IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bernard Hippolyte Chameroy, of Maisons-Laffitte
(Seine-et-Oise), France for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bernard Hippolyte Chameroy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1882.
BERNARD HIPPOLYTE CHAMEROY, of Maisons-Laffitte, (Seine-et-Oise), France,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC
SIGNALS"
My invention relates to telegraphic receiving apparatus in which the signals are
received and recorded by means of solutions decomposed by the ozone produced by
the passage of an electric spark through the air.
Apparatus constructed according to my present invention consists of an Electro-
magnet fixed by an adjustable screw and surrounded by a bobbin round which is
coiled insulated wire the ends of which are in electrical connection with insulated
terminal binding screws.
The bobbin is fixed to a frame or stand and is provided with a crosspiece upon
which is adjusted a magnet turning upon pivots.
The lower part of the pivotted magnet carries a light projecting arm upon which
fits a moveable adjustable projection of non-conducting material. At each side of
the projecting arm is fixed an insulated metal stud or pin in connection with a
third binding screw to which a wire can be attached, and each of these studs has
wound round it a light wire which can oscillate freely upon the stud and the lower
end of which projects downward, the two wires hanging parallel one upon each
side of a stop of non-conducting material fixed between them to the frame of the
apparatus. On each side of this stop is arranged, outside the lower ends of the
descending wires described the point of a metal screw the exact position of which
can be regulated as desired, and each of these metal screws is in electrical
connection with one of two corresponding adjustable screws the points of which
are arranged so that they can be adjusted at any desired distance from the

page_text: surface of a metal drum of convenient size which revolves beneath them and
over the surface of which passes a strip of paper upon which the signals received
are to be recorded, the strip of paper first passing round the surface of a roller
covered with felt or other absorbent material impregnated with a sensitive solution
contained in an adjoining vessel whence it is transferred to the felt by means of
one or more similar rollers.
The metal drum over which the impregnated paper passes is insulated from the
frame of the apparatus, but is in electrical connection with a fourth binding screw
to which a wire can be attached.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When
An electrical induction apparatus or other similar device producing a spark is
arranged so that its wires are in connection with the third and fourth binding
screws described, and it is then set in operation so as to produce a rapid succession
of sparks, and the first and second binding screws being connected with the line
wire through which signals are to be sent, the apparatus is ready for use.
notice is received that a message is about to be transmitted, an attendant sets in
motion a train of clockwork which draws forward the strip of paper over the
metal drum after it has been impregnated with the solution which saturates the
felt roller round the surface of which it has first passed. The paper presents its
surface thus sensitized to the points of the two screws adjusted above it as above
described. If, whilst the paper is thus travelling, a current is transmitted along
the line wire, it passes in one or other direction through the coil round the electro-
magnet at each end of which a magnetic pole is formed, and the pivotted magnet
will oscillate upon its centres with a movement the more energetic as the
electro-magnet presenting one of its poles attracts the opposite pole of the
pivotted magnet and the current passing through the coil acting inductively to
the magnet increases the oscillating movement of the latter.
By this oscillating movement of the magnet, and of the lower projecting arm
upon it which carries upon it the adjustable projecting piece of non conducting
material, the latter drives one or other of the suspended wires toward the screws
opposed to them, and a stream of sparks will instantly pass between such suspended
wire and the point of the screw and thence through the corresponding screw or
point above the sensitized paper whence a corresponding stream of sparks will pass
to the moving paper and through it to the metal drum over which it travels,
generating ozone as they traverse the air and decomposing the solution with which
the paper is impregnated, at the points where the sparks pass, and leaving a
number of visible marks equal to the number of sparks. Two lines of parallel
marks will be produced upon the paper, one if the pivotted magnet oscillates to the
right and the other if it oscillates to the left, according to the direction of the main
line current.
If the main line current is interrupted the electro magnet becomes neutral and
the pivotted magnet resumes its horizontal position, its projecting end being
vertical and the suspended wires hanging by their own weight against the central
stop, the distance between them and the screws opposed to them being too great
for the sparks to pass, and the strip of paper then travels forward without receiving
any mark.
In order to adjust the apparatus it is therefore only necessary having determined
the length of the sparks to give a somewhat greater distance between the suspended
wires and their opposing screws. Directly the movement of either of the suspended
wires reduces this distance to that of the length of the sparks the latter will pass as 5
described.
By the method of arrangement described two marking points or screws are used
making parallel lines of marks, but if one only is used it is only necessary to
connect the two points together electrically and to leave only one of them
sufficiently near to the paper for the sparks to pass. The signals will then have a 5
significance dependent upon the time of their duration.
The sensitizing solution may be of any suitable kind possessing the property of

