IMPROVE- MENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH. A communication from abroad by Auguste Berlioz, Magneto-
electric Machine Maker, of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 1st November 1867, and dated the 4th May 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th May 1867.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND IN APPARATUS CON-
NECTED
THERE WITH," a communication to me from abroad by Auguste Berlioz
Magneto-electric Machine Maker, of Paris, in the Empire of France, to be
as follows:-
This Invention has reference more particularly to the application of a
peculiar arrangement and construction of magneto-electric signal light apparatus
to ships for the purpose of showing their course, and for the purpose of illumi-
nating a portion of a coast, and for showing the works of an enemy by night.
This apparatus consists essentially of a copper cylinder mounted on trunnions
at each side, which trunnions rest in a support capable of rotating in a
horizontal plane upon a bed plate on the surface of an upright pillar some-
Price S

page_text: what similar to a capstan head; this apparatus is to be situate near the bows
of a ship so as to throw the light forward and at a slight dip or angle to the
horizon. The front of the copper cylinder is provided with a stepped or other
suitably shaped plano-convex lens, whilst at the back of the cylinder there is
fitted a concave reflector. The electrodes of the light apparatus (which by
preference is that known as the Duclos light) are disposed between the
reflector and the lens, and the conducting wires lead down through the centre
of the support to a magneto-electric machine of the kind known as the Berlioz
machine situate, below in the ship. In some cases a parabolic reflector may
be employed, and then the lens will not be required. The lens is by pre-
ference used for indicating the course, and the reflector for illuminating
objects at moderate distances. In adjusting the lamp the cylinder is turned
on its two horizontal trunnions to the desired angle with the horizon, and is
then fixed in that angle by a set screw; this cylindrical portion of the lamp is
then adjusted in a horizontal plane by turning the, foot plate carrying the
trunnions supports upon the fixed bed plate; the two plates are held together
by means of screws, the nuts of which are contained in a 1-shaped annular
Another set screw similar
groove in the surface of the lower or fixed plate.
to the former one serves to secure the two plates firmly together after
the horizontal adjustment has been effected; the support of the lamp admits
of its being moved on each side of the longitudinal centre line of the ship
about 135° from the bows. It is proposed to combine with this apparatus
moveable screens or obstructors or different colored glasses, whereby facility
is afforded for conveying numbers or signals, the signals being partly indicated
by the different colored glasses and the intervals of time between the flashes
or the obscurations of the light; these obscurations may if desired be produced
by interruptions in the light itself.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th November 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said
John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAGNETO-ELECTRIC SIGNAL LIGHTS AND IN
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," a communication to me from abroad by
Auguste Berlioz, Magneto-electric Machine Maker, of Paris, in the Empire
of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say:--
The said Invention has reference more particularly to the application of a
peculiar arrangement and construction of magneto-electro signal light apparatus
to ships for the purpose of showing their course, and for the purpose of illumi-
nating a portion of a coast, and for showing the works of an enemy by night.
This apparatus consists essentially of a copper cylinder mounted on trunnions
at each side, which trunnions rest in a support capable of rotating in a
horizontal plane upon a bed plate on the surface of an upright pillar some-
what similar to a capstan head; this apparatus is to be situate near the bows
of a ship so as to throw the light forward and at a slight dip or angle to the
horizon. The front of the copper cylinder is provided with a stopper or other
suitably shaped, plano-convex lens, whilst at the back of the cylinder there is
fitted a concave reflector. The electrodes of the light apparatus (which by
preference is that known. as the Duclos light) are disposed between the
reflector and the lens, and the conducting wires lead down through the centre
of the support to a magneto-electric machine of the kind known as the Berlioz
machine situate below in the ship. In some cases a parabolic reflector may

