Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling by Daylight, especially Adapted for Ships' Use.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling by Daylight, especially
Adapted for Ships' Use.
We, THE BRITISH-THOMSON-HOUSTON COMPANY LIMITED, of 83, Cannon Street, in
the City of London, Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (which has been communicated to us from abroad by Bradley A. Fiske, of New
York, State of New York, United States of America, Lieutenant in the Navy of the
United States of America), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a day signalling apparatus. The invention is particularly
adapted for use on ships, for the reason that the signals will be observable from all
points of the horizon and will be readable from any point on the horizon irrespective
of the ship's position. The improved signals are, however, adapted for effective use
as land signals, or for signalling between the shore and ships. Preferably there is
employed a plurality of the signals arranged in a vertical line and with a sufficient
clearance space between them to prevent the possibility of confusion in the reading,
and when so arranged, the signals will be capable of manipulation in accordance with
a preconcerted code, whereby intelligible messages may be rapidly and effectively
transmitted.
Broadly stated, this improved signalling apparatus consists of two or more sema-
phores arranged at an angle to each other and operated simultaneously or with such
substantial unison as to prevent confusion. Hence, when in operation, at least one
of said semaphores will be seen, irrespective of the position which may be occupied
by the observer relatively to the same. When used particularly as ship signals, it is
desirable that a plurality of these sets or pairs of semaphores should be employed,
carried, in the case of a man-of-war, on the military mast, and the semaphores of
each set being operated simultaneously or in substantial unison in accordance with
the terms of a preconcerted code. When thus used, experience has demonstrated
that the semaphores should be as light as possible, that they should be capable of
rapid movements without shock or jar, that they should offer as little resistance as
possible to wind pressure, and that they should be of such a form as to be seen from
great distances. It is furthermore desirable especially in ship signals, owing to the
limited height of the available supports and hence to reduce the number of signalling
elements as much as possible, that the signalling devices should each be capable of
inore than one signalling position. In order to realize these practical requirements,
it is preferred to make the semaphores with a light wooden or metal frame, essentially
rectangular in form, and to extend between the said frame a backing which will offer
but little wind resistance. Such backing may consist of cloth, thin wood or sheet
metal suitably perforated, but it is preferred to employ for the purpose ordinary
caning, such as is used for the seats and backs of chairs. Such material is very
light, and from a distance will give to the eye the impression of a solid opaque body.
By thus making the semaphore arms so that they will be very light and will offer but
little wind resistance, and further by pivoting them at their centers so that they will
be practically counterbalanced, they may be operated rapidly and with very little
force, and they may be returned to any normal position desired by means of a light
spring, whereby in the operation of the signals, the semaphores will be moved

page_text: rapidly towards or from their signalling position or positions without shock or
vibration.
In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to the
accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1
represents a perspective view of a battle ship, the military mast of which is equipped
with signals in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 an elevation of a
suitable supporting mast carrying the preferred form of signalling apparatus; Figure 3
a plan view of the same; Figure 4 a side elevation of a suitable supporting mast
equipped with a modified construction of semaphore; Figure 5 a horizontal section
of the same; Figure 6 an enlarged sectional view of the clamping ring, operating
segment and bearing thereof illustrated in Figure 3; and Figure 7 a section on
line 7-7 of Figure 6.
In all of the above views, corresponding parts are represented by the same letters
of reference.
In Figure 1 the military mast of a battle ship is illustrated as being provided with
four signalling elements or semaphore sets, the semaphores of the first and third sets,
counting from the top, being represented in a horizontal position, and the semaphores
of the second and fourth sets being shown in an inclined or oblique position. When
the semaphore arms extend parallel to and are concealed by the inast, they are out of
the signalling position. By properly manipulating the semaphores of the several
sets, and by moving the semaphores from the concealed or hidden position to the first
or second signalling position, various combinations may be made to accord with a
preconcerted code, and intelligible messages may in this way be transmitted from one
vessel to another or from one station to another. The semaphores are operated in
any suitable way, preferably from the deck of the vessel or from the fighting-top of
the mast, or from the ground, in the case of land signals.
