IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND COMMUNICATING INTELLIGENCE
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME we WILLIAM
BROWN of Airdrie Lanarkshire Electrician and WILLIAM WILLIAMS the
younger of Saint Dennis in the County of Cornwall Gentleman send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland bearing date at Westminster the Seventh day of
March (One thousand eight hundred and fifty) in the thirteenth year of
Her reign did for Herself Her heirs and successors give and grant unto
us the said William Brown and William Williams our exors admors and
assigns Her especial license full power sole privilege and authority that
we the said William Brown and William Williams our exors admors
and assigns or such others as we the said William Brown and William
Williams our exors admors or assigns should at any time agree with and
no others from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed should and lawfully might make use exercise and vend
within England Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and in the
Islands of Guernsey Jersey Alderney Sark and Man and also in all,
Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad save and except the
Provinces of Canada Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and the. Island
of Prince Edward in North America our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND COMMUNICATING
INTELLIGENCE" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that
20376.

page_text: we the said William Brown and William Williams or one of us should
cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals or under the hand and seal of one of us to
be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent as in and by the same reference being thereunto had will more
fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE that in compliance with the said proviso we the said.
William Brown and William Williams do hereby declare that the nature 1
of our said Invention and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed are fully described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed and to the
figures and letters marked thereon that is to say.
Our Invention consists
First of means of obtaining what is known as a step by step rotating
motion to axes of apparatus for indicating and communicating intelligence.
Secondly Our Invention relates to obtaining electricity for the purpose of
indicating and communicating intelligence by induction.
Thirdly Our Invention consists of improvements in apparatus for giving
signals by sound.
Fourthly Our Invention consists of means of obtaining better insulation
of the wires employed in apparatus used for indicating and communicating
intelligence.
Fifthly Our Invention relates to connecting wires used for telegraphic
purposes.
And in order that our Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the means pursued
by us.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a plan. Figure 2 an edge view partly in section. Figure 3
a plan view of the parts laid open and Figures 4. 5 and 6 various detail
views some of which are on an enlarged scale of apparatus for obtaining a
step by step rotating motion to an axis a which turns in suitable bearings
at b. b. On the axis a is a tubular magnet c its poles being on either side
as hereafter explained. On the axis a is fixed the pointing hand d in front
of a dial and the arrangement or combination of electro-magnets and magnet
is such that the hand can be caused to procced step by step from and to zero

page_text: in either direction either continuously or interruptedly these motions being
obtained at pleasure. e, e, are two horse-shoe electro-magnets which cross
each other and their poles are provided each with a continuation piece e
made into a section of a cylinder and we prefer that these sections of cylin-
ders e¹ where they come near to each other should be separated by a brass
plate by which means a complete cylinder will be composed with separate
poles and it is within the tubes composed of these poles of the two electro-
magnets that the tubular magnet c rotates by a step-by-step motion. We
would remark that we do not confine ourselves to the use of tubular magnets
for these purposes but we prefer to employ them over any other form of
magnet. We obtain tubular magnets by using hard tubes of steel. And in
order to obtain the poles at the sides we cause each such tube of steel to be
placed longitudinally in contact with and between two plates of iron one of
which plates of iron is on one pole and the other plate is on the other pole
of a powerful electro-magnet so that the two plates with the steel tube
between them may be said to form the keeper of the electro-magnet by which
means when electric currents are passed the steel tube will become a magnet
having its two poles on either side of its longitudinal axis. And if it be
desired to use more than two electro-magnets in obtaining a step-by-step
rotating action to an axis having thereon a tubular magnet then in place of
only having two magnetic poles longitudinally in a tube of steel that is one
on either side of the longitudinal axis several poles may be obtained to the
same steel tube by acting thereon simultaneously on several opposite sides
of the tube by different electro-magnets. Thus 'supposing that it be desired
to make a tube with four poles then by having the tube of steel placed
between four plates of iron in planes at right angles to each other and these
four plates of iron be connected two with one electro-magnet and the other
two plates with another electro-magnet so as to connect the poles of the two
electro-magnets through the tube of steel when electric currents are passed
and two electro-magnets are simultaneously formed the tube will have four
magnetic poles longitudinally thereof and so on according to the number of
poles desired to be obtained to a tube of steel. The tubular magnet c having
two poles on either side of its longitudinal axis works within the tube formed
by the parts e¹ of the two electro-magnets and these two electro-magnets
are in connection with two line wires of an electric telegraph and the appa-
ratus is so arranged as hereafter explained that the poles of the electro-
magnets may be changed and both magnets may be simultaneously in
action on the magnet c and also so that only one of the electro-magnets
and it is by these means that the axis of the magnet c may be made to make

