IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND LOCALIZING ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR THE TRANS- MISSION OF ELECTRIC SIGNALS AND MESSAGES.
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor, of Hammersmith, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS
FOR CONTROLLING AND LOCALIZING ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR THE TRANS-
MISSION OF ELECTRIC SIGNALS AND MESSAGES.'
"
Sealed the 30th July 1878, and dated the 31st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1878...
LUIS DE BEJAR Y O'LAWLOR, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND LOCALIZING
ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRIC SIGNALS AND MESSAGES."
The Invention relates to arrangements of wires and apparatus forming electric
telegraph systems or circuits in which a central or principal station is in electric
communication with a number of other stations, houses, or places; and the object
of the Invention is to produce arrangements whereby communications may be sent
from any one of the said stations, houses, or places to the central or principal
station, or vice versa, or from any one of the said stations, houses, or places to any
other of the said stations, houses, or places in the same system or circuit without
such communications being audible, or visible, or otherwise indicated at any station,
house, or place other than that for which it is intended, nor can any station except
the central or principal one interrupt a message that is being sent between two
other stations.
In the following description, for the sake of brevity and distinction, I shall call
the central or principal station "the station," and the stations, houses, or places
connected with it "the houses or "house," as the case may be.
وو
In order to effect the above object I propose to employ a modification of the
"auto-quinetic" system of line wires and blocking and preparing apparatus described

page_text: in the Specification of a Patent granted to me and to Nicholas Antonio Calvo
bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, 1876, Number 1303.
Also certain apparatus at the station for controlling and localizing the communi-
cations between the houses themselves and between the houses and the station.
And also certain apparatus at each of the houses for effecting the necessary
electric connexions in accordance with the controlling or localizing mechanism at
the station.
"
In connection with the above arrangements of lines and apparatus I propose to
employ any suitable sending and receiving instrument, such as the "Morse," the
needle," the "printing," the "auto-type," the " telephone," or other.
The arrangement of line wires consists of two separate wires; one, which may be
called the signalling wire, is employed for the transmission of signals only; the
other, which may be called the starting wire, is for effecting the release of the
commutator mechanism at the houses, and for operating the localizing instrument
at the station.
The controlling and localizing apparatus at the station consists of a battery con-
nected with a bobbin and electro-magnet, and with the starting wire. The armature
of the electro-magnet acts when a current passes through the bobbin upon the
retaining mechanism of a clockwork arrangement, which when liberated sets in
motion a feeling instrument which is caused to traverse a path, at various points
of which, corresponding in order to that of the houses in the circuit, a pin or other
obstacle may be placed. The arrangement of this feeler is such that when passing
over the parts of its path where there are no obstacles it keeps closed by what I
call a primary contact maker. The circuit of the battery with the starting wire
and the currents traversing the said starting wire liberate in succession the
apparatuses at those houses which correspond to the part of the path over which
the feeler is travelling, and so long as the feeler does not encounter an obstacle in
its path no signal is given to those houses, and the only effect of the liberation of
each apparatus is to send the current forward to the next house, but when the
feeler encounters an obstacle and the current has passed by the primary contact
maker of the feeler to the corresponding house the said primary contact maker is
opened, and another, which I call the secondary contact maker, is closed, whereby a
second current is made to traverse the starting wire, causing certain changes in the
apparatus at the same house, whereby an attention bell is rung therein and the
communication established between the sending instrument and the signalling
wire.
The special apparatus at each of the houses consists of three parts:—
Firstly. Of the autoquinetic blocking and preparing apparatus. connected with
the signalling wire, the purpose of which is to break the continuity of the said
signalling wire when required at the particular house and to connect the sending
instrument at that house with that part of the signalling wire which lies between
it and the station; it also holds the apparatus in a state of preparation ready for
action in the event of the circuit being already occupied by other houses. This part
of the apparatus may be arranged in a manner similar to that described in the
Specification of the Patent No. 1303, herein-before referred to, or in any suitable
manner that will produce similar results.
Secondly. Of a localizing commutator and bobbin with its electro-magnet, such
commutator being moved by clock work, when liberated by the action of its electro-
magnet, the bobbin of which is connected with the starting wire, and receives
current from the battery at the station through the primary contact makers of the
feeler. This commutator carries contact plates, which by means of slips convey the
current traversing the starting wire either to the next house or to the bobbin of
the signalling commutator herein-after mentioned; it also carries a contact plate,
by means of which the sending instrument at that particular house is connected
electrically with the "auto-quinetic" blocking and preparing apparatus when the
aforesaid commutator is in its normal position, so that when the said "auto-

page_text: quinetic" apparatus is in electrical connexion with the signalling wire a message
may be sent from the house to the station if the line is clear.
Thirdly. Of a signalling commutator and bobbin with its electro-magnet, such
commutator being moved by clock work, when liberated by the action of its electro-
magnet the bobbin of which becomes connected with the starting wire through the
localizing commutator, and receives current from the battery at the station through
the secondary contact maker of the feeler in the localizing apparatus, which is closed
when the said feeler encounters the obstacle which defines the house that is to be
called. This signalling commutator carries contact plates, which by means of slips
put the sending instrument at the bouse in communication with the signalling
wire and close the circuit of the alarm bell at the house by means of a local
battery.
