US1326994A - Telautographic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

G. S. TIFFANY.

TELAUTOGBAPHIC APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED mac. 15. 1911.

Patented J an. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

Patented Jan. 6,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- mws GQS. TIFFANY.

TELAUTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I5, 1911. 1,326,994.

G. S. TIFFANY.

TELAUTOGRAPHIC. APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 050.15, 1912.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W Q Q w (a. w W m Z v I .\W$\. 1 V v V 3 \3 3% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. TIFFANY, F SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO TELAUTOGRAIPH CORPORATION, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

TELA'UTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, 1920.

Application filed December 15, 1917. Serial No. 20?,284. 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. TIFFANY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Summit, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements" in Telautographic Apparatus, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accom-- panying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in telautographic systems of the kind in which the writing currents traversing the main lines, between the transmitting instrument and the receiving instrument, are varied in strength by the lateral or writing movements of the transmitting tracer, and, as thus varied, cause the receiving pen to reproduce the movement and writing performed by the transmitting tracer.

Thepresent improvements have particular reference to the provision between one station (which may be called'the home station) and several distant stations, of a reany of the latter can connect his transmitter with the receiver of the home station.

The operation of the receiver-selecting mechanism referred to from the home station is effected by impulses of different quality, and preferably of opposite polarity, traversing the main lines and the sending of .which is controlled by a receiver-selecting switch mechanism at the home station, while the operation of the receiver-selecting mechanism from the distant stations is controlled preferably by the writing current traversingone of the main lines and which is controlled f by the master switches of such stations.

The present improvementsalso contemplate ,the provision of certain specific means operable bythe operator of the home station for controlling this receiver-selecting mech anism, and means which, on the connection of any transmitter with another,: will lock the others against operation, and notify the operators thereof that the line is busy.

The invention comprises other features which will be hereinafter more particularly described, in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic View illustrating what may be termed a master station A, inc uding a transmitting instrument and a receiver, and illustrating also a selecting mechanism B from such master station to a group of distant receivers C, D, E, F.

F igf2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating two stations, the receivers whereof are controlled by said receiver-selecting mechanism, so that any one of said receivers may be connected with the transmitting instrument of Fig. l at the will of the operator at the latter, and the transmitters whereof also control said receiver-selecting mechanism, so that such transmitters may be connected, at the will of the operators thereof, with the receiver of the master station; and

Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2, illustrating two additional stations controlled by such receiver-selecting mechanism.

Referring to said draWings-1 represents a battery which is the source of electric energy for the writing currents from the transmitter of Fig. l to the receivers of Figs. 2, 3, and whereby the movements ofany selected distant receiver are effected and controlled by the transmitting instrument of Fig.1; the neutral point of this. battery being grounded by wire 2, at 3. 4L, 5 represent a pair of rheostats, and 6, 7 a pair of contact rollers contacting therewith, respec tively. These rollers 4, 5 are carried by suitably pivoted arms 8, 9, which are in turn connected (so as to be swung thereby lengthwise of their respective rheostats) with a pair of bell-crank levers 10, in the converging ends of which is mounted a transmitting tracer '11; all as is well understood. The

enlarged terminals of rheostats 4, 5 are con-,'

nected, by wire 12 for the former, and wires 13, 14 for the latter, and a common wire 15 and wire 2, with the neutral of battery 1 and ground at 3. The. other ends of the rheostats 4, 5 are connectible by wire 16, for the former and wire 18 for the latter, and a common wire 19, switch contact plate 20, master lever 21, and wires 22, 23 with the positive pole of battery 1. Normally switch lever 21 is 'raised from the position shown in Fig.1, and moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, as it is desired to connect the transmitter of station A with the receiver of station C, D, E or F, it not only effects the engagement of itself with contact 20 to connect the rheostats 4, 5 with the positive pole of battery 1, but also effects the engagement with each other-of other contacts (hereinafter referred to and constituting, with lever 21 and contact 20, a master switch mechanism,) which connect the rheostats 4, 5 with the right and. left main line circuits to the distant receivers.

