IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR SIGNALLING AT SEA AND ON LAND
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Mathias Neuhaus, of 172, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR SIGNALLING AT SEA AND ON LAND."-A com-
'munication from abroad bv Gustav L. Wiese of Hanover Germany
Sealed the 11th January 1876, and dated the 13th July 1875.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mathias Neuhaus
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 13th July 1875.
I, MATHIAS NEUHAUS, of 172, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said. Invention
for "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR SIGNALLING AT SEA AND ON LAND,"
communicated to me from abroad by Gustav L. Wiese, of Hanover,
Germany, to be as follows:
This Invention relates to improved means and appliances for signalling
at sea and on land, and is intended to be used on board men of war and
merchant ships, marine stations, semaphore stations, also for armies, and

page_text: on all occasions where communication by means of signals can be
established for night time.
This signal apparatus is intended for affording a language of signals
in night time between two either fixed or moveable points, especially
between either two vessels on a marine station and a vessel, similar to 5
the signals by means of flags, semaphores, and other optical signals
already in use by daylight.
The air gas apparatus of the system Neuhaus can be used in com-
bination with an air pump and air vessel, by means of which apparatus
air gas is generated which through pipes supplies the other parts of the 1
signal apparatus.
Other systems of lighting can, however, be adopted for signalling
purposes, as hereafter set forth.
As an illustration five or more cases are made of sheet iron, and of
two different sizes. The large cases have say a length of from 5 to 8 1
feet (and more if necessary), a height of 6 to 8 inches, and a width of
6 to 8 inches. Inside these cases there are attached on an iron pipe
either open burners or argand burners, which pipe is connected with a
supplying pipe.
In order to discharge the heat and smoke produced by the gas small 2
funnels made of sheet iron are placed on the top of the case. In front
of the case two screens (made of sheet iron) are attached on an iron
frame, which screens are fastened by a hinge on the lower plate of the
Those screens serve to diminish the light of the case down to
3 or 2 inches, which is necessary in order to make the light appear for
long distances as a strip or blade.
case.
Another screen is attached to the case to cover the little funnels
wherewith to avoid a reverberation from the gas burners.
Between the two screens, about 2 inches from the small outlet, a slip
of glass or mica of the length of the screens is put in a groove. The a
screens themselves are shut on both sides by small plates, and fastened by
means of a thumbscrew to the upper part of the case.
In the lower plate of the case there are some holes for ventilating and
an opening for lighting the gas.
Quite separated from the large gas-supplying pipe another pipe of
smaller size enters the case from underneath, bearing in the middle of

page_text: the gas pipe an open burner. This burner is kept lighted even if the
other open burners are put out, in consequence of the gas having been
turned off, and this burner will light all the other open burners as soon
as the gas has been turned on. But this is only possible where open
burners are in use, otherwise the light of the case showing the shape of
a strip or blade can be dimmed by a lid which is attached to the front of
the screens, and which can by shutting or opening cover or uncover the
light of the case.
The small cases are from 12 to 15 inches, made of sheet iron and
covered in front by glass or mica. Like the large cases they are fitted
with a gas pipe supplying either some open burners or one open broad
burner, or some argand burners. On the back of the inner side a
reflector made of German silver or the like metal is placed. There is
also a small funnel hole for ventilating and a lid to light the gas, and
where open burners are used a separate gas pipe (like in the large
cases).
Those cases of different size are either on board the ship, with the gas
pipe attached, or otherwise put together in a horizontal direction.
The small cases are to be placed four feet higher than the large ones
in order that at long distances the cases of different sizes may be easier
decided. The distance between the cases to be from 5 to 10 feet at
least.
By means of the main pipe the cases will be lighted by the gas, thus
representing at a long distance, 3 to 4 English miles, stops and stripes,
by the combination of which differently shaped lights the 18 consonants
of the A B C may be easily signalized according to the rules of the
"Commercial Code of Signals for the Use of All Nations." In case
the whole of the characters should be represented, then an addition of
one large case and a small one must be made to the apparatus.
The system for signalling the 18 consonants is as follows:
:—

page_text: By the combination of one large caso and four small cases at its
corners the 18 consonants can be represented, but perhaps without the
same distinctness as the system given above.
For semaphore stations only three large cases of the construction
given above are used, these being put up vertically on a mast, with
an axle on the back of each, by which the cases can be turned to various
angles.
By pipes the cases are supplied with gas, and are moved by chains or
ropes attached on the sides in different directions, thus representing by
the formation of different angles the 18 consonants, according to the
Commercial Code of Signals. The cases are to be 6 to 8 feet large at
least, with the same distance from each other, so that the formation of
the angles can be clearly made out.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Mathias Neuhaus in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATHIAS
NEUHAUS, of 172, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Mathias Neuhaus, Her
special licence that I, the said Mathias Neuhaus, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Mathias
Neuhaus, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS AND APPLIANCES FOR SIGNALLING AT SEA AND
ON LAND" (communicated to me from abroad by Gustav L. Wiese, of
Hanover, Germany, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the

