An Improved Means for Signalling and Indicating a Ship's Course at Night.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 29th Sept., 1890-Accepted. 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means for Signalling and Indicating a Ship's Course
at Night.
ROBERT GRANT HALIBURTON Barrister at present of St. Helens do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is proposed to have an electric light near the ship's bow; similar to a search
light, but a fixture in a line coincident with that of the keel, so as to throw a line
of light directly ahead over the course or track which the ship is about to take. It
is proposed to concentrate, or condense the rays so as to make the line of light more
distinct.
It is claimed that this would give due notice and warning of the track that a ship
is about to take, to approaching vessels, or those near the track.
It is also contended that by the adoption of a system of flashes a change in the
speed or course of a vessel could be instantaneously notified.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Means for Signalling and Indicating a Ship's Course
at Night.
I, ROBERT GRANT HALIBURTON, Barrister, at present of 28, Pall Mall, in the
County of London do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner.
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
:-
My invention relates to improved means for indicating a ship's course at night
and consists in the application to a vessel of an electric or other lamp capable of
projecting a well defined beam of light in a line coincident with or parallel to that
of the keel, and in means for concentrating and defining the said beam and for
signalling a change of course or speed.
The object and effect of this invention are the very converse of those of a search
light for by the latter (which is movable) the position and course of other ships may
be discovered and objects are made more perceptible by the employment of a diffused
light, while my indicator light which is a fixture, is intended to give due notice of the
course which the ship using it is taking.
For this purpose it is necessary first, to indicate visibly the direction of the ships
course at night by the projection of the beam upon the water and secondly, to
signal instantaneously any order that may be given for a change of course or
speed.
These purposes are accomplished by a lamp fixed at or near the bow of the ship,
so as to throw a beam of light to a distance upon the water in a line coincident
with or parallel to, that of the keel so that this indicating line will always point
directly ahead, thereby marking the course which a ship is taking.
This line of light called by me "the indicator line" may be produced by an electric
or any other powerful projector lamp that can concentrate its rays into a beam;
such for instance as a holophote projector or a projector similar to the earliest type
of search light such as that used in 1873-4. It is proposed to further ensure the
production of a well defined beam by projecting the rays through a tube of suitable
form and dimensions.
I find a good example to be as follows:-
If the reflector, or the lens that may be used with it be 12 inches in diameter, the

page_text: tube should be of the same diameter at one end, 6 feet in length and diminishing in
diameter to 3 inches at the month. If the reflector or lens be larger, the size and
length of the tube would have to be increased proportionally.
An ordinary search light would be larger and more powerful, than would be
needed for the purpose of my indicator light and would be useless for that purpose, as
its rays are immediately diffused; but if made a fixture in the manner already
described for my indicator light it might either alone, or with a lens, be to some
extent utilised as an indicator light without the danger of being mistaken for an
ordinary search light by the use therewith of a tube.
It is desirable that the indicator lamp should be placed near the deck, so as to
cast the beam to a distance on the surface of the water. There would be one
incidental advantage in this arrangement in the case of fogs, as frequently there is a
clear space of a few feet between the fog and the surface of the water into which the
indicator beam could be projected. If however the indicator lamp should be placed
high enough to be safe from seas it may be so hung on gimbals so as to diminish the
alternate elevation and depression of the light which would otherwise be produced at
times by the vertical motion of the ship.
It is claimed that if this indicator lamp were to come into use a vessel finding itself
clear of the indicator line projected by an approaching ship would be assured of being
safe from collision with it, except in the event of its changing its course, or speed; and
this latter danger it is proposed to obviate by the indicator light instantaneously
signalling any order that might be given for such a change, the signalling may be
conveniently effected by the use of an interruption or breaking of the line of light, for
which in the sense of occultation the word "break" will be used by me.
The system of signalling might conveniently be used as follows:-An order to
"starboard may be indicated by ten breaks ten seconds each, with an interval
of 10 seconds between each. An order to "port" by 4 breaks of 10 seconds each
with intervals of 10 seconds "half speed" by 8 breaks of 8 seconds with intervals
of 8 seconds. "Full speed
by 10 breaks of 6 seconds each with intervals of
6 seconds. "Reverse engines" by 12 breaks of 4 seconds each with intervals of
4 seconds.
"
The number and duration of the breaks may of course be modified as may be
desirable and may be produced by any suitable known means of producing occultations
either manual, mechanical, or electrical.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The application to a vessel of a course-indicating lamp, fixed at or near the
bows of the vessel so as to throw to a distance a fixed beam of light over the surface
of the water in a line coincident with, or parallel to, that of the keel of the vessel, as
an indicator of the course of the vessel, substantially as described.
2nd. A fixed course-indicating lamp fitted as a projector, in combination with a
tube as described.
3rd. The combination with such a fixed course-indicating lamp of any suitable and
known mechanism by means of which a change of course or speed or a reversal of
engines may be signalled by occultations of the indicator line.
Dated this 29th day of September 1890.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.