US1370402A - Automatic telegraph system - Google Patents

Description

G. R. BENJAMIN.

AuTOMAT|c TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. H, 1916- Patented Mar. 1, 1921*,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN V EN TOR. K 64... I A

A TTORNEY I'H r- A G. R. BENJAMIN.

AUTOMAJ'IC TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-M11916.

1,370,402. Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- IN V EN TOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. BENJAMIN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC TELEGRAEH SYSTEM.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed December 11, 1916. $erial No. 136,146.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have in vented certain new and useful Improve,

ments in Automatic Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a specification.

I My invention relates to improvements in automatic telegraph systems, and comprises means whereby receiving apparatus may be operated in an extension loop from one terminal of an automatic telegraph system, and whereby transmitting apparatus may operate through an extension loop into one terminal of an automatic telegraph apparatus. My invention also comprises various other features as hereinafter pointed out.

Synchronous telegraph systems, wherein transmitting and receiving distributers or commutators at two ends of a line, operate in synchronism, are well known; certain of which systems, for example, the well known Baudot system, and its modifications and adaptations, provide a plurality of simultaneous channels of communication in each direction. It is sometimes desirable to operate one or more extensions from such synchronously operating apparatus. F or example, supposing there be a line between New York and Lhicago with synchronously operated telegraph transmitting and receiving apparatus in both such cities, it may be desirable to operate automatically one or more loops extending from the main office in one or both such cities, to a branch office or subscribers station; and it is often desirable at such branch ofiice or subscribers station, both to receive messages transmitted through the synchronous apparatus at the main station, and to transmit from such branch station or subscribers station into the synchronous apparatus at the main station. Oftentimes it'is desirable to transmit and receive, directly and automatically, between a branch station in the one such city and a branch station in the other such city, through the synchronously operated transmitting and receivin apparatus at the two cities mentioned, an through the line wire connecting such cities. Such operation is termed extended loop operation. For use at such branch or subscribers stations of the extension loop, synchronous apparatus of the type employed at the main stations is not convenient for various reasons, one of which is that the loop apparatus maybe in operation intermittently only, and to put it into operation it must be brought into synchronism with the main office apparatus from which it is to receive, or into which it is to transmit; and this synchronizing takes some little time. Another reason is, that while little difliculty has been experienced in keeping two apparatus on the line in synchronism, much more difiiculty would be experienced in keeping all of three or four apparatus in synchronism.

There is a type of automatic telegraph apparatus wherein both the transmitter and the receiver start operation at the beginning of transmission of a character, and come to rest at the end of the transmission of a character, restarting for the transmis sion of the next character; and so on; the interval of time required for the transmission of any one character being so short that, without the use of special synchronizing devices, the transmitting and receiving apparatus, if properly regulated, will not get outof step during the transmission of any one character; and since the transmittin and receiving apparatus start afresh for the transmission of each character, in practice they remain in step continuously.

I have found that automatic telegraph apparatus of the type which starts afresh for the transmission of each character, and stops at the end of transmission of each character, is particularly adaptable for extended loop operation of the typereferred to above. For distinction I will term the main synchronously operating telegraph apparatus continuously operating synchronous apparatus, and will term the extension loop apparatus, which starts afresh for the transmission of each character, and ceasesoperation at the end oftransmission of each character, restarting 'a paratus. In a companion application No. 129,421, filed November 4:, 1916, I have illustrated and described the use of-stepby-step translators, preferably of the Card-' well'type, as the restarting apparatus op:

crating in connection with the main line distributer, for transmission into'and re ception from, the extension loop. In-the present specification and drawings I illustrate the use of sunflower or commutator devices as such restarting apparatus.

The object of my invention is to facilitate and make entirely automatic, the operation of transmitting and receiving apparatus operating through circuit means extending from or to continuously operating synchronous apparatus, particularly multichannel apparatus of the general Baudot type; and to accomplish this object by relatively simple and reliable means.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims. In said drawings:

Figures 1 and 1 together constituting one figure, show diagrammatically, a main receiving and transmitting distributer of the general Baudot type, located at one end of a line conductor, that is to say, located at a main station, together with an extension circuit conductor and transmitting and receiving apparatusadapted to receive automatically from and to transmit automatically into, the-said main dist-ributer, a single conductor only being employed for transmisslon from or into such main distributer. Fig. 1 shoWs the apparatus at the main station, and Fig. 1 the apparatus at the branch or subscribers station.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary diagram illustrating the use of two conductors for transmission from and into such main distributer, in lieu of the duplex arrangement, illustrated in Fig. 1 and requiring only one such conductor.

