IMPROVE- MENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND ALSO IN ELECTRIC CLOCKS AND TIMEKEEPERS
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY HATCHER, of the Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
March, One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the tenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ne, the said William Henry Hatcher, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
William Henry Hatcher, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Henry Hatcher, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
and also in all Her said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad (save and
except the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and the
Island of Prince Edward in North America), my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, AND
ALSO IN ELECTRIC CLOCKS AND TIMEKEEPERS;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said William Henry Hatcher, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under, my hand and

page_text: seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Henry Hatcher, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
The first part of my present improvements relates to the use of a permanent
maguet, in conjunction with voltaic magnets, for the purpose of giving visible
or audible signals. In Figure 1, S, N, represents a small bar permanent
magnet, which is placed between the poles of two voltaic or temporary
magnets W, W, W2, W³, in such way that the bar may be equally distant
from the poles of the temporary magnets, and so that the poles of the former
are opposite to the poles or ends of the voltaic magnets. These two voltaic
magnets have the two ends of their coils connected together so as to form a
continuous metallic circuit from one end of the coil of the first to one end of
the second coil; but the connection is so made that the electric current does
not pass around the soft iron cores of the two magnets in the same but in
opposite directions, so that the magnetism induced in the opposite poles of
the two magnets is of an opposite nature, as is well understood; that is to say,
if the current passing around the first from right to left cause the pole V to
be north, and consequently V' to be south, then the current would be conveyed
around the second magnet from left to right, so that the pole V2 opposite to
V would be south, and the pole V3 opposite to V' would be north. The result
of this is, that the north pole N of the permanent magnet would be attracted
by V and repelled by V, according to the well-known laws of magnetic
action, and similarly would the south pole S be attracted by Vs and repelled
by V. In practice it is found desirable to place small springs on each side
of the permanent magnet, or of some part connected with it, both to retain it
in a central position and to bring it back to the same after deflection on
either side; and it is the application of this elementary action, in combination
with suitable mechanical means, so as to cause a step by step rotation and
stopping of a hand or hands, or of a dial plate or dial plates, and also for
giving audible signals for telegraphic purposes, which constitutes the first part
my Invention.
of
Figures 1 and 2 represent apparatus in which a hand or index may be

page_text: moved with a step by step rotatory motion in either direction at pleasure by
means of the elective action of a permanent magnet, and be made to pause
opposite to any required letter, number, or sign on a dial, so as to point to the
same. The magnet S, N, is supported by a light stem from an axis C to
which it lies parallel. From below this axis project two light arms B, B, carrying
catches or drivers C1, C2, fitted to act respectively on two ratchet wheels b', 63,
having the same number of teeth, and turning on a common axis. These
drivers are made so that when the axis C is turned through a small angle in
one direction by the attraction of the magnet S, N, to one of the voltaic
magnets, one or other of the drivers (namely that on the side opposite to that
towards which the magnet is attracted) will engage with one tooth of its
ratchet wheel, and push it forward through a space equal to one tooth, and on
the axis being allowed to regain its quiescent position the driver will rise
freely over the next tooth and fall into the space beyond it, and remain ready
for a second movement, which will produce a repetition of the. motion; and
how often soever this attraction of the magnet and simultaneous motion of
the axis be repeated in the same direction, say, for instance, toward v³, v, the
wheel will be pushed round through one tooth after another of the ratchet.
At the same time it will be seen that this motion of the axis does not tend to
engage the second driver C2 with its wheel 62; but when the axis is moved
from its central position through a small space in the opposite direction, that
is, toward v, v', then the second driver C³ will alternately engage and push
forward, and slip over the teeth of its wheel 62 in the manner already described
in reference to the first, excepting that the motion of this second wheel b
will be in an opposite direction to that of the first; and in order to prevent
any recoil or tendency of the wheel to follow the driver back a small roller
catch is placed on a pivot so as to fall into the successive teeth of a star wheel
placed on the same axis with the ratchet wheels, and having the same number.
of teeth) to lock the wheel in its position after each motion, and thereby pre-
vent its recoil, so that for each motion of the permanent magnet towards one
or other side one of the ratchet wheels advances a step or tooth. Now since
these two ratchet wheels are attached to a common axis which bears a hand
or pointer d placed in front of a dial bearing figures, or it may be letters or
signs suitable for electric telegraphs as heretofore practised, by which arrange-
ment each movement of one ratchet wheel will cause the hand to pass from
one figure or letter, and move. so as to point to the next, and pause opposite
to any particular figure, letter, or sign, as is well understood in respect to other
telegraphic apparatus; but heretofore the instruments have required that the
hand or the plate should move continually in one direction, so that after

