Year: 1885

page_text: I ISAAC TALL of 5 Brooklyn House, Lothair Terrace, Church Road Landport
in the County of Hants, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is primarily to telegraph from an observing station
on ship board to the gunners in the gun battery of the ship and so to inform them
of the distance of the target to which the guns are directed. The apparatus how-
ever is applicable for the transmission of a limited number of definite signals and
for the acknowledgment of these signals whatever be their signification whether
letters numerals or other and whether it be on board ship or elsewhere.
The transmitter say at the observing station consists of a cam, wheel which can
be rotated by turning a handle on an axis connected with the axis of the cam
wheel by toothed gearing.
The cam wheel operates upon a contact lever-each rise of the cam as it passes
moves the lever and closes a battery circuit. The cam wheel carries an arm and
it is stopt after the requisite number of currents have been sent by a key or
button which when pushed in comes into the path of the stop arm.
There is a
I
key or button corresponding to each signal and these are arranged in a circle
around the axis of the cam wheel: one key may be used to indicate a distance of
500 yards the next of 600 and so on advancing by increments conveniently of one
hundreds yards from key to key around the circle.
The transmitter works in conjunction with an indicator or receiver on the gun
battery of which for the present it is sufficient to say that it has a dial with the
signals marked around it and a rotating index passing around the dial and caused
by the electric currents sent by the transmitter to rotate in unison with the cam
wheel. When say the 500 yard key is pushed in the cam wheel is stopt and the
transmission of currents is also stopt and the index of the receiver comes to rest
at the mark on the dial corresponding to 500 yards. Similarly if instead of
pressing in the 500 key the 600 key be used everything takes place as before but
the stoppage of the cam wheel takes place later, one more current is transmitted,
and the index of the receiver reaches 600 before it ceases to be propelled. The.
stop arm is not rigidly fixed on the cam wheel, if it were the key or button
pressed forward into its path would be struck too. violently. To avoid this the.
arm is moveable and is held by a spring up to a stud on the side of the cam wheel.
This spring yields a short distance to the blow on stopping, so that the cam wheel
is not suddenly stopt, but it is not allowed to overrun sufficiently far to complete
another contact after the arm touches the key. To ensure that the cam wheel
shall always be driven in one direction and to prevent derangement of the signals
by a back turn of the handle a ratchet wheel with fine teeth is provided upon the

page_text: cam axis and a pawl engages with the teeth of this ratchet. But to prevent the
stop arm binding against the key by which it is stopt which might prevent the
withdrawal of the key when a fresh signal has to be given the ratchet wheel is not
made fast upon the axis but is driven by means of a pin carried by an arm on the
axis and entering a short slotted hole in the side of the ratchet wheel. A spring
keeps the pin at the fore end of the slot whilst the axis is rotating forward and
the pawl falls in between the teeth of the ratchet as they pass. When the axis
is stopped and the spring supporting the stop arm has so been compressed the axis
is able to back turn without the ratchet wheel so far as to relieve the tension of
the spring of the stop arm the driving pin then receding along the slot in the
ratchet wheel in which it is engaged.
The stems of the buttons or keys are able to slide in holes in two parallel rings
and they are perforated to receive an endless chain. The chain is threaded through
the stems of all the keys and it also lies in grooves in partitions provided between
the keys. When a key is pressed in it deflects the chain from its course but the
chain is sufficiently slack to allow one key to be in at a time and the key pushed
in is kept in place by a spring nib catching in a groove in the stem of the key.
When a second key is pressed in the first is withdrawn by the tightening of the
chain, the spring nib not holding it so strongly as to prevent it yielding to the
chain. Means for adjusting the length of the chain are provided. The instrument
is also provided with a testing galvanometer and a testing key by which the
battery circuit can be closed through the galvanometer coils. If a certain
deflection is then obtained it is known that the battery is in proper working order.