As the master switch lever 21 is shown in Fig. 1, the rheostats 4, 5 are connected with the positive of battery 1, and it will be understood that as the tracer 11 (which is shown out of normal or unison positlon) is moved laterally or sidewise, as in ordinary writing, the contact rollers 6, 7 will .be moved, through bell cranks 10 and arms 8,

9, lengthwise of their respective rheostats 4, 5, with the result that, as their positions change lengthwise of these rheostats, currents of greater or less strength will be shunted from the positive pole of battery 1 into the right and left main line circuits, from the transmitting instrument of Fig. 1 to the selected distant receiver of stations C, D, E, F and the local receiver 24 of Fig. 1.

In the case of the local receiver 24, the right main line circuit consists of contact roller 7, arm 9, wire 25, switch members 26, 27 (which are, held in contact by master switch lever 21) and wires 28, 29 to the right hand coil of a pair of rectilinearly movable pen-moving coils (not shown), in receiver 24, such as are commonly used in telautographs of the present day while the left main line circuit consists of contact roller 6, arm 8, wire 30, contact 31, switch member 32, and wires 33, 34 to the left-hand pen-moving coil of the receiver 24. This receiver has the usual pair of pen arms 35 in the converging ends of which is mounted a receivingpen 36. In these respects, and otherwise, this receiver is of the ordinary, wellknown construction, so that further illustration or descriptlon of it is unnecessary;

It will be understood that, as in the wellknown telautograph, as the tracer 11 is moved laterallyin writing and thecontact rollers 6, 7 moved thereby longitudinally of their respective rheostats, and currents varying in strengthare thus caused to traverse the right and left main line circuits just described, the receiving pen 36 will be caused to move in unison with tracer 11 and reproduce the writing movements and writing performed thereby. This is true also of each of the distant receivers illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the case of the receivers 40, 41, 42, 43

of the distant stations C, D, E, F, the right (held in contact by switch lever 21) wire.

28 and wires 45, 46, the latter (Wire 46) being connected by wire 47, with the usual right-hand pen-moving coil of receiver 40, and by wires 47, 47", 47 C with the usual right-hand pen-moving coilsof receivers 41, 42, 43, respectively. The left main line from the transmitter of station A to the receivers 40, 41, 42, 43 of stations C, D, E, F, consists of contact roller 6, arm 8, wire 30, cont'act 31, switch member 32, wire 33 and wires 50, 51, to certain parts of the receiver-selecting mechanism B, which will be hereim after fully described, and thence by wires 54, 54 5 54, to the left-hand pen-moving coils of receivers 40, 41, 42, 43, respectively.

It will be noted from the foregoing that the main line currents from battery 1 of station A to the distant receivers 40, 41, 42, 43,

for operating the latter, are always positive several distant receivers when a writing current traverses right main line 46 from battery 1; and that the left main line circuit 51 'et seq. to said several receivers is normally disconnected, at the receiver-selecting mechanism B, from said receivers, the closing of such main line circuit to such receivers being controlled by receiver-selecting switch mechanism, operable from the transmitter of station A, which will now be de scribed.

The receiver-selecting mechanism B of Fig. 1 comprises four pick-up relays 55, 55", 55, one for each of the left main line branches 54, 54, 54 54, for the receivers 40, 41, 42, 43, respectively, and four polarized relays 56, 56 56", 56. Relays 56, 56 are connected by wire 57, and by wire 58, between them, with right main line wire 46, and with'ground at 59 by wires 60, 61; while relays 56, 56 are connected with left main line wire 51 by wire 62 and by wire 63, between them, and with ground at 59 by Wires 64, 61. Relay 56 is energized by a negative. impulse from battery 1 over right line 46 and controls the closing of a local circuit from the positive of a local battery 65 through pick-up relay 55; relay 56 is relays 56, 56, acting together and energized, respectively, by negative and positive impulses from battery 1 over left and right main lines 51, 46, control the closing of a local circuit from battery 65 through pickup relay 55;

