US3452154A - Start mechanism for telegraph selector - Google Patents

Start mechanism for telegraph selector Download PDF

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US3452154A
US3452154A US497725A US3452154DA US3452154A US 3452154 A US3452154 A US 3452154A US 497725 A US497725 A US 497725A US 3452154D A US3452154D A US 3452154DA US 3452154 A US3452154 A US 3452154A
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armature
selector
start lever
cam
lever
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US497725A
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Thomas W Tourville
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AT&T Teletype Corp
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Teletype Corp
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Assigned to AT&T TELETYPE CORPORATION A CORP OF DE reassignment AT&T TELETYPE CORPORATION A CORP OF DE CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE AUG., 17, 1984 Assignors: TELETYPE CORPORATION
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L17/00Apparatus or local circuits for transmitting or receiving codes wherein each character is represented by the same number of equal-length code elements, e.g. Baudot code
    • H04L17/16Apparatus or circuits at the receiving end
    • H04L17/18Code selection mechanisms

Definitions

  • intelligence is transmitted from one station to another by way of seriatim electrical impulses carried over a conductor usually called a telegraph line.
  • a conductor usually called a telegraph line.
  • Each impulse is a binary bit, and the binary bits are represented on the telegraph line by the presence or absence of electrical current flowing through the line. The presence of current is called a mark and the absence of current is called a space.
  • the binary bits are combined into groups of bits with each different group forming a discrete alphanumeric character, and one cycle of operation of a teletypewriter receiver is used to receive each character.
  • Each character is normally made up of five character-designating code bits and two synchronizing bits which function to distinguish one character from another as signals are received over the telegraph line.
  • a spacing synchronizing bit (called a start pulse) precedes the first code bit of each character to signify the start of that character, and a marking synchronizing bit (called a stop pulse) follows the last code bit of each character to signify the end of that character.
  • the telegraph line From time to time the telegraph line experiences periods of idleness when no characters are being transmitted. The telegraph line then remains in the marking (presence of current) condition that it assumed during the stop pulse from the last charatcer transmited. When transmission is resumed and receipt of the first character begins, the telegraph line assumes its spacing (start pulse) condition. Therefore, Whenever the telegraph lines is in its marking condition, during the stop pulse of the previous character or an idle period in the line, the teletypewriter receiver must be prepared to begin receipt of a new character at any time that the telegraph line changes from its marking condition to its spacing condition. Occurence of this spacing condition on the telegraph line indicates the start of receipt of the next character and ice causes the teletypewriter receiver to begin a new cycle of operation.
  • a selector converts the seriatim code bits of each character into simultaneous displacements of mechanical levers thereby converting the electrical representation of the character received over the telegraph line into a mechanical representation in the displaced levers.
  • the first synchronizing bit starts the receiving selector in operation for one machine cycle.
  • the device usually called a start lever, that senses the presence of this start bit must, in the case of a magnetic receiving selector, sense a movement of an armature from the idle-line condition (marking) to the start bit condition (spacing) without unduly loading the armature. Excessive loading of the armature distorts the operation of the selector and results in a loss of accuracy or selector operating margin.
  • the start lever can be lightly rested against an abutment on the armature and apply a light loading perpendicular to the path of armature movement in the manner shown in Patent No.
  • a telegraph selector cam sleeve is selectively coupled to a rotating shaft by a two-cycle-per-revolution clutch.
  • a selector armature having an open frame work goes from its marking-stop position to its spacing-start position, an undercut start lever rotates on its pivot into the area vacated by the now-spacing armature. This trips the selector clutch for one cycle of operation as shown in Patent No. 3,033,926, granted to T. I.
  • FIG. 1 is a view of the start mechanism during the stop or idle condition of the telegraph line
  • FIG. 2 is the same view as shown in FIG. 1 with the exception that the cam is rotated to a position corresponding to a later time in the cycle of the selector and during receipt of a character;
  • FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the selector armature and start lever and showing the selector magnet.
  • the two wires of a telegraph line are connected to two coils of a selector electromagnet 11.
  • the two coils are interconnected by a stub wire 12 so that they are connected in series with the telegraph line 10.
  • a U-shaped core 13 of the selector magnet 11 is arranged so that its two legs pass through the two coils of the selector magnet 11 in series magnetically and so that the open ends of the U-shaped core 13 form two magnetic poles 14 that are bridged by an armature 15.
  • the armature 15 is firmly mounted on a lightweight, open framework armature extension 16 which is pivoted at its right end on a pin 17 mounted to the frame 18 of the teletypewriter receiver. Therefore, the armature is free to move toward the poles 14 whenever current flows through the telegraph line 10 thereby energizing the coils of selector magnet 11 and causing magnetic flux to flow through the magnetic circuit comprising core 13 and armature 15.
  • the leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3 whenever the telegraph line is in its marking condition and assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 3 whenever the telegraph line is in its spacing condition.
  • the position of the armature extension 16 is a mechanical representation of the electrical condition of the telegraph line.
  • a rotating, multiple-cam sleeve is started at the beginning of each character and stopped at the end of each character.
  • This cam sleeve provides the timing by which the selector of Zenner Patent 2,595,745 converts these seriatim armature-extension positions into simultaneous mechanical displacements.
  • the selector mechanism described herein is identical with the selector of the Zenner patent except for the start mechanism and for the use of a two-cycle selector wherein one character is received in each half revolution of the selector cam sleeve.
  • the start of the operating selector mechanism is controlled by a start lever which is urged to move to the right and to rest an abutment surface formed on its end against the leftmost end 20 of the armature extension 16 whenever the selector magnet 11 is idle awaiting the start of a character.
