US5957A - Improvement in copying surfaces by electricity - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER BAIN, oF VLONDON, ENGLAND.

l' Specification fcrmingpilrt'of Letters Patent No. 5,957, lated December 5, 1848.

messages may besent-from one place to another at a distance, and for which said improve- Uments I seek Letters Patent of the United L States, as the same areshown in the specifica- 'tion'of a patent issued to me under'the' Great -Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland onthe 27th day of May, 1843, and which specification was duly enrolled'the 27th dayof November,- intho same'year, wherein the said invention and improvements were fully and substantially set forth, as hereinafter described and shown, reference being had to the drawings annexed, which show my improvements for taking copies of surfaces-for instance, the surface of printers types-at disy tant places.

In these drawings the conjoined figure in Sheet 1 represents certain improvements in electric timepieces, as the same are employed by me for the purpose 'of giving isochronous movements to the transmitting and copying portions of the machinery, and shows a method of making twopendulums at a distance regulate each other so as to keep the same time. The like marks of reference apply to the/same parts in both portions of this figure. `In these A A are the backs of the-inclosing-cases. B B aretwo pendulums, of the same length, suspended at N N. C C are two permanent magnets. F F are two multiplied coils of wire at-' tached to the springs D D. G G are two similar catches, one attached to each of the pendulum-bobs. L L is a. section of the earth. H K are plates of metal. O is a galvanic battery with one pole connected with'theplateK. To the other pole is connected or attached the wire M, which leads up to the spring D. This is in connection with one end of the coil F, the other end being connected with the metallic catch E. The end of a similar wire is connected with the catch G of the pendulum and led up the rod into connection with the lower end 'of the pendulum spring, the springs of the two pendulums being connected by the top wireM,. lThe connections are similar at the other pendulum, and the current returned by the earth, as shown by the arrows at L. The pendulums will be kept'in motion by clocks in the ordinary manner, and made to move in theV same direction and at the same time. When the two pendulums are near the extremity of their vibrations to the left and the catches on the bobs are in contact with the catches beneath the electric circuit is completed, and the attracted by the magnets, and thus depressing' the catches E E, and by these means allowing the catches G to pass over them, and when the peudulumshave passed over the catch E the currentis broken until upon their return vibration the faces of the catches G come into contact with the faces of the catches E and should one pendulum arrive at this point first it must remain until the other comes up to the like point at the other station to complete the electic circuit, when the catchesE will be again depressed by the attraction of the magnets and both pendulums be released simultaneously.

Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2, represent two machines for transmitting and receiving copies of surfaces, one of which 'machines may be considered as .at Boston and the other at New York. These'two instruments are in every respect the counterparts of each other except X2, Fig. 2, from which the message is sent. AA A is a strong wood frame; B B, a metal frame filled with short insulated wires parallel of the frame. These may be put in as follows: The small wires are previously insulated by thread in the usual manner, then cut into lengths of about an inch, and as manyput into the frame as that will receive. Then pour between them. When cold, grind and polish to a plane and smooth surface on both sides ush with the frame, as' represented by the numerous dots. "D D are pendulums, which are kept in constant motion by powerful clocks Q.Q. The motions of these pendulums are kept isochronous by electric coils and permacurrent will pass through the pendulums and r wires, at the same causing the coils F F- to be to each other, and at rightangles to the plane .a quantity of liquid sealing-wax on and to fill nent magnets, as shown in Sheet l. These coils and magnets serve no'other purpose and do -not act in or form any part of the long telegraphic circuit in which the electric current travels when the marks are making by the current. 'K is a steel-spring carried by the pendulum, the extreme end rubbing gently upon the surfaceformed by the insulated wires in th'e frame B B. L is a spring fixed to the wood frame. Thefree end of this sprin gpresses upon the metal frame B B. M isa slight spring carried by the pendulum, having a piu projecting through the pendulum that presses gently upon the wood frame N. U andV are two metal studs ush with Vthe frame N. W is a permanent magnet. E is a voltaic battery. 'I Tare sections of the earth. S S is carbon. It R It are coiulucting-wires. C C is a piece of clock mechanism, Vto which the metal franws y B B act as weights. O I are two pins in the slide-spindle P2. Kisa coil ot' insulated wire suspended by two insulated -springs at Y, to

. which are attached conducting-wires. W is a second permanent magnet. Zis a sprinfr.

When a communication is to be made I proceed in the following manner: I rst set up the types composing the communication in the usual manner in a metal frame, which fits into metallic contact with the back ci' the frame B B, Fig. 2, Sheet 2, with the printing-surface in contact with the back ends ot' the small parallel wires. In the Vdistant frame B B, Fig. l, Sheet 2, will be kept placed two thicknesses of damp paper previously saturated with a solution composed of equal parts of prnssiate of potassa and nitrate ot'soda, and at the back of the paper a smooth metal plate, pressing the paper into contact with the ends ot' the parallel wires and exactly fitting the frame B B. lhe operator, having set up his types and placed them in the frame B B, Fig. 2, Sheet 2, then joins the connecting-wire at X2, and when the pendulums are at the extreme ends ot' their vibrations-that is, when the pins in the springs M M come upon the studs U U or V V-a current is sent through the coils X, which are then repeiled by the permanent magnets W', and, pressing upon the slide-spindles, releases one pin of the top wheel, which allows the wheels to make one-eighth of a revolution. When the pins carried by the springs M M are oii' the studs U U or V V the current is broken, and the coils being no longer repelled by the magnets, the springs Z Z ,force the. spindles s spring K in Sheet 2, Fig. 2, willonly take the current from the short Wires whose in ner poi n ts are in contact with some portion .of the type, the current will pass at that point and no other, and consequently the current will be delivered at a corresponding point through the paper in the frame B B of Fig. l, Sheet 2, and this operation will produce a copy of the printing-surfaces of the type in a seriesof small dots in the paper by the electric current decomposing the substance and changing the color of the moist chemical compound in the paper.

For simplicity-in the representation and references, only one conducting-wire' and one spring-K are shown in the drawings, Sheet 2,' as used with each instrument; butin'practice these maybe varied and used so as to copy an entire line ot' types at each vibration of the pendulums.

It is also evident that a copy of any other surface composed ot conducting and noncon ducting materials can be transmitted and taken by these means.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let In witness whereofl I have hereunto signed my name, in the city of Washington, this 18th dav of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ferty-eight.

ALEXANDER BAIN. Witnesses:

B. K. MonsELL, W..SERRELL.

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