These four local circuits for the diflerent pick-up relays 55, 55, 55, 55, together with the means controlling polarized relays 56, 56, v56, 56 to open and close them, are as follows:

For relay 55, the local circuit from battery 65 consists of wire 70, armature 71 of polarized relay 56, upper contact 72 therefor (to which it is moved when a negative im- 7 pulse traverses right main line 46 from battery 1), Wire 73,- armature 74 of relay 56", lower contact 75 therefor, wire 76, part of wire 54, Wire 77, pick-up, relay 55, Wire 78, armature 79 of relay 55, contact plate 80, and wires 81, 82, '83, 84, to the negative of battery 65 and to ground at 59. Contact plate 80 is of the follow-up type, with relation to the armature 79 of relay 55that is to' say, it is held depressed by the armature 79 and moves with it when the latter is at tracted by its relay 55 and continues doing so until it is arrested as hereinafter described. This is true also of like contact plates connected with the armatures of the other pick-up relays 55, 55, 55.

-' For relay 55, the local circuit from battery 65 consists of wire 70,-w1re, 85, arma' ture 86 of relay 56, upper contact 87 there relay, 56, upper contact 72 therefor (to I which the armature 71 moves when a negative impulse traverses theright main-line 46), wire 73 armature 74 of relay 56, upper contact 98therefor (to which the armature 74 is moved when a positive impulse contact 105 therefor (which is engaged by traverses the left main line 51), wires 99,

100, part of wire 54", relay 55, wire 101,,

armature 102 of relay 55 follow-up contact plate 103, and wires 104, 81, 82, 83, 84, to

the negative of battery 65 and to ground.

For relay 55, the local circuit from battery 65 consists of wires 70, 85, armature 86 of relay 56, upper contact 87- therefor (which armature 86, engages when a negae tive impulse traverses the left main line 51), wire 88, armature 89 of relay "56, upper armature 89 p when a positive mpulse traverses right main line 46), wires 106,

7 so as to retain it in the 107, part of wire 54, relay 55, Wire 108, armature 109, contact plate 110, and wires 111, 82, 83, 84, to the negative of battery 65 and ground at 59. v

F rom the foregoing description of the four local circuits for pick-up relays 55, 55,

negative impulse and a positive impulse from battery l-simultaneo-usly traverses the right and left main lines 46, 51, respectively,

pick-up relay 55 will be energized and attract its armature 102; and (4) that when a negative impulse and a positive impulse 55, 55, and polarized relays 56, 56, 56, 56, v and the connection of these relays with the simultaneously traverse the left. and right main lines 51, 46, respectively, pick-up relay 55 will be energized and attract its armature 109.

The effect of all this in selecting distant receivers and connecting them to the transmitter of Fig. l, is as follows :It will be observed that each of the pickup relays 55, 55", 55, 55 is equipped with a followup contact plate 115, 116, 117, 118, respectively, each of which, like the follow-up contact plates 80, 95, 103, 110, respectively, previously referredto, follows the movement of the armature of its relay, and as said armature isattracted by the relay, moves upwardly with it. Referring particularly to the relay 55, the contact plate 115 thereof continues such movement until its outer end engages a stationary contact plate 80 and thereby break the local circuit.

from battery 65 through relay 55', and at the same time (by the engagement of contact plate 115 with contact 120) connect main line Wire 51 (by wires 121, contact plate 115, contact 120) with main line wire 54 leading to receiver 40 of station A (Fig. This local circuitis maintained open, and the connection between main line wires 51,54, held closed, by means of a springpressed latch 122 pivoted at its upper end at 123, and the lower end of which slips over the tail end of pivoted armature 79 position to which it is moved by relay 55.

WVhen pick-up relays 55, 55", 55 are energized, their respective local circuits from battery 65 are broken and left main line wire 51 connectedjwith receivers 41, 42,43, I

tact plate 116, contact 125 and wire 92, with main line wire 54* to receiver 41; in the case of relay 55 main line wire 51 is connected, by wire 126, contact plate 117, contact 127 and wire 100, with wire 54 leading to receiver 42; and in the'case of relay 55 main line wire 51 is connected, by wire 128, contact plate 118, contact 129, and wire '107, with wire 54 leading to'receiver 43. For each of the armatures 94, ,102, 109, of relays 55 55", 55, there is provided a springpressed pivoted latch 130, 131, 132, like latch 122 of relay 55.

