An Improved Marine and other Signalling System and Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Lefty 21st-ccepted, 12th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Marine and other Signalling System and Apparatus.
1 RICHARD JOSEPH (ROWLEY of Los Angeles in the County of Los Angeles and
State of California and of 10 Harbour Row Queenstown Ireland Telegraphic Operator
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:-
This invention relates to an improved signalling apparatus which is designed
more especially for marine signalling although it is by no means necessarily confined
to this purpose and it has for its object to provide an apparatus or device of this
class which may be operated with great accuracy speed and ease and without
requiring special skill or previous instruction for its operation to spell out words and
sentences and thereby convey messages from one point to another for considerable
distances limited only by the range of vision. The invention with these ends in view
consists first in the detailed construction of the signaling apparatus and secondly
in the alphabet code used in transmitting signals thereby as will be hereinafter fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings hereto annexed
Figure 1. is a perspective view of my improved signalling apparatus set up in
position for operation.
Figure 2. is a detail view of the operating levers.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through two of the screen
frames of the apparatus.
Figure 4. is a detail perspective view showing parts of the framework of the
apparatus.
Figure 5 is a front view of the screen frames in the act of transmitting a
signal.
Figure 6. is a diagram of the alphabet code.
Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
1. 2. 3 and 4 desiguate four frames which may be constructed in any suitable
manner 80 as to be light and yet very strong of sheet metal or other
suitable material. The said frames are connected in pairs by the diagonal frame
bars 5. 5. crossing or intersecting each other and provided at their point or inter-
section with eyes 6. which are made square or of other suitable shape to fit upon
a post 7, projecting from a strong clamping ring 8. The bars 5 carrying the
frames 1. 2. 3 and 4 are secured in position for operation upon the post 7 by
means of a nut adjusted upon a screw threaded stem projecting forwardly from the
said post.
Additional braces 8* may be employed for the purpose of connecting and
stiffening the several frames.
In the frames 1. 2. 3. 4 which I designate the "screen frames" are pivotally
mounted the blinds 9 of which each frame may contain any desired number which
are arranged like the so called Venetian blinds and which when turned to a vertical
position will completely cover the said frame in which they are pivoted. The blinds 9
of each frame are connected at their front and rear ends by pivoted connecting

page_text: rods 10 to the lower ends of which are attached operating cords or wires 11. passing
over suitably arranged guide pulleys 12. in a downward direction.
It will be observed from the foregoing and by reference to the drawings that the four
frames are arranged practically in the form of a square one at each of the four
corners of the said square. The ring carrying the screen frames is in practice
mounted upon a mast 13 or at any convenient elevated point which shall render the
signalling apparatus visible at a great distance. It is also evident that the individual
screen frames are to be made of considerable size. The apparatus may be arranged
permanently in position for operation but usually the ring carrying the screen frames
is only to be hoisted when occasion shall require suitable tackle being provided which
however forms no part of the present invention and has not been shown in the
drawings. When the apparatus is arranged to be lowered when not in use it
may be taken apart and stored so as to occupy but little space comparitively.
At the lower end of the mast or support carrying the signalling apparatus is
arranged the operating table 14 provided with brackets 15. to which are pivotally
connected the operating levers 41. 42. 43 and 44. Each of these operating levers
is connected in front and rear of its fulcrum with the lower end of one of the cords
or wires 11 connected respectively to the front and rear connecting rods 10 of the
blinds of the corresponding frame 1. 2. 3. or 4. Springs 16 arranged under the front
and rear ends of the operating levers serve to maintain the latter normally in a
horizontal position thus likewise maintaining the blinds 9 in an approximately
horizontal position. The front ends of the operating levers have handles 17 and
they are connected in pairs by means of the links 18. having slots 19 that work
loosely over the ends of the levers. The latter therefore may be operated indepen-
dently of each other by grasping the handles 17. while by grasping or merely
depressing the links 18 two of the levers may be operated simultaneously with one
hand.
It will be observed that by raising or depressing the operating levers the blinds
will be so manipulated that either their upper or under sides shall be exposed in the
direction in which the signal is to be transmitted. The opposite sides of the blinds
may be of contrasting colors such as black and red and code of color signals may
be established to be used in connection with my apparatus. Mainly however the
color signals are intended to be used in stormy weather and when a comparitively
long exposure of each letter is made necessary experience having proven that bright
colors are the more readily seen.
Mounted upon the operating table in front of the operator is a board 20 upon
which a diagram of the signal code or alphabet code is painted or otherwise
inscribed.
The system of signalling by my improved apparatus consists in darkening one or
more of the screen frames either a single time or twice in succession for each letter or
signal to be transmitted the relative position of the frame or frames thus darkened
dertermining the letter which is transmitted according to a previously established code
it will be understood that when the blinds are in their normal or approximately
horizontal position they will be exposed with their edges to the angle of vision and
they will thus be practically invisible at the distance where the signal is to be read.
When the blinds are operated by means of the operating levers or turned to a vertical
position they will momentarily darken the frame or frames in which they are mounted
and will therefore be visible at a considerable distance. Now according to my
proposed code each alternate letter of the alphabet will be indicated by a single
darkening of one or more of the frames by operating the blinds mounted therein or
turning said blinds once to a vertical position and immediately restoring them while
every other letter will be indicated by the same operation once repeated. Thus once
darkening the upper left hand screen frame would signify the letter "A" while twice
darkening the same in quick succession would signify letter "B" once darkening the
two upper screen frames would or might signify letter "I" while twice darkening
the same two frames in quick succession might signify letter "J" as previously

