IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS POR SIGNALLING OR GIVING ORDERS ON BOARD SHIPS AND IN OTHER PLACES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Louis Maria Ruiz at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1868.-A communication from Alfred Foucaut, residing
at Orleans (France)..
I, LOUIS MARIA RUIZ, of Paris, Rue d'Antin, No. 1, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS POR SIGNALLING OR GIVING ORDERS ON BOARD SHIPS AND IN OTHER
PLACES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a speaking telegraph which is. intended
particularly to enable the captain of a vessel to direct and control the
helmsman by the simple motion of one or more keys, or switches
and by the sound of bells of different pitch. On the captain's bridge
is placed a box of wood or any other suitable material or materials.
To the top of this box is secured the transmitting mechanism, which.
consists chiefly of two switches which sweep over segments. One of
those segments is composed of two metallic end sections with intervening
sections of wood, india-rubber, or other good non-conductor of electricity,

page_text: and the other of one metallic and one non-conducting section. The
metallic sections of the first segment are marked "starboard" and "port,"
and the metallic section of the other segment is marked "course." In
the interior of the box is secured the receiving mechanism for con-
trolling. the helmsman, which consists chiefly of two electro-magnets
and two bells, and these bells arc of different pitch, so that their sounds
can be readily distinguished. In the front of the house which encloses
the steering wheel or other mechanism to control the position of the
rudder is secured the receiving mechanism, which consists chiefly of
a metallic box provided with a bottom of wood or other good non-
conductor of electricity. Into this bottom are inserted three segmental
panes of glass, one of which is marked P (port), one S (starboard), while
the middle is left blank, and at another place of the said bottom a circular
pane marked C (course) is inserted. Through the bottom extends an
arbor, on one end of which is mounted an index hand, the point of which
traverses over the segmental panes while the other end of the arbor
has a pinion which gears into a toothed segment. This segment is
suspended from a pivot, and it carries on its ends two iron or steel
plates which form the armatures for the two electro-magnets which are
situated on opposite sides of the said segment, so that if the one electro-
magnet attracts its armature the index hand is caused to move to the
starboard pane S, and if the other electro-magnet attracts its armature
the index hand moves to the port pane P. If neither of the electro-
magnets attracts its armature the segment is returned to a central
position by the action of a spring which is secured to its back and
bears on the edge of a saddle secured to the bottom of the box. This
edge is provided with two inclines extending from the ends of the
saddle towards its centre, and by the action of the spring on these
inclines the segment is returned to its central position. When it reaches
this position the spring drops into a shallow notch in the centre of
the saddle, and by these means the segment together with the index
hand is retained in a central position even if the vessel rolls. The
circular pane C in the lower part of the box is provided with a lid which
is secured to an arbor to which a rocking motion is imparted by the
combined action of a spring and of an armature acting in conjunction
with an electro-magnet. If this armature is attracted by its electro-
magnet the lid swings back and the pane is exposed to the view of the
helmsman. To the inner wall of the wheel house are secured three
electro-magnetic alarm bells, the electro-magnets of which are connected

page_text: with the switch plates or segments on the bridge in such a manner
that they cause their bells to sound whenever the appropriate switch
comes in contact with the metallic portion of its switch plate. The
pitch of these alarm bells is different, so that the helmsman is enabled
to distinguish by the sound which bell has sounded. The connection
of this portion of the apparatus with the battery is as follows:-From
one, say the positive pole of the battery, extends a wire to the pivot
of the switch which sweeps over the segment with two metallic sections,
and from the negative pole of the said battery extends a wire to a stud,
which is secured in the box in the wheel house. This stud connects
by a wire with a plate from which a wire extends to one end of the
helix of the starboard electro-magnet in the wheel house box. The
other end of this helix connects by a wire with a stud from which
a wire extends to the starboard section of the switch plate, and also
to a stud which connects with one end of the helix of the starboard
alarm bell in the wheel house. The other end of this helix connects
by a wire with a stud on the box in the wheel house, and from this
stud extends a wire to a spring stud situated in the interior of the box.
The spring extending from this stud is in such a position that when
the starboard armature in this box is attracted by its electro-magnet
the said stud will be in metallic contact with the pivoted segment.
From a bracket which forms the bearing for the segment a wire extends
to the plate before mentioned. It will thus be seen that when the
switch of the segment with two metallic sections is in contact with
the starboard section the circuit through the connecting wires is closed
and the armature of the starboard magnet in the wheel house box is
attracted, thus throwing the index hand over to the starboard pane.
At the same time the circuit closes through the proper wires, through
the helix of the starboard alarm bell, the spring stud before mentioned,
the pivoted segment, its bracket, the plate before mentioned, and the
starboard alarm bell sounds as long as the switch is in metallic contact
with the starboard section of the switch plate.
From this explanation the connection of the port magnet and port
alarm bell in the wheel house, box and also the connection of the "course"
magnet and "course" alarm bell will be readily understood. By changing
more or less rapidly the switch from the metallic part of the switch
plate to its non-conducting part the captain is enabled to indicate
the rapidity with which he requires his orders to be executed. When

page_text: the vessel has reached the desired course the switches are turned over
the non-conducting parts of the switch plates, and thereby the index
hand returns to its central position and the lid is thrown back, leaving
the "course" pane open. In this position all the alarm bells remain
silent.
I will now complete the description of the apparatus which enables
the captain to control the helmsman, and a portion of which is enclosed
in the interior of the box on the bridge and has been already described.
In the wheel house or close to the rudder head is a circular table, from
the centre of which rises a stud that forms the fulcrum of a switch.
This switch connects by cog wheels, belts, or other means with the
rudder head in such a manner that the oscillations of the rudder are
transmitted to the switch. The point of the switch sweeps over a
metallic segment which is let into the table, and a portion of this
segment and of the table is cut away to admit a prismatic regulator.
This regulator can be revolved by means of a button, and to its surfaces
are secured segments which fill up the gap in the other segment. These
segments are made in three sections, viz., two metallic end sections
and an intervening non-conducting section, the non-conducting sections
on the various sides of the regulator being made of different lengths
to correspond to five, ten, fifteen, and twenty degrees, or to any number
of degrees which may be desirable.
The connection of the table with the battery and with the bells in
'the box on the bridge is as follows:-From one pole of the battery
extends a wire to a switch which serves to open or close the connection
between the battery and the central stud on which the switch connected
with the rudder head turns. From the opposite pole of the battery
extend two wires, one of which connects with one end of the helix of
one alarm bell at the bridge and the other with one end of the helix
of the other alarm bell. From the opposite ends of the helices extend
wires to the opposite ends of the segment in the table. If the switch
connected with the rudder head is in contact with the non-conducting
section of the segment of the regulator the circuit is open; but if the
rudder is allowed to oscillate far enough to bring the switch in contact
with the metallic sections of the segment on the regulator the circuit
through the helix of one of the alarm bells is closed, and the captain's
attention is called to the fact that the helmsman neglects his duty.
By turning the regulator the captain is enabled to keep the oscillation

page_text: of the rudder within any desired limit, and by having two alarm bells
in his box he is enabled to tell which way the helmsman allows the
rudder to oscillate beyond the allotted number of degrees.
If desired the apparatus can also be used for transmitting signals
6 or orders to the engine room or to other parts of a vessel or a building.