A Method of and Apparatus for Signalling Numerals, Letters, and other Symbols by Electric Light.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Signalling Numerals, Letters, and
other Symbols by Electric Light.
1.
I, ROBERT THORBURN TURNBULL of 34 Victoria Street, Westminster London,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to means of signalling by electric light--numerals, letters
of the alphabet, and other pre-arranged symbols in the following manner.
At the receiving station I fix a frame in which are mounted a number of incan-
descent electric lamps arranged in rows in different directions, such that by illuminating
several of these rows in combination or succession, groups of lights are presented
having approximately the shapes of the symbols that are to be signalled.
At the sending station I provide a suitable electric generator and commutator
connected by conductors with the receiving apparatus, and by means of this
commutator I transmit currents in such combinations or successions that only the
lamps of the particular rows forming the desired symbol become lighted.
Dated this 13th day of December 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
A Method of and Apparatus for Signalling Numerals, Letters, and
other Symbols by Electric Light.
I, ROBERT THORBURN TURNBULL. of 34 Victoria Street, Westminster, London,
Electrical Engineer 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 means of signalling, by electric light, numerals, letters of
the alphabet, and other pre-arranged symbols in the following manner.
At the receiving station I fix a frame in which are mounted a number of incan-
descent electric lamps arranged in rows in different directions, such that by illuminating
several of these rows in combination or succession, groups of lights are presented
which may have approximately the shapes of the symbols that are to be signalled,
or other shapes representing symbols according to a predetermined code.
.
At the sending station, I provide a suitable electric generator and commutator
connected by conductors with the receiving apparatus, and by means of this
commutator I transmit currents in such combinations or successions that only those
of the lamps that combine to form the desired symbol become lighted.
All the lamps may have one of their wires connected to a single return conductor,
for which earth may be used, the other wire of each lamp is connected by a separate
conductor to a contact at the sending station. The contacts may be worked by
finger keys, or by revolving barrels having studs or projections arranged on them
to form the various combinations required for the different symbols.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is
1. The herein described method of signalling numerals, letters, and other
symbols by bringing into circuit incandescent electric lamps arranged so as to
present the forms of the desired symbols.

page_text: 2. For signalling in the manner above referred to the combination of a frame
at a receiving station carrying rows of incandescent electric lamps, conductors
from these lamps to a sending station, and at that station contacts whereby any
of the said conductors or any groups thereof can be brought into circuit with a
battery or other electric generator, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of October 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.