US40346A - Improvement in switches for telegraphs - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES'v PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES LEWIS, OF GERMAN FLATS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SWITCHES FOR TELEGRAPHS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.740,346, dated October 20, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JAMES LEW1s,ofMohawk, in the town of German Flats, county of Herkimer, and State of New York, have invented a newand useful apparatus which may be used asa switch in electric telegraph-chiites in connection with the wires of -the electric telegraph.

The use of my invention is intended to facilitate the operations of telegraphing by enabling the operator to dispense in a great measure (though not necessarily entirely) with the use of a considerable number of switches as ordinarily used, and to relievehim greatly from the uncertainties which attend the accidentai displacement of the ordinary switch.

I propose to call my invention Lewis Permutatiug-Switch for telegraph-ofces; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of said permutating-switch, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a front elevation of the apparatus complete. Fig. 2 'is an elevation of the upper surface of part 3 3 of Figrl, separated therefrom, and divested of some of its,attachments. Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, exhibits parts 6 7 8 of Fig. l, disconnected from Fig. 2.V Fg. 5 is a diagram ofthe cylindrical surface of 5, Fig. 4, with its projections.

Fig. 6 is a modication of the third section of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 exhibits a lateral View of the parts projectingfrcm the cylinder 5.of Fig. 4, the same being shown in elevation in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an end view of the cylinder 5 of Fig. 4, with the projecting parts thereof removed. Fig. 9 is a modified construction of the parts a r 'n b hg h' of Figs. l, 2, 3, and l0. Fig. l0 is a. rea-r elevation of the case with the back removed, and the parts 4t 5 6 7 8 of Fig. l disconnected, showing the relations ofthe remaining parts to each other.

Similar parts of the figures are referred to by similar letters and numerals', so, likewise, are parts performing similar electrical functions identied by letters of the same name but of dierent character.

Asuitable wooden case is provided, 'asshown in the outlines of Figs. l and 10, with a front plate, 1, Fig. 1, on which is marked asuitable and instruments dial, an inclosure ot' suitable depth, a back plate, 2 2 2, Fig.v l, extending laterally' on each side of the case or inclosure and perforated with screw-holes for fastening the apparatus to a wall or other permanent support. That part of the dial which is within the lettered portion is represented as cut out, showing the parts of the apparatus within the case back of the opening thus made.

On the top and bottom of the case are represented several screw-cups.. Those on the top A .B R N connect with four different telegraph-wires, radiating in different directions from the telegraph-office, for which the instrunow under consideration may be supposed to be adapted. Those on the bottom of the case are intended to connect with the relay-instrumcnt'of the office atl E and with the groundplate at G, or, if necessary, a battery may be connected with G.

j The parts visible through the dial are a baseboard, 3, which supports the working parts of the apparatus; a metallic plate, e, (with a triangular hole through it to permit parts bepond it to .be seem) fastened to the base-board 3 3 by two screws, theheads of which are seen in the drawings. The plate 4: supports the anterior extremity of the shaft of the cylinder or barrel 5, on which shaft as it projects through the dial is ixed an index, 6, which is held fast to said shaft by means of a nut, 7, or any other suitable device. To facilitate handling the findex 6 a crank-knob, 8, may be added. Another plate similar to e supports the posterior end of the shaft of the barrel 5 in similar manner.

On the surface of the barrel 5 may be seen a number of projections, to which Roman numerals I to XVIII refer, having the same signicance as in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 8, as will be hereinafter explained.

On the upper surface of the base-board 3 3 are a number of metallic springs, a 1 a b and hg h', oniy two of which, a and it, are visibie in Fig. l, as they all lie in the same plane. (See Fig. 2.) Thesel springs are fastened to the baseboard with screws 9 9. `The ends ofthe springs near the screws are turned upwards ataright angle, as at 12 l2, to a'ord points to which to fasten'a wire or strip of metal to connect the severai springs a. i' n, Ste., with the screw-cups A RN, &c. On the left a strip of metal is shown at ait, where it connects the spring'al with screw-cup A. On the right the connecting-strips h* g* 11'* pass down through holes in the base-board3 3, (at 14 14 14, Figs. 2, 3, and 10) to the screw-cup H G H. At the middle of the base-board 3 3 the springs a. 1' 11, Sac., are bent to form a notch on the upper surface of each spring, with an inclined plane sloping away from the notch 13 on each side.

