US322918A - Island - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.-

' M. G. FARMER.

CABLE RECORDER. No. 322,918. Patented July 28, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. G. FARMER.

CABLE REGORDER.

No. 322,918. Patented July Z8,'1885,..

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrics.

MOSES G. FARMER, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

CABLE-RECORDER.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,918, dated July 28, 1885.

Application filed December 4, 1884.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MosEs G. FARMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gable'Recorders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

The subject of my present invention is an instrument for recording electrical signals, and is more particularly designed as a recorder for use with electric cables or telegraph-lines of great length, over which it is practicable to transmit only feeble impulses of current.

The instrument consists mainly of two parts, one of which is an electromagnetic device or its equivalent, that is moved to a certain extent by impulses of current, and the other the device which records such movements. The specific character of the former may be varied greatly, according to the conditions under which it may be used, as will hereinafter more fully appear. As a means of recording the movements of this device, however, I employ a short length of fine platinum wire connected with two wires of good conducting qualities, that project from the moving instrument, and a traveling band or strip of red tissue-paper, which is carried past the platinum wire, the heat of which leaves upon the paper a whitish line.

I will explain this instrument in its most practicable and useful form by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation and part section of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail in cross-section of a portion of the moving part, and Fig. 3 a modification of the form shown in Fig. 1

The instrument consists of a light tube, A, of metal or othermaterial, which is suspended in a vertical position by a filament or thread, B. At the lower end of tube A is a mercurycup, 0, in the cover of which is an opening, a, through which passes a pin, 1), projecting from the center of the end of the tube A. By this means the tube is steadied and held in a vertical position.

D D are a number of magnetic needles or bars passing through the tube A, all in the (N0 model.)

same vertical plane and with their magnetic poles alternating-that is to say, if the righthand end of the upper bar is positive, the cor responding end of the bar next below is negative, and so on.

E E are a series of galvanometer coils, arranged in pairs on either side of the tube A, and supported in such relative positions with reference to the magnetic bars as to form a compound astatic galvanometer. These coils are connected up in series with the signalingcircuit, and are stationary. Every impulse of current that passes over the circuit will therefore produce a certain movement of the bars D and of the tube A, the arrangement shown being a more effective one than a single bar or pair of bars, such as is commonly used in instruments of this character, although my in vention is not limited to any special number of coils and bars or armatures.

The upper end of the tube A carries a mercury-cup, F. From this leads a wire, G, of copper or other good conductor, down through the tube to near its lower end, where it passes out and is carried along a light arm, H, ofinsulating material, bent downward, as shown. Another wire, K, of copper, is attached to this arm, and dips into the mercury-cup 0, passing through a curved slot, 0, in the cover of the same.

To the outer ends of wires G K is connected a short and fine piece of platinum wire, L, which, by means of a battery, N, connected by wires M with the mercury cups F and G, is raised to a red heat when the apparatus is in use.

0 is a drum, over which is drawn a band of colored tissue-paper, P, from a reel, P. This paper is carried so near to the platinum wire L that the latter, when hot, produces a light line upon it. As the wire L is moved from side to side by impulses of current in the signaling-circuit, the line which it traces will afford a permanent record of the signals resembling the line traced by the siphon recorders heretofore used. The general character of this line is shown in Fig. 2.

In order to produce the requisite movement of the arm H and wire L other forms of galvanometer or similar instrument may be used. In Fig. 3, for example, a modification is shown,

in which soft iron bars B, surrounded by coils O, are used in lieu of the magnetizedsteel bars D. The proper magnetic condition of these bars is maintained by connecting the coils 0 up in the circuit of the wire L by means of mereurycups f 9, carried by the tube A, or an independent circuit may be used for this purpose.

In order to maintain the wire L ata proper temperature, a rheostat, B, may be used in circuit with it.

I have found that the eifect of the heat of the wire L is best indicated upon pink or red tissue-paper of the ordinary kind, the passage of the wire over this paper destroying the color and leaving a whitish line thereon.

The rotary movement of the tube, induced by the influence of currents in the coils E upon the bars 13 or B, may be confined within proper limits by suitable stops, if necessary.

The advantages of this instrument are that it is simple and effective. No parts are likely to be disarranged or impaired by use, while it is exceedingly sensitive and delicate in its op eration, from the fact that friction between the moving and stationary parts is practically eliminated.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An electrical recorder, consisting of the combination with insulated coils andv armatures of a platinum wire arranged to be heated by an electric current and attached to the armaturesupport, so as to move therewith, and a band or strip of colored tissue paper adapted to be moved past the platinum wire, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a series of insulated coils, armatures, or magnetized bars, and a support for the same capable of being moved by the action of currents in the coils upon the armatures or bars, of a platinum wire ar ranged to be electrically heated attached to the support so as to move therewith, and a band or strip of colored tissue-paper adapted to be moved past the platinum wire, all substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a series of insulated coils, magnetized needles or bars, and a vertically-suspended support by which said bars are carried, of copper or similar wires connected with an electric circuit and projecting from the armature -support, a short length of platinum wire united to the copper wires, and a band or strip of colored tissuepaper adapted to be moved past said platinum wire, as set forth.

4. The combination, with a series of sta tionary galvanometer-eoils, magnetized bars in position to be moved by currents in the coils, and a vertically-suspended tube carrying said bars, of copper wires extending from said tube, a platinum wire connected to the copper wires, an electric battery for heating the platinum wire, mercury-cups for connecting the wire with the battery, and a band or strip of colored tissue paper adapted to be moved past the platinum wire, as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of December, 1884.

MOSES G. FABMER.

VVitn esses:

SARAH J. FARMER, XVILLIAM B. HEATHERTON.

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