Steam Ship and Applicable also to other Uses.
Year: 1887

page_text: Steam Ship and Applicable also to other Uses.
1, JAMES BONELLE WILLIS of Mill Lane, Mile End, Portsmouth in the County
of Hants, Draughtsman and Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in electric telegraph apparatus
suitable for use to cominunicate between the bridge and the engine rooin of a steam
ship and applicable also to other uses.
The transmitting instrument is provided with a handle moveable around a stud or
axiswhich by preference is horizontal. This handle is intended to be placed in positions
corresponding to the signals to be transmitted, such as "stop" "slow" "half speed"
and "full speed" both ahead and astern.
Upon the handle lever at a short distance from the axis a spring drum is carried;
two chains pass around the drum and are led from it over guide pulleys and attached
to a contact making arm. This arm is also moveable around the central stud or axis
and it carries a spring contact piece which bears against a stationary are in which
conducting and non-conducting strips are inserted at intervals. Around the central
boss of this contact arin gear teeth are provided, they engage with a pinion, which
through other toothed gear, drives a fly. This fly restrains the movement of the
contact arm and compels it to travel slowly; for the fly has to make many revolutions
whilst the arm moves a comparatively small distance. The chains which connect the
contact arm with the drum upon the handle are directed by guide pulleys, so that the
chains approach the contact arm from opposite sides. When the handle is moved
to the one side the chain passing to the other side of the arm is strained and but for
the rotation of the spring drum the handle could not be moved. On the other hand
the chain on the side towards which the lever is moved is slackened and would fall
loose but that one of the pulleys over which it passes is moveable and controlled by
a light spring, so that this guide pulley moves and takes up what would otherwise b
DO71

page_text: the slack of the chain. Thus however rapidly the handle may be moved from one
position to another in order to transmit a fresh order to the ongino room the contact
arm will follow only at a its leisure and at such a speed that the receiving instrument
can act with certainty. In addition to the parts already described the transmitter
also contains the following:-
The handle is provided with a locking bolt which is lifted and released when the
handle is gripped and which, when the handle has been moved to a proper position
for giving a signal, drops in to a hole in the base or frame as soon as the handle is
released. This bolt locks the handle so that it cannot be moved accidentally or
otherwise than when it is gripped with the hand.
Fixed to the contact arm there is a disc and in the periphery of the disc is a notch.
When the apparatus is at rest the end of a small lever mounted on the handle drops
into the notch. On this lever there is a spring intended to close an electric circuit.
When the handle is gripped the lever is removed from the notch in the ring and its
contact spring is caused to bear upon a metal arc and so to close the main circuit,
the course of which is hereinafter traced. When he handle is moved to one side or
the other to give a signal, the lever after being removed from the notch in the disc
connected with the contact arm is carried with the handle away from the notch so
that its spring contact is continued after the handle is released and until the com-
paratively slow movement of the contact arm brings it and the notched disc to such
a position that the end of the lever can enter the notch which a spring causes it to
do immediately and the circuit through the apparatus is then open. The circuit so
far as it is contained in the transmitting instrument is traced from the line wire to the
conducting contact strip on which the contact arm bears, through the contact arm
and other parts to the contact spring of the lever on the handle and so to the insulated
metal arc on which this contact spring bears and again to line. When the contact
arın travels off a conducting strip the circuit is for a time open to be again closed
when the contact arm reaches the next contact strip and so on until the contact arm
comes to a stop on one of these conducting strips, and the lever on the handle enters
the retaining notch the circuit is then opened independently of the contact arm and
remains so until the handle of the signalling apparatus is again gripped and shifted to
a new position.
The receiving instrument say in the engine rooin is provided with three electro
magnets set around a contral axis at an angular distance of 120 degrees the one from
the other. Each electro magnet is provided with an armature moveable around a
stud or fulcrum at one end and at the other connected by a rod with a pin set
eccentrically upon a disc carried by the central axis.
