Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Giving Sound Signals at Sea, or for Marine Purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1895
'Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Giving Sound
Signals at Sea, or for Marine Purposes.
We, HENRY SHIELD, Engineer and Managing Director, and WILLIAM
BENJAMIN BARKER, Master Mariner, both of 17 York Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object, mainly, to provide improvements in connection
with sounding apparatus used on board ship, or for marine purposes, for indicating
or signalling by sound as to the whereabouts of the vessel on which it is used, in
time of fog, or under analogous circumstances; and also to provide generally
improvements in connection with sound signalling apparatus used on board ship.
According to one part of this invention, the localization or position of a vessel
is made known by sound, to another vessel, in a fog, or under like circumstances,
by employing in connection with the sound-making device-which is preferably of
the kind hereafter described-of a deflecting hood, cover, or the like, by which the
sound given out by the apparatus is directed downwards about the vessel and
towards and onto the water, by which means the sound is localized, and at the
same time is caused to travel a long distance, so that it can be heard from a great
distance.
According to a further part of this invention, metallic reeds are used in connection
with plates or a plate with apertures therein, and are caused to be vibrated and
emit sound by steam-or air-caused to pass over the said reed or reeds, and
through the apertures connected with them. According to a preferred form or
arrangement under this invention, a plurality of reeds are constructed and adapted
to emit a plurality of notes of different tones, the whole being caused and arranged
to give a combined musical tone or note, the higher ones of which assist in giving
rapidity of transmission of sound, and the lower ones provide powers of transmission
to long distances, thereby combining in one note or sound the combined qualities.
The two above features are in some cases according to this invention combined
in one apparatus, in which case the different reeds may be employed in connection
with a common plate, while the sound deflecting device-which say is in the form
of an inverted cup, saucer, or the like, or an umbrella-is secured to or in connection
with the said plate and forms a cover thereto and making an enclosed chamber
common to said reeds. Into this chamber, say centrally, steam is admitted by a
valve, and passing over the reeds and out of the aperture under the said reed in the
plate, is discharged downwards from the apparatus and carries with it or travels
largely in the same direction as the sound thereby caused.
In the case of an ordinary ships sound making device, an apparatus of the form
just described may with advantage have the controlling or operating valve disposed
and working in a central fitting, serving as a conduit for the steam, and at the
same time a support thereto, the valve being operated by a lever or the like on the
top of the apparatus.
As a further object of and effect produced by this invention, a certain sounding
of the apparatus always takes place, no matter whether water, condensed from the
steam, first acts upon the reed or reeds, or steam; thereby obviating mistakes

page_text: being made by other vessels as to the meaning of the sounds given out from
any ship.
The sounding apparatus according to the invention above described may be
adapted to be sounded by air as well as by steam. When air is used it would be
preferable to employ in connection with the apparatus suitable air forcing
apparatus, and a reservoir to receive the air forced, and supply it to the sounding
apparatus.
The features or characteristics connected with the sounding apparatus herein-
above specified may be used in different modifications or applications separately, or
two or more, or all of them in combination, and in different combinations.
Dated this 9th day of January 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Giving Sound
Signals at Sea, or for Marine Purposes.
We, HENRY SHIELD, Engineer and Managing Director, and WILLIAM
BENJAMIN BARKER, Master Mariner, both of 17 York Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, 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 :-
This invention has for its object, mainly, to provide improvements in connection
with sounding apparatus used on board ship, or for marine purposes, for indicating
or signalling by sound as to the whereabouts of the vessel on which it is used,
in time of fog, or under analogous circumstances; and also to provide generally
improvements in connection with sound signalling apparatus used on board ship.
According to one part of this invention, the localization or position of a vessel
is made known by sound, to another vessel, in a fog, or under like circumstances,
by employing in connection with the sound making device-which is preferably of
the kind hereafter described-of a deflecting hood, cover, or the like, by which the
sound given out by the apparatus is directed downwards about the vessel and
towards and onto the water, by which means the sound is localized, and at the same
time is caused to travel a long distance, so that it can be heard from a great
distance.
According to a further part of this invention, metallic reeds are used in
connection with a part or parts with apertures therein, and are caused to be
vibrated and emit sound by steam or air caused to pass over the said reel or
reeds, and through the apertures connected with them. According to a preferred
form or arrangement under this invention, a plurality of reeds are constructed and
adapted to emit a plurality of notes of different tones, the whole being caused and
arranged to give a combined musical tone or note, the higher ones of which assist
in giving rapidity of transmission of sound, and the lower ones provide powers of
transmission to long distances, thereby combining in one note or sound the combined
qualities.
The two above features are in some cases according to this invention combined
in one apparatus, in which case the different reeds may be employed in connection
with a common body part, while the sound deflecting device-which say is in the
form of an inverted cup, saucer, or the like, or an umbrella-is secured to or in
connection with the said part, and is common to said reeds. Into the reed chamber,
say centrally, steam is admitted by a valve, and passing over the reeds and out of
the aperture under the said reed in the part, is discharged from the apparatus and
travels largely in the same direction as the sound thereby caused.

