Year: 1886

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE HOWARD, of Gamatibié, British Bechuanaland, South Africa, but
temporarily residing at 58 Compton Road, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for giving signals by night, either on land or at
sea, and which may be seen from a considerable distance.
The apparatus (according to one modification) forming the subject of this invention
consists, in its main features, of a lantern having an aperture for the transmission of
light formed through an opaque case, a sliding shutter to such aperture by which the
transmission of light may be cut off, a pair of electro-magnets (or a single electro-
magnet) operating in combination with suitable mechanism for drawing the shutter
clear of the aperture, or for closing it if it has been drawn clear, a pair of springs (or
a spring) to draw the shutter close after it has been opened by the magnets, or to open
it after it has been closed by the magnets, and a circular vernier or index upon a part
to which the body of the lantern is swivelled, so that the lantern may be set to any
desired angle.
The body of the lantern may be rectangular, circular, or any convenient shape
on plan. When made rectangular the aperture for the transmission of light
is formed, preferably, as a tolerably. wide horizontal slit through the front of the
case, though it may, of course, be made of any convenient shape. When the
case is made circular on plan the slit may be around a semi-circumference,
or around a greater part of the circumference, if desired.
The slit may be
filled in with a lens, if desired. The shutter is carried in slides at the back of the
aperture, and is connected with the front ends of two arms which are pivoted to the
back of the case so as to pass on each side of the lamp and reflector. Under cach
arm, and in any suitable position, is fixed an electro-magnet, and on the underside of
the arm and immediately above the electro-magnet is connected an arinature of soft
iron. Above each arm is arranged a spiral spring tending to raise the arm. When
the magnet coils are in circuit the arms are drawn down against the pull of the springs,
and thus open (or close) the shutter, and when the coils are cut out of circuit the

page_text: springs re-act upon the arms and close (or open) the shutter. The upward and down-
ward positions of the arms are fixed by adjustable stops consisting, conveniently, of a
pair of set-pins carried by a suitable standard or bracket.
The lantern case is swivelled upon a circular frame upon which is marked the points
of the compass, and a finger upon the case, or upon the part thereof which is swivelled
within the frame, acts as a pointer to the vernier. On opposite sides of the frame two
arms are carried out terminating in eyes, and the apparatus is hauled up towards the
mast-head, or the top of other convenient support, along guide ropes stretched faut
and passing through the eyes on the ends of the arms. Previously to hauling up the
apparatus, the bearings of the point to which the signalling is to be directed are taken,
and the lantern is adjusted in relation to the vernier. The lantern may be fixed in its
proper position in relation to the vernier by means of a thumb-screw."
A modification of the above apparatus, for employment with a balloon, consists of a
circular lantern arranged with an opaque case having a shit for the transmission of
light formed around the entire circumference, and fitted with a corresponding shutter
operated in an analogous manner to the shutter already described; or a glass case or
globe may be employed for the lantern and, in lieu of the slit and shutter, aforesaid,
the lantern may be fitted with an opaque chimney and with a cylindrical obscurer, and
the obscurer be operated in an analogous manner to the shutter previously described,
so that when the obscurer is drawn down a slit of light is transmitted between the top
of the obscurer and the bottom of the chimney around the entire circumference. In
this case an electro-magnet and spring may opèrate direct upon the obscurer without
the intervention of a pivotfed arm. This apparatus is suspended below the balloon,
and the balloon itself may be held captive by the conducting wires to the electro-
magnet coil or coils. In this apparatus the swivelling arrangement and index may, of
course, be dispensed with.
The arrangement of glass case or globe and opaque chimney and obscurer may be
adopted, also, in the case of the apparatus hereinbefore first described, in lieu of the
opaque case and slit and shutter arrangement described therefor, in which case, also,
the swivelling arrangement and index may, of course, be dispensed with.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of May 1886.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampion,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling by Night.
1 JOHN GEORGE HOWARD, of Camatibić, British Bechuanaland, South Africa,
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; reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of
reference marked thereon (that is to say)
This invention relates to apparatus for giving signals by night, either on land or at
sea, and which may be seen from a considerable distance; and the object of this inven-
tion is to construct such apparatus so that it may be raised to a considerable height,
such as to a mast head, flagstaff top, or other raised position, for the purpose of trans-
mitting signals to a long distance, and be capable of being operated froni below, that
is from such a position as the ground or deck of a ship.
The main feature of novelty of the apparatus constructed according to this inven
tion consists in the employment of means whereby a signalling shutter or shutters is
or are operated electrically, so as to give the necessary signals by opening and closing
an aperture through which the signal light is reflected.
An apparatus constructed according to one modification of this invention is
illustrated by the drawings on sheets 1, 2 and 3 herewith, of which figure 1 is a trans-
verse vertical section through the centre of such apparatus; figure 2 a sectional plan
taken on line cc of figure I; and figure 3 a plan looking from the bottom side of the
apparatus. The same letters of reference occurring upon iwo or more of these views
indicate corresponding parts. A A is a lamp case with a perforated closed-top
chimney B, of the usual construction, and an obscurer C surrounding the perforated
part of the chimney. D is a lamp of any usual or convenient construction fitting
within V-guides a u, so that while it is securely held within the case it may be readily
slid out and in. D' is a reflector carried in the usual or any convenient maimer. Eis
an aperture formed as a horizontal slot, and preferably filled in with thick glass.
FF are a pair of levers fulcrumed to brackets fixed inside the back of the case.
E is a shutter carried by the outer ends of the levers FF. GG are spiral springs
connected at their upper ends with adjusting screws (one of which is shewn at figure 1
and lettered c) and at their lower ends with the levers F F, respectively and these
springs tend to maintain the leyers in their raised position (as shewn, in the case of
one of such levers, by figure 1) with the shutter closing the aperture E. A! A
are electro magnet cores surrounded with coils B'B', forming electro-magnets of the
usual construction. Care soft iron armatures upon the levers FF. Signals are
given, by means of this apparatus, by alternately making and breaking the electric
circuit around the magnet coils. When the circuit is made the magnets attract the
armatures Cand, consequently, draw down the levers against the pull of the

