IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Major Dane Porter a Subject of Great Britain at present
residing in Boston, Suffolk County, State of Massachusetts, United States of
America for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS SIGNALLING
APPARATUS
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Major Dane Porter at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th May 1883.
"
MAJOR DANE PORTER a subject of Great Britain at present residing in Boston,
Suffolk County State of Massachusetts, United States of America, IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SHIPS SIGNALLING APPARATUS,"
My invention relates to means for operating signals of vessels in waters
navigated by course, whether such signals be audible signals in the form of
whistles, horns or bells, to be sounded in fogs or visual signals in the form of
lights, displayed at various intervals of time, for night service. My invention is
designed to operate in accord with a mariner's compass, and a code for the purpose
of enabling a vessel at sea to be fully informed of the course an approaching vessel
is sailing, whether in thick weather by day, or by night, this code consisting in
sounding the signal at intervals of time, variously repeated, according to the number
of repetitions required, to indicate the particular point of the compass at the time
represented by such repetitions This code is represented in Figure 9 of the
accompanying drawings upon a dial plate containing the points of the mariner's
compass, the number 1 at the N. point of such compass indicating that one single
sounding of the signal denotes that the vessel is sailing on this course.
The means
herein shown for operating the signal or signals, consist of a wheel rotating con-
tinuously in one direction, and having peripheral teeth to actuate, at certain
periods of time, the bar or bars which actuate the signals; this. wheel having
provision for being thrust one side, at times, from its actuating or normal path of
movement, in order that certain of its teeth may avoid and fail to actuate such
bar or bars, these aside movements of the wheel being effected by a wiper cam
secured to one side of it, which operates with a series of sliding, notched.gates;
contained within radial grooves in a disc situated behind the compass card;. these
gates being changed in position, as occasion requires,. by a disc having screw
071

page_text: :
threads to engage teeth upon said gates, such disc being operated by a hand wheel
secured to a supporting shaft; such shaft carrying a pointer hand to read the
index upon the dial, and enable the disc to be brought to the point requisite to
effect the proper position of the gates, for any given point of the compass.
Important details of my invention consist in means whereby, after the signals are
once put in operation to denote a given point of the compass, such operation
cannot be accidentally or carelessly interrupted, until the signal is completed.
Also in means whereby both signals may be actuated at the same time, or either
one alone.
A hand-operated clutch is employed between the continuous rotating
driving shaft and the toothed wheel, by means of which such wheel may be thrown
into or out of action, thereby starting or stopping the signals at pleasure. The
drawings accompanying this specification represent in Figure 1. a vertical
longitudinal section, and in Figure 2 a side elevation, Figure 3. a plan and
Figure 4. a cross section of my machine. Figure 5. is a diagram of the notched
sliders to be explained. Figures 6. and 7. are views of the slide bars which
actuate the signals. Figure 8. is a face view of the scroll screw for operating the
notched sliders. Figure 9. is a front view of the machine. Figure 10. is a face
view of the toothed wheel operating with the notched sliders. Figure 11. is a
section through the mutilated stop wheel to be explained. Figure 12. is a face view
of the toothed wheel actuating the stop wheel. Figures 13., 14., and 15. represent
modifications of the toothed index wheel and its actuating mechanism. In these
drawings the frame of the machine is shown as composed of two parallel upright
standards or housings A, B, united by suitable longitudinal cross ties a, a, etc.,
this frame, when in use, being set up in the wheel house or upon the bridge of the
vessel, according to the methods of steering observed in various cases. The driving
shaft C of the machine is horizontal, and shown as mounted in bearings in the
lower part of the housings A, B, such shaft, at its rear part, having affixed to it a
toothed pinion D, which engages a spur gear E, mounted upon a second horizontal
shaft F disposed at the top of the machine,, above and parallel with the shaft C,
and mounted in bearings in the standards A B. To rotate the shaft C at such
