Improvements in Ships' or Navigable Vessels' Mechanical Telegraphs.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' or Navigable Vessels' Mechanical
Telegraphs.
We, ALBERT EDWARD SEATON of Wilton House Holderness Road Hull
Naval Architect and Civil Engineer and WILLIAM HENRY WILLATT of
22 Jalland Street Holderness Road Hull Electrical Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improvement in ships or navigable vessels mechanical
telegraphs in the transmitting and receiving instruments whereby whenever the
operating handle of either instrument is grasped by the operator an electric bell
circuit is closed and one or more electric bells are thus caused to be rung at the
opposite end of the system to the operator and attention is thus called to the
moving pointer on the dial. The operating handle of either instrument may
consist of two metal parts electrically insulated from each other which on being
pressed together by the act of the operator grasping the handle closes the electric
circuit aforementioned the lever that the handle is attached to may be made
hollow so that the insulated conductor of the electric circuit can be carried inside
it up to the handle where the circuit can be closed. Owing to the fact that
whenever the handle of the instrument is grasped the electric bell or beils can be
made to ring, the lever and handle need not travel through such a large arc of the
dial when transmitting only one order that is to say the dial may be divided up
into a greater number of orders. For preference the mechanical gong or gongs
usually fitted in the receiving instrument should be retained and allowed to sound
when the pointer on the dial is placed at the order stop also when it is at the
orders ahead and astern immediately at either side of the order stop on the dial.
The dial at either side of these, orders may for preference be graduated and
marked in an ascending scale of the revolutions per minute it may be desirable to
run the engines at. This improvement may also be applied in a similar manner to
telegraphs that are other than bridge and engine room telegraphs the dials being
marked suitably for the purpose they are required for.
Dated this 16th day of September 1895.
A. E. SEATON.
W. H. WILLATT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ships' or Navigable Vessels' Mechanical
Telegraphs.
We, ALBERT EDWARD SEATON, of Wilton House, Holderness Road, Hull,
Naval Architect and Civil Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY WILLATT, of
22, Jalland Street, Holderness Road, Hull, Electrical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following.
statement:-
This invention is an improvement in ships or navigable vessels mechanical ..
D0J1

page_text: telegraphs, in the transmitting and receiving instruments whereby whenever the
operating handle of either instrument is grasped by the operator an electric bell
circuit is closed and one or more electric bells are thus caused to be rung at the
opposite end of the system to the operator and attention is thus called to the
moving pointer on the ilial.
The operating handle of either instrument may consist of two metal parts
electrically insulated from each other which on being pressed together by the act
of the operator grasping the handle, closes the electric circuit aforementioned,
the lever that the handle is attached to may be made hollow so that the insulated
conductor of the electric circuit can be carried inside it up to the handle where
the circuit can be closed.
Owing to the fact that whenever the handle of the instrument is grasped the
electric bell or bells can be made to ring, the lever and handle or the pointer on
the dial need not travel through such a large are of the dial when transmitting
only one order, that is to say the dial may be divided up into a greater number of
orders. For preference the mechanical gong or gongs usually fitted in the
receiving instrument should be retained and allowed to sound when the pointer on
the dial is placed at the order stop, also when it is at the orders, ahead and astern,
immediately at either side of the order stop on the dial. The dial at either side
of these orders may for preference be graduated and marked in an ascending scale
of the revolutions per minute it may be desirable to run the engines at.
This improvement may also be applied in a similar manner to telegraphs that
are other than bridge and engine room telegraphs, the dials being marked suitably
for the purpose they are required for. For instance in a steering telegraph where
the herein described electric contacting handle is fitted to the transmitting
instrument, the officer who is transmitting steering orders to the steersman can
keep the handle grasped and thus cause the electric bell to keep ringing near the
steersman until he has moved the rudder over to a suitable angle to suit the con-
trolling officer who will then release the handle and the bell will cease ringing, the
dials of the instruments of course being marked to suit these circumstances.
In some cases we provide that a bell may be caused to ring at the same end of
the system at which the operator is at, thus giving him definite information that
he has by grasping the handle actually closed the circuit.
Our invention will be better understood on reference to the accompanying two
sheets of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1. Sheet 1. is a vertical section of one of our improved telegraph operating
handles.
Fig. 2. Sheet 2. is an elevation partly in section of the head of one of our
improved telegraph transmitting instruments where shafting is used to communicate
between it and the receiving instrument.
Fig. 3. Sheet 2. is an elevation partly in section of the head of one of our
improved telegraph transmitting instruments where wire or chain is used to
communicate between it and the receiving instrument.
Fig. 4. Sheet 2. is an elevation partly in section of the head of one of our
improved telegraph receiving instruments where shafting is used to communicate
between it and the transmitting instrument.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The construction of the operating handle is shewn in Fig. 1. Sheet 1, the
lever, l, which is made of suitable metal, for instance gun-metal, is cored out so as
to admit of an insulated electric conductor, c, being passed through it. The handle
consists essentially of the metal tube, t, which is fitted on to the upper part of the
lever, l, to which it is secured, the tube, has attached to its inside a block, b, of
suitable insulating material such as lignum vitæ wood, ebonite, vulcanised fibre or
the like, to the front of the block, b, is fixed a brass contact plate, p, which by
preference is tinned or otherwise metallically coated or plated. To this plate is
soldered one end of the electric conductor, c. The tube, t, is cut away to allow of
a loose part, h, being hinged on the pin passing through the hole, m, the hinged

