US2197867A

US2197867A - Method for receiving and transmitting signals

Info

Publication number: US2197867A
Application number: US154060A
Authority: US
Inventors: Klement Franz
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens and Halske AG; Siemens AG
Priority date: 1936-07-16
Filing date: 1937-07-16
Publication date: 1940-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1957-04-23
Also published as: FR824201A

Description

Apn'l 23, 1940.

Filed .my 1e, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l W Y in@ @q a {.N A

April 23, 1940. F. KLEMENT 2,197,867

THQD FOR RECEIVI'G AND TRNSIITTIG SIGNLS Filed July 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 23, 1940. F, KLEMENT 2,197,867

METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND TRANSMITTING SIGNALS Filed July 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l l a 6 221 222 w my M F1 gf Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND TRANS- MITTING SIGNALS Franz Klement, Hohenneuendorf, near Berlin, Germany, assgnor to Siemens & Halske, Aktiengesellschaft, Siemensstadt, near Berlin, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application July 16, 1937, Serial No. 154,060 In Germany July 16, 1936 19 Claims. (Cl. 178-39) My invention relates to an arrangement for receiving and transmitting signals, for instance, telegraph impulse combinations by means of air, gas `or liquids.

Telegraph receiving apparatus are known in which the electric impulses transmitted over the long-distance circuit are converted into compressed air impulses and supplied to a selecting mechanism by means of a rotary air distributor. In this case the compressed air impulses produced by the receiving relay, control the selecting devices in accordance with lthe received impulse combinations. The known arrangements of the above-indicated character have, however, the disadvantage in that they require complicated translating devices which are very difcult to manufacture.

According to the present invention an arrangement for transmitting signals by compressed air and/or suction air is employed in which the air impulses produced in a known manner by the receiving relay and transmitted to a distributor are utilized in the manner that a sum or a difference is formed of the impulses or of magnitudes (path, pressure, quantity) allotted to the same. The device may be operated instead of with air also with any other gas or with a liquid medium; for instance, oil without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The use of mechanical translators in connection with the telegraph apparatus is well known in which the impulses are utilized by forming sums or differences. However, such arrangements operate in the manner that a plurality of discs or gears are displaced with respect to one another. In the case of great line speeds required lin modern telegraphy great difficulties arise in such mechanical translators owing to the considerable friction and mass of the numerous moved parts and owing to the numerous inexact engagements. These drawbacks are removed according to the invention insofar as a piston actuated by air or the like may be considerably accelerted, even at low pressures. Within reasonable limits the stroke of the piston may be chosen at will and nally a movement may be effected in both directions by the use of suction air or compressed air for current and no-current impulses or for positive and negative impulses. The sums or the differences of some or of all impulses of a telegraph impulse combination may also be formed by the displacement of rotary pistons which may be arranged to rotate in a cylinder.

In order to attain an exact mid-point scanning the impulses of the gaseous or liquid medium act according to the invention on the selecting and adjusting devices only in their midpoint.

In the simplest case the mid-point scanning may be attained by correspondingly designing the air distributor or the slide valve. To this end. the air channels in the distributor are made as narrow as possible. In this case, the air acts on the selecting and adjusting devices only during a short time which corresponds to the mid-point of the electric impulse. In order to supply the necessary amount of air to the last-mentioned devices also a considerably higher air pressure is, therefore, necessary in carrying out the method under consideration.

According to the invention the control member common to all impulses and controlled by the receiving magnet is employed for the mid-point scanning. It is very essential that the movement be caused by compressed or suction air, even if no mid-point scanning is performed. It is of great advantage, if the receiving magnet of the telegraph apparatus is relieved in the manner that for every impulse the armature engages once the magnet.

According to the invention particular control distributors mounted on a shaft preferably together with the operating distributor for the adjusting device and driven in common are employed in connection with the control.

Further, it has been found that it is advantageous to effect the control with the aid of valves, since in this manner the moved masses of the control member become very small.

Further details of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figs. i shows an embodiment of the invention in which the impulses coming from the distributor are transmitted to a slide piston .irrangement.

Figs. 2 and 3 show another form of the invention in which a rotation is effected which is preferably transmitted to a type wheel.

Fig. 4 shows a view of a rotary piston and Fig. 5 shows a sectional View thereof.