Each armature, when it is attracted thrusts the axis round a third of a revolution
and the magnets operating in due order the rotation is maintained as long as may be
necessary. This axis is geared by means of a pinion upon it with a toothed wheel
upon another axis, and this axis carries an index which points on a dial to the signals
as they are received. The index moves one space, or the interval between one signal
and the next as each electro magnet attracts its armature and so one, two or three
steps can be made for the fourth step, when this is required, the first magnet operates
a second time in due sequence after the third magnet and so by the magnets operating
in regular rotation any desired number of steps and in either direction may be obtained.
The transmitting instrument it will be understood is provided with a separate contact
strip corresponding to each signal.
There is also a fourth electro inaguet in the receiving instrument, through the coils
of which the current passes when it traverses the coils of either of the magnets
previously mentioned. This fourth magnet serves to lift a break piece from the
surface of a wheel on the axis of the index whilst the propelling magnet is in operation.
When the break magnet does not operate a spring causes the return of the break and
the index is then locked so that it cannot by any accidental vibration be shifted from
its true position. This break magnet also has another function; at the same time that
it lifts the break pieces it closes together two contact springs which form part of a
separate circuit including a battery, and two electric bells. "There is one bell in the

page_text: engine room near the indicator and the other on the bridge with the transmitter.
Hence each time that the indicator passes from one signal to another the bells
sound.
The main battery for working the apparatus is situate in any convenient position
and connected in series with tho break magnet. The circuit from the battery passes
through the break magnet, through one of the propelling magnets through the corre-
sponding contact piece in the transmitter through the contact arm of this instrument
and so to the arc with which the lever spring closes contact. This arc is permanently
connected with the other pole of the main battery.
Sometimes in order to check any tendency in the index to overrun I provide in
addition to the brake piece small locking pawls which drop in to retain the propelling
armatures as they come up to the poles of their inagnets and these pawls are released
either by a connection with the armature of the brake inagnet or by gear actuated
by the crank axis.
100k

page_text: Improvements in Electric Telegraph Apparatus Suitable for Use to
Communicate Between the Bridge and the Engine Room of a
Steam Ship and Applicable also to other Uses.
I, JAMES BONELLE WILLIS of 1 Mill Lane, Mile End, Portsmouth, in the County
of Hants, Draughtsman and Engineer, do hereby declare the naturo 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 for its object improvements in electric telegraph apparatus
suitable for use to communicate between the bridge and the engine room of a steam
ship and applicable also to other uses.
The transmitting instrument is provided with a handle moveable around a stud or
axis which by preference is horizontal. This handle is intended to be placed in
positions corresponding to the signals to be transmitted, such as "stop
""slow
"half speed" and "full speed" both ahead and astern.
"
Upon the handle lever at a short distance from the axis a spring drum is carried;
two chains pass around the drum and are led from it over guide pulleys and attached
to a contact making arm. This arin is also moveable around the central stud or axis
and it carries a spring contact piece which bears against a stationary arc in which
conducting and non-conducting strips are inserted at intervals. Around the central
boss of this contact arm gear teeth are provided they engage with a pinion, which
through other toothed gear, drives a fly. This fly restrains the movement of the
contact arm and compels it to travel slowly; for the fy has to make many revolutions
whilst the arm moves a comparatively small distance. The chains which connect
the contact arm with the drum upon the handle are directed by guide pulleys, so that
the chains approach the contact arm from opposite sides. When the handle is moved
to the one side the chain passing to the other side of the arm is strained and but for
the rotation of the spring drum the handle could not be moved. On the other hand
the chain on the side towards which the lever is moved is slackened and would fall
loose but that one of the pulleys over which it passes is moveable and controlled by a
light spring, so that this guide pulley moves and takes up what would otherwise be
the slack of the chain. Thus however rapidly the handle may be moved from one
position to another in order to transmit a fresh order to the engine room the contact
arm will follow only at its leisure and at such a speed that the receiving instrument
can act with certainty. In addition to the parts already described the transmitter
also contains the following:-
The handle is provided with a locking bolt which is lifted and released when the
handle is gripped and which, when the handle has been moved to a proper position
for giving a signal, drops in to a hole in the base or frame as soon as thi
han

page_text: s released. This bolt locks the handle so that it cannot be moved accidentally or
otherwise than when it is gripped with the hand.
Fixed to the contact arm there is a disc and in the periphery of the disc is a notch.
