US867900A - Telegraph-transmitter. - Google Patents

Description

No. 867,960. A PATBNTED 00T. s, 1907.

' s J. G.' BARCLA'T.

TELBGRAPH TRANSMITTER. APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 24, 1905.

' SSHEETS-SHEET 3.

j WITNESSES ATTQTTEY cnrrnn seit '.lt) HN C.. lMRULAY, OF NEW YORK-,N ,"ASVS'IGNOR TO WESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ne Pa n'5F-,ICE 'i Specification of'Letters Patent.

ratnted oct. s, 1907.

Application filed March 24, 1905. Serial No. 5103.

vfull, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in telegraph transmitters, and particularly to improvements in keyboard telegraph transmitters wherein a series of keys marked according tothe various characters to be trans-v mitted telcgraphically are arranged to operate means whereby, when each key is operated, the corresponding character is transmitted.

' The particular key-board transmitter herein illustrated is particularly intended for use in connection with apago-printing telegraph printer, such for example as illustratedand described in 'my Patent No.

' 787,608, dated Apr. 1S, 1905', butmy invention is not limited to use in connection with printing telcgraphs, or to any particular code' of transmission, but is applicable for telcgraphic transmission generally, and may transmit yaccording toany code desired.

My improved keyboard t telegraph transmitter herein -illustrated and described comprises a plurality oi adjustable stops or circuit-control]ingdeviccs, adj ustably mounted in amoving carrier, and arranged to be adjusted imposition, according to the character to be transmitted, so as to represent physically that character;

' '-lheohjects of my inventionare, to'improve and simplify keyboard telegraph transi'nitteis; to render the same'certain and rapid in-operation; to adapt the same for the employment of approved types of transmitting' contact mechanism; to. avoid unnecessary delay between characters transmitted; and to makethe machine easy to operate, easy to inspect and keepin ord'er, simple, rapid in operation, and 4relatively inexpensive.

l will now proceed to describe my inventiony with ref! erence to lthe accompanying drawings, which illustrate 'i one embodimentthereof, and will then point out the novel features in claims. v

In the said drawings;-Figure 1 shows a front view and partial section of the transmitter, a portion of the and each surrounded by a light spiral spring, 3, the

Apoints commonly employed in keyboardbeing broken away. Fig, 2 shows a detail side view of the revolving carrier and adjustablestops i or circuit-controlling devices i said transmitter, lpart: of the stops being omitted. Fig. 3 shows aside view and partialsection of the transmitter; Fig. 4 shows a top view of the keyboard and associated parts of the transmitter, the contact mechanism and associated' parts being omitted. Fig. 5 is a detail end view rand partial section on the line 5&5, Fig. 3, showingthe lock- I ing ratchet 49 and associated parts. Fig. 6 shows a detail section ofthe clutch through the line (5-6 of Figo.

Referring now to thefdrawings, numeral 1 designates a revoluble drum, or carrier, provided, near its periphery, with a circular rowor series of adjustable stopstorcircuit-controlling devices, 2, arranged longitudinally,

only function oi which is to-retard slightly, by friction,

longitudinal motion of the stop. i.

Drum 1 is arranged to be rotated, being mounted upon a shaft 4, arranged to be driven, through a clutch 5, by a gear wheel 6. Any suitableI means may be employed for driving gear 6, 4such as an electric motor, a weight, a. spring7 etc. I do not illustrate,iand' do not limit myself to, any particular type oi motor for .the

purpose. i

The Contact mechanism, for transmitting the signals, which I prefer to use, is similar to that of the well known Wheatstone automatic transmitter, but is-not controlled by a perforated tape, asin theiWheatstone instrument, .the drum 1 and its stops serving in lieu o a perforated tape. Said Contact mechanism', sliown particularly in Figs. l, and 3, comprises a pivotcd contact arm, 7, pivotcd at 8, and arranged to make contact alternately'with stops 9 and It). These stops, and the central pivot 8, constitute circuit. terminals; and these cir- 'sides of arm 7, are provided. Links 12 and 14 have sliding connections with contact arm 7, permitting- 4some lost motion. Springs 15 act upon the bell-cranks,

tending to cause each bell-crank to move the contact, armv 7 toward the corresponding Contact stop, 9 or 10.'y Motion of the bell-cranks isproduced, however, by the action of a vibrating rocker, 16, arranged to be rocked V by a link 17 and crank 18, the latter driven by suitable gearing 19 irom shaft 4. Saidrocker .carries pins 2() and 21, engaging armsof thebell-'cranks 11 and 13, as'

shown, the rate ofl oscillation of rocker 16 being tlie same as the rate of passage of the stops 2 past a given point, during the rotation oi drum 1. v

