IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATING SIGNALS ON BOARD SHIP. AND OF INDICATING THE POSITION OF THE RUDDER
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Newton Gisborne, of No. 3, Adelaide Place,
London Bridge, in the City of London, Engineer and Electrician, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF COMMUNICATING SIGNALS
ON BOARD SHIP. AND OF INDICATING THE POSITION OF THE RUDDER."
Sealed the 17th July 1863, and dated the 23rd January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Newton Gisborne,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 23rd January 1863.
I, FREDERIC NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London
Bridge, in the City of London, Engineer and Electrician, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF
COMMUNICATING SIGNALS ON BOARD SHIP, AND OF INDICATING THE POSITION OF THE RUDDER."
to be as follows:
I have a box or case containing on the face thereof transparent or
opaque divisions, on which. are severally indicated the signs or orders
which are usually required to be conveyed to the helmsman on board
ship, and in front of such divisions there are knobs. When an officer
or other person desires to give directions to the helmsman, he passes
down a knob in front of the signs he desires to give to the helmsman, and
by such pressure metallic contact is made, and a current of electricity is
allowed to pass through one or other of the electro-magnets affixed in
another similar box or case with like signs and arrangements in front of
the helmsman, and such magnets when thus magnetized act on small

page_text: levers or armatures, to each of which is attached a flap or shutter covering
the signs, the levers or armatures being pivotted to move excentrically,
raise the flap or shutter which cover the sign intended to be given, and
exposes it to the view of the helmsman, and an electro-magnetic bell
being in circuit, attention is called to each order transmitted, and the
helmsman by pressure against a lever which is placed within easy reach
of his knee, or by pressing down a knob completes the electric circuit
through the particular flap which has been raised, and through electro-
magnets in the instruments used by the officer or other persons, and thus
acknowledges the orders sent. The position of the rudder is indicated
by means of a short iron rod connected with the rudder head or other con-
venient part of the rudder to a wheel which revolves upon metal in the
form of the segment of a circle corresponding with the arc described by
the rudder head; such segment is divided into as many sections as degrees
required, and each section being in electric circuit with one or other of
the electro-magnets, the actual position of the rudder is indicated by the
lifting of a flap or shutter upon the officer's instrument independently of
the helmsman. The instruments are connected with an electric cable
Similar arrangements may be employed for engine room signals.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Newton Gisborne in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERIC
NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, in the City
of London, Engineer and Electrician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth
year. of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne, Her special licence
that I, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne, my executors, administrators
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Newton Gisborne, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,

page_text: and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MEANS OF
COMMUNICATING SIGNALS ON BOARD SHIP, AND OF INDICATING THE
POSITION OF THE RUDDER," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frederic Newton Gisborne, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My Invention consists of a novel arrangement of electrical and
mechanical apparatus, whereby the look-out officer or other person may
at any convenient part of the ship cominunicate to the helmsman the
requisite orders as to the direction in which to steer the ship, and also
whereby the helmsman on receiving such orders may reply thereto. Also
of an arrangement whereby the rudder is made to indicate the alteration
of its position.
In Sheet 1 of the Drawings, I have shewn two views of the apparatus,
whereby the information as to the course to steer the ship may be com-
municated from the look-out officer to the helmsman. Fig. 1 is an
external elevation, shewing the front of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a trans-
verse vertical section of the same, shewing the arrangement of the electro-
magnets, and some of the other parts connected therewith.
The apparatus shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a box or case a, a, in
which there are arranged two or more electric coils d, d, according to the
number of different signals or words of command it may be desired to
transmit to the helmsman. In the present instance, the apparatus is
intended for making five signals or giving the five words of command
which are most usually required on board ship to instruct the helmsman
the course he is required to steer. These signals or words of command
are the words "port," "hard-a-port," "starboard," "hard-a-starboard,"
and "steady." It will be observed that the word "hard" is common to
the two orders of "port" and "starboard," so that there are four flaps to
answer for five signals. The desired words are painted, marked, or other-
wise shewn upon pieces of colored or plain glass or other transparent or