times as may be necessary to operate the signal, I mount loosely upon it a wheel G,
which is to be rotated by any suitable means, as for instance, a weight in sailing
vessels, or a donkey engine in steamers, and I add to this wheel and its shaft an
ordinary clutch H operated by a rod H³ extending through to the front of the
housing A. Upon the shaft F, I mount a wheel I, and connect the two by a spline
and groove connection which compels the two to rotate together, but permits of
end play or shug of the wheel upon the shaft; the wheel being pressed up to a
shoulder a' upon the front end of the shaft by a coiled spring b encircling the
shaft and exerting its stress between the hub c of the wheel and the gear E. To
the front face of the wheel I, and near its perimeter, I secure a crowning wiper
cam J, which, during certain periods of time in the rotation of the wheel, travels
in a circular groove or channel K formed in the rear face of the housing A
concentric with the axis of rotation of the wheel. The cam operates with a series
of sliding plates a', b¹, etc. contained in radial grooves N N. etc. formed in the rear
side of the housing A, these sliders each having upon its front face a series of lateral
sectional screw threads d, d, etc. which engage a common scroll thread e formed
upon or secured to the rear face of a circular disc M, secured to the front end of a
shaft F and contained within a recess O in the front face of the standard A, the
arrangement of the sliders a', 6', disc M, and scroll thread e, being substantially
similar to the corresponding parts in scroll chucks employed in machine shops,
with the exception that the standard A in this case is stationary, while in said
chucks it rotates. The front or mouth of the recess O is closed by a thin plate P,
upon the front of which the points of the mariner's compass are engrossed, while
operating with such compass points is an index pointer or hand Q secured to the
shaft F. The shaft F is supported in bearings in the housing A and to the
extreme front end of this shaft F', I secure a hand wheel R or its equivalent, for
operating the index pointer. In vessels steered from a compass in the wheel-room,

page_text: this machine will be located in such room and controlled by the wheel-man, or his
assistant in vessels steered by orders from the bridge, the machine will be located.
on the bridge, for the guidance of the officer in giving his orders from that point.
The two signals, for instance, a steam whistle, or bell, and a flash light, so called,
are operated by vertical slide bars S, T, contained within a vertical hollow
standard U erected upon one side of the housing A, each bar being adapted to
operate independently of the other, but the two being connected with a common
head V, contained and sliding in the lower part of the said standard; such head
being elevated by a spring W placed below it, and depressed against the stress of
such spring, by the teeth of the wheel I, acting upon a lateral spur X of the
head V. In order that the two slide bars S, T, may be operated simultaneously,
or one operated alone while the other remains inactive, I connect the lower end of
each to the upper end of the head by a link f, or g, the lower pivot h of each link
being capable of ready detachment from the notch i, in the side of the head which
receives it, and each link being pressed up to its seat in such notch by a spring j.
To crowd the pivot of either link out of its notch, and thereby disconnect such
link from the head V, and allow the bar carrying such link to remain idle, I
employ a horizontal shaft k carrying a wiper cam 1, situated intermediate between
the two links, and by turning the shaft and cam in one direction, one link is
detached from the head V and vice-versa. The spur ✗ of the head V is operated
upon at different times or periods of time, by a series of spurs or teeth, formed
upon the periphery of the wheel I, and in laying out these teeth, the periphery of.
the wheel is divided into equal divisions with a tooth at each division, with the
exception that two adjacent teeth of the number are admitted, in order to permit
of a dwell in the operation of the wheel, as hereinafter explained. Upon the face
of the dial plate P is engrossed, in addition to the points of the compass, the index
of a Code of Signals. This code, known as Commodore Beaumont's code is as
follows the dial is divided into four cardinal points designated by the numerals
1, 2, 3, and 4. 1. being North, 2. East, 3. South, and 4, West. The subdivisions
are thus; the three points of the compass following each cardinal division are
designated, in addition to the cardinal numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 repeated, by the numerals
2, 3, and 4; for instance, North is simply represented by the numeral 1, N.N.E.
by the numerals 1.-2.; N.E. by the numerals 1.-3.; E.N.E. by the numerals 1.-4. ;.
