Improvements in Telegraphy, and in the Means Employed for Perforating Tapes Used for this Purpose.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Sept., 1394-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Telegraphy, and in the Means Employed for
Perforating Tapes Used for this Purpose..
I, PATRICK BERNARD DELANY, Electrical Engineer, a citizen of the United
States, residing at South Orange County of Essex and State of New Jersey, U.S.A.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For transmitting electric impulses to a line wire I employ a travelling strip of
paper having along it two parallel lines of perforations and two pairs of fingers or
brushes bearing upon the paper one pair above and the other below it. The ends
of the fingers or brushes are made to come opposite to one another and to bear
upon the paper on the lines on which the perforations are made. Preferably I use
brushes made of several steel wires to each brush so that when a hole in the paper
is brought between the ends of two brushes and the brushes press against each
other through the hole an. electrical contact is unfailingly made as the wires of
the engaging brushes interlock so that there can be no defect in the contact.
I also as shewn in the diagram Figure 1 connect one pair of the brushes say the
top pair a a¹ to one pole of a local battery LB the other pole of which is connected
to transmitter. magnets c c¹.
Brushes on the under side of the strip are also connected to magnets c c¹ so
that when a hole is drawn between a and b magnet c is energized, and in like
manner magnet e¹ is energized when a hole in the strip allows a¹ and b³ to come
together. The lever and battery connections for sending impulses of similar or
alternating polarity into the line and putting the line to earth after each impulse
will be well understood from the diagram. Any suitable motor may be used for
drawing or feeding the tape forwards. The upper brushes may as shewn be held
in position by a catch a but can be turned aside when a new strip of paper is to be
inserted.
For the purpose of "checking" or "keeping a record of the impulses sent into
the main circuit to allow of errors or faults being detected the armature levers
of the transmitter magnets in addition to making the main circuit contacts
may complete local circuits for operating a recorder preferably of the Herring
principle.
The contact pieces carried by the armature levers for completing these local
circuits may be flexible so as not to interfere with the making of the main circuit
contacts.
In place of using brushes bearing against one another to make the contacts for
actuating the transmitter I in some cases use the arrangement shewn by the diagram
Figure 2.
In this arrangement a wheel A is used such as shewn at Figure 3 having around
it two rows of holes and a central row of projecting pins the holes and pins being
in a line crosswise. A tape B having a centre row of holes into which the pins
work passes over the wheel. Through the tape on each side of the central row of
holes are other holes corresponding to the signals or impulses to be transmitted-
trailing fingers or arms C bear upon the top of the paper on the lines through
which these two latter rows of holes are made. When a signal hole comes below

page_text: one or other of the fingers C the finger drops through the hole in the paper into the
hole in the wheel causing an electrical contact as shown. The finger is forced out of
the hole in the wheel and paper by the divisions between the holes in the wheel.
When there is no impulse to be transmitted the paper covers the hole in the wheel and
prevents the trailing finger from dropping in. As the guide or pulling pins of the
wheel correspond exactly with the holes perforated in the strip by the perforating
instrument with which the message is prepared a hole representing an impulse
must always correspond with a hole in the wheel. In this way great pressure may
be put upon the trailing fingers which combined with the larger amplitude of move-
ment of the trailing fingers effect a pronounced and reliable contact at the circuit
points. With this arrangement the wheel may be turned by any kind of gear
mechanism or motor-or if preferred the paper may be drawn between rollers
operated by a motor or gear train and turn the guide wheel which under such
conditions may be loosely and independently mounted.
Instead of having a wbeel with pins and holes as described I may use a plain
faced wheel or stationary plate or cylinder over which the tape may be drawn-the
thickness of the paper serving to operate the contact levers which should be
fulcrumed so that the movement at the contact points would be equal to several
times the thickness of the paper.
'
Of course instead of breaking a circuit at the contact points they could be
arranged so that the circuits would be made, but I prefer the arrangement
shown.
For perforating or preparing a tape for transmitting a message I employ dies
formed as shewn at Figures 4 and 5 and punches formed as shewn in Figures 6
and 7. Either of the dies may be used with the punch shewn at Figure 6 while
the punch shewn at Figure 7 can be used only with the die shewn at Figure 4.
This latter die has a step down across its face the top of one half of the hole
being higher than the other half. This formation adinits of a continuous shear
cutting of the strip of paper when the punch shewn at Figure 7 is used with
it for punching complete holes through the strip-as one toe of the punch cuts
half of the hole on the upper ledge of the die by the time the other toe begins
to cut the other half of the hole on the lower ledge-thus very much reducing the
power necessary for cutting the hole.