page_text: indicating any particular figure, letter, or sign, it has been necessary, in order
to indicate the next or any other precedent letter, that the hand or dial plate
should be moved all the way round until it pointed to the desired precedent
letter, the hand not being capable of a retrograde motion in the instrument
shewn. In the apparatus Figures 1 and 2 it is possible, by merely reversing
the direction in which the electric current is transmitted, to cause the hand
or index to recede or to move in a retrograde direction, so as to point to the
figures, letters, or signs which it has previously passed over, without the
necessity of passing round continually in the same direction. By this mode
of arranging electric apparatus a great saving of time is effected, inasmuch as
the several. signals constituting any communication may be indicated much
more rapidly, the hand not requiring to be moved so many times round the
dial in the course of any communication. The Drawing shows a hand moved
in front of a fixed dial plate, but this might be reversed; I prefer to use a
moving hand. If the ratchet wheels 61, 3, instead of being attached to
one and the same axis, were attached respectively to two axes, one whereof
passed through the other, see Figure 3 (as is well known in respect of the
hour and minute hands of a clock or watch), then to the ends of these axes,
if hands d', d³, were attached so as to point to the letters or figures on a dial,
the motion of the permanent magnet in one direction would rotate one
ratchet wheel 6¹ and its attached hand d, as above described; and the motion
in the other direction would rotate the other ratchet wheel and hand d
in an opposite direction. Two hands might thus be used, one for giving and
the other for acknowledging a communication, or in fact in many other ways
which might appear convenient to the user. In particular cases it might
appear desirable to use dials with large heavy hands for the sake of distinct-
ness, and in such cases to cause the hand or hands to rotate by an independent
mechanism. One method of effecting this is shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6. Here
the mechanism is arranged so as to cause the step by step revolution of a
single hand to take place in one or other direction at pleasure. The mechanism
here receives its power from what is commonly termed a French spring barrel,
that is to say, one in which the outer and inner ends of the spring are each
respectively attached to wheels gearing into their regular trains; but these ends
of the spring tend to move in opposite directions, and consequently the trains
to which they give motion move in opposite directions. The hand or index d
is fixed to an independant arbor, on which is fixed a star wheel T. A small
fly or vane is fixed on the bighest axis of the train, so as to afford a means of
adjusting the speed of movement of the train. The scape wheels b, 62, which
in this machine bear also the pins for turning the star wheel T, are placed in

page_text: the arbor of the third wheel of the train. In each scape wheel are three pins
projecting forward, and also three pins projecting backward. The three front
pins are for engaging with the star wheel, but the three backward pins con-
stitute the escapement mechanism. So long as the machine is at rest one of
the backward pins in each is engaged with one of the pallets, so that the two
trains are each prevented from running down. When, however, the pallets
of either train, by moving, allow one pin of the escapement to pass (the
second pallet preventing the escape wheel from turning farther than through
the space occupied between two successive pins, as is well understood,) then
one of the front pins will, as the escape wheel turns, come in contact with one
tooth of the star wheel T, and turn this wheel and the index d fixed on the
axis of this star wheel through a space corresponding to one tooth of the star
wheel, the small catch roller x at the same time rising over one tooth of
the star wheel, and then falling into the next succeeding space; and at each
time that the same pallet is moved so as to release one pin of the escapement
the star wheel will be carried round through the space of one tooth, and the
index by such movement will pass from one signal on the dial to the next
succeeding signal, always moving in the same direction. But if the pallet on
the other side of the star wheel be moved so as to release one pin of the
escapement connected with the other train, then the star wheel will be moved
round through the space of one tooth, but in the opposite direction to that in
which it would move on the release of the first-mentioned escape wheel, so that
for each movement (as above described) of the one pallet the index would
move from one figure, letter, or sign to the next in one direction; and for
each movement as above mentioned of the second pallet the index would move
in a retrograde or opposite direction. The long arm B (fastened to the arbor
of the permanent magnet) has at its lower end a small piece of chain fixed at
the middle of its length across, so that one end is attached to the lever F¹ on
one side, and the other is attached to the lever F on the other side. By the
use of the chain the risk of the motion of the magnet causing the release of
the wrong train is obviated, inasmuch as on the motion of the arm B towards
either of the levers the chain on that side merely slackens in proportion to the
movement of the arm without tending to shift the pallet on the same side.
These levers are fixed to the same arbors which carry the pallets in front of
the machine, so that whenever the magnet is attracted to one or other side,.
the arm B draws the lever on that side towards which the magnet has been
attracted, and the corresponding pallet is so moved as to release one pin of its
escape wheel, whence arises the motion of the hand over one space in the dial
either backward or forward, as may have been arranged. f,f, are segmental

