Improvements in Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
Improvements in Signalling Apparatus.
I, JAMES HENRY WALKER, of Hartlepool, in the County of Durham, Marine
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement;-
My invention relates to improvements in steam or air whistles and their
operating mechanism, and specially to the class used as fog-signals on steam or
sailing vessels where it is important to provide regularity and certainty in the
sounding of the whistles, and to indicate by such sounds the position of the vessel
and the direction in which she is moving.
The object of my invention is to provide whistles of different tones and means
for operating same by steam or compressed air, said apparatus being so constructed
as to be controlled by the officer appointed to that duty, using the course of the
vessel indicated on the binnacle compass as a guide in directing the mechanism.
The prime mover of the mechanism may be a spring motor or other suitable power
as steam, air, or electricity, and I propose to cause the whistles to be sounded at
certain intervals by means of clock work controlling the operation of such prime
mover, or the clock mechanism may be arranged so as to act as the prime mover.
A code of signals will be constructed which will enable seamen to determine the
position and course of an approaching vessel in the densest fogs and thus to avoid
disastrous collisions.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings I illustrate my invention as applied to
a steam vessel.
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the main portions of the apparatus placed under
the bridge, deck, or deck house.
Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line A-B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the apparatus on the line C-D
of Fig. 2 at right angles thereto shewing the auxiliary cock or valve.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the auxiliary cock or valve on the line E-F
Fig. 3 at right angles thereto.
Fig. 5 is a thwartship elevation of the bridge, deck, wheelhouse or deck house,
shewing the whistles and other mountings connected with the working of the
signals to a reduced scale.
Figs. 66 and 6 shew details, in plan, of the operating mechanism for sounding
the signal whistles.
Figs. 71, 72, 73 and 74 shew the positions of the pointer and of the four ports in
the shell of the vertical cone chamber 10 sounding the deep toned whistle on four
easterly courses.
Figs. 75, 76, 77, and 78 shew the same positions and the ports in the shell of the
vertical cone chamber sounding the shrill whistle when the vessel is on four
westerly courses.
The same numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts on the several views.
The apparatus is secured to the deck by brackets 1, and these brackets carry a

page_text: truncated cone chamber 2, fitted with a conical plug 3, and having at its larger
end a cap 4, provided with an inlet 5 for steam or compressed air into the plug 3,
which has at different points a number of ports corresponding to the number of
courses on east and west to be indicated. In this case for four courses E and four
courses W there are at 3¹ (Fig. 2) one port in the plug 3; at 32 two ports; at 33
three ports and at 34 four ports which alternately register with the four ports 6
in the shell of the cone 2 and thence by the pipes 8 with the four ports 9 in the
shell of the vertical chamber 10. In the outer shell of the cone 2 are four ports 6,
extending through bosses 7, with pipes 8, which lead to four corresponding
ports 9 in the shell of a vertical chamber 10, which may be either formed with, or
attached to, the cone chamber 2, and having the diameter of its lower portion
smaller than that of the upper portion which is slightly conical, to receive a
plug 11, with ports 12 and 12" opposite each other, which successively, as the
plug is turned, communicate with the four ports 9 in the shell of the chamber 10,
and this plug is reciprocally rotated by a stem 13 projecting through a stuffing
box and gland in the screwed cap 14 by a rod 13" extending up to the mechanism
on the bridge. The conical plug 3 in the cone chamber 2 has a stem 15 projecting
through a stuffing box and gland in the cap 4, and supported in the pedestal of
the clock 16, and the plug 3 is revolved in this case by the clock mechanism by
which the continuous revolutions of the plug may be regulated to certain intervals.
In the lower portion of the chamber 10 is a tangential opening 17, leading into
an elbow pipe 18, the upper end of which opens into the interior of the auxiliary
conical chamber 19 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) which is fitted with a plug 20 having 2
radial ports 21 and 22 communicating through ports 23 and 23 in the shell of the
chamber 19 with branches 24 and 24° (see Fig. 4) which pipes lead respectively
to the deep-toned and shrill whistles 25 and 26 shewn on Fig. 5. The plug 20
has a stem 27 projecting through a stuffing box and gland in the cap 28 from
which stem a rod 28 extends up to the mechanism on the bridge by which the
plug is reciprocally rotated.
