Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1887
Complete Left, 18th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
I, CLÉMENT ADER of Paris in the Republic of France, Electrical Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
When an electrical impulse is transmitted through a considerable distance or con-
siderable resistance, it arrives, not as an impulse of uniform strength throughout its
duration, but as an undulation gradually rising in strength to a maximum and then
diminishing, forming as it were a wave of force of length due to its duration. If this
wave of force be divided into a number of small fractional parts each of equal duration,
rapidly succeeding each other the relative strength of these can be perceived by a
telephone, the effect to the ear being like that of a musical tone swelling to a certain
strength, and then dying away. In this way different electrical signals can be dis-
tinguished from each other, such for instance as those which form the dot and dash
combinations of the "Morse" or such like telegraphic codes. Also the various actions
of a telephonic diaphragm may then be distinguished at a distance, and in this way, if
a suitable telephonic instrument be buried in the earth or immersed in water vibrations
of its diaphragm due to earthquakes or disturbances or to explosions of mines or
torpedoes can be detected at distant stations with which the telephonic instrument is
connected by conductors.
Moreover by placing near to a main telegraphic line a secondary parallel line of
conductor communicating with a telephone through apparatus such as I will presently
describe for subdividing electrical impulses, the currents induced in the secondary line
by impulses passing along the main line will cause such action of the telephone that
the ear can detect the passage of the impulses along the main line and distinguish their
character and duration. For the purpose of subdividing the electrical impulses I
employ either a rapidly revolving or a rapidly vibrating commutator worked mechani-
cally or electrically and arranged to act either as an interrupter or a reverser of
current, and I interpose this in the line between the transmitter and the telephone,
preferably near to the telephone or to a pair of telephones receiving alternately the
ractions into which the impulse is subdivided by the commutator.
A condenser may
e introduced in the line in advance of the commutator, or an inductor may receive
гр.

page_text: the line impulse through its primary coil, its secondary coil being connected through
the subdividing commutator to the telephone. The subdividing commutator may be
in a shunt or by-pass from the main line with which the telephone is directly con-
nected. By means of telephones acting with subdividing commutators as above
described, electric signals may be received across water without a connecting wire
in the following manner. A transmitter and battery are arranged on one side of the
water with a terminal immersed in the water, this terminal spreading out into a
number of radiating wires so as to give extended contact surface with the water.
A similar immersed terminal on the other side of the water is connected through a
subdividing commutator with a telephone by which the ear can distinguish the
character and duration of electric impulses transmitted at the other side.
For detecting earth disturbances or shocks a telephone is buried in the ground, its
diaphragm being loaded with a weight, the inertia of which when the telephone is
itself moved, causes vibration of the diaphragm.
The wire from the coil of the buried telephone being led to another telephone
through a subdividing commutator at a distance, the ear at this telephone can detect
the earth disturbance.
In like manner a telephone being immersed in water with its diaphragm exposed to
the fluid pressure, and with its coil connected to a telephone through a subdividing
commutator at a distance, the ear at this telephone will detect a shock in the
water.
In this case the delicate diaphragm of the immersed telephone should be protected
by an outer diaphragm pressing against it through an elastic connection.
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: CHA
I, CLÉMENT ADER of Paris in the Republic of France Electrical Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
When an electrical impulse is transmitted through a considerable distance or con-
siderable resistance, it arrives not as an impulse of uniform strength throughout its
duration but as an undulation, gradually rising in strength to a maximum and then
diminishing, forming as it were a wave of force of length due to its duration. If this
wave of force be divided into a number of small fractional parts, each of equal
duration, rapidly succeeding each other, the relative strength of these can be perceived
by a telephone, the effect to the ear being like that of a musical tone swelling to a
certain strength and these dying away. In this way different electrical signals can bo
distinguished from each other, such for instance as those which form the dot and dash
combinations of the "Morse or such like telegraphic codes. Also the various actions
of a telephonic diaphragm may then be distinguished at a distance, and in this way if
a suitable telephonic instrument be buried in the earth or immersed in water vibrations
of its diaphragm due to earthquakes or disturbances or to explosions of mines or
torpedoes can be detected at distant stations with which the telephonic instrument is
connected by conductors.
23
Moreover, by placing near to a main telegraphic line a secondary_parallel line of
conductor communication with a telephone through apparatus such as I will presently
describe for subdividing electrical impulses, the currents induced in the secondary
line by impulses passing along the main line will cause such action of the telephone
that the ear can detect the passage of the impulses along the main line and distinguish
their character and duration.
Referring to the diagram at Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, if the current
emitted by a manipulator be represented by a line x of equal thickness, it will retain
the same form x1 at the point of arrival, if the distance is short, but if it is long or
presents considerable resistance it will arrive in elongated wave form as at x' Fig. 2,
so that the dots and dashes of the Morse code will be represented by a succession of
wave lines of different lengths, as at Fig. 3.
