IMPROVED ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN TRANSMITTING INSTRUCTIONS ON BOARD SHIP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES to be as follows:-
Year: 1884

page_text: I RICHARD LAURENCE SPICER, of the firm of Banton Mackrell & Co, 26 Budge
Row, Cannon Street in the City of London, Navy Agents do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVED ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS FOR
USE IN TRANSMITTING INSTRUCTIONS ON BOARD SHIP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to electrical apparatus designed to be used for transmitting
instructions from one part of a ship to another part thereof or for any other
purpose to which the same may be applicable.
The said invention consists in a combination of various parts comprising a
battery or batteries, electro-magnets, wheels, pawls, dials, pointers and other
devices so arranged that a step by step motion is obtained whereby pointers or
indicators may be caused to move over dials with rapidity and certainty.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide an indicator at which the
communications or instructions are received this indicator being constructed as
follows, that is to say, I place in a suitable position a light iron wheel with (for
example) twenty equidistant projections, on its periphery, made of soft iron which
may be round in transverse section. These projections form in turn as the wheel
rotates, armatures to three electro-magnets which are so placed that only one pair
of projections can be opposite the poles of one magnet at the same time. Under
the poles of each magnet there is a light armature carrying in its centre a vertical
tongue of brass which forms a pawl for locking the wheel. Each of these armatures
is attached to a light brass bracket or lever which is hinged underneath the magnet.
The said wheel is fixed to a spindle one end of which is pivotted inside the case of
the indicator apparatus, the other end extending outside the case and having secured
thereto a pointer arranged to move around a dial having numbers, words, or other
indications upon its face. The rotation of the wheel causes the said pointer to
move over the face of the dial, the wheel being actuated by the influence of the
electro-magnets as hereinafter described and being automatically locked in the
position to which it has been moved until a fresh indication is desired.

page_text: In combination with this indicating apparatus I provide a transmitting apparatus
which is designed to be placed in a convenient position to be operated by the
person who has to transmit instructions or other communications, and the two
instruments are suitably connected by electrical conductors within whose circuit
there is an electric battery.
The transmitting instrument is constructed as follows, that is to say, I provide a
shaft supported in suitable bearings attached to the frame or case, the said shaft
being furnished at or about its centre with a worm which gears with a toothed
wheel fixed to a spindle, at one end of which there is a pointer arranged to work
around a dial forming the front or top of the instrument. The number of teeth in
this wheel correspond with the number of projections in the pointer-wheel of the
receiving or indicating instrument, so, in the case of the example above mentioned
in which the wheel has twenty projections, the transmitter is so constructed that
twenty revolutions of the aforesaid shaft will cause the pointers to make one
complete revolution around the dials. On the outside of the containing case of the
transmitter a small crank handle is fitted on to the shaft. The handle is hollow and
contains a loose pin or bolt and a spiral spring the latter keeping the bolt (which
projects outside the crank) pressed on a ring composed of three equal arcs of metal
insulated from each other and from the shaft and situated on the side of the case.
The arcs are connected with terminals which are connected by electrical conductors
with the corresponding terminals on the indicator. One bearing of the shaft (which
is in continual contact with the rubbing pin or bolt of the handle) is connected to a
plate under a contact-key which is so arranged that it may be moved into contact
with a terminal connected to one pole of the battery. The two dials are provided
with exactly similar indications and when these consist of a series of consecutive
figures, if it is desired to move the pointers say from 23 to 25 on their dials,
I press the contact key and turn the handle of the transmitter to the right hand.
When the rubbing pin or bolt passes the insulator and comes on to the metallic arc
next thereto, a charge or current is sent to the corresponding magnet in the
indicator and instantly its armature rises and its pawl is cleared of the projection
in the pointer-wheel releasing the latter so that it can revolve to the right hand
only, which it will immediately do owing to the strong attraction between the
poles of this magnet and the wheel armatures or projections; Immediately these
come opposite to one another the pawl armature of the next or second magnet
(which hitherto has rested on the wheel armature) will drop into its place, (by
gravity) locking the wheel from moving to the left, while the pawl of the third
magnet now prevents it from going further to the right hand. The pointers will
now indicate 24; then if (still keeping the contact key pressed) I continue to turn
the handle of the transmitter, when the rubbing pin or bolt comes on the arc
corresponding with the third magnet the first magnet is no longer magnetised and
its pawl drops, resting on the wheel armature, and a charge is communicated to
the third magnet, the pawl armature rises, the wheel turns another "step," the
pawl of the first magnet falls into its place, and the wheel is locked again, the
pointers shewing 25. I then ease up the contact key and the third magnet will
lose its charge and its pawl will therefore fall and rest on the wheel armature.
