IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ROBERT KIRK BOYLE of 15 St Stephens Avenue, Shepherd's Bush, in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS" to be as follows
-
My invention relates to telegraphic apparatus and is chiefly designed to provide
for enabling two or more messages to be transmitted simultaneously, or approxi-
mately so, through the same line-wire by different operators working independently
of each other and irrespective of the time or speed of transmission.
My improved apparatus is so constructed that each message sent will be received
clearly and distinctly by sounds or other signals, and the armature or recording
part of the receiving instrument is not limited in its movement, but can never-
theless make the proper impression in its to-and-fro movement, it will therefore
adjust itself according to the action of the varying conditions of the weather upon
the electric current in the line wire
In carrying my said invention into practice, I employ a frame or coil of wire
one side or part of which is arranged between the jaws of an electro-magnet in a
manner somewhat similar to that described in the specification of former Letters
Patent dated 7th May 1884 N° 7375 This frame or coil is suspended or held by
a wire at the top of one side or part and another wire at the bottom thereof
Each of these suspending wires is provided with suitable means for regulating its
tension and torsion, so that it will hold the said frame or coil in the proper position
between the jaws of the magnet The said frame or coil is free to turn, like the
leaf of a book, upon or about the suspending wires It has, preferably at its
upper end, a projecting arm arranged to extend between two adjustable springs
and between two adjustable stop-screws or other contact pieces, so that, when a
given amount of current passes through the frame or coil in one direction, the said
arm will make contact with one of the said springs, and, when the same amount of
current passes in the opposite direction, it will make contact with the other of the
said springs
When, however, the amount of current passing in either direction is
increased, one or the other of the springs will be compressed and the said arm will
make contact with the corresponding contact piece
To enable two messages to be transmittel sinultaneously by the same wire,
I provide two of the said frames or coils, so that a given current passing through

page_text: the two coils will cause one to make contact and the other to break contact
Moreover, I provide, at the transmitting end of the line, a drum or roller of
non-conducting material arranged to be rotated in any suitable manner and having
metal sections or pieces of metal let into it. These sections or pieces are arranged
spirally, and two springs are provided in combination with each section or piece,
so that there will always be a pair of springs bearing upon one or other of the
said sections or pieces, but two of the said sections or pieces cannot be in contact
with the springs at the same time
the same
One spring of each of these pairs is connected with the line, or forms a part of
The other spring of each pair is connected with a key for making and 1
breaking a circuit in which an electric generator is included. When either pair
of springs is in contact with the corresponding metal section or piece, a current
from another electric generator flows through one end of the corresponding key,
through one of the said springs and the metal section or piece, and through the
other of the said springs to the line, thereby causing one of the said coils to move
until its arm comes in contact with one of the aforesaid adjustable springs but
does not touch the corresponding contact piece As the metal sections or pieces are
successively brought into contact with the different pairs of springs, by the rotation
of the drum or roller, positive and negative electric impulses are alternately sent
through the line so as to cause the said arm of the coil to vibrate between the
adjustable springs If one of the said keys 18 depressed while one of the metal
sections is passing the corresponding pairs of springs, the current passing through
the line 18 increased and will therefore cause the arm of the frame or coil to
make contact with one or the other of the contact pieces, and thus complete a
circuit which includes a local battery and an electro-magnetic or other signalling
apparatus
The operation of my apparatus 18 as follows, that is to say -While the drum is
revolving under ordinary circumstances feeble currents are sent over the telegraph
line or cable, the arms of the receiving coils are thus moved to and fro between the
two adjustable springs, but not sufficiently to bring them against the contact pieces,
with one or the other of which they make contact only when an operator depresses
a key The drum revolves so rapidly that there is a constant, or nearly constant,
flow of current. A local battery excites a fine electro-magnet when the arm of the
coil comes in contact with one of the contact pieces. This fine local magnet opens
the circuit of another local battery and electro magnet adjusted so as not to be
affected by the vibrations of the first fine local magnet but acts when it comes to
rest, by this means, although the operator works his key as though he had an
unbroken current he is really sending a number of fine impulses which are
converted into perfect dots and dashes at the receiving end by the arrangement of
