Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 1st July, 1887.
1, ALBERT LYMAN PARCELLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in
the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, U.S.A., 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 :-
My invention relates to synchronous movements of the class shown in the United
States Letters Patent No. 324,153, granted to me August 11, 1885, and covers
certain improvements on the mechanism and arrangement shown in said patent.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the organization at one station.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the synchronously-actuated apparatus and the motor for
actuating it.
Fig. 3, a side elevation.
Fig. 4, a view, partly in section, looking at the under side of the devices which
actuate the synchronously-moving apparatus.
Fig. 5, a detail view showing a modified form of vibrator; and
Fig. 6, a view showing an arrangement of rocking pawls by means of which the
vibrator actuates the synchronous device.
In my United States patent above mentioned I have shown an arrangement in
which the vibrator at either station would be held up or checked whenever the
apparatus at that station runs too fast. This was, however, accomplished by means of
the energizing of the motor-magnets. In the present case I accomplish the retardation
of the vibrator by means of supplementary magnets, preferably placed in independent
or shunt circuits, which are completed when the vibrator at the station moves too
rapidly.
Referring now to Fig. 1, A is the vibrator, which may be of any suitable size and
shape, but is preferably, for an instrument of this kind, about eight inches long.
A¹ A¹ are the motor-magnets, and B a commutator mounted upon a rotating shaft, b,
a small section only of which is shown in Fig. 1, which may be driven by the vibrator,
either in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, or in the manner illustrated in my British
patent of even date herewith, No. 5533.

page_text: The motor-battery M B has one pote connected with the shaft or hub of the
commutator, the brushes of which, 661, are connected with the coils of the motor-
magnets, A¹ A', while the opposite pole of the motor-battery is connected with the
opposite ends of the coils of the motor-magnets. By this arrangement the circuit of
the motor-magnets will be made and broken and the vibrator continuously actuated, as
will be well understood.
The trailing circuit-completer C, which travels over the table of contacts, may be
driven directly by the shaft b, as shown in the other figures of the drawings, or, it
may be driven in any other suitable way from the vibrator A. This rotary arm carries
an insulated trailing finger, c, on one end, and its ends are preferably beveled to make
contact with the beveled end of the pivoted detent or circuit-completing lever D, one
end of which carries an armature for an electro-magnet, D'. The coil of this magnet is
grounded on one side, and on the other side is connected to the ground-contacts e, e,
in the circle of contacts.
The
ff are the battery-contacts, which are connected with the battery B B. The
arrangement of the ground and battery contacts and of the magnet Ď¹ is the same
as in my United States patent, and no further description will be necessary. The
insulated main-line wire L runs first to the center hearing of the rotating finger, and
is carried along the finger and connected with the insulated trailing finger c.
arrangement of ground and battery contacts and circuit-connections is the same at the
distant station. If the finger illustrated at the station shown in Fig. 1 has traveled
too rapidly, it will abut against the detent D and be checked. In this position the
trailing finger e will rest upon the ground-contact e, with which the magnet D¹ is
connected. When, therefore, the finger at the distant station, which travels substan-
tially at right angles with the finger at the station illustrated, has reached a position
in which its trailing finger e comes upon the battery-contact F, an impulse will be
sent over the line and through the coil of the magnet D', thus drawing down the
detent, releasing the trailing arm C, and permitting the arms at both stations to start
together. This operation is fully described in my prior United States patent, and
needs no further description here.
