IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Shelbourne Icely, of Bromley, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANICAL TELEGRAPHS."
Sealed the 22nd February 1854, and dated the 16th September 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Shelbourne
Icely at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th September 1853.
I, WILLIAM SHELBOURNE ICELY, of Bromley, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEGRAPHS " to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in mechanical telegraphs refer more
particularly to telegraphic communications between the captain or party
in cliarge of a steamer and the engineer. My arrangements are such
that the party so in charge can make communications without with-
drawing his attention from other objects, and are represented in the
annexed Drawing, in which A represents the lever handle by which
the captain actuates the signal apparatus. This lever is mounted so that
the plane of its motion is fore and aft, in order that a movement
forwards beyond the vertical position may indicate "go ahead;" and
a movement aft, "astern;" while certain intermediate points indicate

page_text: gradations of speed. In a vertical position the lever A, indicates to
stop. The handle of lever A, is constantly pressed by a spring towards
the notched segment B, and a projecting nib c, slips into each notch, as
the lever arrives at different points in succession, which the person in
charge feels with his hand, and knows by the number of notches passed
the signal which he desires to be given, and at which it is allowed to
stand, whether "easy ahead," or "astern," half speed, full speed, or
so on.
The hand lever has a horizontal lever attached from which a rod C,
depends; to this rod a slide or table of signals is attached, which
appears through an opening in the box D, as the word stop, which cor-
responds with the position of the lever handle represented; according as
the table of signals is raised or depressed a corresponding indication
will be exhibited. E, represents a bell apparatus, which is actuated by
the same movement. The rod C, acting on a bell-crank lever H,
transmits an oscillatory motion to the lever F, which is mounted on a
fulcrum at d, and imparts an up and down movement by rods e, and f
to pawl levers i, k. At the upward motion the pawls take into ratchet
wheels, and thereby give a sufficient amount of rotation to the tappet
wheel g, to lift the hammer h, and give one stroke of the bell, which is
represented by the red line. The wheel g, is on the axis of one of the
ratchet wheels, which are connected by spur wheels, as shown. The
bell is struck just before the nib of handle a, enters each notch and
attracts the engineer's attention to the communication.
For frigates, or where the signal has to be transmitted a long
distance, instead of rigid rods, I employ a fluid as the means of actuat-
ing. For this purpose I employ two double-acting pumps, one at either
extremity, having two pipes connecting the top of the one pump with
the bottom of the other, and "vice versa." These pumps must always
be kept full of water, and should have a guage to indicate the same.
The piston of one pump is to be attached to the horizontal arm of
hand lever, and the other to the rod from which the signal slide
depends; any depression of the piston in upper pump causes a cor-
responding depression of the lower one, and any rise having a similarly
effect which actuates the signal slide and bell apparatus, as before.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Shelbourne Icely in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th March 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
WILLIAM SHELBOURNE ICELY, of Bromley, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said William Shelbourne Icely, Her
special licence that I, the said William Shelbourne Icely, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Shelbourne Icely, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TELEGRAPHS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Shelbourne Icely, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Shelbourne Icely, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):
My Invention of improvements in mechanical telegraphs has refer-
ence more particularly to apparatus of communication between the
captain or party in charge of a steamer and the engineer.
I arrange my improved apparatus in such manner that the captain

page_text: or party in charge of the ship can make the requisite communications
without withdrawing his attention from other objects, and therefore
enabling bim to keep a constant look out at the same time.
The hand lever by which the captain makes the signal is mounted on
an axis, so as to move in a vertical plane and in a fore and aft direc-
tion, this hand lever while in a vertical position indicating to stop, and
remaining so when the engine is stationary. By moving this handle
forward beyond the vertical position it indicates "go ahead;" and, on
the contrary, when moved astern behind the vertical position, it
indicates "go astern." The extreme of each movement indicates full
speed in either direction, while intermediate positions of the handle
indicate the several gradations of speed in the different directions.
The movement of the signal handle is conveyed to the engine room and
actuates a dial, which is thereby raised and lowered so as to present the
signals severally in their proper order through an opening in the dial
case. The attention of the engineer is called to the visible signal by
the sounding of a bell or other audible signal, produced simultaneously
and by the same movement as the signal of information.
Fig. 1, in the Sheet of Drawings annexed represents a front view
of the signal apparatus complete, in position, as further exemplified
in Fig. 2, where it is shown on a small scale applied to a paddle
steamer, of which Fig. 2, shows a section; the hand levers A, A, being
placed one at either end of bridge B. C, represents the deck; and D,
the dial case, fixed in any convenient position in the engine room visible
to the engineer.
Fig. 3, is a side view of the apparatus; and Fig. 4, a detached view
of the dial. Fig. 5, represents an enlarged side view of hand lever A.
The hand lever by which the signal is communicated is mounted on
a fixed fulcrum a. E, E, is an arc or semicircle described round the
point a, as a centre; in this are notches b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, are
cut. The notches receive a nib or projection, when it is brought
in coincidence therewith. The nib i, is formed on the end of that
part of the handle grasped by the hand, as seen seperately at Fig. 6.
This handle is fitted loose on the metal lever F, in order to slide to
and from the fulcrum a, towards which it is pressed by a spring consist
ing of a piece of vulcanized india-rubber k, sustained by fixed washers