In the drawings D2 designates a combined transmitting and receiving distributer of the general Baudot type, and, particularly, of the type illustrated and described in the application of G. M. Yorke and myself filed January 5, 1915, Serial No. 654, and comprising alternate plain and segmented commutator rings arranged in pairs, each such pair being provided with connecting brushes, BB1, BB2, etc., which brushes, in the apparatus as actually constructed, rotate along the faces of said commutator rings. These rings are shown developed in the draw ing. Certain of the rings have functions into which it is not necessary to go in the present description. For the present it suffice's to say that rings RG1 and S1 are receiving rings; that a main receiving polar relay ML repeats, from a line L through a conductor Z into ring RG1, signals received from main line L, and that such signals are transmitted, through brushes BB1,

into the segments of rin S1. The segments of this ring S1 are divi ed into four groups of five segments each, and each segment of one such group is connected electrically to the magnet coil of a corresponding relay of a group of relays Rl-R5 inclusive, and thence to return. (I have not illustrated circuits for the other groups of segments of ring S1, as these other segments pertain to other channels of communication.) These relays are self-locking, that is to say, the magnet of each relay, when energized, attracts the two armatures with which it is provided, one of which armatures, designated by character 71 or 72, etc., closes a local circuit from a source 1 through the sunflower T1 as hereinafter described. The

magnets of relays R1R2, etc., so energized from the source 1, remain energized until the energizing circuit is broken at the sunflower as hereinafter described.

T1 and T4 (Fig. 1 and T2 and T3 (Fig. 1 designate generally similar sunflowers or commutators, comprising a series of contact segments over which a brush Tla, T2a, etc., is adapted to sweep. It may be understood that such brush of each sunflower is driven by some driving device supplying approximately constant torque for driving such brush, but nevertheless permitting in stantaneous arrest of the brush. As a diagrammatic illustration of such constanttorque driving-device, I have indicated a slip belt T15, T25, etc. In general one of the various well known spring drives will ordinarily be used in place of the slip belt; but the slip belt affords a more convenient diagrammatic representation of ,such constant-torque driving-devices.

Each sunflower further comprises a magnet Tlm or T2m, etc., for operating an escapement device T10 or T20, etc.

Each sunflower comprises a segment marked rest, also a segment marked start, (though the start segments of sunflowers T2 and T4 are without operative function, butare present merely to occupy space,) and other segments marked t1, t2-t5 respectively, and which may be termed s1gnal=element segments Sunflowers T1 and T2 also have further seg- -ments marked t6. Segments t1t5 inclu- T4 ma be termed, respectively, a distant transmlttingor' controllin and a hoine receiving or controlled, sun ower.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the brushes of the distributer D2 rotate in synchronism with the brushes of a similar distributer (not shown) at the .distant end of line L;-and at the time when The signals of the Baudot system consists each of five impulses, some of which impulses are positive and others negative, the various permutations required to make up the various sig nals of the alphabet being obtained by varying the polarity of the pulses. It may be understood that the relays R1R5 inclusive are to respond to pulses of one polarity only (for example, positive pulses) transmitted. through line L. That is to say, if the first, third and fifth impulses of a character so transmitted are positive, and the second and fourth negative, only relays R1, R3 and R5 will be operated, and therefore only contacts m, we and re will be closed; and by the closing of such contacts, circuit paths will have been completed, as hereinafter described, to contacts t1, t3 and t5 of sunflower T1.

In other words, at each revolution of brushes BRla series of contacts is set up in relays RlR5, which contacts are in series circuit with corresponding contacts of series tlt5 of the sunflower T1.

An instant after such contacts are so set up in the relays R1-R5, brush BB2 connects rin RG2 with a segment or series of connected segments) of ring 2, thereby completing a circuit from a source 5, through rings RG2 and S2 and a' conductor 6 to magnet Tlm, and thenceto return, thereby moving the lower escapement pallet 7 out of the path of the escapement tooth 8, so ermitting a small movement of brush la, until escapement pin 9 is arrested by escapement pallet 10. Such movement of the brush Tla carries it over a rest segment of sun ower T1, and does not car it to the start segment. As soon as the distributer brush BB2 has passed beyond the segment or segments of ring S2 so connected to magnet Tlm, that magnet is deenergized, disengaging escapement allet 10 from escapement pin 9 and permitting the brush Tla to continue its sweep over the segments of the sunflower until arrested, at the conclusion of one rotation, by engagement of pallet 7 with tooth 8.