C
The correction of the vibrator at the moment when the rotating finger c is checked
by the detent may be accomplished in the following manner: One pole of the
battery M B is connected with the detent or correcting circuit completer D, from
which the circuit extends from the arm C to a bearing-finger, C, which makes
contact with its hub. This finger is connected through the coil of the correcting-
magnet G to an insulated contact finger, g, secured in a post mounted on the frame, and
also through the opposite correction-magnet, G1, and from thence to a corresponding
insulated contact-finger, g'. A pin or contact, g², on the vibrator is arranged in such
relation to the contact-fingers ggas to make contact with them alternately as the
vibrator vibrates. This finger is connected, as shown, with the opposite pole of the
battery M B. When, therefore, the rotating arm Chas moved too rapidly and is
checked by the detent D, the correcting-circuit, just traced will be closed on one side
or the other of the vibrator through either one of the fingers g g with which it
happens to be in contact, by the mere contact between the arm and detent D, and a
movement of the detent is not necessary to effect a completion of the circuit. The
commutator is preferably so timed with reference to the movement of the vibrator and
the vibrator-magnets A as to open the circuit of the vibrator-magnets when the center
of the armature on the vibrator comes opposite the pole of the vibrator-magnet. The
vibrator will then be corrected solely by the action of the side correcting-magnets, G G¹.
In order to render their action on the vibrator more efficient, the armature on the
vibrator is provided with side flanges or armature-pieces, a, on which the correcting-
magnets G G¹ act.
If desired, the correcting or shunt circuit just described may be completed not only
through the correcting-magnets G G¹, but also through the vibrator-magnets A A,
by connecting the two circuits at the points indicated by the dotted lines marked a¹.
With this method of correction it will be observed that the effect of the side correcting-
magnets is to extend or prolong the vibration. Either action would be a retardation,

page_text: for it is well understood that if one of the vibrations of a body having a normal or
fundamental rate of vibration is lengthened the rate is momentarily retarded.
Corrections effected in this way act with great delicacy upon the vibrator, and without
any perceptible check or change, otherwise than to effect the slight necessary diminu-
tion of rate to bring the apparatus at the two stations into synchronism.
I have shown the pin g² and the contact-fingers 9 g² as a simple and efficient manner
of alternately completing the correcting-circuit on the opposite sides of the vibrator;
but any other suitable apparatus or arrangement of circuits might be employed. In
the construction shown the correction may take place twice in each revolution, because,
when the end of the arm C which does not carry the trailing finger abuts against the
detent the trailing finger is then upon the ground-contact e on the opposite side of the
circle of contacts.
I have thought it necessary only to show means for effecting but two corrections
in each revolution. The contacts in the circular series of contacts, other than the
ground and battery contacts above mentioned, may be connected in circuit for ordinary
Morse transmission. Thus I have shown a key, K, and a relay, R, connected with
twelve of such contacts taken at equal intervals around the circle of contacts. Should
the arm C, therefore, be rotated twice a second, the operator at the key K would have
twenty-four completions of the circuit every second, and he could telegraph with as
much facility as if the main line were devoted exclusively to his use.
I have merely
indicated the battery B B, a key, and a relay to represent the telegraph-instruments.
The instruments may be mounted in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3-that is,
the vibrator may hang vertically with its fixed clamped end at the top suitably
supported in an upright frame, H, carried by a bed-plate, H. The motor-magnets A¹
may be set in the depression or opening in the bottom of the bed-plate, as shown in
Fig. 2, and the correcting magnets G G¹ may be mounted upon suitable brackets on
the base-plate. The shaft b, which carries the commutator, and to which the rotating
arm may be connected, is mounted in bearings in a horizontally-projecting
bracket or frame I, which is carried by the upright H. This frame is fully shown in
Fig. 4. The vibrator A passes through it, as shown, and vibrates a pivoted arm or
lever, K, interposed between the anchor-lever L' and the vibrator. The inner end
of the lever K is formed with a notch, which straddles the outer edge of the vibrator,
while its upper end engages with a pivoted anchor-lever, L'. This anchor-lever has
two radiating arms, which project radially equal distances from its pivot and carry
spring-controlled pawls 1, that engage in the teeth of a ratchet-wheel, M, on the
spindle b. These pawls are arranged in tangential lines relatively to the ratchet-
wheel, and they both operate to push the wheel and not to pull and push, as in the
ordinary way.
