IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHING FOR NAVAL AND MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis John Bolton, of Bolton Row, Mayfair, in
the County of Middlesex, Captain in Her Majesty's 12th Regiment of
Foot, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHING FOR NAVAL
AND MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH."
Sealed the 4th November 1862, and dated the 9th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis John Bolton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on tho
9th May 1862.
I, FRANCIS JOHN BOLTON, of Bolton Row, Mayfair, in the County of
Middlesex, Captain in Her Majesty's 12th Regiment of Foot, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHING
FOR NAVAL AND MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in telegraphing for naval, military, and
other purposes and in the apparatus connected therewith, relates to a means
of transmitting intelligence or despatches in broad daylight by means of
flashes of light of long or short duration or both combined. This object is
effected by the employment of an intensely powerful light, consisting either of
the electric light or the lime. light, which is to be alternately obscured or
eclipsed and uncovered so as to produce visible flashes of light of long or short
duration and in any desired order of succession. In combination with this

page_text: light use lenses, reflectors, or other well known optical arrangements, in
order to prevent the dispersion of the light, and more effectually concentrate
or project it in the form of a pencil of rays upon the distant station or observer.
The signals are produced by temporarily obscuring the light by means of
shutters or other suitable contrivances for longer or shorter periods, and in
any pre-arranged order that may be desired. In conjunction with this
apparatus for transmitting the light, the signals are received in a darkened
chamber or other convenient appliance through a lens or on a reflector,
whereby they are concentrated on a field from which all unnecessary rays of
light are excluded. By these means the eye of the observer being relieved
from redundant light will be enabled more readily to receive and note the
signals that are made at the distant station. The light whereby the signals
are produced may be obscured or displayed by causing electro-magnets to act
on the shutters, and these electro-magnets may be put in action by transmitting
a current of electricity from a distant station in any of the well known
manners for working electro-magnetic apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Francis John Bolton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
JOHN BOLTON, of Bolton Row, Mayfair, in the County of Middlesex, Captain
in Her Majesty's 12th Regiment of Foot, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Francis John Bolton Eler special license that I, the said Francis John Bolton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis John
Bolton, 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEGRAPHING FOR
NAVAL AND MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Francis
John Bolton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should

page_text: 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis John Bolton, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
"
My Invention of Improvements in Telegraphing for Naval, Military, and
other Purposes, and in the Apparatus connected therewith," relates to a means
of transmitting intelligence or despatches in broad daylight by means of
signals produced by flashes of light of long or short duration or both combined.
This object is effected by the employment of an intensely powerful light,
consisting either of the electric light, the lime light, or other light, which is to
be alternately obscured or eclipsed and displayed so as to produce visible
flashes of light of long or short duration, and in any desired order of succession
so as to produce the required signals. In combination with this light I use
lenses, reflectors, or other well known optical arrangements, in order to
prevent the dispersion of the light, and to more effectually concentrate or
project it in the form of a pencil of rays upon the distant station or observer.
The signals are produced by temporarily obscuring the light by means of
shutters (or other suitable contrivances) for longer or shorter periods and in
any pre-arranged order that may be desired. In conjunction with this:
apparatus for transmitting the light, the signals are received in a darkened.
chamber, or other convenient appliance through a lens or on a reflector,.
whereby they are concentrated on a field from which all unnecessary rays of
light are excluded. By these means the eye of the observer being relieved.
from the redundant or extraneous light will be enabled more readily to perceive
and note the signals that are made at the distant station. The light whereby
the signals are produced may be obscured or displayed, that is, the shutters or
equivalent contrivance may be raised and lowered by causing electro-magnets.
to act on armatures connected with the shutters. These electro-magnets may.
be put in action from a distant station by causing a current of electricity to
pass through the coils of the electro-magnets in any of the well known manners-
for working electro-magnetic apparatus.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings I have shewn an arrangement
of apparatus for effecting the object of my Invention by means of a lime light,
the apparatus being provided with shutters, for temporarily obscuring the