When the apparatus is at rest the end of a small lever mounted on the handle drops
into the notch. On this lever there is a spring intended to close an electric circuit.
When the bandle is gripped the lever is removed from the notch in the ring and its
contact spring is caused to bear upon a metal arc and so to close the main circuit,
the course of which is hereinafter traced. When the handle is moved to one side or
the other to give a signal, the lever after being reinoved from the notch in the disc
connected with the contact arin is carried with the handle away from the notch so
that its spring contact is continued after the handle is released and until the com-
paratively slow movement of the contact arm brings it and the notched disc to such
a position that the end of the lever can enter the notch which a spring causes it todo
immediately and the circuit through the apparatus is then open. The circuit so far
as it is contained in the transmitting instruinent is traced from the line wire to the
conducting contact strip on which the contact arm bears, through the contact arin
and other parts to the contact spring of the lever on the handle and so to the
insulated metal arc on which this contact spring bears and again to line. When the
contact arın travels off a conducting strip the circuit is for a time open to be again
closed when the contact arin reaches the next contact strip and so on until tho
contact arin comes to a stop on one of these conducting strips, and the lever on the
handle enters the retaining notch the circuit is then opened independently of
the contact arm and remains so until the handle of the signalling apparatus is again
gripped and shifted to a new position.
The receiving instrument say in the engine room is provided with three electro
magnets set around a central axis at an angular distance of 120 degrees the one from
the other. Each electro magnet is provided with an armaturo moveablo around a
stud or fulcrum at one end and at the other connected by a rod with a pin set
eccentrically upon a disc carried by the contral axis.
Each armature, when it is attracted thrusts the axis round a third of a
revolution and the magnets operating in due order the rotation is maintained as
long as may be necessary. This axis is geared by means of a pinion upon it
with a toothed wheel upon another axis, and this axis carries an index which
points on a dial to the signals as they are received. The index moves one space, or
the interval between one signal and the next as each electro magnet attracts its
arinature and so one, two or three steps can be made for the fourth step, when this is
required, the first magnet operates a second time in due sequence after the third
magnet and so by the magnets operating in regular rotation any desired number
of steps and in either direction may be obtained. The transmitting instrument
it will be understood is provided with a separate contact strip corresponding to
each signal.
There is also a fourth electro magnet in the receiving instrumont, through the coils
of which the current passes when it traversos the coils of either of the magnets
previously mentioned. This fourth magnet serves to lift a break piece from the
surface of a wheel on the axis of the index whilst the propelling magnet is in
operation. When the break magnet does not operate a spring causes the return
of the break and the index is then locked so that it cannot by any accidental
vibration be shifted from its true position. This break magnet also has another
function; at the same time that it lifts the break piece it closes together two
contact springs which form part of a separate circuit including a battery, and
two electric bells. There is one bell in the engine room near the indicator and
the other on the bridge with the transmitter. Hence each time that the indicator
passes from one signal to another the bells sound.
The inain battery for working the apparatus is situate in any convenient position
and connected in series with the break magnet. The circuit from the battery passes
through the break magnet, through one of the propelling inagnets through the
corresponding contact piece in the transmitter through the contact arm of this

page_text: instrument and so to the arc with which the lover spring closes contact. This arc is
permanently connected with the other pole of the main battery.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
реплавену сонцес
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of transmitting apparatus arranged in accordance
with my invention; it is shown with a portion of the casing removed and with the
central stud or axis in section; a portion of the handle is shown detached.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of this instrument and in the figure part of the
casing is omitted and the handle is detached, the size of the sheet not adinitting of
its being otherwise shown.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the receiver.
Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the circuit connections.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of a transmitter differing in some of its details from
that shown by Figures 1 and 2; some of the casing and some other parts are omitted
froin this figure.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the transmitter shown by Figure 5.
Figure 7 shows separately in elevation the handle of this instrument.
Figure 8 shows a receiver of modified form.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation showing the gear which I prefer to employ in
connection with this receiver.