In Fig. 6 is schematically shown the manner in which a distributor with a rotary piston according to the invention may cooperate with a translator having a slide piston as shown in Flg. 1, and

Figs. 7 and 9 show another form of the invention in which the control of the distributors is effected by a valve.

In Fig. 1, A designates a cylinder in which are arranged ve pistons I to 5. The pistons are slidably coupled with one another and with the cylinder by means of rods I6, as shown in the sectioned portion of piston 4. These rods are of varying lengths to limit the movement of the pistons with respect to one another so that the piston I may be displaced by one spacing unit with respect to the cylinder, the piston 2 by two units with respect to piston I, the piston 3 by four units with respect to piston 2, the piston 4 by eight units with respect to piston 3, and the piston 5 by sixteen units with respect to piston 4. The pistons are shifted apart with respect to one another by introducing compressed air into the intermediate spaces, whereas the pistons may be caused to approach one another by withdrawing with the aid of a vacuum the compressed air from said intermediate spaces. In other words, the pistons may be moved in one or the other direction by applying positive or negative fluid pressure. This may be also attained by a compression spring F. Preferably suction air and a compression spring are utilized in accelerating the adjustment. The movement of the piston 5 is transmitted to a type wheel B or any other recording device, for instance, through a rack Z.

In each position of the pistons the corresponding intermediate spaces must communicate with the respective air conduits. The latter enter, therefore, the ports g which have a corresponding length in axial direction. This may also be effected in another manner; for instance, by providing, as shown, bevelled portions at the ends of the pistons, which also may cooperate with the extended ports.

The arrangement operates as follows: 'I'he receiving magnet M at rest, i. e. in normal oondition, is traversed by a current and thus firmly holds the armature 6. The three-armed ratchet lever 8 pivotally mounted as indicated at 1 is ccnnected with armature 6 and arrests with its arm 8 by means of the locking nose 9 cam disc C fixed on the receiver shaft I0 which latter is driven through a sliding coupling (not shown) so that it will rotate whenever released by arm 8'. On the receiver shaft I0 are further fixed the rotor D of the distributor valve D and the printing cam disc E. The starting impulse deenergizes magnet M and causes the armature to fall away, thus releasing the receiver shaft I0 which begins to rotate in clockwise direction. After each 1/7 rotation the armature 6 is momentarily pressed against the magnet by means of the cams I I which engage arm 0" and rock it counterclockwise so that thereby the armature 6 is rmly held or released by the magnet M after the passage of a cam, depending upon whether or not a current impulse is present at that moment. To the ar- `lnature6 is, furthermore, connected the slide valve *L The latter connects the port I2 of the valve rotor D with the compressed air conduit G when the armature is attracted or with the vacuum conduit J when the armature is released. The ports I3 in the stationary part of the distributor D are of such peripheral widths that they register with the port I2 only during a fractional portion of the impulse. In this manner the impulses are scanned as regards time in the mid-point of the time period so that a correction or the proper translation even of distorted impulses is attained. 'I'he conduits I4 leading to the translator are connected to the ports I3. After the five impulses are scanned the cam E presses the pressure hammer K against the type wheel. The cam I5 of the cam disc C presses the armature 6 against the magnet. This cam has a larger peripheral extent than the cams and it thus rmly holds the armature for a longer time against the magnet upon the arrival of a locking impulse. This cam I5 is so positioned that during its operation locking nose 9 engages arm 8 of the ratchet lever 8 so that the receiver shaft comes to rest.

While Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention in which slide pistons are employed for operating the type drum, Figs. 2 and 3 employ radial vanes or blades for that purpose.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown a cylinder |0I closed by end plates not shown. Five sector-shaped blades (rotary pistons |03 to |01) are arranged within this cylinder and are capable of being rotated about a stationary shaft |02. Each of these rotary pistons, of which |05 is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, is mounted on a ring |03 to |01 respectively. The rotary pistons may, therefore, be rotatably moved on shaft |02 independently of one another. The movement of the blades |03 to |01 with respect to one another and that with respect to the front end plate of the cylinder are limited by an arcuate groove |08 in which engages a pin not shown which is arranged in the adjacent blade or in the case of the rotary piston |03 in the front end plate of the cylinder. Besides the rotary pistons also a further blade |09 is arranged within the cylinder having the same form as the rotary pistons and being firmly secured to the cylinder wall I0 I. The lower end of the blade |09 extends closely to the rings |03 to |01. The grooves |08 are so dimensioned that the rotary piston |03 may be moved With respect to the blade |09 by one arc unit, the piston |04 with respect to |03 by two units, the piston |05 with respect to |04 by four units, the piston |06 with respect to |05 by eight units and the piston |01 with respect to |06 by sixteen units. The ring |01 allotted to the piston |01 is axially extended and passes through the front end plate of the cylinder. The part to be adjusted by the impulse combination-in the case of the type printing telegraphs the type wheelis secured to the ring |01. When spacing the type wheel it is to be considered that the piston |01 does not describe a complete circle but only an arc whose magnitude amounts to 36W-6a where a is the angle taken up by a piston.

