US1780507A - Method of telegraphing in morse code and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1930. R. L. A. scHoEMAKER METHOD OF TEJEGRAPHING IN MORSE CODE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20. 1928 Ofnven'orf l Jfczwmmz @ma schaamde.

fz a@ Nov. 4, 1930. R. L. A. scHoEMAKER 1,780,507

METHOD OF TELEGRAPHING IN MORSE CODE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March A 20. 1928 R, l.. A. sci-:O EMAKER Filed March 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 4, 1930.

METHOD oF TELEGRAPHING IN MORSE coDE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR I' sa Patented Nov. 4, 1930v il i r METHOD or rnnnerteriiine ii-iiiioiaisn conn AND ArrAieA'iUs'rHERiiFoa Application filed March 20, 1928, Serial'No. 263,0'i0, and. in the Netherlands May 20, 1927.

Telegraphy by Morse code is generally efi fected by means of the tapping key known as theMorse key, or-by means of automatic or semi-automatic transmitting apparatus operating at a higher speed. The defectof the'Morse key hitherto used, is that it can only be operated efficiently by i vhighly expert telegraphists. lf the taps are not veryregularly'timed and proportioned rirregular intervals occur between the symbols, ortlie dots and dashes are not of regular length, so that errors may easily arise in de coding. i y

The wholly Orsemi-automatically actuated transmitte-rs besides being expensive have the disadvantage that they are diflicult to adjust and are not easily portable, so that they are unsuitable for small telegraph offices-and railway stations, and special difficulties .at-

f sages areinore rapidly transmitted than with 'Y `tend their use on ships, or for the purpose of military communication.` Furthermore,

the Morse keys hitherto known.

' As compared with the known wholly and semi-automatic apparatus the invention has the advantage of being` cheaper, thoughcavpable of more rapid transmission. Y f

rThese advantages are attained according 'to the inventionby producing the transmitting impulse by causing a contact member to move over a series of contacts. or a seriesv Y sions. The pointerand figures von the scale may be luminous so as to be visible in the of contacts to moveove'ra single contact.V

The invention is characterized by the lfollowing features (d) Th@ MOrse signs are producedby to and fro movement of a movable Contact member. (b) `Movement of the lfrom a zero position the outward andV return movement on, one sideof this zero position Vcausing the transmission of one or more'iots,

contact member starts with intervals, rand the outward and return movement of the contact member on the other siderof the zero position causing one or `more dashes to be transmitted with intervals. By .1 combining movements toeitlier side ofthe Zero position, completeMorse codecharacters are transmitted. Y e

c) The vcombination of ldots,- dashesv and spaces of predetermined lengthare automatis A cally transmitted as Morse vcharacters by the `60 nioveinent'of oneycontact member on another specially constructed. contact member.v Uniformmovement of the movable contactm'em bei' over the stationaryv contacts,`pro'duces makes and breaksofregular duration sothat mutilation of thefcharacters transmitted is practically precluded.'

(Il), The `duration and uniformity of the movement of the contact member are func-r tionsof the distance from the axis of rota?y ytionto-tlie centre ofthe handle used for manipulating thecontact member, and they are also functions of the angle traversed when thehandle is moved from the initialv to the final position. v (e) The closing` andopening of the circuit effected during thecontinuous movement cf the contact member, by means of a Contact passing' either over a contact striphaving `a series of insulating strips onitl (or vice-SQy versa) orovera correspondingly constructed contactbar. s f f n The position ofthe handle at which the outward movement ends and the return" movement commences, is notonly ocularly S5 observable but can also be indicated by touch and by the ear. A 'scaleis provided for visual observationvand for control kby touch and by ear. It mayarrange springs or spring actuated members which. snap into depres- Vtransmitting station the Morse messages' transmitted.

' (i) The "apparatus may als@ be provided W0 ter combined with a recording device and a standby7 transmitter.

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the Morse transmitter.

2 isa plan vieil7 oi the transmitter shown in Fig. 1, with the handle removed for clearness. y

F 3 is a cross section on the line U-U Y of rig. i.

Y'Figz -l is across section on the line V-V 5 is a plan view of the handle. 6 is a perspective view of the Morse Fig.

*transmitter combined with a recording deof Fig. 6.

vice and stand-by transmitter.

`'Fig 7 is aplan view, with the lever and -pointer omitted.

Fig. Sis aA cross section on the linel/V*VV Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lever and pointer.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation and `Y Fig. 11 a side elevation of a Contact ineinber for transmitting dots.

Fig. 12 shows a contact'member in iront f elevation for transmitting dashes.