In Figures 1 and 2 A is a fixed central stud or axis, preferably horizontal, and
B is a hand lever with handle B' movable around this stud or axis-B² is the locking
bolt which, entering corresponding holes in the frame of the instrument, retains the
handle in the position in which it has been placed. C is a drum containing a coiled
steel spring; it is mounted upon a stud C fixed into the handle lever B. D, D, are
chains fixed to the periphery of the drum C and passing from it to the contact making
arm E to a stud E' upon which they are attached. The chains are directed by guide
pulleys F, F¹, so that the chains are brought to the contact arm from opposite sidos.
Tho guide pulleys F, F, are mounted on studs fixed into the handle lever B, but the
axes of the guide pulleys F, F1, are carried by lovers G, G, which are moveable upon
the handle lever B, and a coiled spring G¹ connecting the shorter ends of the lovers G,
tends to separate the pulloys F¹, Fi, and so to prevent the chains from becoming
slack. E is a spring contact piece at the extremity of the contact arm E; it boars
constantly upon an arc H, and this arc is made up alternately of conducting and
non-conducting strips, it is not shown so divided in the drawing, Figure 1, because
the number of these strips will be different in different cases; there will be one
conducting strip for each signal which the instrument is arranged to transmit.
The conducting strips are proferably of brass and they are connected with insulated
wires passing from the transmitter to the receiver at a distance. There are as is
seen in Figure 4 three such wires in connection with these insulated strips and what-
ever be the number of strips employed, the first, fourth and the seventh strip will be
connected with one wire, the second, fifth and eighth with another wire, and the
third, sixth and the ninth with a third wire. Any greater or less number of
conducting strips will bo connected in a similar manner.
E is an are of teeth carried by the contact arm E it gears with a pinion I and on
the saine axis with the pinion there is a toothed wheel 1' which drives a pinion carrying
upon its axis the fly J so that, whenever the contact arin E moves the fly J revolves,
and, as before explained, the resistance of this fly regulates the speed of the movement
of the arin.
K is a lever carried upon the handle lever B, and on it is the small
contact spring K'; it also carries a bowl K. The bolt K2 drops into a notch L' in
a metal arc L'fixed upon the contact arm E. It is pressed up into this notch by the
spring K. When however the handle is grasped and its locking bolt B2 disengaged
a pin B upon the locking bolt operates against the tail of the lever K and displaces
the bowl K from the notch L. At the same time it brings the contact spring K¹

page_text: into contact with the insulated metal are M which remains always connected with the
return wire from the receiver and this completes the electrical circuit provided that
a contact piece be at the time bearing upon one of the insulated strips in the arc. If,
after grasping the handle, it be moved around the stud A for the purpose of giving a
signal, the bowl K will pass away from the notch I, and the contact spring K¹ will
continue to bear on the inetal arc Mafter the handle has been released, and its bolt Bhas
entered one of the holes in the frame provided to receive it. But when in consequence
of the movement of the contact arm E, the notch L is again brought to the bowl K
this will rise into the notch and the contact between the spring K' and the metalarc M
will cease.
In the receiver represented by Figure 3 N, N, N, are three electro magnets, each
connected with a separate line wire passing from the transmitter to the receiver, and
all connected to the same return wire. 0, 0, 0, are the armatures of these electro
magnets, they are pivotted at O' and their other or free onds have connecting
rods P, P, P, jointed to them. These connecting rods all embrace the same pin Q
set eccentrically on the central axis Q. This axis Qhas a pinion upon it and it drives
another axis which carries a finger pointing upon a dial to words corresponding to the
signals sent by the transmitter-R is a fourth electro inagnet which the receiver
contains; its coils are connected with the return wire, so that when a current passes
in either of the magnets N it also passes through the coils of the fourth magnet R-
S is the arinature of this magnet, it is pivotted at S' and at the end opposite to that on
which the electro magnet operates, it carries, the pressure block T by a spring
connection. An ivory button at the end of the armature lever also bears upon the
springs U, U2, and when the magnet attracts the armature it presses these springs
together and completes an additional electric circuit, in which a bell or bells are
included. But when the armature is not attracted the springs U, U³, separate, and
they move the armature lever in such a manner as to bring the block T against the
periphery of the toothed wheel on the axis which carries the indicating finger or
pointer. I prefer to include two receivers in the circuit and one receiver I combine
with the transmitting instrument; so that it forms as it were a part of it. The trans-
mitting handle is provided with an index arm and this shows upon a dial the signal to.
which the transmitting handle has been brought. The same dial serves for the receiving
part of the instrument, and if the instrument is in proper working order, the pointer
of the receiving part follows the transmitting handle and shortly comes up with it and
there stops.
