IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARINE NIGHT SIGNALS ADAPTED FOR SIGNALLING EITHER ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSAL CODE OF MARINE SIGNALS OR OF SPECIAL CODES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Allison, of the firm of Allison Brothers,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARINE NIGHT SIGNALS ADAPTED FOR
SIGNALLING EITHER ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSAL CODE OF MARINE SIGNALS
OR OF SPECIAL CODES," communicated to him from abroad by Richard James
Baker and John Price Roberts, both of Providence, Rhode Island, United
States of America, Sea Captains,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Allison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1883.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARINE
NIGHT SIGNALS ADAPTED FOR SIGNALLING EITHER ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSAL
CODE OF MARINE SIGNALS OR OF SPECIAL CODES," a communication to me from
abroad by Richard James Baker and John Price Roberts, both of Providence,
Rhode Island, United States of America, Sea Captains,
This invention relates to improved appliances for exhibiting at night by means
of clear and colored lights, any established code of signals usually exhibited in the
day time by means of flags.
Its object is to furnish the same facilities for inter-communication between
different vessels or between a vessel and the shore by means of the universal code
of marine signals or other established code of signals at night which are now at
command in day light by the use of flags.
It relates to the novel combination and arrangement in a frame or upon suitable
supports of three white lights or lanterns placed one above the other or side by
side, each of which admits of being encircled by a movable opaque shade or screen
and by two movable, colored, transparent or translucent shades, one of them red
and the other green, each screen and set of shades being placed beneath, above, or
at one side of the lamp, and adapted to be drawn up or moved to cover or encircle
the white light, and to be let down or removed to uncover the same, as occasion.

page_text: may require, either by means of cords leading therefrom over suitable pulleys to
such common point as may be most convenient, or by means of light rods or wires
or other equivalent devices.
The frame in which the three lamps are supported may by preference, be made
light and portable and adapted to be suspended at pleasure in any part of the
rigging of a vessel, the operative cord being led thence down to within ready reach
by a person upon the deck.
Electric lights and electric appliances for moving the opaque and colored screens
may be employed in carrying out my invention which consists chiefly in the
combination with each other in a marine signalling apparatus of three white lights
properly supported in a suitable frame, and each of which is provided with three
separate shades or screens two of them colored and translucent or transparent, and
the third opaque, each screen being adapted to be readily moved by suitable
appliances to cover or uncover its appropriate light independent of the others.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Herbert John Allison in the Patent Office on the 21st February
1884.
HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARINE
NIGHT SIGNALS ADAPTED FOR SIGNALLING EITHER ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSAL
CODE OF MARINE SIGNALS OR OF SPECIAL CODES," a communication to me from
abroad by Richard James Baker and John Price Roberts; both of Providence,
Rhode Island, United States of America, Sea Captains,
•
This invention relates to improved appliances for exhibiting at night by means
of clear and colored lights, any established code of signals usually exhibited in the
day time by means of flags.
Its object is to provide the same facility at night for inter-communication
between different vessels or between a vessel and the shore as is now at command
in the day time by the use of flags in accordance with the universal or inter-
national code of marine signals or any other established code.
It consists in the use in a night signalling apparatus of one or more white lights
or lanterns, each of which is provided with three movable concentric shades or
screens, one opaque, and the others respectively of red and green glass all arranged
to be drawn up to encircle and enclose the light each independently of the others
by means of suitable actuating cords; and in the novel combination and arrangement
in a suitable frame or other support of three of these signal lights and screens
placed one above the other and adapted to be covered or uncovered simultaneously
by means of a series of operative cords or light rods or wires leading therefrom
to a common point within reach of the operator, as is hereinafter more fully
described.
The light or lights are preferably adapted to be readily suspended in the rigging
of a vessel, the operative cords being led thence to the deck, or may be fitted for
support and display independently of the rigging.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1, is an elevation of the improved night signal apparatus provided with
a single white light, by means of which the signals are made by consecutivo
flashes.
Figure 2 is a vertical, central section of the apparatus in line through its frame,
the movable screens and the lantern being partly in elevation and the springs on
the hood of the lantern being omitted therefrom.
J
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the outer glass shade, illustrating
the manner of its support and combination with the guide rods.
Figure 4 is a cross-section on line x, x, and Figure 5 a cross-section on line y, y,
of Figure 1, and
Figure 6 an elevation on a smaller scale of the apparatus constructed with
three lights and sets of slides complete, to enable the signals to be made by a
simultaneous exhibition of two or more of the lights; a glass slide being shown
as drawn up around the central, and an opaque screen around the lower light.
A represents a light, strong frame-work adapted to the support of a signal
light B, which may consist of a lantern made specially for use with the apparatus,
or of one of the ordinary ship's lanterns.
E
The lantern must be of clear glass to show a clear, bright, white light.
When an ordinary ship's lantern is used, it is hung within the frame upon a
central hook above it, and may be steadied by means of a spiral spring attached
at one end to the cross-bar beneath, and at the other, to a catch or clamp adapted to
engage the bottom of the suspended lamp.
:

page_text: Where a special lantern is employed, it is secured in proper place between the
upper and lower cross-bars, upon vertical rods E, E, extended from the one bar to
the other, as shown in Figure 2, and the lamp F is inserted therein through a
central opening in the bottom piece of the lantern, being upheld by means of
lateral catches, substantially as in ordinary lanterns (sco Figure 2)...
Immediately below the limp or lantern, three concentric cylindrical screens or
shades G, G, and H are arranged to move up and down independently of each other
upon vertical guide rods K, K, K', extending from one cross-bar of the frame to tho
other. The smallest, central, cylindrical shade G is made of clear green glass and
is large enough in diameter to enclose readily the light or lantern B, which, when
so enclosed, will appear as a green light. The second shade G is of red glass; and
the third screen H is of light sheet metal so that it will obscure the light when
drawn up around it.
The glass shades are fitted and secured at top and bottom in annular frames í, i,
(see Figure 3) and are connected to the vertical guide rods K, K, by means of
tubes D, D, (Figures 2 and 3) enclosing the rods and secured to said frames i, i.
A rubber washer 1, Figure 3, is interposed between the lower end of each guide
tube D and the cross-bar below so as to cushion the glass slide when it drops.
The outer opaque screen H'is connected to its guide rods K³, K', by means of
tubular off-sets S, S, at top and bottom which embrace the rods (see Figures 1
and 2).
From opposite points in the upper edge or frame i of each shade or screen,
strong, light cords M, M, are led separately over pulleys N, N, fitted in the top cross-
bar of the frame above, and are then spliced together in a single cord M which is
led over suitable friction rollers and through eyes or leads in the lower cross-bar so
as to depend below the frame within reach of the operator on the deck below. By
pulling upon the appropriate cord, the corresponding shade or screen is drawn up
over the light, the cords being so arranged as that the central cord shall operate
the opaque screen H; that to the right, the red shade G; and that to the left the
green shade G. The central cord actuating the opaque screen, may be operated by
the foot, a stirrup O being attached thereto for the purpose, leaving the operator's
hands free to work the two colors, so that all three may be manipulated with great
ease and rapidity in making the various changes and combinations required for the
signals.
A metallic cap or hood P is made fast over the top of the lantern under the
upper cross-bar of the frame, and this cap is encircled by a wide, flaring flange L,
adapted to slide thercon, and which is automatically forced, down to the lower odgo
of the cap by means of spiral springs Q, Q, interposed between the flange and
upper cross-bar, being coiled about the guide rods K, K, extending through the
flange.
L
This flange serves to prevent the upward reflection of the light, and also to stop
the upward movement of the shades and screen; the springs Q serving to break
the force of the blow with which the shades come into contact with the flange
when pulled suddenly up.
A swinging yoke R, is provided at the upper end of the frame to facilitate its
suspension, said yoke being fitted centrally with a ring or eye-bolt R' governed by
a spring, so as to afford an elastic support to the apparatus when it is hoisted up.
By fitting three lights with their appropriate, movable encircling screens, as
described, in combination with a single supporting frame, cach signal of the code
may be made at one move instead of by successive changes of a single light, with
a corresponding economy of time.
