Year: 1886

page_text: I LÉONCE DE COMBETTES, of Paris in the republic of France, Civil 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:
This invention relates to an electric apparatus serving to form telephone relays
or stations and to print telephonic messages upon a strip or band which is
gradually unwound for that purpose.
My improved apparatus is based upon the principle that a body increases in
volume when magnetized and that such increase is in a direct ratio with the
extent to which it is magnetized. When the current which imparts to it the
property of attracting magnetic bodies, varies in intensity its volume varies in
the same proportion.
When the iron or other magnetic metal upon which is wound an insulated wire
through which the current passes is of small diameter and of a certain length, its
volume increasing according to its dimensions, it will be evident that the same will
increase more in length than in diameter when it is longer than it is broad. I will
now describe one method of utilizing this principle for the construction of a
telephone relay or station but various mechanical arrangements can be used for
this purpose as will be seen hereafter.
The object of my invention is to enable telephonic messages to be sent to great
distances by establishing several intermediate relays or stations upon the line so as
to transmit the words received at a relay or station with greater energy than that
with which they arrived, this being effected by the use of a local battery to which
the required energy is imparted. By establishing such a relay or station at every
150 or 200 kilometres a telephonic message can be transmitted to a great distance
such as from Paris to St Petersburg for example.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1 represents a side
elevation of a relay or station constructed according to my invention and having
only one coil; figure 2 is a front elevation and figure 3 is a plan of the same
figure 4 is a front elevation shewing part of a relay or station having three coils;
figures 5 and 6 are similar views to figures 1 and 2 but showing a rolay I employ
;

page_text: in connection with my apparatuses for printing telephonic messages; figures 7
and 8 are sectional side elevations of the said printing apparatuses. Similar letters
in all the figures represent similar parts.
By way of example I will describe a relay or station having only one coil but it
will be obvious that several coils may be employed if required.
The apparatus is constructed of a base or foundation plate 8, 8, 8, s figures 1, 2
and 3, of wood or other suitable insulating material upon which is screwed a copper
plate covering the whole of the said base and I fix upon this copper plate two
copper pillars C, C, connected at their upper part by a cross bar T, T, secured by
two nuts. At the centre of this cross-bar is fixed by one of its ends a coil B, B, the
iron core of which, either solid or hollow, is very long in relation to its diameter as
shown in figure 2.
The variations in the volume of this iron rod or tube forming the core of a coil
is utilized to form, a relay or station. One of the ends of this core being fixed
to the cross bar T, T, all variations of length will be produced at its lower or
free end.
Behind the pillars C, C, and upon the base plate are fixed two rectangular
supports o, o, each carrying a steel screw one end of which is pointed as shewn in
figures 1 and 3 and between these two points is held a shaft N" N" capable of
rotating without any play upon its own axis. Upon the centre of this shaft is
fixed a bent copper lever L, L, L, L', of the shape shewn in figure 1 and the arms
of which form an obtuse angle; the arm L', L' rests upon the core of the coil B, B,
(figures 1 and 2) and the other arm carries at its extremity a microphone M which
can be inclined by means of a knee piece as shown in figure 1 and can rotate upon
its own axis as shewn in dotted lines in figure 2, in order to give the most suitable
inclination to the carbons and to render the microphone as sensitive as possible.
Two wire conductors are attached to the carbons of the microphone, one to the
carbon H and the other to the carbon H' serving to convey the current from the
local battery.
It will be understood that as the iron core of the coil B, B becomes more or less
elongated, the microphone will receive an intensified vibration and that a greater
or less number of different elongations caused by the variation in the energy of the
current passing through the wires of the coil B, B, will produce as many intensified
vibrations in the microphone. An induction coil E, E, is fixed upon the plate
covering the base plate S, S, S, S, in order to receive the variations of the current
emitted by the microphone.
'
The various currents passing through this apparatus circulate in the following
manner, six insulated terminals are fixed upon the copper plate the two first of
which A, A¹, receive the induction current produced by the microphone upon
which the message is spoken. This current as shewn in figure 2 passes through
the two ends of the wires of the coil B B figure 3 as each terminal A A is con-
nected with one of its ends and it is this current which as it varies every moment
in intensity produces the different elongations of the core of the coil B, B, and
consequently communicates its vibrations to the microphone M. The terminals
P, P¹, are also insulated from the copper plate, the terminal P¹ communicating with
one of the poles of the local battery and with one of the ends of the induction wire
of the coil E. E. The two wires F and F', of the microphone M are fixed to the
two small terminals N N₁ figures 1 and 3 insulated and screwed on the plate of the
base or foundation plate S S S S; the small terminal N communicates with
the terminal P which is connected with the other pole of the local battery and
the terminal N¹ communicates with the other end of the induction wire of the
induction coil E. E, while the terminals D D each receive one of the ends of the
induction wire of the coil figure 3.
A knob V, figure 1, serves to expand or contract a spring R' in order to regulate
the pressure of the lever arm L, LI, upon the end of the iron core of the coil B B
another knob V in a like manner serves to expand or contract a spring R which
regulates the pressure of the lever arm L, L, upon the end of the coil B B.