page_text: a succession of steps so as to complete a circuit or it may be caused to
make several steps forward and then one or more back or it may be caused
to make steps of movement back and then forward according to the arrange-
ment of the code on the dial employed.
We will now describe this action with reference to the code shewn by the
dial represented in the Drawing but the same may be varied. f. g. h. i.jk
are a series of plates which are in connection with the various wires used
by means of the terminals f¹. g. . . . . The two outermost wires are in
connection with the poles of the battery and each of the plates f, g, h, i, j k
is in connection with one of the plates f. g. h. ... by means of the
metal springs f. g³. h³. 3. 3. k³. (shown by yellow lines) except that the
tendency of the spring f³ is to remain a short distance from its plate ƒ and
it is brought into connection therewith when desired to complete the circuit by
pressing on the rod / such rod / being borne upwards by means of the slight
spring. The plates g. 7. . . have each a terminal . . . j. formed to
receive wires g. . . . respectively which wires are retained by the binding
screws as shown and these wires g. . . . communicate with the coil
wires of the magnets used. The plates f. g. . . . . in order to their not
being in metallic contact are secured to the ivory rim m which is secured to
the plate n and this plate n is supported by the pedestals o to the framing as
shown. The plates f. g. .... also carry other pedestals f*. gª. hº. 1º. jº. kª³.
to which are affixed as shown spring connections f". . . . . . for making
contact with the periphery of the cylinder p and it is by means of this cylin-
der that the direction and order in which the currents shall flow is regulated
so as to obtain the required step-by-step motion to the pointer d. The
cylinder p is formed of ivory or other suitable non-conducting material to
which are attached the metal plates p¹. p. which form parts (insulated from
each other) of its circumference against which the nibs of the spring con-
nections f. g. . . . . rest as shown. ps are parts on opposite sides of
the circumference of the cylinder p formed of ivory or other non-conducting
material. The object of which pieces p³. is that supposing the electricity to
be flowing through the apparatus and the nibs of two spring connections
which by means of the wires are in connection with one of the magnets are
resting on those parts p³ then the electricity will not flow through that
magnet. The cylinder p is affixed to the axis p* which turns in the framing
as shewn there being a handle p³ fixed thereon to give the required movement
thereto. In order to the cylinder p when turned resting in the required
position for the time being the axes pt. carries a tooth wheel p. such wheel
being cut as shown to receive the rollers p' each of which is supported upon
P

page_text: a lever p³. which turns upon a centre pº. and is borne against the wheel p®. by
the spring po. The dial shows the order in which we arrange the letters of
the alphabet and the figures employed but we do not confine ourselves to
such arrangement. And we proceed in order to obtain the required step-by-
step motion to point to the various letters and figures in the following manner
-The spring connections and from the battery are constantly pressing
against the metal surfaces p'. p². and we will suppose the spring connection f³.
to be in communication with the north pole of the battery then the other spring
connection or connections the nibs of which for the time being are resting
against that plate p² will be positively electric and the other spring battery
connection will be from the south pole of the battery and its nib will be
resting against the plate p'. consequently the spring connection or connections
which for the time being are resting on that plate p'. will be negatively electric
then if we suppose the wires . . to be in connection with the horse-shoe
magnet (3) e() and the two wires g. 2. in connection with the other magnet
the arms (3) and (4) will be north for the time being and the opposite
arms (5) and (6) south for the time being. But in order that this may be
more clearly understood we will refer to the Diagram Figure 7 where c repre-
sents the steel cylindrical magnet. The letters N and S represent the poles
at the end of that magnet and the connection / being pressed down so as to
make contact with the battery the electricity will flow and the cylinder c will
remain with its south pole as shown with the pointer pointing to the line of
letters A. B. C. D (on the dial plate Figure 1) then if it be required
to point to the line of letters E. F. G then the cylinder p will be turned one
eighth of a revolution by which the spring connections .. will be thrown
off either of the plates p'. p². and the electricity ceasing to flow through
the wires h.. the coils of the magnets (3). (5). will cease to be effectively
magnetic whilst the other magnet will retain its magnetic force but the
influence of the magnet (3). 5 being lost on the cylinder c that cylinder will
move partially round so as to bring its south pole to the north pole (4). of
the magnet (4) (6) and the pointer will point to the line of letters E. F. G.
Then if it be required to point to the line of letters H I J. by turning the
cylinder p another eighth of a revolution the nib of the spring connection /²
will be resting on the plate p'. and its opposite spring connection will be
resting on the plate p2 by which the poles of the magnet (3) (5) will
be reversed the arm (5) becoming north by which the cylinder c will be
drawn partially round with its south pole between the two poles (4) (5) and
its pointer will point in the line of the letters H. I. J. Thus may the various
step-by-step movements be obtained to the pointing hand and if in place of

