BAD BRAND of my messages either by sound or by touch. elation to a telegrapme instrument for taking
Year: 1885

page_text: BAD BRAND of my
messages either by sound or by touch.
elation to a telegrapme instrument for taking
The invention consists in part of a telegraphic instrument or sounder comprising
a pivoted bar connected to the armature of an electro-magnet or magnets and
carrying a pointed projection through which a message can be received by the
sense of touch alone, the vibrations of the armature being communicated through
the pivoted bar and its pointed projection to the finger of the operator.
It also consists in the combination with said pivoted bar of a recessed finger rest
for receiving the pointed end of the bar and having an aperture through which the
pointed projection can be touched.
The invention further consists in forming one end of the pivoted bar or sounder
with a bifurcation for engaging a projection on a sounding post that is secured to
a hollow base plate, and in sinking the electro-magnots in perforations or depressions
made in the bed plate so as to lower the height of the instrument and bring the
sounder nearer to the hollow base plate with the effect of increasing the clearness
and distinctness of the sound signals, when the instrument is operated by sound
instead of by touch.
And finally the invention consists in certain devices for regulating or adjusting
the freedom of movement in the sounding bar according to the strength of the
electro-magnetic currents; and also in the general construction and arrangement of
parts whereby compactness of structure, with facility of operation is obtained.
Fig. 1, is a sectional side elevation of a telegraphic sounder embodying my
improvements.

page_text: The magnets, C, C, are set in apertures formed in the bed-plate, at the inner end
of the base-plate and are connected beneath said bed-plate by the lower armature, D,
and usual wire connections, b.
The fastenings for the lower armature are represented at, c.
To the upper armature, E, is secured a sounding bar or lever, F, provided with a
transverse pivot shaft, d, that is detachably supported in adjustable bearings, e, e,
carried by posts or standards, f.f. secured to the bed plate.
One end of the sounding bar or lever, F, is bifurcated to receive a projection, g, of
the slotted sounding post, G, which is supported by the hollow base plate.
This projection, g, entering the bifurcated end, f¹, of the sounding bar serves to
limit the movements of the upper armature, and the contact of the bifurcated end
of the bar with said projection produces the clicks by which sound signals are
made.
The opposite end of the sounding bar, F, is extended downward to or near the
bed plate and made to enter a recessed finger-rest, H, where it terminates in an
upwardly turned point, f, through which messages may be received by the sense
of touch on placing the finger over an aperture, 7, in the top of said finger rest, and
through which the point, f, projects.
To the pivoted bar, F, is attached a spiral spring, k, the opposite end of which is
secured to a regulator bar, K, that is held by the set screws, m, m, one of which
projects downward through the top of the slotted sounding post, G, while the other
projects upwards through the bed plate and hollow base-plate. L, L, are binding
posts that are set in the bed-plate and connected on the under side thereof by the
usual wires, p, p, to the magnets. M, M, are thunb buttons, and, N, N, are nuts
on the adjustable bearing shafts or threaded spindles, e, e, that support the pivot
shaft, d, of the sounding bar. P, P, are legs or knobs by which the bed plate is
supported.
The bed plate, A, and finger rest, H, may be made of wood, while the base
plate, B, sounding post, G, sounding bar, F, and its supports are preferably
composed of metal.
By setting the magnets, C, in apertures formed in the bed plate, the height of
the instrument is reduced and the bifurcated end of the sounding bar together
with the projection on the sounding post with which it engages, thereby brought
nearer the hollow base plate, thus increasing the clearness and distinctness of the
Bounds.
By means of the regulator bar, K, and set screws, m, m, the tension of the
spring, k, can be readily adjusted to the strength of the electric current so as to
enable the pivoted sounding bar F, to move more or less freely as required.
The movement of the sounding bar can also be adjusted to the strength of the
current by means of the thumb buttons, M, and nuts, N, thereby tightening or
relaxing the bearings of the pivot shaft, d, as may be found necessary to facilitate
or retard the movement of the bar.
When it is desired to take the message by touch instead of by hearing the
operator has only to press the end of his finger over the aperture, h, in the top of
the finger rest, H, so that it will be above the touch point, ƒ³, on that end of the
pivoted bar.
The operator can thus obtain the message by the sense of touch alone.
It will be understood that by this instrument a message can be taken either by
sound, as usual, or by touch at the point of the finger. A deaf person can take the
message. A message may be taken by one at the instrument without others in
the immediate neighborhood being cognizant thereof. A person may learn the
telegraphic alphabet quicker by this means than by sounds as the touch does not
give the message double, while the sounder does. Double sounds confuse the ear,
Sound has to travel; therefore the touch gives the message quicker.
From the foregoing description the operation of the instrument will be readily
understood. It will be seen that the pivoted bar or sounder, F, is actuated by the
attached armature, E, as it is attracted by the passage of currents through the

page_text: electro-magnets, the armature being normally retracted by the spring, k, attached
to the sounder, the movements of which sounder, or pivoted bar, give sound signals
by striking against the projection on the sounding post or touch signals by contact
of its pointed end with the operators finger.
It is obvious that the particular construction and arrangement as herein described
of parts for producing these effects, may be varied in certain details without
affecting the principle of my invention.
I therefore do not wish to be understood
as confining myself to precise description and construction shown.
The finger-rest, for instance, may be made in several ways and of various
materials. It may if desired from part of a metallic casing enclosing the sounder
or pivoted bar.
The form of the sounder, together with its adjustments, may also be varied in
several ways.
For instance, it is not absolutely necessary to sink the electro-magnets into or
through the base plate, nor is it necessary that the sounder plate and finger rest
should be countersunk into said plate as these may be secured to the top of the
said base without thereby materially affecting the operation of the instrument.
The general construction and combination of parts embraced in the instrument
as described can be altered in form and detail.
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. A. telegraphic receiver adapted to convey telegraphic symbols by the sense of
touch.
2. A telegraphic instrument embracing electro-magnets, an armature, and a
pivoted bar connected to said armature and adapted to communicate signals by the
sense of touch,
3. A. telegraphic instrument in which are combined electro-magnets, an armature,
a pivoted bar connected to said armature and having a pointed end or projection,
and a recessed finger-rest for receiving the pointed end of said pivoted bar.
4. A telegraphic instrument comprising electro-magnots sunk in a bed plate to.
which is attached a hollow base plate provided with a sounding post, an armature,
a pivoted bar or sounder having one end bifurcated to engage a projection on the
sounding post and carrying at its other end a pointed projection, a recessed finger-
rest for receiving said projection, and means for adjusting the pivoted bar or
sounder to the strength of the electro-magnetic currents, as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1885.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.