New or Improved Ships' Signal Light Indicator and Alarm.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as requiring by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 7th day of December 1897.
Date of Application, 4th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
Date of Application, 4th July, 1990
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Ships' Signal Light Indicator and Alarm.
I, CLAUD HAMILTON of 137 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus is designed for use where electric masthead and side lights are
fitted and is for the purpose of giving notice to the officer of the watch should any
of these lights go out.
The apparatus is arranged generally as follows:-
An electro-magnet is inserted in the circuit of each lamp, and, the arrangement
is such, that, on each lamp being switched in, the current will pass through the
electro-magnet of the circuit which will then pull over an armature, if everything
is in working order, but, should the lamp fail from any cause, the armature will be
released and will then make contact completing the circuit of an alarm and an
indicating lamp, and, at the same time, the movement of the armature will release
a side lever, which will complete a battery circuit and ring an alarm bell.
The bell will draw the attention of the officer, to the fact, that one of the signal
lamps has gone out and its indicating lamp will inform him which one.
There is, or may be, also provided, in the signal lanterns, a second or reserve
light which may be either a separate lamp or a second filament in the same bulb as
the main lamp.
Should the first lamp or filament fail and the alarm be given, as above described,
this reserve light is to be switched on when the current supplying it will pass
through the electro-magnet pulling over the armature and thus putting out the
corresponding indicating lamp, and stopping the alarm bell showing that the reserve
lamp is burning properly.
In order to avoid any risk of the battery circuit being left closed and thus
exhausting the battery when not required, a switch is provided on each branch of
the battery circuit which is interlocked with the switch for lighting each main
signal lamp so that the circuits can only be closed when the main signal lamps are
or should be burning.
Should the main supply circuit fail from any cause whatever the armature will
close the battery circuit and ring the alarm bell, and, as in this case, the indicating
lamp will not light, the officer will know that the fault is either in the engine room
or at some point of the circuit between the indicator and the engine room.
For testing purposes and to satisfy the officer that everything is in order, a key
is provided for each lamp which short-circuits its electro-magnet thus releasing the
armature, lighting the indicating lamp and ringing the bell as before. On relieving
the key the indicating lamp will go out and the bell will stop ringing, showing that

page_text: the signal lamp is burning and that the alarm is in order and ready for action
should it be required.
Extension indicating lamps and (or) bells in parallel with the above, can, when
required, be placed in a separate indicator on the bridge while the main indicator
is placed in the chart room or other suitable place.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
A New or Improved Ships' Signal Light Indicator and Alarm.
I, CLAUD HAMILTON, of 137, Waterloo Street, in the County of Glasgow,
North Britain, Electrical Engineer, 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, that is to say:-
The apparatus is designed for use where electric masthead and side lights are
fitted, and for giving notice to the officer of the watch should any of these lights
go_out.
In carrying out iny invention the wires supplying current to the signal lights are
connected to an indicator and alarm box placed conveniently for being observed
by the officer of the watch. The box contains or has in connection with it separate
mechanism inserted in the circuit of each signal light which mechanism is arranged
so as on the failure of a first light in a signal lantern to ring an alarm bell or bells
by completing a special battery circuit, and to light an indicating lamp or lamps.
A second or reserve light is provided in each signal lantern, which is controlled by
a separate switch on the alarm box; and when the failure of the first light in a
signal lantern takes place, the reserve light is switched on by hand, the passage of
the current being at the same time thereby so altered as to extinguish the indicating
lamp or lamps and stop the ringing of the alarm bell or bells."
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings, to be
hereinafter referred to, and showing my improved apparatus.
Figure 1, of the drawings is a transverse vertical section and Figure 2, is a
longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Three separate compartments, A1, A2, and A 3, are provided in the indicating
and alarm box, A, to contain the separate sets of mechanism for controlling the
masthead, port and starboard lights of a ship; and if desired a fourth compartment,
similarly arranged, may be provided for controlling an anchor or riding light.
The box, A, is made with a cover. A 4, provided in a usual way with apertures
closed by pieces of glass corresponding in color to the signal lights with which the
compartments are in connection, and through which the indicating lamps within the
box, when lit, are visible from without. The box. A, is also provided internally
with a slab, A 5, of non-conducting material forming a base on which to fix the sets
of mechanism. All the sets of mechanism in the box are the same and the
description hereinafter given applies to any set. The parts of the mechanism in
the compartment, A 1, are shown in the relative positions they occupy prior to the
failure of a light; and in the compartment, A2, in the relative positions they
occupy after the failure of the first light; and in the compartment, A3, as when

