US9634A - Improvement in electric telegraphs - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l.

M. G. PARMER. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

' Patented Mar. 29; 1858.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M. G. FARMER. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

No. 9,634. Patented Mar. 29, 1858.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES Gr. FARMER, 0F SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,634, dated March 29, 1853.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MOSES GsFARMER, of Salem, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Electric Telegraphs, which Iterm the Synchronous Telegraph and I; do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, letters, figures, and references thereof.

The object of my invention is to enable a common telegraphic circuit extending between any two places to be used by two or more operators at the same time, instead ofbut one operator, as it is at present; or, in other words, suppose that we are to have tour operators stationed at one end of the line and each conducting or operating a signal key or instrument for breaking or closing the circuit, also that we wish to communicate with fourpcrsons at the other end of the line by means-of four signalinstruments there placed, we make use of two wires between the two places. One of these wires is used for the purpose of conveyingthe communication between the two places. It may be termed the primary or writing wire or line. The other wireor line,and whichmay be termed the secondary wire or main line for working,is used to bring the fourinstrumeuts at each station into alternate communication with the common communication or primary wire in the following mannerthat is to say: Let the instruments atone of the stations be numbered 1 2 3 4 and those at the other station be numbered 1 2 3 4. Now, by the action of machinery, No. l at one station or termimus of the line will be in connection with the common communication-wire for an instant precisely at the time that No. l at the other station or terminus will be in connection with the samewire. The two instruments Nos. 1 and 1 at both places will therefore be in communication with one another for such briefinstant of time. At the next instant the No. 2 at one station and No. 2 at the other will be put in connection with the common wire, and of course with one another, the Nos. 1 and 1' having been thrown out of connection therewith. During the next instant Nos. 3 and 3 will be put in connection with the common wire and with each other, the other wires being out of connection therewith. During the next instant Nos. 4 and 4 will be put in like connection with the com monwire and each other. During the fifth instant Nos. 1 and 1 will be again put in connection with each other, and thus, in regular succession, corresponding numbers are put in connection with the primary wire and with each other. If, therefore, these connections are made to rapidly recur-say at the rate of about twenty per secoud-each of the four instruments at one end of a line will seem to be in-constantconnection with its fellow number at the other end thereof, and willhave' no connection with any other instrument while the machinery keeps in adjustment. Should by any means the adjustment of the machinery become deranged, I have the necessary means at hand to readjust it, and this in a second or two of time, all of which will be hereinafter particularly explained.

Of the drawings above mentioned, Figure 1 represents a top view of my said synchronous telegraph. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the machines 'stationed at each terminus. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the other side of it. Fig. 4 is a vertical central and longitudinal section ofit. Fig. 5 is a'transverse section of it-as taken through the escapementwhcel and circuit-wheels to be hereinafter described, and as looking toward what are hereinafter termed the two local magnets. Fig. 6 is another transverse and vertical section, taken through the column or post that supports the springs of the circuit-wheels, said figure being made to exhibit the magnet ot' the primary circuit, its vibrating or pendulous armature, and the screws thereof at the opposite end of the machine.

The synchronous machine, at one terminus of the telegraph is identical with that at the other terminus. One of these machines in Fig. -1 is marked A and the other B. In de scribing one machine I therefore describe the other. It consists, in general, of an escapewheel, G, some power actuating this wheel or giving it a tendency to rapidly rotate, necessary detents toarrest and keep up the motion of this wheel, and some apparatus to control the action of the said detents, so that the detent of one of the synchronous machines shall move at precisely the same instant and in the same manner as does the corresponding detent of the other machine at the other terminus of the telegraph. By this means the motions of one escape-wheel will be the same or synchronous with those of the other. If the detentsare moved by the action of electromagnets, the opening and closing of the electric' circuit in which said magnets are placed will cause the movements of the two wheels to take. place at the same time. In the particular machine before us the escapementwheel Ois made with fourteen teeth. ;Itis operated by two independentpallets, D E, that are made to respectively project from two vibrating levers, F G, that turn on fulcra at their'lower ends, and

have armatures H I arranged between said 7 fnlcra and the pallets, as seen in the drawings. To each lever a spring, K or L, is applied and made to operate in such manner as to draw the pallet 'of such lever toward and against the escapement-wheel. The pallet is thus, by the force of a spring, drawn against the inclined plane or edge of a tooth of the escapementwheel, and tends to push the wheel forward or give to ,it a. rotation in the direction of the arrow a. While one pallet is at the bottom of a tooth the other is acting on the opposite edge of the tooth, and at about midway of the depth of the tooth, and by its pressure against such edge of the tooth it will cause the wheel to revolve when the other pallet is next drawn away from it. The pallet, however, which is at the bottom of a tooth or in the vertex of the angle of the two consecutive teeth, acts a ainst a steeper inclined plane, as it were, an in an opposite direetioin'and while in such positionv it effectually opposes the motion of the wheel.

