IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SENDING BY MEANS OF FINGER KEYS, AND FOR RECEIVING AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES, PARTS OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO ELECTRIC TELE! GRAPH APPARATUS GENERALLY
Year: 1873

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Charles William Siemens, of No. 3, Great George
Street, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SENDING BY MEANS OF
FINGER KEYS, AND FOR RECEIVING AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES,
PARTS OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO ELECTRIC TELE!
GRAPH APPARATUS GENERALLY."-A communication from abroad by
Dr. Werner Siemens and Friedrich Von Hefner Alteneck, both of
Berlin, in the German Empire.
caled the 12th December 1873, and dated the 27th June 1873.
.0
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles William
Siemens at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th June 1873.
I, CHARLES WILLIAM SIEMENS, of No. 3, Great George Street,
Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR
SENDING BY MEANS OF FINGER KEYS, AND FOR RECEIVING AND PRINTING TELE-

page_text: GRAPHIC MESSAGES, PARTS OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APPARATUS GENERALLY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to electrical apparatus for transmitting,
receiving, and printing telegraphic messages, such apparatus consisting
of two parts or sets of mechanism, of which the one set serve for sending
the message, and the other set for receiving, indicating, and printing the
same.
The sending mechanism is of the following description:-A number
of finger keys are arranged in any convenient order, as for example, the
keys of a musical instrument, cach key answering to a particular letter,
number, or other signal, which it is desired to transmit. The keys are
connected to levers, which work against the sides of an endless chain
caused to travel round or over wheels. The links of this chain have
holes fitted with transversely sliding pins, and the levers which work
against the chain are arranged to push these pins to the one side or the
other of the chain. The finger keys are severally connected to such a
number of these levers in such succession that the depression of any
key has the effect of pushing single pins or pairs or other numbers of
pins in certain order so as to answer to predetermined signals, such as
those which form the Morse or other telegraphic codes. For example,
the pushing of a single pin may be made by electrical connections
hereafter to be described to send the signal of a dot, the pushing of two
or more adjacent pins to send the signal of a dash, or of two pins not
adjacent to signal two dots separated by a blank interval, and thus by
combining single pins or pairs or other numbers of pins pushed with
intervening single pins or pairs or other numbers of pius not pushed a
variety of signals may be transmitted, distinguishing letters, figures, and
other marks, as is well understood.
The special combination of pins pushed or not pushed appropriated to
each key is determined by the connection of the key to the pushing
levers. For this purpose cach key when depressed moves forward a
sliding bar, which has on its edge projections and notches in determinate
order. Facing the row of bars moved by the several keys is another set
of sliding bars, each of which moves one of the pushing levers, the latter
set of bars being arranged transversely to the former set. Of the latter
set of bars only such are pushed forward by the depression of a key as
face projections on the bar moved by the key, all those which face

page_text: notches in that bar being left at rest. Thus the pushing levers aro
moved in order corresponding with that of the projections on the bar
moved by the key, and consequently the pins on the chain arc pushed
in like order.
The chain might be caused to travel along the field of the pushing
levers by clockwork, but in this case the operator would have to time
his action on the keys so as to correspond with the movement of the
chain. It is therefore preferred to move the chain or regulate its
movement by the action of the keys themselves, so that it shall travel
the proper distance due to the signal produced by any key. For this
purpose cach key, besides acting as above described on the levers, which
push the pins, acts also on a lever, which by means of a pawl turns the
wheel over which the chain passes a certain part of a revolution, more
or less, according as the number of pins pushed by the action of the key
extends over a greater or less length of the chain; or the chain wheel
being acted on by a weight or spring the depression of a key permits it
to rotate a distance suited to the extent of chain affected by that
particular key. The chain with the pins thus pushed is made to pass
on its onward course contact surfaces, so that cach protruding pin as it
passes causes a current of electricity to flow for a short period along the
line wire, two or more adjacent pins passing successively, causing the
current to flow for a longer period, and when portions of the chain with
no pins protruding pass the contact surfaces the current along the line
wire is stopped for a longer or shorter period.
Instead of employing the pins themselves to make electrical contact,
for which purpose they would have to be conductors insulated, they may
preferably be made to move in their transit a spring which effects the
making and breaking of contact in any known manner, or in a manner
which will hereafter be described.
As has been stated above the chain in passing the levers, whereby its
pins are pushed, should move intermittantly through distances depending
for their length on the number of pins acted on by the depression of the
finger key; in making contact however by means of its protruding pins
the chain should move uniformly as the paper or other recipient of the
transmitted signals at the receiving instrument travels. In order that
this result may be attained the chain is made of considerable length, so
that it may hang loosely between the wheel, which carries it along the

page_text: pushing levers, and the wheel which carries it along the contact making
instrument, and the latter wheel being moved uniformly the slack of the
chain allows for the variation in speed of the two wheels. The latter
uniformly rotating or contact wheel may be moved by clockwork,
independent of the other or key wheel, but in this case the operator
would have to time his action on the finger keys to suit the speed of the
clockwork. It is therefore preferred that the contact wheel should be
moved by connections from the key wheel or from the keys themselves
of the kind known as remontoir apparatus, whereby the depression of
every key besides moving the key wheel partially winds up a weight or
spring, which gives uniform movement to the contact wheel.
The protruding pins of the chain after passing the contact making
instrument are led along between inclined cheeks or rollers, whereby
they are pushed back so as to be ready to be acted on by the pushing
levers, when they come again to face them; and thus by the continued
movement of the chain and the depression of successive finger keys a
series of signals can be transmitted along the line wire determined in
their character by combinations of longer or shorter electrical currents
with longer or shorter intervals between them. The keys are provided
with springs or counterweights to raise them when they are relieved of
the finger pressure and are arranged in connection with a spring sliding
or tumbling bar, which takes into notclics on the key stems, so that
when any key is depressed it prevents another key from being depressed
until it is itself raised.
In a modified form of this apparatus a cylinder with sliding pins
mounted on its periphery is substituted for the travelling chain with its
wheels. These sliding pins are pushed, and the cylinder is moved or
released by levers acted on by finger keys, in a manner similar to that
described above in reference to the travelling chain and its pins, and the
protruding pins being brought round by the rotation of the cylinder act
on contact-making instruments, and are restored to their normal
position by being passed between inclined surfaces or rollers in a manner
similar to the pins of the chain, as, like the chain wheel, the cylinder
has to move intermittently over distances varying according to the
extent of pins acted on by the particular keys depressed, but the
contacts have to be made with a uniform velocity of succession, so as to
adapt them to the travel of the paper or other recipient at the receiving
end of the line. The protruding pins are not made to pass with varying

