Improvements in Automatic Telegraphs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 4th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Telegraphs.
A communication to me from abroad by EDWARD CASSALETTE and DAVID
KUNHARDT, both of Aachen, in the Empire of Germany.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, and accompanying drawings (that is to say):-
This invention relates to improvements in automatic telegraphs of the kind for
which we have applied for Letters Patent in the United Kingdom the 22nd of
October 1888 and numbered 15183.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a transmitting telegraphic apparatus embodying
the improvements which form the object of our present invention, the contact
springs are represented in this figure in a general plan.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a front view of the smaller drum with open and
closed contact springs.
In Figure 4 the contact springs are shewn in circuit with signal bells.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the larger drum with contact field.
Figure 6 is a plan of the arm mounted on the axis of the larger drum and
carrying the three contact springs which are separately shewn in Figures 7, 8,
and 9.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 are, respectively, a front elevation, side elevation and plan
of the type keys.
Figures 13 and 14 are respectively a front elevation and plan of a type-key
separately.
Figure 15 is a plan of the surface of the larger drum, Figure 5, developed to a
plane. The wire connections of the contacts and contact springs, as also the type
casings are represented in this figure.
Figure 16 is a general view to better explain the arrangement of the type-keys
and mechanism connected with them, as shewn in Figures 10, 11, and 12.
Figure 17 (Sheet 4) is a general plan of the springs and wire connections between
the working parts of the improved automatic telegraph.
Figure 18 (Sheet 5) represents- a modification of the developed plane of the
drum F, as shewn in Figure 15.
Referring to Figure 1, A, A, are two standards to support a shaft B, to which
motion is imparted either by a handle, as shewn, or by mechanical means, such as a
spring motor, electrical motor, or other suitable driving power.
On the shaft B a vertical arm C is mounted, the upper horizontal end of which
is bifurcated, as clearly shewn in Figure 6, and carries secured to its lower face, a
plate or block C₁ of india rubber, or other insulating material, to which the
springs D¹ D' D³ are secured.
The two springs D₁ and D³, Figures 7 and 9, are formed with two fingers or
points while the spring D Figure 8, is formed with three fingers or points.
Whenever the shaft B is turned the said springs D1 D2 D3 will slide over a field
of contacts composed of blocks and rails, as hereinafter described the said field
being arranged on the circumference of the larger drum F of wood the said drum
being held stationary by means of the standard E. The shaft B passes freely
through a central hole of the said drum F and standard E and on its inner end a
toothed wheel B' is mounted, gearing into the larger toothed wheel G¹ the pro-
portions of the said wheels being as 1 to 3. On the shaft G of the said

page_text: wheel G¹ a drum H is secured which by means of the gearing as described makes
one revolution while the shaft B is making three.
On the circumference of the said drum H, three groups of bosses are arranged
cach group taking a different position on the circumference and each consisting of
22 insulated bosses or projecting webs, which enter into mechanical contact with a
corresponding system of springs, arranged laterally with reference to the drum H
as shewn in Figures 2 and 3.
In the normal state, or state of rest, the springs I are in their lower position
(Figure 2) bearing upon the surface of the drum H and out of contact with the
upper springs K. But as soon as the drum H is turned, the groups 1, 11, 111, of
bosses or webs will successively enter into mechanical contact with the 22 springs J
arranged above, and through the said contact the springs J are lifted into contact
with the corresponding upper springs K as shewn in Figure 3, to close the circuit,
as hereinafter described.
By these means, each 22nd pair of springs J and K2 serves to give short
electrical signals by the bell in circuit with the battery B² as shewn in Figure 4;
the said signals continue until one of the bosses or webs 22 of the group has passed
below and left the spring J. The bells are so arranged in circuit that the boss 22
of group 1 produces the signal in bell 2, the boss 22 of group 11 produces the signal
in bell 3 and the boss 22 of group 111 produces the signal in bell 1 and so on.
As shewn in Figure 15, all springs K of equal number are conductively connected
to each other, and further by 21 conducting wires to the field of contacts on the
drum F.
The said field of contacts, formed upon the circumference of the drum F is shewn
developed to a rectangular plane in Figure 15.
At the left hand side of the drum a series of insulated contact blocks numbered + 1
up to + 21 are arranged and at the right hand side a similar series of insulated
blocks
1 up to
-
-
21.
Each positive or + contact is connected with the negative or + contact of the
same number, as shewn in Figure 15. Parallel to the series of + contact blocks
and near the same a double branched rail + L + L is laid and at the side of the
series of contacts a similar rail - L - Lª extends.
-
Between the two double branched rails a single rail M is arranged. On the
branch + L of the double rail + L + La a series of projecting contact blocks + 1ª
up to 21 is formed and the said double-branched rail +L+ L is connected
with the positive pole of the battery B¹. The other double rail - L - La carries
on its branch L a similar series of projecting contact blocks numbered
to - 21, and the said double rail is connected with the negative pole of the
battery B'.
The rail M is connected to earth.
-
1ª up
The springs D1 D2 D3 sliding over the contact field as described make contact in
the following manner.
Spring D¹ with one of its fingers bears upon the series of insulated contact
blocks +1 up to + 21 and its other finger simultaneously slides over the branch + L
of the adjacent rail. By this means all the contacts + 1 up to + 21 are successively
brought into connection with the positive pole of the battery.
Spring D makes contact, by one of its fingers with the raised contacts + 1ª up
to 21 on branch + Lª of the left hand rail, the central finger of the spring bears
on the central rail M and the right hand finger of the spring is carried over the
raised contacts 1ª up to 21 on the branch La of the right hand rail. It will
be easily understood then that by this arrangement the positive and negative poles
are alternately connected to earth.
-
-
Spring D³ simultaneously enters into contact, by one of its fingers with the
branch Land by the other finger with the series of insulated contact blocks -
- 1
21, which contact blocks by these means are successively connected with the
negative pole of the battery B¹.
up to
-
In the state of rest of the apparatus the spring D¹ bears against the two contact

