Improvements in Semaphore Signalling Apparatus for use on Board Ship, at Coast Guard Stations, and the like
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Semaphore Signalling Apparatus for use on Board
Ship, at Coast Guard Stations, and the like.
I LEICESTER BRADNEY STEVENS of Darlington Works, Southwark Bridge
Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in semaphore signalling apparatus for use on
board ship, at coast guard stations, and the like has for its object to construct a
semaphore which shall be strong and light and present a small surface to the action
of the wind, and which shall also be capable of being manipulated with great
facility, and consists essentially in forming the main signal post supporting the
semaphore arms of open or lattice work securely braced together and secured at its
lower end to a trunk resting upon and enveloping a vertical supporting pillar
around which it is free to rotate, the trunk being arranged to carry the special
fittings required for working the semaphore arms and turning the post, and the base
of the said pillar being tapered and fitted into a socket in a foundation fixing which
may be firmly bedded in concrete or other preparation and secured by holding
down bolts or otherwise. In order to reduce the resistance to the turning of the
post ball or roller bearings may be provided between the trunk and supporting
pillar.
Dated this Sixth day of October 1890.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Semaphore Signalling Apparatus for use on Board
Ship, at Coast Guard Stations, and the like.
I LEICESTER BRADNEY STEVENS of Darlington Works Southwark Bridge
Road in the County of Surrey, Engineer 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 :-
This invention for improvements in semaphore signalling apparatus for use on
board ship, at coast guard stations, and the like has for its object to construct an
apparatus which shall be strong and light, and present a small surface to the action
of the wind, and which shall also be capable of being manipulated with great
facility, and consists essentially in forming the main signal post supporting the
semaphore arms of open or lattice work securely braced together and secured at its
lower end to a trunk resting upon and enveloping a vertical supporting pillar
around which it is free to rotate, the trunk being arranged to carry the special
fittings required for working the semaphore arms and turning the post, and the
base of the said pillar being tapered and fitted into a socket in a foundation fixing
which may be firmly bedded in concrete or other preparation and secured by
holding-down bolts or otherwise.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings-
Fig. 1 is a side clevation of a small signalling apparatus complete,
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the upper semaphore arms
removed and

page_text: Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the lower end of a signal post showing the arrange-
ment of the trunk and supporting pillar with foundation fixing.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the foundation fixing;
Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sections at the lines A A, B B respectively,
Figs. 8 and 9 show sections of a guying ring for steadying long signal
posts and
Figs. 10 and 11 are side and end elevations respectively of a semaphore arm.
The signal post consists of four bars of angle iron a braced together by lattice
work and secured to a trunk c by bands as clearly shown. Connected
respectively to the three levers e are the three chain wheels for actuating the
semaphore arms through the chains and corresponding chain-wheels each
connected to its respective arm. The arm is connected to the crank by the
rod m and actuated by the lever n, a bar o secured to the spindle p serving as a
stop for the levers e.
16
The trunk e envelopes and rests upon the pillar and is preferably provided
with a bush and step s of suitable antifriction metal, the lower end of the said
pillar being tapered to fit into a socket in the foundation fixing a which may be
bedded in concrete or other preparation and secured by holding-down bolts v.
A hand lever w attached to the trunk e is used when turned into a horizontal
position to rotate the post about its axis.
is provided at a
for the purpose
freely about its
When the signal post is of considerable length a guying ring
suitable height and connected to the ground by guy ropes or rods
of giving additional steadiness to the post which is allowed to turn
axis. by means of the inclined antifriction rollers or pulleys working on the
ring a secured to the post as is clearly shown.
The semaphore arms each comprise a metal counterweight block 6' in which the
wooden army is placed and secured by the fish-plates c' and screws d'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1° In a semaphore signalling apparatus for use on board ship at coast guard
stations and the like, the construction of the post with diagonal braces or open
latice work and with its lower end secured to a trunk resting upon and enveloping
a vertical supporting pillar, fitting into a foundation fixing substantially as
described.
20 Securing the arms of semaphores to their counterweight blocks by means of
fish plates substantially as described.
30 The construction of guying rings for steadying signal posts with inclined anti-
friction rollers substantially as described.
4° The arrangement and construction of semaphore signalling apparatus for use
on board ship, at coast guard stations and the like substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of June 1891.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.