page_text: part, h, has a projection, n, cast on it, the end of which is by preference tinned or
otherwise metallically coated or plated. On the handle being grasped by the
operator this end of the projection, n, makes electrical contact with the surface of
the plate, p, and an electric circuit is thus com pleted through the metal of the
instrument itself, the instrument has another electric conductor screwed or soldered
on to any convenient part of its metal structure to form the other part of the
electric circuit or if preferred the metal of the instrument may form no part of
the electric circuit, but twin conductors may pass up the interior of the lever, l,
and their ends be soldered or secured to separate insulatel contacts insile the
handle, which contacts may be made to touch on the handle being grasped by the
operator. The hinged part, h, of the tube, t, forming the handle has also cast
upon it another projection, o, which serves as a support for a spring, s, which
spring keeps the electric contacts, n, and, p, from touching each other when the
handle is not grasped.
In order to prevent water, damp, or dirt getting into the interior of the handle
we provide a pliable sheath, u, which is made of any suitable water-proof substance
or material, such as india-rubber or the like, in order to prevent the top of this
sheath becoming chafed or worn on the edge of the tube, t, a rounded plug, v, is.
fitted and secured thereto, the sheath being slipped over the whole of the handle
as shewn in the drawing on Sheet 1.
When the dial is divided up into a considerable number of orders, as is now
allowable considering the improved means of calling attention to the dial, it is
necessary to provide some means in the receiving instrument to ensure that the
pointer shall always point to the centre of any division of the dial to which it is
directed. We effect this as is shewn on Fig. 4. Sheet 2, which is an illustration of
the receiving instrument of a telegraph, where shafting is used, to communicate
between it and the transmitting instrument; on the horizontal spindle of this.
receiving instrument there is a shaped sliding collar, w, which is free to move
along the spindle in the direction away from the dial, k, subject to compressing the
steel spring, &, which is shewn, this spring presses the sliding collar, w, up against
the fixed collar, x, the sliding collar, w, is prevented from revolving with the
spindle by the projecting leg, i, which has a groove in it and bridges over, and
slides along the bracket arm, y. One edge of the sliding collar, w, is cut into
notches which are arranged around its circumference at corresponding positions
to the orders marked on the dial, k. To the fixed collar, x, is attached a stud
or cam, z, which engages with the notches in the sliding collar, w, so that when
the telegraph spindle is moved by the operator, the cam, z, will always have a
forcible tendency to come to rest in a notch and not remain in any position
between two netches, thus causing the pointer to point to the centre of an order
on the dial. A similar device to this for centreing the pointer may be applied to
the spindle of the receiving instrument of a telegraph where wire or chain is used
to connect up the transmitter with the receiver.
Fig. 2, Sheet 2, shews the head of a transmitting instrument for a telegraph.
where shafting is used for connecting up to the receiving instrument, it will be
seen that the spindle end of the operating lever, 4, is bored out and & plug of
insulating material, q, is screwed therein, this insulating plug is bored out parallel.
and a smaller hole bored through the end of it to allow the insulated electric
conductor, c, to pass through the spindle and lever, 1, before it is threaded in place,.
the end that is to remain inside the instrument is soldered to a small turned piece
of brass to prevent it being drawn right through the lever, l, to this piece of
brass is soldered a spring,, to which a brass contact piece is attached, this.
contact piece bears up against another pointed contact piece which projects
from a brass ring, a, which brass ring is insulated from the vertical shaft
by the insulating collar, f, the current is then carried away by the insulated
wire, g. Fig. 3. Sheet 2, shews the head of a transmitting instrument where wire
or chain is used as the connecting medium between the transmitting and the
receiving instruments, in this instrument as in the instrument shewn in Fig. 2..

page_text: Sheet 2, the lever, l, is cored out to receive the insulated conductor, c, and the
inner or lower end of the conductor, c, is soldered on to a brass contact piece which
is recessed into a screwed insulating plug, q, of ebonite, vulcanised fibre or the
like, a flat metal spring, s', carries the current away to the insulated wire, g, the
wheel, w, is fitted with a crank arm, d, in order that its metal shall not touch
the spring, s'. In telegraphs where the receiving instrument has a reply handle,
the reply handle and lever with the electric contacts may be made in a similar
manner to that shewn in the transmitting instrument in Fig. 3, Sheet 2, and Fig. 1,
Sheet 1, and if preferred the reply electric bell can be fitted inside the dial case
of the transmitting instrument where it will be preserved from the influence of
the weather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is.
1. In a ships or navigable vessels telegraph, the combination of an electric
contacting handle with the transmitting instrument or the reply receiving
instrument or both for the purpose of completing an electric circuit to cause
an electric bell or bells to ring at either or both ends of the system so that
attention may be called in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
2. In a ships or navigable vessels telegraph instrument an electric contacting
handle enclosing an insulated electric conductor or conductors substantially as and
for the purpose herein described and shewn in the drawings.
3. In a ships or navigable vessels telegraph instrument where
an electric
contacting or circuit closing handle is fitted, the combination with the handle
of a covering sheath of pliable waterproof substance or material such as india-
rubber or the like, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
4. In a ships or navigable vessels telegraph instrument for transmitting orders
from the bridge to the engine room, the combination of a dial, having orders
marked on it in an ascending scale of the revolutions per minute it may be
desirable to run the engines at, with the electric contacting handle which is to be
used by the operator for calling attention to the dial substantially as herein
described and shewn in the drawings.
5. In a ships or navigable vessels telegraph where mechanical gong or gongs
are used for calling attention to orders given, the combination with it of an
electric bell or bells operated in the manner substantially as herein described and
shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 16th day of June 1896.
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicants.