IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Vernon Physick, of 38, North Bank, Regent's
Park, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 30th June 1854, and dated the 31st December 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Vernon Physick
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st December 1853.
I, HENRY VERNON PHYSICK, of 38, North Bank, Regent's Park, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH " to be as follows:-
Whereas in ordinary needle telegraph instruments it is usual for the
bearings of the axle, by the motion of which the electric current is transmitted
to distant places, to be fastened separately on a wooden bed, by the warping of
which wood the bearings are thrown out of line, and the axle ceases to work
freely; the first part of my present Invention consists in making both bearings
of one piece of metal, or of two pieces of metal firmly fastened together, so that
the warping of the wood on which the bearings rest cannot affect their truth.
2nd, whereas the metal stops which limit the extent of motion of the axles
being of solid brass cause much noise, my second Invention consists in apply-
ing a packing of india rubber leather or other suitable material between the
said solid stop and a thin piece of metal resting on the said rubber, but having
metallic contact at the side with the said stop. The pin of the axle when
striking the thin metal causes much less noise than when striking the solid stop.

page_text: My 3rd improvement consists in an arrangement of springs bearing on an
arm fixed to the axle, so as to keep the handle which moves the axle in a
vertical position, independantly of its gravity.
My fourth improvement consists in an arrangement whereby the return
current of electricity, caused when signals are sent through long lengths of well
insulated wire, has opened for it a passage to the earth without its passing
through the coil of the instrument sending the signal; by this the distinctness
of the signals is increased.
My fifth improvement consists in using for the deflection of the needle only
one coil which coil is of this shane:-
SIDE
A is a bent plate of brass; B is a flat piece of brass; the two are joined
together by a ring of metal C; in A is a slot, marked D in plan. The fine
wire forming the coil is wound between the plates of brass and around C. The
axle of the needle is shewn by the dot at E, in the bent plate A at the angle.
By using such a coil the inner coils of the thin wire form a circle, in which the
needle moves and is acted on more powerfully, as the wire is nearer to the end
of the needle than in the usual arrangement.
My sixth improvement consists in providing an arrangement whereby the
the inner needle can be readily taken off its axis to be remagnetised without
taking the axis out of its bearings or removing the front needle.
My 7th improvement consists in providing a remedy for the deflection of
the needle (caused by what is called an earth current), by making the coils to
move around the axis of the needle instead of moving the stops of the needles
around such axis.
My eighth improvement consists in using an insulator to support the wires
of electric telegraphs, of the form shewn below in section.

page_text: The wire rests on a sharp edge of earthenware or glass, or other insulating
material at a, and is surrounded by a dry zone of earthenware during rain,
whereby the electric fluid is kept on the wire.
My ninth improvement consists in using a weight on a lever to counteract
the violence with which an electric time ball falls and catch it, instead of using
an air cylinder and piston, as usual at present.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Vernon Physick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, HENRY
VERNON PHYSICK, of 38, North Bank, Regent's Park, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto him, the
said Henry Vernon Physick, Her special licence, that he, the said Henry
Vernon Physick, his executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
he, the said Henry Vernon Physick, his 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, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the
condition (amongst others) that he, the said Henry Vernon Physick, by an
instrument in writing under his hand and seal, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Vernon Physick, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, accompanied by Drawings hereunto annexed:―
Whereas in ordinary electric telegraph instruments it is usual for the bearings
of the axle by the motion of which the current is reversed to be seperate from