To move the pointers back I press the contact key and turn the handle to the left
and the same movements of the pawls will take place, in the reverse order, and the
wheel will move to the left hand instead of to the right band.
Twenty turns of the handle will cause sixty contacts, therefore sixty indications
and one complete revolution of the pointer. If more indications are required the
wheel of the Indicator must be enlarged and more armatures fitted to it (each
armature will give three indications) and the same increase must be made in the
number of teeth of the Transmitter wheel.
A single-stroke bell of low resistance is placed in the common return wire if
necessary, which bell will evidently give one stroke for each indication of the
pointer when the latter is moved.

page_text: If desired, a simple contrivance can be fitted to the shaft of the transmitter to
render it impossible for the handle to be turned unless the contact key is pressed;
for this purpose a toothed wheel is fitted on to the shaft, into which wheel a spring
pawl takes and clamps it. The handle and shaft cannot now be turned until the
contact key is pressed by which means the pawl is freed. The spring of the pawl
is connected to one bearing of the shaft, and the contact key to the proper
terminal, hence when the key is pressed so as to lift the pawl, the rubbing pin or
bolt of the handle is connected with this terminal.
It is obvious that this apparatus may be used for engine room revolution
telegraphs and for similar purposes to supersede complicated and expensive
mechanical telegraphs.
It may also be used to indicate mechanical movements, for example the rotary
movement of a turret, a tiller or the like, a simple automatic "make and break
contact " being fitted to the indicator in place of the "contact key" on the
transmitter.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: •
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, RICHARD LAWRENCE SPICER, of the firm of Banton, Mackrell & Co, of
26 Budge Row,. Cannon Street, London, Navy Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVED ELECTRICAL INDICATING APPARATUS FOR
USE IN TRANSMITTING INSTRUCTIONS ON BOARD SHIP AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
This invention relates to electrical apparatus chiefly designed to be used for
transmitting instructions from one part of a ship to another part thereof, but which
is also applicable for similar purposes.
The main feature of the said invention is the employment of an instrument or
apparatus wherein a wheel having projections or armatures around its periphery is
arranged in combination with electro-magnets placed; around the said wheel and
capable of being magnetized or energized by electric currents or impulses controlled
by a suitable transmitter, so that a "step by step" motion in either direction can
be imparted to the said wheel. This wheel is usually provided with a hand or
pointer arranged in combination with a suitable dial. The said hand or pointer
can, by the means above described, be caused to move very rapidly over the dial
and stopped at any desired point.
The said Invention, moreover, comprises various improvements as hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn how the said Invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan of an indicator or receiving instrument hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, and 4° are sectional elevations showing details of the said
instrument.
Figure 5 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, of a transmitter hereinafter
described, with a portion of the box or case removed.
Figure 6 is a front elevation thereof.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation showing a slight modification of my invention.
Figure 8 is a plan, and Figure 9 a sectional elevation showing a further
modification thereof.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
The indicator or receiver shown in Figures 1 to 4ª is the instrument whereby
the communications or instructions are received, and is constructed as follows, that
is to say-a is the box or case of the instrument. b is a light wheel of iron or
other suitable metal mounted on a spindle b* carriel by the brackets c, c¹. This
wheel is formed or provided with a series of equi-distant projections 61 on its
periphery. These projections may conveniently consist of pieces cut from a round
bar of soft iron and fitted on the periphery of the said wheel. d, e, f are three
electro-magnets, which are carried by the brackets d¹, e¹, f¹, secured to the box or
case a, and which are so arranged relatively to the wheel b that they will attract

page_text: the projections b¹ and rotate the said wheel as hereinafter explained, the said
projections forming in turn armatures to the said electro-magnets, that is to say,
being moved in turn into the field of one or other of the said magnets. The said
magnets are, moreover, so placed relatively to the wheel b that when the said wheel
is moved by one of the said magnets, it comes to rest with one pair of the
projections b¹ opposite the poles of the said magnet (the magnet e, for example, as
shown in Figure 1) and two other pairs of the said projections are then in position
to be attracted by the other magnets, but in opposite directions.
