US455075A - Bergh - Google Patents

Description

.No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

H. VAN HOEVENBERG-H. PRINTING TBLEGRAPH. No. 455,075. Patented Jurre V30, 1891.

2 Sheets- Sheet 2'.

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(NroModel.)

No. 455,075. 'Patented June 30, 1891.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE EQUI- TABLE MANUFACTURING AND ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,075, dated J' une 30,1891.

Application filed February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382.541. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VANI-IOEVEN- BERGH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Printing- Telegraph, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention relates to that class of printing-telegraph instruments in which a revolvro ing shaft carrying a type-wheel, escapementwheel, and other attachments necessary for its proper operation is controlled by currents of electricity transmitted over a telegraphline.

i5 The object of my invention is to provide a simple and reliable instrument which shall print upon a slip of paper intelligence transmitted from a distance in Roman letters andv without dangerof disarrangenient of its parts 2o by continued or severe working; that shall contain no superliuous working parts; that shall not be easily affected by induction, and

that may be operated by a single main battery placed at any point in the line. The transmitting-instrument is under the control of the receiving-operator as well as the transmitting-operator, so that the former may arrest its action whenever he desires. The instrumentalities used for accomplishing these results are comparatively few and simple. Upon a base, preferably of cast-iron, are mounted two supports. These hold the end bearings of the shaft, carrying a type wheel or carrier, an escapement-wheel, two friction g5 flange-clamps, and an arm with a light steel spring. One of the friction-clamps is rigidly fastened to the shaft, the otherbeing free to slide upon it longitudinally', but compelled to revolve with it by means of a pin working in agroove in the shaft. A gear-wheel is clamped between the two friction-clamps, the loose one of which is pressed against it by a spring, two washers of cloth separating the rubbing-surfaces and providing the necessary friction. The teeth of this gear-wheel mesh into those of another located underneath it and fastened to a shorter shaft, to which also is fastened a pulley. lVhen power is applied, it' nothing is interposed to prevent, the upper or typewheel shaft will be carried with the gear- Wheel by means of the friction. It is held,

however, by an anchor-escapement working into4 the escapement-wheel and rocking upon its bearin gto allow the escapement-wheel, with the shaft, type-wheel, dsc., to escape the dis- 5 5 tance ofone-half tooth on each actuation of the anchor-lever. Thereis an arm rigidlyfastened to the rear end of the shaft carryingaspring or trailer, which presses upon the periphery of a segment-wheel Yfastened to the frame of. the 6o instrument. This constitutes a lnain-line-circuit breaker. Other forms o'f circuit-breakers are known in the art. This segmentwheel is cut into twenty-eight insulated sections, each one of which is connected by a wire tothe spring of one of twenty-eight finger-keys. Each alternate spring is normally pressed upward against a metalbar, making an electrical connection with it. The remaining alternate springs are pressed normally out 7o of contact with the metal bar with which they make connection when pressed downward. One of the 11min-wire connections comes to this bar. The other main wire is connected to the frame of the machine, and is therefore in electrical connection with the segment-arm. Both the escapement-magnet and the printmagnet are wound Awith two windings. Each winding of each magnet is connected to a similar winding in the other magnet and one 8c winding is connected to the front contact of a common Morse relay and one to the back contact. As these windings conduct the local current around the magnet-cores in different directions. it is evident that a current sent first through one and then through the other would have the effect of a reversed current on the iron of the cores, though the current itself is not reversed. The escapement-inagnet and its armature may be polarized by a 9 permanent magnet. The magnet that operatesthe press mechanism has only an ordinary iron armature and is not polarized. The instrument as thus organized will act either as a transmitter or receiver, the change from one to the other being made simply by the movement of a circuit-closing switch. lVhen acting as a transmitter, the combined operation of the relay and the circuit-breaking arm on the shaft result in a continued revolution loo of the shaft and a continued vibration or opening and closing of the current on the y main line. The manner in which this is etfected can be understood by a reference to the drawings accompanying this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view oi' my improved instrument, the key-board being omitted; Fig. 2, a theoretical diagram showing the electrical connections, and Fig. 3 a detail View showing the unison device and inking brush.