East by the numeral 2.; E.S.E. by the numerals 2.-1.; on the 2ª, 3rd, and
4th quarters of the dial the same order is to be observed with this exception, that
in order to avoid confusion, the numbers which are alike are not successively
repeated, but the next succeeding numeral supplied. For instance, from E. to S.
the first point would be 2.-1.; the second point would naturally be 2.-2., but in
lieu of the second 2., 3. is employed, and the same from S.. to W., the order would
be 3.-1., 3.-2., 3.-4., in order not to repeat the 3. From W: to N. the numbers
are used in regular order, 4.-1., 4.-2., 4.-3., as the fourth enumeration is not
needed. The dash between each pair of numerals indicates the pause between
each operation of the signal until the circuit of the compass has been completed in
the order named; as the code requires that an interval of two seconds of time shall
elapse between each repetition of the individual sounding of the signal or flash of
the light, or both together, on steamers, while on sailing vessels six seconds must
elapse. If the teeth of the wheel I are 36 degrees apart, as shown in the present
instance, the wheel I must describe a complete revolution in 20 seconds, but this
relative number of teeth and speed of the wheel may of course be varied, so long
as the requisite intervals of time elapse between the operations of the slide bars
S, T. Another requirement of the code before alluded to is that a pause of six
seconds must elapse after each sounding of the signal, and to accomplish this I
remove two adjacent teeth of the wheel, as before stated, thus allowing the head V'
to remain idle for this corresponding space of time; it being borne in mind that
the wheel I describes a complete revolution to effect each complete sounding of the
signal. Each slider a', b', etc., has upon its rear face a series of notches located at
different points between its ends, these notches together with the spurs bounding

page_text: 3
such notches, determining the periods of time at which the toothed wheel I shall.
act upon the head V in consonance with the respective positions of the points of
the compass upon the dial. No two sliders are of like form, as regards the
disposition of the notches and spurs, but such notches and spurs are so calculated
with respect to the teeth of the wheel I, and the position of the pointer Q upon
the compass dial, as to thrust such wheel aside, and avoid the head at the necessary
period of time. To better illustrate the arrangement of the notches and spurs of the
respective sliders, I have in Figure 5. of the drawings given a diagram of these sliders.
a, b', etc., assembled side by side upon a horizontal plane, but their arrangement is also
shown in Figure 4. Each slider operates to govern the movement of one given tooth.
of the wheel I, hence the number of sliders would ordinarily equal the number of the.
teeth of such wheel, but as the first tooth of the wheel always operates the head V,.
but seven sliders are employed, one to each remaining tooth. The sliders, as shown
in Figure 4. of the drawings, are arranged in a semi-circle, with the exception of
one, which is below; the location of the opposite and eighth slider being vacant.
The tooth of the wheel I that operates the head at each revolution of such wheel,
and may be known as the first tooth, is shown at p, the second at q, etc., and the
arrangement of these teeth, the sliders and the head V with its tooth X are such,.
that when the tooth p of the wheel is acting upon the tooth of such head, the
wiper cam J-is opposite the empty location of the eighth slider or division of the
housing A, hence such cam, at this time, allows the first tooth, under all circum-.
stances, to operate the head at each revolution of the wheel. As shown in said.
Figures 4. and 5, the slider which operates with the tooth q, of the wheel is shown.
at a with the tooth r, at 6-with the tooth s at c-with the tooth t, at d.
with the tooth u, at e-with the tooth v, at f' and with the tooth w, at g¹. The.
slider a' has simply one tooth ¹, the remainder of the surface of such slider
being on a level with the bottom of the notches of the remaining sliders; the
slider b¹ has two teeth j¹, k¹, and intermediate notch ", while the remainder m of its
face is sunken. The slider c¹ has three teeth m¹, n¹, and o', and. two notches p¹.
and q¹, while the remainder n of its surface is sunken.