page_text: balance weights which serve to bring back the pallets to their quiescent
position as soon as the arm B has resumed its vertical position, while the
amount of force with which these balance weights act may be varied by
turning them on the pallet axes, so that the weight hangs more or less
vertically under these pallet axes. m¹, m², are springs which act to bring
back to its vertical position the arm B after it has been deflected therefrom
by the electro-magnet to one or other side. Q is a cross piece or crutch of
steel fixed to the arm B, and on which the springs act. n¹, n³, are two
banking pins which limit the action of the springs on either side of the arm.
Each pin is provided with a set screw, by means of which its resistance to the
deflection of the arm may be varied as required. By a similar alteration in
this instrument to that which has been described in reference to Figures 1, 2,
and 3, the same action of the parts may be made to cause the rotation and
occasional stopping of two hands moving in opposite directions. This is
shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, where it will be seen that two common
spur wheels T2, T3, are placed each on its own arbor, and connected thereby
each to its own hand or index. The connection between the train and the
index is here established by means of ordinary wheels and pinions instead of
by a star wheel acted on by a pin wheel, which will be readily understood
from the details enumerated in reference to Figures 4, 5, 6, of the present
Specification. It will be seen that in this machine the balance weights f¹, f,
are omitted, and that the springs m³, m², act upon the levers F, F, instead of
directly upon the arm B, which is now influenced by the springs only through
the medium of the chain on either side. For particular purposes it may be
úseful to attach to the instrument shown and described as Figures 7, 8, 9, and
10, two bells of different tones, so that one bell should be struck at each
movement of one hand, and the other bell be struck at each movement of the
second hand, so that an attendant might, by the tone of the sound emitted,
recognize which hand had been moved, even were he not to look at the
instrument, or might have his attention called to the motion of one or other
hand by the same sound. An instrument of this kind is shewn in Figures 11,
12, 13. The action by which a tumbling bob or letting-off hammer B
is made to release a revolving or centrifugal hammer H, h', 'has been
described in a Specification of William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheat-
stone, and is well known and understood. The release in this my present
Invention is effected by a sideway motion of a permanent magnet, which may
move to either side. Thus either of two such letting-off hammers may be let
fall, one being let fall when the permanent magnet moves to one side, and the
other' when it moves to the opposite side. The two hammers are actuated by

page_text: trains, as already described, and the hands d', d, are connected with these
trains, as already detailed, so as that one hand may move onward one step
and the corresponding bell be struck once at each movement of the magnet to
one side, and that the same may occur with the other hand, and its cor-
responding bell, whenever the permanent magnet moves to the other side.
H',, H2, h, are the centrifugal hammers; B¹, B³, are the letting-off
hammers or tumbling bobs; P1, P2, are springs, which, by a notch in their
sides, catch and retain while at rest the arms N', N2, attached to the hammers
H', h, H, h, but which, when the letting-off hammers are allowed to fall,
are then bent away from the arms N1, N2, by the actions of those hammers
against the upper ends of those springs, as shown by the dotted lines in
Figure 11. e¹, e, are the claws to be acted upon by the pins in the pin
wheel, whereby, on the cessation of the temporary magnetism, the letting-off
hammers are raised into their original positions, and the springs P', P³, left
free to fall back and catch the arms N1, N2, so as to prevent the further
rotation of the hammers. x1, x2, are small springs which give way to the
hammers in their rotation, but springing up behind them prevent their
rebound, in consequence of the arms n³, n³, coming suddenly in contact with
the notches in the springs P¹, P. D³, D³, are the lever arms attached to the
letting-off hammers, which, in the quiescent position, rest on the pins Y¹, Y',
attached to the cross head of the arm B, and which retain the letting-off
hammers in the position to which they have been raised by the action of the
pins on the claws e, e, until they are allowed to fall by the moving of the
arm B, so as to withdraw the pins Y¹, Y, from under the lever arms D', D³.
The connection of the trains with the two hands d', d, moving before the dial,
is by the gearing wheels T, t¹, T, t. The permanent magnet S, N, Figures
14, 15, being supported on an axis C, as already described, has a small
hammer or striker attached by a slender stem B below such axis. Springs
m³, m³, are fastened to a light brass arm M, supported by a small column O
from the framing of the instrument. These springs project downwards, one
on either side of the magnet, in order that by their tension they may maintain
the magnet centrally between the two electro magnets, and bring it back to its
central position after being deflected therefrom. Two bells of different tones
are fixed one on each side of and equidistant from such striker; then when the
magnet is moved to either side by the action of the electro-magnets upon the
transmission of an electric current through the coils of these last, the striker
will be impelled against the bell on the opposite side to that towards which
the, permanent magnet moves, and will produce a distinct sound, so that as the
motion of the permanent magnet, whether to the right or left, is determined