The effect of these arrangements is, that supposing the line and apparatus to be
in their normal condition, and that the line is free, communications may be sent
from any one of the houses to the station, and vice versu; and if it is desired to
communicate from one house to another the desire to do so is intimated to the
attendant at the station, who then places obstacles at those parts of the path of the
feeler in his localizing apparatus that correspond to the two houses which are to be
put in communication with each other, a current is then passed through the starting
wire, the feeler in the localizing apparatus is liberated, it makes a movement, and
simultaneously the localizing commutator in the apparatus at the first house
counting from the station is liberated and commences to make a half turn; this
disconnects the bobbin of the apparatus at that house from the starting wire, and if
the feeler in the localizing apparatus at the station has not encountered an obstacle
during its movement no signal is given to the said first house, but the partial
revolution of the commutator establishes the electric continuity of the starting
wire through the apparatus at that house to the next house in order. As soon as
this continuity is established another current passes through the starting wire, the
feeler makes another movement, the localizing commutator in the said next house
(that is the second house counting from the station) is liberated, and commences to
make a half turn like that in the first house; its bobbin is similarly disconnected
from the starting wire, and if the feeler in the localizing apparatus has met with no
obstacle the continuity of the starting wire is then established to the third house,
and the same operations are repeated alway without giving a signal to the house.
so long as the feeler does not encounter an obstacle, but if the feeler meets with an.
obstacle its primary contact maker is opened and its secondary one closed, and a
second current is sent through the starting wire, as before described, and passes
through the bobbin of the signalling commutator of the apparatus at that house;
this commutator then makes a part of a turn, closing the circuit of a local battery
with the call bell of that house, and making such connexions of its sending instru-
ment with the signalling wire as will prepare it for speaking to the other house as
soon as the latter shall be connected with it. The feeler having passed the first
obstacle its primary contact maker will be closed again and the secondary one
opened, and it will continue its movement, the currents passing through the starting
wire and releasing the localizing commutator of each house in turn, but without
producing any other effect until the second obstacle is reached by the feeler wher
the signalling commutator at the house corresponding to such obstacle will be
liberated as in the other case, the bell will be sounded, and the signalling wire
connected with the sending instrument in such way that the two houses will be in
electric communication with each other, as before described. The attendant at the
station may then break the connexion between the starting wire and the battery,
and the line will be left to the use of the two houses as long as the said attendant.
pleases. When the attendant desires to interrupt or stop the use of the line he
causes the feeler to return to zero, and on again completing the circuit of the starting
wire with the localizing instrument the series of operations are repeated, and the
commutators at each station are again successively set in motion, and they make a

page_text: second half turn, which restores them all to their normal position, and the line is
then in readiness to be arranged for the use of other houses as may be required.
If desired the houses situated in one system or circuit may communicate with
those in another system or circuit by connecting together the principal stations of
such systems or circuits by suitable electric connexions, the currents from house to 5
house passing in that case through the two principal stations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st July 1878.
LUIS DE BEJAR Y O'LAWLOR, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND LOCALIZING
ELECTRIC CURRENTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRIC SIGNALS AND MESSAGES."
The Invention relates to arrangements of wires and apparatus forming electric
telegraph systems or circuits, in which a central or principal station is in electric
communication with a number of other stations, houses, or places; and the object of
the Invention is to produce arrangements whereby communications may be sent
from any one of the said stations, houses, or places to the central or principal
station, or vice versa, or from any one of the said stations, houses, or places to any
other of the said stations, houses, or places in the same system or circuit, without
such communication being audible or visible, or otherwise indicated at any station,
house, or place other than that for which it is intended, nor can any station except
the central or principal one interrupt a message that is being sent between two
other stations.
In the following description for the sake of brevity and distinction I shall call
the central or principal station "the station," and the stations, houses, or places.
connected with it "the houses or "house," as the case may be.
"
In order to effect the above object I sometimes employ a modification of the
"auto-quinetic" system of line wires, & blocking and preparing apparatus
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me and to Nicholas Antonio
Calvo, bearing date the 27th day of March, 1876, No. 1303.
At the central station I employ certain apparatus for controlling the communi-
cations between the houses themselves and between the houses and the station, and
at each of the houses I employ certain other apparatuses for effecting the necessary
electric connections for localizing the circuits in accordance with the controling
mechanism at the station.
In connection with the above arrangements of controlling and localizing
apparatuses, I employ two line wires, one for the transmission of signals, the other
for controlling and localizing the currents, and for the purpose of sending signals
or messages I employ any suitable sending and receiving instrument, such as the
"Morse," the "needle,' the “printing," the "auto-type," the telephone," or
other.
<<

page_text: The line wire marked b in the Drawings, which I call the signalling wire, is
employed for the transmission of signals; the other marked a, which I call the
starting wire, is for effecting the release of the commutator mechanism at the
houses, and for operating the localizing instrument at the station.
Sheet 1 of the Drawings illustrates one arrangement of the apparatus & line wire
adapted for carrying the Invention into effect.
Similar letters and figures relate to like parts in all the Figures of Sheet 1.
The controlling apparatus at the station shewn in Figure 1 consists of a battery X,
one pole of which is connected to one end of the coil A containing an electro-
magnet; the other pole is connected to the metallic ring or plate B. The metallic
ring or plate C is connected to earth. The other end of the coil A is connected
to the branch o of the feeler D, to be hereafter more fully described. The branch g
of the feeler D is connected with the starting wire a. The armature E of the
electro-magnet A acts when a current passes through the wire a and coil A upon
the escapement E¹ of a clockwork arrangement contained in the case F, which
when liberated, sets in motion the feeling instrument D, which is caused to revolve
in front of the metallic rings B and C; these are provided with a series of holes
numbered 1, 2, 3, &c., corresponding in order to that of the houses in the circuit.
When a metallic pin is placed in any one of the said holes, the battery X is put to
earth, and such pin becomes an obstacle with which the feeler D will come in
contact as it revolves.