9, 9, 9 are spring armatures secured to the box or case of the instrument
beneath the poles of the magnets d, e, f. Each of these armatures is provided
with a central vertical tongue h of brass or other metal. These tongues may be
extensions of the springs g*; they act as pawls or stops for locking the wheel b in
position as hereinafter described.
The spindle b* extends upward through the case a and has secured to it a hand
or pointer arranged to rotate with the wheel b and point to numbers, words, or
other indications upon the face of the dial j.
1, 2, 3 are terminals for connection with the transmitter as hereinafter specified.
The terminal 1 is connected by the wire 4 with one end of the coil of the magnet d,
the other end of which coil is connected by the wire 5 with the return wire 6.
This return wire is connected with a terminal 7 whereby the apparatus is connected
directly or indirectly with one pole of a battery, the transmitter hereinafter
described being connected with the other pole of the said battery. The terminal 2
is connected by the wire 8 with one end of the coil of the magnet e the other end
of which coil is connected by the wire 9 with the return wire 6. The terminal 3
is connected by the wire 10 with one end of the coil of the magnet f, the other end
of this coil being connected by the wire 11 with the return wire 6.
In combination with the indicator or receiver above described, I provide a
transmitting apparatus which is designed to be placed in a convenient position
to be operated by the person who has to transmit the instructions or other
communications.
.
One form of my transmitting instrument is shewn in Figures 5, 6 and 7 in
which k is a shaft supported in suitable bearings attached to the box or case l.
This shaft is furnished at, or near, its centre with a worm or endless screw m
which gears with a toothed wheel n fixed upon a spindle n'. A hand or pointer o
is carried by this spindle and is arranged to be rotated by means of the said shaft
and gearing. A dial o³, forming the front or top of the instrument, is marked to
correspond with the dial of the indicator or receiver. The number of teeth in the
wheel n correspond with the number of projections 6' on the wheel b of the
indicator or receiver. For example, if the wheel b has twenty of the projections b¹,
the wheel n is made with twenty teeth, so that twenty revolutious of the shaft k
will, as hereinafter explained, cause the pointers in both the transmitter and
receiver to make one complete revolution around the respective dials.
A small crank-handle p is fixed on the shaft k outside the box or case l. The
part p' of this handle is hollow and contains a loose pin or bolt 9 and a spiral
spring q which keeps the said pin or bolt pressed against a ring composed of three
equal arcs or curved pieces r, 1, ² of metal insulated from each other and also
from the shaft k except when the pin q is bearing on one or other of the said pieces.
These curved pieces are attached to the side of the box or case land are connected
with terminals 8, 81, 82, as shown in Figure 6. The said terminals are connected by
electrical conductors with the corresponding terminals 1, 2, 3 on the indicator.
The bearing t of the shaft k is in electrical connection with the rubbing pin or
bolt q in the handle p, and is also electrically connected with a plate u secured
to the case l. A spring contact key v. is secured to the case and is connected by
the wire 12 with a terminal which is connected with one pole of the aforesaid
battery, the other pole of the said battery being connected with the indicator, as
above stated. This key is so arranged that it is normally out of contact with the

page_text: plate u, but can be pressed down into contact therewith, when desired, to put the
battery into circuit.
The operation of the apparatus hereinbefore described is as follows, that is to
say-Assuming the two dials j, o¹ to be marked in a similar manner with con-
secutive figures or numbers, and the pointers i, o to be pointing to the number 23
thereon as shown, if it is desired to move the said pointers so that they will point
to 25 on the said dials, the key v must be pressed down into contact with the plate u
and the handle p must then be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in
Figure 6. When the rubbing pin or bolt q comes in contact with the metallic
piece, an electric current is caused to pass through the coil of the magnet f
in the indicator, which magnet instantly attracts the armature g³ thereby lifting
the corresponding tongue or pawl h clear of the adjacent projection b¹ of the
wheel b, and releasing the said wheel so that it is free to rotate in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 1. The said wheel is immediately rotated in this
direction by the strong attraction exerted by the magnet f upon the adjacent wheel-
armatures or projections b¹. When these projections arrive opposite the poles of
the said magnet, the tongue or pawl h of the armature g¹ (which is ahewn resting
against one of the projections b¹) will fall behind the said projection, thereby
preventing the wheel b from moving back; and the pawl h of the armature g will
The wheel
prevent its further movement in the direction indicated by the arrow.