The slider d' has four
teeth r, s, t, and u¹ and three notches v¹, w', and xl, the rest m¹ of its face being
sunken. The slider e¹ has five teeth y¹, z', a², b², c³, and four notches d², e², f
and g. The slider f' has four teeth h³, i, j, k, and three notches 12, m², n². The
slider g¹ has three teeth o², p, q, and two notches 2, 82. The notches and teeth
of the several sliders are of various lengths, longitudinally of such sliders. Taking
Figure 5 of the drawings as an explanation, and supposing the cam of the wheel I
to stand at the point designated by the letter t; and travelling in the direction of
its arrow 20, on line 21.-22. at which time the pointer Q is on North of the.
compass card, and the first tooth p of the wheel about to strike the tooth of the
head V, it being observed that the cam J is immediately adjacent to the tooth v of
the wheel I and diametrically opposite the tooth q. The wheel rotates and its first
tooth p, abuts against the tooth X of the head V and lowers the latter and one or.
both the slide bars S, T, thereby producing the single sounding of the signal which
denotes that the vessel is steering due north, in consonance with the position of
the pointer on N of the compass dial and the numeral 1. opposite such N, this
action having consumed two of the twenty seconds of time required to effect a.
complete revolution of the wheel I. The wheel travels on, and the cam J rides in
succession over the tooth i, of the slide bar a¹, the tooth of the bar b¹, the
tooth m' of the bar c¹, the tooth of the bar d¹, the tooth y¹ of the bar e', the
tooth h² of the bar f', and the tooth o2 of the bar g¹, thereby throwing the teeth
q, r, s, t, u, v, and win succession out of line with the tooth X of the head V, and
permitting the signal to remain idle, while the wheel completes its revolution in
the 20 seconds of time, and its cam J returns to the point t. If the course of the.
vessel is changed to N.N.E. for instance, the pointer Q is to be placed on such.
point on the compass card, slightly before or at the time the wheel I completes its
revolution, and the cam stands at the point t2 before. stated. The placing of the
pointer N.NE; as stated, partially rotates the disc M and by means of the scroll

page_text: screw-threads of the latter forces the sliders a¹ b', etc. inward a short distance,
which brings the cam into the line 23.-24. of Figure 5 of the drawings. With
the pointer at N.N.E, as stated, and the wheel in revolution, the tooth p, of the
wheel I strikes against the tooth X of the head V and lowers the latter and the
slide bars S, T and passes by such tooth, thus producing the single sounding of
the signal which constitutes the first of the 1.-2, which corresponds to or indicates
the N.N.E. point of the compass, and which consumes two of the 20 seconds of time
required for a complete revolution of the wheel I. Immediately after the tooth p of
the wheel actuates and passes by the head V, the cam J intercepts and rides over
the tooth of the slide bar a', thus thrusting the wheel I to one side, and its
tooth p out of line with the tooth X of the head V, and the latter and the signals
remain idle until the cam descends into the notch of the slider b¹. The cam now
travels through the notches 1, p¹ of the slider b, c, during which time (4 seconds)
the next two succeeding teeth r, s, of the wheel I remain in line with and operate
the signals twice, thus producing the last two soundings of the signal which
complete the 1.-2. that represent, by sounds or light, the N.N.E. point of the
compass. We have thus occupied 6 seconds of the 20 required to complete a revo-
lution of the wheel I. The cam now arrives at and rides in succession over the
teeth of the slider d', the teeth y' of the slider e¹, the tooth 2 of the slider f'
and the tooth o² of the slider g', thereby throwing in succession the teeth t, u, v
and w out of line with the tooth X of the head V. and permitting such head and
the signals to remain idle, while the wheel completes its revolution, and consumes
the 20 seconds of time. When the pointer is set to E.S.E. of the compass card,
the cam is brought into the line 25.-26., of Figure 5 of the drawings. In this
case, supposing the cam to stand at the distance from the slider a¹ indicated by
the point tas before, the tooth p of the wheel I abuts against and lowers the
head V and passes by it, thus effecting one of the two soundings of the signal
corresponding to the numeral 2. The cam J of the wheel I now meets and passe-
through or over the depression of the slider a³, thus allowing the tooth q, of the
wheel to actuate the head V and signal bars S, T, and effect a second repetition of
the sounding of the signal, thus completing the 2. of the 2.-1. The cam J next
meets and rides over the tooth or swell k¹. of the slider b¹ and throws the next
tooth r of the wheel I out of line with the tooth X of the head V, hence the latter
tooth is avoided, and the signal remains stationary, thus producing the necessary
interval between the numerals 2.-1. The cam J now drops into the notch q¹ of
the slider c¹ and allows the wheel I to remain in line with the head V and the
tooth s of such wheel to lower the signal bars S, T, and effect the single sounding
of the signal corresponding to the numeral 1. of 2.-1. denoting E.S.E. The cam J
now meets and rides over, in succession, the tooth 8' of the slider d'-the tooth z'
of the slider e¹ thereby causing the teeth t, u, v, and w, in succession to avoid the
tooth of the head V, and permit the signal to remain idle. From the above
explanation of the operation of a portion of the sliders with respect to the cam,
toothed wheel, and signal slide bars, it is believed no further explanation is
necessary to enable the reader to fully understand the operation of the remaining
sliders. The code before alluded to requires that an interval of 6 seconds time
shall intervene between the completion of one signal, and the beginning of another.