page_text: , on the end of the lever F. The force exerted by the spring to keep
he handle up to a notch in arc E, E, is sufficient to prevent the hand
ever moving by any tremulous motion, but permits it being moved by
he hand for the purpose of signalling. The lever F, has an arm Gri
orming a bell crank; this arm G, is connected by a rigid rod H, to a
A third
ever M, mounted on a shaft I, placed under the bridge B.
lever K, is placed on shaft I, which lever K is represented in the centre
of the ship, but may be at any other convenient position. It is con-
nected with the dial L, by rods P, P, which communicate an up and
down movement thereto, according to the motion imparted to the hand
lever. As will be seen in the side view, Fig. 3, the arrangement of rods
and levers is such that they counterbalance each other, thereby pre-
venting any undue tendency to motion in either direction. The index
consists simply of the dial L, having the several rates of speed painted
thereon, or other indications required; these are all screened from view,
except one, which appears through a slot in the case D. According
as the dial is moved up or down so will the other communications be
severally revealed; this up and down movement, as will be readily
understood, is imparted by the hand lever A.
66
The representation given shows the hand lever in a vertical position)
with the "stop" signal visible. By moving the hand lever A, in the
direction of the arrow ahead it slips into the first notch d; the signal
easy ahead" will be exhibited to the engineer; this the captain is quite
cognizant of, from feeling the handle slip into the notch, without with-
drawing his attention from the look-out; a further movement in the
same direction exhibits the "half speed ahead" on arriving at the
second notch c, and "full speed ahead" at the third notch b.
The captain is also fully conscious of the state of the index below
from feeling the position of the hand lever, which is thus completely
under controul, and equally serviceable at night as in daylight.
that
The movement of the hand lever from its vertical position in the
opposite direction exhibits the signals for different speeds astern;
is to say, when the hand lever A, is moved to f, it would indicate "easy
astern," to g, "half speed," to h, "full speed astern, the several
5 corresponding inscriptions on the dial L, appearing through the opening

page_text: in the case D, coincident with the arrival of the handle at those
points. The plane of motion of the hand lever being arranged fore
and aft, and the hand lever moved forward when it is desired to go
ahead, and aft when it is required to go astern, the party in charge
will almost intuitively give the signal he requires, while the simplicity
of arrangement, and the rigid character and connection of the parts,
prevents any possibility of error or imperfection in the communication.
In addition to the notches b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, to receive the nib i,
when the several gradations of speed are indicated, a pin should be
introduced, as at k¹, so that the captain may know by feeling that the
hand lever is in the vertical position of "stop." In this manner
also the several positions of b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, may be marked
and rendered apparent to the captain by feeling, instead of using
the notches as described; but I prefer the foregoing arrangement
of notches, as being more marked, and apparent to the sense of feeling
without removing the hand from the hand lever A, or requiring any
particular degree of attention.
I am aware that telegraphs have been before used as a communi-
cation between the captain and engineer of a steam ship, similar dials
being used to indicate the communications to both parties, which not
only necessitates the use of a lamp in the dark, but requires the visual
attention of the party giving the signal, and withdraws his attention
from the look-out. In order to call the attention of the engineer to
the dial an audible signal is given by the movement of the hand lever
from one notch to another, and is produced just before the nib i,
arrives at the notch it is about to enter. The audible signal is given
by a bell R, fixed to the dial case D. This bell is struck at each move-
ment of the hand lever A, from one notch to another, by means of a
rack S, acting on a small rocking lever l, which takes effect on the
hammer arm m, as seen in Fig. 1. The hammer n, is constantly
pressed up to the bell R, by a spring p; but actual contact, except
when striking, is prevented by the rocking lever 1, which acts as a stop.
When the hammer strikes the bell the clasticity of the arm m,
causes it advance slightly beyond the position restricted by the stop l,
thus sounding the bell, but preventing any further contact of the

