Improvements in Signalling at Sea.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 18º0
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling at Sea.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WATSON, of 22 Hardwicke Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland,
in the County of Durham, Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple means for signalling at sea during
the night time.
The invention consists of three lamps each being provided with two sliding shutters,
so that it may show a green, red, or white light as desired. Other colours may be
used if found suitable. The three lamps are arranged in a triangle and the shutters
are manipulated in such a manner that the colours of the three lamps may be made
to form different combinations each separate combination being taken to represent a
letter, word, or sentence according to a prearranged code.
Dated this 30th day of December 1889.
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling at Sea.
I, JOHN WILLIAM WATSON, of 22 Hardwick Street, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland,
in the County of Durham, Mariner, 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:
The object of this invention is to provide simple means for signalling at sea during
the night time.
The invention consists of three lamps each being provided with two sliding shutters,
so that it may show a green, red, or white light as desired. Other colours may be
used if found suitable. The three lamps are arranged in a triangle and the shutters
are manipulated in such a manner that the colours of the three lamps may be made
to form different combinations, each separate combination being taken to represent a
letter, word, or sentence according to a prearranged code.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into
practice, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accom-
panying drawings in which similar letters are used to indicate corresponding parts
throughout.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lens lamp fitted with my invention, shewing the
two coloured glass shutters A and B, arranged to slide vertically and in the act of
dropping so as to expose a white light ;
Figure 2 is the same view with the front of the lamp removed; and
Figure 3 is a section on the line X X Figure 1.
This form of lamp is adaptable as a mast-head lamp, the other two lamps used
being preferably ordinary deck lamps with two coloured glass shutters arranged to
pull out horizontally both to one side, or one to the right and the other to the left, as
found convenient.
Figure 4 shews a front elevation of one of their deck lamps with both coloured
glass shutters partially drawn out one on each side thus exposing the ordinary white
light.
The three lamps may however be made alike with the coloured glass shutters
arranged to slide vertically as in the form shewn in Figures 1 to 3. In these figures

page_text: the coloured glass shutters A and B are carried in suitable metal frames L M working
in vertical grooves D on the sides of the lamp frame. To the top of each shutter is
attached a flexible chain, wire, or cord E passing over loose pulleys F and G the
spindles of which are fixed to a casing H secured on the top of the lamp at the front
as shown in Figure 3. The cords, chains, or wires E pass through projecting tubes J
affixed to the sides of the lamp, and are continued for a suitable length terminating if
desired with a loop or ring K or other holding device at the extremity.
Beneath the two coloured glass shutters the bottom of the lamp is open, as shewn
in Figure 3, so that the shutters will by gravitation fall therethrough being prevented
from entirely leaving the lamp by lugs or stops on the sides of the upper part L of
the metal frames L M of the shutters, abutting against corresponding lugs or stops in
the vertical grooves D. These stops are not shewn in the drawings, but they will
be readily understood without illustration. The normal position of the shutters is
therefore down leaving a white light exposed and each shutter is raised behind the
lens or front light C as required by pulling down the end of the cord to which the
desired shutter is attached. By releasing one cord and pulling the other, the first
coloured glass shutter falls down and the other is raised. By releasing both cords
the two shutters fall down and the ordinary white light is exposed.
When the lamp is not in use for signalling, a pin N is passed through two holes O
in the bottom of the lamp frame and shutters thus keeping both the coloured glass
shutters behind the lens or glass front and preventing them from being accidentally.
injured.
The deck lamp shewn in Figure 4 is provided with horizontal grooves D top and
bottom, or at the bottom only, in which the shutter frames work. Suitable handles K
may if desired be affixed to the sides of the shutter frames to facilitate their
manipulation.
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 :-
(1) A signalling lamp having two coloured glass shutters arranged to work
vertically or horizontally behind the lens or ordinary glass front substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(2) The use of three signalling lamps arranged in a triangle, each having two
coloured glass shutters working vertically or horizontally behind the lens or ordinary
glass front for the purpose of transmitting signals according to a prearranged code
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 30th day of September 1890.
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention ." Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.