page_text: being decomposed by the passage of the electric spark, as for instance iodide of
potassium dissolved in water.
The apparatus described may be modified in its method of arrangement.
For instance, one wire ouly may be used, which may be attached to a pin or
stud as described or plunged into a tube containing mercury. Or, the sparks may
be made to pass directly between the suspended wires and the metal druin, making
in this way zigzag marks upon the sensitized paper.
By my invention, the signals received and recorded are instantly legible; the
speed of transmission is very great, the moving parts being very light; and there is
perfect regularity in the signs produced.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bernard Hippolyte Chameroy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1883.
BERNARD HIPPOLYTE CHAMEROY, of Maisons Laffitte (Seine-et-Oise) France
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING AND RECORDING TELEGRAPHIC
SIGNALS"
My invention relates to telegraphic receiving apparatus in which the signals
are received and recorded by means of solutions decomposed by the ozone produced
by the passage of an electric spark through the air,
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, Figure 1 being a
side view, and figure 2 a front view of the apparatus. It consists of an Electro-
magnet A fixed by an adjustable screw B and surrounded by a bobbin C round
which is coiled insulated wire D the ends of which are in electrical connection
with insulated terminal binding screws E, E fixed to the bobbin and insulated by
the washers F, F.
The bobbin is fixed to a frame or stand G and is provided with a crosspiece H,
upon which is adjusted a magnet I turning upon pivots in H. The lower part of
the pivotted magnet I carries a light projecting arm J upon which fits a moveable
adjustable projection K of non-conducting material. At each side of the projecting
arm J is fixed a metal stud or pin L L insulated by washers M, M, M, in connection
with a third binding screw E¹ to which a wire can be attached, and each of these
studs L, L, has wound round it a light wire 0, 0¹, which can oscillate freely upon
the stud and the lower end of which projects downward, the two wires hanging
parallel one upon each side of a stop P of non-conducting material fixed
between them to the frame G of the apparatus. On each side of this stop P is
arranged, outside the lower ends of the descending wires described the point of a
metal screw Q, Q1, the exact position of which can be regulated as desired, and
each of these metal screws is in electrical connection by conducting plates S, S¹,
with one of two corresponding adjustable screws R, R', the points of which are
arranged so that they can be adjusted at any desired distance from the surface of a

page_text: metal drum Y of convenient size which revolves beneath them and over the
surface of which passes a strip of paper upon which the signals received are to be
recorded, the strip of paper first passing round the surface of a roller covered with
felt or other absorbent material impregnated with a sensitive solution contained in
an adjoining vessel x whence it is transferred to the felt by means of one or
more similar rollers U, V. The metal drum Y over which the impregnated paper
passes is insulated from the frame of the apparatus by insulators M, M, but is in
electrical connection by a conducting plate Z with a fourth binding screw E" to
which a wire can be attached.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-An electrical induction apparatus or
other similar device producing a spark is arranged so that its wires are in
connection with the binding screws E₁, E", described, and it is then set in operation
so as to produce a rapid succession of sparks, and the binding screws E, E being
connected with the line wire through which signals are to be sent, the apparatus is
ready for use. When notice is received that a message is about to be transmitted,
an attendant sets in motion a train of clockwork which draws forward the strip
of paper T, T, over the metal drum U after it has been impregnated with the
solution from the vessel X which saturates the felt roller V round the surface of
which it has first passed. The paper presents its surface thus sensitized to the
points of the two screws R, R¹, adjusted above it as already described. If, whilst
the paper is thus travelling, a current is transmitted along the line wire, it passes
in one or other direction by the terminals E, E, through the coil D, and the electro-
magnet A affected by the induction of the current passing through the bobbin C will
have a magnetic pole formed at each of its ends, and the pivotted magnet I will
oscillate upon its centres with a movement the more energetic as the electro-magnet
presenting one of its poles attracts the opposite pole of the pivotted magnet I and
the current passing through the coil acting inductively on the magnet I increases
the oscillating movement of the latter.
By this oscillating movement of the magnet I and of the lower projecting
arm J upon it which carries upon it the adjustable projecting piece of non-
conducting material R, the latter drives one or other of the suspended wires O, O',,
toward the screws Q, Q', opposed to them, and a stream of sparks will instantly
pass between such suspended wires O or O' and the point of the screw Q, or QI
and thence through the corresponding screw or point R, or R¹, above the sensitized
paper whence a corresponding stream of sparks will pass to the moving paper and
through it to the metal drum Y over which it travels, generating ozone as they
traverse the air and decomposing the solution with which the paper is impregnated,
at the point where the sparks pass, and leaving a number of visible marks equal
to the number of sparks. Two lines of parallel marks will be produced upon the
paper, one if the pivotted magnet oscillates to the right and the other if it
oscillates to the left, according to the direction of the main line current. The
current from the induction apparatus passes by E¹, L, O, Q, S, R, Y, W, Z, E", or.
by E', L', O', Q', S', R', Y, W, Z', E".
If the main line current is interrupted the electro magnet A becomes neutral
and the pivotted magnet I resumes its horizontal position, its projecting end J
being vertical and the suspended wires O, O¹, hanging by their own weight against
the central stop P, the distance between the wires O, O¹, and the screws Q, Q¹,
opposed to them being too great for the sparks to pass, and the strip of paper
then travels forward without receiving any mark.
In order to adjust the apparatus it is therefore only necessary having determined
the length of the sparks to give a somewhat greater distance between the suspended
wires O, O', and their opposing screws Q, Q
Directly the movement of either of the suspended wires O, O¹, reduces this
distance to that of the length of the sparks the latter will pass as described.
By the method of arrangement described two marking points or screws are used,
making parallel lines of marks, but if one only is used it is only necessary to
connect the two points R, R¹, together electrically and to leave only one of them

