Improvements in or relating to Whistle Signal Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 31st Aug.. 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Whistle Signal Apparatus.
A communication by GEORGE JOSEPH SCHoeffel, of 302 Lewis Avenue,
Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United States of America, Manu-
facturer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 31 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
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 whistle signal apparatus, in which a whistle is controlled
electrically without interfering with means to control said whistle manually.
In the drawing,
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a general view of apparatus embodying parts of the
invention;
Figures 2 and 3 show details of signal devices ;
Figures 1 to 6, Sheet 2, show the preferred form of valve mechanism.
1 is a whistle and 2 is a pipe to supply steam to the whistle. 8 is a valve in said
supply pipe adapted to be moved by the wire 13 to operate the whistle by hand
when necessary, said valve being normally closed.
Referring to Sheet 2 the valve mechanism by which the whistle can be operated
will be described. In the main valve body 8 is a valve port 9 between the inlet
and outlet, normally closed by a valve 10, the stem 11 of which is extended
through the body and a cylinder forming a part thereof, and terminates outside of
said cylinder in position to be operated upon by the lever 12, which can be
operated by a wire or handle 13, extending into the pilot-house, in the case of a
boat's whistle.
On the stem 11 is a piston 14 movable in a cylinder 15, provided with an air
vent 16 behind the piston. Cylinder 15 is separated from the main outlet chamber
by a wall or diaphragm 17 in which is an opening just large enough to receive the
piston 18, also on the valve stem, and of such length as to keep the opening in
which it moves permanently closed. The piston 18 is considerably smaller than
the piston 14, but is nearly as large in area as the main valve and serves to assist
in closing the same as soon as the side valve has been closed after having been
opened, or after the hand pull has been operated.
On one side of the valve body is cast an extension 19 in which is a passage 20
extending from the space in front of piston 14 (see Figures 1 and 4) to the space
above the side valve 21, in port 21. From the space below the valve passage 22
extends to the inlet of the main valve (see Figure 3). Passages 20, 22, form a
branch from the main pipe to the cylinder 15, from which there is a small exhaust
into the open air, passages 20, 22, being normally separated by the side valve 21.
The side valve may be located in a valve body 23 bolted to the main body, or
cast in one piece therewith. 24 is a valve stem, secured on which is a valve
head 25, having a conical upper face from which extends a stem 26 which it is
preferred to have grooved, on which is a second valve head 27, in the form of a
ring, adapted to fit tightly on the conical face of valve 25. The upper face of the
ring is also conical and fits port 21' (see Figures 3 and 5). On the grooved ste..,

page_text: say a sixteenth of an inch above valve 27, are projections 28, adapted to press on
valve 27, as hereinafter explained.
The upper end of stem 26 is also grooved at 28', where it passes through the
valve body. Just outside of the valve body on the valve stem a distance from the
body equal to the range of movement of the armature, say one-eighth of an inch,
is an adjustable valve 29 adapted to move down onto the valve body and to close
the opening formed by groove 28', which constitute the exhaust opening for
cylinder 15. Carried by the valve stem is a cup 30 in which loosely rests rod 31,
secured to which at the upper end is an armature 32. The rod passes through a
brass or other suitable tube 33, fitting tightly into the magnet case 34 at its lower
end, and at its upper end passing through a brass or other suitable diaphragm 35
in such manner as to absolutely exclude water or moisture from the magnet
chamber even though it should enter the armature chamber, which it cannot do
except in very small quantities and this will be only under most trying circum-
stances. 36 is a magnet, in any suitable circuit 37, extending into the magnet
chamber through a moisture tight construction.
The magnet case is small since it only includes the magnet and armature and is
or may be supported on a bracket 38 extending from body 8.
The operation of the mechanism described is as follows: When it is desired to
sound the whistle it may be done by handle 13, thus, through stem 11, opening the
valve, but ordinarily when it is desired to sound the whistle, it will be done by
making and breaking circuit 37 by any suitable means. When the circuit is made,
the magnet attracts its armature; during the first part of its movement it moves
stem 24 and head 25. This movement requires comparatively little power, and as
soon as it has been made steam escapes between the heads 25, 27, thus relieving
pressure on the former. Projections 28 then strike and move head 25 during the
latter part of the movement of the armature, and valve 29 becomes seated so as to
close the exhaust, causing the steam to pass to cylinder 15 and to move the piston.
When circuit 37 is broken and the armature rises, the exhaust is opened allowing
steam in front of the piston to escape. The pressure on piston 18 and the spring
then close the main valve. The hand and electric operating devices do not
interfere although acting on the same valve.
A cock 38 may be provided in passage 20 for rendering the side valve inopera-
tive, or for allowing its removal. If the valve stem is considerably smaller than
the bore of ring 27, and of the opening in the valve body through which it passes,
there will be openings through for the passage of fluid as soon as head 27 is moved
away from bead 25, or valve 29 is moved away from its seat, if the grooves should
be omitted.
Magnet 36 is connected with an electric generator X Sheet 1, and the current is
controlled by suitable controlling device, hereinafter described. A Morse key 39
in shown for this purpose; also automatic circuit controlling devices to be
described. By key 39 code signals can be made. It is preferred instead of
connecting the circuit controlling key or device directly to the circuit of
generator X, to employ two circuits, as shown in Figure 1, one leading from the
generator X, in which is the electro-maguet 36, in box 34, and the circuit-
breaker 10. The current developed in this battery is sufficient to operate the
maguets 36 to control the valve. The other circuit leads from the battery X', and
contains the electro-magnet 41, and is controlled by a Morse key 42, or, when
switch 43 is closed, by an automatic signal transmitter 44. The battery X' gives
less current than the generator X, it being only necessary to use a current to
operate the circuit-breaker 40, while it is necessary in order to effectually operate the
valve controlling device to employ a stronger current. To include the key or the
automatic trausmitter in this circuit, would cause sparking with the making or
breaking of the circuit. Each closing of the key 42 attracts the armature, closing
circuit 37, aud sounds the whistle. If it be desired to use battery X only
battery X¹ can be omitted and the wires connected as in dotted lines.
This 7
In Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is illustrated the automatic signalling device 41.