page_text: '
said Mathias Neuhaus, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar montbs next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Mathias Neuhaus, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to improved means and appliances for signalling
at sea and on land, and is intended to be used on board men of war and
merchant ships, marine stations, railway and other semaphore stations,
also for armies, and on all occasions where communication by means of
signals can be established for night time.
....
This signal apparatus, as represented in the annexed Drawings, is
intended for affording a language of signals in night time between
two either fixed or movable points, especially between either two vessels
or a marine station and a vessel, similar to the signals by means of flags,
semaphors, and other optical signals already in use by daylight.
The air gas apparatus of the system Neuhaus, Patented 23rd February,
1875, No. 668, can be used in combination with an air pump and air vessel.
By means of such apparatus air gas is generated, which through pipes
supplies the other parts of the signal apparatus.
As an illustration five or more cases are made of sheet iron, and of
two different sizes. The large cases have say a length of from 5 to 8 feet
(and, more if necessary), a height of 6 to 8 inches, and a width of 6 to 8
inches, as in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Inside those cases A there are
attached on an iron pipe B either open burners C or argand burners,
which pipe B is connected with a supplying pipe D.
In order to discharge the heat and smoke produced by the gas small
funnels E, E, made of sheet iron are placed on the top of the case. Two
angle screens F, F, made of sheet iron are attached to the casing A.
The screens are fastened by hinges on the lower plate of the case. These

page_text: screens serve to diminish or contract the light aperture of the case
down to 3 or 2 inches, which is necessary in order to make the light
appear for long distances as a strip or blade.
Another screen G is attached to the case to cover the little funnels
wherewith to avoid a reverberation from the gas burners.
Between the two screens F, F, about 2 inches from the outlet, a slip
of glass or mica a of the length of the screens is put in a groove. The
screens themselves are shut on both sides by small plates and fastened
by means of a thumbscrew to the upper part of the case.
In the lower plate of the casing A there are some holes for ventilating
and an opening for lighting the gas.
Quite separated from the large gas supplying pipe D another pipe of
smaller size enters the case from underneath, bearing in the middle of
the gas pipe an open burner. This supplementary burner is kept lighted
even if the other open burners are put out, in consequence of the gas
having been turned off, and this burner will light all the other open
burners as soon as the main supply of gas has been turned on, but this
is only possible where open burners are in use, otherwise the light
of the case showing the shape of a strip or blade can be dimmed by
a lid which is attached to the front of the screens, and which can by
shutting or opening cover or uncover the light of the case.
The small cases shown in Figures 6 and 7 are from 12 to 15 cubic
inches, made of sheet iron, and covered in front by glass or mica like
the large cases. They are also fitted with a gas pipe B, supplying either
some open burners, or one open broad burner, or some argand burners
C, C. On the back of the inner side a reflector H. made of German
silver or the like metal is placed. There is also a small funnel E and
holes for ventilating and a lid to facilitate the lighting of the gas, and
where open burners are used a separate gas pipe (like in the large cases)
can be employed.
Those cases of different size are either on board the ship with the gas
pipe attached or otherwise put together in a horizontal direction in the
manner shown in Figure 8.
The small cases are preferred to be placed about 4 feet higher than
the larger ones in order that at long distances the lights of different

page_text: -
sizes or lengths may be the easier discerned. The distance between the
cases should be from 5 to 10 feet at least.
..
By means of the main pipe the cases will be lighted by the gas, thus
representing at a long distance, 3 to 4 miles, stops and stripes, by the
combination of which differently shaped lights the 18 consonants of the
A B C may be easily signalized according to the rules of the "Com-
mercial Code of Signals for the Use of All Nations." In case the whole
of the characters should be represented, then an addition of one large
case, and a small one must be made to the apparatus.
The system for signalling the 18 consonants is as follows :-
By the combination of one large case and four small cases at its
corners the 18 consonants can be represented, but perhaps without the
same distinctness as the system given above.
For semaphor stations only three large cases of the construction given
above are necessary to be used, these being put up on a mast, each with
an axle on the back, by which the cases can be turned to various angles,
as shown at Figure 10.
By pipes the cases are supplied with gas, and are moved by chains or
ropes I, I, attached on the ends in different directions, thus representing
by the formation of different angles the 18 consonants according to the
Commercial Code of Signals. The cases are to be 6 to 8 feet large at
least, with the same distance from each other, so that the formation of
the angles can be clearly made out or read.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: Invention herein-before explained and its employment for the purposes
set forth.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Mathias Neuhaus, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.