As the pivots of both pawls are equal distances from the center of
motion, and they act on the wheel in the same way in substantially similar tangential
lines, a very uniform, smooth, rotation of the ratchet-wheel is obtained. There may
be eight teeth in the ratchet-wheel, and the arm C is so related to the detent that it
will reach the detent the instant that the reed is at the limit or end of a vibration. Any
further movement of the vibrator will carry the interposed lever, K, out of the notch
in the anchor-lever, and no further movement of the arm K until it returns and
passes into the notch in the end of the anchor-lever will affect the driving-pawls l.
A circular table of contacts, Y, is located upon the upper face of the frame I, con-
centrically with the shaft b, and the detent-magnet D₁ and detent-lever D are
secured upon suitable brackets projecting from the frame I, all as clearly shown in
Figs. 2, 3, and 4. The frame I may be adjustable up and down on the upright H, 'so
as to bring the lever K closer to or farther from the fixed end of the vibrator, to
regulate the extent of its motion. Of course, instead of operating the shaft b and the
rotating arm C by means of an interposed lever, K, as shown in Fig. 4, the anchor-
lever L may make contact directly with the vibrator. For some reasons, however,
I prefer to interpose a pivoted lever, such as K, between the vibrator and the
mechanism to be driven. For instance, when the vibrator acts directly on the anchor-
lever, a very fine adjustment is required for the vibrator to pass into and out of
engagement with the lever at the proper time. By using the interposed lever a fine

page_text: adjustment is unnecessary. A steadying spring-lever, N, having a notched face,
works against a sharp-edged stud, n, on the anchor-lever, so as to hold the anchor-
lever L' at each end of its stroke. The pawls act on the ratchet-wheel only to the
extent of the movement of the lever L, and this lever is held at each side of its stroke
by the steadying spring N, irrespective of the movement of the vibrator or the
intermediate arm K. Another way of accomplishing the same uniformity of actuation
of the ratchet-wheel is shown in Fig. 6. In that arrangement the lever L' may
straddle the vibrator A, as shown, or an intermediate lever, K, may be employed; but
in any event, whatever the notion of I, the pawls are prevented from acting on the
ratchet-wheel, except at the proper time and to the proper extent, because the
movement of the lever L' beyond proper distance to properly actuate the pawls will
bring the pawls against adjustable pins A, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, so that they
will be thrown out of the ratchet-teeth and will not act until the vibrator or operating-
lever has returned and again strikes the lever L, or until the vibrator or operating-
lever moves the lever I in the opposite direction, thus throwing the pawl out of
engagement with the pin. The contact-fingers 9 g¹ are mounted upon posts secured
on the upright. H at a suitable point. The pin g is fixed in the inner edge of the
vibrator, as will appear from Figs. 2 and 3.
To economize battery and still be able to use a reed having a high rate of vibration,
the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 may be employed. There the vibrator A, instead of
being acted directly upon by the vibrator-magnets, engages in the end of a pivoted
lever, O, carrying the armature on which the vibrator-magnets A act. By connecting
the short arm of this lever with the end of the vibrator a much wider movement of
the armature is obtained, while a high rate of vibration of the reed or vibrator A can
be had. The advantage of such an arrangement is, that if the armature were on a
reed vibrating at a high speed it could not be brought into proper relation to the
poles of the magnets, so as to hold the vibrator, as the amplitude would be so small,
whereas by this plan a high-rate vibrator could be used and still be under the control
of the magnets. In this arrangement the vibrator forms a common conductor for
both branches of the circuit of the vibrator-magnets. The vibrator may be started
into operation even without imparting mechanically an initial impulse to it, because
when the magnets are both suddenly magnetized a sharp pull will be given, and as
one magnet may be slightly stronger than the other the reed will be started into
operation.