page_text: determined by a preestablished code which might be very simply formulated and a
suggestion for which will be found in figure 6 of the drawings hereto annexed which
will be readily understood.
The code being inscribed upon the board directly in front of the operator may at
all times be consulted by him who will thus be enabled even when comparitively
inexperienced to operate the apparatus with great speed and facility. It is obvious
that a similar code board will be found greatly serviceable in reading or translating
the signals.
By the heliograph and flag system of signalling the Morse alphabet code is usually
employed certain movements or the duration of exposure of the signals taking the
place of dots and dashes of which no less than five are required to express certain
letters. Counting each operation or darkening of one or more of the screen frames
the equivilant of a dot it will be seen that no letter of the alphabet requires more
than two dots to express it while every altenate letter may be expressed by a single
dot. It follows that my improved signalling apparatus may be operated for the
transmission of messages at vastly greater speed than any other devices heretofore
constructed or devised with a similar object in view.
My improved signalling apparatus may be used for night signalling either by
focussing a strong light directly upon the screen frames or by arranging the latter
in front of lanterns which will be darkened by the operation of the blinds. I would
also state that the operating levers may be arranged to be operated electrically when
so desired in which case they might be connected with a key board at a distance
from the operating table.
In the practical manufacture of my improved signalling apparatus I do not desire
to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein described
inasmuch as various changes and modifications might be made without departing
from the spirit of my invention no do I desire to limit myself to the herein describod
signal code inasmuch as other codes might be formulated that would practically
answer the same purpose. And in connection with this may be mentioned the facility
with which cipher codes may be established and used in connection with my
improved signalling apparatus merely by arbitrarily transposing the latter symbols
or other way which will readily suggest themselves.
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
1. A signalling apparatus comprising a series of frames having blinds mounted
pivotally therein substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A signalling apparatus comprising a series of frames having pivoted blinds said
frames being relatively arranged as at the four corners of a square substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. A signalling apparatus comprising a series of vertical frames having pivoted
blinds arranged normally in a horizontal position the blinds of each frame being
connected by suitable connecting rods substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A signalling apparatus comprising a series of frames having pivoted blinds in
combination with pivoted connecting rods connecting the front and rear edges of the
blinds in each frame and suitable operating mechanism substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. A signalling apparatus comprising four frames relatively arranged as at the
corners of a square in combination with the bars connecting diagonally opposite
frames crossing each other and mounted upon a post projecting from a supporting.
ring the blinds mounted in the several frames and suitable operating mechanism
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a signalling apparatus the combination of a series of frames blinds mounted
pivotally in the said frames, rods pivotally connecting the front and rear edges of the
said blinds a series of operating levers and cords or wires connecting said operating
levers in front and rear of their fulcra with the rods connecting the front and rear

page_text: edges of the blinds in the respective frames substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
7. The combination of the frames the blinds mounted pivotally therein, the pivoted
connecting rods, the cords or wires the operating levers and the springs supporting
the front and rear ends of the said levers substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
8. The combination with the operating levers of the links connecting the said
levers in pairs and having slots working loosely over the said levers substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
9. The combination of the frame the blinds mounted pivotally therein the pivoted
connecting rods the cords or wires, the operating levers, the springs supporting the
front and rear ends of the latter, and the links connecting the said operating levers in
pairs, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
10. The combination in a signalling apparatus with a series of frames having
pivoted blinds of mechanism for simultaneously operating the blinds in one or more.
of the said frames substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. A system of signalling in which each letter of the alphabet is expressed by
the momentary darkening or the darkening once repeated of one or more of a series
of frames, by means of blinds mounted pivotally in the said frames substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
12. In a signalling system an alphabet code in which each letter is indicated by
the darkening or the darkening once repeated of one or more of a series of frames the
different letters or characters being determined by the relative arrangement of the
said frames substantially as herein set forth.
13. In a signalling system an alphabet code in which every alternate letter is
indicated by a single dot represented by the momentary darkening by means of
blinds pivoted therein of one or more of a series of frames the different letters
or characters being determined by the relative arrangement of the said frames
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
14. In a signalling system an alphabet code in which every alternate letter is
indicated by two dots represented by the darkening once repeated by means of blinds
pivoted therein of one or more of a series of frames the different letters or characters
being determined by the relative arrangement of the said frames substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth.
1
a
Date 21st day of Foruary
LESLIE ANTILL,
1, Gresham Buildings, Basinghall Street, E.C.,
Agent for the said Richard Joseph Crowley.