page_text: hammer until the blow is repeated. The rocking lever 7, is pivoted
on a pin q, on which it rocks; it receives motion from the rack S, which
has a number of projections or teeth corresponding with the number of
the communications to be made. The rack S, is kept up to the rock-
ing lever 1, by a stop guide r. On any up and down motion of the
rack S taking place, a tooth is carried past the rocking lever 1, and
gives it a cant by contact with the projection thereon; one or other
of the arms of lever 1, lifts the hammer arm; and immediately the
tooth of rack S slips beyond the contact point of 7, that lever or
instrument rights itself, and the hammer strikes the bell. This takes
place either by the rising or falling of the rack, the lever 7, having a
double arm which actuates the hammer by motion in either direction.
The striking of the bell is arranged to take place during the motion of
the hand lever A, just before the nib arrives at the notch into which it
is to fall.
Figs. 7, 8, and 9, represent an arrangement of apparatus adapted for
conveying the signals to long distances, as in screw frigates and other
ships, where the engine is situated at a great distance from the party
in charge of the ship. The hand lever with its arrangement of
stops, and also the dial, are the same as before; but instead of using
rigid rods and levers to communicate the motion, as before explained,
I employ pumps to force water through pipes, thereby transmitting
the proper amount of motion to the dial according to the movement of
the hand lever. For this purpose two pumps or cylinders are required,
one of which, the upper pump, is shown at Fig. 7, and the lower one
at Fig. 8, while Fig. 9, shows in section part of a screw frigate with
the communication established between the quarter deck and the
engine room at a distance in midships. The horizontal arm F, of
the hand lever is connected with the joint s, of the piston rod of pump,
Fig. 7, on the quarter deck, while the joint t, of piston rod of pump,
Fig. 8, is similarly connected to rack S, of dial L, in the engine room.
T, T, are passages connected by suitable pipes so that water may
flow from the upper side of piston in one pump to the under side of
piston in the other. V, V, are connecting pipes, forming a similar
communication between the upper and lower chambers of the pumps

page_text: in the opposite direction. W, is a funnel mouth by which the water
is introduced into the pumps and communicating pipes, the stop
cock X, being opened for the purpose. During the filling of the
pipes and pumps the pistons should be placed in central positions in
their respective cylinders. The water is poured in until it rises in
the funnel W, above the level of upper pump. The stop cock X,
is then shut, when the apparatus is ready for action.
The pistons
will be arranged so that they are in mid stroke when the dial stands
The
at stop, and therefore in position to act in either direction.
action is this. When the hand lever is moved ahead the piston of
upper pump will be depressed by the downward movement of arm F;
this will force the water below the piston of pump, Fig. 7, down
through pipe communicating with the upper part of pump Fig. 8,
causing tlie piston to fall in that pump; the water below the piston
in that pump at the same time passing by the other pipe of commu-
nication up into the upper part of pump, Fig. 7, and occupying the
space vacated by the descent of its piston.
:
Any upward movement in the upper pump, Fig. 7, will cause the
water to flow in an opposite direction, and consequently acts in both
ways; therefore any depression or elevation of the piston in upper
pump will, by these means, keep the piston of the lower pump in the
same relative position, and thereby transmit the necessary amount of
motion, and will permanently maintain the requisite communication
between the hand lever and the dial L, for the purposes of signalling, as
described. Attention must be paid to the proper supply of water in the
pipes, which is readily secured by keeping a sufficiency in the funnel W,
and opening the stop cock occasionally.
Telegraphs constructed according to my improvements are also appli-
cable for communicating with the steersman. For this purpose the
actuating lever handle should be placed so as to move in a plane
athwart ships, and by moving the hand lever to port or starboard a like
signal is visibly indicated to the steersman by a dial or other indicator
actuated by communication with the hand lever, as before described.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not claim

page_text: the exclusive communication between the engineer and the party in
charge of a ship by telegraph; but that what I claim is the arrange-
ment of the hand apparatus described, whereby the several communica-
tions are made without visual inspection by the party communicating,
or any mere mechanical equivalent therefore. I also claim moving the
hand lever in the forward direction when it is desired to signal "go
ahead," and aft when it is desired to signal "go aștern."
Secondly, I claim the mode of communication established by means
of connected pumps or cylinders with water or other fluid, as herein
described, for the purpose of conveying signals on shipboard.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Shelbourne Icely, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four.
5
WILLIAM SHELBOURNE ICELY. (L.S.)
Witness, W. CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.