page_text: A person speaking at a station sends through the line an induction current
varying considerably in intensity and which arrives at the station where the relay
is placed and then passes through the terminals A A¹ of the apparatus. Each of
these terminals communicates with one of the ends of the wire of the coil B, B;
the iron core of this coil is magnetized with more or less energy and consequently
its dimensions vary in proportion thereto. These successive elongations communi-
catc to the lever arm L, L, slight vibrations which considerably vary and which
are communicated to the microphone M and are intensified on account of the
difference in length between the two arms L, L, and L, L'. These vibrations
cause the current of the local battery to vary in intensity under the same
conditions. The coil E, E, which produces an induction current going to the
terminals D D under the same conditions of vibration as the induction current
received by the terminals A A causes, when a telephone is placed at the
terminals D D, the words sent to the station to be plainly heard. The lever L L
L' L' may however if required be formed of a straight piece in which case the
microphone would be horizontal or the said lever may be placed in any other
suitable position.
To the terminals D, D, are attached the wires of the line serving to transmit
the message to another station where there is another relay which in its turn
forwards it to another and so on until the message reaches its destination.
By placing a relay or station for example at every two hundred kilometres and
taking into consideration that the words will be intensified in sound at each relay
or station by reason of the energy of the local battery it will be understood that a
message can be successfully transmitted from Paris to St Petersburg for example.
In the above apparatus which I have described as an example of practical con-
struction, there is only one coil B, B. I may however make use of several coils and
add, by a suitable mechanical combination, the different variations of elongation
to one another in order to cause them to bear upon one point, that is to say upon
the end of the arm L¹ L' and it is evident that the effect produced will be in
proportion to the number of coils used. In figure 4 an arrangement for three
coils is shewn and the result in this case will be threefold. These coils are wound
in a peculiar manner that is to say, each coil consists of three superposed coils for
the following purpose. Supposing that each coil has a resistance of thirty kilo-
metres the three will have together a resistance of ninety kilometres, but this
resistance might be too great and can be decreased by introducing the current
simultaneously into several small coils as shewn in figure 4; the resistance will be
thus decreased and the energy of magnetization of the coils will be in a ratio with
the opposing resistance of the current, that is to say, that the less resistance there
is, the more energetic is the magnetization; this combination is very useful in
order to find the most suitable resistance for the proper working of the apparatus.
Instead of regulating the pressure of the contact between the lever arm L' L'
and the end of the iron core of the coil B B, by employing two spring R, R¹
regulated by means of two knobs V and V1, the iron core of the coil B B may be
passed through the lever arm L, L, and be fixed by means of two nuts, which
will answer the same purpose.
In order to print telephonic messages with my improved apparatus I employ the
following means:-
As before described I utilize the increase of volume of the rod in the coil that is
to say its elongation in order to impart to a microphone the same vibrations as
those communicated to the transmitting microphone by the person sending the
message and I also utilize this principle for printing the messages.
If for example a message is to be sent from Paris to Bordeaux, a station must
be established at the latter town in which I arrange a relay of the construction
above described without the induction coil as shewn in figures 5 and 6. This
arrangement is the same as that herein before described with the exception that
the arrangement of the microphone is modified in order to show that it may be
arranged in various manners; in this case it rests upon two pillars and is placed