apparatus at this end
In cable telegraphs I prefer to use the following arrangement instead of the
stop screws or other contact pieces above described, viz -I suspend a wire,
preferably platinum, by a fine fibre or thread to a device whereby the torsion of
the said thread can be regulated By preference the said wire is suspended from
a metal stand or support which has two arms through which passes the said wire
This wile 18 bent so that part of it extends outward in a horizontal plane, and this
pait is bent so that a portion of it extends inward in the same plane On this
inwardly extending portion a fine wire, preferably of platinum, is placed so that it
18 free to turn thereon This wire is so arranged that its extremities constitute
two arms one of which extends beneath the vertical portion of the suspended
wire and between two contact points or pieces, and the other of which projects
outwards at a right angle thereto, or nearly so, and engages with a hook on the
end of the arm of the frame or coil, so that the movement of the latter will cause
the fine wire to make contact with one or the other of the said contact points or
pieces
If the outer arm of the fine wire is moved upward, its inner arm will come
against the lower contact point, and if the outer arm is moved downward the

page_text: inner arm will come against the upper contact point This movement of the said
fine wue 18, however, very slight By reason of the above described peculiar
construction and arrangement of the parts, should the current be greater than 18
required to effect such movement in either direction, the suspended wire will be
caused thereby to rotate, the inner arm of the fine wire remaining in contact with
one or the other of the contact points But when the current is reversed, or the
line circuit is broken, the slightest movement of the fine wire will serve to break
contact between its inner arm and either contact point, although the suspended
wire may have been rotated half a tuin This arrangement is, therefore, well
adapted for varying currents such as are found in submarine cables.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co,
For the Applicant.

page_text: drum has secured upon its periphery metal plates or sections f, f¹, ƒ³ There must
be as many of these plates or sections as there are keys or manipulators, and an
additional section or plate between each pair of the said sections or plates for
connecting the line with the earth to effect the discharge of the said line is herein-
after specified In the apparatus shewn in the drawings, there are four of the said
plates or sections, two of which are for forming the earth connections, therefore the
said apparatus may be used for transmitting either a single message or two messages
Bimultaneously through the same line-wire as hereinafter explained Contact
springs or brushes g are arranged in pairs in combination with the said metal plates
or sections in such a manner that, in the rotation of the drum a, there will always
be a pair of the said springs bearing upon one or other of the said plates or sections,
but two of the said plates cannot be in contact with the springs at the same time
The said springs are secured in any suitable manner to the base d
One spring of each of these pairs is connected with the line h or forms a part of
the same, for instance, the springs 2, 4, and 6, as shewn The springs 1 and 5
of the outer paus are each connected with a key or manipulator 2 or 2¹, and with
a circuit k or k¹ in which is included an electric battery or other generator 1 or
Another electric battery or generator m o1 m² is included in a loop or derived
Circuit m or m³ between the pivot or fulcrum of the key and its contact
piece nor n, so that, when either pair of springs 1 and 2, or 5 and 6 is in
contact with the corresponding metal plate or section for fa, a current from the
battery or flows through the corresponding key, through one of the said springs
and the plate for f' with which it is in contact, and through the other of the said
springs and the line-wire h
The batteries 1, m are arranged to send a positive
current and the batteries 1, m¹ a negative current through the line, therefore,
when the drum a is rotated, positive and negative impulses will be alternately
tiansmitted through the line, which is thus kept in a neutral state, that is to sty,
in such a condition that a current of either polanty can be increased in strength
by the depression of one or other of the keys 2, 2¹ as heroinafter set forth After
the transmission of each impulse it is desirable that the line should be discharged
This is effected by the contact of the springs 3 and 4 with one or the other of the
plates f, the spring 3 being electrically connected with the earth
One of the keys 2, 21 is designed to be used for making the dots and the other
key for making the dashes This arrangement is more especially adapted for
cable work When the apparatus is to be used for ordinary telegraph lines the
keys can, if desired, be worked by different operators, the dots and dashes both
being produced by currents or inpulses of one polarity
My improved relay, which is shewn in Figures 3 to 5, comprises a frame or
coil o of wire, one side or part o¹ of which is arranged between the jaws or polai
extensions p, p of an electro-magnet, in a manner somewhat similar to that
described in the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me May 7th, 1884,
No 7375 This frame or coil is suspended or held by wires q, q¹ at the top and