page_text: by the direction in which the current is transmitted through the coils of the
electro magnets, it is in the power of an operator to cause one or other of
the bells to be struck at pleasure, by varying the direction of the electric
current transmitted, and this may be done by any of the appropriate forms of
key already in use and well understood.
The next part of my present Inventions has reference to the rheotome, or
rheopeter, by which words I would designate apparatuses for breaking and
completing any electric circuit at pleasure, or for altering the position or
arrangement of parts of such circuit, so as to cause any electric current to be
conducted along it in an inverted direction. I propose to use for this purpose
tubes or vessels of glass or other suitable material, but for this glass appears
the most proper, containing within them mercury or an amalgam of mercury.
These tubes or vessels having had all or nearly all the common air expelled
from them by the application of heat, in the manner well known in reference to
thermometers, would be hermetically sealed by melting the glass or by closing
the last aperture by cements or other means, so as to prevent the re-admission
of air to the interior. In order to enable the mercury to effect the object in
view, namely, to complete any electric circuit at pleasure, or to effect an
altered connection of the parts of such circuit, certain wires of platiuum would
have been passed previously through the sides of such tube or vessel, 'and
secured by fusion of the substance of such tube around them, or by other
suitable means. The ends of these wires projecting into the interior of the
tube would form the means of connection of the mercury with the other parts
of the circuit, and by the particular arrangements of these ends in respect to
the mercury various requirements would be obtained, that is to say :-When
the mercury touched at the same time two ends of wire, then the circuit would
be completed between them; but if the mercury was caused to leave one of
such ends untouched, even although it continued to touch or envelope the
other end, then the circuit would be broken between such ends, and the means
of conducting any electric current between them, so far as regards the mercury,
would cease and be at an end.
In order, however, to render this part of my Invention more intelligible, I
will proceed to describe one or two applications thereof in reference to
particular instruments or apparatus; but I would have it understood that I do
not limit my Invention to these particular applications, inasmuch as it will be
generally useful in cases where electric circuits are required to be completed
at pleasure. Figure 16 represents a small glass tube containing a portion of
mercury over which it is hermetically sealed, after expulsion of the air from
the interior, as already. described. Through this tube pass two wires of

page_text: platinum a, b, the ends of which project a small distance into the tube. One
of these ends b is so placed as to be constantly in contact with the mercury,
but the other a is so situated that it depends upon the position of the tube to
determine whether the mercury touches it or not; that is to say, so long as the
tube is horizontal, or nearly so, within certain limits, or is placed with the end
towards a higher than the ends towards b, the mercury will remain without
coming in contact with the wire a; but when, by inclining the tube slightly, as
in the second Figure, the mercury is made to flow towards the end near a,
then it will touch and envelope the end of the wire a, and will by so doing
complete an electric circuit between the wires a and b, so that if the tube and
its appurtenances were arranged with a circuit from a battery, then so long as
the tubé remained nearly horizontal the current from the battery could not
flow through the circuit to affect a needle or other instrument; but upon inclin-
ing the tube, as in the second Figure, the current could pass freely between
the wires a and b by means of the contained mercury. And note, it is well
known that a great objection to the use of mercury for completing electric
circuits is the constant oxidation of the surface by reason of its contact with
the air, particularly at such times as the circuit is either completed or broken,
at which moments a spark of electricity frequently passes from the wire to the
mercury, producing increased oxidation and sublimation of this latter, and by
this oxidation and sublimation the subsequent completion of the electric circuit
at any time is rendered uncertain by reason of the non-conducting power of
such oxide of mercury, or by the actual deficiency of the metal in consequence
of its waste and dispersion by sublimation; but in the case of the tube or
vessel herein-before described no such effects take place, for the air having
been expelled from the interior of the tube no oxygen can remain to combine
with the mercury, so that the surface always remains clear and bright.
Figure 17 represents an application of this Invention to the purpose of an
electric clock. The means of maintaining the action of such a clock by the
completion and interruption of electric circuit, comprising a coil or coils
either attached to the pendulum or acting upon permanent magnets attached
to the same, has been already described in the Specification of Alexander Bain,
together with means whereby such current could be completed and interrupted
at required moments by the action of the same pendulum. Figure 17
represents a closed tube of glass containing mercury, as already described,
which tube is secured in a collar or clip of brass turning upon a delicate pivot
placed beneath the tube; then it is evident that this tube, with its contents,
when placed horizontally will always tend to fall over to one side or the other,
unless placed so that its of centre gravity should lie exactly over its supporting