The same galvanometer serves for the acknowledgement of signals from the gun
battery where also there is a key by which the circuit through its coils can be
closed this also gives a test through the line and shows that the circuit is in
working order.
The indicator in the gun battery has an escapement or propelment wheel on the
axis of the index. This wheel has as many teeth as there are signals to be given.
An anchor propellor works with the wheel, it is carried by an arın on an axis
receiving motion from an electro magnet and a spring.
Another arm on the same axis carries an armature which is attracted by the
magnet when a current passes and when the current ceases the spring causes the
return of the armature and the anchor propellor which moves with it. This
double movement rotates the escapement or propelment wheel one step. There is
also on the axis of the index a ratchet wheel having twice the number of teeth
there are in the escapement or propelment wheel and a pawl is held up to these
teeth by a light spring locking the axis except when the spring is overcome by the
positive movement of the anchor propellor through its complete stroke.
The armature when attracted moves a small lever and so completes the circuit
of a bell battery and the bell then commences to sound indicating that a signal
has been transmitted.
The contact lever is retained by a light spring catch and the bell when started
thus continues to sound.
The indicating instrument is provided with a contact key by which the receipt
of a signal is acknowledged.
This contact key when pressed performs two operations-it completes the circuit
of the reply galvanometer at the transmitting station and it opens the bell circuit
to stop the bell; this it does by mechanically releasing the contact lever from the
spring catch and returning it to the position from which it was moved by the
armature of the electro magnet.

page_text: Appala
I ISAAC TALL of 5 Brooklyn House, Lothair Terrace, Church Road, Landport
in the County of Hants, Electrician 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:-
The object of my invention is primarily to telegraph from an observing station
on ship board to the gunners in the gun battery of the ship and so to inform them
of the distance of the target to which the guns are directed. The apparatus
however is applicable for the transmission of a limited number of definite signals
and for the acknowledgment of these signals whatever be their signification
whether letters numerals or other and whether it be on board ship or elsewhere.
The transmitter say at the observing station consists of a cam wheel which can
be rotated by turning a handle on an axis connected with the axis of the cam
wheel by toothed gearing.
The cam wheel operates upon a contact lever-each rise of the cam as it passes
moves the lever and closes a battery circuit. The cam wheel carries an arm and it
is stopped after the requisite number of currents have been sent by a key or
button which when pushed in comes into the path of the stop arm. There is a
key or button corresponding to each signal and these are arranged in a circle
around the axis of the cam wheel: one key may be used to indicate a distance of
500 yards the next of 600 and so on advancing by increments conveniently of one
hundred yards from key to key around the circle.
The transmitter works in conjunction with an indicator or receiver on the gun
battery of which for the present it is sufficient to say that it has a dial with the
signals marked around it and a rotating index passing around the dial and caused
by the electric currents sent by the transmitter to rotate in unison with the cam
wheel. When say the 500 yard key is pushed in the cam wheel is stopped and
the transmission of currents is also stopped and the index of the receiver comes
to rest at the mark on the dial corresponding to 500 yards. Similarly if instead
of pressing in the 500 key the 600 key be used everything takes place as before but
the stoppage of the cam wheel takes place later, one more current is transmitted
and the index of the receiver reaches 600 before it ceases to be propelled. The
stop arm is not rigidly fixed on the cam wheel, if it were the key or button pressed
forward into its path would be struck too violently. To avoid this the arm is
moveable and is held by a spring up to a stud on the side of the cam wheel. This
spring yields a short distance to the blow on stopping, so that the cam wheel is not
suddenly stopped; but it is not allowed to overrun sufficiently far to complete
another contact after the arm touches the key. To ensure that the cam wheel
shall always be driven in one direction and to prevent derangement of the signals
by a back turn of the handle a ratchet wheel with fine teeth is provided upon the
cam axis or other axis in the train and a pawl engages with the teeth of this
ratchet. But to prevent the stop arm binding against the key by which it is
stopped which might prevent the withdrawal of the key when a fresh signal has

page_text: to be given the ratchet wheel is not made fast upon the axis but is driven by
means of a pin carried by an arm on the axis and entering a short slotted hole in
the side of the ratchet wheel. A spring keeps the pin at the fore end of the slot
whilst the axis is rotating forward and the pawl falls in between the teeth of the
ratchet as they pass. Or the pin may be fixed in the wheel and the slot made in
the arm or disc on the axis. When the axis is stopped and the spring supporting
the stop arm has so been compressed the axis is able to back turn without the ratchet
wheel so far as to relieve the tension of the spring of the stop arm the driving pin
then receding along the slot in the ratchet wheel in which it is engaged.