This feeler may be arranged as shewn in Figure 1ª, in which d, c, represents an
arm fixed to the axis G, but insulated from it. The contact makers d and c on its
two ends are also insulated from each other. The aring, e, is loose upon the axis G
and capable of turning thereon to an extent sufficient to allow of the contact
makers d, e, being separated when g, c, are closed, and g, c, separated when d, e;.
are closed. The contact makers g and e are in electric connection with each other,
and under normal circumstances the contact makers d and e are kept apart, and
g and c together by the action of a spring H. The end e of the arm g, e, is
provided with a spring trigger piece I, the spring J of which is sufficiently. strong
to hold the arm g, e, when the trigger I comes against an obstacle, while the
arm d, c, overtakes the arm g, e, by the action of the clockwork against the
resistance of the spring H until the contact makers d and e are closed, when the
clockwork forces the trigger I past the obstacle, and the spring Hagain comes
into action to open d, e, and close g, c. By this arrangement the feeler, when
passing over the parts of its path where there are no obstacles, keeps closed by what
I call the primary contact maker g, c, the circuit of the battery X with the starting
wire a and the currents traversing the said starting wire liberate in succession, by
means to be hereafter described; the apparatus at those houses which correspond
to the part of the path over which the feeler is travelling, and so long as the feeler
does not encounter an obstacle in its path no signal is given to those houses, and
the only effect of the liberation of each apparatus is to send the current forward
to the next house, but when the feeler encounters an obstacle, and the current has
passed by the primary contact maker g, c, of the feeler to the corresponding house,
the said primary contact maker is opened in the manner before explained, and the
other contact maker d, e, which I call the secondary contact maker, is closed,
whereby a second current is made to traverse the starting wire without affecting
the coil A. This second current causes certain changes in the apparatus at the
same house, whereby an attention bell is rung therein, and the communication
established between the sending instrument and the signalling wire b.
The localizing apparatus placed at each of the houses is illustrated in Figure 2,
Sheet 1, of the Drawings, and Figures 3 to 7 illustrate diagramatically the various
changes which take place therein in the working of the apparatus. In connection
with the signalling wire b at each of these apparatuses is placed either an ordinary
contact maker or what is known as an auto-quinetic" blocking and preparing.
apparatus similar to that described in the Specification of the Patent, No. 1303,
herein-before referred to, the purpose of which is to break the continuity of the
"

page_text: said signalling wire b when required at the particular house, and to connect the
sending instrument at that house with that part of the signalling wire b which
lies between it and the station; it also prevents interruption from any other house
whilst any particular house is in communication with the central station; by its
means messages may be sent to the central station automattically, and it also holds
the apparatus in a state of preparation ready for action in the event of the circuit
being already occupied by other houses. When the above-named. auto-quinetic
blocking and preparing apparatus' is employed a third wire may be used as a
-starting wire for the said auto-quinetic apparatus and for ringing the attention bell.
In the drawing a simple contact maker K is shewn, arranged in such manner that
the part of the signalling wire b which lies towards the station can be put in com-
munication with that which lies in the opposite direction, or with the contact piece
which connects with the spring or slip 7 at pleasure. Lis what I call the localizing
commutator, and M a coil and electro-magnet, the armature N of which when not
attracted by its electro-magnet supports at its upper end the pin by which the
commutator L is prevented from revolving. The commutator L is set in motion by
.the clockwork contained in case O when the armature N is attracted, which takes
place whenever the coil M receives current from the battery X at the station
through the contact makers of the feeler D. The commutator. L carries contact
plates h, i, l, m, n, which by means of springs or slips 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, convey
the current traversing the starting wire either to the next house or to the coil and
electro-magnet P of the signalling commutator Q. This commutator Q is also moved
by clock work when liberated by the action of the electro-magnet P upon the arma-
ture R, which takes place when the coil P becomes connected with the starting
wire a through the plate l, and spring 9, 10, of the localizing commutator L, and
receives current from the battery at the station through the secondary contact
maker d, e, of the feeler D in the controlling apparatus at the station, which is
closed when the said feeler encounters the obstacle in its path which defines the
house that is to be called. This signalling commutator Qalso carries contact plates
o, p, q, r, which by means of springs or slips 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, put the sending instru-
ment T at the house in communication with the signalling wire b, and close the
circuit of the alarm bell S at the house by means of a local battery U.
The effect of these arrangements is that supposing the apparatuses at the houses
to be in their normal conditions indicated diagramatically by Figure 3, that the
apparatus at the station is in its normal condition, with its feeler D at zero, and
that the line wires are free, communications may be sent from any one of the houses
to the station by placing the contact maker K in the position w, j, see Figure 2,
which closes the circuit through earth, instrument T, spring 8, plate h, spring 7,
j, K, w, wire b, instrument V or bell at station, battery W (when the nature of the
instruments employed requires it) and back to earth. That particular house is then
in communication with the station, and if it is desired to communicate from that
house to another the desire to do so is intimated to the attendant at the station,
who then places obstacles at those parts of the path of the feeler in his controlling
and localizing apparatus, Figure 1, that correspond to the two houses which are to
be put in communication with each other.' Let us suppose that number 2 house is
to communicate with number 4 house, metallic pins are put into the holes 2 and 4,
Figure 1, this places the ring B in electric connection with ring C, and a current
passes through the starting wire a, as follows: Earth at station to ring C, pins at
holes 2 and 4, ring B, battery X, coil A, contact maker g, c, of feeler D, wire a, to
localizing instrument in No. 1 house counting from the station (see Figure 3) where
it goes to spring 10; plate i, spring 11, coil M to earth. This current causes the
electro-magnets in A and M to attract their respective armatures E and N, E
liberates feeler D, and the latter makes a movement from zero to hole 1 of the
rings B, C, and is then stopped by the escapement E'; N liberates the localizing
commutator L in the apparatus at No. 1 house, and it commences to make a half
turn; this removes plate i, No. 1 house, from under the springs 10 and 11, discon-
necting the coil M from the starting wire a.