page_text: pivot, in which case it would remain horizontal, but would, nevertheless, fall
over on even a very slight deviation from this position. The tube is fixed, as
described, on the rod of the pendulum at any convenient part of its length, but I
would recommend its position to be near the top. It has been already described
in the Specification of the said Alexander Bain, already referred to, how the
oscillations of the pendulum are maintained by the attractive action of the
electric current passing around the coil or coils during one oscillation, and by
.the reactive force of gravity carrying the pendulum back in its return swing
after such attractive action has ceased, by reason of the interruption of the
current at or near the end of that swing of the pendulum, which is affected
under the influence of the attractive force of the coil or coils. In the case of
the use of this my Invention, if it be supposed the pendulum to have just
completed that swing which is effected by gravity only, then at or near the end
of that swing the tube will have failen over into the position shown in Figure
17, and the mercury will have then completed the circuit between the two
ends of the platinum wires, one of which is connected directly with one pole of
the battery, and the other with the other polo of the battery, but with the
.coil or coils intervening. The circuit is thus completed through the coil, which
is thereby rendered attractive, and under its influence the pendulum would
swing in the opposite direction (that is, towards that side at which the lowest
end of the tube is,) until at or near the end of its swing the tube would again
overbalance and tumble over by the action of gravity, whereby the connection
through the coils would be broken and the coils themselves rendered
unattractive. The action of gravity would now carry the pendulum again
back, and the tube again tumbling over would recomplete the circuit, and so
on continually. It will be obvious that, in order to prevent the platinum
wires from impeding the motion of the tube under the impulse of gravity, they
must be very thin, and must also not be left extending directly from the ends
of the tube to the wires going to the battery and coil, but must be bent in
towards the centre part of the tube and be there connected with the wires in
such manner that the tube may, as it were, turn on them as readily as on its
pivot. It will be evident that the same principle, namely, the use of mercury
in closed tubes, may be applied to other cases in which the flow of currents of
electricity is required to be interrupted and allowed at pleasure, and by com-
.bination of two tubes such currents may be diverted in their course or made to
flow, in opposite directions through any conductor; but descriptions of these
particular methods are unnecessary, as they will readily occur to any one
accustomed to electrical manipulation.
The next part of my present Invention has reference to electro-induction

page_text: apparatus for in-lucing an electric current in a closed circuit either by action
of a primary electric current or by means of a permanent magnet. I will first
proceed to describe that part of my Invention which relates to the induction
machine, and which has for its object the facilitating of the means of trans-
mitting such induced current in either direction at pleasure, and which in-
provements are shewn in Figures 18, 19, 20. For this purpose in the one
case I make use of what is commonly known by the name of an induction coil,
and which is composed of two distinct and independent layers or thicknesses of
wire, wound one upon the other. The inner coil of thick wire is named the
primary coil, and the outer of less thick wire is named the secondary coil.
It is a principle in electricity that at the moment of causing an electric current
to pass through the inner or primary coil a current of great intensity will be
momentarily produced in the secondary coil passing along it in the opposite
direction to that in the primary circuit; and on breaking the primary circuit
an induced current passing in the same direction as the main current will be
momentarily produced in the secondary wire, but the current induced on
breaking the primary circuit is always much more powerful than that pro-
duced on completing the primary circuit. Figures 18, 19, represent this form
of the induction apparatus, in which the inductive action is produced by a
battery, a primary, and a secondary coil, according to the principle just
described. A, B, A, is an U shaped bar of soft iron, or preferably, a series of
thin plates of soft iron, placed closely side by side, and bent into this form
around the parts. Towards the ends A, A, is wound covered copper wire, the
ends of which are carried along the frame of the machine and made to terminate
at the springs G, G. On the free ends of each of these springs are buttons
of ivory for the application of the finger in pressing them down, and beneath
these buttons are points g¹, g³, which when the spring is depressed dip into
cups of mercury D¹, D³, which are connected together by a wire or piece of
metal. One pole of the battery is connected to the terminal C, whence a
wire proceeds connected with the mercury cups D³, D³. The other pole of
the battery is connected to the terminal z, and by a wire passing under the
frame with the bridge E, in which are two screws f, f, whose lower ends or
points press upon and stop the springs G¹, G, while in a quiescent position.
The secondary coil of fine-covered copper wire which is wound upon the other
or primary coil, as is well understood, has one end connected with one of the
two small angle pieces of brass E, such wire being connected in its course
with the terminal I, and the other end with the other small angle. piece of
brass E', on which pieces turn rather stiffly the levers 'X', Y', 'X, Y, whose
ends Y', Y, dip into the mercury cups h, h, which rest on a common con-

page_text: necting strip of brass. From the brass angle pieces E¹ proceeds wire to the
terminal K, and to these two terminals I, K, are attached respectively the
wires proceeding to the ends of the long conducting wire. It will be observed
that the ends X, X, of the levers X, Y, X, Y, are turned up and inserted
under stirrups l, l, fixed near the free ends of the springs G¹, G. These
stirrups are so large that the springs may be depressed to some depth before
the upper part of the stirrup comes into contact with the turned end ¹, a, of
the levers; but when either of the stirrups, in consequence of the depression
of the spring on which it is fixed, has so come into contact with the end of its
appropriate lever, and the spring is farther depressed, then the stirrup will
raise the farther end of the lever from the mercury cup as shewn in the dotted
lines, and thus separate the metallic connection which previously existed by means
of the lever between the mercury cup and the angle piece, and, consequently,
between the two ends of the secondary wire, or between the two ends of the long
conducting wire, so that so long as the machine is not in use the whole length of
the secondary wire is not interposed in the circuit of the long conducting wire,
which would cause a very great resistance to any electric current transmitted
through such wire for the purpose of giving any signal; but the ends of such long
secondary wire are joined together by the levers x, y, a², y, so that a current
when so transmitted from any distant station for the purpose aforesaid, and being
supposed to enter from the up-wire to the terminal I in its way through the long
conducting wire of a telegraph, would pass by the wire to the brass piece E,
thence by the lever x, y, to the cup h, and across the common brass strip to the
other mercury cup h, and thence by the lever x, y, to the angle E', and by the
twie to the terminal K, and along the down-wire to the other stations on
that side if any there be. A short course is thus substituted for the long
course which would exist through the long secondary wire. The action and use
of the several parts is as follows:-On depressing the spring G¹ the point g
under the button dips into the mercury in the cup D', and the circuit of the
exciting battery is thereby completed through the primary coil, thus:-From
the terminal C, supposed to be connected to the negative plate of the battery, to
the mercury cup D' along the spring G¹ to one end of the primary coil joined
to the end of the spring G¹, along the primary coil to the end of the spring G³,
along this spring to the screw f, over this spring and by the bridge F and
wire attached thereto to the terminal Z, connected with the other or positive
pole of the battery. A very weak current of electricity is excited in the
secondary coil on completing the battery circuit as described, but such current
is not transmitted along the long conducting wire, inasmuch as the two ends
of the secondary wire are as yet connected together by the levers x, y¹, x³, y³;,