lVhen, as previously explained, circuit is completed momentarily from source 5, through ring RG2, brush BB2 and a segment or segments of ring S2, and through conductor 6 and magnet Tlm to return, cur rent is also transmitted through branch circuit 19 to the rest segment of sunflower T1 and brush Tla and conductor 20 through the magnet of relay Q1 to return, the armature of the relay being thereby attracted and thereby the current. is reversed in the circuit, through the armature of relay Q1 and conductor L and artificial line I) b (Fi 1 to return,rthereby operating relay P 1 at the out station, and in turn denergizing,

the magnet of relay Q2 at the out station (said relay being energized normally by current from source 21 through the upper rtion only of thewith the passage of brush arm contact of relay PR1). The armatures of relay Q2 then drop back; such movement of armature 22 resulting in energizing magnet T2m of sunflower T2 at the out oflice by current from source 24 through one back contact and armature 22 of relay Q2 and brush T26; of sunflower T2 rest segment of T2 and magnet T2m to return. Magnet T2m being so energized, escapement T20 is operated so as to cause pallet 7 to release tooth 8, and permit the sunflower arm T20 to move until arrested by engagement of pin 9 with pallet 10. This movement of arm T2a,' does not carry its brush to the start segment. WVhen brush BB2 of dis tributer D2 has passed off from the segment or segments of ring S2 connected to conductors 6, the magnet of relay Q1 is again deenergized, relay PR1 at the out station is operated to again energize the magnet of relay Q2, and magnet T2nn is again denergized, the escapement then permitting brush arm T2a to move still farther, and close to, but not into, the start segment; and the brush is arrested by engagement of pallet 7 with tooth 8a. When magnet Tlm of sunflower T1 is denergized by the passage of distributer brush BB2 beyond the segment'or segments of ring S2 connected to conductor 6, and brush Tla is released by pallet 7 and commences to move over the start segment of sunflower T1, the magnet of relay Q1 is energized, by current from source 11 through said start segment, brush Tla and conductor 20, and thereby relay PR1 at the out station is operated to again denergize the magnet of relay Q2; whereby magnet T2m of sunflower T2 is again energized from source 24, and brush arm T2a is released by escapement pallet 7, and rotates around the sunflower disk, passing over the various segments of that sunflower in svnchronism 1a of sun flower T1 over the segments of sunflower T1; for it may be assumed that the constant torque drivin devices of the brushes, of the sunflowers 1 and T2, move those brushes with substantiallythe same speed; and since these brushes starttogether, "they will naturally travel in substantial synchronism, andwill move over contact segments t1, 82, etc., of their respective sunflowers, at substantially. the same moments. However, to afl'ord ample working margin with respect to sunflower T2, I have shown the contact'segments t1, t2, etc., of that sunlays R1--R5 is attracted, .a locking-circuit is completed from a source 1 through conductor 2, the magnet coil of such relay and the said armatures T1, 12, etc., to contact springs m and 1'3 of the sunflower and thence to return; these contacts m; and ry being normally closed but being arranged to be separated, near the end of each cycle of the sunflower, by means of a projection 1'2 on the disk 4 which carries the escapement teeth 7 and 9 and rotates with the brush Tla. The closing of the selected contacts of series m, 1 5, etc., closes circuit branches from source 1 to the corresponding sunflower segments t1, t2, etc., and as the brush Tla sweeps over such sunflower segments a circuit is completed therefrom through the brush and conductor 20 to the coil of relay Q1. The magnet of this relay being energized and deenergized, as brush Tla passes over the segments connected with the selected relays R1, etc., pulses corresponding to the character to be transmitted are transmitted through line L and through the magnet of polar relays PR and PR1 in that line to relay Q2 (see Fig. 1*) at the distant or subscribers station; and said relay Q2 will repeat such impulses into brush T2a, and so into the particular segment of series tlt5, over which that brush is passing at the instant of transmission of each such impulse. Relays PR and PR1 will be recognized as relays arranged for the duplex operation of line L; artificial lines La and U?) being provided. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a signal transmitted by relay Q1 into theline L does not operate relay PR but does operate relay PR1. Line L extends to return throu h the armature and back contact of a relay 4 to be referred to hereinafter.

Sunflower T2 controls a telegraph printing device, represented in the drawings by magnets 29-33, respectively, and by a magnet 35 which may be understood to be the printer magnet of the printer. Telegraph printers arranged to have a character selected for printing by selective energization of a series of five magnets such as 29-33, and by the subsequent energization of a magnet 35, are well known, and therefore it is not necessaryfor me to describe or illustrate such a printer herein.

The contacts t1t5 of sunflower T2 control printer-selecting-relays R6R10 respectively, which relays in turn control selecting magnets 2933 respectively; while the sixth contact t6 of sunflower T2 controls a relay 34 controlling the printing magnet 350i the automatic printer of which magnets 29-33 control selecting mechanism. It will be apparent that upon the transmission of each marking pulse transmitted through line L, the magnet of relay Q2 will be deenergized and therefore a circuit will be completed from source 24 through the brush T2a and the particular segment t1, t2, etc., of sunflower T2, with which that brush may be in contact at the'moment, to the magnet of the corresponding relay of series RG-RIO inclusive. These relays are selflocking relays in the same sense as are resunflower, to the magnet of relay 34; which magnet, being energized, closes a circuit through printer magnet 35, effecting the operation of the printer, and at the same time opening a contact 51 whereby the locking circuit of relays R6R10 is broken, said relays being thereby cleared. At the conclusion of each. rotation, the brushes Tla, T2a and T3a are arrested by engagement of their several pallets 7 with the several escapement teeth 8.