  • a spacing start pulse is received by the magnet 11 over the telegraph line 10
  • armature extension 16 is dropped by the magnet 11 to the spacing position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 3.
  • the abutment surface 30 on start lever 25 is no longer blocked by the leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 and, therefore, start lever 25 moves rapidly to the right to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.
  • the start lever 25 has an undercut portion 31 adjacent the abutment 30 and the armature extension 16 has an open portion between the end 20 and the armature 15. Therefore, although the right end of the lever 25 is over the extension 16, the lever 25 permits the open-structured armature extension 16 to immediately assume its marking condition again in response to a marking condition of the first code bit of the character. Thus, although the start lever 25 stays in its right-hand position, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 3, the start lever does not interfere with the movement of the armature extension 16 since its leftmost end 20 is free to move up or down in the undercut portion 31 and since the tip of the lever 25 is not aligned with any solid portion of the extension 16.
  • start lever 25 is pivoted at its lower extremity on a fixed post 35 that is mounted to the frame of the teletypewriter.
  • the start lever 25 is urged to rotate clockwise about fixed post 35 by a spring 36 and when the armature extension 16 moves to its spacing position, the spring 36 rotates the start lever 25 clockwise about the fixed post 35 thereby moving the surface 30 to the right into the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.
  • Start lever 25 has a lug 40 extending from its midsection which extends into a slot 41 formed in a start bail 42.
  • Start bail 42 is pivotally mounted on a ranging pivot 45 so that when the start lever 25 moves to the right the lug 40 in the slot 41 moves the start bail 42 to the right thereby rotating the start bail 42 clockwise about the ranging pivot 45.
  • Firmly fixed to the start bail 42 is a stop arm 46 that is also pivoted on ranging pivot 45 so that when start bail 42 rotates clockwise about ranging pivot 45, it carries stop arm 46 with it.
  • a bentover lip 47 on the end of stop arm 46 is used to control the starting and stopping of a selector clutch 49 of the type shown and described in Nelson Patent 2,566,031 granted Aug. 28, 1951.
  • the driven member of the selector clutch 49 carries a control tab 48 (FIG. 1) on its periphery. Whenever control tab 48 is blocked from movement, the driven member of the clutch abruptly disengages from the driving member and stops. Whenever control tab 48 is unblocked, the clutch 49 engages and the driven member rotates with the driving member. Whenever stop arm 46 is in its counterclockwise extreme as a result of surface 30 on start lever 25 being held to the left of leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16, lip '47 is maintained in interfering relation with tab 48 of the selector clutch and the driven member of the clutch 49 is maintained disengaged from the driving member thereof.
  • the driving member of the selector clutch 49 is connected to a continuously rotating drive shaft 50 which provides continuous input drive power to the selector mechanism.
  • the driven member of the selector clutch 49 is attached to a selector cam sleeve 51 that is rotatably mounted on drive shaft 50 so that whenever the selector clutch is engaged, selector cam sleeve 51 is coupled through the selector clutch to drive shaft 50 and rotates with drive shaft 50 until the tab 48 on the selector clutch is again blocked by lip 47 on stop arm 46. Therefore, when the telegraph line changes from the marking condition to the spacing condition and armature extension 16 drops to the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG.
  • the start lever 25 moves to the right under the action of spring 36 thereby rotating start bail 42 and stop arm 46 about ranging pivot 45 to remove lip 47 from engagement with tab 48 on the selector clutch.
  • start lever 25 moves to the right as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, it is lifted off of its pivot 35 permitting the start lever to be moved leftwardly without interfering in any way with the operation of the armature extension 16.
  • start lever 25 is then lowered onto its pivot 35 and permitted again to rest its surface against the leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 during the stop pulse at the end of the character.
  • a start cam 56 is firmly mounted on selector cam sleeve 51 to rotate with the selector cam sleeve.
  • the selector clutch begins rotating selector cam sleeve 51 and start cam 56 with it.
  • the selector considered herein is a two-cycle selector in that the selector starts and finishes receipt of a character in 180 of rotation of the selector cam sleeve 51. Therefore, the start cam 56 contains two identical cam profiles around its periphery.
  • a lifting lever 57 is pivoted on ranging pivot 45 and is biased to rotate counterclockwise about ranging pivot 45 by a spring 58 that is attached to a spur '59 projecting downwardly and to the right from lifting lever 57.
  • the upper end of lifting lever 57 is formed into a cam-follower portion 61.
  • Spring 58 serves to hold cam-follower portion 61 in engagement with the start cam 56.
  • start cam 56 is shown rotated to a position corresponding to a later time in the cycle of the selector after the lifting arm 64 has raised start lever 25 sufficiently to clear armature extension 16.
  • a cam-follower 68 on start bail 42 is engaged by a ramp 69 on start cam 56 which is identical to ramp 63 but displaced from it about start cam 56 by 180.
  • ramp 69 pushes start bail 42 to the left (FIG. 2) and as start bail 42 moves to the left, it rotates counterclockwise about ranging pivot 45 thereby driving the lip 47 on stop arm 46 into the path of a second control tab 48 on the selector clutch 49.
  • the selector clutch 49* is stoppable in either of two rotational positions, 180 apart.
  • the selector clutch has two control tabs 48 each identical to the tab shown in FIG. 1.
  • the leftward movement of start bail 42 also moves start lever 25 to the left by means of the engagement of lug on start lever 25 with the slot 41 on start bail 42.
