Improvements in Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling Apparatus.
I JAMES SILVESTER of Watering House, Dungeness, Romney in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object to exhibit any desired signalling device, but
preferably of the semaphore arm shape which can either be opaque, coloured or
otherwise. In one method I carry out this invention by placing a light or lights
inside a drum or other shaped box preferably closed on all sides but one and this
one end having preferably a cotton sheet between two glasses or other partially
opaque substance, the design being made to move, revolve, or remain quiescent as
desired either inside or outside the drum or box. When used for ship signalling I
provide two sights on the drum; I also provide in the rear of the drum or box
indicating marks to correspond with position of signal shown. The drum or box
can be mounted to turn in any direction desired. This apparatus can be adapted
for all night signalling purposes with or without electric or mechanical con-
nections to move the signals and may have either gas, oil, candle, or electric light
to illuminate the same.
Dated the 8th day of January 1891.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling Apparatus.
I JAMES SILVESTER of Watering House, Dungeness, Romney in the County
of Kent, Gentleman, 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 :--
My invention has for its object to exhibit any desired signalling device, but pre-
ferably of the semaphore arm shape, which can be either opaque, coloured, or
otherwise. In one method I carry out this invention by placing a light or lights
inside a drum or other shaped box preferably closed on all sides but one, and this
one end having preferably a cotton sheet between two glasses or other partially
opaque substance, the design being made to move, revolve, or remain quiescent as
desired, either inside or outside the drum or box. When used for ship signalling I
provide two sights on the drum; I also provide in the rear of the drum or box
indicating marks to correspond with the position of signal shown. The drum or
box can be mounted to turn in any direction desired. This apparatus can be
adapted for all night signalling purposes with or without electric or mechanical
connections to move the signals and may have either gas, oil, candle or electric
light to illuminate the same.
Usually I provide the drum with a sliding hood to prevent others than the person
signalled to from seeing the signals. I also provide a shutter in front of the light
to shut it off from the signal when the latter is not in use.
In the accompanying two sheets of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a signalling apparatus suitable for a single
illuminating lamp and
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

page_text: Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of another form of apparatus illuminated by
incandescent electric lamps and
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same.
C
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2: a cylinder or drum a is mounted by the pivots / in
the fork which is free to rotate about the vertical pivot working in the table e
supported by and jointed to the legs as shown. To the front of the drum a are
secured by suitable rings gand screws i, or by other suitable means two glass plates /
having placed between them a sheet of cotton cloth m to form a translucent screen,
and sliding through the back end n of the drum is a cylinder or tube o inside which
is placed any suitable lamp p for the purpose of illuminating the screen m. Passing
through the screen m are the spindle 7 and sleeves rs to which are secured the
three semaphore arms q¹¹ s¹ and the chain pulleys 92 2 2 respectively, the said
chain pulleys being connected to the operating levers 73, 3, 3, by the chains q*, *,*,
pulleys,,, sleeves q, r, and spindle s as clearly shown.
It will be seen that by turning the drum a on its horizontal and vertical axes the
screen may be caused to face in any direction required, and that by means of the
levers 93, the semaphore arms q', ', s¹ may be rotated as desired.
A vertical opaque strip t on the screen m obscures the semaphore arms when
at rest.
Instead of the arrangement of semaphore arms above described, the signals may
be transmitted by flashes by means of suitable shutters or other screens operated
in front of the lamp.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the glass plates are dispensed with
the screen m consisting simply of a piece of cotton linin, or other suitable cloth
stretched across the front of a shallow circular dish and being illuminated by
means of a number of incandescent electric lamps w, also, levers q³, 73, 3 and
arms q, r,s are connected directly by the spindle and sleeves q, r, s.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In signalling apparatus, the employment of a translucid screen of linin or
cotton cloth or other similar material placed between the light and the observer
substantially as described.
2. The arrangement and construction of signalling apparatus substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 and to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Dated this 8th day of October 1891.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.