The projections on the surface of the barrel 5 it into the notches 13 in the springs a. 1' 11, Src., at the point 13, and there make electrical contact. The notches 13 serve to hold the barrel 5 from turning, each spring a 1 11, &c.,

by its elasticity holding the notch 13 irmly to Y its corresponding projection on the barrel 5.

The several projections on the barrel 5 may be successively brought into the notches 13 by rotating the barrel 5 by applying the hand to the crank-knob S.

The notches in the springs a 1' 11 b 71. g h are in a line, as shown by the dotted lines 13 13, Figs. 2 and 3, and the line thus formed is parallel with the axis of the barrel 5 and below the barrel 5, as seen in Fig. 1 at 13.

At the ends of the springs c 1' 11', &c., are provisions for preventing them from coming in contact with the cylindrical surface of the barrel 5 when the barrel is turned so that any of the springs are not acted upon by the projec-` tions on the barrel. The end of each spring has a short slot cut in it, as shown at 11. (Appendage of Fig.2.)V This slot 11, is made to embrace a narrow nail, 10, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 10, made for the purpose, which nail has a hook proj ectingon one side to catch on the upper surface of the spring. These nails are driven into the baseboard 3 3 far enough to confine the springs a 1' 11, &c., within proper limits, and permit the springs a 1' 11, 85o., to press with their full force against theA projections on the barrel when the said projections are turned into the notches 13. The nails 10 also prevent the springs 1.111, 85p., from being accidentally displaced lateral y.

The notches 13 in the springsa 1' 11, Src., in Figs. 1, 3, andv 10, are represented as formed iu the metal by beating between suitable dies. They may, however, be formed in a separate piece of metal, which may subsequently be at- Vtached to the springs, as shown at 13, Fig. 9.

The springs a 1' 11, Sac., are intended to act as conductors of electricity, and are required to possess considerable elasticity. They may therefore be of brass, that being the most'cconomical material that will serve as a good conductor and possess the requisite stiffness.

The local order of the springs a 1' 11, te., on the dotted lines 13 13, Fig. 2, reading from front to rear, is c h 1' g 11 h b. They are arranged alternately, as shown in Fig. 2, so that one en'd of each spring may be wide enough to let a screw through into the base-board 3 3 with-y out bringing them in contact with each other, whereby insulation would be destroyed.

Part 5, Figs. 1 and 4, is a cylinder of wood or other suitable non-conductor of electricity, having suicient firmness of structure to insure its durability. This cylinder has a number of slots or channels cut in its surface, of equal depth and at equal distances apart, parallel with each other and the axis ot' the cylinder, for the reception of several pieces of brass or other suitable metal ofthe forms shown at 15 16 17 18 19 20 in Figs. 5 and 7. The unshaded parts in Fig. 5 correspond to the projections on the barrel 5, Fig. 4, and to the projections on the right of the several parts 15 16 17 18 19 20 in Figs. 7, and are. contact-surfaces.

The pieces of metal that project from t-he surface of the barrel 5 in Figs. l and 4 are intended to serve as connecting-bars between two or moreof the springs a 1' 11, Src. A portion of one side of each (between the ends) is cut ont, so that no contacts will be made by the connecting-bar other than those intended.

It is not important that all the connectingbars have a portion of one side cut out. Those which are designed to make contact with two contiguous springs', as a and l1', Fig. 2, may be of the form of the part 15', Fig. 7.

The arrangement of most of the connectingbars 15 to 20 in the barrel 5 is of the simple character shown iu the first two sections of Fig. 5 1'. 6.cnd to end in the slot provided for them. Instances are presented at XV and XVII, Fig. 5, where the connecting-bars lap by each other. In those instances the slots in the barrel 5 will have to be suitably enlarged, the bars so bent -that when a strip of suitable insulating lnatetial is placed between them and they are fastened in the barrel their several projections will 'be in lline with each other and parallel with the axis of the barrel 5. (See as illustrations XV and XVII, Figs. 4 and 5, andXIlI and XIV, Fig. 6.) The projections on the surface of the barrel 5 being brought into contact with the sprin gs a 1' 11, 8vo., by rotating the barrel 5, the friction between the surfaces thus brought in contact tends to keep them bright, so as to perfect electrical c onnection at each The several connecting-bars or projections may be secured iu their places in the barrel 5 by means of any suitable cements, or by means of wedges or pins. v

The several screw-cups on the top and bottom of the case that incloses the apparatus are connected with theseveral springs a 1' 11, te., within the case, as shown in Fig. 10, by the parts a* 1'* 11* b* above, and parts h* g* h*, below the base-board 3, letters of the same name referringto parts connected continuously.

