Improvements in Signalling the Speed and Direction of Motion of the Engines of Steam Ships..
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Signalling the Speed and Direction of Motion
of the Engines of Steam Ships..
I JOHN THOMAS DAWES of Cefu Mawr, Mold in the County of Flint, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for signalling the speed and direction of
motion of the engines of steam ships, so as to indicate whether a ship or vessel is
moving full steam ahead; half steam ahead, or slow; or full or half steam, or slow,
astern; and consists essentially in the combination of electrical lamp appliances
with the engine room-or like-signals, and is, under one modification carried into
practice as follows:-
Four white, and four green lamps are located at the mast head or other suitable
position in the ship so as to show forward, and are connected by separate wires and
switches to the engine room signalling apparatus, so that when Full speed ahead is
shown, the four white lights will be in action; when Full speed astern is indicated,
the four green lamps will be illuminated, whilst two white lights or two green
lights will be shown according as the engines are moving half-speed ahead or
astern; all connections being shut off from the lamps when the engine signalling
lever indicates that the engines are stopped.
A further improvement consists in constructing the said lamp to show different
coloured lights astern, say all red.
100
Improvements in Signalling the Speed and Direction of Motion
of the Engines of Steam Ships.
| JOHN THOMAS DAWES of Cefu Mawr, Mold in the County of Flint, Civil
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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for signalling the speed and direction of
motion of the engines of steam ships so as to indicate whether a ship or vessel is
moving full steam ahead; half steam ahead; or slow; or full or half steam, or
slow, astern; and consists essentially in the combination of electrical lamp
appliances with the engine-room or like signals, and is, under one modification
carried into practice as follows:-
Four white and four green lamps are located at the masthead or other suitable
position in the ship so as to show forward, and are connected by separate wires and
switches to the engine-room signalling apparatus so that when "Full speed ahead,"
is shown, the four white lights will be in action; when "Full speed astern
"
IS

page_text: indicated, the four green lamps will be illuminated, whilst two white lights or two
green lights will be shown according as the engines are moving half speed ahead
or astern. All connections are shut off from the lamps when the engine signalling-
lever indicates that the engines are stopped.
A further improvement consists in constructing the said lamp to show different
coloured lights astern, say all red. This can be done by having openings at the
backs of the lamps covered by red glass.
Fig. 1 is a diagramatic view of apparatus constructed in accordance with my
invention and in the form in which I prefer to use it for ships having twin
propellers.
Fig. 2 is an elevation part being in section, and
Fig. 3 a plan, part being in section of the lamp.
a is the mast. b is the lantern or lamp cover attached to the mast of a ship by
a clamp. The sides of the lantern are each provided with three openings c,
and three openings el through which light is projected from a lamp d preferably an
electric lamp. The openings at one side are for the port engines and at the other
for the starboard engines. On each side of the lamp or lantern six conical
tubes e fitted with lenses e capable of projecting beams or pencils of light of
great intensity lead from the openings c, c, towards the centre of illumination.
Three of the tubes leading to the openings c are fitted in front with coloured
glass or lenses preferably red or green whilst the other tubes have uncoloured
glass or lenses. If desired, one set of tubes may project rays of one colour, and
the other set, rays of another colour. The tubes e are fitted with diaphragms the
size of the apertures in which are regulated so as to throw a narrow beam of light.
On the face of each diaphragm is a slide or shutter f which is moved up and down
so as to expose or cover the apertures in the diaphragms according as the light is
or is not required to be shown. The beams or pencils of light projected through
the tubes e and openings are easily detected from the light projected through the
tubes e¹ and openings c'. Solenoids g or other suitable electro magnetic appliances
are used for raising or opening the shutters or slides by means of a current of
electricity. When no current is passing the shutters close by their own weight
or by springs. h wire leading from a dynamo or battery to the lamp and solenoids.
i wires leading from the solenoids to contact pieces jj, on the engine telegraph
apparatus kk contact pieces coupled to the wire m which leads from the
lamp to the dynamo or battery. n contact pieces one fixed to each of the
handles o o of the telegraph apparatus kk. In Figure 1 the port engines are
signalled as Half speed ahead, and the starboard engines as Half speed astern. It
will be evident that when the handles 0, o' are upright no current will pass through
the contact pieces jj, k, k¹, and all the shutters will be closed. When the handles
are moved to either side so as to bring the contact pieces n in connection with
one or more pairs of contact makers jj, k, k, currents will pass through one or
more of the solenoids or equivalent devices and one or more of the shutters will
be attracted and opened so as to allow light to be projected through one or more
of the tubes e e¹ and show the direction of motion of the engines.
The apparatus may be worked as shown in the drawing automatically in con-
nection with the signal to the engine room, or it may be worked automatically in
connection with the reversing gear of the engine or engines, or it may be operated
separately and independent of the engines as the case may be. Under
my method
of signalling, the motion and direction of the engines of steam ships automatically
or otherwise in connection with the signal from the officer in charge of the ship to
the engine room, vessels may be warned of the approximate speed at which a ship
is approaching them whether from the darkness of the night or from fog or other
rauses the ship herself cannot be distinctly seen.

page_text: For ships in which a single propeller is used the light would be projected™
upwards, and the apparatus would not be in duplicate.
It will be obvious that many modifications of my improvements may be made
without departing from my invention.
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 [
claim is :-
--
The combination of an electric or other lamp with engine-signalling appliances-
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1895.
J. T. DAW ES..