will, therefore, be locked in position and the pointers will now indicate 24; but, if
the key is kept in contact with the plate u and the handle p of the transmitter
is further rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, the rubbing
pin or bolt q will leave the piece 7 and come in contact with the piece r; the
magnet will then become demagnetized and its pawl will drop and rest against
the adjacent projection 6¹, and, at the same time, a charge or current will be sent to
the magnet d so that the pawl h of the armature g will be lifted, the wheel will be
moved another "step," the pawl h of the armature g³ will fall behind the adjacent
projection 6', and the wheel will be again locked in position, the pointers
indicating 25. The contact key v being then released, the magnet d becomes
demagnetized and its pawl falls and rests against the adjacent projection b¹.
To move the pointers in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow
in Figure 1, the contact key v must be depressed and the handle p turned in the
direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Figure 6. Similar movements
of the wheel b will then take place, but in the reverse order to that above
described.
It is evident that twenty turns of the handle p will cause contact to be made
sixty times and will, consequently, effect sixty indications, and one complete
revolution of the pointers. If a larger number of indications are required, the
wheel of the indicator must be enlarged and provided with a larger number of
armatures or projections 6¹, and the number of teeth on the transmitter-wheel n
must be correspondingly increased.
A single-stroke bell of low resistance is placed in the common return wire, if
necessary, or desirable. It is obvious that this bell will be sounded once for each
movement of the pointers.
If desired a simple contrivance can be fitted to the shaft of the transmitter to
For this
prevent the turning of the handle p until contact is made by the key v.
purpose a toothed wheel w is, in some cases, fixed on the shaft k and a spring
pawl w is arranged to engage with, and hold, the said wheel. The pawl w¹ extends
upward in proximity to the contact key vso that, when the said key is depressed,
it will make contact with the said pawl and move the same out of engagement with
the wheel w.
Therefore the handle p and shaft k will be locked in position and
cannot be turned until the contact key is depressed and the pawl thereby disengaged
from the wheel. The spring w of this pawl is electrically connected with the
shaft k, and the contact key v is, as above stated, connected to the terminal 8³.
Therefore, when the key is depressed so as to disengage the pawl, the rubbing pin
or bolt q of the handle p is put in connection with this terminal.

page_text: I sometimes modify the construction of the transmitter as shown in Figures 8
and 9, so that contact will be made by the turning of the handle p instead of by a
separate key. For this purpose I fix the handle p upon a small shaft k', on which
is loosely mounted a toothed wheel insulated from the said shaft, and gearing
with a toothed wheel k³ fixed on the shaft k. A contact spring k is attached to the
toothed wheel and bears upon the ring of metal pieces 7, 1, 2, which are, in this
case, secured to the interior of the box 7, so that they are less liable to oxidation.
than when arranged as hereinbefore described. The shaft k¹ is provided with a pin
or projection xl and the wheel k³ is provided with two fingers,k. A spring y is
attached at one end to the shaft ' and at the other end to the wheel k³ but is
insulated from the said wheel, which it normally holds in the position shewn, with
the fingers, on either side of, and out of contact with, the pin x¹. When the
handle P is rotated in either direction, the spring y yields so that the pin x¹ comes
in contact with either or k, thereby putting the battery in circuit; the further
rotation of the handle p will then cause the wheel k to rotate.
It is obvious that this apparatus may be used for engine-room revolution
telegraphs and for similar purposes to supersede complicated and expensive
mechanical telegraphs. It may also be used to indicate mechanical movements, for
example, the rotary movement of a turret, a tiller or the like, a simple automatic
"make aud break contact" being fitted to the indicator in place of the "contact
key on the transmitter.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First An apparatus wherein a wheel having projections or armatures around
its periphery is so arranged, in combination with electro-magnets having armatures
carrying pawls to engage with the said projections as above described, that a "step
by step" motion in either direction can be imparted to the said wheel by means of
electric currents or impulses controlled by a suitable transmitting instrument, as,
and for the purposes, specified.
Second The improved electrical indicating apparatus consisting of the parts
constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to Figures 1
to 7 of the drawings, and operating as, and for the purposes specified.
Third-The modification of my transmitting instrument wherein I provide for
putting the battery into circuit by the rotation of the handle for operating the said
instrument, substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 and 9 of the
drawings, for the purpose specified.