IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC RECORDING APPARATUS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Kirk Boyle, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London,"
Electrician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC RECORDING
APPARATUS."
•
Sealed the 21st November 1879, and dated the 3rd September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Kirk Boyle at the.
Office of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1879.
"
ROBERT KIRK BOYLE, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Electrician.
IMPROVEMENTS.
IN TELEGRAPHIC RECORDING APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to further improvements in the apparatus described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me 30th December, A.D. 1878,
No. 5313, and is designed to provide means whereby the working of the said
apparatus will be more certain and accurate.
According to my said former Specification I employed two coils of wire of
considerable circumference and somewhat flat in form, which were placed face to
face on an upright stand made of brass; sufficient space being left between them
within which to suspend a magnetic needle, and the said coils were so arranged
that their axis was in a horizontal plane. The said metallic needle carried a
metallic arm and oscillated between the coils and over the ends of metallic fingers.
But according to one part of my present improvements I employ several coils of
wire of smaller diameter than those above described which may be with or without
iron cores. These coils are placed one above another being suitably attached to
metal standards provided for the purpose, and the coils are in such a position on
the standards that each axis is vertical, and consequently the faces or flat ends of
the coils are in horizontal planes. I prefer to place the said coils so that there is a:
distance of about an eighth of an inch between the upper face of one coil, and
the lower face of the one above it. I provide two such columns of superposed coils
side by side, leaving a space of about a quarter of an inch between them. Within
this space a thin wire preferably of aluminium is placed vertically being bent at:
right angles at its lower end, and attached at its upper end to a fine silk or other)

page_text: thread which is wound around a pin or piece, so that the position of the said
aluminium wire may be accurately regulated, which is done by turning a button or
stud at the end of the pin. The latter is attached to a vertical standard arranged
in a convenient position. To this aluminium wire I attach a series of thin pices of
metal each made in the form of a double fork, there being as many of such pieces as
there are coils. Each of the said forks has two arms projecting outward from a
central disc, and there are two of such forks to each piece, each fork extending
from the central disc, in an opposite direction to the other fork. An eye or hole is
provided through guide pieces projecting from the said vertical standard, through
which holes the aluminium wire passes in such a manner as to have free play
therein. The said forked pieces are attached firmly to the said aluminium wire at
such distances apart, and in such a position that there will be a two armed
fork resting under each coil, that is to say, there will be a fork under each of
the lowest coils, and another between the upper part of this coil and the lower part
of the one above it, and so on to the highest coil however many be used, and there
may be one above the top coil. The said forked pieces are magnetized, one arm of
each fork being a north pole, and the other a south pole, so that in each forked
piece there are two north poles, and two south poles, and the polarity of these
pieces is so arranged that when the current passes through the coils, the attracting
and repelling action of the said current on the separate poles of the forked pieco
tends to incline the said piece in one direction, according to whether the current is
positive or negative.
The aforesaid portion of the vertical aluminium wire which is bent out at right
angles, and which I hereinafter call a bent arm is bound with a fine platinum wire
at its free end, and this is arranged to come into contact with similar wire bound.
around the upper part of a vertical spring, whose lower end is attached to the baso
plate or stand. On the other side of the said hent arm there is an upright post
through the upper part of which a screw passes, the screw being provided with a
head so that it may be adjusted nearer to or farther from the bent arm, the end of
which rests against the end of the screw when the apparatus is at rest.