Each time the right-hand end oi rocker 16 rises,

v so as to move substantially vertically. The ends of spring te'nds to cause bell-crank 11 and link 12 to moge contact arm 7 into Contact with stop 9;. and each time the left-hand end of rocker 16 rises, spring15 tends the stops 2, through th lagency of pins 22`and 23, carried by bellcranks 11 and 13 respectively, and guided these pins are just beneath the stops 2. Each ofsuch stops is provided with recesses 24,'and as the rotation of the drum 1 brings the stops successivelyover pins 22 and i 23, either pin 23 or pin 22 will be in registry over said pins, according as the said stop 'is in its irornial position or has been' pressed inward. Neither pin 22 nor pin 23,

can rise enough to'effect a change in the position of Vcontact arm 7, unlessfa recess. 24 isin registry, so thatiit i v may move upinto said recess. In other words, in the normal adjustment of stops 2, pin 22 cannot rise mate riallyduring the reciprocation of the'carrier 16, and therefore, Contact arm 7 is stationary, normally, in the position indicated in Fig. 1, in contact with stop 10;4

while on 'the other hand', pin 23 is normally free to rise,

, since normally all of the stopsJ-as they pass over the 25 - pins 22 and 23, have eacha recess 24 in registry with pin 23.'A But when, as pin 22 starts to rise, the stop 2 opposite the end of such-pin at that instant has been i pressed in, so that one of its recesses 24v is in registry,

said pin 22 continues to rise', causing the contactY arm 7 to shiftinto contact with stop 9, so initiating a sign'al. If only one stop hasbeen pressed in, then when rocker arm 16 causes pin l22 to move downward, upward motion of pin723 will he permitted, a recess 24 of the next adjacent stop 2 being above said pin, and pin 23 Will Irise, moving contact armp? backinto contact with stop 410, and terminatingv the signal, whichwill thus be of minimum length-viz., a dot; but if say threeadjacent stops 2 have been pressed in, at its f irst attempt pin 23 will be prevented from rising; and it will not be until the fourth stop, counting from the rst stop pressed in, is opposite pin 23 that `the latter can rise and reverse the position of Contact arm 7.` It will be obvious therefore,

that when three adjacent stops ,are pressed in, the con# tact arm 7 remains'in contactwith stop 9'longcr than When only one stop -is-pressed in. Similarly, if five adjacent stops are pressed in, a still longer signal will result. v Y

It is not essential that a single stop 2 pressed in shall represent a dot,` and three stops pressed in shall reprosent a dash; a plurality of stops, asA for example three, may be employed to transmit allot, and a. still higher number a dash; and .the dashes, Tand the intervals between the dots and dashes, may he of varying lengths. it will be noted that the stops 2, when adjusted to produce the dots and dashes of a character of a telegraphic code, in effect constitute a physical representation of that character.

A jockey 26 tends to hold contact arm] in either of its extreme positions, and so overcomes the tendency of the friction of links l2, when sliding through the contact arm, to shift said arm improperly.

Th(l drum l is shown as provided with more stops or circuit controlling devices 2 than will bc rcquircd for anyone character of any of the telegraph codescomnionly used. All of the'stops required for any one the ordinary manner.

telegraph `character are adjusted simultaneously, by means directly actuated by thc kcy-lcvcrs; and whilc the stops arc being adjusted in position to make thc desired character, therotatiouof thc drum l is stopped momentarily through the opcningof the clutch 5 and the Operation of locking means hereinafter described. As soon as the adjustment of the stops is completo, tho

V'rotation ofthe drum l begins again, and as tho stops of the character to be transmitted pass the pins'22 and 23 they control the upward movcmcnt of said pins and the oscillation of the contactarm 7 in such manner as to lcausethe transmission of thc character i'cprcscntcfl by the adjustment 'of the stops. After each stop passes the pins 22 and`23'it encounters a rcsctting cam 27, by Whichall of the stops which have been prcssod in or hack are pressed out again, and are tlms prepared to be adjusted for another character.