page_text: sufficiently near to the paper for the sparks to pass. The signals will then have a
significance dependent upon the time of their duration.
The sensitizing solution may be of any suitable kind possessing the property of
being decomposed by the passage of the Electric spark, as for instance iodide of
potassium dissolved in water which I have found very effective.
The apparatus described may be modified in its method of arrangement. For
instance, one wire only O, may be used which may be attached to a pin or stud L
as described, or plunged into a tube containing mercury in communication with
the terminal E¹. The projecting piece J is in this case pierced with a hole through
which the wire O passes, or other corresponding arrangement. Or, the sparks may
be made to pass directly between the suspended wire O and the metal drum Y,
making in this way zigzag marks upon the sensitized paper.
In figure 3 two magnets I, I, are shewn having their contrary poles near the
electro magnet A, the two magnets being mounted so that they can oscillate
alternately according to the direction of the current passing through the bobbin C.
Two suitable stops to keep them between P, P¹, and P", P", so that when one magnet
oscillates the other remains at rest. If a copper current passes through the bobbin C
the electro-magnet A will have a positive pole at its lower end, and the magnet I
will not move, its positive pole adjoining the positive pole of the electro-maguet A,
whilst its negative pole cannot be attracted being retained by the stop P.
At the same time the magnet I will oscillate, its upper negative pole being
attracted and its lower positive pole repelled. These magnets having a glass tube
firmly attached to them of which the lower part is provided with a very fine
metallic wire O, O', it follows that as O' approaches the point Q¹ the spark will
pass between the piece M. which is connected with one of the terminals of the
induction apparatus and the wire O¹, and also between the wire O¹ and the
point Q, and thence between the point R¹ and the drum Y as shewn in figures 1
and 2.
If the current is reversed the magnet I will oscillate whilst I will remain at
rest against the stop P, and the spark will pass between M and O, O and Q, and R
and Y.
In figure 4 a single magnet I is shewn arranged in convection with the electro-
magnet as in figure 3. This magnet is also provided with a glass tube S at its
lower end and a metallic wire O at the end of the tube; stops P, P' limiting the
extent of oscillation. In order to regulate the sparks every time the current passes,
I add a needle V carried upon an axis V' so that if moved to or from the wire O,
a constant discharge from the induction coil is thus caused, the needle being in
communication with the axis of the druin Y. A constant stream of sparks passes
therefore between the needle V and the wire O, and between the wire O and the
connecting piece M which is in communication with the induction apparatus.
When a current passes through the coil the magnet I will oscillate in one direction,
the wire approaching the point Q, and the distance between this point Q and
the wire O being less than that between the needle V and the piece M, the spark
passes froin M to the wire O and from O to the point Q and thence from R to the
drum Y leaving the desired marks upon the paper as explained in figures 1 and 2.
If the current is reversed the series of sparks will pass in the opposite direction as
already described. In the modification shewn in figure 5 a magnet A is placed in
a galvanometer B, being maintained in its position by a wire C and exposed to the
influence of the magnet M. When a current passes through the galvanometer the
magnet A oscillates carrying with it the wire E by means of a glass tube D which
connects them together.
As the terminals K, K' communicate with the induction apparatus, sparks
constantly pass between the support I and the wire E as well as between the end
of the wire E and the drum F to O". The stops 0, 0¹, prevent the wire from
oscillating too far. When the current is reversed the wire will have an alternating
movement from right to left, or from a central position to its extreme points to the

page_text: right or left and will leave upon the band of sensitive paper sinuous marks indi-
cating zinc or copper currents, whilst when no current is passing through the
galvanometer coil the marks left by the sparks will be at the centre of the band of
paper which is passing over the drum F.
By my improved apparatus as hereinbefore described and shewn, the signals can
be instantly read; the speed of transmission is very great, the parts of the
apparatus being very light; and the regularity of the signals is perfect, the centre
line remaining always the same. In these points my improved apparatus possesses
great advantages as compared with apparatus as heretofore used such as Thompson's
syphon apparatus, in the use of which with weak currents there are difficulties.
My present apparatus produces results superior to those obtained from my electro-
photographic receiver, in which great precaution is necessary to preserve the sensitive
paper, and at least ten seconds must elapse after the passage of a current before the
signals become apparent.
I do not confine myself to the precise forms and arrangements of apparatus
hereinbefore described and shewn, which may be modified to suit varying circum-
stances, but having described my invention and the manner in which it is to bo
performed, I claim:-The methods of and apparatus for recording telegraphic
signals, by means of a solution capable of decomposition by the passage of electric
sparks, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bernard Hippolyte Chameroy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal this 16th day of February in the year of our Lord
1883
BERNARD HIPPOLYTE CHAMEROY (L.S.)