IMPROVEMENTS IN SEMAPHORES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEMAPHORES." A com-
munication from abroad by Max Kaiserblüth, of Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany.
Scaled the 24th September 1878, and dated the 10th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1878.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent
Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SEMAPHORES." A cominunication from abroad by Max Kaiserblüth, of
Berlin, in the Empire of Germany.
The improvements relate to optical signal apparatus or semaphores intended for
use in cafés, refreshment rooms, and other places of public resort, and consist in
constructing the semaphore of a column or tube, holding a travelling piston or rod,
furnished with a fan or equivalent device at the top end, and seated in or on a spring
carriage at the lower end, the spring carriage with the said piston being
actuated by a lever impinging on it, and said lever being moved by a thumb pin
or bolt.
The apparatus may be attached to a table or otherwise, and in its normal position
a slender pillar or tube only is seen; at the base there are four, or more or less, thumb
pin depressors.
When it is desired to call an attendant or attention, it is only necessary to depress
a thumb pin, when the spring carriage is released and the piston is projected beyond
the top of the pillar, and the fan device is thereby spread out, and thus an attendant
is suminoned or attention called without noise; the attendant or other party on
answering the enquiry then pulls a catch or trigger conveniently fixed on the pillar,

page_text: whereby tho piste is released from the spring seat and falls with its folding or fan-
shaped disc to its normal place of concealment within the tube, ready for service
when required.
The various parts may be most conveniently made of metal, but other materials
may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
October 1878.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent
Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SEMA-
PHORES." A communication from abroad by Max Kaiserblüth, of Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany.
The improvements relate to optical signal apparatus or semaphores intended for
use in cafés, refreshment roonis, and other places of public resort, and consist in
constructing the semaphore of a column or tube, holding a travelling piston or rod
furnished with a fan or equivalent device at the top end, and seated in or on a
spring carriage at the lower end, the spring carriage with the said piston being
actuated by a lever impinging on it, and said lever being moved by a thumb pin
or bolt.
The apparatus may be attached to a tube or otherwise, and in its normal position
a slender pillar or tube only be seen; at the base there are four, or more or less,
thumb pin depressors.
When it is desired to call an attendant or attention, it is only necessary to depress
a thumb pin when the spring carriage is released, and the piston is projected
beyond the top of the pillar, and the fan device is thoreby spread out, and thus an
attendant is summoned or attention called without noise; the attendant or other
party on answering the enquiry then pulls a catch or trigger, conveniently fixed on
the pillar, whereby the piston is released from the spring seat, and falls with its
folding or fan-shaped disc to its normal place of concealment within the tubo, ready
for service when required.
The various parts may be most conveniently made of metal, but other materials
may be used.
The accompanying Drawing represents in,-
Fig. 1, a section showing the whole mechanism, the fan-shaped signal boing
lowered and concealed in the interior of the pillar.
Fig. 2, a view of apparatus in the moment of giving signal.
An ornamental hollow pillar P is screwed to a circular base B, upon the edge of
which two kuobs K are the only visible parts of the mechanism, when the apparatus
is out of use; and which base is likewise utilized to contain a match holder, an ash-
pit, or cigar cutter. A slight pressure on knob K causes the fan-shaped signal F to

page_text: spring up out of the pillar, by which means the attention of the waiter is called to
the fact that at this particular spot his services are required; as soon as he has
attended to his orders he presses down by the knob K' on the top of the fan the
signal in the interior of the pillar. It is intended to render this pillar ornamental,
so that it may be an elegant article of furniture.
On the vertical shaft a is fixed the fan-shaped signal F by a hook S with the
small screw 8.
The shaft a is guided by the ring c in the tube b, and in the slits b
in it; & is a ring placed upon the tube b, and fixed in its position, and to the shaft (
by the collar e, which serves also as a guide within the tube T, and as a seat to the
screw-shaped spring f, which is supported on its lower end by the ring y,
soldered to the end of the tube b. The aforesaid parts are guided in the
tube T, which is fixed by the flange to the pillar; this tube T is fitted with
a hook f' which serves to bear the lever i, the lower end of which is formed as a
cam m.
The cam-shaped end of the lever i passes through the slit 6 within the capsule o
and the tongue of the lever, and passing between the tube b and the knob K of the
shaft a retains the latter in its position by means of spring f¹; n, n, are two levers
in connection with the knob K on the edge of the base of the pillar, and by which
levers the pressure to the knobs K is transmitted to the bottom of the capsule o.
The capsule o is held in its position by the screw-shaped spring f".
The action of the apparatus is the following:-The pressure on the knob K is
transmitted by the lever n to the capsule o, and by this means the capsule is raised,
so that the cam-shaped end of the lever i is put out of the slit 7, and the knob K of
the shaft a is released. In consequence of this the spring fraises the shaft a. The
screw-shaped spring f111 is intended to prevent concussion, the ring e being put to
the cover of the tube b. The shaft a being raised the fan-shaped signal F, which is
constructed of different radial parts springs out of the pillar, and is unfolded by the
weight of its different parts, as shewn in Fig. 2. The signal having fulfilled its
purpose is concealed by pressure on the knob K within the pillar. The knob K
of the shaft a passing the cam-shaped end m of the lever is withdrawn by the
tongue m' and the spring f acting on the lever i.
I claim an optical signalling apparatus for use in inns, refreshment rooms, and
such like, thereby simplifying the means of communication between guests and
attendants; effecting said signalling by means of slight manual pressure, without
noise, and exhibiting signals which may be seen from a distance, substantially as
represented and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, A.D. 1878.