US619410A - Telegraph-key attachment - Google Patents

Description

N0. 6|9,4|0. Patented Feb. I4, i899. A. J. HENDRICKS.

TELEGRAPH KEY ATTACHMENT.

(Application led Aug. 80, 1898.) (No Model.)

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ATnNT ARTHUR J. HENDRICKS, OF CROCKETT, NEV YORK. l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,410, dated February 14, 1899,

Application iiled August 30, 1898. Serial No. 689,835. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. I-IENDRIcKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Crockett, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Telegraph-Key Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph-key attachments; and it has for its object to provide a new and useful attachment of this character capable of general application to all ordinary types of telegraphie key instruments and designed to provide simple and efcient means for automatically closing the circuit through the key and maintaining the circuit closed when the operator leaves the instrument.

To this end the main and primary object of the invention is to provide means for ob- 4 viating the possibility of a telegraph operator through carelessnessor neglect leaving the transmitting-key open when not in use and thereby shutting off the whole line.

With this obj ect in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the herein-described circuit-closing attachment for telegraphic keys shown applied for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the telegraphic key and the circuitclosing attachment connected therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates a telegraphic key of any approved type and having the usual circuit-Wire connections therewith, said telegraphic key being mounted on the operators table 2 by means of the ordinary securingbolts 3, which perform their usual function of binding-posts for the attachment of the line-wire terminals thereto. Asis common in the ordinary types of telegraphic keys, one of the combined securing-bolts and binding-posts 3 supports at its upper end the usual anvil-contact 4, which is located beneath the contact-stud 5 of the key-lever 6, carrying at one end the usual finger-piece 7 and at its opposite end the contactscrew 8.

The construction described involves the essential partsof an ordinary telegraphic transmitting instrument or key, and to provide for normally holding the key-lever in a position for closing the circ-uit through the instrument I contemplate the employment of a fiat contact-spring 9. This iat or leaf contact-spring 9 is provided at one end with a bolt-opening receiving the combined securing-bolt and binding-post 3, supporting the anvil-contact 4, so that when said combined bolt and post is tightened up one end of the spring 9 is held rigidly in metallic contact with the anvil-contact 4, so as to beincluded in the circuit therewith. From its point of connection with the anvil-contact 4 the spring extends longitudinally beneath the key-lever 6 and is provided at its free end with an upturned terminal 10, which normally exerts a pressure against the operating end of the lever and holds the contacts 4 and 5 out of engagement, while at the same time providing for closing the circuit through the key-lever. The free end of the contact-spring 9 has attached thereto one end of a flexible pull connection 11, which .passes through an insulated guide-bushing 12, inserted Within the operators table 2, and is connected at its other end beneath the table to an operating-lever 13. This operating lever 13 may be of any desired form, such as a knee-swell lever or the like, but is preferably in the form of a treadle, as illustrated in the drawings. The lleXible pull connection 11 is connected to the swinging end of the treadle 13, whose other end may be con'- veniently hinged or pivoted, as at 14, to the floor, andthe free end of said treadle may be held normally elevated by means of an elevating-spring 15 arranged therebeneath.

Normally the effect of the elevating-spring 15 is to slacken the pull connection l1, so that the contact-spring will press against the key-lever of the instrument in the manner described; but when the operator sits down at the table to transmit a message the pressure of the foot on the treadle 13 will provide for depressing the free end of the spring 9 and open up the instrument, so that it can be used in the usual way. When the operator leaves the table and the instrument,the spring 9 resumes its normal position and automatic-V ally closes the circuit through the instrument, so that it will not be necessary for the oper ator to exercise any care in this respect.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a telegraphic key, of a circuitclosing leaf-sprin g connected at one end with the anvil-contact of the instrument, and provided at the free end with an upturned terminal normally exerting a pressure against the operating end of the key-lever, a

Xedly-positioned guide-bushing, a pull connection for the free end of said spring passing through said guide-bushing, and a controlling-lever connected with said pull connection, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR J. HENDRICKS.

Witnesses:

MILTON E. MARSH, J. EDWARDS.

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