I provide. upon one stand two sets of the parts above described, the two sets.
being so connected that every current from the line or cable passes through both,
but the mechanism is so arranged that one set only is operative when a positive
current passes through, and the other set only is operative when the current is a
negative one. This is effected as follows, that is to say:-I provide a permanent
steel magnet which is so placed that each of its two arms or extentions reaches
sufficiently near to one of the forked pieces between the coils of each set for the said
pieces to be within its field: When the apparatus is at rest this magnet exercises
just sufficient power on the said forked pieces to draw them towards itself, and
consequently to cause the free end of the bent pieces to be in contact with the end
of the screws in the upright posts; but immediately a current of positive electricity
is sent through the coils, it will overcome the attraction of the magnet upon the
forked piece of one set, and the bent arm will therefore be withdrawn from the end
of the adjusting screw, and will be pressed into contact with the aforesaid vertical
spring, and a local circuit will be completed through one of the pens which will
thus be caused to record upon the paper. The same current passes at the same
time through the other set of coils, but will not withdraw the. bent arm in
connection therewith from contact with its adjusting screw, for the reason that the
coils in this set and the forked pieces between the same are so arranged, that a
positive current will act in the same direction as the permanent magnet, that is to
say, it will tend to keep the bent arm more tightly pressed against the adjusting
screw than when the magnet only was operating. The instant the current ceases
to pass, the bent arm which was as aforesaid attracted to the vertical spring falls.
back against its adjusting screw, being assisted in its movement and retained in
position by the aforesaid magnet. If a negative current is sent through the coils
the same operation is repeated with this only difference only, namely, that the
other set will in that case be operative, whilst the one that was operative under the

page_text: influence of the positive current will remain inactive. By means of this arrange-
ment two pens placed side by side as hereinafter explained are alternately operated
as desired, dots being made upon the paper side by side and in such relative position
as to form the proper signs.
According to another part of my present improvements, in order to prevent any
possibility of the bent arms being held in contact with their respective vertical
springs when the current ceases to flow, I impart to the said vertical springs a
continuous vibratory motion by means of a local battery placed in circuit with an
electro magnet and armature, the latter is caused to vibrate by an arrangement
for alternately making and breaking the circuit in a well known manner; and to
this armature is connected a thread which is lead over small rollers and is attached
to the said vertical springs, the latter being thus kept in constant motion.
The bent arms of both sets of the apparatus are in metallic connection with one
pole of a battery, the other pole of which is connected to the instrument carrying.
the chemical paper, two metal pens resting upon this paper and being insulated.
from each other. These two pens are each in connection with one of the two
aforesaid vertical springs, and with an electro. magnet, one of the latter being
between each pen and vertical spring, and both magnets being in the same circuit.
According to my said former Specification one armature was placed between the
poles of both magnets but according to my present Invention I furnish a separate
armature to each electro-magnet. When the bent arm in connection with one set
of the coils touches the vertical spring near thereto, a current flows through the
said spring and through the electro magnet, and the pen in connection therewith to
the paper; this current magnetizes the electro magnet which in turn attracts the
armature in connection therewith, and the cable or line wire is by the operation
disconnected from the earth, and connected to a local battery from which a current
flows of the opposite polarity to the current then in the line wire or cable, as
described in my said former Specification. By this means the excess of the latter
current is neutralized. If the bent arm of the other set of coils is brought into
contact with its vertical spring, the operation is the same excepting that the current
flows through the other electro magnet and the other pen, and the line wire or
cable being disconnected from earth is put into connection with another battery,
which sends a current of the opposite polarity to that of the battery just herein-
before inentioned into the line wire or cable, for the purpose above explained. It
will therefore be seen that according to whether the current arriving through the
line or cable be positive or negative, a local battery sending a current of opposite
polarity is automatically brought into the circuit, and therefore the incoming
current of one polarity is neutralized by the outgoing current of the opposite
polarity. When the current ceases to flow through either of the electro-magnets its
armature falls back, and the cable or line wire is again connected to earth and
disconnected from the local battery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Kirk Boyle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd March
1880.
ROBERT KIRK BOYLE, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, now of 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Electrician. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TELEGRAPHIC RECORDING APPARATUS."