" Fig. l'shows the movable element ior use with the contacts according to Figs. 10 to i2.

Fig. let is a cross section on the line x-ai fot Fig. 8.

j Fig. 15 is a cross section .on the line y-g/ *of Fig. 8.

fig.l 16 shows another modiiicationof the recorder in three projections.

'-"The-principal elements of the'apparatus f are a Contact member manipulated by hand and a series of contacts over which this convtact'member is reciprocatable.

*The series of contacts, constituting a con v tact? strip,` in thcmodiiication according to Figs. 1 to 5 isdilierently constructed from that in the ni'odiiication accordinfr to Figs. c i is a C rlhe series .of contactsaccording to theV g lirstmodiiication (Figs. 1 to 5) is in the `torni are so disposedl on the contact strip, that the movable'contact member passes unitornr lyover ,the conductingparts l and the plates of a rigid contact strip 2 having plates oi in- -tjing material. 3 le. into it. The pl -a 3, the circuit is alternately closed and opened with the correctintervals, for producing current impulses according to the Morse code. The contact strip 2 is insulated except as regards its connection ,tov the telegraph line 1 by means of screws 5.

The movable contact.somilrises a member f the member 7 having mounted therein a spring loaded pin 6. This conductive member 7 is provided with a detachable handle 1, and is connected to the other pole by means of members 8 and balls 9, which maire contact with a conductor 10.

A scale 11 is provided, readingiroin 0 to 5 on each side of the Zero position in what may be called the positive and negative directions respectively.

The markings on the positive side of the scale indicate the positions at which the contact movement is reversed, for transmitting one or more dots with the proper intervals between them, and the markings onthe negativeside provide the same indication with regard to the dashes.

-A pointer 12 is fixed to che member 7, for indicating the position of the pin 6.

rllhe points oi reversal, besides being oculeMy indicated as described, may also be indicated by touch and by ear. For this purpose a spring 13 is lined to the member 7, and snaps irto small depressions le' at the edge 15 oit the scale during the movement of r`ihe spring actuated pin 6 fulfills the same purpose by engaging the depressions disposed approximately half wayl betweenv the contacts 4. v

'In order to ensure practically effortless and regular operation of the transmitter the operators hand should pass though as small a path as possible when transmitting. This v is most conveniently eiiected if'the wrist is stationaryand thehand pivots about the wrist in the manner of a pendlum. For this purpose the distance from the axis M to the handle 1 should be; about 10.5 cm., and the `maximum angle through which 4the contact member is swung should be from 37.5o to 40o.

The transmitter'is operated in f the fol* Ylowing manner. The movable contactmember is moved by means of the handle from the centralopening Voi' the contact strip 2, i. e.

from the zero position, so that one or more dots or dashes are'transmitted the contact being moved approximately to the centre of a short or long contact strip or of an intermediate plate of insulating material, and then back to the zero position.

Theturning points marked on thev scale adjacent to the centre of the plates 3 oi insulatiiig material are denoted by even numbers, and the turning points adjacent to the centre ofthe Contact strips a are denote-d by vodd numbers.

Ii it is desired Yto vtransmit a dash.' the lpointerlQ isrmoved by the handle 1 from the zeroposition to position 1 on the vside provided with long contact strips, and returned tothe zeroposition. If-twodashes are-to l be traiisinitted,-,consecutively the pointer 12 imQYed ...tothe-.Same.sident.theazerqpostion to position 2 and backy` tothe zero posif tion. In the same man'nerthe pointer .12' is moved to and from,-positions'37 11 or 5 whenV itis desired to transmit three;v four or five dashes consecutively. The" samejprocedure is followed on the otherside of the Zero posi-y tion for transmitting dots, where the turning points are similarly indicated. Y

If it is desired to transmita combination of'fdots andr dashes, lfor example 1.-' o,

. rthe pointer 12 is lirst'moved Vfrom the Zero position to position y2 (dot), then to position 2 (dash) ,Athen to position 2 (dot) andi'inally l skilled in telegraphy ymay transmitMor-se signs in the dark: 'Expert telegraphists are able to-transmit Morse signs withoutfsuclr as! si'stan'ce,y however .the invention has the ad-f l vantage that theturni-ng points areclearly indicated by vthe.'engagement offtheresilientv The modificationl according member inthe notchesl` u to Figsu vto 16y diiiers from'k that in Figs. 1 toV 'fmainly in that the contacts and theV contactstrip are l diiferently constructedfflnI the` modifica tion according yto Figs.6fto`16 the movable contactis in the formy of a' contact cylinder 16 .rotatably mounted on the pin 17, the said cylinder closing; the circuit as it rolls overthe raised contacts 18 of .thevplungers .P(Fig. 13).

