IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH SIGNALLING, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Griffith Brewer, of Chancery Lane, London, for
the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH SIGNALLING, AND
IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communication from abroad by Carl Gustaf
von Otter, of Stockholm, Sweden.
Sealed the 12th January 1877, and dated the 18th July 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Griffith Brewer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1876.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London.
AND CONNECTED WITH SIGNALLING, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
cation from abroad by Carl Gustaf von Otter, of Stockholm, Sweden.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
A communi-
The objects of this Invention are to indicate various lights from lighthouses or
light ships, or various fog signals, or other audible signals in such a way that no
mistakes are likely to occur by confounding one light with another, or with ships'
lanterns, or other lights on shore, or one audible signal with another, as is now
frequently the case, to utilize the full light power of a lantern to convert fixed
lights and many revolving lights where desirable into a new sort of lights, to decrease
the expenses for lights, and generally to facilitate signalling with greater certainty
than heretofore by the application of these improvements to signal lanterns, steam
whistles, fog horns, and other visible and audible signalling apparatus.
For this purpose the light of a lighthouse or other lantern, and the sound of a fog
horn or other audible signal apparatus is, according to the first part of this Inven-
tion, suitably cut off, by any mechanical contrivances for longer or shorter intervals
of time in order thereby to produce a series of signs grouped according to the Morse
system, and indicating in an unmistakable manner the name of the lighthouse or
fog signal, or other station, or the initial and terminal letter of same.
Secondly. In order to ensure certainty in the observation or reading of such
signals, and thus to increase the value of this Invention, a reading-off instrument
or indicator is provided, which is preferably made suitable for the pocket. By
depressing a small knob thereon, say, at its upper edge, during the time that the
light is cut off or the fog horn or other audible signal is sounded, the signal given
is indicated on a travelling strip of paper, and this sign or signal then by the help
of the chart, and even without any knowledge of the Morse alphabet indicates
with perfect certainty the name of the lighthouse or other station, especially if
mechanically repeated two or three times.
The signalling of a name usually requires 15 to 30 seconds, according to the
Price 1

page_text: number of letters and the arrangement of the signs. During the remainder of the
minute the light must be immovable and the fog horn silent; hence the name is
given once every minute, which appears to be the most suitable, although of course
any other time may be adopted if desired. The sailor travelling on in darkness
or thick weather will thus every minute be furnished with the name of the light-
house or fog horn station, and this will be a very great assistance to him and
relieve him of much anxiety, besides saving him from many a calamity or mishap.
For harbor lights and guide lights, which do not require so great light range,
the aforesaid shutting off of the light may be superseded by red light, either as
described or by quickly changing red and white Hashes, so that it may never be
lost sight of within the light range and not be confounded with other lights. But
for floating lights the colored light which cannot be seen far off should be rejected
for the purposes of this Invention, except in cases where it may be useful to point
out directions which should be avoided.
To the lantern is applied wheel gearing driven by a weight, there is a Venetian
blind-like appliance consisting of, say, 10 plates of colored glass or metal, these are
placed in a circle round the lantern, and so constructed that they can be simul-
taneously closed or opened by a simple mechanical contrivance. One of the wheel
axles of same carries a metal disc, which at its circumference has notches so arranged
that the longer or shorter intervening parts of the circumference correspond to the
long and short signs of the Morse alphabet. When the wheelwork is in motion
this metal disc acts on a lever in such a way that the latter shifts a flat ring a little
to the right or the left, according as the lever rests on the outer part of the disc
or in a notch. In the former case the Venetian blind bars are closed, in the latter
case open.
In order to indicate, say, the name Paternoster (the name of a light on the
Swedish coast) the initial letters P and N are only required. P is in the Morse
alphabet indicated by
hence the metal disc is notched out
correspondingly.
--
and N by
The rest part of the circumference is used for indicating the time between two
signals by a very long steady light. The indicator consists of a wheel work with
two pawl wheels on the same spindle. There is a lever with four pawls which
together with a spiral spring wound round the spindle of the wheel produce the
rotary movement of the wheelwork. This lever is indirectly connected with a
presser knob, which on being depressed causes the immediate moving of the wheel
work, whereby through the means of a roller the paper strip is pushed forward,
whereon a small wheel carried by a small lever prints the sign.
This apparatus is used in the following manner :-When the receiver observes
the signals from a lighthouse he takes hold of his indicator, presses on the knob
during the time of darkness, but releases the pressure as soon as the flash comes.
The paper strip will then have received corresponding signs impressed thereon.
According to the different duration of the darkness the signs on the paper will
be of different lengths, and the receiver has only to compare it with the Morsc
alphabet to ascertain the name of the lighthouse or other station.
a.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Griffith Brewer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
January 1877.
$8
IMPROVEMENTS IN
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London.
AND CONNECTED WITH SIGNALLING AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR." A communi-
cation from abroad by Carl Gustaf von Otter, of Stockholm, Sweden.
The objects of this Invention are to indicate various lights from lighthouses or light
ships, or various fog signals, or other audible signals in such a way that no mistakes