In the case of the five-unit code the compressed air and suction air is supplied through ve longitudinal ducts |03" to |01" arranged in the shaft |0I, each of the ducts extending to an opening I0 in one of the five blades.

As will be seen from Figs. 4 and 5 the ducts end rst in a groove of the shaft |02, whence the air passes through a bore ||2 into the abovementioned outlet opening ||0. The space between the rotary piston |01 and the stationary blade |09 is brought in the present case under normal pressure by an opening ||3, i. e., it communicates with the outside atmosphere.

Similarly to the manner shown in Fig. 1, the individual rotary pistons receive the impulses of the gaseous or liquid medium frfom a receiving magnet system through a revolving distributor and assume corresponding positions. As in the case of Fig. 1 sums or differences from which results a corresponding position of the type wheel are formed of the relative movements of the in- 75 dividual rotary systems. Instead of the revolving distributors slide pistons may also be employed for the control.

Fig. 6 shows an arrangement which serves to control a multi-row type wheel 1 14. For the control of this type wheel all together 114 rotary and sliding movements are necessary. In this case the control of the longitudinal displacement of the type wheel is effected by a single impulse of an impulse combination. whereas the rotary mottion is controlled by the other portion of the impulse combination. 'I'he longitudinal displacement is preferably brought about in a slide piston system 115 of the type shown at A in Fig. 1, whereas the type wheel is rotated by a rotary piston system 116 which is designed substantially as shown in Figs. 2 to 5. The slide piston system of the cylinder I 15 is provided with a connecting shaft 111 which passes through the hollow shaft of the rotary piston system 116. The end ring 119 of the end piston projects from the cylinder 116 of the rotary piston system. To the end ring 119 are secured two driving pins 118 along which the type wheel 113 may be shifted. These driving pins I 18 control, therefore, the rotation of the type wheel 114.

The transmission of the 32 combinations of the five-unit code requires, therefore, ve pistons; for instance, two rotary pistons and three slide pistons. For the letter-figure-shift preferably a further piston is arranged which moves the type wheel into the position corresponding to the desired type group. This piston may be either of the rotary or of the sliding type. The distribution of the 32 characters of each type group over four rings of the type wheel results, therefore, in an eight-row type drum which is adjusted to four rings each in the case of a letter-flgure-shift. Also a six-unit code may be employed and the type group changeover may be brought about by the sixth impulse.

In this form of the invention two translating devices are. therefore, provided as mentioned in the introduction. If the arrangement operates in such a manner that a sliding motion of the type wheel is brought about, for instance by the rst and last impulse, and a rotary motion by the other impulses, for instance by the second to the fourth impulse, the piston corresponding to the first impulse has time to reach its end position until the third impulse is utilized. On the other hand, also the pistons corresponding to the second to fourth impulse need only attain their end position at the end of the fth impulse in order to effect a proper print of the chosen character.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the control of a piston arrangement by means of a valve which is controlled by the receiving magnet.

In the operating cylinder 201 are arranged five pistons, for instance in the manner shown in Fig. l, which adjust through a rack bar rod 202 and a gear 203 a type wheel 204 in accordance with the air impulses conveyed from the distributor 210 through the ducts 205 to 209. The adjustment of the type wheel is thus effected in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1.

Positive or negative air pressure is supplied according to the signs or with the aid of the control port 211 in piston valve 214 from the conduits 212 and 213 to the distributor 210 by a pressure generator not shown. The movement of the piston valve 214 designed in the form of a slide valve depends on the one hand upon the state of excitation of the receiving magnet 215 whose armature 216 is rmly connected to the piston 214 through the rod 211. The piston 214 communicates with two control distributors 22| and 222 through the conduits 216, 219 and 220, the distributor 222 being continuously under the influence of suction air or negative pressure and the distributor 221 being continuously supplied with compressed air. To simplify the construction of the arrangement both

control distributors

221 and 222 and the working distributor 210 are mounted on the same shaft as indicated by the dash and dot line.