page_text: velocity a contact instrument fixed in position, but a pointer connected
to the contact maker is caused to travel by remontoir apparatus worked
from the movement of the cylinder with a velocity regulated by a fly
over the range of the successive pins on the cylinder, and this pointer
according as it is pushed in passing a protruding pin, or is not pushed in
passing a pin that does not protrude, causes contact to be made or not for
transmitting a current or succession of currents, or for stopping the
current in the line wire.
The pins of the chain above described, as well as those of the cylinder,
instead of being protruded towards only the one side of the chain or end
of the cylinder may be protruded to either side or end by arranging
pushing levers worked by the keys and contact makers on both sides of
the chain, or at both ends of the cylinder, and thus the protrusion of a
pin in the one direction may be made to transmit a positive current,
while the protrusion of a pin in the other direction may cause the
transmission of a negative current. The contact effected by the passage
of a protruded pin may be employed either to send a direct current
through the line wire, or to bring a relay into action for the transmission
of the current of such relay.
A convenient form of contact maker to be operated by the protruding
pins is of the following description:-A metallic blade spring is
arranged to butt with one of its ends against a fixed point, and its other
end is pressed by a spring, so that the blade is bent and made to bear
with its convex side against one pole of a battery, or one contact surface
of an electric circuit, while its concave side is removed from the other
pole or contact surface. A forked lever worked. by the protruding pin
embraces this blade spring between its forks. When this lever is
moved, the one fork bearing against the convex side of the blade causes
it to bend backwards until it just passes its middle position, where the
blade is straight, after which it becomes suddenly bent in the contrary
direction, making contact on the opposite side, and carrying the fork
with it. Thus the blade which is itself in connection with the line wire
is made by a very slight movement of the lever rapidly to effect the
transmission of a positive or negative current through the line wire.
The contact may also be made by providing the contact lever with a
yielding tongue, which can play between two contact surfaces, or be
brought to rest against either, in a manner similar to the contact maker
or key usually employed in connection with Morse instruments.

page_text: The currents thus transmitted may be equalized in duration by the
following arrangement:-The line wire is connected to a second contact
lever, which is the armature of an electro-magnet, the coil of which
. forms a branch resistance circuit or shunt to earth, and this lever can
play between two contact points, one of which is connected to carth,
and the other to the contact lever first mentioned. This armature lever
as long as the electro-magnet is active is attracted in opposition to a
spring, and makes contact with earth, but when the clectro-magnet is
inert it is caused by the spring to make contact with the contact lever
first mentioned. The yielding tongue of this first contact lever, while it
rests against either of the poles between which it plays, permits a
current either positive or negative to pass into the line and through the
coil of the electro-magnet, whereby the armature lever is drawn away
from its contact position, but when the tongue changes its position, and
at the same time the direction of the current, the armature is momentarily
released and again attracted, making during its momentary release
contact for the transmission into the line of a current which must be
short, however long may be the duration of contact of the tongue.
A similar arrangement is obviously applicable for equalising currents
in working with relay or with currents of varying duration transmitted
by any known means.
The armature in striking against its stop connected to carth causes
the line wire to be discharged. A like equalization of the duration of
currents and discharge of the line wire may be effected also by the bent
spring contact instrument described above.
The currents transmitted through a line wire by the apparatus and in
the manner above described, whether such currents be equalized or not,
may be employed to give indications on any known receiving instru-
ment, as for example, on paper strips by chemical action, or by inkers,
according to the Morse or Steinheil or other codes. Such currents when
they are both positive and negative, and whether they are sent by means
of the apparatus described above, or by other known means, may also be
employed to work type printing instruments of the following descrip-
tion: The types are mounted in the usual way round the periphery of a
wheel which is turned step by step by a succession of currents until the
proper type is brought to the printing position.
In order to lessen the number of steps necessary to arrive at any par-
cular type a short current in one direction may be made to turn the

page_text: wheel several divisions at a time, while a short current in the opposite
direction causes it to turn only one division. Thus for example, if a
positive current turned the wheel 4 divisions while a negative current
turned it one division, a type requiring a turn over 10 divisions might be
arrived at by 2 positive and 2 negative currents, that is to say, by 4
currents in all instead of 10 currents, which in ordinary cases would be
required. This result is obtained by gearing the wheel in different pro-
portions to two wheels, the one of which is moved by the currents of
one direction and the other by currents of the other direction. It may
also be obtained by setting the types round the periphery of a cylinder
at different distances from its end, and causing the cylinder to rotate
by currents of one direction, and to move longitudinally in the direction
of its axis by currents of the opposite. direction. Or the types may be
arranged on a plain slide at different distances from its sides and ends,
such slide being moved longitudinally by currents of one direction and
transversely by those of another direction. Thus a certain number of
divisions moved over longitudinally, combined with a certain number
moved over transversely, will bring the required type into printing
position. The types may be arranged on the wheel cylinder or slide
in such order that those most commonly used shall be brought into
position for printing by the smallest number of currents. The wheel
cylinder or slide is counterweighted or pressed by a spring, so that after
it has been moved and the impression of the type has been taken it is
released and moves back to its zero position. The impression of the
type brought into position may be effected in any known manner, it is
preferred however to effect it by mechanism of the following description:
-A lever is pressed lightly by a spring against the teeth of a wheel
which rotates with the type wheel, and which has a tooth corresponding
to cach type. As every tooth of this wheel passes it lifts the lever and
causes it to strike a contact surface connected with a local battery, but
for so short a period that no effective current can pass. When however
the wheel comes to rest, a particular type having been brought to
position the lever resting on the summit of a tooth is kept long enough
up to the contact to permit a current from the local battery to pass
through the coil of the electro-magnet. This magnet thus rendered
active attracts its armature which causes the type to make its impression,
and at the same time moves the lever above mentioned a little sideways
so that it drops from the point of the tooth on which it rested into the
adjacent hollow. Contact is thus broken and the electro-magnet

