Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 12th Feb. 1889
I ALEXANDER GLEN of 3 Elm Court, Temple, London Barrister at Law do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An apparatus for causing a model signalling flag or lamp to signal a message (as
in the Morse Code as applied to Army signalling) by winding through the apparatus
a tape with holes punched in it in the proper positions so that only one at a time of
four pins will pass through the tape: each pin by passing through the tape permitting
a bar attached to it to turn a lever which draws the flag or lamp shutter into the
required position, or leaves it in the normal position. The lever after turning through
a certain angle is released so as to allow a spring to bring it back with the flag or
shutter if necessary to the normal position. The. flag or lamp makes a pause or
signals a dot or dash or the end of a word according to the pin which falls through
the tape; and a person may practice reading messages sent by flag or lamp without
the assistance of any other person.

page_text: ALEXANDER GLEN of 3 Elm Court, Temple, London, Barrister at Law, 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 :-
The said apparatus causes a signalling flag or lamp to signal a message as a per-
forated tape is wound through it. The tape has holes punched in it in the proper
positions so that only one at a time of four pins will pass through it, & the flag or
lamp makes a pause or signals a dot or dash or the end of a word according to the
pin which passes through the tape; each pin on passing through permitting a bar to
which it is attached to turn a lever whereby the flag or lamp shutter is drawn into the
required position or left in the normal position, as the case may be. The lever after
turning through a certain angle is released so as to allow a spring to bring it back
(and also the flag or the lamp shutter, if such flag or shutter has been drawn out of
thio normal position) into the normal position again.
Description of the apparatus (as adapted to signalling in the Morse code as applied
to army signalling) by reference to the annexed diagrams.
A., a wheel or cylinder of wood or metal, turning about a fixed pin or axis.
B., a metal spindle projecting eccentrically from one end of A. The pin on which
A. turns passes through it. The axis of A. & the axis of B. are parallel, & the
distance between them regulates the distance between the holes in the tape. If B. is
a separate piece from A., as in the diagram, it passes through & is rivetted to A.
.C., four similar flat pieces of metal, the thickness of each of which is one fourth
the length of the projecting spindle B. A hole is bored through one end of each, so
that they all fit on B., but not too tightly to allow it to turn.
D., four similar pins fixed in & projecting below the opposite ends of the pieces
C. to the holes through which B. passes. The length of the projection is such as to
allow the pin to pass through one of the slits in the plate F. & also through the
. tape.
E., four similar pieces of metal, of the same thickness as the pieces C., turning on
a fixed pin which passes through the broader ends of them. The shorter arms or
teeth of these pieces, as well as the ends of the pieces C. which touch them, are
bevelled on each side to prevent any of the latter pieces from catching the wrong
tooth.
F., a metal plate, with four slits at one end to allow the pins D. to pass through &
be carried along them, with-a broad shallow groove on the lower surface to allow the
tape to pass between it and the base V., and with the opposite end to the slits sloped
off on the lower surface to guide the end of the tape into its place. This plate is let
into the bottom of the frame R. on each side.
G., a stop or pin to stop the pieces E. in the same position after each movement.
It is covered with india rubber or soft material to deaden the sound.

page_text: H., a wooden spindle, turning on a pin fixed in the upper part of the frame, &
having a projection from the upper part to hold the base of the flag stick. The
length of the spindle is equal to that of the projecting spindle B., & its radius is
twice the distance between the axis of A. & the axis of B.
J., a spiral steel or other spring, fastened at one end to the longer arm of the first
of the pieces E., at a distance from the axis on which E. turns equal to twice the
distance from that axis of the extremity of the shorter arm or tooth, and at the other
end held by a silk thread or other cord passing under & partly round the spindle
of H. & fustened by a small pin to that spindle.
K., an india rubber band or other spring held at one end by a small pin to the
base of the flag stick, & at the other passed round the spindle of H. or held to the
upper part of it by another pin or hook.
L., a silk thread or other cord fastened at one end to the second of the pieces E.
half way between the axis on which E. turns, & the point corresponding to that at
which J. is fastened, & at the other end passing over the spindle & through &
fastened to the projection of H.
M., a similar cord fastened in like manner to H. at one end, but at the other
fastened to the third of the pieces E. at the point corresponding to that at which J.
is fastened.
N., a similar cord fastened at one end to the fourth of the pieces E. at the point
corresponding to those at which J. & M. are fastened, and at the other, after passing
over the pin on which H. turns (the spindle of H. being partly cut away to allow it
to pass close to the pin) fastened to the base of the flag stick in the same manner as
the spring K. but on the opposite side of it.
O., the flag stick of wood, of which the base is a disc of a diameter of three times
the thickness of one of the pieces C. or E., fitted into the projection of H. & turning
on a pin fixed in that projection and passing through the centre of the disc. The
lower half of the disc is partly cut away so as to leave a tooth, which catches on
another pin fixed in the projection of H. & prevents the spring K. from drawing it
further back when it has reached a position in which the flag stick is at right angles
to the axis on which the spindle of H. turns.
P., the flag, sewn tightly round the stick, & turned to the rear, so as not to wrap
round the stick when in motion.
Q., four similar spiral steel or other springs, each of which is fastened at one end
to one of the pieces C. at the upper corner near the hole through which B. passes, &
at the other to a pin passing through the middle of each part of the frame.
R., two upright flat pieces of wood or metal forming the frame of the apparatus,
& fastened to the base V., the piece in rear having a hole cut for A. to pass through,
& the distance between them being just sufficient to allow the pieces C. & E. to move
freely, & the tape to pass between them.
S., a smaller upright flat piece of wood or metal fixed to the base V., & holding one
end of the pin round which A. & B. turn.
T., a multiplying wheel, outside & in rear of the frame, turning A. in the opposite
direction by a crossed hand passing round both. This wheel may be turned by a
weight, by clockwork, or by hand.
U., a handle for turning T.
V., a flat piece of wood or metal forming the base of the apparatus, to which the
frames R. & S. are screwed.
W., the tape of parchment or stiff paper, of such width as just to pass freely
between the two parts of the frame, & punched with holes somewhat larger than the
pins D. These holes are in four rows, so that each will pass under one or another of
the pins D., & the distance, measured along the tape, of any hole from the next
(whether on the same or a different row) is slightly less than the eccentricity of the
spindle B. Thus, if the distance between the axis of B. & the axis of A. is inch,
the distance between the centres of the holes (measured as above mentioned) may be
1. inch.
X., an upright screen of metal or wood, fixed by the pin on which H. turns or

