The morning call., 1892-02-10

The S0und-Wave inteTcepteT consists Of
block COMPOSED Of nOn-metallic material,
such as wood, paper or hard rubber, prefer
ably OF diamond shape and having at each
angle deep vertical recess, rounded al its
inner end to allow the passage Of the water
TO the extreme end OF TN recess. ~ the
end Of each recess is q metallic tube, closed
ct the bottom and divided l0ngitudinally by
q nou-conductiug or absorbing diaphragm,
and the two chambers thus made IN each
tube are filed with sea water, thus DUOGuc-
ing conductor OF sound homogeneous IN
nature t. the surrounding medium. The
metallic receiving tubes are placed in the
TecesSeS of the block, so that a flat side OF
each diaphragm viii be presented u the
open end OF each recess. In the rear cham
Der Of each receiving tube Is q section Of Il
tube composed Of nOu-cOuductIRg material
fOT the purpose OF Intervening and absorbing
all sounds coming from the opposite side Of
the block. Tins apparatus constitutes the re-
ceiYer of the sea telephone. Il Will be at
tacued IN the keel Of the vessel at a Sutti-
Client depth 10 avoid the majority Of sounds
emana;ing from The surface.
II order to intercept sounds emanat-
ing or rejecting from the bottom Of the
sea q secondary block may be attached to
tie bottom Of the sound wave inter-
Cepter. Sound vibrations entering The re-
ccSSeS in the lutcICeDteT block WlIl strike
the exposed curved surface OF the intercept
ter tube, and passing through n, Will be
communicated 10 Inc metal ttuuuLLIL-
strips Through the wateTy conductor IN
tie tube. From the conducting s,Tiis the
sound vibrations VIII be conducted through
tie wires 10 The n'icr0phones.
Tie operation Is as follows When the
intercepter has been placed in the desired
position. the sound waves entering the re-
cessrS Of the block are received 10y The con-
ductHg tubes conveyed across the Watery
contracting contents OK SAID tubes TO the con-
Quoting strips OF tie diaphragm and trans
mitted by wires to the micraphOnes, where
they cause vibrations OF the plates thereof
Here the sound vibrations arc Increased
and transmitted % the director.
BY an ingenious but simple device the sea
telephone viii give warning, not only Of
moving objects IN the wafer, but OF va
t0nary objects, such as IctbergS, submerged
wrecks rocks or any other obstruction TO
nav gatiOn-au electric bell attached 10 The
bottom Of the submerged block. BY ring
inz this bell the sound waves thus created
VIII spread through the water IN all direc-
tons, and upon coming IN contact with any
obstruction viii be Tefracted back and re-
caiqed iutO the receiving tube. As sound
travels four times As quickly through water
as 10 does through air, the presence Of any
obstruction within ten miles IN any diUer-
ton viii be detected in q few seconds, and
from the rs Elected SCUM exact calculations
Of the distance ana direction If the object
NAV be made. Naturally this is one OF the
most important features Of the invention
and II 10 is found 10 work practically. OF
which its inventor IS absolutely confident, 10
Will entirely preclude the possibility of n
collision az sea In any vessel which Is fitted
with the apparatus. The Importance Of
this discovery cannot be OYeresjimated, as
IL will obya,e not only the danger Of COLI
siOns with other vessels ID a fog or dark
ness, but viii prevent another serious peril,
and one that hitherto could not be guarded
against by the most careful watchfuiness-
that Of collision with icebergs aud sub
merged wrecks.
Two persons on different ships using the
apparatus may by means OF tie submerged
bell, 20 be Tung according 10 conventional
systems. such as the Morse alphabet. COM
muuigate % each other TO any extent If
steamer were disabled she could send q
signal Of distress flying through the water
In every direction, which would almost in
stant!v b. received aud responded to by a
vessel below the horizon. The reception Of
the signal would give the exact location of
the disabled vessel, and IN the great ocean
highways between this country and Europe
it could hardly happen that a signal Of dis
tTess would not meet with a prompt re-
Spouse.
The invention can also be used in har-
b0ls or a. be>eged ports to give unerrng
notice OF tie approach Of hostile vessel,
and il would be valuable as a means Of
communication between two places sep
arated by a body Of water and having no
cable communications, although owing TO
the present imperfect stage OF the appara-
tus the communication would be limited to
short distances.
This important apparatus is the inven-
ton Of Ernest Huber and Frederick j.
Kueuper of Brooklyn. \. y. two thorough
and enthusiastic students If tie science of
electricity. j has been examined by the
Board OF Electrical Appliances Of The Navy
Department at Washington and favorably
reported upon.