page_text: pointing in succession to the successive lines of letters it be required to pass,
say for instance, from the line of letters E. F. G to the line of letters K. L. M.
then no rest will be allowed to take place at the line H. I. J. but the move-
ments of the apparatus will be caused rapidly to follow each other and in like
manner may other selections be made. And we would here state that in
making the selections for letters we proceed as stated to cause the pointer d
to move from left to right when however we are selecting for figures we
proceed from right to left and the pointer will be found by taking the instruc-
tions above given as the basis upon which to act to point to those lines of
figures. And in order that it may be understood which of the letters or figures
are intended to be selected in the different circles when the lines of figures or
letters are pointed at we have found the following rule to answer well. That
if the pointer rests without making any back movement when it comes to any
line of letters or figures then the letter or figure nearest the centre of the
dial is intended to be referred to but if after the pointer has stopped opposite
any one of the lines of letters or figures it is by means of the apparatus as
above described caused to make a motion back and then resume a position'
against a particular line of figures or letters then the letter or figure in the
second circle from the centre is intended to be selected and if the figure or
letter in the third circle from the centre be the one intended then the pointer
should in like manner repeat such back motion and resume its position oppo-
site the selected line and so on for other letters or figures in other circles
should they be employed. In constructing our horse-shoe electro-magnets we
prefer them to be formed so that each arm is composed of two coils of wires.
The first coil is formed upon the cylinder 7 and the second upon the
cylinder 8 and passed over the other. The outer and inner wires are then
connected together at their ends and used as a single wire.
We would here state that sometimes in place of making use of an electro-
magnet as above described we simply make use of electric coils and we have
in Figure 8 shewn an arrangement of electric coils which we have found to
answer the purpose. The centre part of the frame is formed cylindrical
to receive the steel tube c such as above described and the mode of acting
with these electric coils will be the same as above described with respect to the
electro-magnets.
We will now proceed to describe the second part of our Invention.
In place of employing galvanic batteries direct to obtain currents of elec-
tricity in indicating & communicating intelligence by electric currents we make
use of electricity obtained by induction from electro-magnets formed by a coil
of insulated wire upon iron or nickel charged by voltaic electricity.

page_text: We will now describe the means of sounding alarums or communi-
cating intelligence by sound. The first of these apparatus depends for its
action on the use of what we call compound electro-magnets of soft iron
or nickel one of which is on an axis and moves freely whilst the other is fixed
and has the coils of wire wound around the same and the effect of passing a
current of electricity through the same will be that both parts will be similarly
converted into electro-magnets. In this apparatus the one piece of soft iron or
nickel forms part of the cylinder around which the coils of wire are formed.
The other piece of soft iron or nickel which is upon an axis is bent into the
form of a partial cylinder as shewn. This apparatus is shown by Figures 9.
10. 11. 12. 13 and 14 which respectively represent a plan a side view
a horizontal section and part of a vertical section also details thereof on a
larger scale.
a is the cylinder the part a of which is formed of soft iron
or nickel. Upon this cylinder is wound the wire to receive the current.
b is the other piece of soft iron or nickel which is bent into the form of a
partial cylinder and is supported upon the axis c which is formed with centre
points by which it is supported in bearings as shown. This axis c also carries
the arm d at the end of which is formed the hammer e for striking the bell f.
When the parts are at rest they assume the position shown by the Drawings
but when a current of electricity is caused to flow through the coil of wire the
pieces of soft iron or neckel become magnetic and the parts repel each other so
as to cause the arm to move in the direction of the arrow. Then when the
current is broken the hammer will fall towards and strike the bell.
The second apparatus for sounding alarums depends for its action on the use
of permanent magnets on axes working within a tube part of which is of soft
iron or nickel. The magnet in this case may be two bar magnets bent into
the form of half tubes with the poles reversed and fixed on a common axis
or the magnet may be a tubular magnet one side being magnetised by one
electro-magnet and other side of the tube rendered magnetic by means of
another electro-magnet. The poles of the two electro-magnets when subject
to electric currents being in contact respectively with the two ends of the steel
tube on opposite sides by which a steel tube will be converted into a magnet
each end having two dissimilar poles and in like manner may tubes of steel
have more than two magnetic poles obtained thereto using two three or more
electro-magnets in connection with the ends of a tube of steel.
The alarum instrument is shewn at Figures 15, 16 and 17 which shew
respectively a plan, a front view and a back view. a, being an axis of a spring
barrel of clockwork which by the chain gives motion to the axis b, a wheel on
which gives motion to the pinion c, on the axis d, on which is the wheel e,