page_text: becomes inert, so that its armature is drawn back by a spring or weight
moving the paper a sufficient distance for the reception of the next
impression, and releasing the type wheel so that it returns to its zero
position.
Instead of employing a type wheel worked by positive and negative
currents as described above the following mechanism may be used:-
Two pointers are arranged which are caused to travel, the one by
positive and the other by negative currents across yielding contacts
arranged in order. The one pointer is connected to the one pole of a
local battery, and the other pointer to the other pole, and each of the
yielding contacts of the one set is connected to each of the yielding
contacts of the other set by a wire which coils round an electro-magnet.
There are thus as many electro-magnets as there are pairs of such con-
nected contacts, and cach such magnet has an armature provided with a
type or marker or connected to a type or marker. The pointers above
mentioned when they are caused by a succession of currents passing
along the line wire to move rapidly over the yielding contacts, do not
rest on any of them a sufficient time for establishing the local current
in sufficient force to work the armatures of the electro-magnets con-
nected with them. But when both pointers come to rest, each on onc
of the yielding contacts, the circuit of the local battery is completed
through these contacts, and the coil of the electro-magnet in the wire
connecting them. The magnet is thus rendered active and its armature
being attracted works the type or marker and causes an impression to
be made determined by the particular pair of contacts which are thus
for the time connected. It will thus be understood that by a very few
currents, positive and negative, a large number of combinations may
be obtained, each contact effected by the one pointer being capable of
being combined with each of those effected by the other pointer. Each
of the armatures worked as above described is connected to mechanism
similar to that above set forth, whereby when the impression has been
made contact is broken, the paper or other surface receiving the im-
pression is moved onwards and the pointers are restored to their zero
position

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles William Siemens in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th December 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WILLIAM SIEMENS, of No. 3, Great George Street, Westminster, in the
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles William Siemens, Her special
license that I, the said Charles William Siemens, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles William
Siemens, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRICAL APPARATUS FOR SENDING BY MEANS OF FINGER
KEYS, AND FOR RECEIVING AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES, PARTS OF
THESE IMPROVEMENTS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH APparatus
GENERALLY," a communication to me from abroad by Dr. Werner Siemens
and Friedrich Von Hefner Alteneck, both of Berlin, in the German
Empire, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
William Siemens, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.

page_text: This Invention relates to electrical apparatus for transmitting,
receiving, and printing telegraphic messages, such apparatus consisting
of two parts or sets of mechanism, of which the one set serve for sending
the message, and the other set for receiving, indicating, and printing the
same.
The sending mechanism is of the following description :-A number
of finger keys are arranged in any convenient order, as for example the
keys of a musical instrument, cach key answering to a particular letter,
number, or other signal which it is desired to transmit. The keys aro
connected to levers which work against the sides of an endless chain
caused to travel round or over wheels. The links of this chain have
holes fitted with transversely sliding pins, and the levers which work
against the chain are arranged to push these pins to the one side or the
other of the chain. The finger keys are severally connected to such a
number of these levers in such succession that the depression of any key
has the effect of pushing single pins or pairs or other numbers of pins in
.certain order, so as to answer to predetermined signals, such as those
which form the Morse or other telegraphic codes. For example, the
pushing of a single pin may be made by electrical connections hereafter
to be described to send the signal of a dot, the pushing of two or more
adjacent pins to send the signal of a dash, or of two pins not adjacent to
signals two dots separated by a blank interval, and thus by combining
single pins or pairs or other numbers of pins pushed with intervening
single pins or pairs or other numbers of pins not pushed a variety of
signals may be transmitted distinguishing letters, figures, and other
marks, as is well understood.
The special combination of pins pushed or not pushed appropriated to
cach key is determined by the connection of the key to the pushing
levers. For this purpose each key when depressed moves forward a
sliding bar which has on its edge projections and notches in determinate
order. Facing the row of bars moved by the several keys is another set
of sliding bars, each of which moves one of the pushing levers, the latter
set of bars being arranged transversely to the former set. Of the latter
set of bars only such are pushed forward by the depression of a key as
face projections on the bar moved by the key, all those which face
notches in that bar being left at rest. Thus the pushing levers are