  • the cooperation of ramp 69 and cam-follower 68 thus moves start lever 25 leftwardly until surface 30 on start lever 25 is to the left of leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16.
  • cam-follower portion 61 on lifting lever 57 drops off of an edge 71 on start cam 56 thereby permitting lifting lever 57 to rotate counterclockwise under the action of spring 58 about ranging pivot 45, lowering lifting arm 64 and lowering start lever 25 onto fixed pivot 35.
  • cam follower 68 rides a dwell portion 72 (identical to dwell portion 67 but displaced by 180") on start cam 56.
  • the telegraph line assumes its marking stop condition.
  • an edge 74 on start cam 56 passes cam follower 68 permitting spring 36 to move start lever 25 and start bail 42 to the right.
  • Cam follower 68 then begins to fall into a notch 76 on start cam 56, but abutment surface 30 on start lever 25 strikes leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 preventing cam follower 68 from falling into notch 76.
  • each code bit is subject to distortion as it travels over the telegraph line.
  • the extent and type of distortion is dependent upon the particular telegraph line. Therefore, a modern telegraph selector is made capable of accurately receiving signals having a wide variety of types of distortion. Since all of the code bits are of the same finite chronological duration, it is usually best to sample each code bit, with a selector of the type shown in the Zenner patent, near its chronological center. Since telegraph lines vary, a given selector is usually adjusted in place after installation and periodically thereafter. The selector adjustment that moves the selector sampling point with respect to the center of each code bit is called the range adjustment.
  • the range adjustment can best be made in the start mechanism of the selector which actually determines the time at which the selector clutch engages and rotates the selector cam sleeve that in turn controls selector timing.
  • Ranging pivot 45 corresponds to stud 3 8 in the Przysiecki 3,033,926 patent mentioned above and is similarly mounted on the teletypewriter frame so that it can be moved in a fixed arc about the axis of drive shaft 50.
  • the range adjustment of the selector is accomplished by moving the ranging pivot through its fixed arc. As the ranging pivot is moved through its fixed arc, poor reception will usually be noticed as the ranging pivot reaches either extreme position. The points on the fixed are where poor reception begins are then noted and ranging pivot 45 is placed midway between these points.
  • the ranging pivot 45 is moved clockwise (FIG. 1) about the center of drive shaft 50 moving lip 47 on stop arm 46 clockwise about the center of drive shaft 50. This causes the selector clutch to stop at a more clockwise position, Since selector cam sleeve 51 rotates counterclockwise, it takes the selector cam sleeve longer to arrive at the same angular position after starting from its new position, thus sampling each bit later.
  • the ranging pivot 45 is moved counterclockwise about the center of drive shaft 50, moving lip 47 to a position that is more angularly advanced in the direction of selector cam-sleeve rotation. Therefore, selector cam sleeve 51 still starts at the beginning of the start pulse but from an angularly advanced position and with this head start arrives at each sampling position earlier.
  • Lifting lever 57 is also mounted on ranging pivot 45 in order that the time relationship between the start of selector cam sleeve 51 and the raising of start lever 25 off of fixed pivot 35 is held constant.
  • the curved surface 77 on lifting arm 64 is provided to engage with spur 66 on start lever 25 no matter where ranging pivot 45 is placed.
  • start lever 25 Since armature extension 16 does not move with ranging pivot 45, start lever 25 is mounted on the fixed pivot 35. Slot 41 and lug 40 permit relative movement between start lever 25 and start bail 42 about the center of drive shaft 50.
  • the spacing start pulse permits extension 16 to drop so that start lever 25 rocks to the right.
  • Rightward movement of start lever 25 rotates start bail 4-2 clockwise about ranging pivot 45 carrying cam follower 68 into notch 76.
  • Clockwise rotation of start bail 42* rotates stop arm 46 clockwise about ranging pivot 45, removing lip 47 from engagement with control tab 48- (FIG. 1) on the selector clutch.
  • ramp 63 starts to rotate lifting lever clockwise raising lifting arm 64. Lifting arm 64 raises start lever 25 clear of armature extension 16.
  • Another ramp on start cam 56 moves start bail 42 and start lever 25 to the left until lip 47 on stop arm 46 is positioned to block the next control tab of the selector clutch and until start lever 25 has moved to the left of armature extension 16.
  • a lip on start cam 56 then lets lifting lever 57 lower start lever 25 back down to its original position.
  • the other lip on start cam 56 then lets abutting surface 30 of start lever 25 rest against leftmost end of armature extension 16 during the marking stop pulse to await the next spacing start pulse.
  • a driver for supplying input motion to the selector mechanism
  • a clutch actuated by the sensing means upon the sensing of a predetermined position of the armature for connecting the first means and the second means to the driver thereby moving the sensing means away from the armature.
  • a clutch trip lever responsive to the start lever sensing a movement of the armature for establishing a driving connection through said clutch from the driver to the cam;
  • a second follower operated by the cam to move the start lever in a path having a direction component substantially parallel with the path of movement of the armature.
