A Method or Means for Enabling a Constant Watch to be" in Respect to the-s of Ships or Ves.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 31st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 10th Feb., 1888
A New Method or Means for Enabling a Constant Watch to be kept
by the "Man at the Wheel" in Respect to the Side-lights of
Ships or Vessels, whereby Instant Indication and Detection is
Given at Night should either of the Lights become Dim, Fail,
or Go Entirely Out.
I, SAMUEL ALBERT JOHNSON of Wharf Road, Millwall, E., Marine Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide for the safe navigation of Steam Ships or
other vessls and to lessen the risk of collisions, whilst at Sea during the night or in
darkness, by ensuring at all times that the "Port" and "Starboard" Side-lights are
well alight and visible, and to check and provide against carelessness or negligence
and other circumstances which at times frequently take place and occur in the same,
and cannot be easily detected by those in charge on board; which I propose to effect
in the following manner.
a
I cause to be mounted or fitted at the inner side or portion of each Side-light
suitable bulls eye, or other shaped glass to which I closely fit a tube or pipe of suitable
diameter and section leading therefrom so as to be led or brought inboard towards
and into the Wheelhouse and close to the Binnacle. The said tube or pipe may or
should be either glazed, enamelled, painted or otherwise treated throughout its interior
and White in color by preference, and to suit circumstances where it cannot be led
direct it may be fitted or angularly bent or so connected in its length, in which case
at each angle or bend of the same a glass or suitably shaped reflector would be so
fixed and adjusted as to effectively transmit from point to point direct from the Main
Side-light towards the end close to the Binnacle, having attached or fitted to the end
or termination of the said tube or pipe a suitable glass indicating the same color or
condition of light, either as "Port or "Starboard" as the case may be, which will
thereby transmit the exact condition of either Side-light, indicating exactly as to the
brilliancy or existence of either, directly in front of the "Man at the Wheel,'
enabling him to watch and speedily report should one or other require attention.
D
1
1 1007

page_text: or Vessels, whereby Instant Indication and Detection is Given
at Night should either of the Lights become Dim, Fail, or Go
Entirely Out.
SAMUEL ALBERT JOHNSON Marine Engineer 8 Wharf Road Millwall E. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
.
The object of this invention is to provide for the safe navigation of Steam Ships or
other vessels to lessen the risk of collisions, whilst at sea during the night, or in dark-
ness by ensuring at all times that the Port and Starboard Side Lights are well alight
and visible and to check and provide against carelessness or negligence, and other
circumstances which at times frequently take place and occur in the same, and cannot
be easily detected by those in charge on board, which I propose to obviate and effect
in the following manner.
I cause to be mounted or fitted at the inner side or portion of each side light a
suitable "Bulls Eye" or otherwise shaped glass, to which I closely fit a tube or pipe
of suitable diameter and section leading therefrom so as to be led or brought inboard
towards and into the Wheel-House, and close to the Binnacle, shewn in the
drawings at E.
The said Pipe, tube or connections may or should be either glazed, enamelled,
painted or otherwise treated throughout its interior, and white in color by preference,
and to suit circumstances where it cannot be led direct it may be fitted or
angularly bent or connected in its length in which case at each angle or bend in
the same a glass or suitably shaped reflector R in the drawings would be so fixed
and adjusted as to effectively transmit from point to point direct from the Main
Side Light or lights towards the end of the same tube, pipe or connection close to
the Binnacle having fitted to the end or termination of the same a suitable glass G in
the drawings indicating the same color or condition of light, either Port or Starboard
as the case may be, which will thereby transmit the exact condition of each side light
precisely indicating as to the brilliancy or otherwise of either, directly in front of the
Man at the Wheel enabling him to watch and speedily report should one or other
require attention.
The Indication of the Fading, Dimness, or total absence of Light, can be & will
be recorded as easily in front of the wheel house, or any where that the chief
officer has under his eye.
My drawing represents a Deck plan Fig. 1 and end view or section of vessel
Fig. 3 of my patent provision for recording the condition of the side lights. The
section of A shewn at the middle of illustration, Fig. 2. purposes to shew the

page_text: reflector R at an angle in the recording tube or pipe & this would be repeated at
each bend of the pipe or tube which might be found necessary to complete the reflective
flashing record of the state of the side lights.
A & B are the recording reflector Boxes. C & D are the Bulls Eyes_directing
the light from the side lights to A & B. The colored glasses in A & B Boxes will
correspond (Red or Green) with the glasses in the Side lights they represent.
I also wish to note that this arrangement can be brought in front of wheel
house & be as offectually recorded before the officer on watch as before the man at
the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
A perfect means of recording on board ship either before the officer on watch,
or the man at the wheel, the condition of the side lights, Port & Starboard &
thereby lessening the chances of collision & loss of life at sea.