US1953829A

US1953829A - Apparatus for cryptographically transposing characters

Info

Publication number: US1953829A
Application number: US691735A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy K Morris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-09-30
Filing date: 1933-09-30
Publication date: 1934-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1951-04-03

Description

R. K MORRIS April 3, 1934.

APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPOSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 30, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

7 2 M 7 ATTORNE.

April 3, 1934. V R. K. MORRIS 1,953,329

I APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPOSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 30, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I. I "-1- ATTORNEYS April 1934- R. K. MORRIS 1,953,829

APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPdSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 50, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 k w [J INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

cm! [W W W o 7 7o iiwlj Z R. K. MORRIS April 3, 1934.

APPARATUS FOR' CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPOSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 30, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRAN SPOSING CHARACTERS Roy K. Morris, Charleston, W. Va.

Application September 30, 1933, Serial No. 691,735

12 Claims.

This invention is an apparatus for cryptographically transposing an intelligible sequence of characters forming a message into a different and unintelligible sequence forming a code message, together with means for again transposing the unintelligible sequence of code characters into the orderly text of the original message.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device by which the transposition of characters 9 is continuously variable, as contrasted with known devices in which transpositions are effected according to a complicated but orderly and predetermined movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying the operation of the device according to the sequence of characters in the message to be enciphered or deciphered.

Another object is to cause the cycle of operation of the device to be different with respect to each message enciphered or deciphered thereon.

Another object is to provide a device in which the manner of transposing the characters is continuously variable according to the text of the message, but so constructed that the operator 5 maintains control of the movement of the mechanism within definite limits for the purpose of correcting mistakes which frequently occur in transmission.

A further object is to provide means for auto- 0 matically and continuously varying the cycle of operation without attention on the part of the operator.

The invention comprises certain new and improved features of construction in apparatus for and methods of coding and de-coding, and I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred modification of my apparatus wherein: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus forming the subject-matter of my in vention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view partly in section showing the arrangement of the coding wheels.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections employed in my apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the switch with the contacts in ciphering position. 1

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the switch contacts shown in the de-ciphering position.

factor.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the contacts in a.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections employed when the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is employed.

Fig. 8 is a-detailed sectional view showing the manner in which the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is associated with the code wheels shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view showing a different arrangement of contacts and connections for the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections for operating the additional variable shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the contacts of the character transposing wheels may be interconnected.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1 a preferred arrangement of my apparatus which is designed for coding and de-coding messages. As here shown the apparatus is preferably mounted within a suitable case 1 which is provided with a hinged cover as shown at 1, so that the machine may be enclosed when not in use and the cover opened to expose the key-board and code wheels when it is desired to use the same. Briefly, the apparatus includes character transmitting instrumentalities such as the key levers 2, 3 and 4,-and character receiving and indicating instrumentalities such as indicated by the electric light bulbs 5, 6 and T, and the characters associated therewith and numbered 5 6 and 7*". Interposed between the transmitting instrumentalities and the receiving instrumentalities and operatively connected therewith I provide a series of character transposing or

coding wheels

60, 60 60 60 60*. It will be understood from the following description that any desired number of these character transposing instrumentalities may be employed, there being five character wheels shown in the modification I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The character transposing wheels 6l)60 are freely rotatably mounted upon a shaft 56 which is fixedly mounted in suitable bearings provided in end plates of the apparatus, one of said end plates being indicated at 56 in Fig. 1.

Interposed between adjacent character transposing wheels I provide multiple

circuit controlling members

61, 61 61 61 respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The multiple circuit apparatus controlling members are also mounted upon the shaft 56 but are fixed thereon against rotation by any suitable means. The character transposing wheels 60-'*60 are preferably composed of suitable insulated material and have embedded in the rim portions thereof a peripheral series of spaced contacts on each face of the wheel.

The contacts of each peripheral series, and which are indicated in Fig. 2 by the reference character 160, are axially aligned, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and the contacts of one series are connected with the contacts of another series in a promiscuous and non-uniform manner such, for instance, as shown in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 12. The multiple circuit controllers 61 to 61 are likewise made of insulated material and are each provided with a peripheral series of spaced contacts numbered 161. These contacts extend entirely through the body of the respective circuit controller, as shown in Fig. 2, and are exposed on opposite faces of said members. Preferably, the contacts are in the form of ball members which are spring-pressed into projected position in order to maintain good electrical contact between them and the adjacent and exposed contact members 160 carried by the character transposing wheels 60 to 60 The number of

contacts

160 and 161 comprising the series of contacts carried by the character transposing wheels 60 and the multiple circuit controllers 61 correspond to the number of character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, andin the present embodiment number twenty-six to correspond with the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, although, of course, it is understood that the number of character transposing instrumentalities and the number of contacts referred to may be correspondingly varied to suit the system with which my apparatus is to be employed.