page_text: which drives the pinion on the axis f, upon which are fixed the excentrics
9, 9, which carry the ends of the rods of the hammers h, h. In this
alarum there are two hammers h, h, and their arms or rods ³, h³, are
formed into straps or bands to embrace the excentrics g, g, and when
motion is given to the axis f, to causes those excentrics to revolve the
hammers will by the friction of the bands on the surface of the excentrics
be carried round with them and strike the bell and then having struck
the bell the hammers will be drawn away therefrom by the motion of the
excentrics. On the axis f, is affixed the arm ;, which by coming against the
stop prevents the axis f, revolving till the stop is removed out of the
way when the spring or other maintaining power used will cause the axis f, to
revolve and give motion to the hammers. The stop k, is affixed to the axis 7,
upon which is affixed the lever m, which is constantly borne with its upper end
towards the centre of the machine by means of the spring n, acting against the
under end of the lever m, and it is by means of the weight o, at the end of the
lever o¹, falling against the upper end of the lever m, that the stop k, is removed
to release the arm j. The lever o³, is affixed to the axis p, which turns in
bearings carried by the frame as shewn and to this axis p, is affixed the steel
cylinder q, which is differently magnetised at the opposite ends of its opposite
sides and it is supported within the cylinder r, which is partly formed at r³, of
soft iron or nickel and receives the coil of wire, and when electric currents
are passed through such coil the cylinder q, will be acted upon to deflect the
arm o¹, into the position indicated by red lines when the stop j,' will be
removed and so long as the current is flowing through the coil of wire the
stop will be held away and the bell will continue to be struck by the hammers.
So soon as the circuit is broken and electricity ceases to flow through the coil
the arm o¹, will be raised again by the light spring s. carried by the lever s³,
which at each revolution of the wheel e, is raised by the pin e¹, on that wheel
coming against the arm 8, on the axis of the lever s¹.
Another mode of obtaining signal or alarum apparatus consists in using a
step-by-step motion such as described under the first part of our Invention
to give motion to an axis upon which is placed a worm wheel which by taking
into a screw wheel in the side of which is placed a pin which each time of the
revolution of the wheel will be caused to come in contact with the short end of
a hammer lever and so soon as the pin in the revolution of the wheel has
passed such short end of the hammer lever the hammer will be suddenly
released and strike the bell.
We will now describe the improvements in insulating wire used for indi-
cating and communicating intelligence. This part of the Invention consists

