Improvements in Ocean Signal Stations.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1890-Accepted, 11th Oct., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ocean Signal Stations.
1, ISAAC PAINE, of South Wellfleet in the County of Barnstable and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Merchant, Administrator of the Estate
of Alvin Francis Paine, deceased, late of the same place, 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 improvements in ocean signal-stations; and it consists in
an improved manner of anchoring light-ships at sea and establishing telegraphic
communication between the shore and such ships or between the latter, as will herein-
after be more fully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings, where-
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the invention, showing a light-ship anchored
by means of my improved device and showing it as connected by means of an electric
cable or wire to the shore; and
2
Fig. represents a detail central longitudinal section of the float to which the
light-ship
connected.
Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of
the drawings.
In carrying out my invention I make use of a hollow float or buoy A, of a spherical
or other suitable form, having attached to it in a suitable manner a downwardly-
projecting hollow tube or stem B, the upper end of which is secured in an air-tight
manner to the top portion of the float A, the lower portion of the said float being
also secured in a similar air-tight manner to the hollow stem or tube B, which latter
is made to extend below the float at such a distance as may be found most suitable
and practical for the purpose of anchoring it to the bottom of the sea and connecting
it to the light-ship.
In practice I make at or near the lower end of the hollow stem or tube B an
annular flange or shoulder B¹, between which and an adjustable collar B is located
a ring C, which is loosely journalled on the stem or tube B, so as to be free to turn
completely around the latter, for a purpose as will hereinafter be described.
In one piece with or secured to the ring C is a bracket or eye C', to which the
light-ship or signal-station D is connected by a chain or cable E, as shown in
the drawings.
In practice I prefer to make the collar B internally screw-threaded and adapted
to fit a corresponding external screw-threaded part of the hollow stem B, and secured
to the latter by means of one or more set screws or pins c; but I do not wish to
confine myself to the exact construction, as it is only necessary that the ring C, to
which the light-ship or signal station is connected, shall be free to turn completely
around the stem B and also kept from slipping upward on said stem. If so desired,
anti-friction rollers may be arranged between the exterior of the stem B and the
interior of the ring C, or between the top and bottom of the same and the shoulder B₁
and collar B, to enable the ring to turn around the stem B with a minimum of

page_text: frictional resistance, such anti-friction devices being, however, not shown in the
drawings.
The lower end of the hollow stem B is preferably provided with four ears or
projections bbbb, arranged at right angles to each other, and to such ears or
projections are connected the anchor chains or cables ffff, the lower ends of
which are connected to anchors F F F F, anchored at the bottom of the sea, as
shown in Fig. 1.
In practice I prefer to use four anchors; but I do not wish to confine myself
to this precise number, as two or more may be used without departing from the
essence of my invention. It will thus be seen that by the arrangement of connecting
the light-ship or signal-station D to the stem of the hollow float such light-ship
may be swung completely around the float or buoy by the action of the tides, winds,
or waves without fouling the anchor chains or the electric cable or twisting the
buoy or float, which latter is supposed to be held stationary or approximately so.
G is a wire or insulated electric cable leading from the light-ship D, through the
hollow stem B, to a station on shore or to another light-ship, or to both, as may be
desired.
In practice I prefer to secure the telegraph wire or cable G to a collar or flange g,
resting loosely on top of the float or buoy A, so as to prevent said cable or wire from
sagging down through the tube B, and, if so desired, a universal or swivel connection
may be made at this point to prevent the twisting of the cable or wire G as the light-
ship or station D turns or swings around its moorings. The advantages of this
arrangement are many, among which may be mentioned:
Light-ships or signal-stations may be anchored at suitable places much farther from
the shore than is now the case, and electric connections established between each of
such light-ships or signal-stations and the shore or between a series of such stations
for the purpose of announcing the arrival or passing of vessels in advance of the time
now obtained; to telegraph to the main-land or shore when vessels were in distress,
and thus procure speedy assistance; for the purpose of signalling or telegraphing to
and from the light-ship or signal-station the state of the weather, rain-falls, storms,
the velocity of the wind, meteorological observations, &c.; for insuring safety to
vessels inward or outward bound, or for any or other similar purposes.
The light-ship or signal-station D is to be provided with a suitable telegraphic
instrument and battery connected with the wire or cable G, for the purpose of sending
messages over such wire or cable to the shore across the ocean or to other light-ships
or signal-stations, which instrument may be of any well-known form or construction
without departing from the essence of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A float or buoy having secured to it and passing through the same a hollow stem
or tube anchored to the sea-bottom, as described, and having loosely journalled on it a
ring connected to the light-ship or signal-station, combined with a telegraph wire or
cable passing through said hollow tube and establishing an electrical connection
between the light-ship or signal-station and the shore or between similarly-arranged
light-ships or signal-stations, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 26th day of June 1890
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.