Having reference to Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7, the construction of the preferred form
of semaphore will be understood. 1 represents a suitable support, which may be the
mast of a vessel or a suitable staff mounted at an appropriate locality on the land.
2 is a split collar, the parts being secured together by bolts 3, so that the collar will
be firmly clamped to the support 1. Preferably cast with one part of the collar 2 are
two bosses 4, 4, which in this instance are arranged ninety degrees apart.
5 repre-
sents a shaft or spindle rigidly secured to each of said bosses. Mounted upon this
shaft or spindle, is a sleeve 6 having a bearing 7 for the shaft or spindle at its rear
end, which bearing works against the boss 4. The sleeve 6 is provided with a cap 8
secured in place by a set screw or pin 9, preferably the former, which cap constitutes
a front bearing for said sleeve upon the shaft or spindle 5. 10 is a collar rigidly
secured to the shaft or spindle at its forward end, such as by means of a set-screw or
pin 11, which collar works against the front face of the cap 8 so as to prevent lateral
play of the sleeve 6 on the shaft or spindle 5. 12 is a coil spring surrounding the
shaft or spindle 5 within the sleeve 6. The inner end of said spring engages an
opening in said sleeve, and the forward end of said spring passes through the collar 10,
as shown particularly in Figure 6. The cap 8 is provided with a curved slot 13
therein, through which the front portion of the spring 12 passes. The spring 12 will
be placed under tension by rotating the collar 10 on the shaft or spindle 5, and by
then clamping the said collar in place, after which the cap 8 is so adjusted as to allow
for partial rotary movement of the sleeve 6 on said shaft or spindle. If desired, the
slot 13 in the cap 8 may constitute a limiting stop for arresting movement of the
sleeve 6 in either of its extreme positions, although in practice it is preferred in
bringing the semaphore arms to their horizontal position, to engage them together,
so that it will be desirable to make the slot 13 so long as not to engage with the
front portion of the spring 12 when the semaphore arms are moved to that position.
Cast with the sleeve 6 is a quadrant 14 having a grooved outer face 15 in which
works a small chain 16. A light wire rope 17 is connected to this chain and by
means of which the semaphore arms will be moved from their concealed or bidden
osition to a horizontal or to an inclined position, as will be understood. The chains,
Popes or other operating elements of the two semaphore arms of each pair may
r

page_text: be connected together, as shown in dotted lines, or they may be connected to the
same controlling device, or they may be actuated by separate controlling devices
either simultaneously or in such substantial unison as to avoid confusion. Carried on
the segment 14 is a semaphore arm 18, so arranged relatively to the shaft or spindle 5
as to be practically counterbalanced, as illustrated. This semaphore arm preferably
comprises an outer frame 19 made of light wood or sheet metal and an interior
portion or backing 20 supported by said frame and composed preferably of ordinary
caning such as is used for the seats and backs of chairs. If desired, however, this
portion 20 may be composed of cloth, light wood or sheet metal having perforations
therein so as to offer as little resistance to the wind as possible. Caning is con-
sidered preferable, since it is very light possesses but little wind resistance, and from
a short distance will give the impression to the eye of a solid opaque body. Each
semaphore arm is provided with a cutaway portion 21, which coincided with a similar
portion in the adjacent arm of the same set, and by reason of which the two sema-
phore arms of each set may be brought to a horizontal position in the same plane.
The concealed or hidden position of two semaphore arins such as described, will be
when the arms are parallel to the mast 1. The first signalling position is that in
which the arms will occupy the position shown in dotted lines, Figure 2, said arms
extending obliquely with regard to the support 1, as shown in the second and fourth
sets in the perspective view. The second signalling position is that in which the
arms occupy a horizontal position, as shown in full lines, Figure 2, and corresponds
to the representation of the first and third sets in the perspective view.
When the semaphore arms are in the horizontal position, it is preferable to allow
the cutaway portion 21 of each to engage together, but this engagement, owing to
the extreme lightness of the arms and to the fact that they are nearly counter-
balanced, will result without shock or jar. By counterbalancing the semaphore arms
as explained, a very light spring 12 will be necessary to return them to their con-
cealed or hidden position; so that the arms may be rapidly moved into one position
or the other with the expenditure of but slight energy. Practice has demonstrated
that a signalling apparatus constructed as explained, fulfills all the practical require-
ments of the art, since the constituent elements are light, easily operated,
capable of rapid changes in position, and offer but slight resistance to the
wind.