1
If these undulating currents are received in a telephonic receiver, they will produce
vibrations in the membrane, but if the number of these vibrations are not suited for
the production of a note or sound perceptible to the ear, their arrival will not be
perceived.
If now there be interposed upon the line, in advance of the receiver at the receiving
station, an apparatus which divides the undulating current in a considerable number
of fractions per second, as indicated at Fig. 4, the divisions being very regular and
continuous, so that the number of fractions correspond to a number of vibrations
necessary for producing a sound perceptible to the ear, then this fractionated current
when received in a telephonic receiver will produce a continuous note or sound of the
same pitch but as the currents that form the signals are more or less undulated
the sound produced will vary in intensity, exactly corresponding to the transmitted
signals. Thus electric signals may be received acoustically at a great distance in the
form of undulated sounds, which I term phono-signals.

page_text: It will be readily understood that signals may be transmitted through long
lines much more rapidly than is possible with means at present used, as it is not
necessary to discharge the line between the successive emissions of signals.
The instrument for dividing the currents into fractions at their arrival may be of
different kinds. Fig. 5 shews an arrangement in which the undulating currents arrive
at the axis of a rotary apparatus A which is put in continuous motion at a suitable
speed by a local force external to the line current. This disc A has insulating part a
of varying number so arranged that at opposite points of the diameter there are
respectively a metallic contact and an insulating part, so that the electric current
passing in at the axis is conveyed in rapid successive fractions alternately to the two
contact springs bb to which are connected conductors cc that pass to the earth and in
the course of which are interposed the telephonic receivers t t, so that the current is
thus divided into two.
A similar result of fractionation by division of the current into two may be obtained
by a vibrating arrangement as shewn at Fig. 6.
It consists of an electro magnet B excited by the current from a local battery C
passing first through an interrupter d so that the armature e vibrates between the poles
of the electro magnet like the armature of an electric bell.
This armature e has at its end a finger fof insulating material which successively
removes the one or the other of the metal blades g g from the stud h to which the
line-wire conveying the undulating currents is connected. Thus these currents are
fractionated by division, the fractions arriving from the blades g g to the telephonic
receivers t t.
The current can also be fractionated by simply intercepting it as shewn at Fig. 7.
The current passes from the line wire to i and thence to a bladej in front of which is
another one connected to the telephonic receiver t. The current can pass when the
blades are in contact with a fork k on an armature e attracted by the electro-
magnet B excited by a local battery C through the medium of an interrupter d, as
before.
The fractionation may also be obtained by alternately reversing the direction of the
current as shewn at Fig. 8. An armature e made to vibrate by the action of a local
current presents insulated contacts facing which are arranged contacts m m¹ both
connected to the line wire and contacts n n¹ connected to earth. The contacts l'are
connected to the receiver t.
When the armature is removed from its electro magnet the line current entering
at m follows the direction indicated by the arrows a, but it follows the reverse
direction indicated by the arrows a¹ when the armature is attracted by the electro
magnet.
The changes in the direction of the current produce the same effect as the fractiona-
tion by division or interception. The fractionation by reversal of current may also be
obtained by the rotary apparatus at Fig. 5 with a single telephonic receiver. For
this purpose there are coiled simultaneously round the receiver t Fig. 9 two wires o o¹
the front end of the one wire o is connected to one of the blades 6 of the dividing
apparatus, while the other blade is connected to the rear end of the other wire o
It will be seen from the figure that the electromagnet of the receiver receives
successively reversed currents.
Fig. 10 shews an arrangement for fractionating the undulating currents by deriva-
tion. The line wire is directly connected to the telephonic receivers t, but before
arriving at these it is connected to a derivation line p which passes to earth. A
revolving commutator 9 actuated by a local force in a uniform and continuous manner
establishes and interrupts alternately the derivation.
According as the commutator establishes or intercepts the communication with the
derivation, the current passing to the telephonic receiver will either be of full force or
of a reduced force, which will also constitute fractionation.
There may if necessary be introduced into the circuit, at the arrival of the currents
condensers such as are frequently used at the arrivals of cables, as shewn at Fig. 11
Induction bobbins may also be introduced as at Fig. 12.

page_text: In this case the line wire passes through the pai
the induced circuit that communicates with the fractionating apparatus and the
receivers.
The phono-signal is applicable not only on submarine cables and air lines, but also
for transmission along or across rivers lakes, estuaries, the water alone being used as
conductor in place of a line wire.
In this case as shewn at Fig. 13, it is convenient to arrange in the water both on
the transmitting and on the receiving side, floats D D provided with metal conducting
stems radiating in all directions, in order, on the one hand, to offer as large a surface
of contact as possible for the passage of the current into the water, and on the other
hand to take up as much current as possible from the water.
Fig. 13 shows on the one side the generator of electricity and transmitting apparatus
and on the other side the fractionating apparatus and the telephonic receivers.
The connections with earth are also by preference made with conducting rods radi-
ating in all directions. In this case it is preferable to provide at the receiving end
condensers or induction coils as above described.
