IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL TELEGRAPH APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STEAM SHIPS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL TELEGRAPH
APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STEAM SHIPS."—A commu-
nication from abroad by Andrew Gormly Myers, of the City and
State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 8th November 1872 and dated the 13th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 13th May 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co.,
5 Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL
TELEGRAPH APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STEAM SHIPS," a commu-
nication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus described
in the Specification of an Invention for which Letters Patent have been

page_text: formerly granted to me bearing date the 7th day of June A.D. 1871,
No. 1509.
The said improvements relate first to the means for operating the air
valve of the transmitting instrument. I attach to the stem of the said
valve a stud or finger, which is arranged to be struck by the hand lever
to permit the escape of the air after giving an order. By actuating the
valve directly by the hand lever I simplify the construction of the
apparatus and reduce the friction. I also provide the pipo which leads
from the upper diaphragm or that by which the orders are transmitted
with a stop-cock, which regulates the force of the air current and
prevents the return of the air to the diaphragm. I provide the stem
or spindle of the diaphragm which is acted upon by the cam of the
hand lever in transmitting the orders with a bow spring outside the
diaphragm instead of the spiral spring described in the said former
Specification. This spring is simpler than the said spiral spring, ensures ]
a better action of the diaphragm, and is more readily repaired when
injured or worn.
The said improvements relate secondly to mechanism for ensuring
the proper action of the diaphragm of the receiving instrument upon
the index hand of the dial, and are designed to render this part of the 2
apparatus more simple, reliable, and durable than heretofore. For this
purpose instead of the contrivances described in the said former Speci-
fication I use a rack and pinion. The pinion is formed or fixed on the
index spindle, which is fitted to turn in a bearing carried on a brass
tongue projecting over the diaphragm, and the rack is formed on one 2
end of a rod whose other end is connected to a lever on the shaft that
carries the diaphragm lever. The latter is carried in small standards,
and the diaphragm lever is provided with a flat spring to counteract the
outward pressure on the diaphragm. A stop is placed at the back of the
rack lever to prevent its moving too far. Or instead of the aforesaid 3
rack and pinion I may use a contrivanco consisting of a quickly pitched
screw formed or fixed on the stem or spindle of the index hand, and
acted upon by a forked lever connected to the diaphragm lever. The said
forked lever has its fulcrum on a small standard, and its forked portion
is elastic so that it clasps the screw and causes it to rotate when the 3
lever is caused to vibrate by the action of the diaphragm. I. remove
the clockwork described in the said former Specification for sounding the

page_text: bell of the receiving instrument, and in its place I use a simple hammer
or striker mounted on an eccentric or cam and actuated directly by the
current of air from the transmitter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
.
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 12th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty:
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and 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 and 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
PNEUMATIC SIGNAL TELEGRAPH APPARATUS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STEAM
SHIPS," a communication to me from abroad by Andrew Gormly Myers,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by

page_text: the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
The said Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus described
in the Specification of an Invention for which Letters Patent have been
formerly granted to me, bearing date the 7th day of June A.D. 1871,
No. 1509.
"
The said improvements relate first to the means for operating the air
valve of the transmitting instrument. In the Specification of my said
former Patent I have shewn a compound lever arrangement for opening
the air valve and thereby restoring the diaphragm to its original position
after the transmission of an order. According to my present Invention
I attach to the stem of the said valve a stud or finger which is arranged
to be struck by the hand lever to permit the escape of the air after
giving an order. By actuating the valve directly by the hand lever I
simplify the construction of the apparatus and reduce the friction; I
also provide the pipe which leads, from the upper diaphragm, or by
which the orders are transmitted with a stop-cock, which regulates
the force of the air current and permits the return of the air to the
diaphragm. I provide the stem or spindle of the diaphragm, which is
acted upon by the cam of the hand lever in transmitting the orders,
with a bow spring outside the diaphragm instead of the spiral spring
described in the said former Specification. This bow spring is simpler
than the said spiral spring, ensures a better action of the diaphragm,
and is more readily repaired when injured or worn.
The said improvements relate, secondly, to mechanism for ensuring
the proper action of the diaphragm of the receiving instrument upon the
index hand of the dial, and are designed to render this part of the
apparatus more simple, reliable, and durable than heretofore. For
this purpose instead of the contrivance described in the said former
Specification I use those shown in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 shews the application of a rack and pinion to the diaphragm,
and Figure 2 shows a screw and fork apparatus to be used in place of
the said rack and pinion.
In Figure 1 the pinion a is formed or fixed on the index spindle b,
which is fitted to turn in a bearing carried on a brass tongue c, pro-
jecting over the diaphragm d; the rack e is formed on one end of the
rod e¹ whose other end is connected to a lever ƒ on the shaft ƒ' that
carries the diaphragm lever g. The latter is supported in small standards

page_text: h and is provided with a flat spring i to counteract the outward pressure
on the diaphragm. A stop is placed at the back of the rack lever f to
limit its movement. In Figure 2, j is a quickly pitched screw formed
or fixed on the stem or spindle 6 of the index hand and acted upon by a
forked lever k connected to the diaphragm lever g. The said forked
lever has its fulcrum on a small standard I, and its forked portion-' is
elastic, so that it clasps the screw j and causes it to rotate when the
lever is vibrated by the action of the diaphragm.
As stated in the said former Specification, "when a signal is about to
" be given a bell is struck by means of a column of air forced from
"the air chamber by the operation of a treadle through another air
“chamber provided with an elastic diaphragm; the latter moves a
"detent which releases a watch movement and causes a bell to sound."
According to my present Invention I remove the said watchwork for
sounding the bell of the receiving instrument, and in its place I use
a simple hammer or striker mounted on an eccentric or cam and
actuated directly by the current of air from the transmitter, being
thereby caused to strike the bell.
Having thus described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same,
I wish it understood that I claim, the improvements in pneumatic
telegraph apparatus, as herein set forth.
In witness whercof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
W. J. LOWE.
W³. ROB™. LAKE. (L.S.)