Referring now to Fig. 5, I will describe the mechanism on the bridge or roof
of the wheel-house on which are the steering wheel 29, the "binnacle" 30, the
hollow pillar 31 having upon its upper surface the dial plate 32, indicating on its
face the points of the compass. Through the pillar 31 the rod 13 extends and
has keyed on to it a wheel 33 with handles 33" and an index pointer 34, (see Fig. 6)
which moves round the compass dial 32. From the wheel 33 projects a bracket 33b
through the outer end of which passes the rod 28" with a pointer 35 moving in
unison with the pointer 34, to indicate the course. Keyed upon the lower end
of the stem 13 of the plug 11 and rotating with it is a device which I call a
tripper" 36 gearing with another device which I call a catch" 37 fixed upon
the rod 28 so as to work in unison with the "tripper" and transmit any rotation
of it, by the wheel 33 being operated on the bridge or wheel-house, to the
"catch" 37, which turns the plug 20 in the auxiliary conical chamber 19 opening
a port to one or other of the whistles.
66
<<
The operation of my apparatus is as follows:-Steam or air under pressure is
admitted through the inlet 5 in the cap 4 into the conical plug 3, which is con-
stantly revolving when in operation by the motor. The officer in charge of the
whistles is stationed at the wheel 33, his manipulation of which is governed by
the course the vessel is steering, the code of whistle signals indicating to the
adjacent vessels the course being steered. If the vessel sounding is heading
north-north east and the code provides for blowing one deep-toned blast. the
officer will turn the wheel 33 until the pointer 34 registers with that course upon
the compass dial 32. As the wheel 33 is keyed on the shaft or rod 13ª the latter
with the plug 11 in the chamber 10 must turn with it so that one of the four ports 9
in the shell of the chamber 10 will register with the upper end of the correspond-
ing pipe which registers at its lower end with one of the four ports 6 in the shell
of the cone chamber 2, which as the plug 3 revolves registers with the single

page_text: port 31 therein, and at each revolution one deep-toned blast will be blown, pro-
vided the ports leading to that whistle are open. Thus one, two, three, or four
blasts can be sounded on the deep-toned whistle, indicating four different courses
on the eastern half of the compass dial, and the same on the shrill whistle on the
western half.
These ports are controlled as follows:-The "tripper" 36 is fixed on the rod 13ª
in such position as to gear with the catch 37 on the rod 28% (shewn in full lines
on Fig. 6 in neutral position) and turn it to the right or left as the index
pointer 34 (now indicating S) is moved by the officer in charge of the whistles to
points east or west respectively. The catch 37 being fixed on the rod 28 the
latter turns with it, and revolves the plug 20, thus causing one of the ports 21
or 22 to register with one of the ports 23 or 23 on the shell of the chamber 19
and with one of the pipes leading to the two whistles 25 or 26 (see Fig. 5).
It will be understood that my apparatus provides for eight signals, four on an
easterly and four on a westerly course. It is of course designed for use in con-
nection with an established code for the various signals.
Referring to Figs. 66^ and 6º Fig. 6 shews a plan of the compass card 32,
wheel 33, with pointer 34, on the rod 13", bracket 33b and small pointer 35 on
the top of the rod 28; and Fig. 6 shews the action of the tripper 36 upon the
catch 37. The tripper being rotated to either side of its neutral position shewn by
full lines, has moved the catch so as to open a port 22 in the plug of the auxiliary
cone chamber 19 to register with a port 23 in the shell of the chamber (see Fig. 4).
and sound say the deep-toned whistle, the vessel now being on one of the east
courses the pointer marking NE and the tripper SW, having moved in the
direction of the arrow, and opened the port in the chamber 19 (Fig. 4) leading to
the deep toned whistle. If the vessel's course is now changed to west the tripper
now moving in the opposite direction by the manipulation of the hand wheel 33.
engages with the catch and turns it to the opposite side, as in dotted lines opening
the port to the shrill whistle which is now in connection with the apparatus by
the port 21 in the plug through the port 23 in the shell of the chamber 19 (sec
Fig. 4), indicating that one of the west courses is being steered, the pointer now
marking SW and the tripper NE moving as indicated by the arrow
(Fig. 6). If the vessel's course is again changed to cast the wheel 33 is turned
in the reverse direction (see Fig. 78), (the tripper 36 having been stopped by a
pin 38 at about the course SSE), and again coming into contact with the catch 37
(see Fig. 6) turns it so as to open the port in the chamber 19 to the cast or deep-
toned whistle, indicating that an easterly course is now again being steered.