This Invention relates to further improvements in the apparatus described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me the 30th December, A.D.,
1878, No. 5313, and is designated to provide means whereby the working of the
said apparatus will be, more certain and accurate than has heretofore been
practicable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved mechanism to be employed in telegraphic
recording apparatus, and,
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of portions of the said mechanism drawn to an enlarged
scale, and,
'
'
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sections of the same on the lines x, x, and y, y,
Figure 1, also drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the connections of the various parts of my
improved telegraphic recording apparatus.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
In the apparatus described in iny said former Specification I employed two coils of
wire of considerable circumference and somewhat flat in form, which were placed
face to face on an upright stand made of brass, sufficient space being left between
them within which to suspend a magnetic needle, and the said coils were arranged
with their axes in a horizontal plane. The said magnetic needle carried a metallic
arm and oscillated between the coils and over the ends of metallic fingers.
But according to one part of my present improvements, I employ several coils a
of wire, these coils being of smaller diameter than those above referred to, and with
or without iron cores b. These coils are placed one aboye another with their ends
or faces in horizontal planes as shewn, and are suitably attached to metal stan-
dards b* provided for the purpose; the said coils are capable of being adjusted
vertically. I prefer to place the coils a in such a position that there is a distance
of about an eighth of an inch between the upper face of one coil and the lower.
face of the one above it, and they may be arranged in a direct line with each other
as shewn, or in some cases in a circle. I provide two such columns of superposed
coils a side by side, leaving a space of about a quarter of an inch between them.
Within this space I arrange vertically a thin wire c, preferably formed of alluminium,
the said wire being bent at right angles at its lower end, or bent in a similar
manner at its upper end, or the said wire may have a separate wire c¹ attached to
it at its upper end and at right angles to the same as shewn; this wire c is attached
at its upper end to a fine silk or other thread & which is wound around a pin or
piece d', so that the position of the said aluminium wire c may be accurately
regulated vertically by turning a button or stud d² at the end of the pin d. The
latter is attached to a vertical standard e arranged in a convenient. position as
shewn. To the aluminium wire c I attach a series of thin pieces of metal f, each
of which is constructed in the form of a double fork, as shewn in Figure 3; each
of the forks has two arms f* projecting outward from a central disc f¹, and there
are two of such forks to each piece, each fork extending from the central disc in an
opposite direction to the other fork. An eye or hole is provided through guide-

page_text: pieces el projecting from the vertical standard e, through which holes the aluminium
wire c passes in-such a manner as to have free play therein. The forked pieces of
are attached firmly to the aluminium wire c at such distances apart and in such
positions that there will be a two-armed fork resting over and under each coil a,
that is to say, there will be a fork under each of the lowest coils, and another fork
between the upper part of this coil and the lower part of the one above it, and-- so
on to the highest coil, however many may be used, and there may be one fork
above the top coil. The said forked pieces fare magnetized, one arm of each fork
.being a north pole and the other a south pole, so that in each forked piece. theré
are two north poles and two south poles, and the polarity of these pieces is-so
arranged than when the current passes through the coils, the attracting and
repelling action of the said current on the separate poles of the forked piece tends
to incline the said piece in one direction or the other, according to whether the
current is positive or negative.
The portion of the vertical aluminium wire c which is bent out at right angles
to the same and which I hereinafter termi a bent arm, is bound with a fine platinum
wire at its free end, and this end is in some cases arranged to come in contact with
insulating material in close proximity to similar wire bound around the upper part
of a vertical spring, whose lower end is attached to the base plate or stand.. On
the other side of the said bent arm there is an upright post through the upper part
of which a screw or dead stop passes, the said screw being provided with a head
so that it may be adjusted nearer to or farther from the bent arm, the end of
which abuts against the end of the said screw when the apparatus is at rest.
-
I prefer. however to employ the wire c¹ as shewn in the Drawings, this wire being
attached to the wire c as herein before described, and I'arrange the wire c¹ to abut
against the dead stop or screw gl-in the pillar g.. I also prefer to employ in place
of the said flat spring another screw 92, which is also arranged in the-post or pillar
g, and. in order to prevent the free end of the wire c' from coming into actual
contact with the screw of I arrange another screw g³ provided with insulating
material. at its inner end in close proximity to the screw g³, and the screw g³ is so
adjusted that the end of the wire c¹ will come in contact. with the samo in its
vibrations and will thereby be prevented from coming into actual contact with the
screw g³,.so that when the end of the said wire is in contact with the screw g³ the
the current will leap from the end of the wire c¹ into the screw g² adjacent thereto
and produce a spark at this point..
