US1189546A - Telegraphic sending-machine. - Google Patents

Description

P. DINGER.

TELEGRAPHIC SENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I5. 1909- Patented July 4, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL DINGER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 ALBERT LYNN Y LAWRENCE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TELEGRAPHIC SENDING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 15, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL DINGER, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraphic Sending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in telegraphic sending-machines, and has for its object the improvement thereof along the lines of simplifying the construction and operation thereof, and avoiding the grounding of the frame of the machine. Machines of this class are designed primarily for assisting the operator in sending the Morse telegraphic code of dashes and dots, by providing separate dash-making and automatic dot-making mechanism, respectively actuated by opposite movements of the hand or fingers.

" -The present improvements are predicated upon the sending-machine shown and described in my application, Serial No. 385,924, filed July 25th, 1907 (reissue No. 13,130), wherein a vibratory weight, mounted at the end of a flat spring or reed, is adapted to engage a co-acting spring at each vibration of the weight, and automatically transmit the dot impulses, while a vertically pivoted key-lever is adapted to close the dash contact upon one movement, and re-' lease the dot-making mechanism upon its reverse movement.

My present improvements comprise; first, a horizontally-pivoted key-mechanism; second, a vertically acting key used independently thereof; third, means for releasing and checking the movement of the vibratory weight; fourth, means for closing both the dash and the dot contacts through a single pair of electrical contacts; and fifth, a separate spring-closed contact for the dash impulses, together with certain less important features which will be more readily under stood by making reference to the accompanying drawings and specifications, whereof Figure I is a perspective view of, my improved telegraphic sending-machine showlng those parts exterior of the containing and supporting base. Fig. II is a perspective view of the operative parts of my improved sending-machine, which illustrates Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Serial No. 490,041.

the circuit connections thereof, as well, certain parts being broken away for the purposes of illustration. Fig. III is a small fragmentary view of a modification, wherein one pair of contacts alone is used. Fig. IV is another fragmentary view showing a simple form of spring-closure for the dash contact; and Fig. V is a detail showing modified means for actuating the stop lever.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, I have indicated similar parts by the same character of reference, to avoid confusion in referring thereto.

Vithin the chambered base Z), the lever a is pivoted upon the horizontal trunnions a. Protruding through openings in the base are the suitably spaced finger-pieces a, by means of which said lever may be actuated by an easy rocking movement of the hand, as opposed to the lateral swing of a vertically pivoted key-lever, or the vertical movement of the hand required by the ordinary Morse-key. This rocking movement of the hand, has been demonstrated to permit of more ready and less trying operation of the sending-machine, than does any other type of key-movement with which I am acquainted. One arm of said lever a is adapted to electrically engage contact 0 forming one terminal of the telegraphic circuit. This is essentially an ordinary Morse-key contact, constructed, however, to be closed by the rocking movement of the operators hand. For the purpose of avoiding the grounding of the frame and key-parts, I commonly provide a leaf contact spring 0, which is adapted to be actuated by said lever arm a from which it is insulated, against the contact 0, thereby closing the dash contact directly, and simplifying the electrical construction of my improved sending-machine. Preferably, however, I close both the dot and dash impulses through a single pair of contacts, as I will explain later.

The opposite arm a of the lever is primarily designed for the release of the automatic dot making apparatus, so that upon the actuation of the finger-pieces a to the left, the dash contact will be suitably closed, and upon moving them to the right, the dot making mechanism will be freed to auto matically transmit brief impulses over the line, as required. The latter depends for its actuation upon the vibratory effect of a weighted reed, comprising thespring cl and the weight d, with which is associated a controlling spring 6 and governing screw mechanism e.

The reed is normally under slight tension or flexure by reason of the engagement of the vertical lever 7" with the weight, which in turn is acted upon by the spring f, controlled by the adjusting screw f, which acts upon said lever through the curved and rearwardly connected link 7, substantially in line with the pivotal mounting of the lever. The end of lever a bears directly against the base of lever f, interiorly of its pivotal point, and is held closely in engagement therewith by means of the pivoted strap 9 and co-acting spring g adjustable by the screw g. Adjustable stop screws 72. h are respectively provided for the weight and for the lever. It will be appreciated that the touch of this instrument should be as light as possible, since it must be actuated a great many thousand times a day by the operator, and by connecting the spring 7" in the manner described, said touch becomes lighter as the lever f is moved to free the weight, while the latter is normally and instantly held quiescent upon releasing said lever. As thus mounted, the actuating lever f, accordingly operates against spring f to free the vibratory reed, and against spring 9' to close the contact at 0; being normally held in a median or neutral position by said springs. IVhen the vibratory reed is freed, its contact cl is adapt ed to be repeatedly engaged intermittently with the contact 2' carried by the spring 2', which springs respectively form terminals of the telegraphic circuit, as the former is mounted upon the post 7' to which one contact of the outer circuit is led directly, while the other is carried by strap 71, connected with the opposite side of the circuit.

Some operators, long accustomed to the use of the Morse-key, prefer a similar move ment in a sending-machine, and, accordingly, I have provided such a key-lever in the finger-piece 7a, which is connected to lever a by means of the extension A. A slight downward pressure of the key 7:, will serve, as in the ordinary l\Iorse-key to close the dash contact a, while a slight lifting or upward movement will, just as previously explained, release the automatic dot making mechanism. This key, moreover, affords relief for the arm and hand when tired by long use of the finger-pieces a", although for continued use, the lateral-rocking keymechanism is much to be preferred, and indeed the finger-piece 7; may be altogether omitted. The ordinary circuit closing switch Z is shown upon the right, adapted to engage the strap z" and cut the instrument out of circuit When not in use.