page_text: moved in order corresponding with that of the projections on the bar
moved by the key, and consequently the pins on the chain are pushed in
like order.
The chain might be caused to travel along the field of the pushing
levers by clockwork, but in this case the operator would have to time
his action on the keys so as to correspond with the movement of the
chain. It is therefore preferred to move the chain or regulate its
movement by the action of the keys themselves, so that it shall travol
the proper distance due to the signal produced by any key. For this
purpose each key besides acting as above described on the levers which
push the pins acts also on a lever which by means of a pawl turns the
wheel, over which the chain passes a certain part of a revolution, more or
less, according as the number of pins pushed by the action of the key
extends over a greater or less length of the chain. Or the chain wheel
being acted on by a weight or spring the depression of a key permits it
to rotate a distance suited to the extent of chain affected by that
particular key. The chain with the pins thus pushed is made to pass
on its onward course contact surfaces, so that cach protruding pin as it
passes causes a current of electricity to flow for a short period along the
line wire, two or more adjacent pins passing successively causing the
current to flow for a longer period, and when portions of the chain with
no pins protruding pass the contact surfaces, the current along the lino
wire is stopped for a longer or shorter period.
Instead of employing the pins themselves to make clectrical contact,
for which purpose they would have to be conductors insulated, they
may preferably be made to move in their transit a lever or spring
which effects the making and breaking of contact in any known manner,
or in a manner which will hereafter be described.
As has been stated above the chain in passing the levers whereby
its pins are pushed should move intermittently through distances
depending for their length on the number of pins acted on by the
depression of the finger key; in making contact however by means
of its protruding pins the chain should move uniformly as the paper
or other recipient of the transmitted signals at the receiving instru-
ment travels. In order that this result may be attained the chain is
made of considerable length so that it may hang loosely between the
wheel which carries it along the pushing levers and the wheel which
carries it along the contact making instrument, and the latter wheel

page_text: being moved uniformly the slack of the chain allows for the variation
in speed of the two wheels. The latter uniformly rotating or contact
wheel may be moved by clockwork independant of the other or key
wheel; but in this case the operator would have to time his action
on the finger keys to suit the speed of the clockwork; it is therefore
preferred that the contact wheel should be moved by connections from
the key wheel, or from the keys themselves of the kind known as
remontoir apparatus, whereby the depression of every key besides
moving the key wheel partially winds up a weight or spring which
gives uniform movement to the contact wheel.
The protruding pins of the chain after passing the contact making
instrument are led along between inclined checks or rollers, whereby
they are pushed back so as to be ready to be acted on by the pushing
levers when they come again to face them. And thus by the continued
movement of the chain, and the depression of successive finger keys,
a series of signals can be transmitted along the line wire determined
in their character by combinations of longer or shorter electrical currents,
with longer or shorter intervals between them. The keys are provided
with springs or counterweights to raise them when they are relieved of
the finger pressure, and are arranged in connection with a spring sliding
or tumbling bar which takes into notches on the key stems, so that
when any key is depressed it prevents another key from being depressed
until it is itself raised.
In a modified form of this apparatus a cylinder with sliding pins
mounted on its periphery is substituted for the travelling chain with
its wheels; these sliding pins are pushed and the cylinder is moved
or released by levers acted on by finger keys in a manner similar
to that described above in reference to the travelling chain and its pins,
and the protruding pins being brought round by the rotation of the
cylinder act on contact making instruments, and are restored to their
normal position by being passed between inclined surfaces or rollers
in a
manner similar to the pins of the chain, as, like the chain
wheel, the cylinder has to move intermittently over distances varying
according to the extent of pins acted on by the particular keys
depressed, but the contacts have to be made with a uniform velocity:
of succession, so as to adapt them to the travel of the paper or other
recipient at the receiving end of the line. The protruding pins are
not made to pass with varying velocity a contact instrument fixed

page_text: in position, but a pointer connected to the contact maker is caused
to travel by remontoir apparatus worked from the movement of the
cylinder with a velocity regulated by a fly over the range of the
successive pins on the cylinder, and this pointer according as it is
pushed in passing a protruding pin or is not pushed in passing a
pin that does not protrude causes contact to be made or not for trans-
mitting a current or succession of currents, or for stopping the current
in the line wire.
The pins of the chain above described, as well as those of the cylinder,
instead of being protruded towards only the one side of the chain or
end of the cylinder may be protruded to either side or end by arranging
pushing levers worked by the keys and contact makers on both sides
of the chain, or at both ends of the cylinder, and thus the protrusion
of a pin in the one direction may be made to transmit a positive
current, while the protrusion of a pin in the other direction may cause
the transmission of a negative current. The contact effected by the
passage of a protruded pin may be employed cither to send a direct
current through the line wire, or to bring a relay into action for the
transmission of the current of such relay.
A convenient form of contact maker to be operated by the protruding
pins is of the following description:-A metallic blade spring is arranged
to butt with one of its ends against a fixed point, and its other end is
pressed by a spring so that the blade is bent and made to bear with its
convex side against one pole of a battery or one contact surface of an
electric circuit while its concave side is removed from the other pole or
contact surface. A forked lever worked by the protruding pin embraces
this blade spring between its forks. When this lever is moved the one
fork bearing against the convex side of the blade causes it to bend back-
wards until it just passes its middle position where the blade is straight,
after which it becomes suddenly bent in the contrary direction, making
contact on the opposite side and carrying the fork with it. Thus the
blade which is itself in connection with the line wire is made by a very
slight movement of the lever rapidly to effect contact with the one or
the other pole of the battery or to effect the transmission of a positive or
negative current through the line wire. The contact may also be made
by providing the contact lever with a yielding tongue which can play
between two contact surfaces or be brought to rest against either in a
manner similar to the contact maker or key usually employed in con-