A is the controlling-relay, the magnet-coils of which are in crcuitin the main line. Fromthe front and back contacts (t and a of this relay wires pass to coils l) and Zi of the cs-,

capement-magnet C, thence to coils c and c ot the same magnet, thence to coils fl and d of the press-magnet- D, thence to coils e and e of the same magnet. Emerging from this coil the two wires join at the point f, running thence to the local battery g. From this local battery a wire 7i runs to the armature-lever of the relay A. There are thus two independent circuits from the relay-lever to the pointj". The main or line circuit, starting from the main battery MB, which may be situated at any point on the line, runs first to the coils of the relay A, thence to the shaft B and trailing spring E. This spring E, revolving with the shaft B, presses in succession upon each block of the segment-Wheel F. From each one ot the metallic blocks of the segment-wheel F a Wire runs tothe spring ot a keyj or j of the key-board G. These keys are ot" two classes. One class lj ot keys are normally pressed against the metal contact-bar forming their upper limits, making electrical contact therewith and having an insulated limit underneath. -The alternate keys j', on the contrary, are normally out of contact with the metal bar until depressed, when they make electrical contact with it. Thus as long as the keys maintain their normal positions the effect is precisely as if each alternate segment of the segment-Wheel was insulated, the main-line circuit being open when the trailing spring E presses against it. lVhen thus organized and power is applied to the pulley H, tending to make the type- Wheel shaft revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow, the operation of the instrument when transmitting is as follows: The springE being upon asegment connected with a closed key, the current from main battery MB, actingl in the relay-magnet A, causes it to attract its armature Aand close the local circuit through the contact-point a' and coils b, c', d, and e. This rocks the polarized escape'- ment-lever K in one direction, allowing one tooth of the escapement-Wheel L to pass and the type-wheel shaft to revolve the distance of one twenty-eighth of an entire revolution. This permits one letter of the type Wheel or carrier to pass the impression roller or platen, and the trailing spring E to pass from one segment of the segment-Wheel to the next one. The ettect upon the press-magnet D will-be described hereinafter, As the trailly spelled o'ut.

ing spring E now rests upon an open segment of the segment-wheelt'.. e., one connected with a normally-open keythc main circuit is now opened, and thcrelay-armature-lever falls against its back contact u.. This closes the local circuit through the contact-point a and coils b c and d e. As the current now traverses the coils in a direction the reverse ot that first described,the effect upon the iron of the cores of the magnets is precisely the same as though the battery had been reversed, although as a matter of fact this has not been done. The polarized armature K is therefore rocked to its opposite limit, allowing the shaft to again move the same distance as before. The trailing spring E now rests upon a closed segment of the segmentwheel, closing the main-line circuit, when the operations just described are repeated. This result-s in a rapid and regular revolution ot' the shai't and a steady vibration or opening and closing of the current on the main line. Thile thus revolving,it one of the keys--for instancej-be depressed, the revolution con! tinues until the trailing spring reaches the segment of the segment-wheel that is connect:- ed to the depressed key. As this segment is then converted from a closed to an open segment, the revolution of the shaft will be stopped at that point,as the main-line circuit will be held open and the relay-lever will remain against its back contact. As soon as the key resumes its normal positiomthe revolution will be resumed. If now key j be depressed, the trailing spring will iind that the key has been converted trom an open to a closed circuit-key, and the revolution ot' the shaft will he arrested at that point, the relayarmature remaining against its front contact a.

As before explained, the influence of the current traversing the different windings is the same upon the magnet-cores as it' the local current had been reversed at each alternate impulse. These impulses sent in quick succession have no ettect upon the unpolarized armature of the press-magnet and its comparatively heavy impression-lever J, held by its spring at some distance from the cores of the magnet. lVhemhowever, one of these im pulses 'is prolonged by the depression of a key, the cores have time to receive their maximum charge of magnetism and the lever to respond, raising the impression-roller L and pressing the paper strip (represented by the dotted lines on Fig. 53) against the type-wheel and imprinting the character that is then opposite the roller. Thus by touching the lettered keys in the proper order and holding' each one long enough for the impression to be effected any com 1n unicatiou maybe quick- Any ordinaryfeed device may be used.