bottom of the side or part of thereof These suspending wues are provided with
suitable means for regulating theu tension and torsion, so that the said frame or
coil will be held in its proper position relatively to the jaws or poles of the magnet
The said frame or coil is free to turn like the leaf of a book, upon or about the
suspending wires It has, preferably at its upper end, a projecting arm o³ which
extends between two springs r, adjustable (by means of screws 7) with respect
to their tension and their position relatively to the said arm o³, and also to two
adjustable screws or contact pieces 8, 8¹ one of which is arranged in combination
with each of the said springs as shewn One of the said springs and one of the said
screws form part of a local circuit at the receiving station, therefore, by pressing
the spring against the screw the said circuit will be closed When an electric
current from the battery 7 passes through the frame or coil o, the said arm will make
contact with one of the said springs and, when a current from the battery passes
through the said frame or coil, the said arm will make contact with the other of the
said springs. These alternating currents cause the coil to vibrate rapidly between
11

page_text: the two springs
Two of the above described relays are connected with the
receiving or recording instrument hereinafter described When a current of either
polarity is increased in stiength by the depression of one of the keys, the cone-
sponding local circuit will be closed by the pressure of the spring r¹ against its
screw or contact piece 81
The receiver which I prefer to employ is shown in Figures 6 and 7, in which A
18 the base for supporting the several parts of the instrument B, C are two electio-
magnets attached thereto Each of these magnets is included in the circuit t or t¹
of a local battery u or u¹, as shown in Figure 8
The magnet B has an armature B¹ attached to a lever B' which is pivotted
at BS to a bracket B' secured to the base A The lever Bª carries at one of
its extremities a small siphon D, one end of which dips into ink contained in a
reservoir D¹ The other end of the said siphon is in contact with a strip E of
paper, on which the messages are to be printed, and which is supported upon a
plate F A spring G is attached to the other extremity of the armature lever B
and to an adjusting screw G for regulating its tension Two adjusting screws
H, Hare, moreover, provided for regulating the movement of the said lever
The magnet C has an armature C₁ attached to a lever C which is pivotted at C³
to a bracket C secured to the base A. One arm of the lever C is bent upward
and is forked at its extremity C³ so that it will engage with the siphon D The
said lever C is, moreover, provided with a spring I and an adjusting screw I for
regulating the tension thereof, and with adjusting screws K, K' for regulating its
movement
In the forward movement of the paper strip E, the siphon D will, under normal
conditions, remain stationary and what I term the "zero-line" will be marked
thereby on the said strip, that is to say, a line will be traced along the centre of
the said strip When the armature B¹ is attracted by its magnet, the siphon will
be turned upon or about the forked arm C and its point thus moved a short
distance in one direction from the zero-line, and, when the aimature C¹ is attracted
by its magnet the said siphon will be turned upon or about the end of the lever B
and its point thus moved a short distance in the reverse direction from the said
line. When the apparatus above described is used for transmitting one message,
the marks on one side of the zero-line represent dots, and those on the other side
thereof dashes When the said apparatus is used for transmitting two messages
simultaneously by the same line-wire, the marks representing the dots and dashes
are on the same side of the said zero-line In the latter case two siphons are
required and ordinary "Morse" signals are produced thereby
The operation of my apparatus is as follows, that is to say -While the
druin a is rotating, feeble positive and negative electric impulses are, under
normal conditions, alternately transmitted through the telegraph line or cable,
by the batteries 1, 1, as above stated, the keys 2, 1 being in contact with the
pieces n, n¹ and the batteries m, m¹ being consequently short circuited By means
of these impulses the arms o³ of the frames or coils o of the relays are vibrated,
as above described, between the springs 7, r, but not with sufficient force to press
the said springs against the contact pieces 8, 81, with one or the other of which they
make contact only when an operator depresses one of the keys 2, 2¹ and thereby
introduces additional current or battery power
Each operator works his key as though he had an unbroken current, but he is
really sending a number of impulses which are converted into perfect dots and
dashes at the receiving end by the peculiar arrangement of the apparatus at this
end of the line
By depressing the key 2, the additional or supplementary battery m is brought
into the line-circuit, so that the positive impulses transmitted through the line are
increased in strength and cause the arm o³ of the corresponding frame or coil o of
the relay to press the corresponding spring against its contact piece thus closing t
one of the local battery circuits of the receiver This contact is maintained so
long as the said bey is held down, notwithstanding the fact that such contact is