4In the transmitter herein illustrated, l employ for setting the 'stops 2, a keylboard provided with suitable selecting mechanism and with vmechanical connections to pushpins 30 suitably guided and arranged inthel are of a circle opposite the ends of stops 2. Numcrals 31 designate the said keys, and 32 thc key-levers. -The finger keys may beA marked the samc as the keys of a typewriter, each with the particular letter or character to which it corresponds; in fact, key-levcrs 31 and 32 may be the key-levers of a typewriter, being provided with connections, such as 33, for operating the printing and othcr mechanism of a' typewriter in l do not illustrate thc mechanism of any type-writer, other than the kcys, keylevcrs and connections 33, as such mechanism forms no porltion of my invention, and thc selccting mechanism herein illustrated and described may hc operated in the manner illustrated by the key-levers of most if not all of the well-known typewriters,

Beneath the key-levers 32 are a plurality of b'ails 34, pivotcd at- 35,' and the kcy-l'cvcrs are provided with a plurality of notches, 3G, corresponding in position to the bails 34 which said key-levers arc not to actuato when depressed. Each key-lever is notched diffcrently from all ofthe others, and therefore each kcyllcvcr when depressed, actuatcs a characteristic combination of hails 34. These hails 34 arc connected by links to bell-cranks 78. 'Ihe upper arms of thcsc bcllcranks are curved, as shown in Fig. 1, so that their ends are in an arc of a circle approximately concentric with the axis of drum 1; and these cnds nre connected to the push-pins by which the stops 2 arc pressed in.

For operating the clutch 5, through which thc`drum 1 is driven, a master-bail 79 'is provided. This bail -actuatcs a lever 80, which has a yiclding connection, through a spring 8l, with a bell-crank C2 crmnectcd by link 44 with the clutch-operating lcvcr 45. 'lo urrcst the rotation of shaft 4 when thc clutch is opcncd, a

locking disk 49, fast to shaft 4, is provided; and lcvcr 45 is provided with tooth 50 arranged, when said lever is depressed to open the clutch, to enter one of the various notches in said-locking disk and ar'rcst and ccntcr the drum 1. To aid in bringing thc drum l to rest `in proper position, and to insure that it shall remain steady until shaft/l is rcleascd and tlnI clutch 5 closed, l furthrr provide a friction drag, consisting of a flanged disk 5], driven by gear G, and a springr 52, within the flange of said disk, one` ond of said spring sassari l. a'

spring is of sufficient stifiness'to overcome the clutch spring 48, communicates motion to lever-82 and clutchlever or lock-lever 45, opening the clutch and stopping the drum 1f This occurs beore any oi the selecting bails 34 have been depressed.v As they key-lever is depressed further, the appropriate 4selecting bails 34l are depressed (the spring 8l compressing tev permit further motion of the 'keydever afterlocking tooth-.50 has reached the limit of its movement) and the corre.- sponding push-pins are pressed in, pressing in the correspoiiding sti'ips 2. When th'e linger key is released,

the puslupins 30 are lfirst withdrawn, and then the lever 82 is Ipermitted .to rise, the tooth 50 clearing the lock-V n ing di'sk 49 and the clutch 5 closing. When any finger master-bail, which have' been depressed, are returned by' suitable springs, such as 56 and 57.

