Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1889
Complete pecification Left, 25th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling.
JOHN FLETCHER WILES Lloyds, Royal Exchange E.C. Insurance Broker do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to lessen the risk of collision at sea by the position
of the helm of any vessel being instantly shewn to any approaching vessel.
For this purpose I employ a large lamp the front of which is circular and is formed
of opal glass or any other semi-transparent material and immediately in front of
this I place a circular piece of metal or diaphram of other opaque material preferably
painted black which is caused to travel across the larger disc by the action of the helm
automatically or by any suitable means.
The diaphram is smaller than the semi transparent disc so that when the helm is
amidship a circular white ring is shewn and when the helm is moved over to the port
side or starboard side a white crescent or half moon is shewn either to the right or
the left.
The diaphram may be also connected to the engines of a steamer in any
convenient manner to shew the engine is going astern by lifting the diaphram to
the top or by lowering it to the bottom thus shewing the crescent on its back or
vice versa.
By day a white ring or crescent will be shewn and by night by placing a light
behind the disc an illuminated ring or crescent will be shewn.
In carrying this Invention into effect I have described a ring and crescent but I
do not confine myself to this particular form or color but what I particularly wish to
be understood is the construction of a lamp which automatically shews the position or
the helm both by day and by night.
.
Dated this with dose of Ancil 1000
JOHN F. WILES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling.
I, JOHN FLETCHER WILES, Lloyds Royal Exchange E.C. Insurance Broker, 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:-
The object of this invention is to lessen the risk of collision at sea by the position
of the helm of any vessel being instantly shewn to any approaching vessel.
For this purpose I employ a large lamp, the front of which is circular and is
formed of opal glass or any other semi-transparent material and immediately in
front of this I place a circular piece of metal or diaphragm of other opaque
material preferably painted black which is caused to travel across the larger disc
by the action of the helm automatically or by any suitable means.
The diaphragm is smaller than the semi-transparent disc so that when the helm
is amidship a circular white ring is shewn and when the belm is moved over to the
port side or starboard side a white crescent or half moon is shewn either to the right
or the left.
The diaphragm may be also connected to the engines of a steamer in any con-
venient manner to shew the engine is going astern by lifting the diaphragm to the
top or by lowering it to the bottom thus showing the crescent on its back or
vice versa.

page_text: By day a white ring or crescent will be shewn and by night by placing a
light behind the disc an illuminated ring or crescent will be shewn.
.
In carrying this Invention into effect I have described a ring and crescent but
I do not confine myself to this particular form or color but what I particularly wish
to be understood is the construction of a lamp which automatically shews the position
of the helm both by day and by night.
In order that my said invention may be more fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 is a side elevation of a steamer fitted with apparatus
made in accordance with my invention.
Figures 3 to 5 are front elevations of the lamp and disc to a larger scale.
A is the steering wheel which, by means of the rope B actuates the rudder in
the usual manner. On the axis of the wheel is a drum upon which the chains ()
are wound. These chains are led over pulleys D to the lantern E which is
provided in front with a large semi-transparent face F. G is a disc to which the
chains C are attached so that, as the wheel is turned the disc G is traversed across
the face of the lantern. In Figure 3 the disc is shown to the left hand side. In
Figure 4 it is shewn centrally which is its position when the helm is amidship, and in
Figure 5 it is shown to the right hand side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for signalling in which a disc or other shaped screen is on the helm
being moved caused to traverse across an illuminated space.
2. Apparatus for signalling substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of February 1890.
JOHN F. WILES.