page_text: The commutator L passes into the position shewn in Figure 4, the plate 7 coming
under springs 9 and 10, but the electric connection between the wire a and the
coil M. being broken, no current passes to the coil P, and no signal is given to that
house. The commutator L passes on to the position shewn in Figure 5, the plate m
coming under springs 10 and 12 re-establishing a current as before, namely, earth
at station. ring C, pins in holes 2 and 4, ring B, battery X, coil A, contacts g, c, wire
a, to 10 in No. 1 house, thence by plate m, spring 12, wire a, to spring 10 in
No. 2 house. The feeler D at station is again liberated and makes another
movement. The commutator L at No. 2 house is also released, and begins to
make its half turn. This time, however, the feeler D meets with the pin placed in
the second hole in the rings B, C, the primary contact makers g, c,, are separated,
and the secondary contact makers d, e, closed; this occurs before or at the time the
commutator L in No. 2 house reaches the position Figure 4, in which the plate
Z comes under the springs 9, 10..
A second current now passes as follows: Earth at station, ring C, pins in holes 2
and 4, ring B, battery X, branch wire a¹ to secondary contact makers d, e, line a,
to spring 10 in No. 2 house, thence by plate 7 to spring 9, coil P in same house
to earth. The electro-magnet in coil P attracts its armature R, and the signalling
commutator Q in that house is liberated and begins to turn, arriving into the position;
Figure 4, it stops, the plates o, p, and q coming respectively under the springs 1, 2,
3, 4, and 5, 6. The springs 1, close the circuit, through the alarm bell S at the
house, by the local battery U; the springs 3, 4, bring the signalling instrument T
into circuit with that part of the signalling wire b which is most remote from the
station when the ordinary contact maker, Y is placed so as to connect s and t;
and the springs 5, 6, bring the signalling instrument T into circuit with that part of
the wire b which lies between the house and the station when the contact maker Y
is placed so as to connect s to u.
When the signal bell S rings in the said No. 2 house, the operator moves the
contact maker Y so as to put his instrument T in circuit with the instrument V at
the station by 8, Y, u, 5, 9, 6, and wire b. On receiving from the station the
intimation that No. 4 house is to be put in communication with him, he turns
contact maker Y into position s, t, and waits until he receives a signal from that
house. Meanwhile the commutator L in No. 2 house arrives at the position Figure 5.
The feeler D at the station has in the meantime passed the obstacle at hole 2, in
the plates B, C, the secondary contact maker d, e, is opened, and the primary
contact maker g, c, closed; the current is thus re-established in wire a, and passes on
through 10, m, 12, to the spring 10, in No. 3 house. This current again releases
feeler D, the latter makes another movement, this time meeting no obstacle. The
current also releases commutator L in No. 3 house, and it assumes position Figure 5,
passing current on by 10, m, 12, to spring 10, in No. 4 house. This current releases
feeler D again, but this time it encounters the pin or obstacle in the fourth hole of
the plates B, C. The commutator L in No. 4 house is also released, and at the
moment of its passing through position Figure 4, the secondary contact maker d, e,
of the feeler D at the station is closed, the second current passes and the signalling
commutator Q in No. 4 house is liberated; it turns into the position Figure 4, and
the plate o closes the circuit of the call bell S in that house, and places the plates p, q,
under the springs 3, 4, and 5, 6, respectively in readiness for the signalling instru-
ment T to be put in circuit. On hearing the call bell, the operator in No. 4 house
places his instrument in circuit with the station by the contact maker Y through 8, u,
and on hearing from the station that he is to communicate with No. 2 house, he
places his contact maker Y over 8, t, he also breaks the continuity of wire b at No. 4
house by means of contact maker K. The two houses are then in direct communi-
cation (see Figure 7) as follows:-Earth at No. 4 house, instrument T, 8, Y, u, 5, 9,
6, w, wire b to v, -K, w, in No. 3 house, thence by wire b to v, 3, p, 4, t, Y, 8, instru-
ment. T and earth at No. 2 house. On hearing that the operator in No. 4 house is
ready, the operator in No. 2 house breaks the continuity of the wire b at his instru-
ment by the contact maker K,

page_text: When the commutators Q are resting in their normal positions, their plates r
come under the springs 3, 6, by which means if the operator in any one of the
houses between any two which may be in communication should break the
continuity of the wire b by his contact maker K in order to communicate with the
station, his so doing will not interfere with the currents passing, inasmuch as instead
of passing from v to w by K, they will pass by v, 3, r, 6, to w, or vice versa.
these conditions of the apparatuses No. 2 and 4 houses are so connected that they
can communicate from one to the other, but no one on the line except the operator
at the station can interrupt them, nor are the signals passing between them
audible or visible, or otherwise indicated at any other house, or at the station.
In
When the commutators L reach the position shewn in Figure 6 they stop, a
second pin similar to k coming to rest on the top of the armature N, in this position
the plate n is ready to put the coil M in circuit with wire a through 10, n, 11,
whenever a current passes by the wire a.
