IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MARINE AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel John Holmes, of The Hall, Primrose Hill Road,
Regent's Park, London, Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE
SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MARINE AND OTHER PURPOSES."-
Sealed the 8th February 1878, and dated the 18th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by The said Nathaniel John Holmes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th August 1877.
NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, of The Hall, Primrose Hill Road, Regent's Park,
London, Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MARINE AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
In these improvements for the purpose of producing the lights I make use of the .
well-known properties of the spontaneous combustion of phosphuretted hydrogen
gas, or of phosphuret of calcium when brought into contact with water.
The first of my present improvements relates to an improved method of pro-
ducing signal lights by generating the gas from the phosphuret of calcium in a
closed vessel under pressure, and by means of an automatic discharging arrange-
ment flash signals of definite duration and at fixed intervals of time may be
indicated; and the automatic admission of the equivalent integral of water into
the chamber is regulated as hereafter described.
In the arrangement of parts one form of this signal apparatus may be described
to be as follows:-A strong closed metal vessel is employed to contain the proper pro-
portion of phosphuret of calcium, which is passed into this chamber by means of
a screw hole at the top. Into this screw hole is securely fixed a mechanical
arrangement for the automatic admission of water into the interior of the closed
vessel, and emission of the gas evolved, as will now be described. It consists of
a peculiar formed tap having double functions, one being to open a direct com-
munication between the interior of the chamber and the external air, by which
the gas evolved may be discharged, and the other being the admission into the

page_text: chamber of a fixed quantity of water, the gas exit being closed when the water is
admitted, and the water communication being shut off when the gas is emitted.
The quantity of water admitted and the amount of phosphuretted hydrogen gas
emitted are each regulated by the dimensions of the respective apertures through
the central plug of the tap. Thus for every discharge of gas only an equivalent
supply of water is admitted, sufficient to develope the next discharge. The
duration and frequency of these discharges or automatic functions, being regulated
by the mechanical speed of the revolution or oscillating motion of the plunger of
the tap. A reservoir of water is in connection with the one aperture, and a
properly adjusted exit for the ignition of the gas attached to the other.
By this arrangement I am able to determine flashing signals of different periods
of duration and intervals of recurrence, and determinable at any required number
of hours, six, twelve, eighteen, twenty-four, thirty-six, or forty-eight hours, &c.,
according to the weight of phosphuret, the pressure of the gas, and interval of
emission, and the quantity of water admitted.
This new form of construction enables flashes of given duration to recur at fixed
intervals of time with chronometrical accuracy, and to extend over any desired
period of time.
Another form of construction when the automatic accuracy of the period of
recurrence and length of the flash is not essential, so much as a flashing signal of
long duration, may be described to be in principle as follows:-To regulate the
automatic emission of the gas I employ a balanced or free weighted valve, which
upon a given accumulated pressure of the evolved gas in the receptacle beneath
rises off its seat, and allows the passage of the gas until the pressure is reduced
below the loading of the valve:
The admission of the water may be either by a constant quantity adjusted to
the time of elevation of the weighted valve and gas pressure for special intervals of
time, or the elevation of the valve from its seat may be made the means of an
automatic admission of water into the interior of the reservoir.
By these novel applications of mechanical parts, and the adjustment of the
quantity of gas evolved to the amount of water required to effect that decom-
position, I am enabled to automatically control the duration, intensity, interval of
recurrence, and period over which such automatic recurrence of signals shall
occur.
My second improvement has reference to the construction of my floating distress
signals. In this improvement the case containing the phosphuret of calcium is
cylindrical, having one end larger in diameter than the other, and fitted with air-
tight covers securely soldered down. In the centre of both these covers is a per-
foration, that made in the larger diameter being adjusted for the emission of the
evolved gas, and the other in the smaller cover for the admission of the water.
These two holes are securely closed by two metal strips soldered over them, so
that upon the tearing away of these strips when the signal is required for use the
holes become exposed.
In connection with the water hole of the lower cover, inside the case, a small tube
of about six inches in length, open at the end, is securely soldered over the hole, and
this tube is curved round in a convenient manner to fit into the cylindrical case.
A hollow metal air float is inserted into the interior upper end of the cylindrical
vessel, of dimensions requisite to give the necessary buoyance to the signal when
thrown into the water, and the water has entered the interior through the tube
_before described.
Space is left between the surface of the interior float and the sides of the case
sufficient to allow of the passage of the phosphuretted hydrogen gas. The interior
float is kept in position by rest pieces soldered to the interior of the case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nathaniel John Holmes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
February 1878.
NATHANIEL JOHN HOLMES, of "The Hall," Primrose Hill Road, Regent's Park,
London, Middlesex, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
SELF-IGNITING AND INEXTINGUISHABLE SIGNAL LIGHTS FOR MARINE AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
In these improvements for the purpose of producing the light I make use of the
well-known properties of the spontaneous combustion of phosphuretted hydrogen
gas, or of phosphuret of calcium when brought into contact with water.