  • a blocking armature having an open structure, said armature actuated by said electromagnet to assume one of two positions;
  • a start lever having an abutment surface normally blocked by said armature in said one position to hold said start lever in a first position, said start lever assuming a second position when said armature assumes the other of its two positions, said abutment surface being formed on an end of said lever and said lever being undercut adjacent to said surface to permit said open-structured armature to assume either of its two positions when said start lever is in its second position, the abutment surface of the start lever positioned to enter the open area of the armature in its one position when the start lever is in its second position;
  • a first cam follower in engagement with said start cam for moving the start lever to a third position wherein the abutment surface is not in the open area of the armature when the armature is in its one position, said start cam and first cam follower moving said start lever in response to the start of rotation of the start cam;
  • a selector mechanism for an automatic telegraph apparatus having a selector magnet with an openstructured armature, a start lever for sensing the position of the armature, a rotary driver for the selector mechanism, and a clutch controlled by the sensing of the position of the armature by the start lever for connecting the rotary driver to the selector mechanism, means for preventing the start lever from interfering with the armature comprising:
  • a selector mechanism of the type including a selector magnet having an armature and a start lever for sensing the position of the armature, the subcombination of:
  • lector magnet for receiving characters comprised of a start bit followed by a plurality of information bits followed by a stop bit and a start lever for sensing the armature of the start magnet and for movement in a path extending parallel to the armature in response to the receipt by the selector magnet of a start bit, the subcombination of:
  • a printing telegraph receiving selector comprising:
  • a signal-responsive electromagnet including an armature having two operative positions for controlling the effect of said cam sleeve
  • a start lever having an operated position and an unoperated position, said start lever held in its unoperated position by said armature when said armature is in one of its two operative positions, and said start lever movable to its operated position when said start-stop member about said pivot thereb moving said start lever to its unoperated position and lifting lever having a cam follower portion and a1 arcuate lifting arm, said cam follower portion co said armature assumes the other of its two operative 5 operating with said start cam for raising said liftin; positions; arm to engage and lift said start lever out of co a pivot movable through a fixed arc about the center operative relation with said armature during the ro of rotation of said drive source; tation of said cam sleeve and for thereafter lowerin a start-stop member mounted on the pivot, having a 10 said start lever into cooperative relation with saic cam follower formed on it, having an arcuate slot armature after the start-stop member has alignet including a curved profile concentric with the center

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Description

June 24, 1969 T. w. TOURVILLE 3,452,154
START MECHANISM FOR TELEGRAPH SELECTOR Filed Oct. 19, 1965 INVENTOR THOMAS W. TOURVILLE ATTORNE United States Patent U.S.'Cl. 17833 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mechanism for assuring that the start lever of a telegraph selector will not interfere with the operation of the selector magnet armature thereof including an open portion on the selector magnet armature and a cooperating abutment on the start lever for permitting the start lever to move to a position over the armature without interfering with the operation of the armature and a pair of levers pivotally mounted on a portion of the orienta tion mechanism of the selector and operated by the selector start cam for moving the start lever off of its pivot perpendicularly of the armature to a displaced position during the receipt of the information bits of a character by the selector magnet, then for moving the start lever away from the armature along a path extending parallel to the armature, then for moving the start lever perpendicularly of the armature back onto its pivot and then for moving the armature along a path extending parallel to the armature into engagement with the armature during the receipt of the stop pulse of the character by the selector magnet.
In telegraphy, to which this invention is most applicable, intelligence is transmitted from one station to another by way of seriatim electrical impulses carried over a conductor usually called a telegraph line. Each impulse is a binary bit, and the binary bits are represented on the telegraph line by the presence or absence of electrical current flowing through the line. The presence of current is called a mark and the absence of current is called a space.
The binary bits are combined into groups of bits with each different group forming a discrete alphanumeric character, and one cycle of operation of a teletypewriter receiver is used to receive each character. Each character is normally made up of five character-designating code bits and two synchronizing bits which function to distinguish one character from another as signals are received over the telegraph line. A spacing synchronizing bit (called a start pulse) precedes the first code bit of each character to signify the start of that character, and a marking synchronizing bit (called a stop pulse) follows the last code bit of each character to signify the end of that character.
From time to time the telegraph line experiences periods of idleness when no characters are being transmitted. The telegraph line then remains in the marking (presence of current) condition that it assumed during the stop pulse from the last charatcer transmited. When transmission is resumed and receipt of the first character begins, the telegraph line assumes its spacing (start pulse) condition. Therefore, Whenever the telegraph lines is in its marking condition, during the stop pulse of the previous character or an idle period in the line, the teletypewriter receiver must be prepared to begin receipt of a new character at any time that the telegraph line changes from its marking condition to its spacing condition. Occurence of this spacing condition on the telegraph line indicates the start of receipt of the next character and ice causes the teletypewriter receiver to begin a new cycle of operation.
That part of the teletypewriter receiver that receives these electrical impulses is the selector. A selector converts the seriatim code bits of each character into simultaneous displacements of mechanical levers thereby converting the electrical representation of the character received over the telegraph line into a mechanical representation in the displaced levers.
In start-stop telegraph receiving selectors, the first synchronizing bit starts the receiving selector in operation for one machine cycle. The device, usually called a start lever, that senses the presence of this start bit must, in the case of a magnetic receiving selector, sense a movement of an armature from the idle-line condition (marking) to the start bit condition (spacing) without unduly loading the armature. Excessive loading of the armature distorts the operation of the selector and results in a loss of accuracy or selector operating margin. To avoid this, the start lever can be lightly rested against an abutment on the armature and apply a light loading perpendicular to the path of armature movement in the manner shown in Patent No. 2,595,745, granted to W. J. Zenner on May 6, 1952. When the armature moves from the marking-stop position to the spacing-start position, the start lever slips off of the armature abutment and moves perpendicularly to the path of armature travel so as to fall in over the armature. The start lever must then either be removed quickly from the path of movement of the armature before the first code bit is received by the magnet or the start lever and armature abutment may be so shaped that the start lever may permit armature movement without first being withdrawn as shown in FIG. 18 of Patent No. 2,192,351, granted to E. E. Kleinschmidt on Mar. 5, 1940. Even this latter alternative, however, necessitates that the start lever be withdrawn at some point in the machine cycle. If the start lever is not withdrawn at the beginning of the machine cycle as in the Zenner patent mentioned above it can be withdrawn at the end of the cycle as in the above-mentioned patent to Kleinschmidt. Since withdrawal of the start lever in either of the cited alternatives necessitates immobilizing the armature for a substantial time, the start lever cannot be Withdrawn during the receipt of the code bits after the start pulse and before the stop pulse.