page_text: nection with Morse instruments. The currents thus transmitted may bo
equalized in duration by any known arrangement for that purpose, as for
example that known as the zinc sender.
The currents transmitted through a line wire by the apparatus, and in
the manner above described, whether such currents be equalized or not
may be employed to give indications on any known receiving instrument,
as for example on paper strips by chemical action or by inkers, according
to the Morse, or Steinheil, or other codes. Such currents when they are
both positive and negative, and whether they are sent by means of the
apparatus described above, or by other known means, may also be
employed to work type printing instruments of the following
description:-The types are mounted in the usual way round the
periphery of a wheel which is turned step by step by a succession of
currents until the proper type is brought to the printing position.
In order to lessen the number of steps necessary to arrive at any
particular type, a short current in one direction may be made to turn
the wheel several divisions at a time, as for example four divisions, while
a short current in the opposite direction causes it to turn only one
division. Thus for example if a positive current turned the wheel 4
divisions while a negative current turned it 1 division, a type requiring
a turn over 10 divisions might be arrived at by 2 positive and 2 negativo
currents, that is to say, by 4 currents in all instead of 10 currents,
which in ordinary cases would be required. This result is obtained by
gearing the type wheel in different proportions to two wheels, the one
of which is moved by currents of the one direction, and the other by
currents of the other direction. It may also be obtained by setting the
types round the periphery of a cylinder at different distances from its
end, and causing the cylinder to rotate by currents of one direction and
to move longitudinally in the direction of its axis by currents of the
opposite direction; or the types may be arranged on a plane slide at
different distances from its sides and ends, such slide being moved longi-
tudinally by currents of one direction, and transversely by those of
another direction. Thus a certain number of divisions moved over
longitudinally, combined with a certain number moved over transversely
will bring the required type into printing position. The types may be
arranged on the wheel cylinder or slide in such order that those most
commonly used shall be brought into position for printing by the
smallest number of currents. The wheel cylinder or slide is counter-

page_text: weighted or pressed by a spring, so that after it has been moved and the.
impression of the type has been taken it is released and moves to its
zero position. The impression of the type brought into position may bo
cffected in any known manner. It is preferred however to effect it by
mechanism of the following description:-A lever is pressed lightly by
a spring against the teeth of a wheel which rotates with the type wheel,
and which has a tooth corresponding to each type. As every tooth of
this wheel passes it lifts the lever and causes it to strike a contact
surface connected with a local battery, but for so short a period that no
effective current can pass. When however the wheel comes to rest a
particular tppe having been brought to position the lever resting on the
summit of a tooth is kept long enough up to the contact to permit a
current from the local battery to pass through the coil of an electro-
magnet. This magnet thus rendered active attracts its armaturo which
causes the type to make its impression, and at the same time moves
the lever above mentioned a little sideways so that it drops from the
point of the tooth on which it rested into the adjacent hollow. Contact
is thus broken and the electro-magnet becomes inert, so that its armature
is drawn back by a spring or weight, moving the paper a sufficient
distance for the reception of the next impression, and releasing the type
wheel so that it returns to its zero position.
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, Sheet I., represents diagrammatically, a side view, and Fig. 2
an end view of apparatus for sending telegraphic messages by means of
finger keys shifting sliding pins in the links of a chain. a is one of a.
number of finger keys or buttons,. cach of which is fixed on a bell-crank
lever. When the key or button a is depressed a bar b is pushed forward.
This bar has on its face projections, several of which are shown at 6'.
Facing the bars 6 are a number of bars c, arranged one above another,
so that they can slide horizontally. Of these bars c only such will be
pressed forwards by the depression of a key a as face projections, such
as b' on the bar 6, worked by that key. Beyond the bars c are mounted.
levers d, each of which lias a projection facing one of the bars c, so that
on one or more of the bars c being pushed forward by the depression of
5, one of the keys a, one or more of the levers d will also be pushed
forward..
A chain e is made to move along, as will hereafter be described, in
front of the levers d, and in this chain are fitted a number of sliding.

page_text: pins (as shewn by the side view and plan of a portion of the chain at
Fig. 6), so that when one or more of the levers d are pushed forward,
one or more of the pins fin the chain e are caused to slide transversely
to the line of the chain so as to be protruded on the farther side thereof.
The chain is a continuous or endless one, and is passed over wheels and
guide pullies, as shewn in Fig. 1. Of these the wheel f¹ is driven con-
tinuously in the direction of the arrow by clockwork, and the wheels ƒ³
is retained by a pawl f³. A portion of the chain hangs loosely at e',
while another loop of the chain at e³ passes round a pulley strained
downwards by a spring or weight. The levers d act as above described
upon the portion of the chain e³, and in so acting lift the pawl f³, so
that the wheel f' moves in obedience to the spring or weight, and
thereby causes a portion of the chain to be drawn onwards. The pro-
truded pins of this portion of the chain keep the pawl f³ out of gear till
the last of such protruded pins has passed the part of the pawl on which
the pins act, being made of sufficient length for the combination of pins
forming a signal, and the space or interval between that signal and the
next. When the last pin has passed, the pawl again drops into gear,
and holds the wheel f³ stationary until it be again released in the same
manner. The wheel f² is thus moved intermittently, according as the
finger keys are depressed, while the wheel f¹ rotates continuously, the
loops e¹, e², of the chain allowing for the differences in its rate of travel
at the different parts of its course. A contact lever g is mounted in such
a manner that when one of the protruded pins of the chain passes under
its end it makes contact for the transmission of a current of electricity
along a line wire. The chain in moving onwards after such contact has
been effected passes under a roller k, which moves back the protruded
pins to their normal position in the chain.
Instead of a roller / a fixed incline might be used for this purpose.
Fig. 3 represents a side view, and Fig. 4 an end view of an apparatus
like that above described, but somewhat modified in its construction and
action, and adapted for the protrusion of pins on both sides of the chain.
a is one of the finger keys, as formerly described, acting on a bar b,
having projections which push forward one or more of the series of
bars c.
These bars act on two sets of levers d and d', of which the
former serve to push the pins of the chain to one side, and the
latter, being pivotted to work in the opposite direction, serve to push the
pins to the other side of the chain. Each of the bars c, when it is