As soon as the feeler D at the station passes the second obstacle the operator
breaks the connection between the starting wire a and the battery either by with
drawing the pins from the holes in the rings B, C, or by otherwise breaking the
continuity of the wire a. When the operator desires to interrupt or stop the use of
the line he causes the feeler D to return to zero, and either replaces the pins in the
same holes in the rings B, C, if he had previously removed them, or restores the
continuity of the wire a if he had broken it. The series of operations are then
repeated, and the commutators L and Q at each house are again successively set in
motion, and they make a second half turn, which restores them all to their normal
position, as in Figure 3, and the line is then in readiness to be arranged for the use
of other houses between themselves or with the station, as may be required. The
said commutators L and Q may be arranged to make a whole, or half, or any other
suitable fraction of a turn to complete one cycle of operations.
Sheets 2 and 3 of the Drawings illustrate a modification of the above-described
apparatuses, whereby similar results are obtained by simpler arrangements.
Similar letters and figures relate to like parts in all the Figures of Sheets 2
and 3.
Figure 8 shews the controlling apparatus at the station; Figure 9, the localizing
apparatus at each house; and Figure 10, a diagram corresponding to Figure 7 in
Sheet 1 of the positions assumed by the various apparatuses at the moment when
the second and fourth houses, counting from the station, are in communication with
each other to the exclusion of all the rest.
The controlling apparatus at the station, Figure 8, consists of a battery X, one
pole of which is connected to earth, the other to the alarm bell V' by the wire 48,
which goes on to the contact plate 60, which can be put into electric communication
with the plate 61 connected to the wire b by placing a metallic pin in the hole 12.
The signalling instrument V at the station being connected to the plate 62 can also
be connected to the wire b by placing a similar pin in the hole 13. The battery is
also connected to the metallic ring or plate B, which is separate and insulated from
the ring or plate C; these rings are arranged similarly to those in Figure 1, but
the holes or openings between these rings are arranged in pairs, each pair corre-
sponding to a house on the line; for example, the pair of holes in the space marked
1 on the dial face corresponds to No. 1 house, the pair in the space marked 2 to
No. 2 house, et cetera. From the ring C a wire 14 connects with the contact
spring 15, which is placed opposite to the contact spring 16, which in its turn is
connected by the wire 17 to one end of the coil A, the other end of which joins the
starting wire a, which runs to the houses on the line. The feeler D is in this
apparatus merely a pointer mounted on an axis G, on which is fixed the notched
disc 26, the teeth or projections of which as they move round press the ends of the
contact springs 15 and 16 together, the notclies or hollows allowing the said springs
to separate.
The arrangement is such that when the feeler D is exactly over or slightly
beyond one of the holes or openings between the rings B and C a tooth or projec-

page_text: tion on the disc 26 presses the springs 15 and 16 together, closing the circuit, but
when the feeler is prevented by the presence of a pin or obstacle in one of the holes
or openings from reaching that position, a notch or hollow of the disc 26 is opposite
the end of the spring 15, and the circuit remains open.
The feeler D may be moved by clockwork (as explained in relation to Figure 1)
being released by an escapement operated by the electro-magnet in the coil A, or
(as in Figure 8) it may be moved direct by the armature E of the said electro-
magnet by the click 25.
When there are many houses on the line, instead of extending the rings B, C, to
a very large size, which would be inconvenient, a pair of comparatively small rings
or plates can be made to serve for any number of houses by arranging the rings for,
say,
ten houses, as in Figure 8, and connecting an index hand 40, so as to be turned
one division on the dial face 41. for each revolution of the feeler D; thus, the index
hand 40, standing as in the Figure at 20, and the feeler D over the first division of
the rings B, C, would indicate that the twenty-first house was being communicated
with.
The localizing apparatus placed at each of the houses, see Figures 9 and 10,
consists of the following arrangements :-The contact maker K, Y, (see also
Figure 9) is centred at 1, and is there connected with a branch b' of the signalling
wire b, and serves the same purposes as those described in relation to the separate
contact makers K and Y of Figure 2, Sheet 1, being so adapted that by its means
contact 1 may be connected to contact 4, or to contact 7, at pleasure. It is also
adapted to connect contacts 2 and 3, 5 and 6, or 8 and 9 at pleasure. M is a coil
and electro-magnet, the armature N of which releases or retains, according as it is
attracted or not by its electro-magnet M, the arm L, which is rotated by clockwork
when not held by one or other of the pins 45, 47, 49, or 57 coming against the end
of the said armature N. This arm L, as shewn more clearly in Figure 9b, carries
springs or slips 20, 34, and 38, which perform similar functions to those of the
plates on the commutators L and Q of Figure 2. B and C are two concentric
metallic rings insulated from each other, but connected in the circuit of the starting
wire a in the manner to be presently described.
Figure 9d shews the circumferential developement of the ring B₁ seen edgewise
B¹ representing the metallic body of the ring, and 21 and 30 metallic plates inserted
therein, but insulated therefrom by the insulating material 18, 42, and 24, 56
respectively.
Figure 9e shews the circumferential developement of the ring C₁ seen edgewise, CI
representing the metallic body of the ring, and 22, 44, 43, 23, 51, and 55 recesses
or insulating breaks formed therein; 10, 11, 39, 36, 37, and 33-35 are contact
plates insulated from each other, but placed in the same plane as the metallic rings
B and C, and in such positions that as the arm L revolves the slip 34 puts the
plates 10 or 39 in communication with plate 11, or the plate 33 with 35. The
slip 20 puts the plates B' and C¹ in communication, and the slip 38 puts 36 and 37
in communication.
The ring B is fitted, as before described, with the non-conducting break pieces
18, 42, 24, and 56, and the ring C¹ with the breaks 22, 44, 43, 23, 51, and 55,
whereby, the current passing through the slip 20, and plates 30 or 21, and rings
B', C¹, is broken; one end of the coil M goes to earth, the other is connected to the
plates 21 and 30 by the wires 32 and 32* respectively. To the ring B' is connected
the part of the wire a which runs to the next house, say, to the right hand, the
part of wire a which runs to the house in the opposite direction being connected to
the other ring C¹..