In order to ground the line at one or both ends, to discharge it from static and
inductive effects, I have provided an arrangement such as shown in Fig. 7. In the
arrangement shown in Fig. 4 there are eight teeth in the ratchet, and the rate of the
vibrator could be double that, so as to give two revolutions per second. There would
therefore be sixteen minute pauses theoretically-namely, one at the end of each
swing of the vibrator. The trailing finger c is so related to the ratchet-wheel that it
passes to and pauses upon a contact arranged between the other contacts and con-
nected to the ground, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, at the end of each swing of the
vibrator, thus giving the line full opportunity to discharge. With one hundred and
twelve contacts, all told, in the table, as shown in Fig. 1, this arrangement would
give a discharge-contact after each seventh contact; and it is thought unnecessary in
Fig. 7 to show the entire table, the number of contacts shown being amply sufficient
to illustrate this feature.
I have described the apparatus as embodied in what I deem to be a practical and
efficient form, though I do not confine myself to the specific details of construction
and arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the resilient or spring-controlled
vibrator, the motor-magnets arranged opposite the end of the vibrator and out of the
path of vibration, and supplementary correcting-magnets.
2. The combination of the table of contacts, the rotating circuit-completer, the

page_text: detent-arm, the correcting-magnets, and their circuit or circuits, which are completed
when the rotating arm makes contact with the detent-arm, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a circular table of contacts, a trailing finger traversing said
table, a vibrating bar or reed which drives said trailing finger, and contacts connected
with the ground and placed between the other contacts in the circular series of
contacts on the table, the parts being arranged substantially as described, whereby the
trailing finger comes in contact with one of the ground-connected contacts at the ends
of the swings of the vibrator.
4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the vibrator, the vibrator-magnets,
the commutator or switch devices and brushes, the motor magnets, the correcting
magnets, circuit-completing devices carried or actuated by the vibrator, which close
the circuit alternately, first through one correcting-magnet and then through the
other, the rotating arm, and the detent arm or contact.
5. The combination of the vibrator, the pivoted lever L', the pawls carried thereby,
the ratchet-wheel, and mechanism interposed between the vibrator and the lever Li
for actuating said lever.
6. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the vibrator, the actuated rocking
lever L', the pawls carried thereby, the ratchet-wheel, and the trip or stop pins which
trip the pawls and insure their regular action on the ratchet-wheel independently of
the extent of vibration of the vibrator.
7. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the vibrator, the rocking-lever,
the ratchet-wheel, the pawls carried by said lever and arranged to act tangentially on
the ratchet-wheel, and trip devices which throw the pawls out of engagement with the
ratchet-teeth upon a determined extent of motion of said lever, irrespective of the
continued or prolonged movement of the vibrator.
8. The combination of the bed-plate, the upright, the vertical vibrator rigidly fixed
at its upper end, the motor-magnets seated in a depression in the bed-plate, the
correcting-magnets mounted upon the face of the bed-plate, a frame, I, the table of
contacts, correcting-magnet and detent carried thereby, the shaft b, and mechanism
for actuating said shaft to rotate the trailing arm over the table of contacts and
actuate the commutator devices.
9. The combination of the synchronously-actuated mechanism, a vibrator for im-
parting motion to said mechanism, a pivoted lever with which the vibrator is
interlocked or connected, an armature on the outer end of said pivoted lever, and the
vibrator-magnets.
10. The combination of the bed-plate, the upright, the horizontally-projecting
frame secured on the upright, which carries the synchronously-rotating devices, and
the apparatus for actuating said devices, carried by the upright and bed-plate.
11. The combination of the table of contacts, the rotating arm formed with
beveled ends, as shown, and the detent or circuit-completer formed with corre-
spondingly beveled ends.
12. The combination of the vibrator, the armature arranged upon its end at right
angles to its longitudinal axis, side armatures arranged, one upon each side, parallel
with the vibrator, the motor-magnets arranged opposite the end of the vibrator, and
the correcting-magnets arranged at the sides.
Dated this Second day of April 1887.