page_text: cach other and fastened to a support of wood, by the warping of which the
axle bearings are thrown out of line and adjustment; the first part of my
Invention consists in fixing the brass bearings A and B, (see Drawing, Fig.
1, 2, 3,) to a stout piece of brass C; or in casting B and C together, and in
fastening A to them; or in casting all these together, so that the warping of
the wood on which they rest .D, may not throw the bearings out of line.
Note. I do not limit my claim to the plan shewn, but claim any variation
of form that shall retain the principle, such as making only one long bearing,
or a long bearing hollowed out, or having a slot in the centre, so that the axle
may rest only on the ends.
The second part of my Invention consists in useing a packing of gutta percha,
leather, cloth, india rubber, or other suitable substance to deaden the sound
that is caused by the beating of the arms E, E, against the stops F, F; such
packing G being between the stop, and a metallic spring II having contact with
it, as shewn in Fig. 1 & 2. And, note, 1 claim the use of such non-con-
ductors of sound as above described for lessening the noise caused by working
instruments, whether applied as above or placed under the brass A, C, B, or
the stops F,.or otherwise.
My third Invention consists in the arrangement whereby the springs K, K,
by pressing on the wheel L tend to keep the handle M vertical, independantly
of its gravity.
My fourth improvement consists in an arrangement whereby the charge of
electricity which is found to exist in long lengths of insulated wire has opened
for it a direct passage to the earth by the motion of the handle M, without sucli
current having to pass through the coil N. This is effected by connecting the
spring O, see Fig. 1, with one of the terminals of the coil N, and by connecting
the brass piece P, against which O rests, (but with which it is not in contact,
in consequence of T being of ivory,) with the earth at Z, and by having another
spring resting against P, by means of a pin attached to P, passing through
the ivory on O, but not touching O. Note also that the wheel L is made of
ivory, and that it has on its periphery a brass band i, which is by the ivory
insulated from the axle R and its arms Y, Y, which carry L. On the other
side of P is a spring S resting on a pin projecting from P. The action of this
arrangement is as follows:-When the axle R is moved so that the spring
K1 is pushed by the metal band on the wheel L against the ivory piece T,
the pin X projecting therefrom lifts Q, at the same time the arm E1 is thrust
against the stop II, and K 2 is allowed to spring forward and rest on W; and
as C is connected with one end of a battery, and W with the other terminal of
the battery, the circuit is completed by K2 resting on the pin of. W, and E 1

page_text: resting on the brass H, which is in metalic contact with F and K 1. The
current is thus sent through the coil N down the line of telegraph, and on the
handle being moved back to its upright position the spring Q (which has been
forced in the direction of the arrow by K 1 pushing T, and X pushing Q,)
follows the spring O, until it rests against the pin V, and at one part of its
motion the spring Qis in contact at the same time with V and X, during
which period a communication is opened between the line wire U and P,
which is in contact with the earth; the return current on U can thus pass to
the earth without passing through the coil N. The same result is effected
with the spring S, when the handle is moved in the opposite direction. Note,
that should the momentary contact of X, Q. Z, be found insufficient, a longer
time may be arranged for by putting V on a spring.
My fifth improvement consists in useing a coil frame and coil of the shape
shown in Fig. 1, at N, and in winding the wife around a support, curved
as shewn by the dotted line 8, which is concentric to the centre of needle, and
marked 4. By this arrangement the coils of the wire are near to the needle
when the needle has moved out of the position shewn in the Drawing, and the
effect of the coil increased thereby.
My sixth improvement consists in fixing the needle to its axle by means of a
screw, in such a manner that the needle may be taken from the axle without
the latter being removed from the instrument.
My seventh improvement is abandoned.
My eighth improvement consists of a form of insulator, shewn in section in
Fig. 6. The wire rests on the point marked 5; the clip that fastens it to the
post lies vertically in the hollow q, J.
In describing my improvements I have not thought it necessary to shew an
entire Drawing of an electric telegraph instrument, but such particulars of my
Invention only as would enable a person acquainted with ordinary telegraph
instruments to adopt and graft my improvements thereon. My claims are as
follows:-
1st, the arrangement of bearings for the axle, the fitting of which will not
be effected by the warping of the wood on which such bearings rest.
Second, the use of a material which lessens the amount of noise consequent
on working an instrument.
Third, the use of springs herein described tending to keep the axle straight
and the handle vertical, and the general arrangement shewn for reversing the
current.
Fourth, the means of providing an earth for the return current without such
current passing through the coil.

page_text: Fifth, the form and arrangement of coil shewn.
Sixth, the use of a screw attached to or acting on the needle to fix it on its
axis readily.
Eighth, the form of insulator shewn in sketch.
In witness whercof, I, the said Henry Vernon Physick, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
H. V. PHYSICK. (L.S.)