Improvements in Heliographs.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
TRUVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heliographs.
HENRY CHRISTOPHER MANCE K.B. Manora Newnham Road Bedford Beds
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In my improved form of heliograph I dispense with the lever or key which
is described in the original Heliograph Patent 3 Oct. 1874, No. 3390. Instead
of this lever which was worked like an ordinary Morse telegraph key I use a
moveable mirror supported in a frame the latter being controlled by the necessary
adjustments which are requisite for sun signalling. The mirror (by mirror I mean
the glass and its protecting metal rim and back) is not permanently attached to
the supporting frame-it can be slipped out if desired nevertheless it is held
securely but so as to allow of the angle of the mirror being altered to the extent
of say one tenth of an inch by the simple pressure of the finger against the
upper edge of the mirror. This play of the mirror can be reduced by a small
regulating screw. Assuming then that the instrument is adjusted for signalling
in the usual manner well understood by heliograph signallers a slight pressure
on the edge of the mirror suffices to bring the flash up to the line of sight.
The lateral adjustment in the base of the instrument is substantially the same
as before but the vertical adjustment is effected by a rod screwing into the
upper or lower edge of the circumference of the frame which supports the mirror
instead of into the back of the mirror itself. A slipping collar on the rod
provides a rough vertical adjustment this collar has a taper thread and is slotted
so that it can be clamped by a nut. By turning the rod slightly the minor
alterations in the angle of the mirror are effected. If the adjusting rod which
connects the mirror frame to the base plate screws into the upper portion of
the circumference of the frame the disc or handle which turns the rod may be
fixed either to the upper or lower end or centre as may be considered most
convenient but if the rod is attached to the lower edge of the frame so as to work in
nearly a horizontal position the handle will be at or near the outer extremity so as to
be easily controlled by the signaller. The signalling mirror is kept in its normal
position in the frame by a strong spring acting from the back but which yields
readily to the pressure of the finger without the instrument being subjected to
any strain as may be the case with the old form when the heliograph was being
used with the mirror in a perpendicular position or inclining to the front. In
the limb which supports the sighting rod I have substituted a strong spring for
the trigger which forms the subject of my second heliograph Patent No. 13755-
17 Oct. 1884.
The duplex mirror is arranged to slip out of its pillars by turning a screw
which lengthens or shortens a slight rod which clamps the duplex mirror in
position and can be substituted for the working mirror in a few seconds if an
accident occurred to the latter.
The sighting rod is now constructed so that fresh paper sighting vanes can
be at any time substituted whenever the old ones become dirty. I effect this
by making the vane of the same shape as before but of any metal which will
allow of the sides being slightly turned over so as to hold a paper vane similar
to that fastened to the centre of the duplex mirror.
Dated this 10th day of April 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heliographs.
I, HENRY CHRISTOPHER MANCE K.B. of Manora, Newnham Road, Bedford
in the County of Bedford, Civil Engineer 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 :-
My invention relates to heliographs or apparatus for flashing signals by means
of reflectors such as are described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 3390
granted to me and dated the 3rd October 1874 and the object of my present
invention is to simplify and improve the said apparatus and its working.
I dispense with the lever or key like a Morse telegraph key which is used for
operating the mirror in signalling as shewn and described in the Specification of
the aforesaid Patent No. 33904 and I mount the mirror upon a frame or carrier to
which the adjusting devices are applied so that the mirror can have the alteration
of its angular positions necessary in signalling imparted to it by simple pressure on
the edge of the mirror and independently of the adjusting devices by which the
angular adjustment of the said frame or carrier and consequently of the mirror
carried by it are effected.
The vertical adjustment of the mirror can be effected by a rod connected with
the upper or lower part of the circumference of the frame or carrier which supports
the mirror instead of with the mirror itself. The mirror is returned to its normal
position relatively to the frame or carrier by a spring which yields when pressure
is applied to the mirror in signalling without the strain on the instrument incidental
to the old form of heliograph especially when the mirror was being used in a
perpendicular position or inclined with its upper edge towards the front. Instead
of using a trigger catch for the limb which supports the sighting rod as described
in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 13755 granted to me and dated the
17th October 1884 I use a spring as hereinafter described. The sighting rod is
provided at the part where the sighting vane is situated with grooves or turned
over edges into which the paper or other material constituting the vane can be
slipped so that the vane when it becomes dirty can be readily replaced and a new
vane be put in its place.
I will now describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the manner in
which my invention can be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a rear view of the apparatus and
Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 are a front view and edge view respectively of the mirror and
Figures 5 and 6 are like views of the frame which supports the mirror and to
which the adjustments are applied.
Figures 7 and 8 are a plan and side view of the limb which supports the sighting
rod and duplex mirror.
Figure 9 shews the sighting rods and
Figures 10 and 11 are a rear view and edge view respectively of the duplex
mirror.