page_text: As a further object of and effect produced by this invention, a certain sounding
of the apparatus always takes place, no matter whether water, condensed from the
steam, first acts upon the reed or reeds, or pure steam; thereby obviating mistakes
being made by other vessels as to the meaning of the sounds given out from
any ship.
The sounding apparatus according to this invention above described may be
adapted to be sounded by air as well as by steam.
When air is used it would be
preferable to employ in connection with the apparatus suitable air forcing
apparatus, and a reservoir to receive the air forced, and supply it to the sounding
apparatus.
The features or characteristics connected with the sounding apparatus herein
specified may be used in different modifications or applications separately, or two or
more of them in combination.
The drawing hereto annexed shews the sounding apparatus according to this
invention.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus, and Figure 2 is a cross section
at A A Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an outside view shewing the type of apparatus given in Figures 1 and 2,
but somewhat modified as to the reed portion thereof.
Referring now to these drawings, a generally designates part of the apparatus,
by which the sounds are caused and given out; while o is the deflecting hood or
cover by which the sound so given out is directed downwards about the vessel on
which it may be used, and towards and onto the water.
With regard to the construction of the part a, this part comprises the reeds b,
and a chambered part c, which is common to said reeds, and, as shewn, is polygonal
in cross section and general form. Steam is admitted to the chambered part c,
by central holes d at the base, which pass into the several chambered out parts c
under the reeds b, and first passes out by the tips of the reeds, under which the
apertures are provided. The supply of steam to the chambered parts c¹ is
controlled by a suitable valve on which the apparatus will stand; and when the
valve is open, the steam passes to the chambered parts c¹ through the passages d, and
operates upon all the reeds. The steam, as stated, first acts upon the tips of the
reeds to which it has admittance by the apertures c², and so at once lifts them,
causing thereby instant sounding action to take place. These reeds being of different
lengths or sizes, as will be more readily seen in Figure 3, produce different tones or
notes, the whole being caused and arranged to give a combined musical tone or note
which possesses the combined qualities of rapidity of transmission, and the power
of transmission to long distances. The apertures d will be proportioned as to area
according to the reeds, that is, to some of the chambers c¹ more steam will be
admitted than to others to give the required action and note, and this is effected by
having some of the holes larger than others, their respective sizes being ascertained
in the first instance by direct test.
With regard to the special construction of apparatus shewn in the drawings, the
reeds, in the case of the form of apparatus shewn in Figures 1 and 2, fit or lie in
recessed seats in the body c of the apparatus, and their tips are formed and arranged
in relation to the apertures c² as illustrated; and they are fixed on this part c, by
pins e, and a ring f, which fits over the shanks of the reeds and the pins, as
shewn.
The construction of apparatus shewn in Figure 3 differs from that shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, only that, the reeds in this arrangement are not set in the part or
body c as in the former apparatus, but are outside the body, and extend upwards
as indicated.
As regards the fluid which can be used for operating these sounding devices or
apparatus shewn, either steam or air under suitable pressure can be employed.
When steam is the fluid used, by the construction and arrangement of the reeds and
chambered portions, the apparatus will give sound, practically, instantly upon steam

page_text: being admitted to it; that is to say, although a considerable portion of water may
exist with the steam when the apparatus controlling valve is opened, the fluid rushes
into the chambers c¹, up under the tips of the reeds through the apertures c², and at
once lifts them, and sound is at once created; and therefore loss of time between
the operation of the apparatus, and the giving of sound is obviated by it.
In the case of the use of the invention as regards the sound directing portion,
namely, the hood or cover o, in connection with other sounding apparatus, as steam
whistles, such as are used commonly on board ship, or similar whistles, the
hood or cover o in such an application would be supported above the part of the
whistle from which the sound is emitted, exactly or substantially similarly to that
shewn in the drawings. In other words, if the part a in the drawing be taken to
represent a steam whistle, and the chambered part c be taken as the position of
the sound emitting part of the whistle, then the position of the hood in relation to
the sound producing parts would be the same in the case of the whistle as the
reed instrument.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a sound signalling apparatus of the kind herein referred to, a sound
directing device of the form of a hood, cover, or the like, arranged or disposed in
relation to the sounding part of the apparatus, substantially as set forth; for the
purposes specified.
2. A sounding apparatus comprising a plurality of reeds b, and a chambered
part c common to said reeds, the steam or air to which is supplied centrally through
apertures; and operates substantially as set forth.
3. In a reed sounding apparatus for purposes as described operated by stcam or
air, the mode of construction of the chambers caused by the reeds whereby the
fluid is caused to act upon the tips of the reeds: substantially as set forth.
4. In a reed sounding apparatus for purposes as described operated by steam or
air, the construction and arrangement of reed bed and reed, substantially as set
forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
5. The sounding apparatus consisting of a sound producing portion, and the hood
or cover, set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 9th day of October 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicants' Patent Agents.