IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALS FOR TELEPHONE AND TELE- GRAPH LINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Whiteman, of the Firm of Murdoch and
[5
Whiteman, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALS FOR TELEPHONE AND TELE-
GRAPH LINES." A. communication from abroad by Samuel Ward Francis, of
Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 14th November 1879, and dated the 5th September 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Thomas Whiteman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1879.
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN, of the Firm of Murdoch &. Whiteman, of No. 7,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents.
SIGNALS FOR TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH LINES." A communication from abroad
by Samuel Ward Francis, of Newport, in the State of Rhode Island, in the United
States of America.
In district and other telegraphy, or in telephone systems in which there is a
number of stations on the same line, wire alarms or signals are used to call the
attention of a person at the central office, or at one of the stations with whom it is
desired to communicate. It is very desirable to be able for any one of the stations
This result
to call the central office, or to be called without disturbing the others.
is obtained in the present Invention by means of an electric generator at the central
office without the aid of local batteries at the stations.
I will describe the said Invention with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
which represents a part of a telephone line showing the apparatus employed at the
central office and at one of the signal stations, in accordance with this Invention.
A represents the line; B, C, two batteries of unequal power at the central office,
the current from the battery C having preferably about four times the tension of
the other.
D, D', spring keys, which by depression open the circuit through the line A
and battery B; E, a spring key, which when depressed puts in circuit the battery
C; F, F, electro magnets, having pivoted armatures f, f', which act as escapements
for trains of wheels G, G, operated by springs or other suitable motor; H, a switch
for putting in and cutting out a telephone; I, I', bells arranged to be operated by
means of the electro magnets k, l, having armatures k, k¹, which when the current

page_text: is not passing are held away from the magnets by means of springs. The numerals
represent binding screws.
From the batteries B, C, wires lead to the ground and to the binding screws 1 and 3
respectively, which are connected with the springs D, E. The spring D is normally
in contact with the piece d, and while the spring E makes contact with the point
when depressed, the screw 2 is connected with both contact pieces. From the
screw 2 a wire leads to the screw 4, which is connected with the coils of the electro-
magnet F. These coils are connected with the coils of the electro-magnet k, and
these latter with the screw 5. From the screw 5 a line wire leads to the signal
station, being attached to the screw 6, which is connected with contact piece d
through the coils of the electro-magnet F', and also with the pivoted armature f'.
The spring D¹ normally rests in contact with the piece d', and is connected with the
screw 7, and from the latter the line wire leads to the other stations.
Connection is made through the coils of the electro-magnet K in the following
way The armature is connected with the contact piece d¹. It normally rests in
contact with the contact piece 2, which is connected with one end of the coils of
the magnet. The clockwork G¹ is connected with the other end of the coils. The
escapement wheel g¹ is insulated from the shaft, but a pin g², in contact with the
shaft, projects through the insulating material, and serves to close the circuit when
it comes into contact with the armature f¹, so that when this takes place the current
from the central station divides at the screw 6, and part passes through the electro-
magnet E¹, and part through the electro-magnet K'. The resistance through the
coils of the magnet K¹ is preferably made greater than that through the coils of the
magnet E¹, so that only a fraction of the current passes through the magnet K¹,
insufficient with the battery B to attract the armature and ring the bell I'. When
however the key is depressed and the battery C is put in circuit, the current will be
increased and the bell will ring until the key is released. By connecting the key
I instead of the contact piece d with the armature ¹, the circuit may be broken
by depressing this key, and notice thereby given to the central office that the person
at the signal station is ready to receive the message.
The escapement wheel g₁ of the train of wheels G¹ is. connected with a pointer,
which moves over a dial with a series of numbers around its face, a number for each
tooth of the escapement wheel. The train G is also provided with a pointer and
dial, which correspond with those of the train Gl, so that they move synchronously
and always point to the same number.
The telephone wires are connected with the screws 7 and S at the signal station.
The screw 7 is connected with the switches H, and the screw S with the screw 9,
and this with the ground. The switch may be turned to make contact with the
point connected with the screw 6, or with the point h' connected with the screw
7, thereby grounding the line either to the right or the left.
Before the telephone is placed in circuit it is intended to cut out the battery at
the central office, and for this purpose suitable means, such as an additional key or
switch, should be used. The connections for the telephone at the central office may
be made, substantially in the manner above indicated, for the signal station. The
central office is also provided with switches and other devices for putting parties on
different lines in communication with each other, which may be of any known or
suitable construction, as they form no part of this Invention.
The other stations on the same line are provided with apparatus, which are or
may be identical with that shown, with the exception of the position of the pin or
circuit closer g', which operates to close the circuit through the call bell. This
should be in a different position for each station, corresponding with the number of
the station. Thus in the station shown the pin g¹ closes the circuit through the call
bell, when the pointers of the several stations indicate one; on the dial in the next
station its position should be such that the circuit through the call of that station
is closed when the pointers indicate two, and so on for all the stations.
The operation of the Invention will be readily understood in connection with the
foregoing description. Normally the battery B is on, and all the pointers indicate