.
By this arrangement of apparatus the signal bell S at each house is sounded by
the action of the battery X at the station through the signalling wire b; no local
batteries being necessary for this purpose at the houses.
The effect of these arrangements is as follows:-Supposing the apparatuses at the
houses to be in their normal conditions indicated diagramatically in Figure 11, that
the apparatus at the station is in its normal condition with a metallic pin in the

page_text: hole 12, and that the line wires are free, communications may be sent from any one
of the houses to the station. For instance, supposing it is required to communicate
from No. 2 house to the station, the contact maker K, Y, in that house is moved
from the position 1, 2, 3, 4, into the position 1, 5, 6, 7. This brings the signalling
instrument T, at that house into circuit with line b to station; thus, earth, instru-
ment T contacts 7, 1, 10, 34, 11 at No. 2 house, thence by wire 6 and 4, 1, 10, 34,
11, through No. 1 house, and by wire 6 to 61, 12, 60, 48, bell V¹, battery X, back to
earth in station.
When the attendant at the station hears the bell sound, he removes the pin from
hole 12, and places it in hole 13, this puts signalling instrument V at station in
direct communication with instrument T at the house (number 2) calling.
If the instruments employed are such as require a battery for their operation, the
connexions may be so made as to include the battery X in the circuit between such
'instrument and the wire b.
If it is desired to communicate from the house calling to another house, the desire
to do so is intimated by means of the signalling instruments T and V to the
attendant at the station, and the attendant in No. 2 house replaces his contact
maker K, Y, in position 1, 2, 3, 4. I will suppose (as before) that No. 2 house
is to communicate with No. 4 in accordance with Figure 10, and in order to
facilitate reference, I have marked the holes in the rings B, C, of the controlling
apparatus at the station, Figure 8, in the following manner, that is to say, the first
hole in each pair corresponding to each house is marked b, and the second hole of
each pair is marked c on that side nearest to its companion hole b, and a on that
side furthest from its companion hole b, so that the hole c for one house becomes the
hole a for the house next in order. When the attendant at the station receives
intimation that house No. 2 is to communicate with house No. 4, he the
removes the pin from hole 12, and places a metallic pin B in 6 hole of his
controlling instrument corresponding to No. 4 house; this closes the contact
between the rings B and C, and on closing the contact makers B and C², the circuit
is completed as follows:-Earth, battery X, ring B, pin B4, ring C, wire 14, springs
15, 16, wire 17, and coil A at station through starting wire a, to 19, 20, 21, coil M,
and earth in No. 1 house. The current passes, and the electro magnet in coil A
at station attracts armature E, and the click 25 is raised. The electro-magnet in
coil M at No. 1 house also attracts its armature N, by which stop 57 of arm L
is liberated, and the clockwork begins to turn the latter round; it passes into
position shewn in Figure 12; in doing so, the spring or slip 20 passes over break
piece 44, and the current is broken. The click 25 then descends by the action of
the spring 25*, and turns ratchet wheel 26* one tooth; this moves feeler D one
step from zero, that is, brings it over b hole, corresponding to first house, the wheel
26 turning one tooth, breaks and remakes contact between 15, 16. The arm L
passes break 44, and joins 27, 20, 21, see Figure 12, when another current passes,
because 15, 16, at station are reclosed. The click 25 at station is again raised, the
armature N at No. 1 house is again attracted and the stop 45 liberated; the
arm L.moves on, and arriving over the two breaks 42, 43, again interrupts the
current, the click 25 at station descends, turning feeler D another step to c, a, hole
of No. 1 house, breaking and remaking contact between 15, 16, as before, the
arm L continues its motion and closes 28, 20, 29, see Figure 13, thereby closing
circuit as before through earth X, B, B, C, 14, 15, 16, 17, and A at station, thence
by wire a to 28, 20, 29, in No. 1 house, thence by wire a to 19, 20, 21, 22, M
and earth, in No.. 2 house. This current raises click 25 at station as before.
Armature N in number 2 house liberates stop 57, and arm L begins to turn, and
passing over break 44, interrupts the current. Click 25 at station descends again,
and moves feeler D up to and over 6 hole at station corresponding to No. 2
house; 15, 16, are thereby opened and reclosed, arm L, No. 2 house, moves on,
closing 27, 20, 21, and 15 and 16 at station being closed current passes again.
Click 25 at station is raised, arm L, number 2 house, passes over breaks 42, 43,

page_text: current is interrupted; click 25 at station descends, moves feeler D to c, a, hole at
station corresponding to No. 2 house; 15, 16, opened and reclosed, arm Ĺ No. 2
house passes on to close 28, 20, 29, thereby closing circuit as before through earth,
X, B, B, C, 14, 15, 16, 17, and A. at station, thence by wire a to 28, 20, 29 in No. 1
house, thence by wire a to 28, 20, 29, in No. 2 house, thence by wire a to 19, 20,
21, 22, M and earth in No. 3 house. Click 25 at station is raised, and arm Lin
No. 3 house released; it passes over break 44, current is interrupted, click 25 descends
and moves feeler D up to and over bhole at station corresponding to No. 3 house;
15, 16, opened and reclosed, arm L, No. 3 house moves on, closing 27, 20, 21, current
passes click 25 at station, raised arm L No. 3 house passes over breaks 42, 43, current
interrupted, feeler D moved to c,. a, hole corresponding to house No. 3-15, 16, opened
and reclosed, arm L No. 3 house closes 28, 20, 29, current passes on as before to 19,
20, 21, 22, M and earth in No. 4 house; click 25 raised at station, and arm L number
4 house released, it passes over break 44, current interrupted; click 25 descends and
moves feeler up to pin in 6 hole, corresponding to No. 4 house, and the feeler D
not reaching the centre of the hole by reason of the obstacle. afforded by the
shoulder B of the pin B, which shoulder should be of non-conducting material, if
the feeler D be made of conducting material, one of the notches or hollows in the
wheel 26 comes opposite 15, 16, and the latter remain separated. The arm L
No. 4 house continues turning, till 27, 20, 21 are closed, but 15, 16, at station
being now open, no current passes, and the arm L is stopped in that position; see
Figure 12, by the stop 45 coming against the armature N.