Fig. 14 shews an application of the invention for receiving signals from any part of
a line wire without preventing the signals from passing on to their destination. A
wires is suspended between two telegraph parts parallel to the line wire. The currents
passing along the latter which are always more or less undulating, produce by induc-
tion corresponding undulating currents in the wire s which are fractionated so as to
be audible in the telephone receiver.
This invention also renders it possible to detect slow vibrations, such as subterranean
noises, earthquakes sounds made in water by steamers, or the explosion of mines or
torpedoes. These noises or shocks are communicated by means either of a telephone
with battery or by a magnetic telephone. The invention may also be applied in the
case where the currents sent into the line wire are undulating currents coming from
magnetic transmitters.
It is however necessary to construct such transmitters specially to suit these
applications.
For observing subterranean noises or shock the apparatus, which would be imbedded
in the earth as at Fig. 15, is constructed as shewn at Fig. 17; the vibrating membrane
carries a mass E whereby its inertia is increased. If the earth is subject to sudden
vibrations the apparatus is moved with it but the membrane tends to remain in the
same position owing to its inertia, and hence undulating currents are produced by the
relative movements between the electro magnets and the membrane, which currents
being sent into the line are fractionated before passing to the receiver as before
described.
In the case where the transmitting apparatus is immersed in water, as at Fig. 16,
it is of advantage to construct it as shewn at Fig. 18. In order to prevent an excessive
pressure from bringing the membrane F in contact with the poles of the electro
magnet G, 1 arrange the apparatus in a box one side of which is a membrane H which
presents a rod u opposite a rod u' which is carried by the membrane F. A tube v,
split at the ends grasps each of the rods u u, so that the vibrations of the membrane H
are transmitted to the membrane F¹. But if an excessive pressure of water is
exerted on the outer membrane H, this is pushed inwards, its rod u sliding in
the tube v, and thus preventing the action of the membrane F being interfered
with.
The phono-signal can be combined in "duplex" and may be used together with
other telegraphic instruments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described method for the phonic reception of electrical signals wherein
signalling currents arriving in undulating form at the receiving station are fractionated,
either by dividing the current into two, by intercepting it, by reversing it, or by the

page_text: use of a derivation current, the number of fractions in a given interval of time being
constant, and such as to correspond with a number of vibrations that is capable of
producing a note or sound perceptible to the ear.
2. The method of receiving fractionated currents such as are referred to in the
preceding claim in one or more telephonic receivers so that the vibrations of the
membrane thereof produce a sound of constant pitch but of an intensity varying in an
undulating, manner thus reproducing in an audible manner at the receiving station
the electrical signals of greater or shorter length sent from the transmitting
station.
3. The use for fractionating undulating electrical currents of a revolving disc with
interrupted conducting surface whereby the currents passing into the disc are trans-
mitted thereby with interruptions to a contact lever or to two contact lovers which
convey the fractions of the currents to telephonic receivers substantially as herein
described.
4. The use for fractionating undulating electrical currents of a vibrating armature
actuated by an electro-magnet so as to make alternate contacts with two telephonic
receivers and to convey alernat fractions of the currents to the latter, substantially as
herein described.
5. The use for fractionating undulating electrical currents, of a vibrating armature
actuated by an electro magnet so as to interrupt the currents at short intervals and
convey the fractions thus produced to a telephonic receiver.
6. The use for fractionating undulating electrical currents, of apparatus wherein a
vibrating armature actuated by an electromagnet and carrying two contacts is caused
to make contact alternately with two pairs of contacts situated one on each side thereof
those being so connected to the line wire circuit that the fractions of the currents from
the latter are made to pass alternately in reversed directions through the armature to
a receiving instrument substantially as herein described.
7. The use for fractionating undulating electrical currents, of apparatus wherein a
revolving disc with interrupted conducted surface is made to convey fractions of the
currents alternately to two contacts that are respectively connected to opposite ends
of two coils on the electro magnet of a telephonic receiver, so that each successive
fraction of current is made to pass in a reversed direction through the said coils
substantially as herein described.
8. The use for fractionating undulating electrical currents, of a derivation circuit
on the line wire, connected thereto through an interrupting device, so that the strength
of the current passing from the line wire to a telephonic receiver is varied according
as the connection with the derivation circuit is closed or intercepted.
9. The use in combination with apparatus for fractionating undulating electrical
currents, of condensers or induction coils substantially as herein described.
10. Adapting apparatus for fractionating undulating electrical currents for trans-
mitting the currents through water by the use of floats connected to the transmitting
and receiving apparatus and having radiating conducting rods for effectually con-
veying the currents to and taking them up from the water substantially as described.
11. Adapting apparatus for fractionating undulating electrical currents to the
reception of signals by induction from a telegraphic line wire substantially as herein 4
described.
12. The use for detecting subterranean sounds, earthquakes, explosions of mines,
sounds from distant steamers, and the like, of battery telephones or magnetic telephones
arranged as herein described in combination with apparatus for fractionating undulating
electrical currents.