page_text: in enclosing wire to be used for telegraphic purposes within strands of yarn in
like manner to braiding or plaiting and when several such wires are to be
combined together we in like manner combine them. Figure 18 shews a
side view, Figure 19 a plan and Figures 20, 21 and 22 horizontal sections
of apparatus which we use for this purpose. This apparatus is very similar to
an ordinary braiding machine except that the position and mode of working
of some of the parts are inverted. a: a, is the framing of the machine 6, is
the main or driving shaft which is driven by means of the crank handle b¹, or
it might be.by other means. Upon the shaft 6, is affixed the bevilled pinion c,
which takes into and drives the bevilled pinion d, on the upright shaft e, the
lower end of which is supported in a bearing carried by the main framing
whilst the upper end is supported by a bearing carried by the lever f, in order
to the parts being thrown out of gear to stop the machine when any of the
strands break or the bobbins become exhausted as will be afterwards
described. The upper end of the shaft e, carries the pinion e¹ which takes
into and gives motion to the pinion g, upon the upright shaft g' which is
supported in bearings carried by the framing as shewn and at its upper end
this shaft g, carries the pinion g³, which takes into and gives motion to one of
the pinions h, and that pinion , communicates its motion to the other pinions
h, as shewn. These pinions /, are affixed to the spindles /', which are guided
by the framing as shewn and carry the discs ², by which aided by the pieces
i, the motions of the bobbins k, are controlled as is well understood by persons
accustomed to the use of braiding machines. is the wire being covered and
it will be seen that this wire passes down through the machine from any
suitable bobbin or otherwise and passes under a roller m, up around one of
the grooves formed on the drum n, upon the shaft n', which receives motion
from the shaft g', by means of the screw wheel g³, taking into the worm wheel
n3, on the shaft n². The strands from the bobbins k, are each conducted as
shewn under the pin o, in the upper part of the weight o', (in each of the
bobbins) thence over the pin p, and down through the weight o¹, to the wire /.
The weights o, are each formed cylindrical to admit of the strands passing
down through them as shewn. The lever f, is held in position so as to keep
the pinion e', in gear with the pinion g, by means of the cord 7,
which passes
round the drum r which has an arm r¹, projecting upwards so as to be held
by the hook a projecting from the spindle s', and this spindle has another arm
8, with its end bent upwards so as to be received within the slot formed in the
armt, projecting from the spindle . These spindles s³, and t¹, have each an
arm &,, which projects into the machine so as to be in the way of either of
the weights o¹, should either of the strands break or the bobbins become

page_text: exhausted thereby allowing either of the weights to descend. And the
spindles 8', are connected together as described by means of the arms &², t.
in order that either being acted upon by a falling weight may more quickly
withdraw the hook 8, and release the arm r¹, and consequently the lever f,
which will then be forced outwards by means of the spring u, and thus with-
draw the pinion e³, from gear with the pinion g, and stop the machine. In
covering a single wire we prefer to combine gutta percha with the strands
and for this purpose we make use of the trough v which is formed with a
jacket for the purpose of receiving steam through the pipe v¹, by which the
gutta percha will be kept in a soft state so as readily to combine with the wire
and the strands to form a coating thereto.-In combining several wires we
use a machine similar to the one just described for coating a single wire but
of larger dimensions and we pass the several wires down the tube a', and
keep the several covered wires from coming in contact with each other by
means of other strands or cords which form a centre and such centre cords or
strands and also the covered wires are kept in their relative positions by
passing through guide holes formed in plates supported at each end of the
tube a¹, and the strands are platted or braided on the outside of such com-
bined wires and strands in like manner to what has already been described
with respect to a single wire. And having covered in this manner the
combined strands and wires we again pass them through a similar machine
and obtain another covering of yarn but in this case we make use of vegetable
pitch in place of gutta percha as the coating material. And we prefer in like
manner to cover the wires a fourth time with coir saturating it at the same
tine with mineral pitch.
We will describe the fifth part of our Invention. Figure 23 shews two
views of parts of an electric telegraphic wire which are connected by means
of the screw connection A which is of the same metal as that composing the
two pieces of wire B. B. The connection A which acts as a nut is formed
with a screw in its length corresponding with the male screws on the ends of
the wires and we prefer that the thread on the wires should not be continued
so far along the wires as to be the length of the connection A and then when
the connection is applied the ends of it may by pressure be brought in close
contact with the wire.
Figure 24 shews another mode of forming a connection. In this case the
ends of the wire B B are rivetted into the tubes C, C, one of which is
formed with a male and the other with a female screw by which they are
united.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner in

page_text: which the same is to be performed we would have it understood that we do
not confine ourselves to the details as herein given so long as the peculiar
character of any part of our Invention be retained but what we claim is
First the means of obtaining a step-by-step rotating action to axes by
means of the combined action of electro-magnets and magnets..
Secondly We claim the transmitting of electric currents by induction from
an electro-magnet formed by a coil of insulated wire upon iron or nickel
charged by voltaic electricity.
Thirdly We claim the means of giving signals by sound and sounding
alarums herein explained.
Fourthly We claim the causing wire used for electric telegraphic purposes
to be covered for the purpose of insulating the same in the manner herein
described.
Fifthly We claim the modes of connecting wires used for telegraphic
purposes as described.
In witness whereof we the said William Brown and William Williams
have hereunto set our hands and seals this Thirty-first day of August
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.