When 'myI improved transmitter is to be used in connection with printing telegraphs of the pageprinting type, as ior example the printing telegraph illustrated and -described in my Patent No. 787,608, I employ means for indicating when the end of the line is ap preached, so that the transmitting operator may operate 4the release or carriage-return key at the proper time. The indicating means for this purpose illustrated in the drawing consists of a wheel 58, upon the periphery of which may be any suitable scale or lmarks to indicate the position of the carriage oi the receiving printer, and a mark to indicate the end of the line. This wheel is rotated by a ratchet wheel 59, connected to it, and arranged to be rotated step by step, as the keys.- are operated successively, by a ratchet operated by -a universal bar 6l which is beneath the key-levers vand is 'depressed by each such lever wh en the latter is actuated. A locking disk 62, likewise 4driven with the ratchet wheel, is provided with a notch 63 which a lock ing lever 64 enters when the end of the line is reached, thereby locking the keys; for since the ratchet Wheel 59 cannot move whenv the disk 62 is so locked, neither. can the ratchet 60 and the universal bar 61;`and the latter holds the key-levers from being depressed.

The returnkofthe cairiage of the receiving printer is accomplished by the depression oi a key, marked f Release in the representation oi the key-board, Fig. 4. Such key is arranged, when depressed, to operate a corresponding combination of selecting bails 34 as do the other keys of the key board. This release key is provided with a projectiont65 (Figfl) whichlencoun'- ters a leverv67 and-presses it aside before said release key, or more properly the key lever thereof, encounters the universal bail 61. The lever 67, when so pressed aside, 'operates locking lever 64 lthrough a link 68, re-. leasing the disk 62; and then'the release key lever, en-

. countering the universal bar 61,7depresses the saine,

described maybe omitted, as the carriage of the typef,

writer, and the indicator customarily provided in connection therewith, serves the same purpose as the disk 62.

.tact with stop 9, and so initiating a signal.

The operation of my improved transmitter is as followsz'Norinally, the transmitting contact mechanism is in the position shown, shaft 4 and drum 1 being in rotation', rocker. 16 oscillating, and the pin22 of the contactmechanism being stationary, being prevented from rising, Awhen its rise would be permitted by the rocker 1 6, by the stops 2; While pin 23 is moving up and-down with its corresponding endof the rocker -16,

recesses 24.0f all of the stops 2 being in line withpin 23 as they pass over said pin; but this vibration of pin 23 does not change the position of contact arm 7. l Supposingnow that one ofthefinger keys be depressed, the depression of such key causes the depression of the master-bail 79, and of an appropriate combination of selecting bails 34. By the depression of bail 79 mo vtion is transmitted through spring 8l to the lever 45,

which lever thereupon opens the clutch 5 and engages' 78 to the-corresponding push-pins 30, and these pushi pins in turn Vpress in the stops 2 which are` opposite the ends of the push-pins so actuated at the instant. As "Y soon as the-Jnger key is released, the push-pins are withdrawnout of engagement with the stops 2, being Withdrawn so far as to clear 'the ends of such stops 2 as have not been pressed in, and then, through the rise of the master-bail 79the tooth 50 oi lever45 releases stop Wheel 49, and clutch 5 is permitted to close, and the sliait4and drum 1 begin to rotate. The first stop 2will have been pressed in, and thereforefpin 22 will be permitted to rise, andi in so doing, will reverse the contact 'arm 7, causing the same to coinpleteconsupposing the Irst current impulse oi a signal to be transmitted l to be a shoit impulse or dot, and further assuming (as will be supposed to be the case) that one stop when pressed in corresponds to a dot, and three stops when pressed in correspond to a dash, then When'pin A22 is the signal.

7 is moved back into contact with stop l0, terminating If, however, the first pulse of a signal is a dash, three stops having been pressed in, then at the first attempt of pin 23 to rise, 'such rise will be prevented, the recess 24 oi thesecond stop 2 not bein g over the'end of pin 23; but when tlie'fourth slop (counting from the one irst pressed in) is over pin 23, said pin will be permitted to rise, and in so doing, will reverse contact arm 7,'terminating the signal. It will be seen that by pressing in suitable combinations ofthe stops 2, any desired telegraph ic signal may .the contact mechanism engage.

l by the selecting mechanism, and except that the pins i ythe .transmitter having'mechanical Connections beto the'pa'rticular details oflconstruction, arrangement.

v trolling; devices'comprising controlling members, moans said members.