Instruments of the character here shown will be unlike each other in the following several particulars: in the number of thc springs a 1' 11, te., which will be determined by the number of wires and instruments of a telegraphoice connected therewith; in the size of the barrel 5, and in the number and arrangement of its .projecting parts, Which'will .be determined by the number of wires (or springs` a i' n, &c.) used, and the number and variety ot changes to bemade thereon. These conditions will in all cases determine the construction of an instrument and its variations from the apparatus used in illustration.

There are numerous circumstancesinV which it might be supposed to be necessary or de- 'sirable to use one or more ordinary switches in connection with this apparatus. As some or most ofthe instances will suggest themselves, it is unnecessary to particularize. Circumstances can also be conceived under which it .might be desirable to combine two or more instrumen'ts as one for the purpose of securing a greater number of changes than could readily be made in one instrument. The equivalent of 'this may be suggested-i. e., the construcl tion of an apparatus with two or more sets of springs, ar n, &c., and two or more barrels, 5, combined as one instrument, and inclosed in one case, with suitable dials, &c.

For the purpose of enablin g particular lines to vwork continuously through the apparatus-as,

for instance, from A to B, on the instrument-.- the two springs a and b may be electrically connected with each other by means of a har ot' metal that-will make contact with those springs at the end near the hook-headed nail l0, when the springs are not pressed down by the projections on the barrel 5. This, however, is merely anaccessory part which may or may not be used, and does not affect the value of the parts which constitute the prominent features of this invention. Again, the bar of metal which is proposed to be used to connect two springs, as above, may be in two parts, each of which may connect with the ends of the helix' of a sounder or relay, so that the operator may at all times be signalled.

As the conditions under which this .permutating-'switch is to be operated must determine the number and arrangement of some of its parts, conditions will now be suggested according to which the special apparatus hercwith ,presented to illustrate the construction and operation of this invention has been conl structed,from which the construction required by other conditions may be inferred and understood.

Letit be supposed that the apparatus illustrating this-invention had been constructed to 'answer the following conditions, viz., to be located in a telegraphbice at Herkimer, where, kcondition 1, it is to work in connection with the cnice-relay, and,condition 2, be also connected with a ground-plate; condition 3, to be connected with telegraph-wires from the following places, viz., iirst, Albany, second Buffalo, third Richfield, fourth Newport; condition 4, that it shall be able to make the fol-` lowing separate connections through the oicerelay, viz., first, Albany and Buii'alo, second Albany and Richfield, thirdV Albany and Newport, fourth Buffalo and Newport, iifth Buffalo and Richfield; condition 5, to make the same connections and leave out the relay; condition 6, to connect Herkimer alone with each oi' the above-named places or lines sin gly; condition 7, to work all the lines at once: thus, to connect,1irst, Albany and Buffalo, at the same time Bichtield and Newport; second, Albany and 'Richeld, at the same time Buti'alo and Newport; third, Albany andA Newport, at the same time Buffalo and Itichtield; fourth, Albany, Herkimer, and Buitalo, at the same time Richiield and Newport.

The iirst condition is established by the screw-cups H H', connected with thev two endsofthe wire of the oiiice-relay helix. The seccond condition connects ground -plate with screw-cup G. The third condition connects screw-cups A with Albany, B with Buffalo, R with Bichiield, andrN with Newport. The fourth condition is vshown to he complied with iu the first section of the diagram, Fig. 5', and by reference from that to Figs. and l. Similar references to Figs. l and t follow the remaining conditions. The fifth condition is complied with in the second section of Fig. 5. The sixth condition is complied with in the third section ot Fig. 5. The seventh condition is complied with in the fourth section of Fig. 5. This will be more decidedly apparent when the letters on the dial and screw-cups are regarded as initials of the several places named, and the same significance is attached to letters of the.Y

same name on Figs. 2 and 5. Their relations are such as are here indicated.