For this reason, I have omitted from the wheel I the two teeth before mentioned,
(that is between the teeth p and w) which corresponds to such 6 seconds of time,
the space 22 between these teeth p, w, which occupies one fourth the periphery of
the wheel, permitting the wheel to rotate without actuating the head. As it is
requisite that the signals, after being started, shall complete their office uninter-
rupted, it is important to provide means for preventing movement of the pointer Q,
until about the time the wheel I completes its revolution. This I accomplish as
follows: A¹ represents a toothed wheel the periphery of which is divided into
eight equal teeth us, u³, etc., this wheel being secured to the outer end of a short
horizontal shaft B¹ rotating in bearings in the lower part of the housing A, the
wheel being in rear of such housing, and its teeth arranged in the path of revolution
.

page_text: of and engaged in succession by the teeth of the wheel I. To the inner end of
the shaft B, I secure a wheel C₁, which is located in an enclosure A, in the lower
part of the housing A below the scroll disc M, this wheel having a uniform
circular periphery with the exception of a portion D', which is of less
diameter, such portion D' corresponding to the portion 22 of the wheel I,
and like the latter occupying one quarter the periphery of the wheel. El repre-
sents a dog pivoted at one end within the upper part of the enclosure A
before named, and pressed toward the periphery of the disc M by a spring F¹
the upper edge of this dog having a tooth w³, which operates with a series
of equi-distant notches v³, v³, etc. in the periphery of the said disc, these
notches being sixteen in number corresponding to the points of the compass card,
and operating to hold the pointer firmly in position when set at any given point
on such card. The unmutilated portion of the periphery of the wheel C¹ crowds
the dog E' into engagement with the disc M and prevents rotation of the latter
and of the pointer Q. When the mutilated portion D' of the wheel C¹ arrives
opposite the nose or free end of the said dog, the latter is free to drop, and permits
the disc to be rotated and the pointer to be set to the desired division in the dial.
The notch or mutilated portion D¹ of the wheel C₁ is so situated with respect to
the portion of the wheel I that as the last tooth w of such wheel I passes by
the location of the tooth X of the head V the said notch D¹ shall arrive opposite
the nose of the dog E¹ and permit the latter to drop and disengage the disc M.
In addition to the ordinary points of the compass upon the dial plate P, as before
explained, the code requires another, as shown at y', which is equidistant between
the N. and N.E. points of the compass, and inside of the numerals 1.-2.,
1.-3., etc. This division y2, is to denote the position of the vessel in backing,
and the word "astern" is to be inscribed upon the dial near it. The word
"anchor" is also inscribed on the dial inside of and opposite the numeral 1.
of the N. division of the compass, such word being to indicate the position of the
pointer when the vessel is at anchor. Upon one side the division 2 is placed
the numeral 5. and upon the other the numerals 5.-1., which means that the
whistle or other audible signal must give five distinct repetitions, followed, after
& pause of 2 seconds, by a single sound, to denote that the vessel is backing.
Alongside the word "anchor" is the numeral 5, which means that five distinct
repetitions of the audible or visual signal are to be given, to denote that the vessel
is at anchor. When the pointer is set to the "astern" point on the dial the sliders
are in the position to bring the cam J of the wheel I on the line 40.-41., of
Figure 5 of the drawings. In this case, supposing (as in any case upon changing
the pointer) the cam to be in the position t, that is at this distance from the slide
bar a¹ the wheel I rotates and its first tooth p wipes against and lowers and passes
by the tooth X of the head V, and gives one sound of the signal. As the
wheel I continues to rotate, its cam travels with it, without obstruction, through
the outermost notches or blanks i³, m, n, m, of the sliders a¹, b¹, c¹ and d¹ and
permits the teeth q, r, s, and t of the wheel I (acting upon the tooth X of the
head V) to successively sound the signal, making five times, with an interval of
two seconds between each; when the cam J meets and rides over the outermost 4
tooth c of the slider e, and thrusts the wheel I to one side, and causes the teeth u
of such wheel to avoid the tooth ✗ of the head V and permit the signal to remain
idle for a space of four seconds, thus producing the necessary interval after the five
repetitions of the signal; the cam next enters the outermost blank space n³ of the
slider f which brings the tooth of the wheel I into line with the tooth X of the 5
head V, and depresses the latter and sounds the signal, which corresponds to the
numeral 1. of the astern division 5.-1, this sounding occupying a space of two
seconds The cam next meets and rides over the outermost tooth q³ of the slide
bar g', which thrusts the last tooth w of the wheel out of line with the tooth X
and permits the signal to remain idle. In order to place the pointer to the 5
astern," or "anchor points of the dial, without sounding the signals corre-
sponding to the primary points of the compass, the pointer must approach such

page_text: points in the direction of the arrow 3, in Figure 1, of the drawings, hence if the
pointer happens to be standing on the N. point of the compass, it must be rotated
through the entire circle of the dial, back to N. in the direction of the said
arrow 3, in order to push the sliders in to a point to bring the cam J on
line with the 42.-43. of Figure 5. Should the pointer be on N. for instance,
and it is desired to signal that the vessel is backing, the pointer must be
made to describe the entire circle of the dial in the direction of the arrow 3,
past the N. point, to the "astern" division. This forces the sliders inward
to a point to bring the cam on the line 40-41. of Figure 5. The screw
threads of the scroll are of such pitch, as, with each one tooth advance
of the wheel, I to advance or retract the sliders a distance equal to the space between
any two of the compass points on the dial, and as represented by the lines 21.-22.
and 23.-24. etc., of Figure 5. I do not confine myself to the berein described
arrangement of the teeth p, q, etc., of the wheel I, as this arrangement may be varied
materially without departing from what I consider to be the scope of my invention
in this respect. For instance, I have shown in Figure 13 of the accompanying
drawings a modification of this arrangement of teeth. In this instance I secure
the wheel I or its equivalent fast upon the shaft F, and alongside and in front of
such wheel, I mount loosely upon such shaft, a circular disc F³, which is pressed.
away from such wheel, and against the shoulder a' of the said shaft, by the
spring b. The teeth of the wheel I are, in this modification, in the form of turn.
