IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Astley Paston Price of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Astley Paston Price at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th September 1883.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING,'
"
My Invention has for its object to provide means whereby messages may be
signalled at night in a much more complete and ready manner than hitherto.
According to my Invention I arrange one or a series of globes, bulbs, glasses, or
vessels, or like articles or containers of transparent material of one or of different
colours in a convenient order or manner and in connection with each I provide a
carbonaceous filament or carbons through which an electric current can be passed
by means of a series of conducting wifes leading to a convenient position and there
provided with an arrangement of contact makers or switches by means of which
the current can be caused to pass through any one or more of the carbonaceous
filaments or carbons for any required time, and then be cut off again. The glasses
or transparent media may consist of plain or coloured bulbs of incandescent lamps
or of plain or coloured globes of arc lamps or other receptacles or they may consist
of a series of glasses or receptacles arranged in frames in or behind or in connection
with which are situated the carbonaceous filaments or carbons through which the
electric current passes.
The contact makers or switches may be disposed as a
series of keys like those of a keyed musical instrument or other similar or suitable
arrangement may be employed or otherwise. In an apparatus arranged
substantially in this manner by operating the contact makers or switches one after
the other or two or more simultaneously so that the current is caused to pass
through the carbonaceous filaments or carbons so as to exhibit a light of one colour
or different colours in any desired order or duration. A message may thus be given
to the eye at night time with as much facility and fulness as can be given by the

page_text: electric telegraph. The Invention will be found especially useful for signalling at
sea at night as the exhibited light or lights can be carried by one or more of the
masts or other elevated portion of the vessel and the operating instrument be
placed on deck or in a signalling box. When employed for signalling on land at
night time the exhibited light or lights may be placed upon any convenient building
or elevation or when employed in open country or when considerable elevation is
required I may attach to or carry by means of a captive baloon or other similar
arrangement the apparatus or arrangement in which the Light or Lights are
produced the operating electrical instrument being contained in a van or other
portable or moveable conveyance or placed in any convenient or protected position
and at any desired distance from the signal lights. By this means signals can be
given from a place which may be at a considerable distance from that at which the
operator is located.-The conducting wires through which the electric current is
conveyed are brought into contact or connected with an electric generator of any
convenient kind or with a charged secondary battery.
When this Invention is employed in conjunction with a captive baloon or similar
arrangement the conducting wires may be brought or conducted from the elevated
balloon or supporter to the source of the electric current by means of a conducting
wire or a series of conducting wires or the said wire or wires may be so arranged
as to afford the means of controlling and rendering captive the said baloon or
support..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Astley Paston Price in the Patent Office on the 15th March 1884.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING
"
My Invention has for its object to provide means whereby signals signs or
messages may be signalled at night in a much more complete and ready manner
than hitherto
According to my Invention I arrange one or a series of globes bulbs glasses or
vessels or like receptacles or containers of transparent or of semi transparent
material of one or of different colors in a convenient order or manner and in
connection with each I provide a carbonaceous filament or carbons or other
conductor of other material capable of being rendered incandescent by the passage
of an electric current or agency and through which material an electric current oan
be passed by means of a series of conducting wires connected there with and leading
to a convenient position and there provided with an arrangement of contact makers.
or switches or other similar arrangement by means of which the current can be
caused to pass through any one or more of the carbonaceous filaments carbons or
other conductors for any required time and then be disconnected or cut off again-
The glasses or receptacles either consisting of transparent or of semi-transparent
media may consist of either plain or colored bulbs or vessels or receptacles
constituting what are known as incandescent electric lamps or they may consist of
plain or colored transparent or of semi-transparent globes or receptacles
constituting what are known as are electric lamps or other like or analogous
receptacles may be employed for example they may consist of a series of glasses or
transparent or semi-transparent receptacles arranged in frames or other containers
in or behind or in front of which glasses or receptacles are situated the carbonaceous
filaments carbons or any other suitable conductors the same constituting what are
known as Incandescent or are lights through which the electric current passes-
The contact makers or switches or equivalent devices may be disposed either as a
series of keys like those of a keyed musical instrument or other similar or suitable
arrangement may be employed-In an apparatus arranged substantially in this
manner by operating the contact makers or switches or equivalent devices the
different coloured lights may be exhibited one after the other or two or more
simultaneously either by causing the current to pass through the carbonaceous
filaments carbons or other conductors so as to exhibit a light or lights or
illuminations of one colour or of different colours in any desired order or duration
or to effect the placement of different coloured glasses successively before the same
lamp. When the different colours are exhibited by means of electric currents
passed successively through carbonaceous filaments carbons or other conductors
in or behind different colored glasses or containers the same constituting what are
known as Incandescent or Arc Lights messages or indication may be given to the
eye at night time with much facility and fullness-The Invention will be found
especially useful for signalling at Sea at night as the exhibited light or lights or
illuminations can or may be carried by one or more of the masts or other elevated
portion of the vessel and the operating instrument may be placed on deck or in a
signalling box or in other convenient position-When employed for signalling on
land at night time the light or lights or illuminations to be exhibited may be
situated or placed upon any convenient building or elevation or when employed in
open country or when considerable elevation is required it may be attached to or
carried by means of a captive balloon or other similar arrangement the apparatus

page_text: or arrangement in which the light or lights or illuminations are produced the
operating electrical instrument being contained in a van or other portable or
moveable conveyance or placed in any convenient or protected position and at any
desired distance from the signal lights or illuminations-By this means signals or
indication can be given from a place or position which may be at a considerable
distance from that at which the operator is located. The conducting wires through
which the electric current is conveyed are brought into contact or connected with
an electric generator of any convenient kind or with a charged secondary battery.
When this Invention is employed in conjunction with a captive balloon or
similar arrangement the conducting wires may be brought or conducted from the
elevated balloon or supporter to the source of the electric current by means of a
conducting wire or a series of conducting wires or the said wire or wires may be
so arranged as to afford the means of controlling and rendering captive the said
balloon or support.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is.
The employment for signalling purposes of a combination of electrical conductors
and transparent-or partially transparent material through which material the effect
of the electric light or illumination is exhibited for any desired period and in any
desired order substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Astley Paston Price have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of March One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four.