A designates a perforated-tape-controlled automatic transmitter located at the branch or subscribers station. The illustration of such transmitter contained in Fig. 1 is intended to be diagrammatic only and not to illustrate actual details of construction. For fuller illustration and description of the particular transmitter diagrammatically illustrated, see the said Yorke-Benjamin application Sr. No. 654, or my application Sr. No. 23,791, filed April 26, 1915. As many such perforated-tape-controlled transmitters which are adaptable for use in the present system, are known, it suflices to say at present that this transmitter comprises an operating magnet M and a series of feelers F adapted to engage corres ending holes in the perforated-tape-strip together with contacts f1-f5, one or more of which will be closed, selectively, for the sending of each telegraph character,'upon the deenergization of magnet M; the particular contact or contacts f1-f5 which are so closed being determined by the perforated tape. Contacts f1-f5 so closed complete circuit paths from a source 43. to contacts t1t5 respectively, of sunflower T3. At the' time when relay Q1 was first operated, by closure of circuit from source 5 through rings RG2 and S2, conductors 6 and 19, rest segment of sunflower Tl, brush arm Tla, and conductor 20, with consequent operation of relays PR1 and Q2, a circuit was completed from source 36 through armature 23 of relay Q2 and the corresponding back contact to magnet M of transmitter A, and thence through contacts we and 1'3 of sunflower T3 to return; whereby the magnet M was energizedand the perforated tape G was fed forward one space, the feelers F previously in engagement with that tape being withdrawn; and at the same time magnet T3m of sunflower T3 was deenergized, permit-ting brush T3a to move until arrested by engagement of escapement pallet 10 with in 9. Upon the next operation of relays 1, PR1 and Q2, consequent upon the passage of brush BB2 past the segment or segments of ring S2 connected to conductor 6, with consequent energization of the magnet of relay Q2, transmitter magnet M is deenergized, and such of the feelers F of that transmitter as are opposite perforations in the tape G, rise through those perforations, thereby setting up a new contact combination in the series of contacts f1f5 of the transmitter. At the same time magnet T3m of the sunflower is ener ized, the escapement being operated to permit brush T3a to move until arrested by engagement of escapement pallet 7' with tooth 8a. Upon the further operation of relays Q1, PR1 and Q2, due to the passage of brush Tla into the start segment of sunflower T1, and the consequent dropping back of the armatures 22 and 23 of relay Q2, magnet T3m of sunflower T3 is again deenergized, escapement pallet 7 being thereby disengaged from tooth 8a, so that'brush T3a is permitted to ass over the start segment, of sunflower 3, and then over contact segments t1t5 in succession; but magnet M of transmitter A is not again energized, because by this time cam projection we of sunflower T3 has passed beyond the coacting contact spring Ty, and springs m and ry are no longer in contact, the circuit through magnet M being thereby broken, and remaining broken until sunflower arm T3a has returned to its normal or rest position, shown in Fig. l

As the brush arm T3a passes over the several segments t1-t5 of sunflower T3, it is apparent that relay Q4 will be operated through conductor 44 in accordance with the characters set up in the contacts f1f5 of transmitter A, and that this relay therefore will transmit the same character through line L to relay PR at the main station, which relay will repeat such character, through conductor 45 and relay Q5, into sunflower T4, located at the main ofiice.

The .brush T4a of sunflower T4 is normally held arrested by engagement of pallet 10 of its escapement anchor with pin 9; the escapement anchor being in a position opposite that of the escapement anchors of sunflowers T1 and T2, and tooth 8 of sun- 'rest the rotation of the brush.

flower T4 being so disposed that engagement of the pallet 7 with this tooth 8 does not ar- Consequently, when brush T3a of sunflower T3 passes from its rest to its start segment, and a circuit is completed from source 42 through the coil of relay Q4, conductor 44, brush T3a and the said start segment, to return, a starting pulse is transmitted by said relay Q4 through relay PR1, to relay PR; which relay, being operated thereby, breaks the energizing circuit of the magnet of relay Q5, and the consequent retraction of the armatures of that relay, energizes magnet T4m of sunflower T4, starting the brush of that sunflower in rotation simultaneously with the starting of brush T3a of sunflower T3. As brush T3a of sunflower T3 passes over the several segments of that sunflower which are connected to corresponding contacts of the transmitter A, current pulses will be transmitted through relays Q4, PR and Q5, corresponding to the character set up in the contacts of the transmitter A, and thereby the brush T400 of sunflower T4 will complete, through the segments of that sunflower, circuits energizing the magnets of such relays of series R11R15 as is required for the setting up, in armatures rat-4e, of those relays, contact combinations corresponding to the character transmitted from transmitter A. These armatures ra--re of relay bank R11-R15, are connected to corresponding segments of transmitting ring S3 of distributer D2; and the two contact stops of each armature of series mre, are connected to opposite sources of current supply, as indicated; and it will be apparent that when, after such contact combination has been set up in relays R11R15, the brush BB3 next passes over the segments of ring S3, so connected to relays R11R15, the characters set up in such relays will be transmitted through line L.