In some cases in place of using a tape or strip of paper having complete per-
forations formed through it I use a tape or strip having half moon shaped or like
incisions cut through it as indicated in Figure 9. When the punch sbewn at
Figure 6 is used with either of the dies shewn at Figures 4 and 5 such incisions can
be made with very little power. The step down in the die Figure 4 allows the Hap
to leave the die hole without sticking.
A tape thus prepared may be made to answer the purpose of automatic trans-
mission very effectively by drawing it over a wheel containing two grooves in line
with the half moon incisions so that trailing fingers such as shown in Figure 2 may
drop into the holes and effect electrical connection at the contact points. Instead
of a grooved wheel this strip might be drawn through a guide or channel having
gutters cut in line with the incisions.
For drawing or feeding the strip during the operation of perforating or trans-
ferring a message to the tape I may use a wheel with pointed pins which make
indents or holes in the tape sufficient to feed or pull it whilst at the same time the
paper is supported by a cogged wheel as illustrated in the diagram Figure 8. Or
may use a tape with the central row of guide holes punched out ready for
engagement with the feed wheel.
Dated this 6th day of December 1902

page_text: Improvements in Telegraphy, and in the Means Employed for
Perforating Tapes Used for this Purpose.
I, PATRICK BERNARD DELANY, Electrical Engineer, a citizen of the United
States, residing at South Orange, County of Essex, and State of New Jersey,
U.S., 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 :-
For transmitting electric impulses to a line wire I employ a travelling strip of
paper having along it two parallel lines of perforations and two pairs of fingers or
brushes bearing upon the paper one pair above and the other below it. The ends
of the fingers or brushes are made to come opposite to one another and to bear
upon the paper on the lines on which the perforations are made. Preferably I use
brushes made of several steel wires to each brush so that when a hole in the paper
is brought between the ends of two brushes and the brushes press against each
other through the hole an electric contact is unfailingly made as the wires of the
engaging brushes interlock so that there can be no defect in the contact.
I also as shown in the diagram Figure 1 of the drawings lodged with my
Provisional Specification connect one pair of the brushes say the top pair to one
pole of a local battery L B the other pole of which is connected to transmitter
magnets c c¹.
Brushes 66 on the under side of the strip are also connected to magnets c c¹ so
that when a hole is drawn between a and b magnet c is energized and in like
manner magnet c' is energized when a hole in the strip allows a¹ and 6' to come
together. The levers and battery connections for sending impulses of similar or
alternating polarity into the line and putting the line to earth after each impulse
will be well understood from the diagram. Any suitable motor may be used for
drawing or feeding the tape forwards. The upper brushes may as shewn be held
in position by a catch but can be turned aside when a new strip of paper is to be
inserted..
For the purpose of checking or keeping a record of the impulses sent into
the main circuit to allow of errors or faults being detected the armature levers
of the transmitter magnets in addition to making the main circuit contacts
may complete local circuits for operating a recorder preferably of the Herring
principle.
The contact pieces carried by the armature levers for completing these local
circuits may be flexible so as not to interfere with the making of the main circuit
contacts.
In place of using brushes bearing against one another to make the contacts for
actuating the transmitter I in some cases use the arrangement shewn by the diagram
Figure 2.
In this arrangement a wheel A is used such as shewn at Figure 3 having
around it two rows of holes and a central row of projecting pius the holes and
pins being in a line crosswise. A tape B having a centre row of holes into
which the pins work passes over the wheel. Through the tape on each side of
the central row of holes are other holes corresponding to the signals or impulses
to be transmitted-trailing fingers or arms C bear upon the top of the paper on
When a
the lines through which these two latter rows of holes are made.
Bignal hole comes below one or other of the fingers C the finger drops through
the hole in the paper into the hole in the wheel causing an electrical contact as
shown. The finger is forced out of the hole in the wheel and paper by the

page_text: divisions between the holes in the wheel. When there is no impulse to be trans-
mitted the paper covers the hole in the wheel and prevents the trailing finger
from dropping in. As the guide or pulling pins of the wheel correspond exactly
with the holes perforated in the strip by the perforating instrument with which
the message is prepared a hole representing an impulse must always correspond
with a hole in the wheel. In this way great pressure may be put upon the
trailing, fingers which combined with the larger amplitude of movement of the
trailing fingers effect a pronounced and reliable contact at the circuit points.