page_text: pushed forward, acts by means of a bell-crank lever, so as to raise a rod k
in opposition to a spring k¹, and this rod is connected to a pawl lever k².
on the spindle of a ratchet wheell, of which wheel and pawl a side
view is shewn in Fig. 5. On the finger key a being released the spring /¹
draws down the pawl lever ², and thereby turns the wheel la distance.
dependent on the amount of stroke which had been given to the rod k,
by that one of the bars c which acted on it. These bars c being
arranged so that the higher ones correspond to the longer signals the
amount of revolution given to the wheel is proportioned to the length
of chain occupied by protruded pins, that is to say, the length of
signal and the space or interval between it and the next. The ratchet
wheel has a pawl to prevent it from turning backwards, and on its
spindle is fixed a chain wheel m, over which the chain e passes. The
chain also passes over another chain wheel f¹³, which is geared to a
fly f*, so as to make its motion uniform or nearly so, and which is, by
an intermediate wheel n', geared to a wheel n, loose on the spindle of m,
but connected to it by a volute spring. Thus, as the wheel m is caused
by the action of the finger keys a to turn intermittently distances pro-
portioned to the signals transmitted the wheel f¹ is turned almost
uniformly by the tension of the volute spring governed by the fly f
Between the wheels m and f¹, and beyond the wheel f¹, portions of the
chain e hang loosely to allow for the difference at different periods in
the rate of travel of these wheels. The chain as it passes over the
wheel m has its pins protruded by the levers d and d¹ to either side or
to both sides by the action of the finger keys a. As it passes over the.
wheel f¹ the protruded pins act on contact levers g, and after such action
are restored to their normal position in the chain by passing under rollers.
or inclines h.
Fig. 7 represents a side view, and Fig. 8 an end view of the modified
sending apparatus, wherein instead of the sliding pins being fitted in the
links of a travelling chain they are fitted to slide in the periphery of a
rotating cylinder in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder. It
will be seen that the finger keys a, bars b, slides c, and levers d are in
this case arranged to act as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
The sliding pins fare fitted in the periphery of a cylinder e, the
spindle e¹ of which is driven by clockwork moved by a weight or spring.
A pointer e² (geared to a fly f' within the cylinder so as to render the
movement of the pointer e nearly uniform) is worked by remontoir
R

page_text: gearing from the spindle e¹. The cylinder e has ratchet teeth, in which
engages a spring pawl o having an inclined projection on its upper side.
While this pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth the cylinder e remains
at rest, the pointer e³, nevertheless, moving round over a portion of the
periphery of the cylinder. When one of the levers d is moved by the
action of a finger key so as to cause one of the pins f to protrude at one
side of the cylinder it at the same time disengages the pawl o, and the
cylinder e, acted on by the weight or spring, revolves a certain distance.
till the pawl o again drops into gear. The pawl is held out of gear as
long as any of the protruded pins fare passing over its inclined
projection, and this projection is made of such length as to permit so
much angular movement of the cylinder e as is necessary for the passage
of the terminal space after a signal as well as of the signal itself. The
protruded pins, after passing the pawl o, continue intermittently their
movement round with the cylinder, and the pointer e³, in passing over
them, causes contacts to be made by which currents are sent into the
line wire. The mode in which the passage of the pointer over a pro-
truded pin causes contact to be made may be varied.
The contrivance for this purpose, shewn in Fig. 8, is of the following
kind -On the pointer, near its axis, is mounted a bell-crank lever, from
one arm of which a wire extends radially along the pointer beyond its
point, and from the other arm of which a wire extends axially through a
hollow part of the spindle on which the pointer is mounted. In passing.
over a protruded pin the radial wire is pushed inwards, and the axial
wire is thus pushed outwards, and moves a contact lever g mounted
outside the bearing of the spindle. The pins f, after having caused
contact to be made, are brought round by the rotation of the cylinder,
so as to pass under a fixed incline h, whereby they are restored to their
normal position.
Figs. 9 and 10 shew by side and end views respectively a modification
of this apparatus according to which the pins fare protruded to either
side of the cylinder e, so as to actuate either of two contact levers 9 and
g¹, one of which is mounted at each side of the cylinder. In this case,
besides the levers & directly acted on by the finger keys, there is another
set d'arranged to push the pins f in the opposite direction; and there
is a pointer e² and e³ at each side of the cylinder, both moved by
remontoir gearing, the fly of which fis in this case worked by a worm.
It will be seen also that the pawl o by extending its rocking spindle o!

page_text: across the cylinder e is made to have an inclined projection on each side
of the cylinder, so that pins protruded cither way keep it out of gear with
the ratchet of the cylinder during the time of their passage over either
of the inclined projections.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the instrument with its finger keys,
such as is above described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 with a single
pointer, or such as is above described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10
with two pointers.
A farther modification of such sending instrument is effected by
making the cylinder stationary, and causing the levers which move its
pins, as well as the pointer to revolve round it. This modification is
shown in vertical section at Fig. 12, and a plan of part of it is shewn at
Fig. 13. In this case the slides c are concentric tubes arranged one
within another, any one or more of which can be pushed upwards by
projections on the ends x of the levers acted on by the depression of the
finger keys a. On a spindle fixed in the centre of these tubes is fixed
the cylinder e provided with sliding pins f round its periphery. A
ratchet ring is fixed on the circumference of the cylinder e.
An arm 7
is fixed on a sleeve ¹ embracing the central spindle b, and this sleeve is
connected by gearing to clockwork moved by a weight or spring, so as
to drive the pinion 8. The arm has mounted in it a number of
levers d equivalent to the number of sliding tubes c, and has a pawl d²
which engages with the teeth of the ratchet ring z.
A pointer e pro-
vided with contact making apparatus, such as described above, is
connected by gearing to a fly f* for regulating its motion, and to a
remontoir spring &' on the spindle of 8. When by the depression of any.
s¹ s.
one of finger keys a one or more of the slides e is pushed up, the
corresponding one or more of the levers d is raised, whereby certain of
the sliding pins fare pushed upwards. At the same time the pawl d²
is disengaged from the teeth of z. The arm is then caused to revolve
by the action of the clockwork until the end of the pawl d² has passed
the last of the protruded pins, this end being made of such. breadth as
to allow for the movement necessary for the interval after the last
portion of the signal. The movement of the spindle geared to the arm »
by straining up the spring s¹ furnishes the working power for the
pointer e², which is thus with a movement regulated by the fly f' caused
to pass over the protruded pins, and to make the contacts, as already
described. The pointer c² is made with an incline at its end, so that in