page_text: but on continuing to depress the spring G₁ the stirrup / engages the short
bent end of the lever a¹, y¹ and lifts its longer end from out of the mercury
cup h, and separates the connection between the ends of the long conducting
wires, leaving them only connected with the ends of the secondary coil. The
spring having been depressed to the full extent is now allowed to rise again,
and in so doing before the lower part of the stirrup 1 has engaged the
lever a, y', so as to depress its long end into the mercury cup, the point G¹
has left the mercury cup D₁, and the primary circuit has been thereby broken,
and at that moment an induced current of electricity has passed through the
secondary coil, as already described, and this current has been transmitted
through the long conducting wire and included instruments, the ends of the
secondary coil being at that time connected with the up and down wires
respectively, and having no short connection between them by the levers
x, y, x, y; and directly afterwards, as the spring is allowed to resume its
usual position, the lower part of the stirrup coming in contact with the bent
part of the lever a¹, y¹, causes the depression of the long end of this latter so
as to dip into the mercury cup h, and thereby again to close the circuit across
the ends of the secondary coil, and place the instrument in a position proper
for receiving a signal. But note, in some cases it may be desirable to allow
the very weak current excited in the inducteous circuit to be also transmitted
along the long conducting wire, to the intent that this latter, although not
powerful enough to cause the motion of the permanent magnet in the several
signal apparatus, yet may, by its direction being contrary to to that of the
effective current, deprive the voltaic magnets of any residual magnetism which
may be left in them after the cessation of the precedent effective current, and
thus prevent any imperfect action to which this residual magnetism might
give rise. In this case the stirrup and bent end of the lever would be so
arranged as that the lever might have its end lifted from the mercury cup
before the primary circuit was completed, but all other parts would be left as
before. It will be seen upon consideration that the direction in which the
current from the exciting battery is transmitted through the primary coil
depends upon which of the springs G¹, G, is pressed down, and as the direction
of the secondary current, if all other things be alike, depends upon that of the
primary, therefore it is evident that the transmission of the secondary current
may be effected in one or other direction at pleasure, by employing one or
other spring G¹, G³, to make and break the primary circuit as described.
Figure 20 represents another form of induction apparatus, in which the
inducing power is a permanent magnet A, B, A. Two cylinders of soft iron are
connected together at one end by a cross piece of iron C, and have coils of fine-1

page_text: covered wire D, D, wound round them in the same direction to a very great
length. Then it is well known that so long as the separate ends of the soft iron
are allowed to rest on the ends or poles A, A, of the magnet, such soft iron would
itself become magnetic by induction, and that if then the soft iron cores with
the coils around them were removed from contact with the permanent magnet
by a sudden motion, the soft iron would instantly loose its magnetic power, and
at the same instant a momentary wave of electricity would be induced in the fine
wire of the coils D, D. A similar current, but in the opposite direction, is
induced in the coils on first bringing the soft iron into contact with the
permanent magnet, but such current is of much less power than that
generated by the separation of the soft iron and permanent magnet. These
coils D, D, are secured to the end of a short arm E, which is keyed to a cross
axis F, F. To this axis are attached the two handles G1, G2, not tightly, but
so that they can cach be turned round the axis for a small space without
moving it, but then they come against a stop or key which binds them to the
axis in such manner that this latter turns in its bearings and raises the coils
D, D, from the permanent magnet by means of the short arm E. The
means whereby the movement of one or other handle determines the direction
in which the induced current shall be transmitted through the long conducting
circuit are several; I shall describe that which appears to me to be preferable
for this purpose. One end, which I will denominate for distinction sake only
the negative of the coil D, D, of fine wire, is connected with the metal
work of the short arm E at e, and from thence through the axis F, F,
with the handles G¹, G, the contacts at the parts of the axis on which
the handles turn being sufficient, if the machine is well made, to insure
metallic continuity. The other, which I will for the sake of distinction
call the positive end of the coil, is connected by means of the wire f. ff.
passing along the short arm E, and branching off at its junction with
the axis F, and passing to the two studs G', G³, which are insulated from
the handles on which they are respectively placed by means of a piece
of ivory (not visible in the Drawing), to which they are immediately con-
nected. The wire f, and also the branch wires f, f, are in all parts to be
carefully insulated from the handles and other metal work of the instrument
by being covered with silk or cotton and varnish, and by being supported,
wherever support is necessary, by ivory, bone, or other non-conducting material.
The springs H1, H2, lying beneath the handles, are connected by means of
wires, shown by the red lines, with the two ends of the long conducting wires
respectively at the terminals K, L, as are also the brass stirrups M', M², and
the connections of the stirrups and of the springs on the same side are made

