Improvements in Electric Signalling Apparatus for Ships.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1898-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Signalling Apparatus for Ships.
We, RICHARD VON HORVATHI, and MORITZ Cox, both of I. Friedrichstrasse,
Vienna, Austria, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 our invention is the construction of an electric signalling apparatus,
by means of which a ship may exchange signals with, or at least give or receive
signals to or from another ship or the shore at a safe distance in the dark or fog,
so as to prevent collision or wrecking. These signals are given automatically,
and can be sent a distance of 10 miles and more, but 1 or 2 miles will, under
ordinary circumstances, be sufficient to prevent accidents.
The apparatus essentially consists of a transmitter, a receiver and of a spring
or other motor with a switch.
other motor.
In order
the
cut
Supposing a ship, provided with an apparatus of this kind, in a fog approaches
a point of the shore where a similar apparatus is stationed, or two or more ships
meet, of which each carries our improved apparatus, clearly audible or acoustic
or plainly visible optic signals will be given and received, produced by electric
waves, which are sent out at intervals of any desired length by aid of the spring
is
receiver
to prevent mistakes
out during the generally very short time of the operation of the
transmitter. The transmitter may also be operated independently of the
motor; and the receiver cut out, by means of a key, button or such like, thus
permitting of returning a signal immediately upon its receipt in order to ascer-
tain that the ship is really approaching another ship or the shore.
or
A collision or other accident will thus easily be prevented,, and in most cases it
will be sufficient to slacken speed until the other vessel can be sighted.
The apparatus will, however, also permit two vessels to inform each other of the
course they are steering or of other important matters.
In the annexed drawing an apparatus of this kind is shown, of which Figure 1
is a diagram of the total disposition: Figure 2 shows in front and side elevation
a spring motor for the intermittent operation of the transmitter: Figure 2 shows
different forms of contact tappets; and Figure 3 shows the multiple switch for the
apparatus. In all figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The transmitter is a Righi radiator B, which consists of two adjustable brass
balls b, b, partly encased in a hard rubber tube or shell 6 filled with vaseline.
To the right and left of the ends of the shell 61 and opposite to the free part of
the balls b, b two smaller brass balls c c are mounted in such manner that their
distance from the larger balls bb can be adjusted. As a matter of course, all
the balls are carefully insulated from each other. The current from a sufficiently
powerful battery A operates a Ruhmkorff spark inductor A', the secondary wires a a
of which are connected with the two smaller balls c c. When the primary current
from the battery A is opened or closed, sparks will spring from the smaller balls cc,
to the larger balls bb and between these latter through the vaseline, whereby the

page_text: so called electric ether waves are produced. These waves radiate, similar to light,
in all directions, and, with a 20 inch spark from the Ruhmkorff, will without
any conducting wire, merely through air or another medium, excite a suitable
receiver at a distance of 10 miles or more, sufficiently to produce a plainly audible
acoustic or clearly visible optic-signal.
The receiver D (coherer), after Marconi, is for instance composed of a small
glass tube, into which are placed two silver discs d d at an adjustable distance
from each other of about 2 inch or more. The space between these silver discs d d
contains iron-, nickel or similar filings. The discs d d are conductively connected
to pins e e which project from the ends of the tube D, and which may also serve
to adjust the distance between the discs d d. To these pins e e are conductively
connected metal strips E E, by preference of copper, which rise into the air and
serve to receive the electric waves transmitted by another apparatus. When the
metal strips E E, are struck by an electric wave, the filings & between the silver
discs d d will be caused to join or connect in a certain direction.
Instead of, or together with the short receiving metal strips E, E a long receiving
strip E, as indicated by a dotted line may be employed to advantage. This strip
may be run up to the mast head or better still to a yard arm. In a similar manner
the transmitting wire a may be extended to an elevated point. A battery F is
inserted into the circuit of the coherer D in such manner that it will act upon
one or more electromagnets, when the resistance of the filings in the coherer D
is decreased by the influence of an electric wave.
As the filings d retain their conductivity after the passage of an electric wave,
the coherer must be shaken, turned or beaten in order to enable it to receive the
next signal. If this beating or shaking of the coherer would not take place, the
first signal received would continue and an understanding be impossible. We
employ for the foregoing purpose an electric, beater, the operation of which will
be described further on, but there may also be employed a spring or other motor
for the same, purpose.
For the sake of clearness I shall first proceed to describe the connections of
the entire apparatus. The current from the electric source A flows, when the
contact springs H H are closed through the primary coil of the Ruhmkorff A¹,
while at the same time the circuit of the coherer 1), which takes the direction h, h¹ h¹¹
is broken the contact spring H, which is attached to the spring H" by the
insulating piece, breaking contact with at the same time that the spring H
is making contact with the spring H¹. The contact springs Hand H are
operated by the tappet or tappets N of a spring. motor G at any desired intervals.
The current may also be sent through the primary spool of the Ruhmkorff indepen-
dently of the motor by pressing the button or key T, whereby the circuit of the
coherer D is also broken at I. In this circuit of the coherer is also inserted the
local battery K and a very sensitive ordinary or polarised relay or magnet. This
closes a local circuit with a call or any other acoustic or optic signal.
The making and breaking of the contacts just described is effected by tappets N
fixed to a shaft n, which is rotated by a spring or other motor G at any desired
speed. The shaft n is situated underneath the contact springs H" of which there
are any desired number with the corresponding number of springs H₁ and of
tappets N upon the shaft n. As indicated in Figure 2 the fappets N may be
single, double, treble, and so forth in order to shorten the intervals between the
electric waves. By means of two switches P and P' any desired pair of springs H
and H may be connected with the circuit, and the apparatus will operate at
intervals corresponding to the number of tappets N revolving under that respec-
tive pair of springs. Thus, signals may be given by one tappet once in a minute,
by a double tappet twice in a minute and so forth.
As has already been stated, the circuit of the coherer D is opened by the spring H
at every closing of the Ruhmkorff circuit. During these interruptions the
coherer D must be prepared for the reception of a fresh signal, which is done by
an electric beater. For this purpose I employ a wheel R, operated by the motor G,

page_text: and having, for instance 120 teeth. The teeth of this wheel operate upon contacts
similar to the tappets N, and a current is sent from a battery U at corresponding
intervals to the electric beater W,, which knocks against the coherer D every time
the circuit is closed or interrupted by a tooth of the wheel R. A switch S serves
to disconnect the wheel contact and to permit the operation of the beater by press-
ing the button T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. An electric signalling apparatus for ships consisting of an electric source,
a spark inductor (Ruhmkorff), a Righi radiator, a Marconi coherer and a multiple
switch operated by a motor in such inanner that when the radiator circuit is closed
the coherer circuit is interrupted and vice versa.
2. In apparatus of the kind herein described a connection which permits the
intermittent operation of the apparatus by a key or button.
3. In apparatus of the kind herein described a device for controlling the intervals
between the electric waves, consisting of a plurality of contact springs, a switch
for connecting them in pairs, and a single or multiple tappets revolved by suitable
motor and operating upon the contact springs.
4. In apparatus of the kind herein described a beating device for the coherer
consisting of an electric source, a contact wheel operated by the motor, corre-
sponding contacts, a switch and the electromagnetic beater.
5. In combination with the apparatus herein described a local battery and
electro magnetic device for giving acoustic or optic signals. All substantially
as described and shown.
100 .
1000
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agents.