All of the four latches 122, 130, 131, 132 are pivotally connected together intermediate of their ends by alink 133, so that when any one of them is rocked rearwardly on itsv pivot 123, that is to say, away from its relay, by the upward movement of the armature of that relay, all the other latches will be correspondingly moved. The result of this is that should any of these latches, at,

the time, be. in latching engagement with the armature of its relay (as shown in the case of latch 122 and armature 79- of relay it will be disengaged therefrom, and the armature be permitted to drop'away from its arrangement is such that when the operator of station Aselects any one of the distant receivers and connects it with the transmitter of station A, any other receiver which may at the time be connected with the latter transmitter, is automatically disconnected provided-with a mjagne't'135, having two armatures 136, 137, and with a selecting switch mechanism consisting of two singlesuitably insulated from each other. H

therefronr The receiver-selecting switch mechanism provided at the transmitter for controlling distant receiver-selection "and .conection will now bedescribed.

-The transmitting instrument of Fig. 1 is left main line wire 50 and consisting of wire 145 therefrom, and wires 146, 2, to the neutral of battery 1 and ground at 3. Normally the, master switch lever 21 is rais and the several master switchcontact plates disen: gaged, so that there is no writing current from battery lon the right and left main ,lines, In this condition magnet 135 is deenergized and its two armatures 136, 137. rest against theirloack stops 147 ,148, where they form parts of branch circuits connecting the two main line wires 46, 51, with the positive and negative of battery 1, and the closing of which is controlled by the switches 138, 139, 140 and 141, 142 and 143.

The circuit controlled by switch 138 consists of wire 150 from the negative of battery 1, armature 137, contact 148, wires 151, 152, 153, contact plate 138, contact 154, and right main line 46 to polarized relays 56, 56. When switch 138 is moved by the operator at the transmitter to engage contact 154 (Fig. 1), an impulse of negative polarity will traverse the right main line 46 through polarized relay 56, thearmature 71 of which is thereby moved to its upper contact 72,

thus closing the local circuit previously described from local battery through pickup relay 55, with the result that receiver 40 (station C) will be connected with the left line 51 from transmitter of Fig. 1 and remain so connected by reason of the engagement of latch 122 with the tail of armature 79 of said relay, as before described. This receiver-selecting circuit is also controlled by the contact plates 141', 143 of the double switches 140,141 and 142, 143, as will presently be described.

The circuit controlled by switch 139 consists of wire from the negative of battery 1, armature 137, contact 148, wires 151. 152, 155, contact plate 139, contact 156, and left main line wire 51 to relay 56. On the closing of this circuit, by the engagement of switch 139 with contact 156, a negative impulse from main battery 1 traverses theleft main line 51 through. polarized relay 56, the armature 86 of which is thereby moved into engagement with contact 87 and thus closes the local circuit before described from battery 65 through pick-up relay 55, with the result that left main line wire 51 is connected with main line 54 to the receiver 41 of station -D (Fig. 2). This re-v ceiver-selecting circuit is also adapted to be closed by the members 140, 142 of the two double switches 140, 141 ahd 1.42, 143, as I presently described.

To connect receiver 42 of station E (Fig. 3) with the transmitter of Fig. 1, the double switch 140, 141 will be utilized. 'Whell moved to the left of- 1, its contact plates 140, 141, will engage contacts 157, 158, re-- spectively; Such engagement will connect right main line wire 46 with the negative pole of battery 1, through wire 150, armature 137, contact 148, wires 151, 159, contact plate 141, contact 158 and wires 160, 161, and will connect the left main line wire 51 with the positive pole of battery 1, through wires 23, 162, armature 136, contact 147, wires 163, 164, contact plate 140, contact 157 arid wire 165. A negative impulse will therefore traverse the right main line 46 through po- 56 The former will cause the relay 56 to attract its armature 72 and the latter will cause the relay 56 to attract its armature 74, thus closing the local circuit through pickup relav 55 and, with the result, as before stated, that receiver 42 will be connected with the left main line 51 from the transmitter.