page_text: between the points of the two screws V, V, which enable it to turn upon the axis
passing through the two points of the screws V. V; it is supported at the rear by
the lever L L L L connected therewith by a cross bar the two ends of which can
move upon the screws securing it to the microphone and to the lever L L. This
cross bar may be elongated or shortened as it is formed of two pieces which can
slide one within the other in order to move the microphone nearer to or farther
from the vertical so as to cause it to assume the most favourable position for its
operation. The levers L L L' L' may be also dispensed with by suspending the
microphone at its centre from the end of the iron rod of the coil B B, the
microphone being in this case in a horizontal position and thus giving good results.
The other parts of this arrangement are the same as in the herein before described
relay and one or several coils may be employed in connection therewith. The
current enters through the terminals A A into the coil B B and the microphone M
receives the strengthened vibrations from the microphone placed at the starting
point. Two wire conductors are employed one of which F communicates with the
carbon H of the microphone M. and is connected to a terminal P communicating
with one pole of a very powerful local battery while the other wire F¹ com-
municates with the carbon H¹ of the microphone and is connected with another
terminal P placed in communication by means of a wire conductor with the
terminal P of the apparatus (figure 7); the other pole of the local battery is
directly connected with the terminal P" of the same apparatus.
The current from the local battery passes into the microphone M and through the
wires forming the coil B B of the apparatus, figure 7. This coil will then receive
all the vibrations of the microphone M and consequently those of the departure
or transmitting microphone. The apparatus is constructed as follows:-Upon a
base or foundation plate S S are fixed two pillars C C as in the relay herein before
described. One of the pillars has been omitted in figure 7 in order to clearly show
the arrangement behind it. At the centre of the cross-bar T, T, a coil B, B, is
fixed by means of a screw V¹ and at the lower part of the said coil between the
pillars is fixed a cross-bar T¹, T', through the middle of which passes the free end
of the iron core of the coil B B; this iron core is pointed. Below this point C is a
roller D on each side of which are placed two rollers D¹, D¹¹, and in front is another
roller R provided with a band or strip of strong paper covered on one side by a
sheet of tin. This band passes under the roller D1, over the roller D, and then
under the roller D" whence it passes between two rollers acting like the rollers of a
rolling mill and operated by clockwork. It is evident that when the clockwork is
set in motion, the paper band will be unwound and will pass at a constant speed
under the point of the core of the bobbin if, when it is in motion, the microphone M
sends a current into the coil B B figure 7; the said coil in becoming more or less
elongated will trace or mark a series of points or cavities in the tin of the paper
band or strip all these points of greater or less length or depth will represent the
written speech in a secret writing or code. It will be easily understood that this
writing or these signs are the same as those left by the vibrating plate of a phono-
graph upon the tin sheet but as in the present case much greater power is produced
by the elongation of the iron case of the coil, the tracing is very distinct and the
words may be reproduced a great number of times.
Figure 8 shews the arrangement of the phonograph which I have designed for
passing therethrough the paper band or strip covered with tin subsequent to the
preceding operation in order to reproduce the message just sent. This phonograph
consists of a roller R upon which the message is wound the latter passing under
the roller D over the support O and under the roller O¹, when it passes between
the rollers of a clock work mechanism which operates in a similar manner to that
hereinbefore described and shewn in figure 7 and serves a similar purpose.
Upon the support O is fixed the mouth of a phonograph P, which is hinged
at C, its position being secured by a screw V" resting upon another support; the
style or point T is controlled by means of a spring and bears constantly against
the mouth plate so as to rest upon the paper. It sets the plate vibrating when

page_text: the paper is in motion and the words are then re-produced. Between the spring
carrying the style or point and the vibrating plate is a very thin sheet of cork
of small diameter.
It will be obvious that my apparatus as hereinbefore described can be modified
in many of its details, for example the point of the iron core of the coil BB
may be caused to actuate or push a tempered steel point controlled by a spring,
such as that of the mouth of the phonograph. With the arrangement of relays
or stations shewn in figures 5 and 6 instead of printing the message at the
receiving station, a telephone may be arranged and provided with thick wire and
with a large plate such as the Siemens plate and the telephone will speak loudly
because it is supplied with a great deal of energy from the local battery. It will
therefore be seen that with my improved arrangement the required energy of the
current can be obtained at all the stations from the local battery and consequently
the messages can be sent to much greater distances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A telephonic relay consisting of the microphone M and of the electro
magnet B, B, having a long core of small diameter both being placed in the
circuit and connected with a local battery thereby producing an intensified
transmission of the vibrations produced at the transmitting station by the words
spoken by reason firstly of the physical property which magnetic bodies possess
of increasing in size in proportion to the energy of the electric current magnetizing
them and secondly of the action of the local battery.
2. In a telephonic apparatus such as that claimed in claim 1, the employment
of a lever L, L, L, L, for transmitting and increasing by the longer arm of the
lever the vibrations received by the shorter arm.
3. In a telephonic apparatus such as that claimed in claim 1 the employment
of a local battery for sending an intensified current into a fresh circuit.
4. In a telephonic apparatus such as that claimed in claim 1, the employment
of a long electro magnet B, B of small diameter one end of which is free and
pointed so as to produce depressions of greater or less depth in a strip of tin
(which is unwound from below) in proportion as the current causes the core of the
electro magnet to be lengthened and in proportion to the energy of the vibrations.
5. In a telephonic apparatus such as that claimed in claim 1 the employment
of an arrangement of electro magnets B, B, B, B₁, B₁, B¹ B", B, B, in order
to diminish the interior resistance, combined with interposed levers in such a
manner that the sum total of the elongations of all the cores of the electro
magnets shall be concentrated at the free end of one of the said cores.
G. F. REDFERN,
Agent for the Applicant.