It is assumed that the apparatus operates with closed circuit current and that therefore the winding of the receiving magnet 215 is normally energized over the conductors a and b. rlhis may be accomplished, for instance, by a remote switching-in operation through the subscrihers loop, by means of which both the driving motor of the apparatus and at the same time the compressor for the production of the compressed air and suction air are also put into operation. Such devices and expedients are conventional in this particular art, and their illustration is therefore omitted. In this manner the armature 216 is normally held attracted by the magnet 215. In the normal position of rest shown super-atmospheric pressure is supplied to the coupling cylinder 223 through the conduit 224, by way of supply conduit 213, bore 211 of slide valve 214, conduit 225, distributor 210, and the conduit 224 so that a drive coupling (not shown) of the telegraph device connected to the piston 226 of cylinder 223and by which coupling the distributor shaft is operated-is released so that this shaft stops rotating. Sub-atmospheric pressure is supplied at that time to the cylinder 221, in which moves the slide valve 214, by the control distributor 222 through the conduit 220, the cylinder 221 being not supplied at that time with super-atmospheric pressure owing to the prevailing position of the control distributor 221.

The sub-atmospheric pressure prevailing in the cylinder 221 is, however, not suflicient to cause the piston 214 to move to the left against the action of the magnet 215. Gnly upon the reception of the starting impulse-which in the case of closed circuit current operation is a nocurrent impulsethe magnet 215 is deenergized and the armature 216 and piston 214 are allowed to move to the left. In this manner the conduit 212 communicates with the conduit 225 through the port 211 of the piston 214 so that a subatmospheric pressure is supplied to the cylinder 223 through the distributor 210 and the conduit 224, whereby the assumed coupling between the distributor shaft and the power channel is closed by the piston 226, whereupon the three

distributors

210, 221 and 222 mounted on the common shaft begin to rotate. The ports of the several distributors are so displaced with respect to one another that the port 228 rst communicates with the conduit 219 and the cylinder 221 would be supplied with super-atmospheric pressure if this conduit were not closed by the piston 214. Upon further rotation of the shaft. super-atmospheric pressure is supplied to the conduit 218 through the port 226 of the control distributor 221, so that thepiston 214 turns to the right to its position of rest and the armature 216 engages again the magnet 215. The different effect of the supply of the compressed air through the conduits 218 and 219 is attained by the fact that the conduit 210 is connected to the end wall and the conduit 219 to the cylindrical wall of the cylinder 221. The distributor 2|0 has also been in the meantime moved out of its position of rest shown so that the conduit 224 and, therefore, the cylinder 223 are closed and continue to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure and the coupling is maintained in the operating position. Upon the further rotation of the distributors the port 229 of the control distributor 222 communicates with the cylinder 221 through the conduit 220. The cylinder 221 is supplied in the position of rest with sub-atmospheric pressure and tends to move the piston 2 I4 away from the magnet 2 I 5.

If the magnet is reenergized in the meantime the piston remains in the right-hand, normal position, since the force of the magnet is greater than the force of the sub-atmospheric pressure. If the following impulse during the starting is a current impulse, the control slide valve 2|4 remains, therefore, in the position of rest, whereas upon the reception of a no-current impulse the sub-atmospheric pressure prevailing in the cylinder 221 causes the piston 2|4 to return to the left-hand end position, whereby the piston 2|4 closes the conduit 2|9 through which superatmospheric pressure is supplied immediately following through the port 230 of the distributor 22|. The super-atmospheric pressure is, consequently, no longer effective. Shortly thereafter the port 230 is brought into communication with the conduit 2|8 so that super-atmospheric pressure is supplied to the cylinder 221, thereby causing the piston 2|4 to return to its position of rest. The time which elapses between the connection of post 229 of the sub-atmospheric pressure control distributor 222 with the end of the cylinder 221 through the conduit 220 and the connection of the port 230 of the super-atmospheric pressure control distributor 22| with the side wall of the cylinder 221 through the conduit 2I9 is the time during which the mid-point scanning of the impulse is effected. By suitably varying the timing of the ports of one distributor relatively to that of the other distributors the moment and the duration of the scanning may be determined. By suitably mounting the control distributors on the shaft the displacement of the individual ports may be made adjustable and, therefore, the telegraph apparatus may be adapted to the distortion of the incoming telegraph impulses. The operation upon the energization of the magnet 2I5 by a current impulse corresponds to the operation in the case of the reception of no-current impulse. The cylinder 221 is supplied with super-atmospheric pressure through port 230 and conduit 2|9, immediately after the action of the sub-atmospheric pressure which acted through the port 229 of the distributor 222 and the conduit 220, i. e., immediately after the mid-point scanning, so that an interruption of the magnet current which now takes place can no longer cause a release of the armature.

