Improvements in the Method of and Means for Locating Sounds at Sea, particularly Buzzers or the like, during Foggy or Hazy Weather.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Locating Sounds at
Sea, particularly Buzzers or the like, during Foggy or Hazy
Weather.
I, JOHN EDWIN HOLMES, 16, Colonial Street, Hull, in the County of Yorkshire,
Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-.
The object of my invention is to construct a contrivance for use on ships or other
vessels, for the purpose of locating sounds at sea, but particularly the sound of
syrens, buzzers or the like, during foggy or hazy weather, so that it is possible to
steer the vessel clea. of other vessels, thereby obviating to a great extent the
liability to collisions.
Hitherto, when the weather has been foggy or hazy at sea, it has been most
dangerous for vessels within the area of the fog or haze, as, when syrens or buzzers
have been sounded, it has been almost impossible to tell with anything like
certainty from whence the sound issued owing to the effect which the thickness
of the atmosphere had upon the sound; with my invention the sound is quickly
and correctly located, thus allowing of the vessel being steered in a direction to
avert a collision.
For the purpose of my invention, I employ a connical or funnel shaped sound
receiver, preferably similar in shape to a fog horn or speaking trumpet, at the
taper end of this receiver I connect a tube provided with a suitably shaped end
or transmitter, to place to the ear of the person using the apparatus.
The said receiver is preferably provided with a flat side, and is fitted to a board,
plate or the like of any desired size, and made of any suitable material or substance.
Hooks or the like may be employed for suspending the contrivance in any
suitable position on the vessel.
The tube aforesaid is run from the taper end of the receiver to the captain's
bridge or any other suitable part of the vessel.
Two of the contrivances are employed on each vessel, one on the port and one
on the starboard side.
When the apparatus is in use, the captain or other responsible person having
charge of the wheel, places the end or transmitter of each receiver to his ear, the
sound enters the receiver, and if it is at one or other side of the vessel it is only
heard through one of the transmitters, but if it is direct ahead it is heard through
both transmitters, the delivery of the sound by one or both of the transmitters
shows the person using the contrivance the locality of the sound, hence he is
able to steer the vessel to avoid a collision.
T
1007
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Means for Locating Sounds at
Sea, particularly Buzzers or the like, during Foggy or Hazy
Weather.
I, JOHN EDWIN HOLMES, of 16, Colonial Street, Hull, in the County of Yorkshire,
Cashier, 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 object of my invention is to construct a contrivance for use on ships or other
vessels for the purpose of locating sounds at sea, but particularly the sound of
syrens, buzzers or the like, during foggy or hazy weather, so that it is possible to
steer the vessel clear of other vessels, thereby obviating to a great extent the
liability to collisions.
Hitherto when the weather has been foggy or hazy at sea, it has been most
dangerous for vessels within the area of the fog or haze, as when syrens or buzzers
have been sounded it has been almost impossible to tell with anything like
certainty from whence the sound issued, owing to the effect which the thickness
of the atmosphere had upon the sound; with my invention, the sound is quickly
and correctly located, thus allowing of the vessel being steered in a direction to
avert a collision.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig 1. Is a side view of my improved apparatus for locating and intensifying
sounds.
Fig. 2. Is an end view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. Is a plan view.
Fig. 4. Is a plan view of the apparatus mounted on a pedestal and having the
two receivers and their transmitters fitted to one board.
Fig 5. Is an end view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 I a side view of Figs. 4 and 5.
For the purpose of my invention, I employ a conical or funnel shaped sound
receiver A, preferably similar in shape to a fog horn or speaking trumpet, at the
taper end of this receiver, I connect a tube B provided with a suitably shaped
end or transmitter C to place to the ear of the person using the apparatus. The
said receiver A is preferably provided with a flat side, and is fitted by means of
a plate A¹ or other suitable means to a sounding board, plate or the like D, of any
desired size, and made of any suitable material or substance, the flat side of such
receiver being against the board, so that it catches more sound than would be
the case if it were rounded and only a small part of the periphery touched the
board.
Hooks or the like E may be employed for suspending the contrivance in any
suitable position on the vessel.
The tube B aforesaid is run from the taper end of the receiver to the captain's
bridge or any other suitable part of the vessel.
Two of the contrivances are employed on each vessel, one on the port and one
on the starboard side, and they may be fitted in screens or supports similar to
those in which the vessel's side lights are placed.
Instead of employing two separate sounding boards with a separate receiver
tube, and transmitter on each, I may employ one sounding board D only, with the
two receivers A A, tubes B B and transmitters C C mounted thereon. One set
of each on either side see Figs. 4, 5 and 6,

page_text: Such board is mounted on a pedestal or table F in the centre of the top of which
is a hole to take a pin G projecting from the middle of the bottom of the board,
which can thus be placed in position and removed at will.
The top of such pedestal may be marked off into parts to agree with the points
of a mariners compass, the board turns on the pin G, thus allowing of it being
set to suit the vessel and the conditions under which the apparatus is being used.
The instrument, instead of being mounted on the pedestal, may be provided with
legs or supports for it to stand on.
When the apparatus is in use, the captain or other responsible person being in
charge places the end or transmitter of each receiver to his ear, the sound enters
the receivers, and if it is at one or other side of the vessel it is only heard through
one of the transmitters, but if it is direct ahead, it is heard through both trans-
mitters, the delivery of the sound by one or both of the transmitters shows the
person using the contrivance the locality of the sound, hence he is able to steer
the vessel to avoid a collision; and by turning the sounding board on its pivot it
is possible to tell whether the vessel is approaching or receding.
Although the invention is described only in its application to ships and other
vessels, it will be easily understood that is equally applicable for use ashore as
an instrument for intensifying and locating sounds on land, no variation in the
construction of the instrument being necessary, this invention substantially as
shown and described in the accompanying specification and drawings being equally
applicable for use on either land or water.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. An instrument for intensifying and locating sounds, consisting of a pair of
sounding boards D, D, each provided with a receiver such as A, a tube B, and an
ear piece or transmitter C, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as
shown and described.
2. An instrument for intensifying and locating sounds, consisting of a sounding
board D, two receivers A A, two tubes B, B, and two ear pieces or transmitters C,C,
one set of each at either side, a pedestal F, with or without its top marked off with
the various points of the compass, and having a vertical hole therein to take a
pin G, mounted on the bottom of the board to allow of such board being turned
to any desired position, or in place of mounting the board on a pedestal, providing
it with legs or supports, all in the manner and for the purposes substantially as
shown and described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of August 1898
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.