The pinor contact lever 17 vis pivotally connected at20 to the pointer19 (Figs. 8 and 9). Theleverl is Idepressed byr a spring y 21,"and can-beadjustedfby a 'screw 22 provided with a lockfnut. The pointer ..119 is swingable about the raxis-:23V fixed to A' the base24.` Y" The row ofcontacts in thismodiiication is in the form of a Vgroup 'of contacts ora row of teeth. Inthe i-irst case the row of conl tacts consists ot a number of spring'plungers P,`wl1ose upper ends A or B are adapted for transmitting' 'dashes 'or :dots 1 respectively.

` Each of these resilient contact members lconsists of 'a plunger P, a lhousing 25 and 1a helical spring 26 ywithin the said housing. The spring 26 acting onthe'iiange'27v of the vertically slidable plunger P-tends to'keep the latterin its uppermosty position, so that' theA Contact surfaces 18k are raised. The. movement of theplunger is restricted by the slot 291m it and thepi-n 28 iixed tothefhous# ing 2 5. The lowerend of the'stem 30 of the plunger is provided with'a'sharp point 31. When the pointer' moved laterally by thefhandle' thecontact cylinder V1,6 depresses each plunger in turn -for 'a'. period depend` ingon the-length of the contact surface 18. This lengthdepends on whether the contact is' adapted'for'transmitting dots or dashes. Y

Theshar'p'pointor needle p at the lower end ci the-plunger impresses cr perforatestlie recording web bel'o'wthe instrument, 'and/m thisiway recordson the` web the"` Morse signs transmitted. l The vreco,rding*web` must' `thus y be `guidedjby the transmitter ina di`rect1on'-A which "doesnot deviate'greatly from thediil rection M--IOQ `The,ll/lorse1-signs appear on the recording web strung-together in groups.V

The modificationsliown in Fig. 16 enables the Morse signs tobe .recorded in` rectilinear groups. f

For-this-purpose; instead offbeing"pro.`

vided Vwith `v sharp, pins 31, they plungers are providedwith rounded strikers, which act on the t twofarmed levers '33. The 'latter are rotatable about thesharpridgesF10. 'These 'ridgeslQ are preferably arranged on the barf39 jin such manner that theygareperf Voo pendicul-artothe various leversjvhilethe connections 'between the sharp vridges "110v .eT tend :above them thelevers"33.f. f s vfhen'lupon closure of' one of the contacts the'striler 31ofvthe plunger P isfdepres'sed on to: .one arm, ofthe lever 33; for example into a depression oron" a noseon saidlever,

refiere; lateral. 'guides for this arm is depressed' while thek arm on'I they n other sideof the sharpridge 40is raised? lVhell the -armof the lever is -not,depressedY bythe respective strike'l7 the otheri'arm Vrestsyon'a bary 42.` Ihefbar`4c2*is provided with ribs" 41z acting'aslateral guides during the downward movement of onearm andthe upwardmo'vementof thelother arm.-V These levers actuated yby the plungers l? are Vlocated immediately below ay -singlefarmed lever l341;

provided ywith v a markingfroller 35, the, said lever being rotatable about the point '36',v and being heldin thepositiongof` rest by lmeansV of a' spring. f i l' If, owing. to 'the action of the plunger l. on

ion

imv

the'y associated vlever arm,thefl"ever"arms del! liected by the plungerfl?'-belowthev-bar 42 arey raised, Ythe leverw321 is rotated about the Y point 36, and the roller'35 isV raised and v pressed against the paper web Onrthe guide rollers 38,ewherebyfthe web is perforated.im-k pressed or ,inscribed onse long as the plunger l? depresses'one ofthe levers 33.

vEach plunger P'actson a1-lever, 33 asso;V

ciated with it; ",All the leversl33" act "On'the same lever 311,v so that the recording web' is marked by the'lsame 'roller 35,- whichever plunger is 'depressedand'whicliever lever 'n is operated.

.The markingirollern35 alwayspressed'KV with' equal `force* against the ypaper web, in spite ofthe dilferences between the levers 33 or the varying -distancesof the point of 'en-.-

gagement of the lever 33 on the lever 34C from the aXis of rotation, if, (l) the bar 39 and (2) the axes of rotation represented by the sharp ridges of the levers 33, are so disposed that the roller 35 is always raised to the same extent from its position of rest.