On opposite ends of the bank of alternate character transposing wheels 60 to 60 and multiple circuit controllers 61 to 61 as shown in Fig. 2, I provide end plates numbered 62 and 62", respectively, which are fixed to the shaft 56. The

end plates

62 and 62 each carry a peripheral series of spaced contacts numbered 162* and 162 each series having-a number of contacts equal to the number of contacts in the respective series of the character transposing wheels and the multiple circuit controllers. From an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be apparent that the multiple circuit controllers 61 to 61, respectively, being interposed between adjacent character transposing wheels 60 to 60, respectively, with the exposed contacts of said members engaged, a series of complete parallel circuits may be traced through this bank of character transposing instrumentalities from the terminals '72 of the end plate 62 to the terminals 63 of the end plate 62 it being understood that there is an exposed

terminal

72 and 63, respectively, for each one of the contacts 162 and 162 carried by the end plates. It will also be apparent that by shifting or partially rotating the character transposing wheels on the shaft 56 and relative to the fixed multiple circuit" controller elements that, due to the promiscuous manner in which the respective series of contacts 160 carried by the character transposing wheels are interconnected, different binding posts '72 may be electrically connected with different binding posts 63 carried by the respective end plates. To this end I provide means for intermittently rotating the character transposing wheels step by step,

said means being shown as annular rim members fixed to the respective character transposing wheels and provided with ratchet teeth indicated by the reference character 66. Any suitable means may be employed for constraining the character transposing wheels to arcuate movement of definite extent, such as conventional spring-pressed rollers engaging the-ratchet wheels, as is well known in the prior art and as is shown in the patent to Korn 1,905.593.

For the purpose of advancing the character transposing wheels 60 to 60 respectively, I

.provide a series of ratchet operating pawl members 25, there being one pawl member for the ratchet of each character transposing wheel. As shown in Fig. 1, the pawl levers 25 are pivotally mounted upon a shaft 26 extending transversely within the casing 1, and are held in an inoperative position and out of engagement with respect to their respective ratchets by means of a spring member 22 engaged between a rear wall of the casing and an aperture in the respective pawl members 25. It will be understood that there is a restraining spring 22 for each of the pawl members 25, but in view of the fact that the apparatus hereinafter to be described and associated with each of the pawl members 25 is identical, reference will be made only to one set of such apparatus, as is shown in the transverse sectional View in Fig. 1.

Referring further to this figure, it will be seen that the shaft 26 is carried by a pair of spaced arms 27 which in turn are mounted for rocking movement upon the transverse shaft 29. The construction here referred to is such that the shaft 29 bearing in the end plates of the casing supports the rocker arms 27 and the shaft 26 with its pawl members 25, and the rocking movement of the arms 27 imparts to the pawl members 25 an up and down reciprocation which when said members are engaged with their respective ratchet wheels, cause intermittent or step-by-step rotation thereof.- For imparting rocking movement to the rocker arms 27, said arms carry at their forward end a shaft 28 carrying a plurality of rollers 28". The rollers 28, as shown, normally engage the underside of the character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4 under the influence of a spring 32 engaged between the bottom wall of the casing and the rear end of said lever 2'7. Thus, under the influence of the spring 32, the pawl members 25 are retained at the lowerrend of their path of reciprocation, while the forward ends of the levers 2'7 carrying the rollers 28 are urged upwardly into contact with the levers 2, 3 and 4, said levers being pivoted at their rear ends upon a suitable shaft 42. 'It will be understood that the spaced arms 2'7 and the shafts 26 and 28 constitute in effect a rocking frame supported by and rotatable about the shaft 29, so that when any one of the key levers is depressed to urge the forward end of the frame downwardly by engaging its respective roller 28 mounted on the shaft 28, the rear end of the frame rises, i

carrying all of the pawl members 25 upwardly.

As hereinbefore stated, the pawl levers 25 are normally restrained out of operative engagement with their respective ratchets 66 by means of springs 22. I provide means under the control atively positioned beneath each of the character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, is a switch member 33, shown in Fig. 1, and indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3 by the reference characters 33, 33 33, etc. The switch elements 33 are. all connected in parallel with a suitable battery 75 which may be connected to the terminal 133 of Fig. 1, said battery being grounded to the frame of the machine at any suitable point, as clearly indicated in the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 3. The other side of the switches 33 33 33, etc. are connected in parallel through a multiple circuit switch shown at 46 in Fig. 1, and in detail in Figs. 4, 4A and 4B, which illustrate the several positions to which the switch may be moved. The said switch 46 is provided with a series of axially spaced contact members 47, a second axially spaced series of contacts 49 arranged in diametrically opposed relation with respect to the contact 47, and a third set of axially spaced contacts 48, the latter comprising dual and opposed contacts connected through and through, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, 4A and 4B. There is a contact in each of the series 47 and 49 and two contacts in the series 48 for each of the character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, and they are arranged in sets, each set occupying the same transverse plane in order that the contacts of each set may be selectively engaged with cooperating fixed contacts 50-51 and 5253. The contatcts 50-51 are suitably mounted on insulating material 54 and the contacts 5253 are suitably mounted on an insulating base 55. The switch 46 is mounted for rotation upon shaft 46 which is suitably mounted for rotation in end brackets 46 From the arrangement thus described it will be apparent that the switch 46 may be rotated into any of the three positions indicated in Figs. 4, 4A and 4B, to selectively connect the movable contacts 47, 48 and 49 with the fixed contacts 50 -51 and 5253, respectively, for a purpose to be hereinafter fully explained.

