Improvements in Signalling Apparatus for Naval and other Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1893:
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1894-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling Apparatus for Naval and other
Purposes.
We, LIONEL DE LAUTOUR WELLS of The Naval and Military Club,
94 Piccadilly S.W. in the County of London, Commander Royal Navy, and
LOUIS ALEXANDER, PRINCE OF BATTENBERG, Captain Royal Navy of The
United Service Club, Pall Mall, S.W. in the County of London, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to signalling apparatus suitable for naval and
military purposes and capable of being easily used for short or long ranges, in all-
weathers and with any ordinary code, such as the Morse, and which, unlike the
semaphores heretofore used, can be readily seen from all points.
Signalling apparatus for this purpose according to this invention comprises a
skeleton or frame capable of being expanded or opened and collapsed or shut and
provided with a flexible covering, or it may be a lining (hereinafter included in the
term covering), the arrangement being such that when the frame or covering is
expanded or opened the apparatus will assume the form of an easily distinguish-
able more or less opaque body or mass that may be white, or of any desired color,
and of any suitable or convenient shape as for instance spherical ellipsoidal,
conical or pyramidal, or partly of one of these forms and partly of another. The
flexible covering may advantageously consist of a moderately loose network of
light and pliable material having a mesh such as will admit of the easy passage of
air therethrough but the denseness and color of which will for all practical
purposes form an opaque or readily distinguishable body when expanded or opened
out.
As will be obvious apparatus such as referred to can be constructed in various
ways.
According to one construction the apparatus comprises a number of flexible
laths or strips of suitable material such as steel, cane or wood, provided with a
suitable flexible covering of netted or woven material and jointed at their upper
and lower ends to rings or tubes one or both of which is or are arranged to slide
vertically upon a suitable mast or post, the arrangement being such that when
the rings are moved together or one towards the other, the laths or strips with the
covering material carried thereby, will if a large number of laths or strips be
used, assume an approximately spherical or ellipsoidal shape, and when the ring
or rings is or are moved in the opposite direction, under the action of gravity, a
spring or other means, the frame and covering will be caused to collapse.
In a modified arrangement the flexible laths or strips are each replaced by a
pair of jointed rods or bars so that the apparatus when expanded will assume the
form of two pyramids placed base to base.
The ring or rings may be caused to slide on the mast or post by various
means. In one arrangement a rope passing over suitable guide pulleys and con-
nected to the ring or rings is employed. In another arrangement one or both
rings is or are connected by a rod or rods to a lever that is connected by suitable
rods or cords to a second lever arranged in a suitable position to be actuated by
D
61

page_text: the person in charge of the signalling apparatus who in each case may when
necessary work the apparatus from a sheltered position.
In some cases the covering or lining material may be dispensed with.
Dated this 2nd day of May 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Signalling Apparatus for Naval and other
Purposes.
We, LIONEL DE LAUTOUR WELLS, of The Naval and Military Club,
94 Piccadilly S.W. in the County of London, Commander Royal Navy, and
LOUIS ALEXANDER, PRINCE OF BATTENBERG, of The United Service Club, Pall
Mall S.W. in the County of London, Captain Royal Navy, 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 has reference to an improved construction of signalling apparatus
which comprises a skeleton or frame capable of being quickly expanded or opened.
and collapsed or shut, as hereinafter more particularly explained. This improved
signalling apparatus is suitable for naval and military purposes and is capable of
being readily used for short or long ranges in all weathers and with any ordinary
code, for example the Morse code. The construction is such that the apparatus
does not offer serious resistance to the wind, and yet, unlike the semaphores hereto-
fore usually employed, can be readily seen from all points.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews this improved signalling apparatus
(expanded) partly in central vertical section, and partly in side elevation.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but shows the apparatus collapsed.
Figs. 4 and 5 show, in sectional elevation and sectional plan respectively, parts
of the upper portion of the apparatus.
Figs. 6 and 7 are elevations at right angles to each other, showing the manner of
jointing and guiding parts of the apparatus.
Figs. 8 and 9 show, respectively in vertical section and sectional plan, the manner
of jointing the lower portions of the apparatus together.
Fig. 10 shows in elevation the lower part of a hollow mast or post with part of
the operating appliance whereby the skeleton or frame mounted at or near the
upper end of the mast or post can be expanded and collapsed.
Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional detail views, showing a modified construction.
Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are similar views to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10 respectively
showing a modified construction suitable for military purposes.
Fig. 18 is a detail view of part of Fig. 16.