To arrange for receiving, the button 7c of the switch M is depressed. This closes the main-line circuit, shunting or cutting out the segment-wheel, trailing spring, and lrey- TOC boa-rd. Abutton k is also provided for similarly operating the switch M to put the instrument into condition for sending. Then receiving, main-line vibrations are received from some other instruments on the line acting as a transmitter. These vibrations are -received upon the main-line relay A, the lever ot' which sends the local circuit alternately through the circuits a f and df. This rocks the escapement-lever, as before described, until lthe desired lettery is'brought opposite the impression-roller, when a prolonged completion of the local circuit causes the impression to be taken.

Tith all printing-telegraphs of this class `it is necessary that the type-wheel of the receiving-instrun1ent should be started in unison with that of the transmitting-machinein other words, that the same letter upon each wheel shall pass the impression-roller at the same instant. This is effected by means of the lever N. Normally this lever rests upon a back-stop n', being held there by its weight. Then in this position, it does not in any way affect the working ot the instrument. Then it is desired to bring the receiving type-wheel into unison with the transmitter, the operator presses the lever N toward theY type-wheel shaft. This causes the latch n to slip into the notch 0 of the press-lever J. 'Ihe beak or projection I of the lever N is then in the path ot the unison-pin m on the type-wheel shaft B. Then by reason of the revolution of the shaft the two come into contact, the shaft will be held in such position that the dot or zero ot' the type-wheel will be opposite the impression-roller. key is depressed andthe press-lever rises, t-he unison-lever N will not only be released, but will be struck by the press-lever and thrown back, so that the projection I will be out of the pathof the pin m. As the transmitting. operator always starts by making a f ew dots, the shaft will be released at this point.

By following the operation, as explained above, by which the continued revolution of the type-wheel is maintained, it will be seen that the main line plays an important part in the operation. The strength of the current on the line directly controls the speed of revolution of the type-wheel shaft, as the stronger the current is the more rapidly the relay will respond to the openings and closings ot` the circuit. Tith acurrent of maximum strength properly adapted to the resistance of the main- 4 line relays, the shaft revolves at a speed of about one hundred and fifty revolutions per minute. Teakening the current has the direct effect of diminishing this speed until a point is reached, when the relay fails to vibrate and the instrument comes to a stop. The instrument thus adapts itself automatically to the condition of theline. Tith a clear working line-wire and a strong current the instrument will transmit at its maximum speed. Then the current is weakened by reason of escape on the line, development ot' Then the dot or zero high resistance, defective main battery, oran y similar cause, the instrument will still contin ue to operate perfectly, although at a lower rate ot speed, instead ot' failing altogether, as is usual with instruments of this class. This feature also makes it possible for the receiving-operator to stopA or break the transmitting-operator when it becomes necessary for any reason. In most step-by step printingtelegraphs hitherto invented, if anything happens to the receiving-instru ment the transmitting-operator cannot be notified of it until he has ceased to transmit and gives the re'- ceiver a. chance to transmit. In this machine the receivingfoperator.can stop the transmitter at any time by simply depressing the button or key O, which opens the main line and stops the revolution of the transmitting-shaft. The transmittingoperator then sees that A something is wrong by his instrument failing to work, and setting his switch at receive allows the other operator to transmit to him, the process being precisely1 that by which one Morse operator breaks another and tells him from where to go ahead with the message.

To supply ink to the type-wheel I `use a brush suitably charged with ink. I prefer to employ a thinololong brush of camels hair, cut diagonally across its width, as shown in Fig. 3. This is open to none of the objections incident to the use of an inking-roller and lgreatly improves the impressions from lthe type-wheel.

Printing-telegraphs controlled by a segment-wheel and operated on the opening and closing of the line-circuitare old. The patent of Moses G. Farmei-,No 15,373, dated July 22, 1856, shows such an instrument. I am also aware that the use of relays to control the local circuit of the escapement-magnet is old. In the Farmer patent the escapement is worked directly by a magnet in the main circuit, which is obviously impracticable for long distances, and the attempt to remedy this defeet by putting a common electro-magnet in a local circuit opened and closed by a relay would lead to numerous difficulties of adjustment. I prefer to employ a current of one direction only on the main line and use, therefore, a neutral relay. In my telegraph there is no local adjustment to the escapement-armature, and as there is no mechanical device to complete thecircuit of the press-magnet one adjustment of the relay answers for both magnets. C