Referring to Figs. 71 to 78, 34 is the pointer moving with the wheel to indicate
the course being steered. 32 is the compass dial, 9 are the four ports in the shell
of the coned chamber 10 (see Fig. 2) communicating by four pipes 8 with the cone
chamber 2, and its hollow plug 3. 12 and 12 are ports opposite each other in the
plug 11, which is rotated by the officer on the bridge to sound one, two, three,
or four blasts on the required whistles.
Figs. 71, 72, 73, and 74 shew the east courses and Figs. 75, 76, 77, and 78 the
west courses.
EAST COURSES.
Fig. 7 indicates by the pointer moving in the direction of the arrow the vessel
steering NNE and sounding one blast on the deep-toned whistle.
Fig. 7 indicates the course as ENE sounding two blasts.
Fig. 73 indicates the course as ESE sounding three blasts.
Fig. 7 indicates the course as SSE sounding four blasts.
WEST COURSES.
Fig. 75 indicates the course as SSW sounding one blast on the shrill whistle.
Fig. 76 indicates the course as WSW sounding, two blasts.
Fig. 77 indicates the course as WNW sounding three blasts.
Fig. 78 indicates the course as NNW sounding four blasts.

page_text: Thus the deep-toned whistle indicates all the eastern sections of the compass
and the shrill whistle all the western sections.
It will be apparent that the number of ports in the shell may be multiplied,
and that more than two whistles may be used without any alteration of the
arrangement of parts herein described or modification of the principle involved
in my invention.
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:
1st. The improvements in signaling apparatus comprising a cone shaped chamber
fitted with a continuously revolving hollow plug into which steam, compressed air,
or other fluid under pressure is admitted, said plug being provided with ports
which, as it revolves, register with corresponding ports in the shell of the
chamber; which ports are connected with ports in the shell of a second cone shaped
chamber, fitted with a hollow plug, with ports which, as the plug is oscillated,
register successively with the ports in the shell of the chamber which, by suitable
connections, register successively with the ports in the shell of the first named
cone chamber, in such manner that one, two, three, four, or more blasts may be
sounded by whistles or foghorns of different tones, indicating the courses being
steered by the vessel sounding, on either the cast or west side of the compass;
an auxiliary coned chamber fitted with a hollow plug, automatically changing
the whistles, when the course of the vessel is changed, from the east side of the
compass to the west side or vice versa, substantially as described.
2nd. In such a signaling apparatus the combination of a cone shaped chamber 2,
having an inlet 5, communicating with the interior of a hollow plug 3 and a
series of outlet openings 6; a hollow plug 3 fitting said chamber having a series
of ports in its shell communicating with those in the chamber 2 and provided with
means for revolving said plug by suitable power; a hollow cone shaped chamber 10
having a series of ports 9 in its shell connected by pipes 8 with the outlet open-
ings 6 of the cone chamber 2, a hollow plug 11 fitting the chamber 10 with ports 12
and 12 in its shell, registering successively with those in the shell of the chamber
as the plug is oscillated, said plug being operated by a stem 13 connected with a
vertical rod 13 by a wheel 33 with a pointer 34, turning round an index plate 32
marked with the points of the compass, a tangential opening 17, with a pipe 18,
leading from the chamber 10 to an auxiliary chamber 19, fitted with a plug 20,
having ports 21 and 22, said plug being turned automatically by the
tripper 36 keyed on the rod 13" operating a catch 37, keyed on the rod 28", so that
when the vessel's course is changed from east to west or vice versa one or other of
the whistles is put into operation; all constructed, combined, and operating
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 30th day of April 1898