The first of my present improvements relates to an improved method of pro-
ducing signal lights by generating the gas from the phosphuret of calcium in a
closed vessel under pressure, and by means of an automatic discharging arrange-
ment flashing signals of definite duration and at fixed intervals of time may be
indicated. The automatic admission of the equivalent integral of water into the
chamber is regulated as herein-after described.
In the arrangement of parts one form of this signal apparatus may be described
to be as follows:-A strong closed vessel A, A, is employed, into which the proper
proportion of phosphuret of calcium enclosed in a suitable receptacle T, T, is
inserted through the moveable side M, M, which is so fitted afterwards to be closed
up air-tight by means of either screw nuts or pressure bars. Upon the top of the
vessel A, A, is securely fixed a screw plug B, B, and mechanical arrangement C, C,
for the automatic admission of water into the interior of the vessel T, T, and emission
of the gas evolved, as will now be described. It consists of a peculiar formed tap C
having double functions, one being to open a direct communication b, b¹, between
the interior of the chamber T, T, and the external air, by which the gas evolved
may be discharged through the tube D, and the other being the admission into the
chamber T, T, of a fixed quantity of water by means of the cavity a¹, the gas exit b¹
being closed when the water contained in the cavity a¹ is admitted, and the water
communication being shut off when the gas exit b¹ is open.
The quantity of water admitted and the amount of phosphuretted hydrogen
emitted are each regulated by the dimensions of the respective apertures a¹, b',
through the central plug C of the tap. Thus for every discharge of gas only the
equivalent of water is admitted sufficient to develope the next discharge, the
duration and frequency of these discharges or automatic functions being regulated
by the mechanical speed of the revolution of the plunger C of the tap.
A reservoir of water F, F, is in connection with the one aperture a¹ by means of
the tube V; on the top of the reservoir is a hole & to allow the escape of any gas
that might enter the reservoir from the cavity a'. The exit tube D, fitted with
a cap E to carry off the oxide of the phosphorus, is attached to the other exit b'.
The plug C is kept in its place by the pressure of the circular spring, By
removing the end plate R the plug C can be withdrawn.
Motion is given to the plug C by means of the connecting shaft G, G, which
enters the end of the plug C through the stuffing box f; f. This shaft G, G, is in
connection with the motor contained in the box P, P. Attached to the shaft G, G,
is a cam n, which gives an oscillating motion to the arm N, N, carrying a piece of
soft substance at its end, so that on each revolution of the shaft the arm is drawn
over the exit orifice, and brushes away the oxide of phosphorus.
The phosphuret of calcium is contained in the moveable chamber T, T. The
water as it drops from the cavity a¹ passes down the tube S, S, and comes into
contact with the phosphuret of calcium H, H, at the bottom of the mass.
L, L, is a bottom plate perforated with holes t, t, round its edge, so that the decom-
posed phosphuret of calcium when burnt out may subside into the receptacle below.
The chamber T, T, is inserted into the case A, A, by removing the side M, which

page_text: is afterwards clamped into its place by means of either pressure bars or screws, so
as to hermetically close the interior against the escape of gas.
By the arrangement thus described I am able to determine flashing signals of
different periods of duration and intervals of recurrence, and determinable at any
required number of hours, from one to twenty, according to the weight of phosphuret
of calcium introduced into the chamber T, T, and automatically to control the
duration, intensity, interval of recurrence, and period over which such automatic
recurrence of signals shall occur.
My second improvement has reference to an improved construction of my
floating distress signals. In this improvement the case containing the phosphuret
of calcium is cylindrical, and fitted with air-tight covers securely soldered down.
In the centre of both these covers the necessary perforations a and b are made, the
one for the emission of the evolved gas, and the other for the admission of the
water. These two holes are securely closed by the two metal strips A and B, soldered
over them, so that upon the tearing away of these strips when the signal is required
for use the holes become exposed. Over the water hole of the lower cover inside
the case a circular metal plate D fluted round the edge, and slightly smaller in
diameter than the case, is securely soldered to the bottom plate.
By this arrangement when the lower hole is open the water will enter the
interior of the case by the fluted channels. A metal air float is inserted into the
interior of the case of the requisite dimensions to give the necessary buoyancy to
the signal when thrown into the water. Space is left between the surface of the
float and the sides of the case, sufficient to allow of the passage of the phos-
phuretted hydrogen gas. The float C is kept in position by the rests d, d, fixed to
the interior of the case.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact details described, as the mechanical arrangements may be much varied
without departing from my Invention; what I claim is,
First. The mechanical arrangement of parts to be used in combination with
phosphuretted hydrogen gas or phosphuret of calcium necessary to produce an
automatic succession of flashing signals at given intervals of time by limiting the
admission of the water into the chamber, and the emission of the gas from the
chamber.
Second. The improved form of rescue signal, and manner of admitting the water
into the chamber as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathaniel John Holmes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Sixteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
Witness to the above signature,
J. W. SWANACK,
16th Feb. 1878.
NATH. J. HOLMES. (L.S.)