Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 12th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1388
A communication to me from abroad by EDUARD CASSALETTE, Manufacturer, and
DAVID KUNHARDT, Engineer, 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 this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in what are known as Morse-keys and it
consists in the arrangement of a multiple contact for the purpose of transmitting the
same telegram simultaneously to several stations.
For this purpose a key is used of the ordinary kind turning upon a transverse axis
near the centre, and having a knob or handle at one end by which it is depressed
when required.
The improved multiple contacts of each key are arranged side by side in the
following manner. Upon a fixed block near the back end of the key metallic spring
blades are secured as many in number as tho stations to which the message is to be
sent, connected each with a battery by connecting wires.
The free ends of the said spring blades are slightly bent down to obtain a soft
sliding contact of their ends upon insulated metallic strips which are arranged upon
the upper surface of the key above the pivot upon which it turns.
The ends of the strips are bent down and project from the lower surface of the key
so as to form at one end connection with contact pieces when the key is in its normal
position, and at the other end with contact pieces with which they come in contact
when the key is depressed.
The lower surface of the key is connected near the outer ond to a plate below by a
spiral spring, which draws the key down into its normal position as long as there is
no pressure upon the knob c of the key.

page_text: The contacts between the plate below the key and the projecting ends of the strips
are effected by means of spring blades which are carried by small metal blocks upon
the plate.
By this means a simultaneous contact of all the circuits is secured, even in case one
or more of the contact pieces may have become worn more than the others so that the
distance between the several contact pieces is not exactly the same.
If, with a key arranged in the manner described to make simultaneous contact with
several lines, one or the other of said lines, or several of them, are to be disconnected,
it will only be necessary to use a suitable shunt of the ordinary kind to cut out the
corresponding battery or batteries.
Dated this 10th day of March 1887

page_text: COME LEVIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Morse-keys with Multiple Contacts for Simul-
taneously Transmitting the same Telegram to several
Stations.
A communication to me from abroad by EDUARD CASSALETTE, Manufacturer, and
DAVID KUNHARDT, Engineer, both residing at 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 this 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 drawing, (that is to say) :-
This invention relates to improvements in what are known as Morse keys and it
consists in the arrangement of a multiple contact for the purpose of transmitting the
same telegram simultaneously to several stations.
In order to make the invention well understood and to enable other persons skilled
in the art to perform the same, I refer to the accompanying drawings, which forin
part of this specification, and in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the key embodying the improvements constituting
the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same, and
Figure 3 a transverse section of the same.
Figure 4 is a general working plan of the system, shewing the circuits and wire
connections.
The multiple contacts of overy key are arranged side by side in the following
manner.
On a block A metallic spring blades 1, 2, 3, are secured and connected each with a
battery I, II, III, by connecting wires. The free ends of the said blades are slightly
bent down so that they may easily slide upon the insulated metallic blades s', s1, 11,
arranged upon the upper surface of the key, above the pivot x upon which the latter
turns.
The ends of the said blades s', s", s, are bent down and project from the lower
surface of the key to form on one side the rest or silent contacts 61, 6, 1, and on
the other side the active or transmitting contacts dd" d, or sometimes the said
contact points may be separate but suitably connected with the blades s
instead of forming part of the same.
As will be clearly understood from the plan, the following combinations are
formed, viz. :―
I, 1, s, b¹ or I, 1, ', d¹ for the first circuit, and II, 2, 1, 6" or II 2, ", d", for
the second circuit and so on.

page_text: The lower surface of the key is connected to a plate B by a spiral spring, which
pulls one side of the key down and closes the rest or silent contacts as long as there is
no pressure upon the knob C of the key.
The contacts between the plate B and the points b¹, b¹¹, b¹¹¹, and¡dd dare
obtained through spring blades u', u, and
which are carried by
small metal blocks.
By this means a simultaneous contact of all the circuits is secured, oven in case one
or the other contact should be worn out by wear and tear more than the other
contacts and that an equal distance does not exist between the several contacts.
ff, with a key arranged to make simultaneous contacts with several lines, one or
the other of the said lines, or several of them, are to be disconnected, it will only be
necessary to use a suitable shunt of the well known kind to excludo the respective
battery or batteries.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention
and the manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what 1 claim is
A morse koy with multiple contacts for simultaneously transmitting the same
telegram to several stations, the said key consisting of a pivoted lever bearing on its
upper surface metallic blades forming part of or connected with the
transmitting contact points dd, and rest or silent contact points
on
the lower surface of the key, the current from the batteries I II III being conducted
to the said blades si by means of elastic metal blades 1, 2, 3, and the
contacts and u "u" obtained by spring blades so as to effect a reliable
and simultaneous contact for every line, the said key being also provided with a
spiral spring to obtain the rest or silent contact, and a shunt or shunts being arranged
to exclude the several lines, as may be requirod, all substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth, and shewn.
Dated this 10th day of Decomber 1887
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor.