Improved Method of and Means for Night Signalling.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIF
ATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Night Signalling.
I, Roy O. CROWLEY, of 195 Broadway, New York, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to signalling apparatus in which suitably controlled
lights behind coloured glass, whereby signals made up of different coloured flashes
can be made, are employed.
The apparatus comprises a square or other suitably shaped casing, divided into
compartments; each having apertures in the sides, glazed with glass of different
colours. The glass is fitted in such manner that a broken piece can be readily
replaced.
Each compartment contains a suitable number of electric lamps which are
electrically connected with wedges having insulated handles. These wedges are
adapted to be inserted in the order required to transmit a code, into spring-clips
or the like secured to a block in each compartment and connected with the source
of electricity.
It will be readily understood that, by inserting the wedges into the spring-
clips, electrical connection is made and the lamps behind the different coloured
glass will give different coloured lights, of various duration, thereby enabling a
code to be transmitted.
Dated this 1st day of December 1896
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
I, Roy O. CROWLEY, of 195 Broadway, New York, N.Y., U.S.A., Inventor, 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 relates to signalling apparatus employing suitably controlled
lights behind coloured glass, whereby signals made up of different coloured flashes
may be made.
The main object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus adapted
for all around and long distance signalling at night.

page_text: In the accompanying drawing the figure represents a hollow case preferably
cylindrical or octagonal in shape, and with openings extending entirely around,
and having fixed in these openings strips or bands of glass or thin porcelain, each
band being of a different colour from the others. The figure also shews circuit
connections.
Bands of glass A¹ A3 A3 are loosely fitted on brackets or supports 6 on the
outside of a divided cylinder or case, one above the other, and at a distance of a
foot or more apart, with non-transparent sections s between them and are so arranged
that when broken or damaged they may be easily removed and new ones inserted.
Blocks of rubber or the like b', passed over the brackets as shewn, serve to prevent
vibration and breakage of the glass. Within each subdivision of the cylinder one
or more electric lamps are fixed, as at 1, 2, and 3 on planes level with the glass
bands. Between each pair of glass bands, on the inside of the cylinder, are fixed
partitions to prevent light from any one of the lamps shining on the glass
band above or below it. The electric lamps are connected by double insulated
wires 4, 5 to wedges 6, 6, 6 with insulated handles 7; these wedges being
freely movable and convenient to the point or station from whence they control
the electric lights, for example at the bridge of a ship, and each wedge may be
designated by a mark or colour corresponding to the colour of the signal made
by the lamp and glass band in the cylinder brought into use thereby. At the
station adjacent to the wedges, are arranged a series of spring jacks 8, 9, 10, one
for each wedge, which may also be designated by marks or colours corresponding
to the signals. These spring-jacks are connected by insulated wires 11, 12 with
the dynamo D or other electric power, on board a ship or in a fort or other place
When the wedges are inserted in the spring-jacks, the electric current
is sent to the lamps in the cylinder having the bands of glass. Thus when the
wedge 6' is inserted in the spring jack & it will cause the electric lamp or lamps 1
to shine on the white glass band A¹, producing a long broad white signal, which
in my method of signalling corresponds to the "dot" of the Morse telegraphic
alphabet. So also when the wedge 6" is inserted in the spring-jack 9 it will cause
the electric lamp or lamps at 2 to shine on the red glass band As, producing a
red signal, which in my method corresponds to the "dash" of the Morse alphabet,
and when the wedge 61 is inserted in the spring jack 10 it will cause the electric
light at 3 to shine on the green glass band A³ producing a green signal corresponding
to the "space" in the Morse telegraph-alphabet. In a similar manner the
numerals may be produced by a combination of different coloured signals, and
other combinations may be effected, as found desirable, enabling ships to com-
municate with each other at night in a language unknown to an unfriendly
observer.
of use.
Additional bands of glass of other colours with lamps and corresponding spring
jacks or switches to control them, may be used, but for all practical requirements
three bands are considered sufficient.
The cylindrical case may be made movable so that it can be hoisted to the
mast head of a ship at night and let down during the day, or it may be permanently
fixed on a mast 13. The case may also be made polygonal with any suitable
number of sides, instead of being made round. This construction permits the use
of uncurved plates of glass.
The glass bands extending all round the case, when illuminated will appear to
observers in all directions and give an all round signal which will be visible
several miles away.
The non transparent parts of the case are held together by bars or strips of
iron 14 on the inside, so placed as not to offer any material obstruction to the
light.
The apparatus being all arranged for operation and it being desired to transmi
a signal or message from one ship to another or to several ships simultaneously
the operator begins by inserting the wedge 6 in the spring-jack 10, thereby