page_text: passing over the protruded pins after contact has been made these pins
are restored to their normal position.
Fig. 14 shews by side view and part cross section the construction
herein-before referred to of a contact-making instrument such as may be
worked by the lever g when acted on as above described, this contact-
making instrument being also applicable in other telegraphic apparatus.
for the purpose of suddenly making and for some time maintaining
contact, whereby rapid reversals or discharges of electrical currents can.
be effected. It consists of a spring a butting at one end against a fixed
point, and pressed on the opposite end by a spring b, the spring a being
in the clectrical circuit which it is desired to connect to either of two
contact stops c or d on opposite sides of the spring a. The spring a is
loosely embraced by the fork of the lever g. When by the movement
of this lever to the one side or the other the spring a is pushed a little
beyond the middle position in which it is straight it becomes by the
pressure on its end of the spring 6 suddenly bent in the opposite direc-
tion, so as to make contact with the opposite stop. In certain cases the.
prongs of the lever 9 may be insulated from one another, and clectrically
connected to lines of circuit, so that by means of the spring a commuta-
tion of circuits can be effected, connections being made at any of the
points marked by the arrows, and the lever g, instead of being moved
mechanically by pins might be worked by the armature of an electro-
magnet.
Fig. 15, Sheet II., is a side view; Fig. 16, a plan; and Figs..17 and
18 are end views of the printing instrument constructed and operating
according to this Invention. A is an electro-magnet attracting a
polarised armature when rendered active by currents of only one direc-
tion, as for example, positive currents, and B is another electro-magnet
attracting its polarised armature when it is rendered active by the
opposite or negative currents. The armature of each of those electro-
magnets is provided with a retracting spring, and an anchor a and b
engaging respectively in the teeth of two escapement wheels a¹ and b¹.
These two wheels have different numbers of teeth, for example, the
wheel 6' may have four times as many teeth as the wheel a¹, so that at
each stroke of the anchor a the wheel a¹ can turn through a part of a
revolution four times greater than that through which the wheel b¹ can
turn at each stroke of the anchor b. The wheels a¹ and ' are loose on
their spindle, but gear with planet wheels e mounted on that spindle, so

page_text: that when either a¹ or b¹ turns a part of a revolution the spindle turns a
proportional part of a revolution.
On the spindle of the escapement wheels a¹ and b¹ is fixed a toothed
wheel c, gearing into another wheel d, fixed on the spindle of the type
wheel T. On the latter spindle, but not fixed to it, is a wheel C, con-
nected by gearing to clockwork D, so as to be turned thereby. A helical
spring fis fixed at one end to the wheel C, and at the other end to the
spindle of the type wheel T. The clockwork acting on O causes it
turn so as to strain up the spring f, and in consequence of the strain
thus conveyed by the spring the type wheel will turn in the same
direction as C whonever it is released from the arresting power of the
escapement anchors a and b.
Fig. 19 shews this part of the apparatus detached from the rest for
greater clearness, and Fig. 20 is a view of the two escapements and planet
wheels. The gearing from the escapement wheels a¹ and b₁ to the type
wheel T being properly adjusted, the type wheel at each stroke of the
anchor will turn onc division, while at cach stroke of the anchor a it
will turn four divisions, or every negative current transmitted will turn
the type wheel one division, and every positive current will turn it four
divisions, and thus when it has to turn a considerable number of
divisions, as for example 18, instead of 18 separate currents being
required, there would be required only 4 positive currents, each turning
the wheel 4 divisions, making 16, and 2 negative currents, cach turning
the wheel one division, making up the total of 18 by 6 separato
currents.
It is obvious that the direction of the currents might be inverted, and
that by differently proportioning the wheels a¹ and b¹ the number of
divisions moved in obedience to either current might be varied.
It is preferred to arrange the types on the wheel T in such order that
it shall require fewest currents to turn it to those that are most
frequently used. An arrangement such as that shewn developed in
Fig. 21 may be adopted. When the type wheel T has thus been turned
by successive currents till the proper division is reached, and the
required type on the wheel is presented for printing on the paper which
passes between the type wheel and the bed t below it, the printing
action takes place in the following manner:-A spring contact lever g.
rests on the teeth of the wheel c, which as it revolves causes the lever g.

page_text: 集
to vibrate rapidly, making contacts so sudden and brief with a contact
spring g¹ above it that the imprinting relay connected to g and g¹ is not
brought into operation; but when the wheel c stops, after having turned
the distance due to the signal transmitted, the type wheel T being then
brought to its proper position for the impression the lever g resting on
the top of a tooth of the wheel c, and being thus kept in contact with the
spring the relay is brought into action, rendering active the electro-
magnet G. The armature H of this magnet being attracted moves the
rocking shaft H', to which it is attached. An arm g² projecting from
this rocking shaft bearing on the lower end of the contact lever g
pushes it forwards, and thereby causes the spring at its upper end to be
drawn laterally away from the wheel c, thus releasing it from the tooth
of that wheel on which it rested, whereupon this spring drops out of
contact with the spring g' above it, and the relay circuit is thus broken.
The movement of the shaft H, which thus breaks the relay circuit at
the same time lifts the arm H, to which is attached the printing bed t,
and thus pressing the paper on that bed against the lowest type
presented on the wheel T, causes an impression of that type to be made
on the paper. At the same time also the movement of the arm H
raises a pawl over the tooth of a ratchet wheel on the axis of one of
the rollers I, between which the paper strip is passed, so that when the
arm H2 descends after the relay contact has been broken, as above
described, the pawl h² in its return stroke causes the rollers I to turn
partly round, so as to draw the paper strip onwards the space of a letter
or symbol. The down stroke of the arm He also effects the return of the
type wheel to its zero position in the following manner:— A lever K has
its end bent round to bear against the end of the spindle of the type
wheel T. On this lever is a spring pawl facing a sloped part on the
edge of the arm H. When the arm H³ rises to effect the impression of
the type the pawl k drops, so that its point comes under the sloping part
of the arm H. When this arm descends, its slope bearing on the pawl k,
causes the lever K to rock, whereby the type wheel and its spindle arc
pushed backwards (that is to say, towards the left hand in Fig. 15) in
opposition to a spring 7. The wheel d is thus withdrawn from gear with
the wheel c, and the type wheel spindle being thus left free is caused to
turn by the tension of the spring ftill the type wheel T is restored to
its zero position, where it is arrested by a stop s, as will be more clearly
seen in the detached views Fig. 17. The arm H having thus in part of
its descent pushed aside the. pawl / becomes clear of that pawl, and;