The several figures are drawn to different scales.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive,
The skeleton or frame in this case is constructed of a series of pairs of jointed
rods 1, 1, so arranged that when the said skeleton or frame is expanded, it will
present the form of two truncated cones placed base to base from whatever point of
the compass the apparatus is viewed. These pairs of rods are jointed together
at 2, and to rings or tubes 3, 3* arranged to slide on a post 4, which, in the example
shown, is the upper portion of the hollow mast of a ship. The rods, 1, 1 may be of
any suitable material, such as bamboo or wood, or light metal tubing; they are
secured at their ends in metal holders 5, 5* and are stiffened by struts 6. Each of
the upper holders 5 is provided at opposite sides with pivot pins 7 (Figs. 4 and 5)

page_text: arranged to fit in bearings 8 in a radially slotted flange 9 on the ring or tube 3.
The pins are retained in place by the inner annular part 10 of a spider frame 10,
the outer annular portion 10% of which is connected to the lower portion of the said
ring or tube by rods 11. Each of these rods is bent to the arc of a circle having
the axis of the corresponding pivot pins 7 as a centre, and serves as a guide for the
corresponding holder 5, which is fitted with a bracket 12, carrying a pair of anti-
friction rollers 13 arranged to roll at opposite sides of the said rod. Each of the
lower holders 5 may be pivoted in a similar manner to the lower ring or tube 3*
and be guided by a circular guide rod 11ª, the pivot pins 7ª being retained in their
bearings in the slotted flange. 9 by a slotted annular cover plate 10° (Figs. 8
and 9) that is fixed to the said flange and is independent of the spider frame 10.
The holders 5 on the adjacent ends of the rods constituting a pair of rods 1, 1,
are jointed together by a pin 2 carrying a bracket 14 (Figs. 6 and 7), in which are
carried the axes of a pair of anti-friction rollers 15, arranged to roll at opposite
The
sides of a fixed guide rod 16, of which there is one for each pair of rods 1 1".
inner ends of the several rods 16 are secured to a ring 17, fixed on the mast 4, and
their outer ends are connected together by a metal wire or rod 16*, (Fig. 2).
Each ring or tube 3, 3" may be guided vertically by providing it internally with
two pairs of cross rods 18 (Figs. 4 and 5), the rods of each pair being placed at
right angles to each other and arranged to work in corresponding vertical slots 19
be fitted
formed in the mast. To reduce friction, the ends of the said rods may
with anti-friction rollers 18* arranged to roll against the sides of the said slots.
Various means may be used for quickly moving the rings or tubes 3, 3" towards
In the example
and from each other for opening and closing the apparatus.
shown, the rings or tubes 3, 3* are connected by rods 22, 22 to a lever 20 mounted
on a pin 21 and connected by suitable rods 23, or it may be by cords, to a second
lever 24 (Fig. 10) fulcrummed in the hollow mast at any suitable part thereof, but
preferably below an armoured deck, so that the person or persons working the
apparatus will be in a sheltered position.
The rods 22, 22 may advantageously be connected to the said rings or tubes
through one of the cross rods 18 of each ring or tube, as shown. The jointed end
portions of the said rods 22, 22" and lever 20 work through a pair of the lower
slots 19 in the hollow mast. The ends of the rods 23, when these are used, may be
slotted to receive the ends of the levers 20 and 24 as shown, pins 23* on these
levers serving to keep the said rods in proper working position.
To render the apparatus practically opaque when expanded, so that it shall be
easily distinguishable at a distance but so as nevertheless to permit of wind passing
freely therethrough, the spaces 1' between the rods 1 and between the rods 1*, may
he provided with suitable flexible material 25, such for example as canvas, as
shown in full lines at the right hand side of Fig. 1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 6.
This material may be white or black, or of any desired colour. Also there may
(with advantage) be secured to the mast say four wings or plates 26, conveniently
of sheet metal, that will serve to render the central portion of the apparatus
seemingly opaque from a distance. By constructing and connecting parts in the
manner described to form a collapsible skeleton or frame, the upper and lower
jointed portions thereof are made to practically balance each other, so that the
skeleton or frame can be easily expanded and collapsed in accordance with the code
of signals to be used, and as only a comparatively small movement of the lever 24
is necessary for this purpose, the change of form of the apparatus can be effected
with great rapidity.
The apparatus can be constructed in various sizes according to circumstances.
For a battle-ship, it may conveniently have a diameter of about 9 feet at its central
and widest part when expanded.