mitter which is similar except that the pushpins 3() l' are actnated by electromagncts electrically controlled 22 and 23 .ot the transmitting'contact mechanism engage the ends oi the stops 2 instead of entering recesses in said stops. In said application I have claimed the invention broadly an'd also have claimed specifically; the transmitter having` the electrical connection between the devices for adujsting the stops and the keyhoard. In thi'sapplication therefore., I'claim merely l tween the devices foradjusting the stops and the keyboard, and theconstruction involving the use of stops having recesses With which the controlling devices vof It is obvious that various forms of mechanism for adjusting the stops bythe action ofthe finger keys may he employed.; that the transmitter herein illustrated. and described-is. susceptible of many other variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope oi my invention, andffnrther, that certainV parts may be used inv connection with other parts of different construction; I 'do not limit myselfl therefore and operation herein illustrated and described.

What I claim isz- A 1. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier, adjustable circuit-controlling devices carried thereby', and mechanical adjusting means therefor, of a keyboard, selecting mechanism operated thereby mechanically connected with and adapted to operate said adjusting, means,land contact mechanism comprisiincr controlling members adapted to be vibrated but arranged to be controlled iii such vibration by said circuit-controllincr devices. driving means automatically operated adapted to vibrate said members, and contact means operated by the vibration of said members. v

2. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier. means for -driviner the same adjustable circoit-controlling devices carried' thereby, and mechanical adjusting means therefor, of a keyboard, selecting mechanism operated thereby mechanically connected with and adapted to operate said adjusting` means, means oper-v ated by'said'keyboard for arrestingr the motion of' said carrier prior 1o and during the enea-gement of the cil'- cnil-conirollinf.,r devices thereof by said adjusting means. and .contact mechanism controlled by saidcii-cuit-'conother than said circuit-controlling devices for vibrating: the same, and contact means operated by the vibration oi' 3. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable c: Vricr. means for driving the saine, comprising: a clutch.-adjustable circuit-controlling devices carried by said carrier. and mechanical adjusting means therefor, ol" a keyboard. selecting mechanism operated thereby niechanically connected with and adapted to operate said adjusting means, means operated by said keyboard for opening'and closingr said clutch, and arranged to'open the same prior to engagement of said circuit-conirolling devices by said adjusting means, and to close said clutch subsequent to the disengagement oi' said circuit-controllinel means by said adjusting meansand contact mechanism controlled by said circuit-controlling' devices.

4. ln a telegraph transmitter; the combination with a movable carrier, means for driving the same comprising a clutch, adjustable' circuit-control]ing devices carried thereby, and push-pins for adjusting` said circuit-controlling: devices, of a keyboard, selecting",r mechanism operated thereby mechanically connected with and adapted to oper- -for said carrier, means for openinfate said push-pins, means operated by said keyboard for opening.,Y said clutch prior to the. engagement of said pushp ins with said circnit-controlling devices and for closing; said clutch after disengagement 'of said circuit-controlling devices by said push-pins, and contact: mechanism controlled in its operation by said circuit-controlling: devices.

In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier, means for driving;r the same comprising a clutch, adjustable circuit-controlling,r devices carried thereby. and push-pins for adjusting said circuit-controllingr devices, of a keyboard, selectingr mechanism operated thereby mechanically 'connected with and adapted to operatt` said .push-pins, means operated by said keyboard for opening: said clutch prior to the enaaaemcnt oi said push-pins with said circuit-conirolling devi( s and for closing said clutch after disengagcmni of said circuitcontrolling devices bysaid push-pins, and contact nicchalr ism comprising.: controlling members, means for vibratini,Y the same, and contact means operated by the vibration oi' said members.

6. In a telegraph transmitter the combination with a movable carrier, nleans for driving the same, adjustable stops carried thereby, and mechanical mijns-tine,V means for setting; said stops, of a keyboard, selecting` mechanism operated thereby mechanically connected with and adapted to operate said adjusting means, and contact mechanism movable carrier, adjustable stops carried thereby, means l for driving: the carrier comprising: a clutch, loeking'mcans for said carrier, and mechanical adjusting.: means for sci.- ting.;r said stops, of a keyboard. selecting;r mechanism oper- Vated thereby mechanically connected with and adapted to operaie said adjusting,r means, clutch-olnirating and lockopcrating means operated by said keyboard in advance of the adjustment of. said stops and subsequent io the disengagement of the stops by said adjusting means, and contact mechanism controlled by said stops.