I provide upon one stand two sets of the parts above described, as shewn in the
Drawings, the two sets being so connected that every current from the line or
cable passes through both, but the mechanism is so arranged that one set only is
operative when a positive current passes through, and the other set is operative
only when the current passing through the same is a negative one. This is effected
as follows, that is to say-I provide a permanent steel magnet h which is so placed
that the end of each of its two arms or extensions 'reaches sufficiently near to one
of the forked pieces f.of each set.for. the said pieces to be within its field, and the
said magnet is so arranged that it may be adjusted longitudinally, and is pivotted
at. so that it may be also adjusted transversely. When the apparatus is at rest
this magnet exercises just.sufficient power on the free ends of the said forked pieces
f.to draw them. towards itself.or.retain them in a central position, that is to say,
with the two arms of each fork equidistant. from the cores b. of the coils a, and
.consequently to cause the free end of the bent part of the wire c or the wire c' to
be in contact with the end of the screws or dead stops g¹in the upright posts g,
but immediately a current of positive electricity is. sent. through the coils it will
have a tendency to hold the. bent arm of the wire c¹ of..one set 15 more firmly
against its dead stop. whilst at the same time it will overcome the attraction of the
magnet upon the forked piece of the other set 14, and, the bent arm or wire c' of
this set will therefore be withdrawn from the end of the screw g' and will be
pressed into contact with the aforesaid vertical spring. or with the screw g³, and a
local circuit starting from the terminal m³ of the. induction coil m passes through

page_text: the wires:1, 2, 3 to one of the relays n, and then through the said relay and the
wire 4 to the pen o connected therewith, and the said pen will thus be caused to
record upon the paper, the current then passing through the drum p to the wire:5
and thence to the terminal m². By thus arranging the cores of the said sets so
that their poles are averse to each other, as will be seen by reference to Figure 1 of
the Drawings, it follows that when a positive current of electricity is passed through
the same as above described the wire c¹ in-connection with one set of forks c will be
more firmly, pressed against its dead stop g¹ whilst the wire c¹ in connection with
the other set of forks will be moved into contact with the stop g³ and will complete
the local circuit through the screw g² as above explained. The instant the current
ceases to pass through the coils a and the bent arm or the wire c' the said arm or wire
is drawn away from the stop g³ to its normal position, that is to say, in contact
with its stop screw g¹, being assisted in this movement and retained in position by
one of the aforesaid magnets h. If a negative current is sent through the coils the
same operation is repeated with this difference only, namely, that the other set 15
will in that case be operative, whilst the one that was operative under the influence
of the positive current will remain inactive, that is to say, the local circuit starting
from the terminal m³ passes through the wire 1 to the wire 6 and thence through
the wire c¹ to the wire 7, and to the relay n¹ and then through the relay and wire
8 to the pen o¹ and through the paper and drum p into the wire 5 back to the
terminal m2. By means of this arrangement the two pens o, o', placed side by side
are alternately operated as desired, dots being made upon the paper side by side
and in such relative position as to form the proper signs.
By the above described arrangement of the two sets of parts I avoid the necessity
of employing two stops in connection with a single bent arm or wire c¹ to produce
dots side by side upon the paper, and I also obviate the necessity of returning the
said wire to a central position between the said stops, which is very disadvantageous
by reason of the difficulty of returning the said wire to its proper centre without
liability, in the quick movement imparted to it by its magnet, to come in contact with
one or the other of the said stops accidentally, and thereby record a false and
improper mark upon the paper.