As shown in Fig. 3, the switches 33*, 33 etc. are connected, respectively, with the respective contacts 51 by the wires 70, 71, etc., while the contacts 52 are connected respectively to a series of

relays

8, 9, 10, 11, (see Fig. 1) there being one relay for each character transmitting element. As shown in Fig. 1, the

relays

8, 9, 10, 11, etc. are arranged in superposed rows and carried by a suitable bracket 111 carried by the end plate of the machine. Operatively associated with the

relays

8, 9, 10 and 11 are armatures numbered '76, 76 '76 in Fig. 3, there being a plurality of

relays

8, 9, 10, 11 associated with each armature so that energization of any one of the relays as-' sociated with any particular armature will cause actuation of said armature against the tension of a restraining spring 77 to close a circuit at 78, 78 or 78, as shown in Fig. 3. The number of relays associated with a given armature may be varied as desired but the number of armatures must correspond exactly to the number of character transposing wheels that are employed between the

end plates

62 and 62 as shown in Fig. 2. The closing of any of the contacts 78 78", 78, 78 V and '78 by the armatures associated therewith closes the respective circuit which energizes solenoids indicated, respectively, by 34 34 ,34, 34 34 in Fig. 3. These relays 34, etc. are shown clearly at 34 in Fig. 1 and are mounted upon a bracket member 134. The solenoids 34 are arranged to attract pivoted armatures, respectively associated with each solenoid and numbered to 35, respectively as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the armatures 35 are pivoted on a trans,- verse shaft 95 and have a weighted lower end 38 which carries a contact 39 insulated from said armature. The weight of the portion 38 is suflicient to normally maintain elevated a rearwardly extending arm 35, and a suitable abutment 135' against which the arm normally rests properly positions the contact 39 and the armature 35. Operativelyassociated with the contact 39 is a switch jack 40, the contact members of which are arranged to engage the arcuate lower surface of the end 38 of the armature and to concurrently engage the contact 39 when the armature 35 is attracted by the solenoid 34. Normally, however, as shown in Fig. 1, the contacts of the jack engage one upon the contact 39 and one upon the insulating bodyof the portion 38 to maintain the circuit controlled by the jack 40 open. Upon energization of the solenoid 34 the armature 35 associated therewith is drawn into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and the circuit through the switch jack 40 closed. In order to properly position the armature in the closed position of the switch jack 40, an abutment 3'7 is provided for operatively engaging the extended arm 35' of the armature. As shown in Fig. 3,,one of the contacts of the switch 40 is grounded whereas the other contact of the switch 40 is connected to a switch jack 41. The switch 41 as shown in Figs. 0 1 and 3 is normally closed by a contact 14 carried by an armature 13 associated with a solenoid 12. The solenoid 12 is mounted above the solenoid 34 on the bracket 134. The solenoid armature 13 is arranged for horizontal reciprocation in bracket 110 members 113, there being a rearwardly extending arm 15 slidably engaging said bracket members and having a rear terminal connection with the respective pawl lever 25 by means of a pin 17 carried by the member 15 engaging an elongated slot 18 in the body of the pawl lever. Thus the spring 22 associated with the pawl lever normally retains the armature 13 in a retracted position with respect to the solenoid 12. The arm 15 of the armature intermediate the pin 1'7 and the armature head 13 carries an upstanding latch tooth 45 which is arranged to operatively engage a latch tooth 44 carried by a latch arm 16 positioned above the armature 14 and pivotally mounted upon a pin 94. The latch arm 16 is urged down- 1 5 wardly under the force of a spring 43 and the latch tooth 44 thereof normally overhangs the latch tooth 45 of the arm 15, so that, when the armature 13 is attracted by the solenoid 12 the latch tooth 45 will ride under the latch tooth 44 to lockingly retain the armature in its attracted position and against the withdrawing action of the spring 22. It is to be noted that as the armature 13 is attracted by the solenoid 12 the contact 14 carried by the armature 13 is shifted out of operative engagement with the contacts of the switch jack 41 to open the circuit through said switch jack. From an inspection of Fig. 3 it will be seen that due to the engagement of the contacts 41a, 41b, etc. of switch jacks with the contact 14 of the armatures 15 15 15, etc. a circuit is maintained through solenoid 12, and thus, when an armature such as 35 is attracted by its associated solenoid 34*, a circuit is made through the switches 40 41 and solenoid 12 to the circuit 145 therebeyond. The circuit beyond the solenoid 12 is controlled by a switch 31 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is positioned for actuation by a ltig 30 car ried by the rear end of the rocking lever27. The switch 31 is biased to open position but it is main- 50 tained closed against said bias in normal position of the part: by the lug 30 carried by the lever. Thus, the circuit beyond the solenoids 12 is maintained open at all times any of the character -transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4 are out of their normal position, such as when being depressed to transmit a character.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the circuits through the