To connect receiver 43 of station F (Fig. with the transmitter of Fig. 1, switch 142, 143 is moved to the left of Fig. 1 into engagement with contacts 166. 167, respectively. Right main line 46 is thus connected with the positive of battery 1 through wires 23, 162, armature 136, contact 147, wire 163, contact plate 142, contact 166, and wires 168, 161, and left main line wire 51 is connected with the negative of battery 1 by wire 150, armature 137, contact 148, wires 151, 169, contact plate 143, contact 167 and wires 170, 165. On the simultaneous closing of these circuits a positive impulse will traverse the rightmain line 46 through polarized relay 56 and a negative impulse will traverse the left main line 51 through polarized relay 56; the effect of this being, as before stated, to close the local circuit from battery 65 through pick-up relay and. through the contact plate 118 and contact 129 with which 4 said relay is equipped, connect left main 4 line wire 51 with left main line wire 54 to receiver 43.

hen the desired receiver of distant stations C, D, E, F, as the case may be, has been thus selected and connected with left main line 51 from transmitter of station A,

by manipulation of the proper receiver-selecting switch 138, 139, 140-141 or 142+ 143 the master switch lever 21 will be de-' pressed, to the position shown in Fig. 1, to

engage theseveral sets of contact plates of energized by the circuit before referred to,

bridged across the left main line and ground, and consisting of wire 145, magnet 135, wire 146, and ,wire'2 to ground at 3. The magnet 135', energized thereby, will attract its armatures 136, 137, and open the two branch receiver selecting circuits just described from the negative and positive poles of battery 1, so that these circuits cannot be closed by switches 138 et seq. while writing currents are traversing the main lines. When master switch lever 21 is raised to normal position (in which position it is provided At each of the stations C, D, E, F, there* is provided a battery 174 (the negative pole of which is grounded at 175 by wires 176, 177) and an electro-magnet 178, connectible with the positive'pole of said battery by a circuit consisting of wires 179, 180, armaturev181, of magnet 178, contact 182, and wires 183, 184, 177, to ground at 175. This circuit includes an electric lamp 185 which when the circuit is closed by the movement of armature 181 into engagement with contact.

182, is lighted to indicate that the line is busy. The energization of magnet 178 to effect the movement of armature 181 is con-- trolled by a circuit 186, 187, 184, bridged from right main line 46 to earth at 175 so i that when a writing current is on the right line 46, magnet 178 is energized and attracts its armature 181. The closing of this lamp circuit occurs not only in the case of the station including the receiver selected but also in the case of all other stations, the right main line 46 being always connected with all of the stations (including their magnets 178), on the' movement of master switch lever 21 to the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the attendants at the several stations not selected will know that the distant transmitter is busy with one of the stations. The magnets 17 8 and their armature 181 also perform other functions which will now be described.

For convenience of description, the distant stations C, D, E, F, have thus far been dealt with as equipped with receivers only but, as shown in the drawings, each of them is also equipped with a transmitting instrument identical with that of master station A, except that, unlike the latter, it is 'not with receiver-selecting switch Inechanism, though it isprovided with master switch mechanism, whereby it may be connected with the receiver of station A. Selecting for detailed description station C, the transmitter thereof includes the usual tracer arms 190, 191, and. levers,192, 193,.in

