IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR SIGNALIZING A com- munication to him from abroad by
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR SIGNALIZING A com-
munication to him from abroad by Ambrose Webster, and Edgar Finch Webster,.
both of Waltham, State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
0
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd July 1882.
"
IN
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN of Kensington Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS
MECHANISM FOR SIGNALIZING
a communication to me from abroad by Ambrose
Webster and Edgar Finch Webster both of Waltham, State of Massachusetts
United States of America
The improvements are specially intended for the production of signals according
to the well known " Beaumont Code" for indicating the course on which a vessel
may be steering in a fog or at night, such signals usually being sounds or blasts
of a whistle given at determined intervals, each blast being continued for a certain
period as one and one half a second of time, for instance, the intervals between
the blasts may be two or four seconds-while that between each signal and its
repetition is to be always the same-viz twenty seconds for instance, to indicate
that the vessel may be steering North, the whistle sounds or blasts for a second
and a half of time each, are to be produced with intervals of twenty seconds between
them.
To indicate that the vessel is sailing on a North East course each signal may
consist of four blasts, with an interval of four blasts between the first and second
of them, one of two seconds between the second and third and one of two seconds
between the third and fourth of them, there being an interval of twenty seconds
between each signal and the next one given.
Thus, it will be seen that the signal for each course being a number of blasts of
equal length given at variable intervals-and that there is to be an equal interval
between each signal and the next succeeding one, the machine herein described is
to make such signals for eight courses viz. North-North East, East, South East,

page_text: South, South West, West and North West, but if signals for sixteen or thirty two
courses are required, the number of signal or star wheels and their operating trains
of gears is to be correspondingly or properly increased.
The invention consists in the combination of a series of variable gears, operative
gears and supporting arms of the said gears with a series of star wheels a sliding
arm and gear combined with a slide bar.
Also in the combination of a tooth and a notched bar, with a slide bar and a
series of arms provided with actuating gears, of a series of variable gears.
Also in the combination of one or more sectors and levers, with a series of star
wheels a notched bar and a slide bar provided with a tooth--the said slide bar and
star wheels being provided with operating gears.
Also in the combination of a dial, its pointer and the vertical shaft of the latter
and its pinion with a slide bar provided with the toothed rack and the sliding arm
and gear, to operate with the star wheels, and their actuating gears.
Also in the combination of a shaft and the cams thereof with levers applied to
sectors and to a notched bar.
Also in the combination of a stationary cam with the machine frame and with
a sliding arm, its splined shaft and a whistle operating arm projecting from such
shaft.
Also in the combination of two shafts, their connection gears, a series of star
wheels, separate trains of gears, gear supporting arms, a slide gear, splined shaft
and arms.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd January 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR SIGNALIZING," a communication to me from abroad by Ambrose
Webster and Edgar Finch Webster both of Waltham, State of Massachusetts,
United States of America.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate this invention Figure 1 is a
top view-Figure 2 a front elevation-Figure 3 a rear elevation-Figure 4 is a
transverse section, and Figure 5 a horizontal section of an automatic signalizing
machine embodying this invention, the nature of which is defined in the claims
hereinafter presented. The plane of section of the last named Figure is midway
between the shaft of the signal or "star wheels" and that shaft underneath it, for
supporting the series of gears of variable diameters, to be hereinafter described.
The machine is specially intended for the production of signals according to the
well known "Beaumont Code," for indicating the course on which a vessel may be
steering in a fog or at night, such signals usually being sounds or blasts of a whistle
given at determined intervals, each blast being continued for a certain period-as
one and one half a second of time; for instance—the intervals between the blasts
may be two or four seconds while that between each signal and its repetition is
to be always the same-viz, twenty seconds.
For instance to indicate that the vessel may be steering North, the whistle
sounds or blasts for a second and a half of time each, are to be produced with
intervals of twenty seconds between them.
To indicate that the vessel is sailing on a North East course, each signal may
consist of four blasts, with an interval of four seconds between the first and second
of them, one of two seconds between the second and third and one of two seconds
between the third and fourth of them, there being an interval of twenty seconds
between each signal and the next one given.
Thus it will be seen that the signal for each course being a number of blasts of
equal length given at variable intervals-and that there is to be an equal interval
between each signal and the next succeeding one, the machine herein described is
to make such signals for eight courses-vis, North, North East, East, South East,
South, South West, West and North West, but if signals for sixteen or thirty two
courses, are required, the number of signal or star wheels and their operative trains
of gears is to be correspondingly or properly increased.
For effecting the said eight course signals, the machine has eight star wheels,
marked ABCDEFG and H besides which it has two other star wheels I and K
one of which is to signalize that the vessel is "hove to " or stopped-the other
signifying that the engine is reversed and the vessel moving "astern."
The star wheels, each of which consists of a disc, having one or more triangular
teeth a, projecting from its periphery, are placed at equal distances apart on and
fixed to one horizontal shaft 6 arranged in the upper part of a suitable frame L,
Buch shaft being provided near one end of it, with a gear c, to engage with another
gear d, of equal size, fixed upon the shaft e, carrying the gears f, of variable
liameters, of the train.
Pivoted on the shaft e, is a series of arms g having between and pivoted to them
series of gears h, arranged as represented. Each gear h engages with one of the
ears fand composes with it a train for the star wheel directly over such gear.
The several arms are connected by a shaft or rod i extending through them, such
hafts at its ends being borne upward by two springs k.