It is an object of the invention to improve the speed of telegraph apparatus by resetting the start mechanism of a start-stop telegraph selector during the code-receiving portion of the machine cycle.
It is another object of the present invention to start a machine cycle of a magnet-operated telegraph selector without immobilizing the magnet armature for a substantial period of time during the machine cycle.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, a telegraph selector cam sleeve is selectively coupled to a rotating shaft by a two-cycle-per-revolution clutch. When a selector armature having an open frame work goes from its marking-stop position to its spacing-start position, an undercut start lever rotates on its pivot into the area vacated by the now-spacing armature. This trips the selector clutch for one cycle of operation as shown in Patent No. 3,033,926, granted to T. I. Przysiecki on May 8, 1962; but unlike the start lever of the Przysiecki patent, the start lever now remains in the position during the start of the selector cycle with the armature free to assume either one or the other of its two possible conditions due to the undercut in the start lever and the open frame- Work of the armature. As the selector cam sleeve rotates, it operates a follower that raises the start lever off of its pivot and completely clear of the armature. Later in the cycle, another cam follower moves the start lever out of the direction of the path of armature travel. The first cam follower then lowers the start lever back onto its pivot and into the level of the armature. During the stop pulse of the telegraph signal and toward the end of the selector cycle, the other cam follower permits the start lever to rest against the end of the marking armature awaiting the receipt of a new spacing start pulse.
A more complete understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a view of the start mechanism during the stop or idle condition of the telegraph line;
FIG. 2 is the same view as shown in FIG. 1 with the exception that the cam is rotated to a position corresponding to a later time in the cycle of the selector and during receipt of a character; and
FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the selector armature and start lever and showing the selector magnet.
Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 3, the two wires of a telegraph line are connected to two coils of a selector electromagnet 11. The two coils are interconnected by a stub wire 12 so that they are connected in series with the telegraph line 10. A U-shaped core 13 of the selector magnet 11 is arranged so that its two legs pass through the two coils of the selector magnet 11 in series magnetically and so that the open ends of the U-shaped core 13 form two magnetic poles 14 that are bridged by an armature 15. The armature 15 is firmly mounted on a lightweight, open framework armature extension 16 which is pivoted at its right end on a pin 17 mounted to the frame 18 of the teletypewriter receiver. Therefore, the armature is free to move toward the poles 14 whenever current flows through the telegraph line 10 thereby energizing the coils of selector magnet 11 and causing magnetic flux to flow through the magnetic circuit comprising core 13 and armature 15. A spring 19, attached to armature extension 16, pulls armature 15 away from poles 14 whenever current does not flow through the coils of selector magnet 11.
With this arrangement, the leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 assumes the position shown in FIG. 3 whenever the telegraph line is in its marking condition and assumes the position indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 3 whenever the telegraph line is in its spacing condition. Thus, the position of the armature extension 16 is a mechanical representation of the electrical condition of the telegraph line.
In order that the selector of the teletypewriter may convert the seriatim electrical code bits into simultaneous mechanical displacements, a rotating, multiple-cam sleeve is started at the beginning of each character and stopped at the end of each character. This cam sleeve provides the timing by which the selector of Zenner Patent 2,595,745 converts these seriatim armature-extension positions into simultaneous mechanical displacements. The selector mechanism described herein is identical with the selector of the Zenner patent except for the start mechanism and for the use of a two-cycle selector wherein one character is received in each half revolution of the selector cam sleeve.
The start of the operating selector mechanism is controlled by a start lever which is urged to move to the right and to rest an abutment surface formed on its end against the leftmost end 20 of the armature extension 16 whenever the selector magnet 11 is idle awaiting the start of a character. When a spacing start pulse is received by the magnet 11 over the telegraph line 10, armature extension 16 is dropped by the magnet 11 to the spacing position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 3. The abutment surface 30 on start lever 25 is no longer blocked by the leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 and, therefore, start lever 25 moves rapidly to the right to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3.
The start lever 25 has an undercut portion 31 adjacent the abutment 30 and the armature extension 16 has an open portion between the end 20 and the armature 15. Therefore, although the right end of the lever 25 is over the extension 16, the lever 25 permits the open-structured armature extension 16 to immediately assume its marking condition again in response to a marking condition of the first code bit of the character. Thus, although the start lever 25 stays in its right-hand position, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 3, the start lever does not interfere with the movement of the armature extension 16 since its leftmost end 20 is free to move up or down in the undercut portion 31 and since the tip of the lever 25 is not aligned with any solid portion of the extension 16.