page_text: ductively connected to the transmitting apparatus N¹ and contact block to the
line O. The shaft B and arm C, on being rotated, carry the three springs D¹ D² D³
all over the field of contacts, and, on starting, the said springs will slide off the
blocks N and O and the apparatus N¹ thereby will first, be disconnected from the
line, whereupon reciprocal or interchanging currents will arise as described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 15183, A.D. 1888, according to the
arrangement and connections shewn in and explained with reference to Figure 15.
When all the springs K of group 1 have been brought into contact with all the
21 corresponding springs J, and all the said springs J are connected to line, the
course of the current will be as follows:-
1.
-
-
pole,+L, ± 1, 1, K, J¹, line, earth, M, 1º,
2. pole, 1", M, earth, line, J, K, - 1,
1
L,
pole
pole
First
interchanging
current
Second
pole
2,
-
L, pole
interchanging
current
3. + pole, + L, + 2, − 2, K², J², line, earth, M, - 2ª,
4. pole, 2ª, M, earth, line, J2, K2,
and so forth.
-
If three (or more) receiving apparatuses are applied of the kind described and
shewn in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 266, A.D. 1887, there is arranged
behind the last contact on the contact field F (+ 21, ground, line,
21a) in
the path of spring D¹, a contact-line, O2, O³, ground M, M', and further on, in the
path of the springs D2 and D³ a contact for the negative current (+ pole, ground, M,
line, O³, pole) through which contact, after each full character a stronger
impulsion of negative current passes from a stronger battery B³. This current acts,
in the receiving station, on an armature, provided with a stronger spring and also
with a pawl, which engages a ratchet wheel and turns the same in such a manner,
that the metallic shaft of the said wheel, being connected to the line and having
mounted on it little blocks of india rubber or other insulating material, opens and
closes in duc succession the communication with the line, of the apparatuses 1, 11, 111
(or more), by means of sliding springs alternately bearing against the said rubber or
insulating springs and against the metal of the said shaft.
If it is desired to employ parallel currents, the rail M need only be disconnected
from earth, and the rail - L La connected with earth.
It will be easily understood, that an apparatus (arranged for reciprocal or inter-
changing currents) will produce 21 points on a slip of paper, while being unrolled.
Now, if we provide the possibility of making only those of the 21 points active, with
reference to the current, which are necessary to constitute a type or character of
the Morse-alphabet, composed of points and dashes (each dash having 3 points) it
will be evident, that any type or character of the said alphabet may be produced
by making the springs D¹ D2 D3 slide over the contact-field.
The letter of the Spanish alphabet, would, for instance require the following
13 points among the series of 21.
The remaining 8 points (4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 18) are omitted or silent.
For the character "ch," the following points become active 1,2,3, 6,7,8, 11,12,13,
16,17,18.
:
The choice of the contacts required for each separate type. or character is
determined by the type-boxes, consisting each of a wood, casing, containing four
plates P of wood, Figure 10. Each plate P carries two supporting blocks P¹ to
carry the shaft P2, on which are mounted the keys for all telegraphic types and
characters, Figures 11 and 12.