These pallets are so adjusted that when one" at the bottom and against the side of a tooth is pulled away from the wheelthe other, pressing on the side of the next tooth, turns the wheel until it (the pallet) reaches the bottom of such tooth, and at the same time carries the wheel around far enough-to allow the first pallet on its return toward the wheel to pass over the point and on the other side of the tooth against which it before rested.

With respect to the relative adjustment of this arrangementto theinstants of closing and breaking the circuit, itmay be remarked that it should be such thatthe change from a broken to a closed mainworkingcircuit, or vice versa, should be made a brief instant of time before the pallet arrives at the bottom of a tooth.

The connection of the pallet and escapementwheel with and their mode of operating an ivory roller whose periphery has strips ot'metal letinto it are hereinafter particularly described.

,The adjustment of the pallet and'theformation of the teeth of the wheel are represented in. Fig. 4. of the drawings, theteeth being so constructed that by the alternate back-andforth movement of the two pallets against them. there shall be produced a constant intermittent rotary movement of the escapementwheel. These pallets are drawn away from theteeth by the action of electro-magnets M N, one for each pallet or lever of the said pallet,

and made to act against the said armature that projects from said lever or is connected therewith, as hereinbefore mentioned.

The two electro-magnets belonging to the two pallets of each of the two synchronous machines are operated by one of two local batteries, O 0, one of which is situated at one terminus of the telegraphic line, while the other is situated at the other terminus thereof. The electric current of either of the said batteries is alternately directed to either one or the other of the said magnets by the motions of the armature of the main-circuit' nagnet P.

In the 'drawingslhave represented the main or primary writing line or wire of the telegraph at Q, said wire being supposed to be extended between the two stations and to be connected with two brass plates, SS, of the two synchronous machines by means of screw-cups, as seen at. b c. The other or secondary vire,

or that of the main line for working, is seen at R as extending. between the two stations and connected with the wooden bases T T of the synchronous machines by screw-cups d e.

The arbor f of the escapement-wheel is in electric connection with:the main communication-wire Q, as the frame or part G, within which said arbor is supported, rests on the metallic plate S.

0n the arbor of each escape-wheel of each machine there is fixed an ivory roller, U, which has seven'narrow strips of silver, (or other .metalnot easily oxi'dizable,) g g g let into its cireumference'at equal distances apart, each of said strips beingin electric connection with the arbor by being joined to a metallic disk or plate, E, that is fixed on the arbor and'at the outer end of the roller or cylinder U. The width of each of the metallic strips may be about the one twenty-eighth part of the entire circumference of the ivory roller U. Near this roller are adjusted four springs, V WX Y, whose ends are bent downward and made to bear against the external curved surface of the roller U. The said bent ends are so arranged at such distances apart that during the rotation of the roller they shall be successively brought in contact with each one of the metallic strips extending across it.. If these four springs be put in connection by means of wires 1 2 3 4 or 1 2 3 4 with four registers or suit able apparatus for telegraphic correspondence by the rotation of the roller U, they will be brought into successive connection with the arbor and of course the common wire Q.

On the other end of the arbor above mentioned is another ivory roller or cylinder, Z,

which bears fourteen strips, hit, of silver or metal, extending transversely across its curved periphery or surface and let into the same and at equal distances apart, the width of each of the said strips being made to correspond with that of the space of ivory between any two of them. The external curved surfaces of the strips are in the surface of the cylinder. Two springs, t k, are adjusted over this roller, their ends being bent down so as to rest upon it, and to press upon the same piece of silver or any division of the ivory at one and the same time. These springs, as well as the others hereinbefore mentioned, are all insulated by being supported by pins Z l I, that extend through a piece of ivory, m, that is let into the upper part of a post, a, which rises up from the platform '1.

Thereis an apparatus, called a switch, used for establishing a metallic connection between the two springs tic, independent of the connection by a strip of silver on theivory roller, so that when the two springs may be resting on a division or space of the ivory roller or cylinder Z we may be able to put the springs into electric connection. This switch consists of two pieces of metal, 0 19, one of which is fixed to and made to project from the pin or wire that supports one of the springs i k, while the other turns vertically on the pin or wire that supports the other of the said two springs.