After the reception of an impulse the piston 2|4, depending upon the kind of the impulse, is therefore in one of its end positions. Subor super-atmospheric pressure is supplied, therefore, to the distributor 2|0 through the conduit 225. At the next moment the distributor 2|0 comes into communication with the port 205 thus bringing the iirst piston of the cylinder into a corresponding position. As soon as the operating distributor 2|0 has closed again the conduit 205, super-atmospheric pressure is again supplied to the conduit 2I6 and, therefore, to the cylinder 221 through the port 230 of the control distributor 22|, so that the piston 2|4 to the right and is held there in position and the armature 2 I6 engages again the magnet 2l 5. This process repeats itself upon rotation of the distributors for all impulses of a telegraph signal combination so that after a complete rotation all pistons of the operating cylinder 20| are adjusted. As already above mentioned, instead of one common operating cylinder for the rack bar operating pistons also five individual cylinders may be provided which actuate selector bars. In this case the selector bars are adjusted after the distributor has made a complete rotation and the printing of the signal may begin. The coupling is disengaged at the moment at which the only port of the distributor 2|0 reaches the ports for the conduit 224 so that super-atmospheric pressure is again supplied to the cylinder 226, since the distributor 2|0, owing to the blocking current impulse, communicates with the pressure conduit 2|3. The printing of the signal may be effected in a known manner by a further piston which is also controlled by the operating distributor 2|0.

While in Fig. 7 the control member is designed in the form of a piston valve 2|4, Fig. 8 shows an arrangement in which a pop valve control is employed. For the sake of simplicity the revolving distributors are omitted in this figure, since they correspond substantially to those shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 8 the chamber 23| communicates continuously with the sub-atmospheric pressure side of the sub-atmospheric pressure generator through the conduit 232, whereas the conduit 233 in the state of rest is kept open by the revolving distributors so that atmospheric pressure prevails therein. At the other end of the valve spindle 234 is mounted a piston 235 which at the same time is designed as an armature for the receiving magnet 236. This piston 235 may be moved to- Wards the magnet 236 by a compressed air impulse through the conduit 231. The supply of air to the operating distributor (corresponding to 2|0 in Fig. '1) is controlled by the two

valve discs

238 and 239 mounted on spindle 234. Compressed air and suction air is supplied respectively to the chambers 240 and 24| through the conduits 242 and 243 by the pressure generator as indicated by the signs -land Depending upon the position of the valve stem either the chamber 240 or 24| communicates with the central chamber 244 so that the conduit 245 corresponding to the conduit 225 in Fig. 7 and extending to the operating distributor is supplied with either superor sub-atmospheric pressure.

At rest the valve is in the position shown. Upon the arrival of the starting impulse the magnet 236 releases the armature 235 so that the valve stem 234 together with the armature 235 moves to the right under the influence of the pressure prevailing in the chamber 240, this movement being supported, if desired, by a spring 246. Compressed air is thus supplied to the conduit 245, thereby releasing as is described with reference to Fig. I the assumed distributor shaft coupling. The distributors start and the control distributors first close the supply conduit 233 and set up momentarily a pressure in the conduit 231, whereby the valve moves to the left. As soon as the valve disc 241 engages the cylinder it is rmly held in position by the sub-atmospheric pressure through the conduit 232. The distributors are relatively timed in such a manner that in the interval corresponding to the mid-point of the rst telegraph impulse, the conduit 233 is momentarlly opened or ls supplied with super-atmospheric pressure so that the valve disc 241 no longer adheres to the cylinder body. If, therefore, at this moment the magnet 236 is not energized the valve moves to the right and remains temporarily in this position. In the meantime the working distributor has caused the adjustment of the selector elements, for instance, of the ilrst operating piston of the cylinder 20|, Fig. 7. Shortly thereafter the conduit 245 is closed by the working distributor and the conduit 231 receives a compressed air impulse through the compressed air distributor so that the valve returns to the position of rest and is ready to receive the next telegraph impulse. This adjustment of the valve is repeated for each telegraph impulse and after the adjustment of the ilve selector elements the printing and the locking of the coupling is effected as described by reference to Fig. '7.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. For instance, it is possible to use only one piston instead of a great number of pistons, in which case the individual impulses may be added or subtracted in the cylinder chamber depending upon the corresponding quantity of air. It is also not necessary to employ a rotary distributor, but a slide valve control may, for instance, be also used. Finally, it is immaterial in which sequence the pistons operate when employing a plurality of pistons such as in Fig. 1. It is preferable to operate rst the piston having the longest stroke in order that its adjustment is properly completed at the end of the impulse combination in question.