Operati'ouzAThe diagram Fig. 5 is the key to the operation ol the-instrument; and in constructing an apparatus of similar character, but to operate under different conditions, a similar but somewhat d iiierentdiagram would be required as a chart of the barrel 5. Let it be supposed that the apparatus is set up at Herkimer, and thatitis' in working order, and' that the operator wishes to communicate with Albany without interruption, he turns the index on the dialto the center ot' the division marked A H. This is the eleventh division on the dial,'and refers to the corresponding part of diagram Fig. 5, where it will be seen thataconnecting-bar connects a, Albany, withv h, one endot' the helix-wire of the cnice-relay.

VAnother connecting-bar connects It', the other end ot' the helix-wire of the office-relay, with g, the ground-plate. On the instrument it would be seen that a short connecting-bar made contact with springsa and h, and that' another connecting bar made contact with springs h and g, the explanation of which is, that when the circuit is closed under these conditions the battery-current passes through the spring a; thence through a connecting-bar to the spring h; thence through the relay bach to spring h; thence through a connecting-bar to the spring g to the ground,the rest ot' the circuit being through the earth tothe battery at Albany. This explanation of one instance in a .aegee which the apparatus is used readily suggests the explanations which any other changes on theinstrument would require.

One ligure of the annexed drawings remains unexplained, and it has been reserved to be presented here.

Fig. 6 is a modification of the third section oi' Fig. 5. It will be observed in the third section of Fig. 5 that two of the connecting-bars convey a current, say, from h to g, while other two convey a current from h to g. Allowing g to be practically theA negative pole of a battery, the current passes through the relay atXI and XII in a contrary direction from what it does at XIII and XIV` If it be desirable to have the current of. electricity pass through the relay or sounder. attached .to the screwcups H 1H always in one direction, (supposing g to be always negative, which, however, may not be invariably the case,) XIII and XIVin Fig. 5 may be arranged as shown in Fig. 6, where all the connections of g are with h.

1t may now be apparent that the several springs a r n, 8vo.,y as arranged in this apparatus, are practically so manyterminations of electrical conductors and that the several bars (Ito XVIII, or 15 16 17 1819 20) serve to form connections between said springs; and that the said bars, being variously and suitably arranged on the surface of a cylinder, 5, may be made to make any desired connections between two or more of said springs, as may have been previously provided for; and that any of the connections provided for in the cylinder or barrel 5 and its connecting-bars I to XVIII, and their adaptations to the springs a r. n, &c., may be readily made simply by turning said barrel by means of a crank or index provided for that purpose, a suitable dial on the front of the case inclosing the apparatus serving to determinato what point the crank or index shall be turned in order to effect any desired connection. It may also be apparent that if' such an apparatus be adapted to the eondit tionsof, and properly connected with the wires and apparatus of, an electric telegraph, it may be made to answer the purpose of a large number of switches, (as ordinarily constructed and used,) this being the designed object, purpose, and use of this invention.

I claim- 1. Thebarrel or cylinder 5, Figs. 1, 4, and 8, and its connecting-bars I to XVIII, (as many as may be necessary,) or their combined equivaient, when arranged to operate against springs a r n, Src., or their equivalents, substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The springs a, r u, dto., Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 10, or their equivalents, (as many as may be necessary,) when arranged to act against a barrel, 5, and its connecting-bars I to XVIII, or their combined equivalents, substantially in the mannerand for the purpose hercinbefore set forth.

3. The alternate arrangement of the springs a h r g n h b as shown in Fig. 2, when used for the purpose substantially as set forth.

4. The notches 1.3, with the inclined surfaces each side thereof on the springs a r n Sw., Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9, and 10, when arrange and used substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

5. The mode described of limiting the upward movement and of preventing the lateral movement of the springs a i n, &c., by means of the slot 11 in tho end of each spring and the hook-headed nail 10, in connection therewith, or their equivalent, when used substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination and use of (tirst) the barrel 5 and its connecting-hars I to XVIII,i

or their combined equivalent, with (second) the springs a r n, ne., or their equivalents, for the purpose substantially as set forth, together with (third) a suitable dial and index for making said barrel, connecting-bars, and springs, or their combined equivalent, practically available for the purpose set forth.v

JAMES LEWIS. In presence of S. E. COE, J oNAs SCHELL.

Images