Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1887
Complete Left, 30th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
I. CHARLES EDWARD ALLAN, of. 2 Park Gardens, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its object to provide improved and simple navigational
signalling apparatus for controlling the movements of steamers or sailing vessels when
approaching a pier, wharf, or harbour.
In carrying out my Invention according to one modification 1 construct the
apparatus so that it can be used for directing three steamers approaching a pier in
one direction and three steamers approaching the pier in the opposite direction; it
may however be easily arranged for dealing with a greater number of steamers; or
on the other hand it may be arranged for dealing with only two steamers in each
direction.
The apparatus comprises a box which is supported at a suitable height on posts or
pillars or otherwise, and which is made with sides inclined towards each other and
each facing so as to be well seen from steamers approaching in the direction towards
it. The sides of the box are painted white or a very light color, and in each side
three circular openings are formed in a horizontal row the edges of the openings being
painted black or a dark color. Inside of the box there is provided for each opening
a sliding board or plate having one part painted black and the other part painted
white; and for use at night each black part has at its centre a circular opening
covered by a red glass, whilst each white part has a similar opening covered with color-
less glass either clear or ground. The sliding boards or plates are connected in any
convenient way to handles by pulling or moving any one of which the desired signal
is made; but the parts are arranged so that when any handle is pulled or moved, all
the other connections are locked. In a simple arrangement of the parts the signalling
boards or plates are suspended by cords or chains passing over guide pulleys to a
part where they can be conveniently handled; and when the boards or plates are in
their lowest positions to which they descend by their own weight they show black (or
at night red lights) through the openings in the sides of the box. With the signals

page_text: thus shown the pier is to be understood to be blocked and no steamer is to approach;
whilst when a steamer is to be allowed to approach a white signal is shown in that
place on the box which corresponds to the position of the particular steamer relatively
to other steamers which may be moving towards the pier. The pier master or his
assistant makes the signal by pulling down the corresponding cord or chain and
engaging it upon a hook provided for the purpose. All the cords or chains pass
through eyes in short levers fixed on a rocking shaft, and when any cord or chain is
pulled down a knot or stop on it acts on the rocking shaft and by moving it makes it
lock all the other cords or chains. This locking is effected by a plate made with
notches which when the plate is moved by the rocking shaft engage with the cords
or chains and prevent the passage through of knots or stops suitably placed on them.
Whenever a cord or chain which has been drawn down and hooked, is released the
signal board or plate descends by its own weight into its lowest position in which it
shows a black disk and red light.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of May 1887.
EDMUND HUNT,
Per pro. David Ferguson,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Navigational Signalling Apparatus.
I, CHARLES EDWARD ALLAN, of 2 Park Gardens, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, 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, that is to say:―
My said Invention has for its object to provide improved and simple navigational
signalling apparatus for controlling the movements of steamers or sailing vessels
when approaching a pier, wharf, or harbour.
In carrying out my Invention according to one modification I employ apparatus
such as is shown on two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, Figures, 1,
and 2, on sheet, 1, are front and side elevations of the signalling apparatus as arranged
in connection with a pier master's office; and figures, 3, and 4, on sheet, 2, are vertical
and horizontal sections of the same apparatus as carried at a suitable height upon a
staging or framing; whilst figure, 5, is an inner side elevation of parts hereinafter
referred to. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The apparatus shown in the drawings is constructed so that it can be used for
directing three steamers approaching a pier in one direction and three steamers
approaching the pier in the opposite direction; the apparatus may, however, be easily
arranged for dealing with a greater number of steamers; or on the other hand it may
be arranged for dealing with only two steamers in each direction. The apparatus
comprises a box, 6, supported at a suitable height on posts or pillars, 7, figures, 3,
and 4, or in any other convenient manner, and this box is made with sides, 8, 9,
inclined towards each other in plan, and each facing so as to be well seen from
steamers approaching in directions towards the pier.
The sides, 8, 9, of the box are externally painted white or a very light color, and in
each side there are formed three circular openings, 11, 12, 13, and 14, 15, 16, in a
horizontal row, the edges of these openings being painted black or a dark color.
Inside the box there is provided for each opening a sliding door or plate, 17, 18, 19,
20, 21, 22, having the upper part painted black or a dark color and the lower part
painted white or a light color, and for use at night each black part has at its centre
a circular opening covered by a red glass, whilst each white part has a similar opening
covered with colorless glass, either clear or ground. The sliding boards
plates, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, are fitted to slide vertically in grooves formed for them
inside of the box, and they are connected by cords, 23, passing over guide pulleys, 24,
to rings, 25, by pulling down any one of which the desired signal is made; but the
parts are arranged so that when any cord is pulled all the other cords are
locked.
or
The boards or plates, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, tend to assume their lowest
positions by their own weight, and when in their lowest positions they all show black
(or at night red lights) through the openings, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, in the sides, 8, 9,

page_text: of the box. With the signals thus shown the pier is to be understood to be blocked
and no steamer is to approach; whilst when a steamer is to be allowed to approach a
signal is shown in that place (15, for example) on the box which corresponds to the
position of the particular steamer relatively to other steamers which may be moving
towards the pier. The pier master or his assistant makes the signal by pulling down
the corresponding cord by its ring, 25, and engaging it on a hook or pin, 26, provided
for the purpose.
All the cords, 23, pass through eyes in short levers, 27, fixed on a
rocking shaft, 28, and when any cord is pulled down a knot or stop, 29, on it acts on
the lever, 27, and rocking shaft, 28, and by moving it makes it lock all the other
cords. This locking is effected by a plate, 30), made with notches and arranged to
slide vertically in guides. The plate, 30, is connected by a link, 31, to a lever, 32, on
the rocking shaft, 28, so as to be moved upwards whenever a cord, 23, is pulled down.
The cords, 23, are by means of guide pulleys, 33, made to pass over the notched
plate, 30, when this plate is in its lowest position, but when the plate is raised the
cords pass through its, notches. Knots or stops, 34, are formed on the cords, 23; and
whenever a single cord is drawn its knot, 34, passes over the notched plate, 30, before
that plate is moved up, but if after one cord, 23, has been pulled down and retained
on a pin or hook, 26, an attempt should be made to pull down another cord such other
cord will be stopped by its knot, 34, being unable to pass through the notch of the
plate, 30. Whenever a cord that has been pulled down is released the signal board or
plate to which it is connected at once descends by its own weight and then shows a
black disk and red light.
It will be obvious that chains may be used instead of cords for working the signal
boards or plates; or these may be connected in any convenient way to handles or
hand levers provided that the parts are arranged and combined so that the movement
for showing any one white signal will lock all the other signals in their normal black
or red-light positions.
Oil lamps or gas lights, as may be convenient in each case, may be used for
illuminating the signal glasses at night. In figure, 3, a gas pipe, 35, with burners, 36,
is shown as provided for the purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination or arrangement of parts forming my improved navigational
signalling apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of January 1888.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.