The individual impulses may be allotted to the respective rotary and/or slide pistons in any desired manner. For instance, two piston systems may be provided which then control different movements of the part to be adjusted. A particularly advantageous form of the invention is obtained if at least the ilrst and the last impulse is utilized by the same piston system, since in this case the advantage is obtained that an overlapping of the operating periods of the control members to be adjusted by the individual impulses is possible within the impulse combination.

For certain telegraph codes it is also possible to cause the individual pistons to operate, for instance, in the manner that individual pistons effect the shift of a group of characters (letter, number-shift, shift between two groups of letters), whereas the other pistons select the characters within the type group.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a selector mechanism for translating electrically transmitted impulse combinations, means for receiving an electric impulse combination, positive and negative fluid pressure supply means controlled by said receiving means to supply positive or negative fluid pressure in accordance with the character of the received signal impulse, a selector responsive to said fluid pressures and a recording device coupled to said selector, so that the latter moves the recording character of said device corresponding to a given received signal combination into recording position, and a distributor connected between said uid supply means and said selector for supplying successively fluid pressure impulses to said selector, and means connected with said receiver and controlled by the several electric impulse units of a received signal combination for controlling the operation of said distributor to admit to said i selector a succession of iluid pressure impulses of a direction and character corresponding to the character of the received signal impulses to produce the desired recording device position as a result of the sum of the positive and negative selector movements produced by the iluid impulses.

2. In a selector mechanism for translating electrically transmitted impulse combinations, means for receiving an electric impulse combination, positive and negative fluid pressure supply means controlled by said receiving means to supply positive or negative fluid pressure in accordance with the character of the received signal impulse, a selector responsive to said fluid pressures and having a number of fluid operated pistons equal to the maximum number of impulses contained in a signal impulse combination, and a recording device actuated by said pistons to move the recording character corresponding to a given received signal combination into recording position, and a distributor connected between said fluid supply means and said selector for supplying successively fluid pressure impulses to said selector, and means connected with said receiver and controlled by the several electric impulse units of a received signal combination for controlling the operation of said distributor to admit to said selector a succession of fluid pressure impulses of a direction and character corresponding to the character of the received signal impulses to produce the desired recording device position as a result of the sum of the positive and negative selector piston movements produced by the fluid impulses.

3. In a selector mechanism for translating electrically transmitted impulse combinations, means for receiving an electric impulse combination, positive and negative fluid pressure supply means controlled by said receiving means to supply positive or negative fluid pressure in accordance with the character of the received signal impulse, a selector responsive to said iluid pressures and a recording device coupled to said selector, so that the latter moves the recording character of said device corresponding to a given received signal combination into recording position, and a distributor connected between said fluid supply means and said selector for supplying successively fluid pressure impulses to said selector, said distributor having a fluid supply port larger than its iiuid discharge ports so as to transmit only the mid-point portion of the fluid impulse with respect to the total time period of its duration, and means connected with said receiver and controlled by the several electric impulse units of a received signal combination for controlling the operation of said distributor to admit to said selector a succession of fluid pressure impulses of a direction and character corresponding to the character of the received signal impulses to produce the desired recording device position as a result of the sum of the positive and negative selector movements produced by the fluid impulses.

4. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons movably disposed therein and loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston a given number of path units, means for connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device so as to positively operate the latter, to present its different constituent characters, a

source of positive and negative fluid pressure, and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so lthat the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character.

5. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons movably disposed therein and loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston a given difierent number of path units, means for connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device so as to positively operate the latter, to present its diierent constituent characters, a source of positive and negative fluid pressure, and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character.

6. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons movably disposed therein and loosely coupled together so `that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston a given different number of path units so that the strokes of the several pistons form a geometrical progression, means for connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device so as to positively operate the latter, to present its'diierent constituent characters, a source of positive and negative fluid pressure, and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character.

'7. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons movably disposed therein and loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston a given different number of path units so that for a five-unit code one piston can traverse one half, a second one fourth, a third one eighth, a four one sixteenth, and a fifth one thirty-secondth of the total stroke required to move the recording device its maximum amount, means for connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device so as to positively operate the latter, to present its diierent constituent characters, a source of positive and negative iiuid pressure, and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character.

8. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons movably disposed therein and loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston a given number of path units, means for connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device so as to positively operate the latter, to present its different constituent characters, a source of positive and negative iiuid pressure, and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character, said cylinder having a port between each adjacent pair of pistons, extending in the direction of the piston stroke further than the stroke of the appertainlng piston, so that each port remains always connected with the interstitial space between the appertaining piston pair, each port being connected to a diierent iluid discharge port of said distributor.

9. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons longitudinally slidingly disposed therein and loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston a given number of path units, a piston rod for positively connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device to positively operate the latter, to present its diierent constituent characters, a source of positive and negative uid pressure, and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total ot the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character.

10. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination, a cylinder, a stationary central axle disposed therein, a radial vane xed to the cylin 1er wall and extending therefrom closely to said axle and from end to end in said cylinder, and a plurality of rotary vane pistons extending from end to end in said cylinder and journalled to rotate on said axle and being loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston and to said radial vane a given number of rotary path units,

means for positively connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device to positively operate the latter, to present its different constituent characters, a source of positive and negative uid pressure and a distributor n controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character.

11. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a recording device movable to present the desired recording character in accordance with the transmitted impulse combination. a cylinder, a stationary central axle disposed therein, a radial vane xed to the cylinder wail and extending therefrom closely to said axle and from end to end in said cylinder, and a plurality of rotary vane pistons extending from end to end in said cylinder and journalled to rotate on said axle and being loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston and to said radial vane a given number of rotary path units, means for positively connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said recording device to positively operate the latter, to present its different constituent characters, a source of positive and negative fluid pressure and a distributor controlled by the arriving signal combination for admitting successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the sum total of the positive and negative piston movements represents the extent to which said recording device is moved to present the desired recording character, and borings in said axle and said vane pistons for supplying the positive and negative fluid pressure between said pistons.

12. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted impulse combinations, a character drum having a plurality of peripheral groups of signal characters and disposed to rotate and slide in axial direction to present the desired character to a given recording point, a cylinder and a plurality of pistons longitudinally slidingly disposed therein and loosely coupled together so that each piston is movable relatively to the adjoining piston and to the cylinder end a given number of path units, a piston rod for positively connecting the piston having the longest stroke to said character drum to positively shift the latter to bring its peripheral character group containing the desired character into registry with the recording point in accordance with a given portion of the transmitted signal impulse combination, a second cylinder axially alined with said first cylinder,a stationary central axle disposed in said second cylinder,a radial vane fixed to the cylinder wall and extending therefrom closelyto said axle and from end to end in said cylinder, and a plurality of rotary vane pistons extending from end to end in said cylinder and journalled to rotate on said axle and being loosely coupled together so that each .ane is movable relatively to the adjoining vane and to said fixed radial vane a given number of rotary path units, means for slidingly coupling the vane having the longest stroke to said character drum to positively rotate the latter to bring the desired character of the peripheral group selected by the pistons in the first cylinder into registry with the recording point in accordance with the remaining portion of the transmitted impulse combination, a source of positive and negative uid pressure and a distributor for each o1' said cylinders controlled by the arriving impulse combination for admitting to each cylinder successively the desired kind of pressure impulse between each of said pistons to move the latter in the desired direction, so that the total sum of the positive and negative piston movements in both cylinders represents the extent to which said drum is moved to present the desired character to the recording point in accordance with the total signal impulse cornbination.

13. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted electric impulse combinations, having an electric impulse receiver, a source of positive and negative iluid pressure supply. a selector responsive to positive and negative fluid pressure impulses, and a recording device coupled to said selector, so that the latter moves said device in accordance with the selector response to said pressure impulses to present the desired recording character to a given recording point in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, a plurality of fluid pressure distributors disposed to control the fluid supply to said selector, and a control element responsive to a received electric impulse for controlling the operation of said distributors in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, for supplying in accordance with the relative distributor port positions fluid pressure impulses to said selector only during the mid-time period of duration of each electric impulse of the received impulse combination.

14. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted electric impulse combinations, having an electric impulse receiver, a source of positive and negative fluid pressure supply, a selector responsive to positive and negative iiuid pressure impulses, and a recording device coupled to said selector, so that the latter moves said device in accordance with the selector response to said pressure impulses to present the desired recording character to a given recording point in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, a plurality of fluid pressure distributors disposed to control the iiuid supply to said selector, and a control element responsive to a received electric impulse and actuated by the varying positive and negative fluid pressure eects produced by said distributors, for controlling said distributors in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, for supplying in accordance with the relative distributor port positions fluid pressure impulses to said selector only during the mid-time period of duration of each electric impulse of the received impulse combination.

l5. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted electric impulse combinations, having an electric impulse receiver, a source of positive and negative fluid pressure supply, a selector responsive to positive and negative fluid pressure impulses, and a recording device coupled to said selector, so that the latter moves said device in accordance with the selector response to said pressure impulses to present the desired recording character to a given recording point in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, a plurality of uid pressure distributors disposed to control the fluid supply to said selector, and a control element responsive to a received electric impulse and actuated by the varying positive and negative iluid pressure effects produced by said distributors, for controlling said distributors in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, for supplying in accordance with the relative distributor port positions fluid pressure impulses to said selector only during the mid-time period of duration of each electric impulse of the received impulse combination, `and port connections between said distributors and said control element for returning said element by fluid pressure impulses into its normal position after each electric signal impulse is received.

16. In a selector mechanism for translating transmitted electric impulse combinations, having an electric impulse receiver, a source of positive and negative fluid pressure supply, a selector responsive to positive and negative fluid pressure impulses, and a recording device coupled to said selector, so that the latter moves said device in accordance with the selector response to said pressure impulses to present the desired recording character to a given recording point in accordance with the received electric impulse combination, a working fluid pressure distributor disposed to control the fluid supply to said selector, a fluid pressure control valve for said distributor controlled by said electric receiver and arranged to assume two operating positions to supply either positive or negative fluid pressure to said working distributor, depending upon the operating condition of said receiver, two control distributors disposed to operate synchronously with said working distributor, one control distributor being directly connected with the positive and the other with the negative fluid pressure supply, and fluid conduit connections between said control distributors and said control valve for actuating said valve to assume the one or the other of its two operating positions in accordance with the prevailing fluid pressure supply positions of said control distributors and subject to the operating condition of said receiver.

17. In a selector mechanism according to claim 16, a fluid pressure control valve comprising a cylinder and a sliding piston disposed therein and connected to the electric receiver, the end of said cylinder being connected to either of the two control distributors so as to have positive or negative fluid pressure supplied to it, and the peripheral cylinder wall portion along the piston stroke being connected with the positive fluid pressure control distributor whereby according to the positions of said distributors and the condition of said receiver said piston may be moved into one or the other of its two operating positions to supply the desired kind of fluid pressure to the working distributor at the desired time moment.

18. In a selector mechanism according to claim 16, a pair of control distributors mounted on a common shaft with the working distributor and being circumferentially adjustable relatively to one another and to the working distributor for adjusting the timing of the fluid pressure supply with respect to the occurrence of respective electric impulses.

19. In a selector mechanism according to claim 16, a fluid pressure control valve comprising a cylinder having two end chambers connected respectively to the positive and a negative pressure control distributor, a central delivery chamber connected to the working distributor and a supply chamber on either side of said central chamber, a valve rod passing through all of said chambers, said supply chambers being respectively connected with the positive and the negative fluid pressure supply and having ports connecting them with said delivery chamber, and valves in said delivery chamber fixed on said valve rod for controlling said ports so that when one port is open the other is closed, a piston in the positive end chamber fixed on said valve rod and connected with the operating element of the electric impulse receiver, and a valve disc mounted on said rod and disposed to cover the other negative end chamber, and a spring tending to move said disc to open said chamber and to move the operating element of the receiver away from the latter and to supply positive fluid pressure to said working distributor, when the negative control distributor has permitted the negative pressure to suiciently decrease after the reception of a signal impulse, so that the delivery chamber is supplied with the desired fluid pressure only during the mid-time period of the duration of a signal impulse.

FRANZ KLEMENT.