When the turning piece is moved so as to be carried in contact with the stationary piece, an electric metallic connection between the two pins will be established. One of the springs, t k, of each synchronous machine, by means of a wire, 1, is made to extend to the screw-cup d or e of the main working line or wire R, and thus an electric connection is established between one'of the springs 45 k of one machine and one of the springs t' 70 of the other. The other spring of each set of two springs i k belonging to the two machines is put in connection with one end of the wire of the maincircuit magnet P of each. machine, while the other end of such wire leads to a screw-cup, q, that connects with a battery, A there being such a battery at one or both of thetcrminiof the telegraphic line. From the opposite end of each of these batteries a wire, r, leads to a plate of metal, 3, sunk in the earth at the station of each synchronous machine, the ground between the two plates 8 8 serving to complete the circuit between the two batteries A A Two other screw-cups, t u, are placed on the platform T of each synchronous machine, and

are respectively connected with the wires 11 w of the local battery 0 or 0. One of these cups-viz., the cup t of each synchronous machine-by means of a wire, at, is put in connection with the armaturey of the adjacent main-circuit magnet, (the other cup, 20, being connected with the electro-magnets M N by the wire ta The said armature swings or vibrates on a pin, 2, and in direction toward and away from the poles of its circuit-magnet. Itswings between two screws, a b, which are respectively connected with the two local magnets by means of wires 0 d. A spring, 6, is applied to the armature and to the main framework of the machine and made to operate in such manner as to draw the lower part of the armature against the screw on when the elec tric current ceases to flow through the circuitmagnet P. When the electric current does flow through such circuit-magnet the armature is drawn toward the magnet and in. contact with the other screw, 1); and thus it W be seen that by means of such movements of said armature the two local magnets will be alternately charged by the local battery at the station, the detents of the escapement-wheel bein alternately operated by the charging and discharging of said local magnets.

From the above it will be observed that if there is any play to the armature of the maincircuit magnet only one of the local magnets can be charged at a time.

The several parts are so adjusted that when the batteries are attached and the main circuit closed its armature, being attracted toward it, will close the circuit of the proper local magnet, so as cause the same to draw its own detent or pallet away from the escapemcnt-wheel, and thereby leave the other to act upon the wheel and impart to such wheel a rotary motion until the pallet reaches the bottom of the angular space between the two teeth between which it may be working. This action brings the ivory roller Z into such position that its two springst' It will rest on an ivory interval or space of the wheel, At this time one of the four springs before spoken of as applied to the ivory cylinder U will rest upon one of the metallic strips of said cylinder and be in electric connection with the arbor of the cylinder. It, now, the main circuit be opened by means of the switch which connects the two springsik, these two springs, resting on ivory, leave the circuit broken. This done, the armature of the main-circuit magnet flies back, and. thereby breaks one local circuit and closes the other. 7 The local circuit which is now closed withdraws its own detent from the wheel when the other detent rests on and near the middle of its tooth, which last mentioned detent, by the action of its spring, is caused to impart rotary motion to the escape-wheel to the extent sutiicient to to bring a strip of silver of the wheel Z directly under and in contact with the two springst'k ot' the main operating circuit or wire 1%, so that this circuit is again closed and a different one of the four springs is brought into connection with the main writing-circuit by means of one of the seven strips of silver of the wheel U, The main operating-circuit B being closed by this position of the escape-wheel, the armature of the main-circuit magnet is drawn forward and again closes the circuit of the firstnamed local magnet, whereby another motion of the wheel takes place, so as to bring the third one of the four springs into electric connection with the arbor of the escapement-wheel, and the main circuitis again broken. Thus a rapid rotation of the escape whecl is kept up so long as the connection is kept broken at the switch, bringing the four springs into successive connect-ion with the arbor, and of course with the main line with which it is connected.

The several wires 1 2.3 4 or 1 2' 3' 4 that connect with the set of four springs of the closed.

wheel Z of each synchronous machine also connect with one pole of a battery, B, disposed at each station or end of the line, which battery is connected with the ground by means of a metallic plate, D and wire O whereby the main.writing-circuit Q is completed.

There is a spring thumb-lever, E having a stop, F, applied to the post or frame that supports the arbor of each escape-wheel, the

stop being arranged so as to act in connection with another stop or pin, H that projects from-the side of the escape-wheel. When the thumb-lever is pressed in a direction toward the-arbor of the escape-wheel the stop H" (durin g the rotation of the escape-wheel) will come in contact with the stop of the thumb-lever, so as to arrest the rotary motion of the escapement-wheel. These stops and thumb-lever are for the purpose of 'detainin g the wheel at pleasure, in order to enable us to adjust the two synchronous machines so that they may properly start together, provided one of them should get out of adjustment, it being understood that when any one of the four springs of the wheel U ofone machine is in contact with one of the strips of silver of such machine the corresponding spring of the other machine should be in like contact with a strip of silver of its wheel U.