page_text: otherwise, when the apparatus is used for lamp signalling, against the outside and in
front of the frame, and having a round hole, about to 4 inch in diameter above its
centre over the frame R. for the light to flash through.
Y., a shutter of cardboard or metal, fastened to the top of the projection of H.,
when used for lamp signalling, so as to cover the hole in X. when the flag is in the
normal position, and uncover it as the flag stick passes through the vertical position.
The movements of the various parts of the apparatus are as follows:
"
:-
As the wheel T. is turned (the upper part moving from left to right) the wheel A.
turns in the opposite direction carrying round the spindle B & the broader ends of the
pieces C. The lower corner of the other end of any of these pieces (if there is no
tape, or if the projecting pin D. passes through a hole in the tape) will slide towards
E. in contact with the upper surface of the plate F., the projecting upper part of the
same end of the piece catching the tooth of one of the pieces E. & turning that piece
through a certain angle (which depends on the size of E. & is not material). If the
first piece E. is thus turned, it will merely stretch the spring J., & there will be a
pause in the motion of the flag, as at the end of the formation of a letter. If the
second piece E. is turned, it will, by the cord Z. turn the spindle of H. & the flag
with it from the "normal position," in which the flag stick is about twenty five
degrees from the vertical, to a position in which it will be about twenty five degrees
on the other side of the vertical, thus making the first half of a "dot." If the third
piece E. is turned, it will in like manner, by the cord M., turn the flag through an
angle of about one hundred & fifteen degrees from the normal position, thus making
the first half of a dash." If the fourth piece E. is turned, it will, by the cord N.,
pull down the flag in a plane at right angles to that in which it moves when making
dots & dashes, thus making the first half of a group" or motion to indicate the end
of a word. As A. continues to turn, the broader ends of the pieces C. will be carried
downwards & then backwards, the edge of the plate F. over the part sloped off, which
is under the middle of the pieces, causing the other ends to rise, so that any of the
pieces E. which has been turned will be released & brought back to the stop G. by the
spring J., the flag (if it has moved) being also brought back to the normal position
by the same spring or the spring K., and the " pause," dot," dash," or group,"
as the case may be will be completed. The pin which passed through the hole in the
tape will at the same time be lifted out of the hole & then all the pins will be carried
back above the tape sufficiently far to allow one of them to fall or be pressed by the
spring Q. into the next hole in the tape at the next revolution of A. when one of the
pieces C. is carried forward while the pin D. projecting from it rests on the tape
where there is no hole, the projecting end will pass above the tooth of the corresponding
piece E. & produce no effect on the flag. At each revolution of A. therefore a
pause," dot," "dash," or group will be made by the flag according to the
row in which the hole in the tape that comes under the pins has been made; and by
punching the holes in the proper-rows a tape may be prepared which will cause the
flag to signal any.message that may be desired.
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If the tape is wound through the apparatus by hand and not automatically, a person
may most conveniently practise reading by looking at the reflection of the flag in a
mirror placed at a distance of a few yards from him as he turns the handle U.
To use the apparatus for lamp signalling, the screen X. and the shutter Y. are
affixed, and a light is placed behind the screen so as to shine through the hole when
it is uncovered and not when it is covered. The flashes may be read in a mirror in the
same manner as the flag signals.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I do not claim the actuation of the levers by means of a perforated tape or
cards, or the signalling by means of a flag or lamp shutter turning on a fixed axis,
but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. I claim the method of making a signalling flag or lamp signal a message by
causing a perforated tape to be wound through an apparatus by means of pins which

page_text: pass one at a time through the holes in the tape, the passage of each pin through a
hole causing a different effect to be communicated to the flag or lamp shutter,
substantially as above described.
2. I claim the combination of perforated tape, pins, eccentric & other spindles,
levers, cords, & springs, substantially as above described, for the purpose of actuating
a signalling flag or lamp shutter.
3. I claim the method of moving a perforated tape through the apparatus by one
pin at a time of several pins to which motions are imparted by means of an
eccentric spindle & a bar (the edge of the plate F. in the drawing) substantially as
above described.
.
4. I claim the method of indicating the end of a word or group by turning the
flag stick on a pivot in a plane at right angles to the the plane in which it moves
when signalling dots & dashes, substantially as above described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of January 1889.
ALEXR. GLEN