relays

8, 9, 10, 11, etc. are completed through the bank of character transposing instrume'ntalities back to the stationary contacts 52 associated with switch 46. The other stationary contact 53 of the switch is connected to the character receiving and indicating instrumentalities, namely, the electric lamps 5, 6 and '7 which have one terminal of each lamp connected in parallel to ground. It is to be understood that while I have shown three sets of contacts numbered 146 1 46*, 146, of the switch 46, in order to illustrate the continuity of circuits from three key members 33, 33 and 33, it will be understood that these contacts are preferably grouped in sets in axially spaced relation on the shaft 46.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows: Assuming that it is desired to transpose the character A, the character transmitting instrumentality for this character is depressed'to close the switch 33 (referring to Fig. 3) associated therewith. The circuit is then from the battery '75 through the line 80, through switch 33, line '70, to stationary contact 51, (and assuming the switch 46 is in the ciphering position shown in Fig. 4 through the movable contact 47 to stationary contact 52, thence to the relay associated with the A character, for instance relay 8, thence to a binding post 72 on the stationary end plate 62, thence in a promiscuous manner through the several circuit controllers 61 and the code wheels 60 to a particular binding post 63 on the end plate 62, thence to a stationary contact52 of the switch 46 through movable contact 49 to stationary contact 53 by wire 74, thence to a particular character indicating and receiving instrumentality 6 and thence to ground. It will be understood, of course, that the particular character receiving instrumentality 6 is energized because of the particular disposition of the several character transposing wheels, as shown in Fig. 3. The lamp 6 having been illuminated, displays the character 6 affixed to the lens thereof, and this is the coded or transposed character corresponding to the transmitting character A. Due to the particular arrangement of instrumentalities employed for operating the pawl levers 25, no change in the relative position of the character transposing wheels occurs as a result of the transmission of the first character of a message. This initial transmission, however, sets up a new arrangement of the transposing wheels for the succeeding character transmission and likewise each succeeding character transmission sets up a new transposition for the succeeding character transmission. Thus, the initial depression of the lever'associated with the character A caused an energization of one of the

relays

8, 9, 10, 11, etc. which in turn actuated one of the armatures '76, '76", 76, etc. to close the associated circuit 78 which energized the solenoid 34 to move the armature associated therewith into position to close 'switch jack 40, which in turn energized the circuit through the solenoid 12 up to the normally open switch 31. The circuit through the switch 31, however, remains open until the character transmitting instrumentality just operated returns to its normal position so that the lug 30 carried by the rocker arm 27 can close switch 31. Thus, it is not until the initial transmission has been complete and the character transmitting instrumentality or key lever has returned to its elevated normal position, that the switch 31 can close to energize the solenoid 12, which in turn operates the armature associated therewith to pull the pawl lever 25 associated with that particular character transposing wheel, into operative engagement, as shown in the dotted line position 25' of Fig. 1. Thus, on the succeeding operation of any key the'rocker arm 27 will be moved to shift the pawl levers upwardly, which movement causes the one pawl which is operatively associated with its respective ratchet, to advance the ratchet an amount corresponding to the space between the contact members carried thereby. The operation of the rocking lever 27 and its associated pawl lever 25 is such that the pawls reach the upper limit of movement just before the key lever being actuated encounters the switch 33 associated therewith, as shown in dotted line position on the key lever indicated at 2' in Fig. 1. Thus, the new transposition arrangement of the transposing character wheels is completed prior to the energization of the circuit controlled'by switches 33, and thus a new or different disposition of the character transposing wheels is accomplished just prior to the transmission of each. succeeding character. It is to be further noted that the upward movement of a pawl lever which has been drawn into operative relation with its character transposing wheel causes restoration of the armature associated with the solenoid 34 and the armature 15 associated with the solenoid 12 which jointly caused movement of the pawl 25 into its operative position. This is accomplished by a spring lug 20 pivotally carried by the pawl lever 25 and restrained against an abutment 23 by a spring 24, Also, the pawl lever 25 intermediate its ends is provided with a latch releasing tooth 19, it being understood from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the lug 20 will engage the armature extension 35 to forcibly raise it and thus break the circuit through switch jack 40 and restore this armature to its normally elevated position, whereas the latch releasing tooth 19 will engage the free terminal portion of the latch 16 to raise it into the dotted position shown at 16', in which position the latch teeth 44 and 45 are clear to allow the spring 22 to retract the pawl lever 25 and the armature 15 connected thereto. Thus, the pawl lever 25, the armature 15 and the armature 35 associated with a particular character transposing wheel, are restored to normal position after movement of the transposing character wheel one step forward in response to an actuating impulse of the pawl lever. To properly position the lever 27 and to limit its downward movement a suitable stop member 5'7 may be employed.