Although I have described above, means for closing both the dash and dot contacts, through the medium of separate springs, under many circumstances it is desirable to provide but a single pair of contacts, and, accordingly, I have accomplished this by employing the pivoted lever m, which is connected by means of the flat spring m, to be actuated by the movement of the lever arm The said lever preferably is provided with a screw-adjusting insulated point m", which bears against the spring '5, and upon the inward movement of said lever, serves to close the spring contact against that carried by the reed d. Thus the stop lever f and the actuating lever m are moved alternatiwly by lever a, respectively to free the automatic dot making mechanism, or aotuate the opposing spring thereof into engagement with the reed contact, for closing the dash impulses. The extended end a of the lever is insulated in this instance, and affords merely an adjustable stop checking the movement of the parts. This end of the spring may be actuated against the tension of the flat spring 0, thereby simplifying the mechanism by omitting the adjustable spring g, or the same may be retained as well, for the purposes of adjustment, if desired. In the first case, however, the lever arm a requires but a single upwardly engaging bearing point a, as shown in Fig. V, and the pivoted strap 9 may be omitted as well. Inasmuch as lever a is horizontally pivoted, I have provided means for securing the longitudinal adjustment thereof, and in consequence, that of its hearing point a, by means of the screw-adjusted trunnion-bearings n n. Thus, by shifting the lever within its bearings, to the left, detent lever f will be given less movement than when the parts are in the position shown in said figure.

The preferred embodiments of the several features of improvement herein sought to be patented, have now been explained and their purposes generally referred to, but I do not deem said improvements strictly limited to the apparatus herein shown, and accordingly claim the following 1. In a telegraphic sending-machine, the combination with automatic interrupter-apparatus and secondary circuit-closin mechanism, of common key mechanism or controlling the same respectively, comprising a horizontally pivoted member having an upwardly-extending finger-piece adapted to be rocked in opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

2. A telegraphic key mechanism, comprising suitable contacts and a member pivotally mounted for substantially horizontal actuation controlling the same, having upwardlyextending oscillating finger-mechanism,

whereby said member is adapted to be actuated in either direction from the normal position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a telegraph key, of suitable contacts and actuating-mechanism therefor, comprising connected finger-pieces respectively movable substantially in horizontal and vertical planes, whereby undue strain may be avoided in operating the key, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a telegraphic sending-machine, with an interrupter device and auxiliary circuit-closing mechanism, of actuating means therefor, comprising a horizontally pivoted lever, upwardly-extending finger-pieces therefor, and a laterally positioned finger-piece, whereby the sending machine may be actuated either by a horizontal rocking or vertical movement of the operators hand, substantially as set forth.

5. In a telegraphic sending-machine, the combination with automatic interrupter mechanism adapted to send the dot impulses, a resilient spring-closed dash contact mechanism, and means for alternatively releasing the interrupter or closing the resilient dashcontact, substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a weighted vibratory reed, of contacts adapted intermittently to be closed thereby, a vertically pivoted detentmember normally engaging the weighted reed, a spring therefor connected substantially in line with its pivotal mounting, a

controlling lever for the detent, and an opposing spring normally retaining said lever in engagement with the detent, substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus of the class described. the combination with a weighted vibratory reed, of contacts adapted intermittently to be closed thereby, a vertically pivoted detentmember normally engaging the weighted reed, a spring therefor connected substantially in line with its pivotal mounting, a controlling lever for the detent, and a pivoted member normally causing the engagement of the lever with said detent, substantially as set forth.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with interrupter mechanism, of an actuatable detent therefor, key levermechanism engaging and adapted to actuate the detent, and means for shifting the posi- Ooples of this patent may be obtained for tion of engagement of said parts, whereby the movement of the detent may be varied, substantially as set forth.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a Vibratory interrupter mechanism, of a pivoted detent normally restraining said interrupter, an actuating lever engaging said detent and adapted to free the interrupter, and an adjustable pivotal mounting for said lever, adapted to shift its point of engagement with the detent, substantially as set forth.

10. In a telegraphic sending-machine, the combination with a weighted vibrating reed, of an opposing spring with which it is adapted intermittently to contact, detent means for the reed, a circuit-closing lever for the spring, and suitable key mechanism connected for the alternative actuation of said detent mechanism or circuit-closing mechanism, whereby the dot and dash impulses may be transmitted, substantially as set forth.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a weighted vibratory reed interrupter, of a vertically pivoted detent member normally restraining the same, a spring therefor, a controlling lever for the detent, a pivoted member normally engaging the lever with said detent, and an adjustable spring for said member, substantially as set forth.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with an interrupter mechanism, of a spring-actuated detent therefor, a pivoted spring-opposed controlling lever, and means for adjusting the pivotal mounting thereof to regulate the movement of the detent, substantially as set forth.

13. A manual circuit-closer, comprising suitable contacts, means for closing them, and a horizontally-pivoted finger-actuated member having a substantially vertical finger-piece swinging in the upper arc of a \ertically-described circle, connected to actuate different contacts when swung to either side of its normal position, substantially as set forth.

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 12th day of April, 1909.

PAUL DINGER. [n s1 lVitnesses:

ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE, CHARLES S. BEARDSLEY.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Petentu, v Wuhington, D. G." i

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