An Improved Mechanical Apparatus for Teaching Army and Navy Signalling.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Mechanical Apparatus for Teaching Army and Navy
Signalling.
I, HENRY CANNY of 29 Ciescent Road, Plumstead, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved device or apparatus, operated by clockwork
or other mechanism, for impaiting to a dummy flag, ou a dummy figure or working
picture holding a flag, motions corresponding to those exercised by skilled military
or naval men, for imparting Moise code sight signals at a distance, the object of
my invention being, that by its aid, a student of the art may practice, and take
lessons therefiom quietly at home, without the aid of a teacher or a second person
to operate the apparatus, the Enme being also applicable for use by a teacher in
giving lessons or testing the abilities of a student in the correctness of quickness of
his reading of the series of signals given thereby, such series being quickly and
easily interchangeable at the will of the said teacher, or the person undergoing the
self imposed tuition, and by the aid of a suitable lamp and lens, the same apparatus
may be used either by a class conductor, or by a student at home and alone for
imparting lessons in flash signalling.
My invention consists of a suitable rectangular or other shaped box or case of
any suitable size or dimensions, having a hinged door or other portable enclosure
at the back, while the front or proscenium may be painted, punted or otherwise to
represent a landscape, barracks, drill-ground, the deck of a ship on the like, and
within the said case is fixed a suitable train of wheels operated by a sping or
springs, weight or weights or other means, preferably a sping capable of being
wound by a key The spindle of one of the wheels of the said train carries
a small cicular disc, having a notch on the like at any part of its periphery, and
with this engages a pawl which airests the motion of the mechamsin (at the
termination of each revolution of the said spindle) until released by a suitable lever
or other deve. Upon the same spindle is mounted (and retained thereon by
a thumb-nut on the like) a large, preferably, metallic disc or circular plate, in the
periphery of which notches, seirations, undulations or incisions are formed, in
suitable but varying order and depth, and with these engage a weighted or spring
depressed pivotted panl, which rises and falls at every uotch or the like in the said
rotating disc or plate, the degree of said fall, and the duration of same, being
governed by the depth and prolongation of the said notches on the like, the said
pawl being held in its highest position (governed by a suitable stop) when resting
upon the periphery of the said plate or disc, the duration of said rest being
governed by the distance between the said notches on the like. To the said pawĬ
is connected or formed integially therewith an arm or extension, the free end of
which is arranged to form a sector of a cucle, having upon its periphery teeth or
cogs, in gear with a pinion, the spindle of which extends through the front of the
case or proscenium, and upon this is fixed an arm or staff carrying a representation
of a miniature flag, the movements of which describe an arc, or portions of a circle,
the degree and fiequency of such movements, and the rest, and the duration of the
rest between the said movements, constituting (according to the Morse code of
such signalling) equivalents to the dot and dash in telegraphy. The movements

page_text: and degree of movements, and periods of rest of the said 'flag, is governed by the
degree of rotation of its spindle and the pinion thereon, both of which are governed
by the movements of the toothed sector connected to the said pawl, the latter
being governed by the notches or the like in the before mentioned plate or disc,
and the said notches or the like may be so arranged that the movements of the said
flag may represent (according to the said code) a series of letters uumerals or
groups in any desired order, and any number of said plates, (each having notches
or the like aanged in different oider to each other) may be supplied with each
apparatus, so that the student on teacher may change these at will, for the purpose
of varying the lesson or test of reading the signals, and in order that the teacher
may test his students, or the home tutored student test himself, in the quickness
and accuracy of his reading of the signals shewn by the apparatus is the object
and purpose of the first named small disc and pawl, by the means of which the
apparatus may be started at the commencement, and automatically stopped at the
finish of the test lesson.
It is obvious that the apparatus may be rendered more realistic by the
employment of a model or working picture of an orderly or other person upon the
proscemum of the apparatus, which may be made to appear as if waving the flag,
but I do not claim this as forming part of my invention
For the purpose of giving on taking lessons in flash signalling, 1 may provide
within the apparatus a rest on shelf foi a lamp or other illuminaut, and facing this
in the proscenium a hole or aperture through which the light from this may pass,
such hole or aperture being, preferably, at the point of the flag motion known as
"the normal," and this portion or the whole of the proscenium would be covered or
faced by a board or panel, in which would be fixed a suitable lens lacing the said
hole and light, and between the sud panel and proscenium the flag would be free to
move, and operate as a shutter for covering and uncovering the light, the flashes
from which may be read duect or be projected by the lens upon a suitable screen
and be read therefrom.
Dated this 17th day of October 1895
GEO THOS HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C,
Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Mechanical Apparatus for Teaching, Army and Navy
Signalling.