The stems of the buttons or keys are able to slide in holes in two parallel rings
and they are perforated to receive an endless chain. The chain is threaded through
the stems of all the keys and it also lies in grooves in partitions provided between
the keys. When a key is pressed in it deflects the chain from its course but the
chain is sufficiently slack to allow one key to be in at a time and the key pushed in
is kept in place by a spring nib catching in a groove in the stem of the key. When
a second key is pressed in the first is withdrawn by the tightening of the chain, the
spring nib not holding it so strongly as to prevent it yielding to the chain. Means
for adjusting the length of the chain are provided. The instrument is also provided
with a testing galvanometer and a testing key by which the battery circuit can be
closed through the galvanometer coils. If a certain deflection is then obtained it is
known that the battery is in proper working order. The same galvanometer
serves for the acknowledgment of signals from the gun battery where also there
is a key by which the circuit through its coils can be closed this also gives a test
through the line and shows that the circuit is in working order.
The indicator in the gun battery has an escapement or propelment wheel on the
axis of the index. This wheel has as many teeth as there are signals to be given.
An anchor propellor works with the wheel; it is carried by an arm on an axis
receiving motion from an electro magnet and a spring.
Another arm on the same axis carries an armature which is attracted by the
magnet when a current passes and when the current ceases the spring causes the
return of the armature and the anchor propellor which moves with it. This double
movement rotates the escapement or propelment wheel one step. There is also on
the axis of the index a ratchet wheel having twice the number of teeth there are
in the escapement or propelment wheel and a pawl is held up to these teeth by a
light spring locking the axis except when the spring is overcome by the positive
movement of the anchor propellor through its complete stroke.
The armature when attracted moves a small lever and so completes the circuit
of a bell battery and the bell then commences to sound indicating that a signal has
been transmitted.
The contact lever is retained by a light spring catch and the bell when started
thus continues to sound.
The indicating instrument is provided with a contact key by which the receipt
of a signal is acknowledged.
This contact key when pressed performs two operations-it completes the circuit
of the reply galvanometer at the transmitting station and it opens the bell circuit
to stop the bell; this it does by mechanically releasing the contact lever from the
spring catch and returning it to the position from which it was moved by the
armature of the electro magnet.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a transmitter or signalling apparatus constructed in
accordance with my invention and intended for signalling observed distances.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a like instrument but having famnú lenus and Nimbala

page_text: The anat тога пени бетентари
Figure 3 is the dial for the engine room telegraph.
would be similar but with the number of keys further diminished.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the instrument shown by Figure 2.
Figure 5 shows the lever arm carried upon the cam wheel.
Figure 6 shows a side elevation of the ratchet and pawl to control backward
movement of the crank handle.
Figure 7 shows another view of the ratchet and pawl.
Figure 8 shows an arrangement by which the withdrawal of the buttons or keys
may be rendered automatic.
Figure 9 is a front elevation but with the dial removed of the indicator or
receiver.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of the same indicator; it is adapted to work
especially with the transmitter represented by Figure 2 that is to say as an engine
room indicator but the indicator to work with the transmitter shown by Figure 1
works with an indicator of the same sort except that the number of teeth in the
propelment wheel is greater.