page_text: The keys consist, each of a lever Q, through the nave Q¹ of which the shaft P²
passes.
One end of the lever Q is drawn down by a spiral spring Q2 to bear against an
angular support Q³. On pressing on the left hand end of the lever Q, Figure 11,
the latter turns on the shaft P2 and the right hand end of lever Q is lifted to bear
against a metal plate R pivotting on its shaft R¹ connected to the line. The said
plate R through the nave R2 of which the shaft R¹ passes, as shewn in Figures 11
and 12, bears, on being lifted at the left hand side, with its opposite side against a
set of springs R³ mounted upon a block of wood which keeps the said springs
insulated from each other.
The lever Qon being forced down bears upon a set of springs Q and then is
stopped by a rest Q. On releasing the lever Q, the spring Q will draw the lever
down again upon the stop Q3, while the plate R is returned into its normal position
by a flat spring R, as shewn in Figures 11 and 12.
The sets of springs R³ and Q consist, for each separate type or character, of
those springs, which are in communication with the contacts of the same number on
the contact field, and which are required to become active in producing the points.
and dashes of the respective type.
<<
Many of the types have, among their constituting springs, a number of springs of
a common number; such common springs are arranged below the metal plates R,
while the springs that are peculiar or proper to each type or character, are arranged
below the lever Q. The set of springs R³ below the plate R may be termed
common springs," and the set Q below the lever Q "particular springs," the
types i, a, u, s, for instance have all the common springs 1 and 5, while the type a
has, beside the said common springs, the particular springs 6 and 7, type u the
particular springs 9, 10 and 11, the types the particular spring 9, while the type i has
no particular springs at all. Type t has only the particular springs 1, 2, 3 type e
only the one particular spring 1, type n only the particular springs 1, 2, 3, 7. The
types g, o, o, z, q, m, have all the common springs 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, while each of the
said types has the particular springs indicated in Figures 12, 16, and 17 below
the respective key Q.
"
In each type box, all "common springs" and all "particular springs' are con-
nected with the springs J of equal number in corresponding group of bosses on the
drum H, as clearly shewn in the general plan, Figure 17, Sheet IV of the drawings
where the wire connections of the four plates of the type box are represented.
All types or characters with common springs are equally shewn in the same plan.
Each shaft R' being connected to line (Sheet II, Figure 12, Sheet III Figure 15,
and Sheet IV Figure 17), it will be understood, that on operating one of the keys Q,
and simultaneously making the springs D1 D2 D3 slide over the field of contacts, a
current will pass through those contacts of the field, which are connected with the
common and "particular" springs of the equal numbers below the operated key;
the current will, accordingly, pass through the springs K and J through the common
springs of the type, through the plate R, shaft R' to line, and will also respectively
pass through the particular springs of the type, the lever Q, plate R, and shaft R¹,
to line, then to earth and back to the field of contacts. The circuit, of course, will
be closed only for that type box, for which the corresponding group of bosses of the
cylinder H closes the contacts K' to K2 and J¹ to J¹¹.
66
"
To better explain the working order, the following examples may serve, indicating
the way, which the current will take to enter into the line, and become active for
producing the type or character:

page_text: From Figure 4 it will be understood that the operator at the type box will always
receive the bell signal at the time, when the preceding group of bosses makes
contact of their springs J and K.
On receiving the signal he must operate his type keys and keep the same down
until the third signal of the bell sounds.
In consequence of this mode of transmitting the types or characters, (from
box 1, box 11, box 111, Figures 15 etc.), as will be understood, the text of the
several telegrams forwarded will arrive mixed in the receiver.
Suppose the first operator 1 would begin the lot of telegrams which he has to
transmit, by the words "Mister Max," the second operator 11 by the words "Madam
Suhl," and the third operator 111 by the words "Miss Lehre ; " then the letters in
the Morse style, would come forth in the receiver in the following order and in
geometrically equal distances: mm mia isd sta se mlr sem uha
hrxle.
The operator at the receiving apparatus would have to write these incoherent
letters on three horizontal lines of ruled paper, in vertical rows as follows:-
1. m i s t e I m a X
and so on continue telegram
of operator
1.
11. m a da m S 11
h I
111. m i S 8 1 e h
r
e
وو
وو
11.
"
"
111.
دو
"
To space every two words, for instance "Mister" and "Max" "Madam" and
"Suhl" and so on, the key "blank" is to be depressed in every type box which
key produces a different sign for each of the three boxes.
For box 1 (Sheet IV) the character "blank" consists of the contacts 1, 11, 21,
for box 11 of the contacts 1, 9, 13, 21, and for box 111 of the contacts 1, 8, 11, 14, 21.
The signs produced in the Morse style are accordingly :-

page_text: Each of the three operators, in this case, would have to transmit one of the hori-
zontal rows of letters, and on the slip of paper unrolled in the receiver, the letters
and words would appear in the true consecution as originally contained in the
telegrams to be transmitted by the three operators.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
In automatic telegraphs ;-The arrangement of a field of contacts (Figure 15) on
the circumference of a stationary drum F (Figure 5), the contacts of which field,
being in circuit with the two poles of a battery B', are subjected to a sliding contact
of insulated springs D1 D2 D3 carried by the arm C, whereby reciprocal (or parallel)
currents arise, which according to their distribution by the groups of bosses 1, 11, 111,
on the circumference of a rotary drum H, successively pass over the contact
springs I, K, into the type boxes 1, 11, 111, Figure 15, within which they are
connected to the line, for transmitting the characters, by means of type keys Q,
plates R, shafts R' connected to line, and springs, conductively connected to the
corresponding contacts of the contact field, thus enabling three (or more) telegrams
to be transmitted at a time by one (or more) apparatuses.
this 4th day of January 1990.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Patentee.