page_text: displaying a band of green light as
46
a
of the
preliminary signal to the other ship to
prepare to receive a message. This signal should in turn be repeated by the
other ship provided with a similar system to signify their readiness to receive
the message. Wedge 6 is then withdrawn and the signalling begins. Suppose
it is desired to transmit the word "Fox" which in a secret code may mean
prepare to lift your anchor." The operator inserts the wedge 61 in the jack 8
to make a signal which in my method is understood to mean a "dot"
Morse alphabet (that is a long and broad band of white light) and at the same
time or immediately afterwards inserts the wedge 6 in jack 9 which is under-
stood to mean a "dash" of the Morse alphabet. The operator then withdraws
the wedge 6 and leaves wedge 61 in position. He has thus made a "dot,"
"dashdot," standing for the letter "F" Then after a brief interval, wedge 61
is withdrawn. The letter "O" is then made by inserting simultaneously the
wedges G and 6 giving a dot and space, and then withdraws the wedge Gill
leaving the wedge 61 in position. Then, after a brief interval, the wedge 61 is
withdrawn. The letter X is made by first inserting wedges G¹ and 6", forming
a dot and dash, then withdrawing wedge 61, and leaving 61, in position, a few
seconds, then withdrawing it and re-inserting it for a second dot, thus completing
the word "Fox." In this way any word can be spelled out with rapidity after
a little practice, and such words may be made to conform to secret code sentences
in any language capable of being interpreted by the Morse telegraph-alphabet.
In order that the operator may be sure what signal is given when he inserts
a plug a lamp L is preferably connected in the branch leading to each spring-jack,
and these lamps are coloured like the glass to be illuminated by insertion of the
corresponding plug.
Instead of white, red, and green glass bands other colours may be used, it
being only necessary that the sending operator and those who are to receive the
signals should understand which colour indicates the space, the dot, and the dash
respectively. The large glass bands are visible farther in all directions than the
lanips themselves would be without the bands and appear of the same length from
whatever direction seen. Instead of the plugs and jacks other forms of switches
for connecting and disconnecting the lamps in any desired order may be used.
I am aware that previous to this invention it has been proposed to flash coloured
lights for various purposes and to use electric switches for the purpose of governing
the signals; but such signals have been of quite restricted visibility, being only
visible from certain sides or for only a short distance owing to the tendency of a
multiplicity of lights of different colours, especially when of a small size, to
blend with each other, whereas by flashing only one or two lights at a time, and those
greatly enlarged by the interposition of long wide hands of coloured glass forming
a circle (which appear as straight bars of light of a length equal to the diameter
of the case from whatever side seen) makes the signals visible without confusion
all around and at great distances.
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) The combination, in a signalling apparatus, of several separate chambers,
cach having an all around opening, differently coloured stationary glass coverings
for the several openings, co-operating electric lights in the chambers, and means
for controlling the lights to illuminate the coloured glasses in the desired order.
(2) The combination, in a signalling apparatus, of non transparent sections & s,
and partitions p, with openings between the sections, extending all around the
sections, the differently coloured stationary glass bands A', A2, A3, also extending
all around the sections, over the openings, and supporting brackets b. therefor.
(3) The combination, in a signalling apparatus, of non-transparent sections s s.
and partitions p. with openings between the sections extending all around the

page_text: sections, bars 14 holding the sections the proper distance apart, and glass
bands A1, A2, A3, also extending all around the sections over the openings.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1897
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.