I also provide means in my apparatus for releasing the pawl lever 25 which may be in operative engagement with its respective character transposing wheel in order that the machine may be cleared to set the transposing character wheels in any given position according to a given key word at the beginning ,of transmission. To this end I utilize a so-called release mechanism shown in perspective detail in Fig. 5. The release mechanism includes a pair of end plates 91 terminating in forwardly extending operating levers, said plates being provided with suitable journals 93 bywhich the mechanism is mounted for rotation in the end plates of the machine and in operative relation with respect to'the latch 16 and the armature 35. To this end the opposite end plates 91 are connected by

rods

36, 37 and 92, and said rods, when the mechanism is assembled as shown in Fig. 1, cooperate, respectively, with the latch 16 and the armature 35 so that, as the mechanism as a whole is rocked on the pivots 93 due to operation of the leverscarried 'by the end plates 91, the

rods

36 and 37 are elevated to engage the latch 16 and armature 35, respectively, similar to the manner in which the latch releasing tooth 19 and the spring lug 20 engage these elements in the normal operation of the machine. Thus, at any time by actuation of the releasing mechanism the pawl which is in engagement with a particular character transposing wheel, may be released to assume thev normal position shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 I have shown a slightly modified form of my apparatus in which I include means for further varying the transposition of characters during transmission. In

Fig. 7 I have shown diagrammatically the manher in which such further variation may be worked into the machine as thus far described,

it being noted that this modification comprehends the use of an auxiliary multiple'circuit controller by which the several armatures 76 76, 76, 76 etc. are each arranged to control any of the solenoids 34 34, 34, 34, etc. and the circuits therebeyond rather than have a given armature 76, for instance, always control a given solenoid 34 etc. To this end the several circuits with which the armatures 76 76 76, etc. cooperate and which are numbered 78, 78, 78, etc. are connected to an auxiliary multiple circuit controller such as illustrated in Fig. 6 and shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. Thus, the circuit controller of Fig. 7 is provided with ten contacts, five of which numbered 86, correspond to the five

circuit connections

78, 78", 78, 78 and 78 and the other five of which, numbered 86, correspond to the circuit connections to the solenoids 34 34, 34, 34 and 34, it being noted that the contacts are alternated and staggered in a manner such that the five contacts associated with the circuits 73 78, 78, etc. are arranged in a circular series, whereas the five contacts connected to the

solenoids

34, 34, 34, 34 and 34, are arranged in a circular series of lesser diameter but concentric with respect to the first mentioned circular series, and the contacts of the respective series are staggered with respect to each other. By mounting the multiple circuit controller 85 upon the shaft 87, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, and associating therewith a movable contact carrying member 85 having two peripheral series of contacts 186, 185', corresponding to contacts 86 and 86', interconnected by wires 90 in the manner shown in Fig. 6A, it is apparent'that by shifting the movable multiple controller with reference to the stationary multiple controller, in a manner similar to that described in connection with. the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, that the several armatures 76, 76, 76, 76 and 76 may each be arranged to promiscuously control any of the solenoids 34 34, 34, 34, 34 in an obvious manner. In order that this modification of my invention may be conveniently associated with the apparatus shown and previously described,

I may mount the circuit controller 85 upon one end of the shaft 56 of Fig. 2 in such amanner as to define an inner cavity between the end plate 62 and circuit controller 85, said cavity being indicated at 185 and, utilized for the purpose of housing the terminal connections between the several circuits and the respective

contact carrying members

62 and 85. The two members may be held in assembled relation by any convenient means such as by screw bolts 85. Due to the fact that the character transposing wheels in the modification shown carry twenty-six characters and there being only fivecharacter wheels and associated armatures 76, 76*, 76, etc. and

solenoids

34, 34, 34, etc., it is expedient to reduce the effective diameter of the multiple controller 85 as shown in Fig. 8, so that a ratchet 260 having the. same relative pitch as the ratchets attached .to' the character transposing wheels, may be afiixedto the movable circuit controller 85 associated with the fixed circuit controller 85 in the manner shown in Fig. 9, whereby an actuating pawl 125 may be arranged to intermittently drive theratchet 260 and said pawl 125 be actuated by the same rocking lever 27 which actuates the pawl 25. Thus, the mechanism is simplified and the one rocking lever 27 utilized to drive both sets of pawls. In order to automatically and intermittently advance the ratchet 260 in timed rela- .tion with the operation of the other pawls 25 and their associated