The apparatus when in use can be mounted on the usual tripod or any suitable
support which I have not considered it necessary to shew in the drawings.
a is the mirror held in the frame a² which has a back to protect the reflecting
coating of the mirror. a³ are pins or pivots by which the mirror is mounted in the
frame or carrier b which has lugs with holes in them to receive the pins a³. The
said holes also receive the ends of screw pins d passing through screwed holes in
the ends of the fork d fixed to the base plate m and stem ³ so that it can be
rotated. The stem a carries the collar for the attachment of the limb L,
Figures 7 and 8 (by clamping it thereon by means of the pinching screw (2) and
also the coned part; which is inserted into the recess at the top of the tripod or

page_text: other support. The screw d' secures the parts lj to the stem ³ so that the said
stem can be rotated therein which is effected for fine adjustment by means of the
screw n secured so that it can rotate in the bearings n' fixed to the base plate m,
the said screw engaging with a toothed wheel secured above the collar 1. For
rough adjustment the screw can be moved out of engagement with the wheel
and the stem d³ be turned by hand in its socket. For this purpose the screw
can be pressed into engagement with the toothed wheel by a spring which will
allow of its being pressed back out of engagement when required. The frame b
has lugs at top through which pass the trunnions of a collar the upper
part of which is split and provided with a conical screw on which the nut f
works so that it can be adjusted to allow the split end to expand to enable the
tube e to be slidden through it for rough adjustment or be screwed upon the
collar so as to cause the split end to grip the tube e firmly whilst fine adjustment is
performed which is effected by means of the rod 9 whose upper end is screwed and
works in a screw in the tube é the rod g being provided with a milled head k for
rotating it and the end of the said rod being confined by its head g² in a hole in a
block h mounted so that it can swivel in the lugs secured to the base plate m.
Thus the angular position of the frame b in either direction can be adjusted and
with it. the mirror a the adjustment in one direction being effected by the screw n
(or by hand for rough preparatory adjustment) and in the other direction for rough
adjustment by the sliding tube e in the collar e and for fine adjustment by rotating
the rod g in the tube e after the collar e' has been clamped upon the tube e. Secured
to the frame b is a spring c which bears on the back of the mirror so
s to press
it into the position shewn in Figure 2 where it will be seen there is a hall space
(at p) between it and the frame b. After the adjustment has heen effected the
angle of the mirror can be altered in the manner necessary for signalling by simply
pressing the finger upon the upper edge of the mirror the spring c returning the
mirror to its original position when the pressure is removed. The extent of
movement necessary between the mirror a and the frame 6 to bring the flash up
to the line of sight can be adjusted by means of a regulating screw passing through
the edge a² of the mirror or through the frame b.
g
Instead of the screw g being arranged as described it may be arranged in other
equivalent manner for instance it may be passed through a swivelling block
supported by the lugs and provided with a nut or with a milled head for turning
it, fixed so that it can only rotate in the screwed block the rod 9 passing (for rough
adjustment) into a tube secured to the block h and provided with a pinching screw
for securing the rod to the tube when fine adjustment by the screw above is to be
performed or the adjustment may be effected by a screw in a horizontal or approxi-
mately horizontal position connected with the lower part of the frame band passing
through a block on the base plate and provided at its outer extremity with a screw
nut having a drilled head or handle for turning it.
The limb L has a strong spring 13 secured to the one part of the said limb which
spring when the said part is turned down for use bears on the lower side of the
other part of the said limb as shewn in Figure 8.
The duplex mirror (Q Figures 10 and 11) which is secured in the hole in the
limb L by the stem and pinching screw when required to reflect into the
mirror a is arranged to be slipped out of its pillars or fork 9 by the said pillars or
fork having slots q³ for receiving the pins 9 on the mirror framing, the rod g
clamping the mirror in position by means of the screws 9°. I prefer to make this
mirror of the same size as the mirror a so that in case accident should occur to the
latter the mirror Q can be used in its place.
The sighting rod R Figure 9 which is held in the limb L by the stem r being
pinched in the hole 1 (Figures 7 and 8) may be constructed and worked as hitherto
except that it has a vane holder with grooves at its sides as shewn clearly in
Figure 94 made by cutting in the metal or by turning over the edges and into these
grooves paper or card may be inserted so that a fresh clean surfaced vane can be
readily substituted for the old one when it becomes dirty.

page_text: In bringing the apparatus to bear upon the point at which signals are to be given
the adjustment may be made by looking into the mirror from the front and getting
the reflections of the distant object and of the point on the vane and the centre
of the mirror into alignment.
.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In heliographs a frame to which the adjusting devices are applied the said
frame carrying the signalling mirror so that in signalling it can be moved relatively
to the frame without affecting the parts of the instrument substantially as
hereinbefore described.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the heliograph
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX, "
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.