of soft iron forms a continuation of the south pole S
of the permanent magnet, and brings it above the armature to maintain its stability
and reduce its weight. A' is another permanent magnet, with its south pole at
S¹ and north pole at N¹. To the end N¹ are secured the lower ends of two soft.
iron cores C, C, around which an insulated wire is wound. The wire at its ends is
coupled to the line by the connections D, D. E is an armature of soft iron carried
by a small steel pivot F supported between two steel plates G, G. These plates
are themselves screwed on to a piece of soft iron H, which is cut away at its centre
to permit of the movement of the armature. Lastly this piece of soft iron is
secured to the extremity N of the permanent magnet A, consequently the armature
is magnetized north by the north pole of this magnet. This arrangement, added to
the construction of the permanent magnet A', the pole N¹ of which is prolonged
by the soft iron cores to the sliding pieces I, I, causes the armature to be equally
repelled by two equal and similar forces, and consequently remains at zero between
the pieces I, I. From the end of the armature projects a needle J, which carries
at its end between two rubies a light pivot L. This pivot has descending from it
an arm carrying a plate M, and projecting horizontally from its sides a lever N. At
the extremity O of this lever is a fine point, whilst the other extremity P has
screwed on to it a small weight to serve as a counterpoise to the arm N, O.
Q, Q, are two small screws, which can be set nearer to or further from the lever and
serve as stops. R, R¹, are two reservoirs, the interior of which is of platinum
amalgamated; these reservoirs are to contain pure mercury. A revolving motion is
to be given to them by clockwork, whilst a scraper constantly cleans the surface of
the mercury; these parts are not shown in the Drawing. In the mercury in R dips

page_text: the plate M, and the mercury at R' is brought to a level in close proximity with
the platinum point of the lever N, O. For facility of adjustment these reservoirs are.
mounted on elevating screws S. Metal supports T, T¹, insulated one from the other,
put the reservoir R in communication with the terminal U in connection with one
pole of a local battery, and R¹ with U¹, which is in connection with the other pole.
The supports are divided in the middle to allow of the reservoirs being taken away.
When a current passes from the line it enters at the terminal D, follows the wire
on the bobbins which surround the cores C, and returns to earth by the terminal D¹.
This passage of the current magnetizes the two cores C, C, in opposite ways, the
polarity of one is increased, whilst the polarity of the other is reversed; one there-
fore attracts the armature, whilst the other repels it. If the current is reversed
the movement of the armature is also reversed. As the armature moves to and fro
it carries with it the lever P, O, but the resistance offered by the mercury to any
movement of the plate M causes the lever to turn and lower its end O; the.
platinum point is thereby caused to touch the mercury and complete the local
circuit. The receiving instrument is thereby acted on, and the signal recorded.
It will be seen that during the whole time of the passing of a current the lever
cannot rise; long and short signals are therefore obtained equal to the duration of
the discharge.
We have already stated the means we prefer to employ for keeping clean the
surface of the mercury. We also find it of advantage to have above the mercury a
covering of alcohol or ether.
The oxidation of the mercury can also be prevented, at any rate partially, by
introducing a shunt into the local circuit.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we claim,―
First. The combined arrangement of apparatus, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The arrangement of the differential contact lever.
Third. The peculiar construction of our contact lever, which can be used with
galvanometers, relays, and other telegraphic instruments.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stanilas William Meldon de Sussex, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
S DE STISOLY G