' Relays Ell-R15 are self locking in the same sense as relays R1--R5, and when, near the conclusion of one cycle of operations of that sunflower itsprojection r2 separates the contact springs m and ry of the locking circuit of those relays, the relays are cleared; and the same is true with respect to sunflower T1 and relays R1R5. Similarly, when sunflower T3 nears the end of its cycle of operations the projection T2 of that sunflower brings together its contact springs rm and *ry, so closing at that point the energizing circuit of the magnet M of transmitter A; though that circuit is not completed at relay Q2 until brush Tla begins another cycle of operations.

It is necessary to complete the cycle of the extended loop instruments before thetcycle of the main line distributer D2 is completed.

In practice, the extended loop apparatus completes its cycle of operations in the time during which three fourths of the cycle of distributer D2 is completed.

By making the segments t1-t2, etc., of sunflowers T1 and T3 (these are the transmitting sunflowers) proportionately longer than are the corresponding segments 61, t2, etc., of the receiving sunflowers T2 and T4, possibility of overlapping of a signal from one receiving sunflower segment to the next, through variable lag in the circuit, or other reason, is obviated, also there is current on the line well before the receiving brushes T2a and T441, contact with a segment through which a signal is to be sent, whereby disturbance from external sources is to a great degree obviated.

Obviously, instead of duplexing the extension-conductor L, separate outgoing and return extension conductors may be em-- ployed. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherev in, for simplicity, only the instruments directly connected with the incoming and outgoing extension lines L and- L" are illustrated; similar reference characters to those employed in Figs. 1 and 1 being employed in Fig. 2, so "that the connection between Fig. 2 and Figs. 1 and 1 is apparent. It will be seen that in such double conductor arrangement the return extensionline L asses directly from the brush of sunflower 3 to the magnet coil of relay Q5 at the home station.

Relays Rl-R5 and Ell-R15 are to be regarded, for the purpose of the claims, as parts of the distributers D2.

In referring hereinabove to the Baudot system, and to the Baudot five-unit code, I do not intend to limit my invention to use with a Baudot system, or Baudot a aratus, or to use with a Baudot code. y invention is suitable for use in connection with any system or apparatus employing a code having the same number of current impulses for each character; for example, with systems the characters of which, or some of them, are made up of positive, negative and no-current units. i

In my said companion application Serial No. 129,421 I have claimed broadly the invention common to the two applications, and therefore I claim herein only such features as are not disclosed in my said companion application.

What I claim is:---

1.v In an automatic telegraph system, the combination of a controlling and a controlled contact closing device comprising corresponding main signal-transmitting contact members equal in' number together with corresponding movable members ada ted for synchronous coaction, respective y, with respect to their corresponding mam signal transmitting members, and magnetcontrolled escapement means controlling the start of the travel of such movable mem-,

bers, the escapement of the controlling contact device com rising means whereby two operations of that escapement release the corresponding movable member for continued movement, the escapement of the controlled contact device comprising means whereby three operations of that escapement mechanism release the corresponding movable member for continued movement, means for causing a simultaneous first operation of such escapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, and

travel of such brushes, the escapement of 1 the controlling sunflowen comprising means whereby two operations of that escapement release the corresponding brush for continued movement, the escapement of the controlled sunflower comprising means whereby three operations of that escapement mechanism release the corresponding brush for continued movement, means for causing a simultaneous first operation of such escapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, and means for causing a third operation of the escapement of the controlled sunflower immediately following the'start of the brush of the controlling sunflower on its continued movement.

3. In an automatic telegraph system, the

combination of transmitting and receiving sunflowers adapted for synchronous operation and comprising corresponding mam signal-transmitting segments, brushes adapt- I ed for synchronous travel over said segments and' magnet-controlled escapement mean's controlling thestart of the travel. of such brushes, circuit means connecting the brush of the transmitting sunflower with the brush of the receiving sunflower, means for energizing initially and momentarily the escapement magnetof the transmitting sunflower and then for deenergizing such magnet, the escapement of the transmitting sunflower comprising means whereby after deenergization' of such magnet following energization, the brush of that sunflower is released for continued operation through one cycle, means for transmitting a current pulse from the transmitting sunflower to the brush of the receiving sunflower upon the first energization of the controllin magnet of such transmitting sunflower, an again after such brush has started upon its full rotation and before contact of such brush with any of the main signal transmitting segments, the escapement means of said receivingsunflower comprising means whereby a second energization of its controlling magnet, following first energization and subsequent deenergization of that magnet, is required to release the brush of such receiving sunflower, said receiving sunflower further comprising means for transmitting to its escapement magnet current pulses received from the transmitting sunflower prior to the starting of the brush of the receiving sunflower on its continued movement.

4. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a main l1ne distributer, of a controlling and a controlled contact closing device comprising corresponding main signal-transmitting contact members equal in number together with corresponding movable members adapted for synchronous coaction, respectively, with respect to their correspondm main signal transmitting members, an magnet-controlled escapement means controlling the start of the travel of such movable members, the escapement of the controlling contact device comprising means whereby two operations of that escapement release the corresponding movable member for continued movement, the escapement of the controlled contact device comprising means whereby three operations of that escapement mechanism release the corresponding movable member for continued movement, said distributer comprising a series of contacts connected respectively to the main signal-transmitting contact members of the said controlling contact closing device and adapted to set up in such series of contacts various character contactcombinations, circuit connections between said distributer and escapement magnet of the controlling contact closing device,- and between the controlling and controlled contact closing device, said distributer comprising means for causing, through such circuit connections, a simultaneous first operation of such escapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, and means for causing a third operation of the escapement of the controlled contact device immediately following the start of the movable member of the controlling contact device on its continued movement.

5. In an automatic telegraph system, the .combination of a controlling and a controlled sunflower comprising corresponding main signal-transmitting segments, brushes adapted for synchronous travel over said segments, and magnet-controlled escapement means controlling the start of the travel of such brushes, the escapement of the controlling sunflower being atWo-toothed escapement, and that of the controlled sunflower being a three-toothed escapement, a distributer, circuit connections between said distributer and the controlling sunflower, and between the two sunflowers, whereby said distributer causes a simultaneous first operation of such escapements followed by a second operation of such escapements, said controlling sunflower comprising means for causing a third operation of the escapement of the controlled sunflower immediately following the start of the brush of the controlling sunflower on its continued movement.

6. In an automatic telegraph'system, the combination with a distributer having signal-receivingl and signal-transmitting means, each comprising a series of contacts in which contact combinations may be set up corresponding to telegraphic characters, of extended-loop transmitting and receiving apparatus comprising a controlling sunflower having segments each connected to a correspondlng contact of the receiving series of the distributer and a controlled sunflower at a distant point having corresponding con tact segments, said extended loop apparatus further comprising a controlling sunflower at a distant point and a transmitter therefor adapted to setup character combinations, said transmitter and said distant controlling sunflower having each a series of corresponding characterelement contacts, each such contact of the transmitter connected to a contact of the corresponding sunflower, said extension loop apparatus further comprising a controlled sunflower corresponding to the distant controlling sunflower and having character element contact segments connected respectively to corresponding contacts of the signal transmitting contact series of the distributer, circuit means connecting each controlling sunflower with the corresponding controlled sunflower, each sunflower comprising a brush adapted for travel over the segments of that sunflower synchronously with the travel of the brush of the corresponding controlling or controlled sunflower, each sunflower further comprising magnet-controlled escapement means controlling the start of the travel of the corresponding brush, said distributer comprising means, operating through the circuit connections from the distributer to one controlling sunflower and thence to the circuit connections between the several sunflowers, for starting each controlling sunflower and its corresponding controlled sunflower in synchronism, and for operating the transmitter associated with the distant controlling sunflower.