page_text: then the spring bearing against the spindle of the type wheel pushes
that wheel forward (to the right in Fig. 15) to its former position clear
of the stop s, and causes the wheel d to engage again with the wheel c,'
and the lever K to return to its former position, whereupon the apparatus
is ready for another operation.
In order that the wheel c. may always be brought round to and stand
at a definite division of its revolution, a spring pawl c¹ is provided so
that its point shall drop into the space between any two teeth of the
wheel c, and so bring it into position and hold it while the imprinting of
the type is effected.
It is obvious that when it is not desired to print, but only to exhibit
the letters or symbols, part of the printing mechanism might be
dispensed with, and the type wheel having instead of types the letters
or symbols marked on its face or edge might be placed behind a screen
with a hole through which the letter or symbol facing it could be
seen.
Fig. 22 shews by side, end, and developed views and part longitudinal
section the arrangement, in substitution for the type wheel T, of a typo
cylinder capable of rotation and of longitudinal traverse in the direction
of its axis. These two movements may be imparted to the cylinder by
any suitable gearing from the armatures of two electro-magnets, or the
cylinder being subjected to the tension of weights or springs urging it to
rotate and to traverse longitudinally. The extent of its rotation and
traverse may be controlled by the armatures of two electro-magnets, one
of which armatures moves when the electro-magnet to which it belongs
is rendered active by positive currents, and the other moves when its
electro-magnet is rendered active by negative currents. For example, a
positive current might cause or permit the rotation of the cylinder
through one division of its periphery, and a negative current might
cause or permit its traverse through onc division of its length, or con-
versely. By combining successive positive or negative currents or
currents both positive and negative in any required numbers, any desired
type on its surface may be brought to the imprinting position.
The types, instead of being arranged on the circumference of a
cylinder might be arranged on a plane surface, as in the developed view
in Fig. 22, and this surface might have longitudinal and lateral move-
ments imparted to it or governed by the armatures of two clectro-

page_text: magnets worked respectively by positive and negative currents. By
proper combinations and successions of such currents any one of the
types could be brought by the longitudinal and lateral movement of the
surface to the imprinting position.
In like manner when it is not desired to print but only to exhibit
letters or other symbols the cylinder with its rotatory and axial move-
ments or the plane slide with its longitudinal and transverse movements
imparted or governed, as above described, by combinations of positive
and negative currents, might be placed behind a screen having a hole
through which could be seen the letter or symbol on the cylinder or
slide brought to face the hole, as if it were a type brought to the
imprinting position.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I claim,-
First. The use for sending telegraphic messages by clectricity of
apparatus wherein by the depression of a finger key, one, two, or more
pins are caused to protrude at the side of a travelling chain, such pro-
truded pins serving to make electrical contacts for the transmission
of currents along a line wire to give signals corresponding to the
number and order of the protruded pins, substantially as herein
described.
Second. The arrangement of apparatus, such as is above referred to,
in such a manner that pins are caused to protrude on both sides of the
chain, whereby both positive and negative electric currents can be trans-
mitted along a line wire, substantially as herein described.
Third. In apparatus, such as is above referred to, the substitution for
a travelling chain of a cylinder provided with pins in its periphery, and
of a pointer made to travel over those pins, so as to effect contacts for
the transmission of currents corresponding to the order and number of
protruded pins, substantially as herein described.
Fourth. The use for suddenly breaking and making and for a time
maintaining electrical contact of a commutator, in which a spring bent
to one side where it makes contact, on being pushed a little past its
middle or straightened position bends rapidly to the opposite side so as
to make contact, substantially as herein described.

page_text: Fifth. The arrangement of an clectrical receiving instrument acting
by currents of opposite directions in such manner that while the currents
of the one direction cause the type wheel or other index to move step by
step one division at a time, the currents of the other direction cause it to
move over two or more divisions at a time, whereby the number of
currents necessary to turn the wheel or move the index over a number
of divisions is lessened, substantially as herein described.
Sixth. In telegraphic printing instruments the use for bringing into
action a relay to effect the impression of a spring contact lever, which
vibrates without making effective contact while the type wheel revolves,
but when the said wheel stops makes effective contact, and so brings the
relay into action, in combination with a lever, which on the relay being
brought into action causes the contact lever to be withdrawn, thus
breaking the contact and rendering the relay inert, substantially as
herein described.
Seventh. The use for a receiving or printing telegraphic instrument of
an index or type cylinder, having both rotatory and longitudinal move-
ments respectively imparted or governed by the armatures of two electro-
magnets in such manner that by suitable combinations of positive and
negative electric currents any desired type or division on the cylindrical
surface can be brought to the position where it can be seen or printed.
Eighth. The use, in substitution for the index or type cylinder above
referred to, of an index or type slide, having both longitudinal and
lateral movements respectively imparted or governed in like manner by
the armatures of two electro-magnets.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles William Siemens, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-three.