1, HLNRY CANNY of 29 Crescent Road, Plum-tead in the County of Kent,
Engmeer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertamed and by
the following statement.-
My invention relates to an improved device or apparatus operated by clockwork
or other mecham-m, foi imparting to a dummy flag or disc, or a dummy figure or
working picture. holding such a Hag or disc, motions corresponding to those
exercised by skilled military and naval men, for imparting Morse-code sight signals
at a distance, the object of any invention being that by its aid a student of the art
may practice and take lessons therefrom quietly at home, without te aid of a
teacher on the services of a second person to operate the apparatus, and also that a
teacher may instruct a class of a student by its use, or test the abilities of a student
on class, in the correctness or quickness of his or then reading of the series of
signals given thereby, such series being quickly and easily interchangeable at the
will of the teacher, or the person undergoing the self imposed tuition, and by the

page_text: aid of a suitable lamp or lens, the same apparatus may be used either by the said
teacher or student at home, and alone for impatting lessons in flash signalling.
In order that my invention, the manner in which I prefer to construct the same,
and the manner of its operations may be clearly understood, I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings of which
1
Fig 1 is a font elevation of the mechanism by which the movements of the flig
or disc is operated according to my invention.
Fig 2 is a like elevation of the back of same.
Fig 3 is an enlarged detached view of the toothed sector and pinion forming
part of Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 4 and 5 are front and side elevation respectively of the fan or speed
governor and brake device forming part of Figs and 2
Fig 6 is a perspective view of the said fan illustrating the manner of arresting
the same as hereinafter explained.
Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the case or container for the apparatus Figs. 1
and 2 hereinafter referred to.
My invention consists of a preferably rectangular box or case A, of any suitable
dimensions, having a hinged or other don or enclosure at the back, while the
front (Fig. 7) is solid at B, ard upon this may be painted punted or otherwise
prepared to represent a landscape, bai racks, dull ground, the deck of a ship or
such other device as may be desired, the said front being preferably recessed
so as to easily receive a board or shutter for entely hiding the said proscenium,
and may be fixed to A when required by clips, buttons or other suitable means.
Within the said case, and hxed upon the back of B, is a metallic duplex
frame C, preferably. but not imperatively of the shape shewn in Figs. 1 and 2,
the former being the face that would be next to B, and within the said frame A.
] mount a suitable train of wheels, which may be operated by a weight, or
electrical energy, but preferably by a coil spring, open, or contained within a
drum D, the winding spindle of which a, passes through the front B for the
reception of a key. The said train may consist of any number of wheels suitably
geared to impart motion at the desired speed to a spindle E, which extends a
Euntable distance beyond the back face (Fig. 2) of the duplex frame C, and carries
a cncular disc F, provided in any part of its periphery with a notch or incision b,
with which engages a projection o pawl c, upon the under side of a lever G,
pivotally mounted upon the duplex fraine C at d. The said train also carries a
fan or speed regular II, which caries upon one end of its spindle by fictional
contact an aim J, with which engages a projection e upon the lever G, which
ariests the motion of H and consequently the train of wheele, when the heel or
pawl of the lever G engages with the slot in the disc F, as hereinafter
explamed, a suitable spring II' acts as a brake upon the spindle of H, the tension
of which is increased by a sciew rod II", and by this means the speed of the train
of wheels may be regulated. Upon the spindle E outside the disc F, I mount
and fix by a fly nut or other suitable means, a large circular and preferably
metallic or vulcanite disc K, in and all round the periphery of which, notches,
seriations, undulations, or incisions are formed, in suitable but varying order
and depth, and with these engage a V shaped projection g, upon an aim h of a
pawl or lever L, pivotted at upon the duplex frame C, (shewn detached at
Fig 3). The lower or fiee end of the lever L is extended m width and
ananged to form the sector of a circle, having upon its periphery teeth or
cogs which gear with a piniou M carried by the duplex frame C, the spindle
of which extends at one end through the front B of the case A, and callies a
fixed hollow or tubular piece N, in which is inserted the staff of the flag or
disc O, by the movements of which the signals are given The lever L hus. a
slot through which passes a pin n, engaging with both faces of the duplex
fame C, the said pin bemg to govern the extent of the oscillation of the lever L,
as this is swayed to and fro by the action of the teeth or notches in the plate K
as this revolves as hereinafter explained and to prevent attle the said pin n

page_text: may be conted with rubber it desued A suitable spung P serves to keep the
projection of the aim of the lever L always in contact with the teeth or
notches in the plate oi disc K.