page_text: with the same end of the long conducting wire, as may be seen by the
red lines; that is to say, the stirrup M' and the spring H' are connected with
one end, and the stirrup M2 and the spring H* with the other end. These
stirrups serve to prevent the handles from springing up too far in consequence
of their pressing on a stud or pin inserted in the upper surface of each handle,
but which pin is not seen in the Drawing, the springs N, N, being placed
merely to keep the handles in their proper raised position, so as to maintain a
perfect contact between each and its stirrup. It will be seen that so long as
the handles are in the quiescent position the end K of the long conducting
wire is connected with the other end L as follows:-From the stirrup M¹ to
the stud upon the handle G¹, through the axis F, F, the handle G³, and by its
stud to the stirrup M² and the terminal L, and by this connection a short
circuit is opened for any current which may be transmitted from a distant
station without necessitating its passage through the whole length of the
coils D, D; and note, the handles are made to press against the stirrups by a
point only, in order that metallic continuity, without fear of interruption by dirt
or dust, may be better insured by the small surfaces in contact. Now if the
handle G be pressed down the stud leaves the stirrup M, so as to separate
the end K of the long conducting wire from the end L, and to leave 'this
end L in connection with the negative end of the coil, which is joined to the
metal work of the instrument. The handle being farther pressed down the
stud G', connected with the positive end of the coil, is brought into contact
with the spring H³, and therefore with the end of the long conducting wire
connected therewith; and as the handle is pressed down this spring bends
under the pressure of the stud, but nevertheless always keeps in contact
therewith, and at length, as the handle is pressed down, and after what
has taken place as described, the key or feather on the axis is met by
the handle, and the axis is turned round so as to raise the coils from
their contact with the poles of the magnet, and at the moment of this
separation the electric current induced in the coil is transmitted through
the long conducting wire and the instruments which ac connected there-
with, and the direction that such current (the course of which is always
the same in the coils) follows in the long conducting wires varies according
as one or the other handle has been used to raise the coils, and this will be
better understood by tracing the transmission of the current (supposed always
to start from the positive end) through the circuit. If the handle G¹ is pressed
down then the current proceeds from the stud G' to the spring H³, thence to
the end K of the long conducting wire, along this wire and through the
instruments connected therewith to the one extremity of such wire through
the earth or return wire to the other extremity of such wire, thence along

page_text: the wire and through any instruments connected with this portion to the end
L to the stirrup M, and by the stud to the metal work of the handle G
which is in contact with the negative end of the coil at e. But if the handle G
had been pressed down the course would have been as follows:-From the
stud g, by the spring H³, to the end L of the long conducting wire, thence
by the same course as in the last instance, but in a reverse direction, to the
end K, thence by the stirrup M¹ to the stud, and on the handle g', and
thence by the metal work to the negative end of the wire at e.
The next part of my present Invention relates to adjusting or setting one or
more clocks or timekeepers, so as to indicate the same time as one governing
or standard clock by means of electricity. I would state, that means by which
several clocks may be connected in series, so as to be acted upon simultaneously
by currents of electricity, have been already described and patented. The
method which has been described of so adjusting or setting such clocks is by
means of a pair of clips to each clock, which being actuated by a voltaic
magnet, clip or embrace the minute or hour hand of the clock, so as to bring
it to a certain point or indication of time at such moment as the governing
clock or regulator is also at a precisely similar point or indication of time.
The means I propose to employ to effect this adjustment or setting of a series
of clocks resembles this method in such particulars as relate to the connection
of the series of clocks by an electric circuit, and also in such as relate to
the attachment to each clock of a temporary magnet whose coils form a
portion of such circuit. The voltaic magnet in my Invention is however
placed as in Figure 21, with its ends or poles projecting through part of
the thickness of the dial plate, so as to come very near to the plane described
by the revolution of one or other of the hands. The regulating action may
be applied to either hand, as may be found most convenient, but I prefer and
recommend its application to the minute-hand, as shewn in Figure 21. The
minute-hand would in this case be made of steel or iron. Supposing that
the adjustment were arranged to be made at the completion of each hour,
or when the minute-hand of the governing clock comes exactly at the twelve,
at this moment the governing clock would cause the transmission of an
electric current by any suitable apparatus through the circuit in which are.
comprised the voltaic magnet W, W, and also the similar magnets placed as
shewn in Figure 21 behind the place of the XII of other clocks to be
adjusted, and such magnets would then become momentarily attractive, and
the minute-hands of all such clocks would be attracted towards the poles of
the several magnets, and would by such attraction be brought exactly over
the poles, so as to point precisely to the XII, at which exact point the
governing clock would be then pointing; that is, if the several clocks to be