The combination of the three lights is effected by super-imposing them one
abovo. the other in a frame provided with cross-bars between each light as
illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The lower cross-bars of the two upper
lights are thus made to serve as the upper cross-bars of the two lower lights, and
are fitted with pulleys for the operating cords in manner, as hereinbefore described.

page_text: A separate cord for each slide is led down below the frame, the cords for the
three obscuring screens being brought to the centre in one group; those for the
red, in another group to the right; and those for the green in a third group to the
left; each cord being brought through leads in the frame and separately through
apertures in a transverse separating bar W suspended beneath the frame, so that
they may be readily distinguished. Each shade in each of the three sets is thus
drawn up around the lamp above it by an independent cord controlling it.
The cords for the obscuring screens may all be united to a single stirrup O so
that by a movement of the operator's foot all of the lamps may be simultaneously
obscured.
By attaching the color cords to a suitable hand-rail on the deck and leading the
obscuring cords through separate apertures therein to the stirrup beneath, so that
the position of the cords shall be invariably the same, the cord for each light and
for each shade pertaining to that light is readily found without special -inspection.
or effort, so that the signals may be rapidly made with great precision.
In the use of the apparatus, the frame A, A, with the lanterns B, B, B, containing
bright white lights secured in place therein one above the other, is run up aloft upon
a rope railway or otherwise suspended aloft at any suitable point in the rigging
of the vessel. As the frame is carried aloft the cords for actuating the slides are
allowed to run freely through the eyes or leads in the hand-rail on deck, which, in
connection with the pulleys in the cross-bars of the frame, prevent their
disarrangement or entanglement.
So soon as the frame with its lights is properly suspended, the apparatus is in
readiness for use, the three white lights displayed thereby one above the other
being the signal, according to the code, that the vessel wishes to communicate.
Where communication is desired with the shore, the green shades are drawn up to
show three green lights; and, if the necessity for communication is very great,
and in case of distress or danger, the three red shades are drawn up to show three
red lights.
When an answering signal is received, the communications are readily and
rapidly transmitted by changing the order of the lights; the letter B, for instance,
being indicated by a white, a green and a red light in the order named, the white
light being uppermost; the letter C, by a white, red and green light; the letter D
by an upper white and two lower green lights; the letter F by an upper white
light and two lower red lights, etc.
In the use of a single light alone (Figures 1 and 2), the signals are all made by
rapidly changing the colors of the lights; the letter B, for instance, being indicated
by flashing or changing the light from white to green and then to red; the letter C
by changing it from white to red and green; the letter D, by flashing it first with
white, and then twice in succession with green, etc., these changes being marked by
an obscuration of the light between each repetition or change of color.
Instead of fixing the three lights in a common frame, as shown in Figure 6,
three single lights fitted with shades, as in Figure 1, may be suspended one above
the other on a rope railway, or otherwise, and operated to make the signals by a
simultaneous display of two or more of them, as above described.
It is evident that rectangular shades, or shades constructed with octagonal or
otherwise angular frames may be substituted for the concentric cylindrical shades,
and I contemplate any suitable form of movable shades for the lights. I
contemplate also the substitution of rods for cords where the lights are supported
in a permanent frame, and also the use of electric devices for actuating the
screens, especially in case electric lights are employed.
I claim as my invention:-
1st In a marine night-signalling apparatus, the combination with a white light
or lantern, of three movable, concentric, cylindrical shades or screens, one opaque,
and two of colored glass, fitted below the support for the light, and adapted to be
moved upward, each independently of. the others, to cover and uncover the light,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth;

page_text: 2nd In a marine night-signalling apparatus, the combination with each other and
with a suitable frame adapted to their support of threo separate lights each of
which is provided with threo movable shades or screens, two transparent and
colored, and one opaque, arranged to be moved, the one independently of the
otliers, to cover and uncover the light, by means of appliances adapted thereto,.
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
3 The combination in a marine night-signalling apparatus with a suitablo
supporting frame; a light or lantern carried therein; and a series of movable
shades adapted to cover or uncover the light; of a series of operating cords led
from each separate slide over suitable friction pulleys in the frame, and in
consecutive and systematic order through a lower bar, whereby an operator below
the frame is enabled to readily and quickly actuate each slide independently of
the others as required in making signals, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose heroin set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Allison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twenty-first day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and oighty-four.