The mode of regulating the two machines when one gets out of adjustment as above stated may be thus described: While operating the telegraphing-line the switches of all but one of the machines in the circuit are kept That which has its switch'not closed may be termed the driving-machine, and it may be any one selected at pleasure, according to circumstances. When one of the machines is discovered to be out of adjustment, the per: son who has charge of it instantly breaks the circuit. This stops the motion of all the machines. The circuit being broken in two places at a time, and the machinery having the power to close only one of them, this signal will be understood by the person who has charge of the driving-machine as a notice that some one wishes to adjust. The person who broke the circuit next closes it and immediately presses on the adjusting thumb-spring. This arrests :the motion of his wheel when.the pin in the wheel comes in contact with the thumb-lever. The person in charge of the driving-machine now presses upon his thumb-lever, and presently his wheel stops, and all the others stop also. The person who wishes to adjust immediately lets go his thumb-lever, and the one havi'ng charge of the driving-machine lets go of his thumb-lever an instant afterward, and thus the machines start in unison. In practice this operation can be performed in less than two seconds. Provided the rotation of the escape-wheel is rapid-say about one hundred and fifty times per minuteit will bring each of the four springs into com um unication'with the main writing-wire about eighteen times per second. It, now, there were'a battery upon the main writing-wire and there were a register connected with each of the four springs of the cylinder U, and also with the ground, and it this were the ca-se at both ends of the line, there would be about eighteen dots per second recorded by each of the registers; but they would not be made by any two registers ,at one end of the line at precisely the same instant of time,the dotofoneinstrument being completed before the other is commenced. Suppose the register-paper upon which the telegraphic message is to be recorded-moves at the rate of one; half inch per second, the dots made upon it would be in-number thirty-six per inch, and ranging in line with one another. This would be'near enough to a continuous line for telegraphic purposes, and if the short or branch portions of the circuit were broken and closed by a key, as in ordinary telegraphic manipulations, groups of dots would be produced, which groups would correspond to the dashes or lines usually made on the register-paper, short groups answering for the dots and longer groups corresponding to the dashes or lines of ordinary telegraphic characters, as will be seen in Fig. 7, wherein the groupings of dots are made to exhibit the same signs as do thclines under them.

From the above it will be seen that four per" sons could be engaged at the same time in transmitting correspondence over the same wire and in different directions, though only one was actually using the current at the same instant.

I do not, of course, limit my invention to the use of four branches only at each end of the main line, as any other suitable number of branchesfrom two upward may be used, the mechanism being constructed on the above-describedprinciple and in accordance with the number of branches or registers to be used at each. terminus of line. This will all be readily understood by telegraphic operators skilled in the art.

The telegraph-lines, as usually worked, are limited in their operation in either direction to the performance of a single operator on a single wire or circuit, and thus every line or circuit is limited in its action, and if more business is required to be done than can be accomplished by a single operator on such circuit, it becomes necessary that an additional circuit or wire or line of telegraph be employed.

Now, it will be seen from what has been above set forth that by my invention I am enabled to increase the powers of a single line of telegraph or circuit to a very great extent after I have appliedto it another line or circuit, which I have hereinbel'ore termed the secondary or main line" of working, for by myimprovementsI am enabled to double, triple, quadruple,or'still further increase the power of such line of telegraph.

It is not necessary that the branch lines should all be in one oflice or station of the terminus; but they may" separate and have their members or parts as hereinbefore described,-

and as represented in the drawings, but intend to vary the form of any one or more of such parts, or to make use of instead of the same any mechanical or electrical equivalent therefor, while I do not change the main principle or character or combination which constitutes my said invention; nor do I limit inyinvention to the methcd above described of actuating or putting in motion the escapement-wheel, but employinstead thereof any well-known method of giving it a tendency to rotate, provided its rotation be controlled by an electromagnetic escapement; neither do I limit myinvention to the method herein described'of breaking and restoring the main operating-circuit, but use instead a circuit-'breakin g wheel propelled by power or any known and convenient mode of breaking and closing the main circuit with I greater or less rapidity at pleasure.

What I claim as myinvention is The method hereinabove described of bringing any number of telegraphic, signali zing, and recording instruments into successive electric connection with the common com municating-wire, meaning more particularly to claim the combination of the writing and working or primaryand secondary circuits, the electromagnets, and movable armatures of the primary circuit, the local magnets and their movable armature, and pallets or equivalents th erefor, and local battery and battery-connections of each terminus, and connections leading to the armatures-of the local magnet, the escapernent-wheels, and wheels U and Z on thearbor of each, the two series of springs of said wheels U and Z, and branch connections, and the branch connections of the main writing-circuit at its two termini, the whole beingconnected and made to operate together substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature this 13th day of August, A. D. 1852.

' MOSES G. FARMER.

Witnesses.

R. H. EDDY, FRANCIS GOULD.

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