page_text: Above the shaft is a notched bar M, which is supported by two standards l,
projecting upward from the rod i. This bar has in its upper part, a series of
notches m, corresponding in number to the number of signals, the machine is
calculated to make.
N is a bar, adapted to slide horizontally and lengthwise of it on a dovetailed rail b¹ 5
and provided with a toothed rack m' to engage with a pinion n, fixed on a vertical
shaft o.
The said shaft o extends upward concentrically within a post O, carrying
on its top a dial or circular plato c².
An index pointer p, extended from the shaft o, projects over the said dial upon
which the courses are marked, as upon the card of a mariners compass. There is 1
also to the shaft o a crank 7, for revolving it. On turning the shaft by the crank
so as to carry the index pointer to any division or course mark on the dial, the
slide bar N will be moved so as to carry a driving gear P to its proper position to
put in operation the train of gears of the star wheel, for effecting the signal
against which the pointer may then be directed on the dial.
The
The said gear P, slides on a splined shaft R-by which it is to be revolved, and
Above
it is so applied to the slide bar N, as to be movable by it on the shaft R.
the shaft R is another shaft S, which has projecting from it toward the star wheels,
an arm T carrying two friction wheels and 8, arranged in it as shown.
arm T slides on the shaft S lengthwise thereof, but is adapted thereto by a spline
or feather connection, in order for the arm to turn the shaft, at the proper times.
The arm is applied to the slide bar N, as is the gear P, so as to be moveable
simultaneously therewith when the latter is moved by the slide bar.
To the outer end of the shaft S there is fixed an arm U, from which at its end
a line to lead to and operate a whistle on the sliding shutter of a lantern-is to be
extended upward. A spring V coiled on the shaft S, and fastened to it and the
frame L, serves to turn the said shaft so as to force the outer friction roller r of
the arm T up to the periphery of a star wheel especially when the latter may be in
revolution.
Fixed to the shaft R at its outer end, is a worm gear t, that engages with a
worm u, carried by a shaft v, provided with a driving pulley w.
On revolving the said driving pulley wat a regular and proper speed-the
shaft R will be slowly revolved, and of course will revolve the gear P, to cause it
to put in operation the gears for actuating the star wheel that may then be directly
over the arm T.
From the slide bar N, a tooth a¹ projects, to engage with the notched bar M, by
entering either of its notches, the purpose of such tooth and notched bar being to
hold the driving gear P and the arm T in position, while a star wheel may be
actuating the said arm. To depress the bar M out of engagement with the tooth,
in order that the machine may be set for giving a different signal, there are applied
The upper
to the shaft or rod i, two levers W, that are fulcrumed on the shaft e.
arm of each lever W, carries a friction roller x, to work against the periphery of a
circular sector y fixed on the star wheel shaft.
The said levers W and sectors y, are to prevent any movement of the bar N,
while a signal is being made, as the signal must be fully completed before the
machine can be set to make a different one. While the friction roller x is in
contact with the arc of the sector-the said sector will prevent the notched bar M
from being depressed out of engagement with the tooth of the bar N. Conse-
quently the index pointer of the dial can only be revolved while the friction
When this takes place
rollers a are out of contact with the arcs of the sectors.
each of the two levers can be moved by one of two cams y', fixed on a cross-shaft s
arranged as shown, and provided at one end with a lever or
operating it.
arm a for
It being desirable at times to produce a continuous blast of the whistle, to
signalize that the vessel is departing or leaving port, there is projected from the
frame, and in the position as shown, a stationary cam X, against which the friction
wheel 8 of the arm T will bo borne, when said arm is moved under the cam,
A

page_text: the arm may so move, it will be depressed by the cam and in consequence thereof,
the arm U will be moved downward and the whistle sounded, the sounding of it
continuing so long as the roller of the arm T may be against the cam. In this case
the driving gear P will not be in engagement with any of the gears for operating
the star wheels.
the star wheels.
CLAIMS.
1. The combination of the series of variable gears fand the operative gears c, d,
and h, and the supporting arms of the said gears h, with the series of star wheels
A, B, C, etc., and the sliding arm T and gear P, combined with the slide bar N, all
being adapted and arranged substantially in manner and to operate as set forth.
2. The combination of the tooth x¹ and the notched bar M, with the slide bar N,
and the series of arms g, provided with the actuating gears h-of the series of
variable gears-all being adapted arranged and to operate substantially as set
forth.
3. The combination of one or more sectors y, and levers W, with the series of
star wheels A, B, C, etc., the notched bar M and the slide bar N, provided with the
tooth x' the said slide bar and star wheels being provided with operating gears
c, d, fand h, arranged, adapted, and to operate substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the dial its pointer and the vertical shaft of the latter and
its pinion, with the slide bar N provided with the toothed rack and the sliding
arm and gear, to operate with the star wheels, and their actuating gears, substantially
as described and represented.
5. The combination of the shaft z and the cams y¹ thereof, with the levers W,
applied to the sectors y, and to the notched bar M, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of the stationary cam ✗, with the machine frame and with
the sliding arm T, its splined shaft, and the whistle operating arm projecting from
such shaft as described.
7. The combination of the two shafts b, e, their connection gears c d the series
of star wheels A, B, C, etc., the separate trains of gears f and h, the gear supporting
arms g, the slide N, gear P, splined shaft R, arm T, and the splined shaft S, provided
with the arm U, all being arranged and adapted substantially in manner and to
operate as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 22nd day of January A.D. 1883.