page_text: are likely to occur by confounding one light with another, or with ships' lanterns,
or other lights on shore, or one audible signal with another, as is now frequently
the case to utilize the full light power of a lantern, to convert fixed lights and many
revolving lights, where desirable, into a new sort of lights, to decrease the expenses
for lights, and generally to facilitate signalling with greater certainty than heretofore
by the application of these improvements to signal lanterns, steam whistles, fog
horns, and other visible and audible signalling apparatus.
For this purpose the light of a lighthouse or other lantern, and the sound of
a fog horn or other audible signal apparatus is, according to the first part of this
Invention, suitably cut off by any mechanical contrivances for longer or shorter
intervals of time, in order thereby to produce a series of signs grouped according to
the Morse system, and indicating in an unmistakable manner the name of the light-
house or fog signal or other station, or the initial and terminal letter of same.
Secondly. In order to ensure certainty in the observation or reading of such
signals, and thus to increase the value of this Invention, a reading-off instrument or
indicator is provided, which is preferably made suitable for the pocket. By
depressing a small knob thereon, say, at its upper edge, during the time that the
light is cut off or the fog horn or other audible signal is sounded, the signal given
is indicated on a travelling strip of paper, and this sign or signal then by the help
of the chart, and even without any knowledge of the Morse alphabet, indicates with
perfect certainty the name of the lighthouse or other station, especially if
mechanically repeated two or three times.
The signalling of a name usually requires 15 to 30 seconds, according to the
number of letters and the arrangement of the signs. During the remainder of the
minute the light must be immovable and the fog horn silent; hence the name is
given once every minute, which appears to be the most suitable, although of course
any other time may be adopted if desired. The sailor travelling on in darkness
or thick weather will thus every minute be furnished with the name of the light-
house or ship or fog horn station, and this will be a very great assistance to
him and relieve him of much anxiety, besides saving him from many a calamity
or mishap.
For harbor lights and guide lights, which do not require so great light range, the
aforesaid shutting off of the light may be superseded by red light, either as described
or by quickly changing red and white flashes, so that it may never be lost sight of
within the light range and not be confounded with other lights. But for floating
lights the colored light which cannot be seen far off should be rejected for the
purposes of this Invention, except in cases where it may be useful to point out
directions which should be avoided.
The apparatus which may be applied for carrying out this Invention are shown
on the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 being a side elevation of an ordinary glass
lens lantern for a floating light; Figures 2 and 3 show the Venetian blind appliances
for same Figure 4 is a front view; Figure 5 a side view; and Figure 6 a view of
the interior of the indicator.
a is the lense; b, the lantern; c, wheel gearing driven by a weight, there is a
Venetian blind-like appliance p consisting of say 16 plates of colored glass or metal,
these are placed in a circle round the lantern, and so constructed that they can be
simultaneously closed or opened by a simple mechanical contrivance. Figures 2 and
3 shew this mechanism clearer. One of the wheel axles of same carries a metal
disc, which at its circumference has notches so arranged that the longer or
shorter intervening parts of the circumference correspond to the long and
short sigus of the Morse alphabet. When the wheelwork is in motion this metal
disc acts on a lever in such a way that the latter shifts a flat ring g a little
to the right or the left, according as the lever rests on the outer part of the disc
or in a notch. In the former case the Venetian blind bars are closed, in the latter
case open.
In order to indicate, say, the name Pater Noster (the name
Swedish coast), the initial letters P and N are only required.
of a light on the
P is in the Morse

page_text: The rest part of the circumference is used for indicating the time between the two
signals by a very long steady light.
The indicator (Figures 4 and 5) consists of a wheelwork with two pawl wheels
S on the same spindle. There is a lever with four pawls o, which together with a
spiral spring wound round the spindle of the wheel produce the rotary movement
of the wheelwork. This lever is indirectly connected with a presser knob b, which
on being depressed causes the immediate moving of the wheelwork, whereby
through the means of a roller r the paper strip is pushed forward, whereon a sinall
wheel m carried by a small lever n prints the sign.
This apparatus is used in the following manner :-When the receiver observes
the signals from a lighthouse he takes hold of his indicator presses on the knob b
during the time of darkness, but relieves the pressure as soon as the flash comes.
The paper strip will then have received corresponding signs impressed thereon,
according to the different duration of the darkness the signs on the paper will be
of different lengths and the receiver has only to compare it with the Morse
alphabet to ascertain the name of the lighthouse or other station.
And having thus fully described the nature of this Invention, I declare that I
claim―
Firstly. The mode of causing quick and distinct light interruptions or dark
intervals of different duration by means of Venetian blind-like appliances or bars
fitted to light lanterns and moved by any suitable mechanism for the purpose of
visibly automatically indicating the name of the lighthouse or other light station,
all substantially as set forth.
Secondly. The mode of causing quick and distinct sound interruptions or silent
pauses of different durations by means of any suitable shutting-off gear fitted to
fog signal appparatus for the purpose of automatically audibly automatically
indicating the name of the fog signal station, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. The employment of any suitable instruments for recording signals, pro-
duced as herein described, also the special construction of instrument here described
for the said purpose.
Fourthly. Iudicating the names of light and other stations by means of visible
or audible signals, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Griffith Brewer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
E. G. BREWER. (L.S.)