character transposing wheels

60, 60, 60, etc., I provide relay means similar to those used for operating the pawls 25 into and out of operative relation with respect to their several ratchets, and arranged to energize the circuit controlling said solenoids from some particular character transmitting instrumentality such as, for instance, the instrumentality controlling the character E and indicated by the reference character in Fig. 11, it being noted that this character occurs more frequently than any of the other characters, to the end that each time the character instrumentality 110 for E is actuated it not only operates to energize'the character transmission circuit associated therewith, but also will energize the solenoids associated withthe pawl 125. The particular manner in which this feature is carried out is shown diagrannnatically in Fig. 11, wherein the character transmitting instrumentality 110 is shown in its normal elevated position. It is also to be noted'that all of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 has been omitted from Fig. 11, this figure showing only the modifications in the circuit and apparatus necessary to embody the modification herein referred to in the apparatus previously described. Thus, the character transmitting instrumentality 110, when depressed, not only actuates the switch 33 associated therewith (not shown in Fig. 11), but also closes a switch 33' associated therewith to energize a relay 134. The circuit to the relay 134 is clearly apparent from Fig. 11. Associated with the relay 134 is a pivoted armature 135, said armature having associated therewith a switch jack 140 which controls the circuit to a switch jack Y 134, relay 135, solenoid 112, armature 115 and the latching and control instrumentalities are identical in form and function with similar elements numbered 34, 35, 12 and 15 in Fig. 1, and

have associated therewith the same type of control and connecting instrumentalities with reference to the pawl lever 125. Thus, it will be seen-that every time the character transmitting instrumentality 110 corresponding to the character E is actuated, the pawl lever 125 associated with the movable multiple circuit controller 85 is moved into operative engagement therewith and subsequently actuated to advance the member 85 a distance equivalent to the space between the contacts carried thereby to thus rearrange the connections between the several armatures '76, '76 76, 76 76, etc., and the solenoids 34 34 34, 34 34, etc. of Fig. 3. It will be noted that Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show a slightly different manner of interconnecting the contacts of the movable circuit controller 85 from that shown in Fig. 6A, the arrangement shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 being better adapted for the automatic type of operation shown in this modification than is the type of connection shown in Fig. 6A.

It is to be further understood that when the apparatus of my invention is arranged to include the modification shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, that the release mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is extended an amount sufficient to operatively c'ooperate with the armature 135 and the latch mechanism associated with the armature 115 in a manner such that the pawl lever 125 may be manually released from operative engagement with the ratchet 260 when desired, and simultaneously with the release of a pawl 25 from its associated latch wheel.

In the operation of the machine the transposed character following each transmission is visibly displayed to the operator by means of illumination of a particular character by one of the lights 5, 6 or 'I, and the character so displayed is placed in the coded message to correspond with the character which has been transmitted. Obviously, before transmitting any message the levers 25 should be cleared by operation of the release mechanism 91 and the character transposing wheels set according to a predetermined or prearranged key word. Thus, if the machine includes only the five character transposing wheels shown in Fig. 2 a five letter word would be employed, whereas, if the additional transposition varying mechanism shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 is employed, additional character will have to be included in the key word to properly correlate the movable circuit controlling member 85*- with the

character transposing wheels

60, 60", 60, 60 and 60 With this in mind the movable circuit controlling member 85 is preferably provided with suitable indicia on its periphery whereby such correlation may be efiected. After having properly set the character transposing wheels and the movable multiple circuit controller 85 in accordance with a predetermined key word and the message has been transmitted into code, character by character, the coded message may be decoded by rotating the switch member 46 to bring the movable contact members 47 and 49 into the position shown in Fig. 4 or as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3. The movement of the switch from the position shown in Fig. 4-- to 4 has the effect of electrically interchanging the position of the keyboard and code character indicating lamps, so that with the switch in the decoding position the machine is cleared and the character transposing instrumentalities together with the movable circuit controller 85 set in accordance with the prearranged key word and the coded message transmitted character by character in the same manner in which the original message was transmitted. This transmission of the coded message effects transposition thereof-into the original characters of the intelliglble message in the manner that the original message was transposed into the coded message.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have devised an apparatus for transposing a sequence of intelligible characters into a sequence of unintelligible characters and vice versa, in a manner such that the coded message is entirely devoid of any recurrent cycle of transposition so that it is absolutely impossible for any one unfamiliar with the key word and machine to de-code a message transmitted on my apparatus. This condition obtains due to the fact that the transposition wheels are moved not in accordance with any predetermined and definitely controlled mechanical cycle, but on the other hand, are promiscuously rotated purely in response to the sequence of characters being transmitted, and are thus entirely independent of the operator and/or the machine. In other words, the movement of the character transposing mechanism is continuously variable throughout the operation of the machine, and regardless of the length of the message being transmitted there are no recurring cycles in the order of transposition.