page_text: translucent substance, and are let into or placed over openings made in
the side or front a', of the box a, a, and a lantern or lamp b to shew a
strong light is placed at the back of the apparatus, as shewn in Figure 2.
If desired the above-mentioned words may be marked on different colored
glasses, so that in case the helmsman cannot read, he may understand
the order given by the color indicating "port" or "starboard." When a
strong light is placed at night time behind the box, as at b, Fig. 2, it will
shew through the openings covered with glass, cach of which is provided
with a shutter, lid, or cover c, c, to hide the light, except when the cover
is drawn up, as shewn at c' in Figs. 1 and 2, and when that is done, the
green light with the words "starboard," and the white light with the
word "hard" on the glasses, will be distinctly visible to the helmsman
as a direction for him to steer in the course indicated. The shutters,
covers, or lids c, c, are worked by the electro-magnets d, d, by means of
the arrangement of armatures f, f. These armatures f, f, are pivoted
at g, g, to move excentrically upon their axes when attracted by the
poles e, e, of the electro-magnets d, d, and the shutters c, c, are thereby
raised to the position c¹, c', and expose the several orders painted or
shewn upon or by the glasses behind them. In order to attract the atten-
tion of the helmsman, an audible signal may be made by striking a
bell i, i, at the same instant that the shutters c, c, over one or more of
the words of command are raised. This is effected by causing the same
galvanic current which raises the shutters to pass through the electro-
magnet d' and give a forward movement of the bell hammer h, and the
spring returns the hammer to its dormant position. The plate glass
front and back k and is to protect the instrument from injury during
stormy weather.
The apparatus shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 will answer the treble purpose of
sending the order to the helmsman, receiving back his reply, and noting
the position of the helm or rudder as it changes its position.
The sending apparatus consists of 5 knobs or handles h, h, lettered
"port," "starboard," &c., which, when pressed down, as in the casc h,
will cause the lever j to bring the insulated spring in contact with the
plate m, which, in the instance noted, is in electrical connection with the
shutter c', c', in Fig. 1, and thus the result obtained. The spiral spring i
returns the knob to its dormant position when the pressure upon it is
removed. In like manner all the knobs are in electrical contact with
their respective shutters, and the word "hard" is common to both outside
knobs. The look-out officer or commander having given the necessary

page_text: instructions to the helmsman as to the course to be steered the latter will
be required to signal in reply that he has received and understands the
command, and this he effects by pressing with his hip or knee against
either end of the lever e, e, e, Fig. 8, which has its bearings in the box c, c,
and is kept in position by clastic stuffing pressing against the flattened
surface a. The movement of the lever causes the disc d, Fig. 9, to come
in contact with the springs h, h, (the springs being in common metallic
contact) and completes the reply circuit.
The receiving apparatus in constructed on a smaller scale; as Figs. 1
and 2, the shutters c, c, when up in Figs. 1 and 2, connecting by their
several springs s, s, Fig. 2, one of two breaks in the reply circuits. The
larger shutters, Figs. 1 and 2, are in fact the manipulators for their corre-
sponding shutters in Figs. 3 and 4, as soon as the helmsman closes the
return circuit common to all shutters and springs. The helmsman to
acknowledge the order sent, has only to close the return circuit common
to the several magnets which raise the shutters on the bridge instrument,
Figs. 3 and 4, the springs s, s, behind the shutters of the instrument
Figs. 1 and 2, having already, as in the case c, c, directed such current
through the corresponding circuit in the bridge instrument. In some
cases, in lieu of using the springs s, s, in conjunction with the lever
contact maker, Figs. 8 and 9, for the helmsman's reply, I use 3 or more
pedals or buffers, cach closing a separate circuit through one or more
of the magnets which raise the shutters of the bridge instrument.
The apparatus for noting the movement of the helm, Figs. 3 and 4,
consists of a number of smaller magnets and shutters acting as herein-
before described. and in electrical circuit with the rudder apparatus
Figs. 5 and 6, an ivory or other scale n, Fig. 3, is lettered so as to corre-
spond with the rudder instrument contacts h, k, l, k, Fig. 6, and the
small shutters/, f, f, Fig. 3. A battery being in circuit, the look-out
officer, in order to ascertain at any moment the exact position of the helm,
has to close communication circuit by pressing the side knob Z.
In further explanation of the rudder apparatus, Figs. 5 and 6, it will
be observed that the disc e, which revolves upon its axes between the
block of ebonite d or other suitable material, and the support f is pressed
by the spring g against the segment contacts k, l, k, which are insulated
from cach other upon the piece of ebonite f. The disc e is therefore
always in contact with one or other of the segments k, k, and as the
arms c, c, (which are connected with the rudder head) cause a. corrc-
sponding movement in the shaft b, the disc moves in unison with the