page_text: be employed, and then the lens will not be required. The lens is by pre-
ference used for indicating the course, and the reflector for illuminating
objects at moderate distances. In adjusting the lamp the cylinder is turned
on its two horizontal trunnions to the desired angle with the horizon, and is
then fixed in that angle by a set screw; this cylindrical portion of the lamp is
then adjusted in a horizontal plane by turning the foot plate carrying the
trunnion supports upon the fixed bed plate; the two plates are held together
by means of screws, the nuts of which are contained in a 1-shaped annular
groove in the surface of the lower or fixed plate. Another set screw similar
to the former one serves to secure the two plates firmly together after
the horizontal adjustment has been effected. The support of the lamp admits
of its being moved on each side of the longitudinal centre line of the ship
about 135° from the bows. It is proposed to combine with this apparatus
moveable screens or obstructors or different colored glasses, whereby facility
is afforded for conveying numbers or signals, the signals being partly indicated
by the different colored glasses and the intervals of time between the flashes
or the obscurations of the light; these obscurations may if desired be produced
by interruptions in the light itself.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and, for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings; the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a longitudinal section of the apparatus
mounted; Figure 2, a horizontal section taken on the line 1, 2; Figure 3, a
vertical section taken on the line 3, 4; Figure 4, a plan of the part which
admits of the motion of the apparatus in a horizontal plane; Figure 5 shows
its application to a ship; and Figures 6, 7, and 8 shew the course to be taken
by two vessels in order to avoid a collision.
The apparatus is composed of a copper cylinder C mounted on trunnions c
in supports fixed to a plate p which rests on a fixed metallic base plate p³,
forming the top of a pillar P, somewhat similar to a capstan; this pillar is
secured to a platform provided with hand rails, and is erected on the deck of
the ship. The back part of the cylinder communicates with a chamber B in
which the electric lighting apparatus A, consisting of a Dulos or other lamp,
is disposed; this lamp is connected by wires to one or two magneto-electric
machines erected in the interior of the vessel, the said wires passing through a
hole made in the centre of the pillar. The front part of the cylinder C is
provided with a plano-convex stepped lens L, and at the end of the part B,

page_text: that is to say, behind the electric lamp, there is disposed a spherical reflector D,
the light of course occupying the focus. A parabolic reflector, shewn by the
red lines D', Figures 1 and 2, may also be used and disposed behind the light;
either of these reflectors may be employed to project the light. The lens is
by preference used to indicate the route, and the reflector to observe objects
at short distances of, say, within one and a half miles. The parabolic reflector
is employed alone without the lens. The cylinder C after being inclined is
turned round on its trunnions c to adjust it to the required to adjust it to the
required angle with the horizon, in which position it is fixed by the bolt m.
Figure 3. The cylinder is also capable of motion in a horizontal plane by
turning the plate p on the surface plate pl of the pillar P; these plates are
connected together by screws, the heads of which are inclosed in the recess in
the plate p', and when the apparatus is adjusted to the required angle the two
plates are held fast together by the bolt m¹ (Figures 3 and 4). The pedestal
admits of the lamp being moved on each side of the longitudinal axis of the
ship to about 135° from the bow; this lamp is inclined, as shown in Figure 5,
in order to indicate the course of the bow of the vessel.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 exemplify three cases in which ships may avoid a
collision: First case, Figure 6, the two vessels running the one into the
other proceed both "starboard" to avoid running foul. Second case, Figure 7,
the two ships following parallel routes there can be no collision, for they both
proceed to "starboard." Third case, Figure 8, the course of the two ships is
oblique, and the rays of light meet together; these vessels each proceed to
the opposite side of the meeting point of the half angle of convergence of the
two routes. The ship at larboard allows that which is at starboard to pass,
and indicates that it is diminishing its speed by ringing the bell. The arrows
in all these Figures indicate the direction of the above-mentioned manoeuvres.
This apparatus may also be used to give night signals, whether in squadron
navigation or for a ship aground. In this case it could be utilised by
working it as shown in the Diagrams, Figures 9, 10, and 11. These night
signals constitute a species of electric telegraphy; Figure 9 shows the use of
the apparatus with an ordinary lens, which produces the numbers 1 to 3;
Figure 10 shows the method of forming the numbers 4 to 6, by employing a
screen with a red glass before the lens; Figure 11 shows the formation of the
numbers 7 to 9, with a screen and a green glass before the lens. The inter-
ruption of the light indicates the number formed, for which purpose a black
screen may be employed, or obscurations may be also made with a screen.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried

page_text: into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
First, the general combination and mode of applying apparatus for indi-
cating the routes of vessels or for transmitting signals as herein before
described.
Second, the peculiar construction of signal lamp or apparatus, substantially
as herein-before described and illustrated by Figures 1 to 4 of the annexed
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. HENRY JOHNSON.