As most clearly shown in FIG. 1, the start lever 25 is pivoted at its lower extremity on a fixed post 35 that is mounted to the frame of the teletypewriter. The start lever 25 is urged to rotate clockwise about fixed post 35 by a spring 36 and when the armature extension 16 moves to its spacing position, the spring 36 rotates the start lever 25 clockwise about the fixed post 35 thereby moving the surface 30 to the right into the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. Start lever 25 has a lug 40 extending from its midsection which extends into a slot 41 formed in a start bail 42. Start bail 42 is pivotally mounted on a ranging pivot 45 so that when the start lever 25 moves to the right the lug 40 in the slot 41 moves the start bail 42 to the right thereby rotating the start bail 42 clockwise about the ranging pivot 45. Firmly fixed to the start bail 42 is a stop arm 46 that is also pivoted on ranging pivot 45 so that when start bail 42 rotates clockwise about ranging pivot 45, it carries stop arm 46 with it. A bentover lip 47 on the end of stop arm 46 is used to control the starting and stopping of a selector clutch 49 of the type shown and described in Nelson Patent 2,566,031 granted Aug. 28, 1951.
The driven member of the selector clutch 49 carries a control tab 48 (FIG. 1) on its periphery. Whenever control tab 48 is blocked from movement, the driven member of the clutch abruptly disengages from the driving member and stops. Whenever control tab 48 is unblocked, the clutch 49 engages and the driven member rotates with the driving member. Whenever stop arm 46 is in its counterclockwise extreme as a result of surface 30 on start lever 25 being held to the left of leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16, lip '47 is maintained in interfering relation with tab 48 of the selector clutch and the driven member of the clutch 49 is maintained disengaged from the driving member thereof.
As is fully set forth in the above-identified Zenner 2,595,745 patent the driving member of the selector clutch 49 is connected to a continuously rotating drive shaft 50 which provides continuous input drive power to the selector mechanism. The driven member of the selector clutch 49 is attached to a selector cam sleeve 51 that is rotatably mounted on drive shaft 50 so that whenever the selector clutch is engaged, selector cam sleeve 51 is coupled through the selector clutch to drive shaft 50 and rotates with drive shaft 50 until the tab 48 on the selector clutch is again blocked by lip 47 on stop arm 46. Therefore, when the telegraph line changes from the marking condition to the spacing condition and armature extension 16 drops to the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1, the start lever 25 moves to the right under the action of spring 36 thereby rotating start bail 42 and stop arm 46 about ranging pivot 45 to remove lip 47 from engagement with tab 48 on the selector clutch. This permits the selector clutch to engage and couple the selector cam sleeve 51 to the drive shaft 50 in order to convert the seriatim electrical code impulses into simultaneous mechanical displacements.
As soon as start lever 25 moves to the right as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, it is lifted off of its pivot 35 permitting the start lever to be moved leftwardly without interfering in any way with the operation of the armature extension 16. When surface 30 on start lever 25 has been moved to the left of leftmost end of armature extension 16, start lever is then lowered onto its pivot 35 and permitted again to rest its surface against the leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 during the stop pulse at the end of the character.
To control these timed movements of start lever 25, a start cam 56 is firmly mounted on selector cam sleeve 51 to rotate with the selector cam sleeve. As soon as start lever 25 falls in over armature extension 16 during the spacing start pulse of a character, the selector clutch begins rotating selector cam sleeve 51 and start cam 56 with it. The selector considered herein is a two-cycle selector in that the selector starts and finishes receipt of a character in 180 of rotation of the selector cam sleeve 51. Therefore, the start cam 56 contains two identical cam profiles around its periphery.
A lifting lever 57 is pivoted on ranging pivot 45 and is biased to rotate counterclockwise about ranging pivot 45 by a spring 58 that is attached to a spur '59 projecting downwardly and to the right from lifting lever 57. The upper end of lifting lever 57 is formed into a cam-follower portion 61. Spring 58 serves to hold cam-follower portion 61 in engagement with the start cam 56.
When selector cam sleeve 51 and start cam 56 begin rotating with shaft 50 from the position shown in FIG. 1 a ramp 63 on start cam 56 drives cam follower 61 rightwardly rotating lifting lever 57 clockwise about pivot 45 against spring 58. When lifting lever 57 rotates clockwise a lifting arm 64 on lifting lever 57 rises and engages a spur- 66 on the bottom of start lever 25.
As ramp 63 on start cam 56 rocks lifting lever 57 clockwise about ranging pivot 45 lifting arm 64 continues to rise and lifts start lever 25 off of its fixed pivot (FIG. 2) until abutting surface 30 is high enough to clear the leftmost end 20' of armature extension 16 even when the armature extension is in its marking condition. Camfollower portion 61 on lifting lever 57 then rides on dwell portion 67 of start cam 56, holding start lever 25 off of fixed pivot 35.
In FIG. 2 start cam 56 is shown rotated to a position corresponding to a later time in the cycle of the selector after the lifting arm 64 has raised start lever 25 sufficiently to clear armature extension 16. At this time a cam-follower 68 on start bail 42 is engaged by a ramp 69 on start cam 56 which is identical to ramp 63 but displaced from it about start cam 56 by 180. As start cam 56 continues to rotate, ramp 69 pushes start bail 42 to the left (FIG. 2) and as start bail 42 moves to the left, it rotates counterclockwise about ranging pivot 45 thereby driving the lip 47 on stop arm 46 into the path of a second control tab 48 on the selector clutch 49. Since the selector receives a character during each half-revolution of rotation, the selector clutch 49* is stoppable in either of two rotational positions, 180 apart. To stop in either of two rotational positions, the selector clutch has two control tabs 48 each identical to the tab shown in FIG. 1. As lip 47 on stop arm 46 is moved into a position to engage the next clutch control tab 48 the leftward movement of start bail 42 also moves start lever 25 to the left by means of the engagement of lug on start lever 25 with the slot 41 on start bail 42. The cooperation of ramp 69 and cam-follower 68 thus moves start lever 25 leftwardly until surface 30 on start lever 25 is to the left of leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16. At this time, cam-follower portion 61 on lifting lever 57 drops off of an edge 71 on start cam 56 thereby permitting lifting lever 57 to rotate counterclockwise under the action of spring 58 about ranging pivot 45, lowering lifting arm 64 and lowering start lever 25 onto fixed pivot 35.