page_text: light. Fig. 1 is a plan of the apparatus with the cover removed; Fig. 2 is a
longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3 a transverse vertical section of the
same. A, is the oxyhydrogen gas jet which is supplied with the two gases
through the pipes or tubes A¹ and A; B is the lime cylinder mounted on the
vertical stud pin a, which may be caused to revolve slowly by hand or by
means of clockwork if desired. The stud pin a carries the worm wheel b, in
which gears the worm c. On the axle of this worm is shewn a key by which
it may be rotated either by hand or by clockwork as before mentioned. The
vertical stud pin a is held in a spring clamp a*, fitted with a screw adjustment
by which the distance of the lime from the gas jet can be regulated and adjusted
at pleasure with nicety.
Another mode of adapting the lime is shewn at Fig. 4, in which the cylinder
of lime is represented as mounted horizontally in a spring holder, and ist
capable of being slidden, in' and through the sleeve head of the pillar ¹, to and
fro, so as to be brought nearer to or further from the gas jet as may be
required. It will be seen that the lime cylinder can be rotated by hand or by
clockwork as may be desired.
In this modification the gas jet plays upon the end of the lime cylinder, and
by this
arrangement of mounting it the lime can be rotated and caused to
approach or recede from the jet, as it is worn away simultaneously. The
shutter C consists of a circular piece of platinum or other metal slightly
concave, and is attached to a cranked arm d, which is in all the Figures
mounted upon a stud axle e, carried by a bracket screwed to the bed plate
of the apparatus, and immediately behind the gas jet. The lower end of this
lever arm d, has a projection at right angles to the arm in which is a hori-
zontal slot. In this slot works one end of a key lever f, which turns upon a
fulcrum pin g, carried in brackets screwed to the bed plate. The opposito
end of this lever f carries a finger button, by which the operator depresses
the lever f, and immediately.the cranked lever arm & carrying the shutter C,
will be removed from before the light into the position shown by dots in
Fig. 3. A spring f¹ (Fig. 1) is caused to bear up against the under side of
the lever f, and returns it to its former position, when the pressure of the
finger of the operator is removed. By thus depressing the lever f, for a
longer or shorter time, the rays of light will be thrown in flashes of longer or
shorter duration on to and through the arrangement of lenses shewn in section
at D, Fig. 2, which is simply a combination of two plano-convex lenses
mounted in the vertical plate g, and capable of adjustment laterally. It will,
therefore, be obvious that any other arrangement' of lenses may be used that
will effectually concentrate and project the rays of light in parallel lines. Ju

page_text: order to adjust the position of the instrument, so that the signals shall be
projected on the distant station, two telescopic lenses or eye pieces E and F, are
attached to one side of the instrument, or a telescope may be mounted thereon.
In Sheet II., I have shewn modifications of the above described apparatus.
Fig. 5, is a longitudinal vertical section of an apparatus in which the lenses D,
are surrounded by or placed within a parabolic reflector G, for more effectually
preventing the dispersion of the rays of light, and for concentrating the rays
on the centre of the lenses. Fig. 6, is a transverse vertical section of an
apparatus somewhat resembling that shewn at Fig. 5; but fitted with a modi-
fied form of shutter for obscuring the light. The circular platinum shutter C
is divided into two parts, C and C', which slightly overlap. Each part is
rivetted on to one of the vertical arms a, a', and these arms are mounted on
fulcrum pins e, e', carried in brackets screwed to the bed plate of the
apparatus. The arm a has firmly attached at right angles or forming part
thereof the key lever f, which projects beyond the fulcrum pin e, and, has a
slot in which works the pin g, in the cranked end of the lever arm a³, which
is mounted on the fulcrum pin e¹. The operator actuates the shutters C and
C by placing the finger upon and depressing the button on the end of the
arm f. This motion of the lever arm f will throw outwards the lever arms
a, a', into the position shewn by dots in Fig. 6. The two halves C, C', of the
circular shutters will be thereby separated and opened, but they will instantly;
close again and obscure the light on removing the finger from the lever f, as
explained with reference of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I. When a powerful
light is required, as for signalling at considerable distances, two, three, or more
lights may be combined and so arranged that all the lights will show through
one lens, and thus appear at a distance as a single light.
In Sheet III., Fig. 7, is a side, elevation of an apparatus, in which six
separate lime lights are combined and arranged around a common centre..
Fig. 8, is a front view; and Fig. 9, a back view of the same. Upon a bed
plate attached to any suitable stand.or table, is erected the vertical plate g, in
which are fitted in screwed sockets, six or any other convenient number of
lenses D. These lenses are arranged at equal distances around a hollow stud
pin or shaft A, attached to the plate g, and secured thereon by a screw nut
and supported at its opposite end by the bracket h. The lenses D are all
capable of adjustment in their sockets, nearer to or further from the lights
behind them. The oxygen and hydrogen gases enter this hollow stud pin by
the pipes A', A, (see detached view Fig. 10), and in this hollow stud pin or
shaft are the ordinary or other suitable arrangement of fine gauze or wire,
usually adapted to the gas jets of this description of light for the
purpose of