It is worthy to note here that one important feature of my invention allows the correction of an erroneously transmitted character if the operator discovers the error before a succeeding character has been transmitted.' It will be understood from the description and outline of operation of my apparatus that the operation of my character transmitting instrumentality will cause movement of a. particular character transposing wheel under the influence of its associated pawl which has been brought into engagement with said wheel due to the previous actuation of one of the transmitting instrumentalities. This movement of the wheel transpires during the down stroke of the key and terminates immediately before the engagement of said key with its associated switch 33. Upon the completion of a power stroke by any of the pawls they are immediately withdrawn from operative engagement with their respective ratchet wheels by the springs 22 and the next pawl is not drawn into association with its associated ratchet until the actuated transmitting instrumentality or key reaches its normal elevated position, in which position the lug 30 closes the switch 31 to energize the solenoid 12 as hereinbefore described. Thus, it will be seen that the actuation of each of the character transmitting instrumentalities or keys functions to set up the relative position of the character transposing wheels for the next character to be transmitted. Thus, if a given character is transmitted correctly it simultaneously preconditions the pawls and ratchet to give a proper arrangement for transposing the next succeeding character. If, however, the next character is erroneously transmitted by actuation of an incorrect character transmitting instrumentality or key, and the operator discovers the error before a succeeding character is struck, actuation of the release mechanism 91 will withdraw the pawl which has been brought into operative enthe incorrect key, and the character transposing instrumentalities will then be in the same position in which they were fgllowing the transmission of the last corr aracter. 'Qhls condition permits the operator to clear the pawls by operation of the release mechanism in the manner heretofore described and then transmit the correct character without affecting the proper sequence of the characters in the final coded message, it being of course understood that the transposed character corresponding to the erroneously transmittedcharacter is not included in the coded message.

If an error has been made in transcribing a properly coded character, either by the original transmitting operator or any subsequent operator, this error will result in an unintelligible sequence of characters following the error when the coded message is de-coded. If such a condition exists and the operator de-coding the message encounters an unintelligible sequence of characters following 'an intelligible. sequence thereof, the error can be corrected by beginning the de-coding operation and carrying it down to the point where the last intelligible character appears in the de-codedmessage. At this point, after noting the arrangement of the several character transposing wheels, the operator must try actuating different character transmitting keys until an intelligible character or sequence thereof results from actuation of a given key, it being" understood that if any given key does not transmit an intelligible character, the release lever is operated and the character transposing instrumentality restored to the last position which resulted in an intelligible character. This manner of trials must continue until the operator strikes the proper character key which will indicate a character which will produce an intelligible sequence of characters in the de-coded message, it being understood in this connection that in a machine such as is herein described where several character transmitting keys are associated with a given armature 76, that it is only necessary that the operator strike a character key which is included in the group of character keys associated with the group of relays controlling the armature which is aifected by the particular character key in question. Thus, in the present construction it would only be necessary for the operator to try at most four different possibilities before the correct group of characters would be located and the intelligible sequence -of characters would automatically follow.

' It is further to be noted that I have provided on the switch 46 the through contacts 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, 4A and 4B. These contacts, when the switch is positioned in the manner shown in Fig. 43, function to shunt or by-pass the character transposing wheels and associated multiple controllers and connect directly the several character receiving and indicating instrumentalities 5, 6 and 7 with their respective character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, etc. It is, of course, understood that there is a character receiving instrumentality to correspond with each character transmitting instrumentality.

In the foregoing specification and the appended claims I have used the expression factor of transposition and/or the transposition factor. By this term I mean the relative displacement in a given series of characters between the message character and thecode character corresponding thereto. Thus, in a system employing the English alphabet in a conventional series arranged in normal sequence from A to Z, if-the character A is transposed into code as the character K, the transposition factor is 10 since the letter Kis ten letters removed from the letter A in the alphabetical series of characters assumed. Likewise,