page_text: the apparatus is not in use. A diagrammic method of showing the wiring of the
apparatus is adopted to facilitate explanation.
A positive main wire, B, leading from the dynamo or other main source of
electric energy conveys current to each of the compartments, A1, A2, and A 3.
A branch wire, B 1, for each compartment leads from the positive main wire, B, to
switches, C1, C2, and C3, the switch, C1, being shown as closed, the switch, C3,
as open, while the switch, C2, is shown as being covered by a shield, C, and is to
be understood as being closed. A branch positive wire, B2, leads from each
switch through terminals, B3, furnished with a safety fuse wire, B4, to a signal
lantern. The current returns from the lantern by a negative branch wire, D1,
connecting to the coils of an electro-magnet, E, from which it connects to a
negative main wire, D, leading to the dynamo or other main source of electric
energy. The electro-magnet, E, is excited by the current and attracts to it an
armature, E 1, against the action of a helical spring, E2, the armature being held
by a blade spring, E3, to a terminal, E4. Should failure of a lamp take place
the electro-magnet, E, will cease to attract the armature, E1, which by the action
of the spring, E2, will make contact with an adjustable contact piece, E5, on a
terminal, B5. The current then instead of passing through the terminals, B3,
passes by a continuation wire, B6, to an indicating lamp, G, and thence to a
terminal, G 1, from which it leads to one or more indicated boxes located on the
ship's bridge or other suitable position for being easily seen by the officer of the
watch. The current returns by a negative branch wire, G2, from the additional
lamps and the indicating lamp, G, through the contact piece, E5, the armature, E1,
and a wire, G3, to the negative main wire, D.
Simultaneously with the lighting of the indicating lamps, an alarm bell, H,
worked by a circuit from a separate battery is rung to insure the arresting of the
officer's attention. A positive wire, H 1, from the battery connects by branch
wires, H2, to switches, H 3, which are interlocked with the switches, C1, C2,
and C3. From each switch, H3, a branch wire, H 4, leads to a terminal, H 5,
fitted with an adjustable contact piece, Hi. The armature, E1, has one end
(which is armed with an anti-friction roller, H7, of non-conducting material)
bearing on one end of a lever, J, centered on a terminal, J1, and by being drawn
by the spring, E2, against the contact piece, E5, allows a spring, J3, to move the
other end of the lever into contact with the contact piece, H 6. The lever, J, is
free from the contact piece, H 6, prior to the failure of the light owing to the
armature, E1, acting on it when being attracted to the magnet, E. The current
then passes from the wire, H4, through the metal lever, J, and the wire, J2,
to the bell, the current returning from the bell by the negative wire, J 3, to the
battery.
The ringing of the alarm bell draws attention to the fact that a signal lamp has
failed, and the lighting of the indicating lamp shows which of the signal lamps has
failed. The reserve circuit is then put into use by means of a switch, K. The
switches, K, are shown as covered by a shield, but they are similar to the switch, C.
A branch wire, K1, connects the positive main wire, B, to the switch, K, which
connects by a wire, L, to the spare light in the lantern. The current returns from
the spare light by a wire, L1, this wire connecting to the negative branch
wire, 11, and the negative main wire, D. The current supplying the spare light
passes through the electro-magnet, E, and the armature, E1, being thereby
attracted to the magnet the indicating lamps are put out and the ringing of the
alarm bell is stopped. The spare lamp may be either a separate lamp in the
signal lantern, or a second filament in the same bulb as the defective one.
In order to avoid any risk of the separate or bell battery becoming exhausted
from leaving the circuit closed when the apparatus is not in use, the switches, H 3,
controlling the battery current for each compartment is interlocked with the main
switch. C1, C2, or C3, for lighting the signal lamp, the arrangement being such
that the battery circuit can only be closed or opened along with the main
circuit.
.

page_text: Should the main supply circuit fail from any cause whatever, the armature
will close the battery circuit and ring the alarm bell, and as in this case the
indicating lamp will not light, the officer will know that the defect is at some point
of the circuit between the dynamo and the indicating apparatus.
For testing purposes and to satisfy the officer that everything is in order, a
key, M, is provided for each lamp which by the wires, N, and P, and the contact
pieces R, and S, short circuits the electro-magnet, E, thus releasing the
armature, E1, lighting the indicating lamps, G, and ringing the bell, H, as
before. On relieving the key, M, the indicating lamps, G, will go out and the bell
will stop ringing, showing that the signal lamp is burning and that the alarm
apparatus is ready for action should it be required.
The additional indicating lamps may have combined with them alarm bells, or
additional alarm bells may be arranged without lamps and in connection with an
indicator or indicators on the bridge, or other part of the vessel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that it has been previously proposed to employ in indicator or alarm apparatus for
a ship's signal lights, a reserve light in each signal lantern, and means whereby,
on the failure of a first light an alarm bell is rung and an indicating lamp is lighted,
and I do not claim generally such construction, but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved indicator
as hereinbefore
or alarm apparatus for a ship's signal lights substantially
described.
2. In indicator or alarm apparatus for a ship's signal lights providing electric
mechanism by which on the failure of a first lamp in a signal lantern an indicating
lamp or lamps are lit and an alarm bell or bells are rung, the said lamp or lamps
being lit by current from the dynamo or other main source of energy, and the
bell or bells being rung by current from a separate battery and the whole
apparatus being combined arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In indicator or alarm apparatus for a ship's signal lights providing a reserve
electric circuit which on the failure of a signal light is put in action by hand
by means of a separate switch, such action by means of electric mechanism
extinguishing an indicating lamp or lamps and stopping the ringing of an alarm
bell or bells put into action previously by the failure of the aforesaid signal light
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of March 1897.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.