the converging end of which is mounted transmitting pen 194' (shown at station C, Fig. 2). Arms 190,191, carry contact rollers 195, 196, engaging rheostats 197, 198. One end of rheostat 197 and the corresponding end of rheostat 198 are connected by wires 200, 201, 202, contact plate 203, switch lever 204 (when depressed), and wires 205, 179 with the positive poleof battery 174; while the other ends of said rheostats are connected by wires 206, 207, 177, 176 with the negacontrolling element of a master switch mech anism, including the contact plate 203, which coacts with said lever 204, and two addi tional pairs of contacts 208., 209 and 210, 211. Contact 208 is connected by wire 212 with main line wire 46,,and contact 209 by wire 213 with arm 191 and right-hand rheostat 198, while contact 210 is connected by wire 214 with left main line wire 54, and contact 211 by wire 215 with arm 190 and left-hand rheostat 197. \Vhen, therefore, master switch lever 204 of stationC is depressed, it engages contact 203 and connects the positive of battery 174 with rheostats 197 198, while contacts 208, 209 connect arm 191 and rheostat 198 with right main line/46 to station A, and contacts 210, 211, connect arm 190 and rheostat 197 with left main line wire 54 to the pick-up relay 55 of the receiver-selecting mechanism. The effect of the engagement of contacts 210, 211, is to temporarily close a circuit from battery 174 through pick-up relay 55 consisting of the connections just described, ending with wire 54, and thence by wire 77, relay 55, wire 78, armature 79, contact 80'and wires 81, 82,

84 to ground at 59. This causes relay 55 to a 'e armature 79 and retain it in its u )er position and the follow-up contact plate 115 will engage stationary contact 120, and thus, through wire 121, connect left main line wir*54 with left main line wire 51. Any of the other armatures 94, 102, 109 (stations D, E, F) that may be, at the time, held in its upward position by its latch 130, 131, 132, will be automatically released by latch 122 which, when swung rearwardly by the upward movement of armature 79, will move link 133 to the right (Fig. 1) and said rod will in turn swing each of the latches 130,

131, 132, to the right, so that they will release the armatures 94, 102, 109, if in their upper position, and permit them to drop to the positions shown in Fig. 1 The contact plates 116, 117, 118'," associated with these armatures also drop away from contacts 125, 127, 1 29, and thus disconnect left main line wires 54?, 54 54(or such of them as may then be connected therewith) from left main line wire 51.

When switch lever 204 is closed, right main line is closed from the positive of battery 174 of station C by'wires 179,205,

, switch lever 204, contact 203, wires 202, 201,

right rheostat 198, roller contact 196, arm

191, wire 213, contacts 209, 208, wires 212, 46,- 45 and 29 through the usual right hand pen-moving coil in receiver 24 of the master station A (Fig. 1'). The left main line circuit is also closed from the positive of battery 174, by wires 179, 205 switch lever 204,

contact 203, wires 202, 200, left rheostat 197,

'roller contact 195, arm 190, wire 215, contacts 211, 210, wires 214, 54, contacts 120, 115, wires 121, 51, 50, 34 through the lefthand'pen-moving coil of receiver 24.

Tracer 194 being then moved from its unison position, writing current will traverse the right and left main lines from batmal position (the reverse of that shown in 7 Fig. 1), and lock it against movement downward to connect the several contacts of the master switch. The effect of this is to lock out the transn'litter of station Awhile the transmitter of the distant station C is inwriting connection with receiver 24. Magnet 173 also, through its armature '172, con- "trols a lightin circuit consisting of wires 23, 218, armature 172, contact 219, and wires 220, 221, 217, 15,2, from the positive pole of battery 1; this circuit, whi ch includes a lamp 222, being closed in the forward position of armature 172, so that the operator in charge of station A is notified (by the lighting of lamp 222) that one of the distant stations is in writing connection with receiver 24. v

The foregoing description, although directed specifically to the transmitter and connections of station C, is equally applicable to the transmitters and connections of stations D, E, F. For convenience in applying such description to these other trans- -D, E, F, that the transmitter ofmaster station A is busywith one of them, the magnets 178, also, through their arinatures 181, and the engagement Q 'the latter with the insulated tail ends ofmaster switch levers 204 (then in their raised or normal positions) lock the-transmitters of the distant stations C, D,"E, F, out of writing connection with the receiver 24 of station A.