In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a distributer having signal-receiving and signal-transmitting means, each comprising a series of contacts in which contact combinations may be set up corresponding, to telegraph characters, of extended-loop transmitting and receiving ap: paratus comprising a controlling sunflower having character element segments each connected to a corresponding contact of the receiving series of the distributer and having also rest and start segments, and a controlled sunflower at a distant point having segments correspondingto the character element segments of said controlling sunflower, and having also a rest segment, said extended-loop apparatus further comprising a controlling sunflower at a distant point, and a transmitter therefor. adapted to set up charactercombinations, said transmitter and said distant controlling sunflower having each a series of corresponding character element contacts, each such contact of the transmitter connected to a contact of the corresponding sunflower, said distant controlling sunflower having also a rest segment, said extended-loop apparatus further comprising a controlled sunflower corresponding to the distant controlling sunflower, and having character element contact segments connected respectively to corresponding contacts of the signal transmitting contact series of the distributer, cir cuit means connecting each controlling sunflower with' the corresponding controlled sunflower, each sunflower comprising a brush adapted for travel over the segments of that sunflower synchronously with the travel of the brush of the corresponding controlling or controlled sunflower, each sunflower further, comprising ma et-controlled escapement means control ing the start of the travel of the corresponding brush, the escapement of the first mentioned controlling sunflower being a two-toothed escapement, the escapements of the distant sunflowers being three-toothed escapements, said dis tributer comprising means for closing a circuit through the escapement magnet of the first mentioned controlling sunflower, and also for simultaneously closing circuit through such first mentioned controlling sunflower to the escapement magnets of the corresponding controlled sunflower and the distant controlling sunflower, the start segment of the first mentioned controlling sunflower having a source or current supply whereby when the brush of that sunflower reaches such start segment the magnets of the corresponding controlled sun-v flower, and the distant controlling sunflower, are operated; such distant controlled sunflower comprising means whereby when its brush is started for continued operation the brush of the corresponding controlled sunflower is also starte 8. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a continuously operating synchronous apparatus comprising a series of contacts and means for setting up contact combinations therein conforming to the make up of telegraph characters, of an .extension circuit and transmitting means therefor comprising a sunflower having segments corresponding each to one of said series of contacts and connected thereto, and having also a brush adapted to travel over said segments, driving means for said brush, escapement means normally holding said brush stationary, said sunflower having also a rest segment upon which such brush normally rests, said escapement means comprising an operating magnet-and said continuo'usly-operating synchronous apparatus tact-combination, to cause said brush to move along the rest segment, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remaining segments.

9. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a continuously operating synchronous apparatus comprising a series of contacts and means for setting up con- .tact combinations therein conforming to the make up of telegraph characters, of an extension circuit, and transmitting and receiving means therefor each comprising a sunflower, the transmitting sunflower having signal element segments corresponding each to one of said series of contacts and con nected thereto, and having also a start segment, the receiving sunflower having corresponding ignal-element segments, and a rest segment, each sunflower having a brush adapted to travel over saidsegments, driving means for said brush, 'escapement mean normally holding said brushstationary, and an operating magnet for such.es-

capement means, the escapement means of each sunflower normally holdin the corresponding brush upon the frest segment, said continuously-operating synchronous apparatus comprising means for operating the magnet of the transmitting sunflower, after the setting up of a character contact-combination, to cause thecorresponding brush to move over the rest segment, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remaining segments, and means for transmitting through said extension circuit to the magnet of the receiving sunflower signals to cause corresponding and simultaneous movements of the brush of the receiving sunflower.

10. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a continuous] operating synchronous apparatus comprising a series of contacts and means for setting up contact combinations therein conformlng to the make up of telegraph characters, of extension circuit means, and means for transmitting from said continuously operating synchronous apparatus to a distant station in' such extension circuit means,and for transmitting from such distant station through such extension circuit means into said continuously operating synchronous apparatus, comprising home transmitting and receiving sunflowers and distant transmitting and receiving sunflowers, the home transmitting sunflower having signal element se ents corresponding each to one of said series of contacts and connected thereto, the other sunflowers having corresponding segments, each sunflower having also a rest segment, each 1 sunflower having a brush adapted to. travel over said segments, driving means for said brush, escapement means normally holding such brush stationary, and an operating magnet for such es capement' means, the escapement means of each sunflower normally holding the corresponding brush upon the rest segment,

said continuously-operating synchronous apparatus comprising means for operating the magnet of the home transmitting sunflower, after the setting up of a character contact combination, to cause the brush of such sunflower-to move over the rest segment, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remaining segments,

means for transmitting through such extension circuit means to the ma et of the distant receiving and transmitting sunflowers, a signal to cause corresponding and s1- multaneous movements of the brushes of such sunflowers, a distant transmitter comprising a series of contacts andmeans for setting up character combinations therein, such transmitter contacts connected to corresponding signal element segments of the distant transmitting sunflower, the distant transmitting sunflower comprising means for sending a current pulse through such extension circuit means to'the magnet of the home receiving sunflower to start the brush of'that sunflower in operation sub stantially simultaneously with the starting for continued operation of the brush of said distant transmitting:sunflower; said continuously operated synchronous apparatus comprising means, controlled by -t e home receiving sunflower, for setting up contact combinations corresponding to characters set up in the distant transmitter and for transmitting from such contact combinations into such continuously operating synchronous apparatus. i

11. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator and a series of relayshavin magnet coils connected to segments of sai commutator, and arranged to be actuated by said commutator to set up contact combinations corresponding to characters received by saidcommutator, of an extension circuit, and transmitting and receiving means therefor comprising sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison, said sunflowers comprising escapement means normally holding the corresponding brushes stationary and further comprising magnets controlling such. escape- .mentmeans, said sunflowers each comprising a rest segment, the transmitting sunflower comprising further signal-element segments connected to corresponding contacts of said relays, the receiving sunflower having corresponding signal-element segments, a recorder,-a series of selecting relays for-said recorder connected to such last mentioned segments of the receiving sunflower, and

means actuated by said distributer after the setting up of a character combination in the first mentioned series of relays, to cause the brushes of the sunflowers to move over their rest segments, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remamlng segments.

12. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator, of an extension circuit and means for transmitting therethrough' into said distributer comprising a transmitter having contacts ada ed to be set up in combinations correspo ing to characters to be transmitted, and transmitting and receiving sunflowers having brushes tact combinations may be set u corresponding to the signals transmitte and means forstarting the brushes of said sunflowers in substantial unison.

13. In an automatic teiegraph system, the combination, with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator and a series of relays havin magnet coils connected to segments of sai commutator, and arranged to be actuated by said commutatorto set up contact combinations corresponding to-char acters received by said commutator, of an extension circuit, and transmitting and receiv relays, the receivin ing means therefor comprising sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison, said sunflowers comprising escapement means normally holding the corresponding brushes stationary and further comprising magnets controlling such escapement means, said sunflowers each comprising a rest segment, the transmitting sunflower comprising signal-element segments connected to corresponding contacts of said sunflower having corresponding signal-e ement segments, arecorder, a series of selecting relays for said recorder connected to such last mentioned segments of the receiving sunflower, and means actuated by said distributer after the setting up of a character combination in the first mentioned series of relays, to cause the brushes of the sunflowers to move over their rest segments, to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remaining segments, the transmitting sunflower comprising means for clearing the relays of said distributer.

14. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator and a series of relays havin magnet coils connected to segments of sai commutator, and arranged to be actuated by said commutator to set up contact combinations corresponding to characters received by' said commutator, of an extension circuit, and transmitting and receiving means therefor comprising sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial. unison, said sunflowers com rising escapement means normally hol ing the corresponding brushes stationary and further comprising magnets controlling such escapement means,- said sunflowers each comprising a rest segment, the'transmitting sunflower comprising signal-element segments connected to correspondin contacts of said relays, the receiving sun ower having corresponding signalelement segments, a recorder, a series of selecting relays for said recorder connected to such last mentioned segments of the receiving sunflower, and means actuated b distributer after the setting up of a c aracter combination in the first mentioned series of relays, to cause the brushes of the sunflower to move over their rest segments, .to stop thereon, and finally to start for continued travel over the remaining segments, the transmitting sunflower comprising means for clearing the relays of said distributer, and means for clearing the selecting relays for the recorder, said receiving sunflower having a further segment to which such clearing means is connected, and said transmitting sunflower having a further segment adapted to transmit an actuating said pulse through such extension circuit to such clearing segment of the receiving distributer.

15. In an automatic telegraph system, the combination with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator, of an extension circuit and means for transmitting therethrough into said distributer comprising a transmitter having contacts adapted to be set up in combinations corresponding to characters to be transmitted, and having transmitting and receiving sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison, said sunflowers comprising escapement means normally llOldiIlg the corresponding brushes stationary, and further comprising magnets controlling such escapement means, the transmitting sunflower comprising segments connected to corresponding contacts of said transmitter, the receiving sunflower having corresponding segments, a bank of self-locking relays having magnet coils connected o such segments of the receiving sunflower, such relays having contacts, connected to segments of that distributer, in which contact combinations may be set up corresponding to the signals transmitted, said receiving sunflower having means for clearing such relays after transmission therefrom, and means for starting the brushes of such sunflowers in substantial unison.

16. In an automatic telegraphsystem, the

combination with a rotary distributer comprising a segmented commutator, of an extension circuit and means for transmitting therethrough into said distributer comprising a transmitter having contacts adapted to be set up in combinations corres onding to characters to be transmitted, ans transmitting and receiving sunflowers having brushes and driving means therefor adapted to rotate such brushes in substantial unison, said sunflowers comprising escapement means normally holding the corresponding brushes stationary, and further comprising magnets controlling such escapement means, the transmitting sunflower comprising segments connected to corresponding contacts of said transmitter, the receiv ing sunflower having corresponding se ments, a bank of relays having magnet coils connected to such segments of the receiving sunflower, such relays having contacts, connected to segments of said distributer, in

which contact combinations may be set u corresponding to the signals transmitte and means for starting the brushes of said sunflowers in substantial unison, said transmitting sunflower having further a rest se ent and a start segment, its brush bemg normally on the rest segment, said receiving sunflower having further a rest segment, upon which its brush normally rests, means for moving the brush of the transmitting sunflower from its rest seg- In testimony whereof I have signed this ment to its start segment, and thence over specification 1n the presence of two sub- 1ts remaining segments, and means for transscrlbmg witnesses.

mitting a start signal to the magnet of GEORGE R. BENJAMIN. the receiving sunflower when the brush of Vitnesses: the transmitting sunflower ison its start H. M. MARBLE,

segment. 1 PAUL H. FRANKIE.

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