Figure 11 shows a detail of the indicator.
Figure 12 is a diagram of the circuits it is given in connection with a transmitter
of the form shown by Figure 1 and a corresponding indicator.
The driving gear in the instrument shown by Figures 2, 3 and 4 slightly differs
in detail from that shown in Figure 1; I will proceed to describe the former and
by the aid of this description and the lettering of the drawings the latter also will
be readily understood.
In Figures 2 and 4 a is the cam wheel and b is the handle by which it is turned
through intermediate gear consisting of a train of wheels c¹ c c³ and c. The
bandle b and pinion c¹ are both fast upon the axis c; the wheels c³ and c³ are fast
one with the other and are mounted on an intermediate axis and the wheel c* is
fast with the cam wheel a and able to turn freely on the axis c. d is a contact
lever which is lifted by the teeth of the cam wheel as they pass round into contact
with a contact point d³. e is an arm carried by the cam wheel and ff are buttons
or keys which are pushed into the path of the arm to arrest the movement of the
wheel. g is a spring supporting the arm e and keeping it up to the pin a¹ on the
cam wheel, the arm can however yield when it comes against a key f until it
rests against a stop a³ on the cam wheel. h is a ratchet wheel mounted freely on
the axis c and h* is a pin fast with the wheel and entering a slot c* in a disc fixed
on the axis. h is a spring connecting the pin h* with the disc on the axis. i is
a friction spring bearing against the back of the wheel cand checking any freedom
which the back lash of the gear train c¹ e² c³ and c might allow and it is advisable
that there should be some back lash in this train. The buttons f f as shown in
Figure 2 are intended to be pushed in and pulled out by hand but where required
the buttons may be arranged as is shown by Figure 8 so that by pushing in one
button any other previously in is automatically withdrawn. In this figure k is
a chain which passes through the stems of all the buttons f and also lies in grooves
on the partitions m m on the frame. nn are a pair of pulleys over which the
chain passes, they can be separated by a screw to adjust the effective length of
the chain. o is a testing galvanometer. p is a testing key. In the indicator or
receiving instrument, q is an escapement or propelment wheel it is fixed on the
same axis with the index or pointer q¹. On the same axis there is a fine ratchet q³
and a stop pawl engages with it. r is an anchor propellor on an arm of the axis r¹
which has another arm carrying the armature is a spring holding the
armature away from the poles of the electromagnet 8. t is a small lever moved
by the arm when the armature is attracted; when it is depressed a circuit is
completed through it and a returning catch u. is a key lever operating to
replace the levert and also to close a battery circuit. w is an ordinary trembling
bell.
The circuit arrangements are as is indicated by Figure 12. The cam wheel a in
rotating makes and breaks the circuit of the battery through a line wire, the

page_text: electro magnet 8 of the receiver or indicator and a return line wire. The key
lever when pressed down completes the circuit of the battery a through the coils
of the galvanometer o and through a line and return wire. The lever t when
moved by the arm completes the local circuit of a bell battery y through the
coils of the trembling bell w.
The method of working and the way in which the instruments are employed bas
been already described.
I would remark that this instrument presents some features of similarity with
that for which a former patent was granted to Charles Spratt for fire alarms N° 880
in the year 1882. I make no claim under my present patent. to the instruments
described in the specification of the said former patent.
It is an important feature in the instruments described in my present specification
that the indication produced by the depression of a button or key remains recorded
until another button or key is pressed in to give another indication.
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 of a transmitter in which a cam wheel operates a contact
lever and makes and breaks a circuit until it is stopped by a button or key pressed
into the path of an arm on the cam wheel; and an indicator or receiver in which
an anchor propelment operated by the armature of an electro magnet in the circuit
operates an escapement or propelment wheel and moves an index on the axis of
this wheel to a signal indication on a dial which corresponds to the button or key
pressed in.
2. My improved ships telegraphs substantially as described and represented by 2
the annexed drawings.