Similarly when one of, the transmitters of* right main line 46 with which "each of the to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism effecting the sending of impulses of different quality over the main line wires and unaffected by the writing currents traversing said main line wires, relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the main line wires, local circuits controlled by said relays, and other relays in said local circuits controlling the connec: tion of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire. I

2. In a telautographic system, the combination with a transmitter, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires from the transmitter, one provided with separate branches to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism effecting the sending of impulses of different polarity over the main line wires and unaffected by the writing currents traversing said main line wires, polarized relays connected with and dependent for action upon the polarity of the impulses traversing the main line wires, local circuits controlled bysaid relays, and other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire.

3. The combination with a transmitter, having a master switch, a plurality of re ceivers, and, main line wires from the transmitter, one provided with separate branches to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism, operative when the master switch is open and inoperative when it is closed, effecting the sending of impulses of different quality over the main line wires, relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the main line wires, local circuits controlled by said relays, and other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire.

4. The combination with a transmitter, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires from the transmitter, one provided with separate branches to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism efl'ecting the sending of impulses of different quality over the main line wires, relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the main line wires,-local circuits controlled by said relays, and other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire, each of said local circuits including a pair of contacts which are automatically disengaged, to break such circuit, when the branch connection corresponding to such circuit is made.

5. The combination with a transmitter, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires from the transmitter, one provided with separate branches to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism effecting the sending of impulses of different polarity over the mam line wires, polarized relays connected with and dependent for action upon the polarity of the impulses traversing the main line wires, local circuits controlled by said relays, and other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire, each of said local circuits including a pair of contacts which are automatically disengaged, to break such circuit, when the branch connection corresponding to such circuit is made:

6. The combination with a transmitter, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires from the transmitter, one provided with separate branches to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism effecta ing the sending of impulses of'different quality over the mainline \vires,,relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the main line wires, local circuits controlled by said relays, other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid wltlrtlieir mam line wire, each of said local circuits including a pair of contacts which are automatically disengaged, to

break such circuit, when the b 'anch connec tlon corresponding to such c1rcu1t is made,

1 means for each branch for retaining the con nection when made with its main line wire, and connections between the retaining means of the several branches whereby when one branch connection is made, others previously made are broken. Y

7. The combination with a transmitter, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires from the transmitter, one provided with separate branches to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism effecting the sending of impulses of different quality over the main line wires, relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the main line wires,local circuits controlled by said relays, other relays in said local circuits controlling the COIlIlBCilOIl of the branches aforesaid with their line wire, each of said local circuits including a pair of contacts which are automatically disengaged, to break such circuit, when the branch connection corresponding to such circuit is made, latches for each branch for retaining the connection when made with its main line wire, and connections between the latches of the several branches whereby when one branch connection is made, others previously made are broken.

-8. The combination with a home station having a transmitter, a receiver, and a master switch, a plurality of distant stations each having a transmitter, a receiver, and a master switch, and main line wires from the home station, one provided with separate branches to the distant stations, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism in the home station effecting the sending of im pulses of different quality over the main line wires, relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the" main line wires, local circuits controlled by said relays, other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire, whereby the home transmitter may be connected with any of the distant receivers, and connections between the master switches of the distantstations and said branches, lo-

cal circuits and last named relays whereby,

when any of said master switches is closed, the distant transmitter corresponding thereto is connected with the hom receiver.

9. The combination with a home station having a transmitter, a receiver, and a mastrolling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire, whereby the home transmitter may be connected with any of the distantreceivers, and connections between the master switches of the distant stations and said branches, local circuits and last named relays whereby, when any of said master switches is closed, the distant transmitter corresponding thereto is connected with the home receiver.

