IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEGRAPHIS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William John Venables at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1876.
William John VENABLES, of Ealing, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEGRAPHIS."
This Invention has for its object the simplifying the construction of mechanical
telegraphs specially applicable for use on board steam and sailing vessels, and for
use in mines, buildings, and other places, and consists generally in the employment
of a "transmitter" and an "indicator" connected at any distance apart by a single
flexible connector passing round suitably disposed guide pullies or bell cranks.
This connector is attached at one end to a wheel or quadrant inside the head of
the "transmitter," and to the axis of this wheel there is attached a lever handle
provided with a pointer for indicating on the dial of the instrument the order to be
given. A spring catch, or its equivalent, on this handle engages into notches in the
circumference of the dial to retain the lever in its proper place. The opposite end
of the flexible connector is attached to and passes round a wheel inside the
"indicator," which is provided with a dial similar to the "transmitter."
weighted cord, or chain, or spring is suspended from or connected with the periphery
of the said wheel, and tends to turn the same when the handle of the "transmitter
is released from its notch and allowed to move in one direction, but when the said
handle is moved in the opposite direction the weighted chain or cord is wound up,
and the pointer of the "indicator," which is mounted on the axis of the wheel, is
consequently moved round the dial in the opposite direction, thus turning either
way, according to the movement of the lever of the "transmitter." By the adoption
of a duplicate flexible connector, and weighted cord, or chain, or spring, in the
"transmitter" it is obvious that the order can be repeated and shown on the dial or
the "transmitter." A striking gong may be employed in addition to the above to
call the attention of the person for whom the order is intended.
A
"
In adapting this improved mechanical telegraph to the steering gear of a ship,
the order is transmitted and received in precisely the same manner as herein-
before described, but in conjunction with this arrangement I employ a "rudder tell
tale" reply arrangement, consisting of a wheel or segment mounted on the rudder
post and communicating by a flexible connector with the tell tale pointer in the
"transmitter," such pointer being actuated in one direction by a weighted cord or
chain, or spring, as already described.

page_text: I am well aware that mechanical telegraphs have been proposed and used wherein
the "transmitter" and "indicator" were connected by flexible connectors extending
from one instrument to the other, but it was necessary for the transmission of motion
in reverse directions between such instruments to employ two wires or other flexible
connectors; I am also fully aware that flexible connectors have been long known
and used for various purposes in the transmission of motion along any desired course
and distance from one moving part to another.