When the feeler D reaches the pin at b in station, the attendant places a pin
in hole 12. Meantime, arm L in Nos. 1, 2, and 3 houses turn into positions
closing 31, 20, 30, see Figure 8, but no current passes through the starting wire a,
because 15, 16, at station still remain open, but 33, 34, 35 being closed, current
passes through signalling wire b, as follows:-Earth, battery X, bell 48, 60, pin in 12
at station, thence by. wire b to 33, 34, 35 in No. 1 house, thence by wire b to 33;
34, 35 in No: 2 house, thence by wire b to 33, 34, 35 in No. 3 house, and thence
by wire b to 11, 34, 39, bell S, 3-4, and earth at No. 4 house. The bells in station
and No. 4 house ring.
When the attendant at number 4 house hears his bell ring, he places his contact
maker K, Y, in position 1, 5, 6, 7, this breaks circuit through bells, and they cease
to ring:
The attendant at station then changes pin from hole 12 to hole 13, by which
means the signalling instrument at the station is placed in direct communication
with that at No. 4 house as follows:-Earth, instrument V, pin in 13 at station,
thence by wire b to 33, 34, 35 of Nos. 1, 2, and 3 houses, thence by wire b to
33, 56, 37, 38, 36, instrument T and earth at No: 4 house, the arms L in
Nos. 1, 2, 3 houses being in position No. 4, see Figure 8, and that in the house
No. 4 in position No. 2, see Figure 12. There is now communication only
between the instrument at the station and No. 4 house, and no other house
can interrupt the communication. The attendant at station then informs the
attendant at No. 4 house that No. 2 house is to be put in communication with.
him, and No. 4 waits for the signal from No. 2. The attendant at station
then takes the pin B out of b hole in his instrument and turns the feeler by
hand to zero, he then places pin B' in hole c of the house No. 2, and the feeler
again moves on one step at a time as before; the-arms L in Nos. 1 and 2 houses
returning successively into position No. 1, see Figure 11, and stop there, the
feeler D reaching and stopping at the pin B in c hole. The attendant then takes
the pin B out of c hole, turns the feeler again to zero, and puts pin B in b hole of
No. 2 house.
The feeler again starts, and when it reaches the pin in 6 hole, the arm L in No. 1
house will have reached position 4, Figure 14, and the arm L in No. 2 house will
have reached position No. 2, Figure 12. The attendant at the station now puts
the pin in hole 12, and-the bell in No. 2 house. rings, indicating that the line is.

page_text: ready. The attendant at house No. 2 then moves his contact maker K, Y, from
position 1, 2, 3, 4, to position 1, 8, 9, this closes his communication with house No. 4.
If the house with which he had to communicate were situated on the other side,
that is towards the station, he would place his contact maker K, Y, in position 1, 5,
6, 7, as in fact K, Y, in No. 4 is shewn to be placed.
The houses Nos. 2 and 4 are now in circuit for signalling to each other, as
shewn in Figure 10, that is to say, earth, T, 36, 38, 37, 6, 9, 8, in No. 2 house,
thence by line b, and 33, 34, 35, in No. 3 house, thence by line b, 33, 5, 6, 37,
38, 36, T, and back to earth at No. 4 house, and no other house can interrupt
them, but if they have finished their communications, or the attendant at the
station wishes to stop them and to restore the line to its normal condition for
the use of other houses, he proceeds in the following manner:-He places B* in
hole b, No. 2 house division in his controlling apparatus. On the feeler reaching
the said pin, arm L in localizing apparatus at No. 1 house will have returned
to No. 1 position, see Figure 11. The pin B is then removed, feeler D returned
to zero, and pin B placed in hole a of No. house division. On the feeler D
reaching pin B in hole a, arms L in Nos. 1 and 2 houses will have reached
position 4, see Figure 14. The pin B4 in hole a, No. 2 house division, is then
removed, feeler returned to zero, and pin B placed in hole b, No. 4 house division..
On the feeler reaching pin B4 in hole b, No. 4 house division, the arms L in Nos. 1,
2, and 3 houses will have returned to position 1, Figure 11, and that in No. 4
house will have reached position 4, see Figure 14.
The pin B in hole b, No. house division, is then removed, feeler returned to
zero, and pin B placed in hole a, No. 4 house division. On the feeler reaching this
point, the arms L in Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 houses will have assumed position 4, see
Figure 14, and the pin B4 in hole a of No. 4 house division is removed, the feeler
returned to zero, and pin placed in hole c of No. 4 house division. On the feeler
reaching this point, the arms L in Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 houses will have assumed
position 1, see Figure 11. The pin is taken out of hole c, No. 4 house division, the
feeler is returned to zero, the pin is left in 12, and everything is in a normal position
ready for further operations.