With this arrangement the wheel may be turned by any kind of gear mechanism
or motor or if preferred the paper may be drawn between rollers operated by a
motor or gear train and turn the guide wheel which under such conditions may
be loosely and independently mounted.
Instead of having a wheel with pins and holes as described I may use a plain
faced wheel or stationary plate or cylinder preferably with indents or a furrow
cut crosswise in the cylinder or plate over which the tape may be drawn-the
thickness of the paper combined with the indents serving to operate the contact
levers which should be fulcrumed so that the movement at the contact points would
be equal to several times the thickness of the paper.
Of course instead of breaking a circuit at the contact points they could be
arranged so that the circuits would be made,. but I prefer the arrangement
shown.
For perforating or preparing a tape for transmitting a message I employ dies
formed as shewn at Figures 4 and 5 and punches formed as shewn in Figures 6
and 7. Either of the dies may be used with the punch shewn at Figure 6 while
the punch shewn at Figure 7 can be used only with the die shewn at Figure 4.
This latter die has a step down across its face the top of one half of the hole
being higher than the other half. This formation admits of a continuous shear
cutting of the strip of paper when the punch shewn at Figure 7 is used with it for
punching complete holes through the strip-as one toe of the punch cuts half of
the hole on the upper ledge of the die by the time the other toe begins to cut the
other half of the hole on the lower ledge-thus very much reducing the power
necessary for cutting the hole.
In some cases in place of using a tape or strip of paper having complete per-
forations formed through it, I use a tape or strip having half moon shaped or like
incisions cut through it as indicated in Figure 9. When the punch shewn at
Figure 6 is used with either of the dies shewn at Figures 4 and such incisions
can be made with very little power. The step down in the die Figure 4' allows the
flap to leave the die hole without sticking.
A tape thus prepared may be made to answer the purpose of automatic trans-
mission very effectively by drawing it over a wheel containing two grooves in line
with the half moon incisions so that trailing fingers, such as shewn in Figure 2 may
drop into the holes and effect electrical connection at the contact points. Instead
of a grooved wheel this strip might be drawn through a guide or channel having
gutters cut in line with the incisions.
For drawing or feeding the strip during the operation of perforating or trans-
ferring a message to the tape I may use a wheel with pointed pius which make
iudents or holes in the tape sufficient to feed or pull it whilst at the same time the
paper is supported by a cogged wheel as illustrated in the diagram Figure 8, or
may use a tape with the central row of guide holes punched out ready for
engagement with the feed wheel.
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. For transmitting electric impulses to a line wire, the combination of a
travelling tape having along it two parallel lines of perforations-two pairs of
brushes or fingers bearing at their ends upon the tape one pair above, the other

page_text: below it with the ends of one pair- opposite to the ends of the other pair and
bearing upon the paper along the lines on which the perforations are made, and
connections from the brushes to a battery and to the line or to a relay.
2. The combination of parts substantially as described with reference to Figure I
for transmitting electrical impulses to a line wire.
3. For transmitting electric impulses to a line wire, the combination of a
revolving wheel having around it two rows of holes and a central row of radial
projecting pins, a tape passing over the wheel, having along it a central row of
holes into which the radially projecting pins gear and two side rows of perforations,
corresponding with the two rows of holes in the wheel, two trailing brushes or
fingers bearing at their ends upon the tape along the two lines of perforations so
that the end of one or other of the brushes or fingers drops into one of the holes in
the revolving wheel whenever a perforation in the tape comes between them and
makes contact with the wheel or operates contact mechanism substantially as
described.
4. The combination of parts substantially as described with reference to Figure 2
for transmitting electrical impulses to a line wire.
'
5. For transmitting electric impulses to a line wire, the combination of a
travelling tape having along it two parallel lines of perforations, a cylinder or
stationary plate, over which the tape passes, two fingers bearing upon the tape
along the lines of perforations and lever arms on the axis of the fingers of greater
length actuating contact mechanism substantially as described.
6. The construction of dies and punches to be used therewith substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 for perforating tapes
used for the automatic transmission of electric impulses to a line wire.
7. For transmitting electric impulses to a line wire, the combination of a
travelling tape having a line or lines of half moon shaped or like incisions cut
through it, a supporting cylinder or surface over which the tape passes having
grooves or indentations below the lines of incisions and fingers bearing upon the
tape and pressing it towards the supporting surface and contact mechanism operated
by the movement of the fingers, as the ends of the fingers rest on the tape or drop
into the incisions cut in it substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of August 1894.
PATRICK BERNARD DELANY.