if the character 13 is transposed to the code charv acter S the transposition factor is 18. It will be understood, therefore, that where these terms are encountered in the specification or claims that the foregoing interpretation i'sto be given.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that my invention is characterized by the feature that in a message of any length the transmission factor is changed or altered every time a character transmitting instrumentality is actuated, and that the said factor is not changed in accordance with any definite or predetermined plan or pattern but in accordance .with a progressively varying sequence and/or frequency of actuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities. Thus the coded message, regardless of its length, is totally devoid of any recurring pattern from which the key to the codemay be ascertained by unauthorized parties.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character receivinginstrumentalities, means operably connecting the transmitting instrumentalities with the receiving instrumentalities whereby a character receiving instrumentality indicativelyresponds to each actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the sequence of actuation of the several character transmitting instrumentalities for modifying the connecting means between the character transmitting instrumentality and the character receiving instrumentality whereby to vary the particular character receiving instrumentality which responds to actuation of any particular character transmitting instrumentality.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character 'receiving instrumentalities, a plurality of electric circuits, each of said circuits operatively connecting a character transmitting instrumentality with a character receiving instrumentality whereby a character receiving instrumentality indicatively responds to each actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the sequence of actuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities for modifying the connection between said circuits and said transmitting and receiving instrumentalities, whereby to cause a different character receiving instrumentality to respond to actuations of any given character transmitting instrumentality.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character receiving instrumentalities, a plurality of electric circuits, each of said circuits operatively connecting a. character transmitting instrumentality with a character receiving instrumentality whereby a character receiving instrumentality intween said circuits and said transmitting andreceivinginstrumentalities, whereby to cause a difierent character receiving instrumentality to respond to repeated actuation of a given character transmitting instrumentality.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character receiving instrumentalities, a plurality of electric circuits, each of said circuits operatively connecting a character transmitting instrumentality with a character receiving instrumentality wherebya character receiving instrumentality indicatively responds to each actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the sequence of actuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities and the frequency of actuation of a given character transmitting instrumentality for modifying the connection between said circuits and said transmitting and receiving instrumentalities, whereby to cause a difierent character receiving instrumentality to respond to actuation of any given character transmitting instrumentality.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character receiving instrumentalities, electric circuits operatively connecting the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiv-- ing instrumentalities whereby actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality effects a responsive indication by a character receiving instrumentality, a multiple circuit controller including plural conductive paths therethrough, each of said paths being included in one of said circuits, and means to actuate said circuit controller to vary the circuit connections between the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities to cause different character receiving instrumentalities to respond to successive actuations of a given character transmitting instrumentality, said actuating means operating in response to actuation of any of the character transmitting instrumentalities, the character receiving instrumentality which responds to actuation of a particular character transmitting instrumentality being controlled in accordance with the sequence of actuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, charac- ,ter receiving instrumentalities, electric circuits operatively connecting the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities whereby actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality efiects a responsive indication by a character receiving instrumentality, a multiple circuit controller including plural conductive paths therethrough, each of said paths being included in one of said circuits, and means to actuate said circuit controller to vary the circuit connection between the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities to cause difierent character receiving instrumentalities to respond to successive actuations of any given character transmitting instrumentality, said actuating means operating in response to actuation of any of the character transmitting instrumentalities, the character receiving instrumentalities which respond to actuation of any particular character transmitting instrumentality being controlled in accordance with the sequence of actuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities, and an additional circuit controller in circuit with said connecting circuits and operable to further modify the same to variably connect the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities, said additional circuit controller being operable in response to the actuation of a given character transmitting instrumentality, whereby the transposition of characters is continuously varied in accordance with the sequence of characters transmitted and in accordance with the frequency with which a given character is transmitted.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character transposing means and character receiving instrumentalities, said character transposing means including a plurality of code elements, plural means for relatively shifting each of said elements one at a time to effect variation in the transposition of characters, all of said shifting means being initially disposed inoperatively with respect to their respective code elements, means for moving the shifting means one at a time into operative relation with their respective code elements, means to actuate the shifting means from operative into inoperative position in response to the actuation of any one of said character transmitting instrumentalities, and means controlling the selection of the shifting means to be moved from inoperative to operative position in accordance with the sequence of characters being transmitted.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character transposing means and character receiving instrumentalities, said character transposing means including a plurality of movable code elements, and separate normally inoperative means for moving each of said elements to vary the transposition of characters in accordance with the sequence of characters being transmitted, comprising a plurality of relays, means for selectively energizing the same by actuation of said character transmitting instrumentalities, said relays being arranged in a plurality of groups corresponding in number to the number of code elements, a solenoid ,operatively associated with each group of relays and with a particular code element, circuit connections for energizing said solenoids in response to energization of any of the relays of the group with which it is associated, means operative in response to energization of each of said solenoids for rendering operative the moving means for its associated code element, and means for actuating the operatively positioned moving means in response to operation of any of the character transmitting instrumentalities.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character transposing means and character receiving instrumentalities, said character transposing means including a plurality of movable code elements, shifting means for each of the code elements to vary the transposition between the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities, and means for actuating one of said shifting means through each actuation of said character transmitting instrumentalities, the character transmitting instrumentalities including a plurality of normally elevated depressible keys, the initial depression of any of which effects relative shifting of the code elements, the final depression of which effects transposition of the character corresponding to the key depressed, means to disconnect the shifting means from the code element previously instrumentalities,

shifted, and means to connect a shifting means with a diirerent code element by the return stroke of the depressed key. 1

10. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character transposing means and character receiving said character transposing means including a plurality of movable code ele-'- ments, shifting means for each of the code elements to vary the transposition between the character transmitting instrumentalities and the character receiving instmmentalities, and means for actuating one of said shitting means through each actuation of said character transmitting instrumentalities, the character transmitting instrumentalities including a plurality of normally elevated depressible keys, the initial depression 'of any of which effects relative shifting of the code elements, the final depression of which effects transposition of the character corresponding to the key depressed, means to disconnect the shifting means from the code elements previously shifted and connect a shifting means with a difierent code element by the return stroke of the depressed key, and means other than said keys operable to manually disconnect said newly positioned shifting means from its code element.

11. In a device of the character described, character transmitting instrumentalities, character transposing means and character receiving instrumentalities, means whereby actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality transmits a character to said transposing means and subsequently conditions said character transposing means for varying the transposition of a succeeding character, and means under the control or the operator for rendering said character transposing conditioning means inefiective for the purpose of correcting an error in transmission.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, character-transmitting instrumentalities, character-receiving instrumentalities, means operably connecting the transmitting-instrumentalities with the receiving-instrumentalities whereby a character receiving instrumentality indicatively responds to each actuation of a character-transmitting instrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the frequency of actuation of a particular character-transmitting instrumentality for modifying the connecting means between the character-transmitting instrumentalities and the character-receiving instrumentality whereby to vary the particular character receiving instrumentality which responds to actuation of any particular character transmitting instrumentality.

ROY K. MORRIS.