The construction of the transmitter shown by the Figures 5,6 and 7 is similar to
that already described in respect to the Figures 1 and 2, the form of the parts however
being varied. The figures are lettered to correspond with the description already
given. The lever K however shown in Figures 1 and 2 is dispensed with and in its
place the bolt of the lever handle is connected in the manner shown with a central
pin V, so that, when the bolt is withdrawn, the pin is pressed inwards and it then
inakes electrical contact against the spring W. The closing of the circuit is thus made
dependent upon the grip of the handle being maintained for a sufficient time, and this
in practice will generally be found sufficient, for unless the contact making arm be
adjusted to move at an unnecessarily slow speed, it will in all cases have arrived at
the end of its journey before the handle has been brought correctly to the position at
which it is to be left, and the bolt on the handle has dropped into its hole to lock the
handle in place. I however in any case provide a notched arc X upon the contact
making arin E, and I provide a pawl lever Y upon the parts which are fixed to the
lever handle. The pawl lever drops into the notch when the lever handle and the
contact arm come together and it thus aids in bringing the contact aru to rest in
the proper position. This pawl lever Y however may also operate with a contact
maker as the lever Kin Figure 1 operates so as to close the circuit of the return wire
whenever the pawl lever leaves the notch and open it again when the pawl lever drops
into its place.
In Figure 8 another form of receiver is represented.
thethune alat

page_text: b, b, b, are their armatures; they are now pivotted by the lower edge at b₁, b', and
at the opposite edge they carry a pin c. The stem of the pin c is inserted into a hole
drilled in the edge of the armature, and a small nut is screwed on to the end of the
pin to secure it. Thus the pin c cannot escape from the hole or passage in the armature
but it is free to turn therein. On the head of the pin are pivots c¹, c', and these enter
holes in forked connecting rods d, d, d, which all embrace an eccentric pin e¹ on the
end of the axis e. The axis e as is shown by Figure 9 has a worm e upon it, and this
engages with a worm wheelf. g is a bevelled wheel on the saine axis with the worm
wheel and it gears with the bevelled pinion g' on the axis h, and it is this axis which
carries the finger or pointer which indicates the signals upon the face of the dial.
When gear of this description is employed the fourth electro magnet shown in
Figure 3 may be dispensed with, for, however rapidly the instrument may be worked,
the pointer cannot overrun nor can it be accidentally displaced from its position
by jars such as the instrument may receive from the firing of guns or from other
causes.
I also in some cases, dispense with the additional or bell circuit, and in place thereof
I include a bell in the course of the return wire. I shunt this bell so that the circuit
may always be closed past it and I provide a resistance in the shunt to insure sufficient
current passing through the bell coils.
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 :-
1. The combination substantially as described in an electric telegraph transmitter
consisting of a contact making arm which as it travels opens and closes any electric
circuit or circuits; a handle coupled with and actuating this arm; and a fly or
equivalent control apparatus which regulates the speed of the arın independently of
that of the handle so that whether the handle be moved rapidly or slowly good contacts
are obtained as herein set forth.
2. The combination substantially as described in an electric telegraph receiver
consisting of three electro magnets symetrically arranged around a circle, armatures
to these imagnets; a central axis with eccentric pin; connecting rods passing from
the armatures to the eccentric pin; and gear connecting the central axis with an
axis on which is an index or pointor showing the signals upon a dial as herein sel
forth.
3. The combination substantially as described in electric signalling apparatus con-
sisting of a transmitter which when operated by the movement of a handle transmits
currents in succession through three line wires; and of a receiver in which are three
electro-magnets connected with the line wires each to each, and armatures actuated
by the magnets and an axis with eccentric pin and connecting rods symetrically
arranged around the axis and coupling each armature with the eccentric pin as herein
set forth.
4. The transmitter substantially as described.
5. The receiver substantially as described.