As will be obvious signalling apparatus according to this invention, can be
constructed in various forms. Thus the flexible covering material may be dispensed
with, provided the apparatus be otherwise so constructed that it can be easily
distinguished when viewed from a distance whilst nevertheless allowing for the

page_text: passage of wind. This can be done by substituting thin bars or blades of metal
for the rods 1, 1ª and their filling or covering material, such bars or rods
resembling in form that of the built up portions of the skeleton or frame represented
to the right in Fig. 1. Also, instead of connecting both the upper and lower
. portions of the skeleton or frame to vertically movable rings or tubes, one
only of such portions may be jointed to such a ring or tube, the other portion
being jointed to a fixed ring, but in this case, the two parts of the apparatus
would not balance each other, and consequently they could not be worked in
so easy and rapid a manner as the apparatus described with reference to Figs. 1
to 10. The rods 1, 1ª might be curved to the form of an arc of a circle, so that the
apparatus, when expanded, would present the appearance of a sphere, or approxi-
mately so, when seen from a distance, instead of that of two truncated cones placed
base to base, as with the arrangement shown. Also, instead of using pairs of
jointed rods, as described, a number of flexible laths or strips of suitable material
such as steel, cane or wood may be used, these being jointed at their upper and
lower, ends to rings or tubes, one or both of which is or are arranged to slide
vertically upon the mast or post, and the arrangement being such that when the
rings or tubes are moved together, or one towards the other, the laths or strips will
be caused to bend and bulge outward so that if a sufficient number of them be used
in the construction of the apparatus, it will be caused to assume an approximately
spherical or ellipsoidal shape such as will be readily visible at a distance without
offering serious resistance to the wind; and when the ring or tube or rings or tubes
is or are moved in the opposite direction, the skeleton or frame, will be caused to
collapse. This arrangement is more particularly suitable for apparatus of com-
paratively small size. Furthermore the rings or tubes 3, 3ª instead of being guided
in their vertical movements by cross rods 18, working in slots 19 in the mast,
may be provided with one or more pairs of guide rollers 3b, as shown in Fig. 11,
each arranged to work against opposite sides of a vertical guide bar 3° fixed to the
exterior of the mast 4, thereby obviating the necessity of slotting the mast as in
the previous arrangement. In this case the rings or tubes may be moved towards
and from each other by pairs of levers 20* and rods 20° that are external to the
mast, as shown in Fig. 12, these levers and rods being worked from an internal
lever 20 that is fixed to a spindle 21 extending through the mast and carrying the
pair of external levers 20%, and is worked by rods 23 and lever 24 (Fig. 10) as
before. In this case the wings or plates 26 constituting the pair that is in the same
plane as the spindle, are cut away at points opposite to the ends of the spindle, to
admit the external levers 20 and fastening nuts; and the wings constituting the
pair of wings or plates that is at right angles to the first mentioned pair are slotted,
as shewn at 26 to permit of the required movement of the pins 20° connecting the
ends of the levers 20°.
For some purposes, as for example military purposes, the apparatus may be
simplified by using only the upper set of rods l'as in the modified arrangement
shown in Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive and Fig. 18. In this case each of the rods 1 is
moved in and out about its pivot 7 as a centre, by a pair of links 1* that are jointed
at the upper end to an intermediate strut 6 on the rod, and at its lower end to the
ring or tube 3* as shown in Figs. 16 and 18. Each pair of links 1* is guided by a
curved rod 11 like each of the lower rods 1 in the herein previously described
arrangement, and the rings or tubes 3, 3* are moved towards and from each other
by links 22, 22 and a lever 20 that is operated from a lower hand lever 24 (Fig. 17)
through rods 23 and connecting chains 23 which work around chain wheels 20
and 24* fixed respectively on the spindles to which the levers 20 and 24 are fixed.
The rods may be provided with suitable flexible material 25 and wings or
plates 26 may be provided as and for the purposes hereinbefore explained.
We are aware that it has heretofore been proposed to use collapsible signalling
apparatus, but these have been of constructions which have lacked the necessary
...requirements for practical use viz., quickness of action, that is to say, the power of
being quickly and easily opened and closed by a small movement only of the

page_text: operating mechanism; and the attribute of presenting the appearance of an opaque
object whilst in reality being so open as to permit of wind blowing freely there-
through, so as to admit of the apparatus being efficiently used in a high wind.
These requirements are fully met in signalling apparatus constructed according to
the present invention, with the further advantage that the signal can be read all
round as the shape of the object is the same when viewed from any point of the
compass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :—
1. A signalling apparatus for naval and other purposes, in which the visible
object, the expanding or opening and collapsing or shutting of which is to afford
the desired indications, is in the form of a skeleton or frame (with or without
covering material between parts thereof) applied around a mast or post so that when
collapsed or shut it normally closely surrounds such mast or post but when
expanded or opened out in the manner set forth, it, as seen from a distance, and
from all points of the compass, has the appearance of an opaque body whilst at the
same time allowing for the free passage of wind between its component parts, there
being combined with the said skeleton or frame, mechanism whereby it can be
quickly changed from the collapsed or shut to the expanded or opened state and
vice versa, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
2. Signalling apparatus constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
3. The several modifications of signalling apparatus hereinabove described.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1894.
LIONEL DE L. WELLS.
For the Applicants,
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.