page_text: adjusted be or any of them had been going slow, their minute-hands would
be pulled forward so as to correct their error; and if they or any of them
had been going fast, then their hands would be pulled back by the same
action. In either case the hands of all the clocks would be set to indicate
the same time as the governing clock. Means must be employed to prevent
any actual contact of the hand with the poles of the magnet (for fear of
the stopping of the clock by the continued adhesion of the hand in consequence
of residual magnetism), such as covering the poles or the back of the hand
with a thin piece of brass, ivory, paper, or other non-magnetic substance, or
having the poles only partly through the dial face, so as to leave some of its
substance to interpose between the hand and the magnetic poles, which last
method I recommend and have shewn in the Figure; and I would observe
farther that care must be taken that the several clocks do not differ much
naturally from the same rate of going when the adjustment is to be applied;
for fear that the hand should be so far wrong when the electric current is
transmitted as to have got beyond the range of attraction of the voltaic magnet.
The minute-hands also must be so fitted upon their arbors that they may
readily slip round when attracted by the magnet, and to this end they must
be rather loosely sprung on upon their arbors, and they should have counter-
balancing ends to prevent their falling round when nearly in a horizontal
position, and it will be evident that the frequency of such adjustment may be
varied. Several modes of causing such governing clock to effect the trans-
mission of an electric current will occur to any one acquainted with these
matters. I prefer, however, to use the mode which I will now describe,
and which constitutes part of my present Invention. Figures 22, 23, repre-
sent a portion of the works of an ordinary or an electric clock. In the wheel
which is placed on the arbor carrying the minute-hand is fixed a small pin
a, which is so situate that a short time (say three minutes before the minute-
hand points exactly to XII) it comes in contact with a small spring b, and
depressing it brings the stud below the spring into contact with the mercury in
a small cup c, as shown by the dotted lines, by which action it completes &
circuit with a voltaic battery through the primary coil of an induction appa-
ratus, of which the secondary coil has its ends connected with the two ends
of the circuit described in reference to the Figure 21, as comprising within
itself the coils of the several adjusting magnets, so that any secondary current
which might be excited in the induction apparatus would be transmitted
around each of these several magnets; and produce the effects in them which
have been detailed above. The wheel on the minute arbor continuing

page_text: to turn round the pin a would hold the spring 6 depressed until the moment
when the minute-hand pointed to the XII, when the spring would be
released by the passage of the pin and the primary circuit broken. At this
moment the secondary current would be transmitted through the several
clocks, and the minute-hands of each be brought to the corresponding
point XII. The secondary current produced on the completion of the
primary circuit by the pin and spring would be too weak to produce any effect
on the distant magnets, or even if not so the hands would be then too far off
to be affected by the magnetism excited in the adjusting magnets by such a
weak current. The same effect may manifestly be produced by other forms
of rheotome, as for example by a tube with mercury, as herein described,
which might be tipped or inclined by means of a pin on the minute-wheel.
The current derivable from the earth by means of plates of different metals,
or of metal and carbon buried therein, may also be employed as supplying
the primary exciting current. The adjustment may also be made at longer
intervals by causing the rheotome to be actuated by the arbor of the hour-
hand. Other variations in the form and arrangement of the parts would be
suggested by the convenience or peculiar requirements of any workman or
maker of such apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the details as herein shown and described, so long as the
peculiar character of either part of the Invention be retained; but what
I claim is,
First, the combining permanent magnets and voltaic or temporary magnets
with apparatus in such manner as to cause a step by step rotation, and
occasional stopping of a hand or hands, or of a dial plate or plates, for the
giving visible signals for telegraphic purposes.
Secondly, I claim the use of the same arrangement of permanent magnets
and voltaic or temporary magnets for the purpose of giving signals by means
of sounds differing from one another, and combinations of the same.
Thirdly, I claim the use of the same arrangement, for the purpose of giving
audible signals at the same time that visible signals are exhibited, as herein
described.
Fourthly, I claim the construction of rheotome or rheopeter apparatus by
closed tubes, as herein described.
Fifthly, I claim the so arranging electro-induction apparatus as to render
the transmission of a current in one or other direction for telegraphic purposes
attainable by moving one or other of two communicating mechanisms.

page_text: Sixthly, I claim the mode of acting by voltaic or temporary magnets on
he hands of clocks, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Hatcher, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
WILLIAM HENRY (L.S.) HATCHER.