The great advantage of the improved method of eifecting the printing in myinstrument over others is distinctly shown when two letters are printed following each other in alphabetical o rder.- Y Between the two impulses sent into the press-magnet to print the two characters the direction of the magnetism in the IOC IIO

cores of the magnet is reversed, and the press- Y lever thus compelled to fall back to its "eX- treme back limit. A certainty of action is thus attained that is impossible when the circuit is simply opened and closed to print the two consecutive characters.

l claim as my invention-- l. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a rotatable type-wheel, a segmentwheel, transmitting-keys connected with the individually-insulated segments of the segment-wheel, a trailer moving with the typewheel and traversing the segment-wheel, a neutral relay, the trailer and relay being connected with the main line, a type-wheel-controlling magnet, a press-magnet, and two local circuits respectively connected with the front and back stops of the relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, the typewheel magnet and press-magnet being both included in bothlocal circuits.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a rotatable type-wheel, a segmentwheel, alternate open and closed transmittingkeys connected with the individually-insulated segments of the segment-wheel, a trailer moving with the type-wheel and traversing the segment-wheel, a neutral relay, the trailer and relay being connected with the main line, a type-wheel-controlling magnet, a press-magnet, and two local circuits respectively connected with the `liront andback stops of the relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, the type -wheel magnet and press-magnet being both included in both local circuits.

3. In aprintng-telegraph, the combination, substantially as set forth, ot' the neutral mainline relay, two local circuits respectively connected with the front and back stops ot said relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, the polarized magnet having two separate and distinct windings and the neutral magnet having two separate and distinct windings, one winding of each magnet being included in one local circuit and the other winding of each magnet being included in the other local circuit.

l. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a rotatable type-wheel, a segmentwheel, alternate open and closed transmittingkeys connected with the individually-insulated segments of the segment-wheel,atrailer moving with the type-wheel and traversing the segments, escapement devices controlling the movement of the type-wheel, a neutral relay, the relay and trailer being in the main line, a polarized escapement-magnet having two separate and distinct windings, aneutral press-magnet having two separate and distinct windings, and two local circuits respectively connected with the front and back stops of the relay and both connected with the 4relay-armature lever, one winding of each magnet being included in one local circuit and the other winding of each magnet beingincluded in the other local circuit.

5. The combination, substantially a-s set tort-h, ot' a rotatable type-wheel, a segmentwheel, alternate open and closed transmittingkeys connected with the individually-insulated segments o'l the segment-wheel, atrai'ler moving with the type-wheel and traversing the segments, escapement devices controlling the movement of the type-wheel, aneutral relay, the `relay and trailer being in the main line, an escapement-magnet having two oppositely-wound windings, a neutral pressmagnet having two oppositely-wound windings, and two local circuits respectively connected with the front and back stops of the relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, one winding of each magnet being included in one local circuit and the other winding ot' each magnet beingincluded in the other local circuit.

G. The combination, substantially as set forth, with a type wheel or carrier, of a mainline-circuit breaker actuated with said typecarrier, the transmitting-keys connected with the circuit-breaker, a main-line relay, two local circuits respectively connected to the front and back contacts of the main-line relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, and type-carrier and press-mag nets included in both local circuits.

7. The combination, substantially asset forth, with a type wheel or carrier and impression devices, of a main-line relay, two local circuits respectively connected with the front and back contacts ot said relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, and type-carrier and press-magnets included in both local circuits.

S. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a type wheel or carrier and impression devices, a main-line relay, two local circuits respectively connected with the front and back stops of said relay and both connected with the relay-armature lever, a polarized type-carrier magnet having two separate and distinct windings, and a neutral pressmagnet having two separate and distinct windings, one winding of each magnet being included in one local circuit and the other winding ot' each magnet being included in the other local circuit.

.l. A unison device for printing-telegraphs, consisting of the lever N, havingalatch `a and beak I, in combination with the press-lever having a notch o and the unison-pin on the type-wheel shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HENRY VAN llOE\f*ENBERGl-I.

iilitnesses:

EDWARD C. DAvInsoN, LLoYD B. WIGHT.

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