buttons q, r, etc., arranged upon the periphery of the wheel in the order as in the
first instance; and each pivoted centrally to such periphery by a pivot q³ while
the outer end of each tooth is pivoted to the rear side of the disc F³, as shown
at 5. The rear end of each tooth q, r, etc. overhangs at times, the rear face of the
wheel, in order to intercept the tooth X of the head V. The normal or active
position of each tooth is one at right angles to the periphery of the wheel I, as
shown by the tooth r, hence, when in this position, the rear end of such tooth will
abut against the tooth X of the head V and operate the signals. The idle position
of any given tooth is one parallel with the periphery of the wheel, as shown by
the tooth q. When the cam J intercepts any given tooth of any one of the sliders,
the disc F³ is pushed rearward on the shaft F. This closes the tooth as shown
by q and allows the latter to pass by the tooth of the head V and the signal is not
sounded; as the cam passes by the obstructing spur of the slider, the spring b
crowds the wheel outward, and opens or unfolds the tooth. Or the teeth of the
wheel I may be contained in radial pockets in the perimeter of such wheel, and
pressed outward by suitable springs; and mechanism employed in connection with
the sliders to press in any given tooth, when it is necessary to avoid the signal
bars. I have shown and explained my present machine as adapted to be used
independently of, or as an accessory to the steering apparatus, but I do not in any
sense confine myself to this plan, as eventually I intend to connect the hand
wheel R, or its shaft, or some other part of the machine, with the steering wheel
shaft (of hand steering apparatus) or the shipper lever (of steam steering apparatus)
in order that when the hand wheel or lever is set to any point of the compass, the
vessel will be put upon the same course. This may be done by simply gearing the
shaft of the wheel R to the shaft of the steering wheel, or it may be effected in
other ways. I am already designing details of such adaptation, preparatory to
applying for letters patent thereupon. Another modification of the wheel I and its
teeth is shown in Figures 14 and 15 of the drawings. In this instance the wheel I
is fast upon the shaft F, the limit of movement of the wheel in this direction being
governed by a stop pin g projecting laterally from each tooth p, q, etc., and
extending into a groove * in the face of a circular disc or hub i* mounted loosely
on the shaft F and pressed in the direction of the arrow 4 by a spring f. The
teeth q, r, etc. are straight bars contained in radial pockets in the perimeter of the
wheel I and one end of each stop pin q* is secured to the inner end of one of the
teeth. Each groove * is tangential to the path of rotation of the disc i to an
extent sufficient to effect the extreme throw of the tooth. In its inmost position.

page_text: the outer end of each tooth is flush with the perimeter of the wheel-in its
outermost position the end of the tooth projects beyond the perimeter of the wheel
sufficiently to intercept the tooth of the signal bar. To the perimeter of the disc i*
I pivot, at one end of each, a series of buttons, r, etc., one to each tooth of the
wheel I with the exception of the tooth p. Upon each outer corner of each
button I form a swell or spur or t. The 'swell s operates with a notch u¹
formed in the periphery of the wheel I, while the swell to operates with the series
of spurs or teeth upon the sliders a¹, b', etc. As a spur or swell of any given
button abuts against one of the spurs or teeth of any given slider the rotation of
the disc is temporarily arrested and the wheel I continues its rotation until the
spur of such button arrives opposite the notch u¹ when the passage of the tooth
of the slider past the swell t forces the swell 84 into the notch us and the wheel I
and disc become temporarily locked and rotate together. The normal position
of each tooth is that projecting beyond the perimeter of the wheel as shown by the
tooth p in Figure 10. As the disc remains stationary and the wheel is travelling
past it as stated the pin or stud 9 from said tooth p for instance travelling from
end to end of the slot or channel h in the direction of the arrow 5 forces the
tooth p inward so that it passes by without operating the tooth of the signal
operating bars.
1st. In combination with a mariner's compass having engrossed upon its card or
dial an index or code of signals for indicating the course or position of a vessel,
and a hand wheel or its equivalent carrying a pointer to read such compass card,
as explained, mechanical devices, substantially as herein described, for auto-
matically effecting repetitive sounding or displays of the signals, in consonance
with the requirements of the code as expressed upon the said card, and as indicated
by the pointer.
2nd In combination, the compass card or dial having an index of a code of
signals for indicating the course of a vessel-the hand wheel or its equivalent and
the pointer, adapted to rotate together about the face of such dial, and a mechanism
intermediate between such hand wheel and the signal or signals for indicating the
course or position of the vessel.
3rd In combination, the mariner's compass card or dial having an index of a
code of signals to indicate the course or position of a vessel-the hand wheel or
its equivalent and the pointer, adapted to rotate together about the face of the
said dial the disc M with its screw scroll threads the notched sliders a¹, b', etc.,
playing in radial grooves in a suitable standard which upholds the hand wheel and
disc R, and operated by the scroll screw threads of said disc engaging sectional
screw threads upon the sliders.