If the attendant at the station wishes to communicate with any house on the
line, he first takes out pin from hole 12, and places the pin B4 in hole b of the
division of his controlling apparatus corresponding to the house he desires to call,
the various changes take place as above described, the arms L in all the houses
laying between the station and the house to be called; assuming the No. 4 position,
Figure 14, and the arm L in the house called reaching only No. 2 position, Figure 12;
on the arrival of the feeler at the pin B in hole b, the pin is to be replaced in
hole 12, and the attention bells ring in the house called and in the station, the
attendant at the house called moves his contact maker K, Y, into position 1, 5, 6, 7,
thereby stopping his bell and putting his signalling instrument T in circuit with
the station.
The attendant at the station takes the pin out of hole 12 and puts it into hole 13,
and the signalling instrument at the station is in circuit with that at the house
called.
As the arms L in the houses are moved by clockwork, provision should be made
for causing the said arms to stop in the position No. 3, see Figure 13, that is closing
28, 20, 29, so as to make the starting wire a continuous through that house before
the clockwork has actually run down. This may be effected by arranging the clock
mechanism so that a projection or stop shall be thrown out a certain time before
the spring has wholly run down, such stop acting to prevent the movement of the
arm beyond the position 28, 20, 29, until the spring is again wound up..
Further, the proximate running down of the spring may be indicated by the
ringing of the bells at both the station and the house by such means as those shewn
at 9, where 65 indicates the clock spring on which is formed the projection 66, so
placed that when the spring has expanded to a certain extent by the act of running

page_text: down, the said projection closes the spring contacts 67 and 68, and puts the bells
in circuit by the wires 69 and 70 connected to the signalling wire b, as shewn in
the Figure.
In the arrangement of localizing apparatus described in reference to.Figures 9
and 10 it is possible that the contact maker K, Y, may not be returned by the
operator to the position 1, 2, 3, 4, after using the apparatus, in which case the
continuity of the signalling wire 6 would remain broken, with regard to all
the houses on the line more remote from the station. To obviate this I arrange a
second arm on the spindle of the arm L in the localizing apparatus in such manner
that as the arm L is returned to zero the second arm on its spindle returns the
contact maker K, Y, to the position 1, 2, 3, 4, from whatever position it may have
been left in, whereby the continuity of the line b is restored.
:
It will be understood that in both the above described arrangements of apparatus
any of the houses on the line, which are more remote from the station than those
which are in communication with each other, or with the station, are in noway
affected by the changes which take place in the apparatuses, which lay between
the station and the remotest of the houses in action, except that they have no
power of communicating with the station or among themselves. Those however
which are nearer to the station than those connected together can communicate
with the station, and may even be put in communication with each other.
The signalling instruments represented in the Drawings herein-before described
are those known as "telephones," but it will be understood that signalling instru-
ments of any known 'description may be employed, and that if such signalling
instruments require a battery or magneto-electric apparatus for their operation such
battery or magneto-electric apparatus must be included in the circuit of the line
wire b at each house.
It will of course be understood that the auto-quinetic apparatus herein-before
referred to in reference to the first described apparatus is also applicable to the
signalling wire b of the last described apparatus, and that a third wire may be
employed in connection with it for the same purposes.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from my Invention, but
what I do claim is,―
First. The general arrangements and combinations of controlling apparatus at
the central station, localizing apparatuses at the houses or stations on the line,
starting and signalling wires and contact makers forming electric telegraph systems
or circuits, whereby any two houses or stations on the same line can be put into
electrical circuit with each other from the central station to the exclusion of all the
other houses or stations on that line, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the Drawings.
Second The controlling apparatus at the central station arranged, adapted, and
operating so as to allow or cause the necessary currents of electricity to pass into
the starting wire for effecting the changes in the positions of the commutators of
the localizing apparatuses at the houses or stations on the line, which are requisite
for placing in circuit the signalling instruments of the particular houses or stations
which are to be placed in communication with each other, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 1ª, 7, 8, and 10 of the Drawings.
Third. The localizing apparatuses at the houses or stations on the line so
arranged and adapted with commutators, and so connected to the starting wire,
that the currents of electricity allowed or caused to pass by the controlling
apparatus at the central station into the latter shall effect such changes in the
positions of the said commutators that the electric connections of the signalling
wire become so arranged as to place in circuit by means of that wire the signalling
instruments of those houses or stations on the line which are defined by the con-
trolling apparatus at the central station, the signalling instruments at all the other

page_text: houses or stations being excluded from the circuit, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 2 to 7, Sheet 1, Figures 9, 9ª, 9b, 9c, 9d, and 9º,
Sheet 2, and Figures 10 to 14, Sheet 3, of the Drawings.
Fourth: The arrangement and connexion of the starting wire a with the localizing
apparatuses so as to be discontinuous at each house or station, whereby the currents
of electricity for effecting the changes in the said localizing apparatuses can only
pass forward to each house or station in succession after the commutator in each
preceding house or station has established the continuity of the said starting wire
through the said house or station, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the Drawings, and particularly in Figures 7 and 10 thereof.
Fifth. The arrangement and connexions of the signalling wire b with the com-
mutators and contact makers of the apparatuses at the houses or stations, whereby
the signalling instruments thereat may be placed in communication with the
central station, or with the signalling instrument at another house or station, or
excluded altogether from the circuit, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the Drawings, and particularly in Figures 7 and 10 thereof.
Sixth. The combination of the apparatus forming the electric telegraph systems
or circuits, the subject of the first claim with the auto-quinetic system of line wires
and blocking and preparing apparatus so as to prevent the possibility of the inter-
ruption whilst any particular house or station is communicating with the central
station, and also for the purpose of indicating to the central station automatic
messages, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Luis de Bejar y O'Lawlor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
AT • TOD
LUIS DE BEJAR YO'LAWLOR. (L.S.)