S. ln a telef'raph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier, adjustable stops carried thereby, means for driving: the carrier comprisimcy a clutch, lockinar means for said carrier, and mechanical adjusting means for settiny; said stops, of a keyboard, selecting mechanism oporated thereby mechanically connected with and adapted to operaie said adjusting means, means operated by said keyboard vfor opening said clutch and opel-alim; said locking means prior to the engagement' of said stops by the adjusting,r means, compri. ne; an elastic connection bctween the keyboard and locking means, and Contact mechanism controlled by said clutch.

.9. ln a`telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier, adjustable stops carried thereby, means for driving* the carrier comprising: a clutch. locking means for said carrier, means for openingr said clutch and operating said locking means to lock thc carrier, and for releasing.: said carrier and closing said clutch. and mechanical adjusting means for setting said stops, of a keyboard, means operated mechanically by said keyboard for adjusting said stops diiterently for cach diIcrent kcy depressed, and means operated by the keys of said keyboard when depressed for operating' said clutch and locking' mcan's. i'

1i). ln a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier, adjustable stops carried thereby, means for driving,r the carrier comprising' a clutch, lockingy means id clnich and operating.: said locking menus to lock-the carrier` and for releasing said carrier and closing the clutch, and mechanical adjusting means for setting said stops. of a ldyboard. means mechanically operated by said keyboard for adjustingsaid stops differently tor cach dilTercni kcy depressed,

.and means operated b v the keys ot' said keyboard when boardy means operated mechanically by said keyboard for adjusting said circuit controlling devices diierently for each dilferent key operated, and contact mechanism com` prising controlling members adapted to be vbrated but arranged to be controlled in such vibration by said circuitcontrollingdevices, means for vibrating said. members, and Contact means operated by the vibration of said members. u

12. Inal telegraph transmitter, the combination -of a movable carrier, means for driving the same; and adjust- `able.circuit-controlling devices carried `thereby, of contact mechanism comprising controlling members adapted to be` vibrated toward and from said circuit-controlling devices, said devices having recesses adapted to be entered by said controlling members, and means for adjusting said circuitcontrolling devices differently for each diiferent character to be transmitted. y l

13. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination o! a movable carrier, means for driving the same, anda plurality of movable stops carried thereby, of contact mechanism comprising controllingr members adapted to oe vihrated toward and from said stops, said stops having recesses adapted to register vwith one or another of said controlling members according to the adjustment of the stops, and means for adjusting'said stops differently for each different character to be transmitted.

14. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination yvvitha devices, and a master-bar operated by all of said keys,

arranged to open said clutch prior ,to engagement of said circuit-controlling devices bythe adjusting means therefor, l l and to close said clutch after disengagement of said cir-H cuit-controlling devices by said adjustingvmeans, l

15. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier, circuit-controlling devices carried thereby, and means for driving said carrier comprising a clutch, of finger keys, selecting mechanism, means for adjusting said circuit-controlling devices, and a master-bar operated by said finger keys and controlling said clutch.

16. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a movable carrier,circuit-controlling devices carried thereby, and means for diviving said carrier comprising a clutch and a Jock', of finger keys, selecting mechanism, means for adjusting said circuit-controlling devices, and a master-bar operated by said finger keys and means operated thereby for operating said clutch and lock, comprisingr a yielding connection.

17. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a revoluble drum, adjustable sliding stops carried thereby,

andmeans for driving said drum, of aikeyboard, .electingmeans operated thereby, a plurality of levers arranged with their ends opposite stops of said drum and provided l' means operated thereby, a plurality of levers having their portions adjacent to said druin bent to bring their ends yopposite stops of said drum, said levers .provided with JOHN c. BARCLAY.

Witnesses:

FRANK KiL'roN, C. A. VAN BnUN'r.

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