4th The combination with a mariner's compass and an index of a code of signals
adapted to operate with the hand wheel or its equivalent moving with a pointer
to read the compass card and index, of the notched sliders a¹, b¹, etc., sliding in
grooves in a suitable standard and radiating from the center of rotation of the said
wheel and pointer-a rotary wheel with peripheral teeth, having a lateral wiper
cam to operate with said sliders, and slide bars operated by said wheel and
connected with and operating one or more signals.
5th The slide bars S, T, etc., or their equivalents for operating the signals-the
compass card or dial having an index of a code of signals-the hand wheel or its
equivalent and a pointer to read the dial, and mechanism intervening between the
said slide bars and pointer for effecting repetitive soundings of the signal, in
consonance with the position of the pointer upon the dial.
6th Suitable signals and in combination therewith the compass card, or dial, and
the index of the code of signals engrossed upon such dial.
7th Suitable signals such as a bell, horn or steam whistle, and an intermittent
flashing light and the combination with such signals of the compass card or dial,..

page_text: with the index of the code of signals engrossed thereon-a pointer to read such
dial, operated by a hand wheel or its equivalent-and mechanism substantially as
described, whereby repetitive soundings of such signals are effected in consonance
with the position of the pointer upon the dial.
8th In combination with the 'mariner's compass and a signal system, operating
by audible or visible signals to indicate at a distance the course of a vessel, of
the continuous driving power, the hand wheel and pointer, and connecting
mechanism, whereby the signals are operated in consonance with a prescribed code.
9th The rotary disc M with its scroll screw threads-the spring impelled dog,
operating to lock such disc-and the mutilated stop wheel adapted to retain the
dog in engagement with the disc, until the repetitive soundings of the signals have
ceased.
10th The rotary disc with its scroll screw threads-the spring impelled dog
operating to lock such disc-the mutilated stop wheel adapted to retain the dog
in engagement with the disc until the repetitive soundings of the signal have ceased,
and the toothed wheels I and A¹ by which the motive power of the machine is
transmitted to operate said stop wheel.
11th The combination with the mariner's compass card, the signal code index
and the hand wheel and pointer operating with such card and index, of two sets
of signals, visual and audible, and mechanism for bringing into action either one
or both.
12th The slide bars S, T, pivoted at bottom to the top of the head V, by a
readily detachable connection and the combination with the bars and head and a
spring for elevating the three, of the shaft k, and stud 1, for detaching either one
of the pivots substantially as explained.
13th In combination the notched sliders a', b¹, etc., toothed wheel I with its
cam J and the slide bars S, T. 14th The toothed wheel I adapted to be thrust
aside at times to avoid the spur or tooth X of the head V of the lifter or slide
bars S, T, in combination with means for operating signals put in motion by such
wheel, substantially as shown. 15th The combination with the compass dial, the
pointer operating therewith, and the sliders a¹, b¹, etc., and disc M with its scroll
screw threads, of mechanism operating automatically to prevent interference with
or arresting the mechanism which maintains the signals in motion, substantially as
set forth. 16th In combination the compass dial with the code index thereupon-
the pointer, and mechanism for operating the signals in consonance with said code
of mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the repetitive soundings of the
signals cannot be interrupted or interfered with. 17th The toothed wheel I
adapted to move longitudinally upon and rotate with its operative shaft-the
notched sliders for shugging such wheel upon its shaft, and the slide bars S, T, or
their equivalents for putting signals in motion. 18th The toothed wheel I sliding
longitudinally upon but rotating with the shaft F and the continuously rotating
wheel G with its clutch H adapted to engage the pinion D upon the shaft C and
the gear E secured to the shaft F and meshing with the pinion. 19th The
wheels A', C', supported by and rotating with the shaft B' in combination with the
wheel I. 20th The wheels A¹, C₁, supported by and rotating with the shaft B' in
combination with the wheel I, disc M and dog E.-In witness whereof I the
said Major Dane Porter have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of
April 1883.
MAJOR. DANE. PORTER. (L.S.)