Improved Apparatus for Electric-light Signalling.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Electric-light Signalling.
I, EDWARD FITZMAURICE INGLEFIELD, Lieutenant Royal Navy, H.M.S.
"Melita," Mediterranean, 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 electric light signalling and it consists in an improved
apparatus therefor, the same being more especially suitable for making signals at
night in or to or from a fleet of ships.
In the improved apparatus I employ several lamps preferably six in number, each
being of such construction as to show lights of three different colors, for instance
white, green and red, they being employed so that no lamp should show more than
one colour at any one time.
The invention moreover consists in a special construction hereinafter shown for
use in the said apparatus.
The drawing shows the construction of the lamps.
Fig. I shows the lamp put together (with the exception of the electric wires
which are not shown).
Fig. II shows the base A B with an interior annular flange or rim a inside at
the bottom to support a disc (Fig. V).
CCC are the frame rods each of which has its lower end firmly attached to the
base, and is screw threaded at the other end to receive a nut.
E E (as shown in Figs. II and V) are recesses cut in the edges of the two lower
discs, and also cut out of the flange L of the lower shade ring J and also out of the
rim a at the bottom of the holder A B, to allow the electric wires to pass down
the side of the lamp and out at the bottom.
Fig. III is a glass shade. In Fig. I G is a green shade, R is a red shade and
W is a white shade.
Fig. IV is a plan of the cover F of the lamp. It has small holes for ventilation
purposes (not shown in Fig. I), three lugs K at its edge for the frame rods to pass
through, and a loop in the centre for lifting the lamp.
Fig. V is a disc D of which there are three in the lamp. An electric incandescent
light of 100 candle power is fixed in the centre of it, the wires passing out at the
bottom and being looped up at the edge E. Holes are made in the disc for
ventilation purposes.
Fig. VI shows a shade ring J of which there are two in the lamp. It has an
inwardly projecting flange or rim L round inside of it. The rim L rests on the shade
below it and the disc above rests on this rim. K K are the lugs for the frame rods C
to pass through.
In putting the lamp together one of the discs D (Fig. V) is placed inside the
base A B so that it rests on the inside rim a. The slot E in the disc coinciding with
that in the rim a so as to make an aperture for the wires from above to pass out
through the bottom. The white shade W is placed on top of the disc; then the
lower shade ring J (Fig. VI) with the frame rods through its lugs; then another
disc D, then the red shade R, then the upper shade ring J, then another disc; then
the green shade G, then the cover F; and lastly all parts are kept together by
nuts M screwed on the ends of the frame rods C. All the wires are brought down
inside the lamp through the slots E which should be in line one above the other.
Fig. VII Sheet 2 illustrates the method of arranging a set of these lamps for
signalling purposes. Each lamp is placed inside an iron frame or holder D' which
is fixed on a
long spindle B¹ close to the after side of the mast A¹. The lamps when
in the holders D₁ are about a foot away from the mast, and the spindle B¹ working

page_text: by a lever on deck moves the lamps round together so as to show clear of the mast
in any required direction. The spindle B' is carried in bearings or lugs C¹.
The lamps when in position are preferably six in number arranged in two sets of
three, about twenty feet between the two sets, and about six feet between the lamps
of each set.
The wires are led down the mast to a switch board placed in the signal house or
other convenient place.
By operating the switch board to cause the respective electric light in each lamp
of either or both sets to be illuminated, the coloured light desired is shown by the
respective lamp and by the combinations and permutations of these colors all
necessary alphabetical, numerical or special signals can be transmitted.
Each set of three lamps being able to make a signal representing a number, or
letter, or special sign, and hence the two sets together being able to make any two
letters or numbers or else a combination of letters, signs or numbers.
No two lights are to be used in the same lamp at the same time.
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 :-
1. The lamp constructed substantially as described of a frame A, B with rods C
and the following detachable parts the shades G, R, W, discs D, rings J, cover F and
nuts or equivalents M, with electric lights for each shade connected for separate
illumination.
2. The apparatus for electric signalling substantially as herein described
comprising in combination several lamps each having electric lights with diverse
coloured shades capable of separate illumination, with an electric switch board and
means for operating and showing signals from said lamps in the manner set forth.
Dated this 16th day of September 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.