After ramp 69 and cam follower 68 have moved abutment surface 30 to the left of leftmost end 20 of extension 16, cam follower 68 rides a dwell portion 72 (identical to dwell portion 67 but displaced by 180") on start cam 56. When all of the code bits of the character have been received by the selector, the telegraph line assumes its marking stop condition. During this marking stop pulse, an edge 74 on start cam 56 passes cam follower 68 permitting spring 36 to move start lever 25 and start bail 42 to the right. Cam follower 68 then begins to fall into a notch 76 on start cam 56, but abutment surface 30 on start lever 25 strikes leftmost end 20 of armature extension 16 preventing cam follower 68 from falling into notch 76. As cam follower '68 tries to fall into notch 76 the next control tab 48 on the selector clutch 49 strikes lip 47 on stop arm 46 thereby stopping the selector cam sleeve 51 to await the start of the next character. The start mechanism is then in the condition shown in FIG. 1 awaiting the receipt of the spacing start pulse of the next character.
In telegraphy, each code bit is subject to distortion as it travels over the telegraph line. The extent and type of distortion is dependent upon the particular telegraph line. Therefore, a modern telegraph selector is made capable of accurately receiving signals having a wide variety of types of distortion. Since all of the code bits are of the same finite chronological duration, it is usually best to sample each code bit, with a selector of the type shown in the Zenner patent, near its chronological center. Since telegraph lines vary, a given selector is usually adjusted in place after installation and periodically thereafter. The selector adjustment that moves the selector sampling point with respect to the center of each code bit is called the range adjustment. Since the center of each code bit is always measured from the beginning of the start pulse, the range adjustment can best be made in the start mechanism of the selector which actually determines the time at which the selector clutch engages and rotates the selector cam sleeve that in turn controls selector timing.
In FIG. 1 start bail 42, stop lever 46, and lifting lever 57 are all pivoted on ranging pivot 45. Ranging pivot 45 corresponds to stud 3 8 in the Przysiecki 3,033,926 patent mentioned above and is similarly mounted on the teletypewriter frame so that it can be moved in a fixed arc about the axis of drive shaft 50. The range adjustment of the selector is accomplished by moving the ranging pivot through its fixed arc. As the ranging pivot is moved through its fixed arc, poor reception will usually be noticed as the ranging pivot reaches either extreme position. The points on the fixed are where poor reception begins are then noted and ranging pivot 45 is placed midway between these points.
In order to sample the code bits later than their chronological center, the ranging pivot 45 is moved clockwise (FIG. 1) about the center of drive shaft 50 moving lip 47 on stop arm 46 clockwise about the center of drive shaft 50. This causes the selector clutch to stop at a more clockwise position, Since selector cam sleeve 51 rotates counterclockwise, it takes the selector cam sleeve longer to arrive at the same angular position after starting from its new position, thus sampling each bit later. In order to sample the code bits earlier, the ranging pivot 45 is moved counterclockwise about the center of drive shaft 50, moving lip 47 to a position that is more angularly advanced in the direction of selector cam-sleeve rotation. Therefore, selector cam sleeve 51 still starts at the beginning of the start pulse but from an angularly advanced position and with this head start arrives at each sampling position earlier.
Lifting lever 57 is also mounted on ranging pivot 45 in order that the time relationship between the start of selector cam sleeve 51 and the raising of start lever 25 off of fixed pivot 35 is held constant. The curved surface 77 on lifting arm 64 is provided to engage with spur 66 on start lever 25 no matter where ranging pivot 45 is placed.
Since armature extension 16 does not move with ranging pivot 45, start lever 25 is mounted on the fixed pivot 35. Slot 41 and lug 40 permit relative movement between start lever 25 and start bail 42 about the center of drive shaft 50.
Operation The spacing start pulse permits extension 16 to drop so that start lever 25 rocks to the right. Rightward movement of start lever 25 rotates start bail 4-2 clockwise about ranging pivot 45 carrying cam follower 68 into notch 76. Clockwise rotation of start bail 42* rotates stop arm 46 clockwise about ranging pivot 45, removing lip 47 from engagement with control tab 48- (FIG. 1) on the selector clutch. This permits the selector clutch to begin rotating selector cam sleeve 51. When start cam 56 begins rotating, ramp 63 starts to rotate lifting lever clockwise raising lifting arm 64. Lifting arm 64 raises start lever 25 clear of armature extension 16. Another ramp on start cam 56 moves start bail 42 and start lever 25 to the left until lip 47 on stop arm 46 is positioned to block the next control tab of the selector clutch and until start lever 25 has moved to the left of armature extension 16. A lip on start cam 56 then lets lifting lever 57 lower start lever 25 back down to its original position. The other lip on start cam 56 then lets abutting surface 30 of start lever 25 rest against leftmost end of armature extension 16 during the marking stop pulse to await the next spacing start pulse.
What is claimed is:
1. In a selector mechanism for an automatic telegraph apparatus:
a selector magnet having an armature;
means for sensing the position of the armature;
a driver for supplying input motion to the selector mechanism;
first means for moving the sensing means substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the armature;
second means for moving the sensing means substantially parallel with the path of movement of the armature, and
a clutch actuated by the sensing means upon the sensing of a predetermined position of the armature for connecting the first means and the second means to the driver thereby moving the sensing means away from the armature.