page_text: zero on their respective dials. If the operator at the central office desires to call
one of the stations, say No. 1, he depresses the key D once, and all the escapement
armatures of the magnets in circuit make one vibration, allowing the escapement
wheels to move one division of the circle, so that all the pointers indicate one on
their dials. At the first station the pin or circuit closer g¹ rests in contact with the
vibrating armature, and closes the circuit through the call magnet K¹ also. The
current from the battery divides the part passing through the coils of the magnet F.
being insufficient to retain the armature in contact with it, but that passing through
the coils of the magnet K' being insufficient to ring the bell. At the other stations
the circuits through the call magnets remain broken. Then the operator at the
central office depresses the key E and puts in the battery C, which being of greater
power causes the bell at the first signal station to ring as long as the key is depressed.
Then the battery is cut out entirely, and the telephones are connected in circuit as
required. If the person at the signal station wishes to call the operator at the
central office, he breaks the circuit by means of his key D¹ as many times as the
number of his station indicates, and the pointer at all the stations and the bell at
the signal office also responds. The operator at the central office then puts the
person at the station calling in communication with the desired station." When
the line is in use this is indicated at all the stations by the dials, so that the fact
will be known.
.
When the line is again idle the dials are restored to zero. Many modifications
may be made in the apparatus as described.
For example, other means for closing at the proper time the circuit through the
call magnet, controlled by the pulsations of the current on the line, might be used.
Any ordinary or suitable call may be employed. At the central station the call
magnet may be connected with a circuit closer controlled by the pulsations of the
current, so that the operator will ascertain by this means whether the call is properly
sounded at the signal station, or the call at the central office may be omitted alto-
gether, reliance being had upon the indications of the pointer alone.
Means may be provided for setting the pointer and circuit closers of the several
stations by the aid of an additional battery or otherwise.
By using a series of circuit closers, in addition to those described and operated by
the pulsations on the line, the telephone and keys of the different stations may be
shunted or cut out, except when the apparatus is set at zero, or when that particular
station desired is using the wire.
4
In some cases it might be practicable to dispense with the larger battery, the call
bells being made to respond to the portion of the current which passes through the
same when the circuit, for each is closed, but there would then be a liability for the
production of a false stroke on the intermediate stations when calling one which
requires a number of makes and breaks in the circuit to put its call in the
circuit.
Having thus fully described, the said Invention and the manner in which the
same is or may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the exact arrangement and details herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, as they may be varied without departing
from the nature of the said Invention, but I claim as the said.Invention,-
Firstly. The combination with a telegraph line or telephone line and a call capable
of operation by an electric current located at a station on said line of a circuit
closer controlled by electric pulsations traversing the line, and arranged to connect
the call in circuit with the line after a predetermined number of pulsations, substan-
tially as described, whereby the call may be sounded without the aid of a local
battery as set forth.
Secondly. The combination with a telegraph or telephone line, two batteries, and
keys for independently opening and closing the line circuit through said batteries of
a call capable of operation by an electric current, a circuit closer controlled by
electric pulsations traversing the line, and arranged to close the line circuit through
the call, substantially as described.

page_text: Thirdly. The combination in a signal apparatus with binding screws for attaching
line wires of an electro-magnet with vibrating armatures, having its wires connected
with the said screws, a circuit closer, and an electric alarm, the said circuit closer
being arranged to be operated by currents traversing the coils of said electro-magnets
to close the circumference the aforesaid binding screws through the alarm,. substan-
tially as set forth.
Fourthly. The combination with an electro-magnet a vibratory armature arranged
to act as an escapement, a train of wheels having an insulated escapement wheel, a
pin electrically connected with the train of wheels and turning with the escapement
wheel, and wires for conveying electric currents through the coils of the aforesaid
magnet to the armature thereof and to the train of wheels, substantially as
described.
Fifthly. The combination with an electro-magnet a vibratory armature, a circuit
closer, the movement of which is controlled by the vibrations of said armature, a
dial and pointer connected with and arranged to indicate the position of the circuit
closer, substantially as described.
Sixthly. An alarm apparatus for stations, or telephone or telegraph lines, consisting
of an electrical alarm, a circuit closer, arranged when in proper position to close
the circuit through said alarin, an electro-magnet with vibrating armature, arranged
to operate said circuit closer, a key arranged to open and close the circuit through
said electro-magnet, and a dial and pointer connected with and arranged to indicate
the position of the circuit closer in response to the pulsations in the coils of the said
electro magnets, substantially as described.
:
Seventhly. A system of alarmns, having a number of stations on a line, or electric
circuit in which each station is provided with an electrical alarm, a circuit closer
mechanism for operating the circuit closer by the aid of electric currents, the said
circuit closers being connected and arranged to close the line circuit through alarms
at different times for several stations, and additional battery power being thrown
upon the line to operate the alarm, through which the circuit is thus closed, substan-
tially as described.
Eighthly. The combination with a telegraph or telephone line of an alarm apparatus
located at one of the stations thereon, and composed of an electro-magnet with
vibratory armature, the coils of which magnet are connected in the line circuit, an
electrical aların, a circuit closer controlled by the vibrations of the aforesaid arma-
ture, connections for closing the line circuit through the alarm when the circuit
closer is in proper position therefor, substantially as described, whereby during the
sounding of the alarm the circuit closer will. be held in position by that part of
the line current passing through the coils of the aforesaid electro-maget, as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Whiteman, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
W. T. WHITEMAN. (L.S.)