10. The combination with a home station having a transmitter, a receiver, and a master switch, a plurality of distant stations each having a transmitter, a receiver, and a master switch, and mam line wires from the home station, one provided withseparate branches to the distant stations, of a re celver-selectmg switch mechanlsm in the home statlon, operatlve when the master switch thereof is open and inoperative when it is closed, efi ecting the sending of impulses of different quality over the main line wires, relays connected with and dependent for action upon the quality of the impulses traversing the main line wires, local circuits controlled by said relays, other relays in said local circuits controlling the connection of the branches aforesaid with their main line wire, whereby the home transmitter may be connected with any of the distant receivers, and connections between the master switches of the distant stations and said branches, local circuits and last named relays whereby, when any of said master switches is closed, the distant transmitter corresponding thereto is connected with the home receiver.

11. The combination with a home station having a transn'iitter, a receiver and a master switch, a plurality of distant stations each having a transmitter, a receiver and a master switch, a continuous main line wire, normally connecting the home station and each of the distant stations, and another main line wire from the home station provided with separate branches to the distant stations, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism at the home station, a receiver-selects 7 ing mechanism controlled thereby and by the master switches of the distant stations, whereby the home transmitter may be connected with any of the distant receivers and any of the distant transmitters connected with the home receiver, a magnet in each of the stations connected with the continuous main l1ne aforesaid, and devices controlled by said magnets for locking the master switches against closing movement whereby, when the master switch of one station is closed, the master switches of all other stations are so locked.

12. The combination with a home station having a transmitter, a receiver and a master switch,.a plurality of distant stations each having a transmitter, a receiver and a master switch, a continuous main line wire, normally connecting the home station and each of the distant stations, and another main line wire from the home station provided with separate branches to the distant stations, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism at the home station, a receiver-selecting mechanism controlled-thereby and by the master switches of the distant stations,

whereby the home transmitter may be connected with any of the distant receivers and any of the distant transmitters connected with the home receiver, a magnet in each of the stations connected with the continuous main line aforesaid, and indicator circuits controlled bysaid magnets whereby when the masterswitch of one station is closed, the fact is indicated at all other stations.

13. The combination with a home station having a transmitter, a receiver and a master switch, a plurality of distant stations each having a transmitter, a receiver and a master switch, a continuous main line wire, normallyconnecting the home station and each of the distant stations, and another main line wire from the home station provided with separate branches to the distant stations, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism at the home station, a receiver-selecting mechanism controlled thereby and by the master switches of the distant stations, whereby the home transmitter may be connected with any of the distant receivers and any of the distant transmitters connected with the home receivers, a magnet'in each of the stations connected with the continuous main line aforesaid, indicator circuits and master switch locks controlled by said magnets whereby, when the master switch of one station is closed, the fact is indicated at all other stations and the master switches of the latter locked against closing movemitter, of a receiver-selecting mechanism, a

switch mechanism therefor, including circults having a plurality of circuit closers, a plurality of hand-operated switches, and a magnet controlling said circuit closers, and

connections between said magnet and the main line whereby, when the master switch is closed, said circuit closers are opened.

16. The combination with a transmitter, a master switch therefor, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires and connections from the transmitter to the receivers, of a selecting mechanism controlled thereby and in turn controlling the connection of the transmitter with the receivers, and connections between the said master switch and switch mechanism whereby when the master switch is closed the circuits controlled by the switch mechanism are opened.

17. The combination with a transmitter, a master switch therefor, a plurality of receivers, and main line wires and connections from the transmitter to the receivers, of a receiver-selecting switch mechanism effect-V ing the sending of impulses of different polarity over the main line wires, receiver-selecting mechanism controlled thereby and in turn controlling the connection of the transmitter with the receiver, said selecting mechanism including polarized relays controlled by such impulses, and connections between the said master switch and switch mechanism whereby when the. master switch is closed the circuits controlled by the switch mechanism are opened.

18. In a selective switch system, the combination of a home station, a plurality of other stations, selecting mechanism electri-' ca'lly connected with all of said stations, means controlled at said home station for electrically operating said selecting mechanism, whereby the writing circuits of a telautograph at the home station may be connected to the writing circuits of a telautograph at any of the other stations, and

means for preventing the operation of telautograph transmitters when their writing circuits are not connected to the home station through said selecting mechanlsm.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE S. TIFFANY.

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