While it is preferable to construct the semaphore arms as explained, it is never-
theless possible to employ semaphore arms pivoted at one end and co-operating
together, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In this modification the support 1 is
provided with a collar 22 for each signalling element. Said collar carries two
bosses 23, 23, arranged preferably ninety degrees apart. In each of said bosses is
mounted a rotable shaft having an outer bearing in a block 25, the said blocks being
carried in a suitable supporting frame 26. Each shaft 24 carries a semaphore arm 27
keyed to the shaft near its outer end. 28, 28 are miter segments carried by the
shafts 24 or the semaphore arms 27 and meshing together, whereby the semaphore
arms of each set will move simultaneously. Any suitable means, such for example,
as a segment 29 corresponding to the quadrant 14, may be secured to one or both of
the shafts 24 for operating the semaphore arms 27.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion (as communicated to us from abroad) and in what manner the same is to be
performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A signal element comprising a plurality of semaphore arins arranged at an angle
to each other and movable simultaneously or in substantial unison, whereby at least
one of said arms will be observable from all points of the horizon, substantially as set
forth.
2. A day signalling apparatus comprising two or more pairs of semaphore arms,
the arms of each pair being arranged at an angle to each other and being movable
simultaneously or in substantial unison, whereby at least one of said arms will be
observable from all points of the horizon, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. A signalling element comprising a pair of semaphore arms pivoted at their
centers and working in planes perpendicular to each other, and movable
simultaneously or in substantial unison, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A signalling element comprising a pair of semaphore arms pivoted at their
centers and working in planes perpendicular to each other, and movable simul-
taneously or in substantial unison, said arms having cutaway portions which
interlock when the arms are moved to a horizontal position, substantially as set
forth.
5. A signal element comprising a pair of semaphore arms pivoted at their centers
and working in planes perpendicular to each other and movable simultaneously or in
substantial unison, and a spring co-operating with each arm for normally moving
the same in one direction, substantially as set forth.
6. An improved semaphore comprising an outer supporting frame and an interior
perforated body, substantially as set forth.
7. An improved semaphore comprising a supporting frame, and a body made of
caning carried by said frame, substantially as set forth.
8. An improved signalling element comprising a stationary supporting shaft, a
sleeve on said shaft, a retracting spring carried within said sleeve, and a semaphore
arm movable with said sleeve, substantially as set forth.
9. An improved signalling element comprising a stationary shaft, a sleeve on said
shaft, a collar carried by said shaft, a spring mounted within said sleeve connected
at one end to said collar and at the other end to said sleeve, and a semaphore arm
carried by said sleeve, substantially as set forth.
10. An improved signalling element comprising a stationary shaft, a sleeve on said
shaft, a collar adjustably mounted on said shaft, a spring mounted within said sleeve
connected at one end to said collar and at the other end to said sleeve, and a sema-
phore arm carried by said sleeve, substantially as set forth.
11. An improved signalling element comprising a stationary shaft, a sleeve
mounted on said shaft, a cap at the forward end of said sleeve and bearing on said
shaft, a collar secured to said shaft, a spring mounted within said sleeve, one end of
which is connected to said collar passing through said cap, the other end being con-
nected to said sleeve, and a semaphore arm carried by said sleeve, substantially as
set forth.
12. An improved signalling element comprising a stationary shaft, a sleeve
mounted on said shaft, a cap for the forward end of said sleeve and bearing on said
shaft, means for connecting said cap and said sleeve, a collar rigidly connected to
said shaft, a spring mounted within said sleeve and connected at one end to said
collar and at the other end to the sleeve, the said spring passing through a slot
in said cap, and a semaphore arm connected to said sleeve, substantially as set
forth.
D
021
1
CT
1000
day of June 1898.
THE BRITISH THOMSON-HOUSTON CO. LTD.
A. R. MONKS,
Director.
Alfred CLEMENTS,
Assistant Secretary.