2. In a start-stop telegraph signal receiver the combination of:
a receiving magnet having an armature;
a cam;
a rotary driver for the cam;
a clutch for connecting the cam to the rotary driver;
a start lever which senses a movement of the armature;
a clutch trip lever responsive to the start lever sensing a movement of the armature for establishing a driving connection through said clutch from the driver to the cam;
a first follower operated by the cam to move the start lever in a path having a direction component substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the armature; and
a second follower operated by the cam to move the start lever in a path having a direction component substantially parallel with the path of movement of the armature.
3. In a signal-controlled receiving selector for a printing telegraph apparatus:
a receiving electromagnet responsive to incoming signal pulses;
a blocking armature having an open structure, said armature actuated by said electromagnet to assume one of two positions;
a start lever having an abutment surface normally blocked by said armature in said one position to hold said start lever in a first position, said start lever assuming a second position when said armature assumes the other of its two positions, said abutment surface being formed on an end of said lever and said lever being undercut adjacent to said surface to permit said open-structured armature to assume either of its two positions when said start lever is in its second position, the abutment surface of the start lever positioned to enter the open area of the armature in its one position when the start lever is in its second position;
a start cam rotated in response to the assumption by said start lever of its second position;
a first cam follower in engagement with said start cam for moving the start lever to a third position wherein the abutment surface is not in the open area of the armature when the armature is in its one position, said start cam and first cam follower moving said start lever in response to the start of rotation of the start cam; and
a second cam follower in engagement with the start cam for moving the start lever to a fourth position after the first cam follower has finished moving the start lever out of the open area of the armature.
4. In a selector mechanism for an automatic telegraph apparatus having a selector magnet with an openstructured armature, a start lever for sensing the position of the armature, a rotary driver for the selector mechanism, and a clutch controlled by the sensing of the position of the armature by the start lever for connecting the rotary driver to the selector mechanism, means for preventing the start lever from interfering with the armature comprising:
an undercut portion on the start lever for cooperating with the open structure of the armature to permit movement of the armature;
first means for moving the start lever substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the armature; and
second means for moving the start lever substantially parallel with the path of movement of the armature.
5. In a selector mechanism of the type including a selector magnet having an armature and a start lever for sensing the position of the armature, the subcombination of:
lector magnet for receiving characters comprised of a start bit followed by a plurality of information bits followed by a stop bit and a start lever for sensing the armature of the start magnet and for movement in a path extending parallel to the armature in response to the receipt by the selector magnet of a start bit, the subcombination of:
means for displacing the start lever perpendicularly of the armature during the receipt of information bits by the selector magnet,
means for moving the start lever parallel to the armature while the start lever is in its displaced position,
means for returning the start lever from its displaced position perpendicularly of the armature after the parallel movement thereof, and
means for moving the start lever parallel to the armature into engagement therewith during the receipt of the stop bit by the selector magnet.
7. A printing telegraph receiving selector comprising:
a constantly rotating drive source;
a clutch driven by the drive source;
a clutch-controlled selector cam sleeve;
a signal-responsive electromagnet including an armature having two operative positions for controlling the effect of said cam sleeve;
a start lever having an operated position and an unoperated position, said start lever held in its unoperated position by said armature when said armature is in one of its two operative positions, and said start lever movable to its operated position when said start-stop member about said pivot thereb moving said start lever to its unoperated position and lifting lever having a cam follower portion and a1 arcuate lifting arm, said cam follower portion co said armature assumes the other of its two operative 5 operating with said start cam for raising said liftin; positions; arm to engage and lift said start lever out of co a pivot movable through a fixed arc about the center operative relation with said armature during the ro of rotation of said drive source; tation of said cam sleeve and for thereafter lowerin a start-stop member mounted on the pivot, having a 10 said start lever into cooperative relation with saic cam follower formed on it, having an arcuate slot armature after the start-stop member has alignet including a curved profile concentric with the center the start lever with the armature. of rotation of said drive source formed in it and having a clutch trip arm formed on it; References Cited a lug mounted on said start lever and positioned in 15 UNITED STATES PATENTS engagement with the arcuate slot in the start-stop member for rotating the start-stop member around gz said pivot when said start lever assumes its operated 3033927 5/1962 g position and thereby causing the clutch trip arm to 0e ms 178 33 grip said clutch to connect said cam sleeve to said 20 THOMAS A ROBINSON, Primary Examiner.
ive source; a start cam on said cam sleeve for cooperating with US, Cl, X R
the cam follower on said start-stop member to rock 178-25
US497725A 1965-10-19 1965-10-19 Start mechanism for telegraph selector Expired - Lifetime US3452154A (en)

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2505729A (en) * 1948-04-22 1950-04-25 Teletype Corp Printing telegraph apparatus
US2595745A (en) * 1949-03-19 1952-05-06 Teletype Corp Printing telegraph selector
US3033927A (en) * 1960-06-07 1962-05-08 Teletype Corp Unitary selector assemblage for printing telegraph apparatus

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2505729A (en) * 1948-04-22 1950-04-25 Teletype Corp Printing telegraph apparatus
US2595745A (en) * 1949-03-19 1952-05-06 Teletype Corp Printing telegraph selector
US3033927A (en) * 1960-06-07 1962-05-08 Teletype Corp Unitary selector assemblage for printing telegraph apparatus

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