page_text: preventing explosion. The mixed gases pass through the hollow stud pin A.
to each of the single jet pipes a, a, to which gases can be admitted or shut
off at pleasure. by the separate stop-cocks i. On the shaft of each of the
pipes a, a, is mounted the tubular end of a bracket b', which carries at its
opposite end a horizontal tube ", in which the lime cylinder B, is placed as
in Fig. 4, Sheet I. The shutters C correspond in number to the jets a, a, and.
are attached to the arms c, which extend radially from a hub C*, mounted
loosely on the hollow stud pin A. This hub C* has on one side a projecting
lug c', (Fig. 9), to which is jointed the connecting link d, whose opposite end is.
attached to the operating lever f. By this arrangement the operating lever f can
be made to actuate the six shutters C simultaneously, for by depressing the outer
end of the lever f, the lug c (Fig. 9) of the hub C*, will be raised and thereby
causing the shutters C, C, to be moved on one side from in front of the lenses
D, D, through which the rays from the oxyhydrogen light will then be allowed
to pass. In Fig. 9, two electro-magnets H, H, are shewn embedded in the
foundation plate or stand iminediately below the key lever f, to which an
armature I is attached. By causing a current of electricity to pass through
the coils of the electro-magnets H, H, they will be caused to attract and pull
down the armature L, thereby depressing the lever f, and uncovering the
lenses. So long as the clectric current continues to pass through the coils, the
armature and lever f will be held down, but immediately the current is
broken the spring f¹ (Fig. 7) will force up the lever f and allow the shutter
C to resume their position in front of the lenses D. Any number of signals
may therefore be produced by this apparatus by means of the electro-magnets,
as will be well understood by electricians.
In Sheet IV., I have shewn at Fig. 11 a sectional view of an arrangement of
apparatus for receiving the signals from distant stations. Fig. 12, is a detached
side elevation of part of the apparatus. The rays of light from the listant
apparatus are received in a darkened chamber, or tube A, through the lens B,
adapted to the outer end of the tube A, and by which lens the rays are
condensed and thrown upon a field C. This field may be made of a flat disc
painted black, but having a white spot or centre, and can be set at the proper.
angle by the adjusting screws d, Fig. 12. An eye piece or magnifier D is
mounted on the end of the darkened chamber or tube A, as seen in Fig. 12,
for the purpose of minutely examining the disc C. The tube or darkened
chamber A is supported on an operating table as shewn in Fig. 11, or in any
other convenient manner, so that by means of the magnifier or eye piece D,
the most delicate pencil of rays will be rendered visible and may be easily
read off by the observer.

page_text: An instrument for the transmission of signals in answer, similar in construc-
tion to that described with reference to Fig. 5, Sheet II., is represented on the
table. Fig. 13 represents a longitudinal section of a modification of the
apparatus shewn at Fig. 11. It will be seen that the rays of light are received
in a darkened chamber A; but instead of being thrown on to a disc C, they
are conducted direct to the eye piece D. This is, perhaps, a more convenient
form of apparatus, but if desired, a reflector may be substituted for the disc C,
(Fig. 11), and the signals may be read off without the aid of a microscope.
It will be evident that my improved signalling or telegraphing apparatus may
either be placed at fixed points or it may be made portable for military
purposes. It may also be used on board ship for signalling or communicating
intelligence to stations on shore, or with the several ships of a fleet or squadron,
and as every facility exists for making long or short flashes of light, signals
or intelligence can be communicated with great rapidity by means of such
long or short flashes, or both combined, according to any pre-arranged code of
signals.
Javing now described my Invention and the manner of carrying the same
into effect, I claim as of my Invention, the communicating of signals for naval,
military, or other purposes in broad daylight, by means of flashes of light of
long or short duration, or both combined, as above described. I also claim the
arrangement of apparatus herein set forth, or any mere modification thereof,
for producing the long or short flashes, and also the apparatus for receiving
signals from distant stations.
In witness. whereof, I, the said Francis John Bolton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness.
FRED. WALKDEN,
66, Chancery Lane.
F. J. BOLTON. (L.S.)