IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL ELECTRIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, FRANCIS JOSEPH MICKLEWRIGHT, of 37 Lena Gardens, Hammersmith, in the
County of Middlesex, electrician do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL ELECTRIC SIGNALLING APPARATUS" 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 cause a code of signals to be visible either by
day or by night a greater distance than by any other method hitherto used. It is
well known that ordinary signals can be seen only short distances and that signalling
by means of reflected light as employed for military purposes is useless after sunset
and also when the sun is covered with clouds. Signalling by means of flags has
also been used, but these signals can be seen short distances only, or if long
distance signalling be required, a large number of men are required to be employed.
My invention effectually overcomes the disadvantages named; and as it may be
employed either by day or by night-and my signals are visible for many miles-
my invention is especially adapted for service in campaigns and for other purposes
in which long distance signals are required to be seen.
In this my invention I provide a primary or a secondary battery or a dynamo
electric machine driven by an engine or other available motive power and I cause
the electric current to be conveyed from said battery or dynamo by positive and
negative wires in the usual manner to a switch board and thence by means of an
insulated cable to a frame containing one or more electric lamps or semaphore
indicators, the current being carried to the lamps or semaphores aforesaid by the
requisite number of wires in cable. The aforenamed frame may be affixed to any
convenient object having a sufficient altitude for the purpose for which the signals
are required; for instance the frame may be attached to a ship's mast, or to a
lighthouse or to a lightship or to a fort held by a beleaguered garrison, or the frame
may be attached to a captive balloon so that from an altitude a code of signals may
be visible for a long distance-I am well aware that the electric light has been and
is used in warfare to throw a powerful light on the enemy's position and that it has
been and is used on board ship and in lighthouses for its illuminating power, I am
also aware that balloons are used in warfare for reconnoitring purposes But I am
not aware of any method hitherto devised, whereby a code of signals is made
visible at any altitude by means of electricity.
And in order that this my invention may be thoroughly understood. I will
describe the simplest form in which it may be used. A portable battery with a

page_text: switchboard attached may be carried by an individual and the wires from the
battery after passing through the switch board may be insulated and wound
around a rope or cable, or a telegraphic cable may be used, to which rope, cable, or
telegraphic cable a frame having an incandescent lamp or a semaphore indicator is
fixed said frame being fastened to a captive balloon. By connecting the wires to
semaphore or lamp and switching the current on and off, the semaphore indicator
is caused to appear from its box or case in the day time and the electric light is
caused to shine in the incandescent lamp or lamps at night and signals are thus
rendered visible from any desired altitude. The size of the semaphore indicators
and the power of the light depend on the battery employed. Any code of signals
and any coloured lamps or semaphore indicators may be used.
When a larger apparatus is required I provide a dynamo electric machine driven
by an engine or other notive power, said dynamo being connected by positive and
negative wires to a switch board, or a switch box containing a primary or
secondary battery may be made having at its top a switch board with a number of
metal contacts to correspond with lamps or semaphore discs in action said switch
board having a handle or handles to make and break contact and cause the electric
current to pass to any lamp or semaphore on the frame. In communication with
the switch board aforesaid I fix a cable containing any number of wires requisite
to make contact with the lamps or semaphores employed, said cable passing from
switchboard aforesaid to an armature and drum constructed in the following
manner. The drum on which the cable is wound has a metal spindle with two
flanges to prevent cable slipping off and has a ratchet wheel and pawl and brake to
control the revolutions of the drum, the spindle baving a square end to which a
handle is fixed to haul down balloon and frame. On the other end of spindle
inside flange an aperture is made for the cable to pass through from the armature
which consists of a wood or other insulator having on its outer side strips of metal
underneath which conducting wires are connected to binding screws on inner end
of armature. Attached to the frame on which the drum and armature revolve and
immediately under armature is a block of insulated material to which is screwed
metal brushes corresponding to the number of metal rings on the armature so that
the cable is always in contact with the electric current. A runner or traveller and
snatch block with running wheel for cable may be attached to frame of drum to
prevent upward strain on the drum when a balloon is employed. The cable having
passed over snatch block communicates with a frame which consists of an outer
band of thick cane or wood or metal or other suitable material having apertures in
the sides to admit of a cross bar or cross bars, preferably three, made of wood or
metal having at their ends a metal socket terminating in a pin which fits into the
aperture at each side of frame so as to give a level position to the lamps or
semaphore indicators which are attached to the cross bars aforesaid. The frame is
so made that it can be opened at will and the cross bars with semaphores which
are used for day signalling exchanged for cross bars fitted with electric lamps either
incandescent or arc lamps according to the electric force required. The cable is
attached to the frame and the wires are insulated and conducted to the lamps or
semaphores the frame being attached to a captive balloon which is inflated in the
ordinary way. If desired the signals may be made from a large balloon by the
person or persons in the car of same telephonic communication being made from
below as required to signal movements. This arrangement combines an apparatus
for signalling and reconnoitring.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect reference is had to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters of reference marked thereon.

page_text: Fig II is a section of drum spindle D and armature B showing how the electric
contact is made from switch board to armature B and from armature to drum
spindle D to which the cable C is attached.
Fig III is an elevation of frame E showing electric contact from cable C to
lamps F F F on cross bars G, G, G.
Fig IV is an elevation of frame H showing electric contact from cable C to
semaphore indicators, I, I, I, on cross bars J, J, J.
Figs. V and VI show end view of frames E and H with interchangeable lamps
and semaphore indicators.
Fig VII is a section of cross bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The construction and general arrangement of frame of aerial electric
signalling apparatus substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth
and described.
2nd. The construction and general arrangement of drum and armature sub-
stantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and described.
3rd. The construction and general arrangement of aerial electric signalling
apparatus substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described set forth
and illustrated in the drawings annexed.