IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALLING APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
We, JOHN FARQUHARSON, of Fulham, in the County of Middlesex, and
DANIEL WILLIAM LANE, of Southsea, in the County of Hampshire, both Electricians,
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SIGNALLING APPARATUS " to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to signalling apparatus adapted for use in conveying any
of a series of constantly recurring signals from one place to another, and is designed
more particularly for use on ship board, though it may be of use in other
situations.
The action of the apparatus, which consists of a transmitter and a receiver, is
mainly mechanical; but the control of the former over the latter is effected
electrically.
The transmitter consists of a dial divided into as many divisions as there are
orders or signals to transmit, and a pointer is travelled over these by hand through
gearing. The pointer spindle is rigid with a ratchet wheel stepped to correspond
with the divisions on the dial. The continuous rotation of the hand crank,
transmitted through multiplying gear, drives a wheel loose on the pointer spindle.
This wheel in its rotation accumulates tension on two springs attached' to the
ratchet wheel controlling the pointer, and at the same time a cam brought into
operation by the said rotation withdraws, at the moment of greatest accumulation
of tension, a spring pressed bolt, which normally engages against the steps of the
ratchet wheel. The accumulated tension of the springs is then free to discharge
itself in rotating the stepped wheel and pointer against a suitable stop on the
wheel, when the spring pressed bolt, released by the passage of the cam, again
engages with the stepped wheel and locks it, and this release occurs between the
steps. A step by step motion is thus given to the pointer.
Our receiver consists of a dial marked to correspond with the dial of the
transmitter. The pointer is made to travel by any suitable stored power, such as
clock work, and this power is normally locked by a circular detent or pallet, which
engages with an escapement wheel, the teeth of which correspond with the
divisions on the dial, and this pallet is controlled by the armature of an electro
magnet.
To return to the transmitter;-On its base is a radial series of contacts in the
circuit of the battery and the electro magnet in the receiver. These contacts

page_text: correspond with the divisions on the dial, and over them travels a radial brush or
roller rigid with the pointer spindle, and this brush is moved step by step, making
a sudden electrical make and break in its passage from one insulated section to
another of the ring of contacts. The momentary closure of the circuit operates the
electro magnet in the receiver, the pallet is withdrawn for a moment, and the
power drives the pointer round until the pallet locks again, viz: through one
division corresponding to that on the transmitter dial, and the signal is thus
reproduced.
A gong or bell is provided in or on the receiver, the hammer of which is operated
by the clock work or stored power mechanism at each movement of the same.
In order that the sudden contact of the brush with the radial contact pieces may
be of sufficient duration to allow of the operation of the electro magnet, we
control the speed of its travel by means of a pneumatic cushion or other brake.
Dated this 7th day of February A.D. 1884.

page_text: The receiving portion of our apparatus is shown on sheet 2.
Figure 9 illustrates it in plan,
Figure 10 in sectional elevation.
The transmitter consists of a dial A divided into as many divisions as there are
orders or signals to transmit, and a pointer is travelled over this by hand.
The pointer spindle B is rigid with the ratchet wheel C, stepped to correspond
with the divisions of the dial. The continuous rotation of the hand crank D
transmitted through multiplying gear E drives the wheel F, loose on the pointer
spindle. This wheel F in its rotation accumulates tension on the springs G
attached to the ratchet wheel C controlling the pointer, and at the same time a
cam H (shown in detail in Figure 4), or any other suitable device, brought into
operation by the said rotation, withdraws at the moment of greatest accumulation
of tension a spring pressed bolt K, which normally engages against the steps of
the ratchet wheel C. The accumulated tension of the springs is then free to
discharge itself in rotating the step wheel C and pointer A¹ against a suitable stop
on the wheel, when the spring pressed bolt K, released by the passage of the cam,
again engages with the step wheel C, and locks it, and this release occurs between
the steps. A step by step motion is thus given to the pointer.
Turning now to Sheet 2, our receiver shown face downwards, as when attached
overhead consists of a dial Q marked to correspond with the dial of the transmitter.
The pointer R is made to travel by any suitable stored power such as clockwork,
and this power is normally locked by a circular detent or pallett S, which engages
with the escapement wheel T, the teeth of which correspond with the divisions on
the dial. This pallett is controlled by the armature U of an electro magnet.
To return to the transmitter :-On its base is the radial series of contacts W, in
circuit with a battery and the electro magnet in the receiver. These contacts
correspond with the divisions on the dial, and over them travels the false pointer P
which constitutes the radial brush or roller rigid with the pointer spindle. This

page_text: radial brush P is moved step by step over a series of contacts X by the method
shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, thus making a sudden electrical make and brake in
its passage from one insulated section to another of the ring of contacts.
The momentary closure of the circuit operates the electro magnet in the receiver,
the pallett is withdrawn for a moment, and the stored power drives the pointer
round until the pallett locks again, that is to say, through one division corresponding
to that on the transmitter dial, and the signal is thus reproduced.
A gong or bell Z is provided in or on the receiver, the hammer of which Z' is
operated by a clockwork or stored power mechanism at each movement of the same,
or by the movement of the armature as shown.
In order that the sudden contact of the brushes with the radial contact pieces
may be of sufficient duration to allow of the operation of the electromagnet, we
may control the speed of travel by means of a pneumatic cushion or other brake,
such as a fly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-.
In signalling apparatus, the combination of a mechanically actuated transmitter
with a receiver, actuated by stored power isochronously therewith, by means of
successive makes and breaks of an electrical circuit operating an electro magnet in
the receiver, the movable armature of which governs the mechanism therein by
means of a suitable pallett or detent; substantially as specified.
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ambon AD 1884