This is accomplished byso proportioning the arms 33 ineach case, that the upward movements of the arms 33 deflected by the plungers P are so determined by theV said proportioning and differ from eachother in such manner that in view of the various points of engagement ofthe levers 33 on the lever 34, the roller V35 is always raised to the same extent.Y

The contact ridge of each resilient contact has a vshallow notch approximately at-its centre, for indicating to the touch or to the vear `the turning movement. j

The slightly conical roller 33 is used for points of each-swinging supporting the lever 19., This roller also serves as va Contact member for ra reserve transmitter-- For thisv purpose the 'roller 33 is guided over a contact-strip 34, which "may bev dented.' Thisoontactf strip is subdivided, as described above, `into contactrmaking and breaking portions, wherein the turningfpoints are disposed approximately at the centre of eachpo'rtion and coinc-ide'with the markings on thevscale. t

The turning mitter are made perceptible to the touch and the ear by thespring 12, provided with a roundedl headlengaging depressions in the scale. If, for any freason, the telegram, transmitted is Vnot recorded on the recording web below the transmitter, or if a breakdown occurs,.for example, as the result of failure of one of the plungers P, the reserve transmitter can be used. Y

In the modification according to Figs. 6 to 15 two kinds of contacts are usedlfor transmitting Morse signs. These contacts-differ in that the contactvridges B, for transmitting dots, are one third as long as the" contact ridgesA for transmitting dashes. In this modification also the contacts for transmitting dashes and those for transmitting dots, are confined respectively( to one or other side ofthe zero position (Fig. 7). The vcontacts,

A and B are all connected by means of contact bars 35.

Morse signs are transmitted in the modification according to Figs. 6 tov 16, by moving the lever 19 provided with a pointer l2 as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5. I-Iaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the same Visto be performed, I declare that what I claim is l. The method' ofl telegraphically transmitting messages in Morse code by the means of electric impulses in which 'all the symbols and characters ,ofthelvorse .alphabetas. Well points .of this reserve trans# as every combination of the same are produced by moving onek single contact over one single path of Contacts or lthe reverse, and wherein movement of the movable contact in one direction from the starting position at Zero and then back to said starting position, transmits a dot or dots, with .the proper intervals, and its movement from the Zero position in the opposite direction, and backto the Zero position, transmits a dash or dashes, with the proper intervals, combinations of dots and dashes being produced by combinations of movements on both sides of the Zero position. Y

2. Apparatus for telegraphically transmitting messagesin Morse code comprising a i'ixed Contact unit embodying a series of spaced Contact elements, each of a length Ycammensuratc with the dot signal of the code,

and a series of spaced contact elements each of alength commensurate lwith the dash signal oi" the code, relatively adjacent elements et cach series being spaced apart, the relatively adjacent end elements of the two series being mutually spaced, and a contact member including a lcontact Ielement and -mounted "it'or movement to bring the said Contact element thereof to a Zerorposition within thespace between the said relatively adjacent contact elements of the saidtwo series and selectively into contact'with one or more of the elements of either series.

3. Apparatus for telegraphically transmit- Yting messages in Morse :code comprising iixed contact unit embodying a fseriesof spaced contact elements each of a length commensurate with the dot signal of the code, and a series of spaced contact elements each of a length commensurate with the dash signal of the code, relatively adjacent elements or" .each series being spaced apart, the relatively adjacent end elements ofl the two series being mutually spaced, and a contact member including'a' resiliently supported Contact element, the said member being mounted for movement to bring the said contact element thereof to a Zero position within the space between the said relatively adjacent contact elements of the said two series and selectively into contact with one or more of the elements of either series.

4. `Apparatus for telegraphically transmitting messages in Morse code comprising a fixed Contact unit embodying. a series of spaced contact elements each of a length commensurate with the dot lsignal of the code.I and a series of spaced contact elements each of `a length commensurate with the dash signal of the code, relatively adjacent elements vof each series being spaced apart, the relaselectively into contact with one or morey thespace between the said relatively adjacent Contact elements of the said two series and 'mensurate with Athe dot signal of the code,

and a series of spaced contactelements each of a length commensurate with the dash signal of the code, relatively adjacent elements lof each series being spaced apart,the relatively adjacent end elements of the two series being mutually spaced, and a Contact member including` a Contact 4element and mounted for movement to bring the said contact element thereof to a zeropositionl within the space between the said relatively adjacent Contact elements of the said two series and selectively into contactwith one or more of ,y the elements of either series, each of the con tact elements 0f the two series comprising a plunger, a spring yieldably supporting the same in elevated position, and a contact upon the upper end of the plunger having a curved y j depression in its upper side. I In testimony whereof I have afXed mysignature. f

RlCHARD LEONARD ARNOLD SCHOEMAKER,

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