The Moise code of signalling consists in the party signalling waving a flag or
the like by a semi-otny motion from a certain point or angle to his left known
as the pause or normal position, to a certain point or angle to his night, or to a
point intermediate or between, and the extent of such wave and the repetitions
thereof constitute, according to such code, certain letters words or sentences, and
to effect such motions in miniature by mechanical means for the purposes stated,
I provide in the periphery of the disc K notches or the like f, of such formation
and depth, that as this is revolved hy the rotation of the spindle E, the sand
notches by engaging with the projection 9 would cause the arm to use and fall,
or for a time so raised or so lowered according to the formation, frequency or
interval between the said notches, and the motion thus imparted to the arm h
would impart a coresponding but more pronounced motion to the sector and
from this to the pinion M, upon the spindle of which, as previously stated, would
be mounted the flag or disc O, from which it will be understood that the deeper
the notch, the greater would be the depression of the aim h, and the degree of
oscillation of the lever L, and consequently the greater the degree of 1otation of
the pinion M, so that the deepest of said notches would place the flag in the
position indicated by X in Fig 7, while notches of lesser depth would place the
flag in an intermediate position, such as that shewn by XX in the same figue,
and that each time the projections passed over the top of one of the teeth formed
by such notches, the flag O would be brought to the normal position indicated
by XXX in the same figure, and that the greater the surface of said tooth the
longer would the flag remain in the latter position, which according to said code
would indicate punctuation in the reading of the signal. It therefore follows that
by providing notches of suitable formation in the periphery of the disc K, sentences
or messages of considerable length may be read by the student from the motions
thus imparted to the fing O
When the apparatus is at rest, the projection.c of the lever G would be seated
in the notch of the disc F, while the projection e upon G would be in engage-
ment with the aim J upon the spindle of the fan H, as at Fig. 6, and assuming
that at this moment the projection of the aim h was resting upon a neutral
tooth in the periphery of the disc K, the flag O would be at the normal
point X X X. If now the student at home of the class conductor raises the
lever G, the spindle E, and the discs F and K thereon would commence to
revolve and upon the periphery of the former would now-iest the projection c
keeping the lever G in its elevated position, while the notches in the latter would
operate the flag On the manner described, so that the signalling may be read
by the said student on class, until the notch in the disc F came round to its
normal position, when the projection e would drop thereinto, thereby lowering the
lever G so that its projection e by colliding with J would stop the mechanism and
airest the progress of the disc K, leaving the flag O at X X X as before to
indicate the sentence was completed.
Foi probationary students unable to read the signals quickly, I provide a
spring which may be brought to impinge upon the spindle of the fan II, by the
tightening of a threaded rod Has shewn at Fig. 5, so that by the adjustment
of H the spring H¹ may be caused to press more or less upon the spindle of H,
and act as a bake and so regulate the speed of the mechanism and consequently
the rate of movements of the flag O).
The apparatus may be made more realistic by the employment of a model o
working picture of an orderly on other person fixed or painted upon the
proscemn B, which may be made to appear as if waving the flag O, but I do not
claim this as forming part of my invention.
For the purpose of giving or taking lessons in flush signalling, I provide upon
the back of Bashelf or rest for a lamp or other illuminant, as indicated by

page_text: dotted outline R in Fig. 7, and facing this I provide in B a hole or aperture
(indicated by a dotted circle S) through which the light from the said illuminant
may pass, and covering or partly covering B, I provide a board or panel for the
reception of which the front of B would be recessed as previously stated, the said
board or panel being held in position by suitable clips, buttons, or the like.
(n
the said board or panel a suitable leus may be provided facing the hole S, so that
the light may pass through the said lens, and between the said lens and hole S the
flag (or in this case an opaque disc may take the place of the flag if desired) would
be free to move in the manner described, and operate for covering and uncovering
the light, the flashes from which may be read duect, or be projected by the said
leus upon a suitable screen and be read therefiom.
The apparatus may be provided with any number of the plates or discs K, each
having notches on the like, aanged in different order to each other, so that
the student or teacher may change these at will for the purpose of varying the
lesson oi test of reading of the signals, and in order that the teacher may test his
students, or the self tutored student test himself in the quickness and accuracy of
his reading of the signals, is the object and purpose of the disc F, by the means of
which and the lever G, the apparatus may be started at the commencement, and
automatically stopped at the finish of the test lesson.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manut the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claun 16
-
1st. In an improved self operated mechanical apparatus for the self teaching or
other wise of any and navy sight and flash signalling, the construction, use and
application of the herein de-cribed device, and the several parts and movements
Constituting the same, connected, combined and operating substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth and shewn by the appended drawings.
2nd. In an improved selt operated mechanical apparatus for the self teaching or
other wise of army and navy signalling, the combination of a case A, with solid
front B, containing a duplex fiamme C, carrying a train of wheels operated by a
weight or electrical energy, but preferably by a sping such as D, and giving
motion to a spindle E, cariying a disc F, having a notch such as b, for receiving a
projection c, of a stopping and starting lever Ġ, the said spindle also carrying a
plate or disc K, the periphery of which has suitably arranged notches f, engaging
with a projection g of an amh connected to a lever L, having teeth or cogs
gear with a pinion M, the spindle of which passes through B, and cames a
tubular portion N for receiving and holding the staff of a flag or the like O,
with means such as a spring H operated by a threaded spindle, lo1 regulating
the speed of the movements of the said flag, the whole connected, combined and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
10
3id. In combination with the apparatus set forth in the preceding claim, the
employ mnent of an illuminant fixed upon the back of B at R, the light from which
passes through a hole S in B, and a suitable lens in a portable shutter or panel
coverg B, in combination with au opaque disc in heu of the flag O, the whole
connected and operating for the teaching of flash signalling substantially as herein
described and shewn.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1806
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
No. Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.