page_text: produced by a series of short impulses and not by a continuous current, the local
circuit is, therefore, kept closed for a sufficient length of time to ensure the
production of the proper signal or mark upon the paper strip
This
In cable telegraphs, I prefer to use the relay shewn in Figures 9 and 10, instead
of that above described and shewn in Figures 3 to 5, for the purpose of obtaining
a movement through a greater or less space with the rise or fall of the current
without changing the fineness of the play between the contact points and without
friction, that is to say is a wire, preferably of platinum, which is suspended by
a fine fibre or thread v¹ to device whereby the torsion of the said thread can be
regulated By preference the said wire is suspended from a metal stand_or
support which has two arms through which is passed the said wire
wire is bent as shewn On the part of the wire v, a fine wire v³, preferably
of platinum, is placed so that it is free to turn thereon This wire is so arranged
that it constitutes two arms one of which extends between two contact pieces w, w³,
and the other of which projects upwards and outwards and engages with a hook o*
on the end of the arm o³ of the frame or coil o, so that the movement of the latter
will cause the fine wire to make contact with one or the other of the said contact
pieces
If a current passes in one direction through the frame or coil o, the arm o*
immediately acts upon the outer arm of the wire v³ and moves the same in the
corresponding direction, the current thus causes the inner arm to come against the
contact piece w¹ and then, if the current is strong enough, causes the partial
rotation of the wire in one direction, the contact being maintained during such
partial rotation Immediately the current ceases, the contact will be broken, and
the wire v will then return to its original position If a current passes through
the said frame or coil in the reverse direction, the arm o³ acts upon the outer arm
of the wire and thus causes the inner arm thereof to come against the contact
piece w
Should the current be greater than is required to effect the contact, the
suspended wire is partially rotated, the contact being maintained, as above stated
When the current is reversed on the line-circuit is broken, the slightest movement
of the fine wire ³ serves to break contact, although the suspended wire may have
been rotated half a turn I thus provide what I term a swinging contact
arrangement is well adapted for varying currents such as are produced in sub-
marine telegraphy The said contact points are connected with a local circuit of
the receiving or recording instrument
This
Although I have described my invention as applied to apparatus for printing the
messages on a strip of paper, the said invention is also applicable to apparatus
wherein the messages are received by means of sounds or other signals
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 18
First A commutator which is constructed and arranged in combination with a
line-wie and with two or more electric circuits in such a manner that, when
rotated, it will connect the said circuits with, and disconnect them from, the said
line-wie in rapid succession, as, and for the purpose, specified
Second A telegraphic transmitter which is provided with a commutator, con-
structed and arranged in combination with a line-wire, electric circuits and keys or
manipulators in such a manner that the line will, under norinal conditions, be
kept in a neutral state, by the production of an alternating current therein, but,
by introducing additional current by means of the said keys, two or more messages
can be simultaneously transmitted or a single message can be transmitted through
the line, as above specified
Third The unproved commutator provided with the metal plates or sections and
with springs arranged to bear thereon, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, for the purpose specified.

page_text: Fourth The combination, with the said commutator, of two or more keys or
manipulators, each operating in connection with two electric generators, one in the
line-circuit and the other in a loop or derived circuit, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth
Fifth A relay comprising a frame or coil of wire arranged in combination with
an electro-magnet and with springs and contact pieces substantially as above
described, which frame or coil is suspended or held by wires provided with means
for regulating their tension and torsion, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth
Sixth The modification of my relay wherein I provide a swinging contact for
instantaneously opening or closing the circuit independently of the variable
condition of the current in the line, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings for the purpose specified
Seventh The receiving or recording apparatus provided with two magnets
whose armatures hold or support the siphon in such a manner that, when one
armature is attracted, the siphon will be moved in one direction, and, when the
other armature is attracted, the said siphon will be moved in the reverse direction,
for the purposes above specified
Eighth The improved telegraphic apparatus comprising the transmitter, the
relay, and the receiver or recording instrument all constructed and arranged in
combination with each other substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, and operating as, and for the purposes, specified.