According to another part of my present improvements, in order to prevent any
possibility of the bent arms being held in contact with their respective vertical
springs (when such springs are employed) upon the current ceasing to flow I impart
to the said vertical springs a continuous vibratory motion by means of a local
battery placed in circuit with an electro-magnet and armature; the latter is caused
to vibrate by an arrangement for alternately making and breaking the circuit in a
well known manner,
and to this armature is connected a thread which is carried
over small rollers and is attached to the said vertical springs, the latter being thus
kept in constant motion.
Another part of my Invention relates to the employment in connection with the
apparatus above described of the two separate relays n, n', provided with indepen-
dent armatures n**, n*, arranged to come into contact with separate springs q, q³,
connected with separate neutralizing batteries 7, r³, instead of employing a single
armature connected with only one neutralizing battery, as described in the Specifi-
.cation of the said former Letters Patent. By employing two sets of armatures,
springs, and neutralizing batteries the connections of the cable or line wire with the
various parts of the apparatus will be as follows, that is to say, the cable 9 is con-
nected through the armature n*, the screw s, and wire 10 to the armature n**, and
through the screw 8¹ and wire 11 to one set 14 of the receiving mechanism, and
through the wire 12 to the other set 15 of the receiving mechanism, and through
the wire 13 to the earth. By this arrangement, if a wave of electricity is passed
into the cable it will enter my improved apparatus through the wire 9 and pass
through the armature n*, screw 8, wire 10, armature n**, screw a¹, wire 11, the
series 14 of the coils c, then through the wire 12 to the second series 15; and out at
the wire 13 to earth. The result of the passage of a positive wave of electricity will
be as follows, that is, to say, the bent arm or spring cof the set 14. will, move

page_text: towards the screws g², g³, and the local circuit will be closed through the relay n
and the armature n** will be attracted, the cable being thus disconnected from both
the sets of coils 14 and 15, and the armature being brought in contact with tho
spring q' connects the cable with the neutralizing battery r and the earth. On the
other hand, if a negative wave is sent into the cable it will move the bent arm or
wire c' of the set of coils 15 towards the screws g², g³, and the local circuit will then
be closed through the relay n' and the armature n* will be attracted, and thus again
the cable will be disconnected from the receiving apparatus, and the armature being
brought into contact with the spring q will connect the cable with the neutralizing
battery and the earth. It will therefore be seen that, according to whether the
current arriving through the line or cable be positive or negative, a local or
neutralizing battery sending a current of opposite polarity is automatically brought
into the circuit, and therefore the incoming current of one polarity is neutralized by
the outgoing current of the opposite polarity. When the current ceases to flow
through either of the electro-magnets n, n¹, its armature falls back and the cable or
line wire is again connected to earth and disconnected from the local neutralizing
battery. A condenser may be employed instead of a neutralizing battery.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. In a telegraphic recording apparatus, the hollow coils (with or without iron
centres) arranged in combination with magnetic forks, substantially as above
described and for the purposes specified.
Second. In a telegraphic recording apparatus, the employment of magnetic forks
or forked pieces for the purpose above set forth.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the forks, the bent arm or wire, and
the dead stop, all so relatively arranged with each other and with the other parts of
the instrument that when the bent arm or wire rests against the dead stop the
current will not pass to the pen, but when the arm is moved away from the dead
stop the current will be conducted to the said pen through the bent arm or wire and
through the electro-magnet in connection therewith, as above described.
Fourth. The combination of the two sets of coils and forks and adjacent parts, con-
structed and arranged in such a manner that by sending currents of opposite polarity
through the same each set will actuate the pen connected therewith independently
of the other, substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. In a telegraphic recording apparutus, the employment of two independent
relays or electro-magnets with independent armatures for connecting the cable with
one or the other of two neutralizing batteries, substantially as above set forth and
for the purposes specified.
Sixth. Imparting a continuous vibratory movement to the vertical spring by
means of a local battery and an electro-magnet, substantially as above described and
for the purpose specified.
Seventh. A telegraphic recording apparatus comprising the parts constructed and
operating as above set forth, and as shewn in the Drawings, for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Kirk Boyle, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our Lord One
R. K. BOYLE. (L.S.)