page_text: rudder head. The spring h being the common terminal for the return
circuits, and there being a distinct conductor between each segment and
its corresponding shutter, and the only break in such return circuit being
at the knob Z, Fig. 3, it is evident that the officer can at any moment
observe the position of the rudder and its movements by simply closing
the break knob Z.
Fig. 8 shews the manner of connecting up the several electrical con-
ductors; o, p, o, p, are two small boxes placed between decks, or in the
hold of a ship, one convenient to the look-out officer's station and the
other to the helm. The cable m is then fastened under the deck beams
or to the skin of the ship, and the several conductors n, n, which it
contains brought to their respective screw terminals 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. The
terminals B, B, are extra for battery purposes. Each conductor in the
cable is composed of a strand of 7 wires insulated.
In further explanation of Figs. 8 and 9, the standard b, b, supports the
small box c, c, in which the T lever e, e, has its bearings. A pressure
from the helmsman at either end of the lever causes the projection upon
the disc d to come into contact with either end of the spring h, h, and
thus complete the return circuit through any one or more of the reply
shutters Fig. 3.
The Drawings X. and XI. shew the adaptation of the foregoing appa-
ratus herein described to engine room signals with the following variation,
which variation is also applicable to steering signals, viz., in lieu of the
captain transmitting signals by pressure upon a particular knob (as in
Fig. 3), he (as in Fig. 12) moves the pointer A, A, to the order required,
which order, for the purpose of illumination at night, may be upon
enamelled glass. This movement causes the corresponding flap upon the
engineer's instrument, Fig. 10, to remain up until the engineer replies
by moving a similar pointer, Fig. 14, in the engine room, which again
causes the shutter c to move sideways uncovering the return signal within
and under the pointer A, A, when the captain replaces the pointer at
off," and the flap or shutters close.
The electro-mechanical movement in Fig. 13 is similar to that which
has been already described in Figs. 1 and 10, excepting that the arma-
tures f, f, work upon a vertical instead of a horizontal axis towards the
poles e, e, of the electro-magnets d, d; the springs g, g, causing the
armatures to return to their normal position when magnetic attraction
ceases. Attached to the axis of the pointer A, A, is a contact spring h,
which presses upon a semicircle of sectional metals i, i, such sectional

page_text: metals being connected with the orders to the engineer in a similar
manner to that described in Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig. 15 is the form of battery I prefer using. a, a, is an earthenware
or glass cell; b, b, a gutta percha cover having an aperture in the centre,
and supporting the platinized silver plate c, c; d is a smaller gutta percha
cover which closes the aperture in the larger cover, and supports the rod
or cylinder of zinc e, the bottom of which rests in the cup f containing
mercury; g, g, are the terminals.
By means of the excentric movement of the armature herein described I
am enabled to uncover a large signal with a very trifling movement of
the armature and with very small magnetic power, in consequence of the
armature being always in close proximity to the electro-magnet, and by
the application of a double break in each circuit, the one being completed
by the slide or shutter when up, and the other by the pressure of the
helmsman upon his reply lever, he can by a single movement repeat back
several signals.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not claim any of the parts taken separately, but that what I claim as
my Invention are the combinations for communicating signals on board
ship, and of indicating the position of the rudder as herein-before
described, and with such variations in detail as may be convenient without
departing from the nature of my said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
F. N. GISBORNE. (L.S.)