page_text: be operated by clock work, or any convenient source of power to turn the circuit
making and breaking wheel or commutator wheel or cylinder 45 having contact
pens 46, on an insulating support. This commutator and the pens are in the
circuit of the generator X¹ when the switch 43 is closed. The commutator may
be made in any of the usual forms, preferably being provided on its periphery with
alternating conducting and non-conducting segments or spaces, of predetermined
length or arranged at predetermined intervals, and with the pens inakes and breaks
the circuit as the commutator is rotated by the time mechanism giving a code
signal or sounding the whistle at regular intervals.
When desired to signal by a code of several characters, a transmitter may be
used having several automatic controllers. One such device is shown in Fig. 3.
47 are several wheels with conducting and non-conducting sections, each wheel
adapted by its rotation to make and break the circuit, according to one character
of the code. 48 are springs bearing on said wheels, and connected to the con-
tacts 49, for each of which there is a co-operating key 50. 51 is any suitable
motor for moving the circuit wheels, which are normally held at rest by the
pivoted lever 52 engaging a notch 53 in wheel 54. 55 is a spring connected to all
of wheels through the shaft. The wire from the keys and that from spring 55 may
be connected to circuit of battery X, as the contacts of key 39, or to the circuit of
battery X¹, as the contacts of key 42.
Notwithstanding the magmet case 34 is closed tightly, moisture collects by
condensation and sometimes by connecting the wire of the magnet or of the circuit
to the box or case thence to the whistle pipe, grounds the circuit which is
troublesome and dangerous. To avoid this the box is insulated from the whistle
pipe and from metal parts of the ship. If moisture then connects the wire and box
it will not ground the system. Instead of the clock motor for driving the
automatic circuit closer, an electric or other motor may be used, the electric motor
being connected to the electric lighting circuit of the ship by suitable circuit
connections. The relay may control the whistle and motor circuits without using
a local circuit with a separate generator as hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :
1. The combination with a manually operated whistle valve, of a piston on the
stem thereof, a branch passage extending to the piston and an electrically controlled
valve in said passage.
2. The combination of a magnet and armature, a closed case containing them,
and a moisture tight partition between the part holding the magnet and that
holding the armature.
3. The combination of a main valve body and valve, in a pipe leading to a
whistle, a piston adapted to move said valve there being a passage from the inlet
of the main valve to said piston, a side valve in said passage, a magnet and
armature in a tightly closed case, and a rod extending from the armature to the
outside of said case and connected to the side valve so as to move it.
4. The combination with a whistle, of an electrically operated valve to control
pressure to the whistle, means to control the circuit to the valve operating device
consisting of a circuit maker and breaker operated by a magnet 41 in auxiliary
circuit, and a circuit maker and breaker for said auxiliary circuit.
5. The combination with a whistle of an electrically operated valve to control
pressure to the whistle, means to control the circuit to the operating magnet
consisting of a circuit maker aud breaker operated by a magnet and a motor driven
controller to make and break the circuit at predetermined intervals.
6. The combination with a whistle of a valve to control pressure to the same,
said valve being operated both manually and electrically, means to control the
circuit to the valve controlling device consisting of one or more commutators
arranged to vary the circuit in a predetermined manner, means to operate said

page_text: commutators, and means to control the circuit to any one of said commutators
at will.
7. The combination of a whistle, a valve operated by a magnet for sounding the
whistle and an insulated case or box for the inagnet.
8. The combination of a whistle, a valve operated by a magnet for sounding the
whistle, a motor-driven circuit maker and breaker, and a relay or electrical switch
for controlling the whistle magnet and the motor circuits.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.