page_text: springs, and therefore open the shutter E¹; and immediately the circuit is broken
the levers are drawn up again by the reaction of the springs, and the shutter El
consequently closed. The lower face of each armature is, preferably, slanted upwards
in a direction from the fulcrum of the lever on which it is carried, in order to be
parallel or approximately so, with the top of the corresponding magnet core when
drawn down by the attraction of the magnet. The adjusting screws carrying the
springs GG are raised and lowered-by nuts on the top of the lamp case, one of
such nuts being shown by broken lines at d, figure J. DD are standards fixed to
the bottom of the lamp case; d' d' etc. are brackets standing forward therefrom, one
of such brackets of each standard passing over and one under the corresponding
lever. etc. are set-pins through the brackets and act as adjustable stops to the
upward and downward movement of the levers. The outer ends of the parts of the
brackets which carry the set-pins d² ² etc. are split and the two sides of cach split
end are tightened together so as to fix the set pins d² d² etc., when properly adjusted,
by means of transverse set-pins ³ ³ etc.
Referring now to figures 1 and 3 only, P is a ring having transverse arms
FF etc., and is fixed to the bottom of the lamp case by means of screws e e etc.
G is an exterior ring fitting the ring P' so as to be capable of being turned easily
therearound and H H are arms projecting en opposite sides of the ring, and termin-
ating in enlarged ends having holes formed therethrough. The arms H H are shewn,
as if broken in length, for convenience of illustration, but are made of such a length
that the enlarged ends project beyond the sides of the lamp case. etc. are set-
pins, screwed securely into the ring G, with their inner ends projecting into a
groove, around the periphery of the ring P, by which means, while the ring G
and the arms thereon are free to turn easily around the ring P', they are prevented
from dropping away therefrom. is a bracket, on the underside of the ring G¹.
projecting over the lower face of the ring 1'; and g' is a set pin, having a thumb-
piece as its head, screwed through the projecting part of the bracket so that its point
may be made to bear firmly against the ring P and thus securely hold the ring Gand
arms H H in any position in which they may be fixed in relation to the ring P. his
a pointer formed or connected with the ring P, and the lower face of the ring G
may be divided off into degrees or otherwise so that the lamp case may be readily set
at any desired angle with the arms H. H. H' is a link (shewn as partly broken away,
for convenience of illustration) at the top of the case, by which the apparatus is hauled
}} into position for signalling, and the apparatus is guided by means of wire ropes
or other suitable guides passing through the holes at the outer ends of the arms.
The hearings being taken of the point to which it is desired to signal, the lamp case
is properly set in relation to the direction of the arms between the guides, and then
the apparatus is hauled up into position, and the hanging circuit wires (one of which,
lettered, is shewn at figure 1) are connected with a suitable battery (say approxi-
mately of 25 volts E.M.F) and provided with convenient means, as will he readily
understood, for making and breaking contact. The signalling may then be proceeded
with.
a a etc. (see figures 1, 2 and 3) are terminal screws for the circuit wire connec
tions, and (figures 1 and 3) is a ring through which the circuit wires are passed
two or more times so as to prevent a strain being brought upon the wires at the
terminals.
A further modification of this invention is illustrated by the drawings on sheets-4-
and 5 herewith, of which figure 4 is a sectional elevation through the centre of an
apparatus constructed according to such modification; and figure 5 a sectional plan
taken on line y y of figure 4. The parts only are illustrated which are necessary to
shew the peculiarity of this modification over that previously explained. The same
letters of reference occurring upon both these views indicate corresponding parts, and
the parts corresponding to those in the former modification are similarly lettered.
A A is the lamp case, and is shewn square on plan with rounded corners, but it may
be made circular, if desired. L is a permanent obscurer immediately above the lamp

page_text: flame. Dis the lamp, E E an orifice around the circumference of, the case; filled in,
preferably, with glass, and the parts of the case above and below such orifice are joined
together by means of wires etc. EK K' is a shutter or obscurer, which, when
in the position shewn by figure 4, completely prevents the light from passing out
through the aperture E E. Fetc. are four, levers fulcrumed. at one end to
standards etc. supported on the bottom of the case. The other ends of the levers
are connected, by means of slots therein, with studs projecting from brackets // etc.
fixed to the shutter, so that as the levers are raised or lowered the shutter is raised.or
lowered therewith. It will be seen that the arrangement of the levers is such that they
are connected with the shutter at two points on each of two of the opposite sides
thereof. Four magnet cores (A') are employed surrounded with coils (B), and
etc. are armatures on the levers. These armatures are shown of a different shape to
those previously described, simply as a modification of such detail, the shape not being
material. Each lever is provided with a spring Gas in the previous modification
described, and also with an adjustable stop d to its downward movement. The stop d²
may be screwed through a bracket fixed to the top of the corresponding magnet or
through a standard fixed upon the bottom of the case, or the lugs may be made to
project from the lamp body, in which case the stops may be used to keep.the lamp
in place. When an electric circuit is formed around the magnet coils, the levers are
drawn down and the part of the shutter is drawn down below the bottom of the
permanent obscurer L, and allows an annular beam of light to shine between its upper
edge and the bottom of the permanent obscurer L; and immediately the electric circuit
is broken, the springs draw up the levers and again close the shutter against stops i j
in the obscurer and against stops on the sides of the case. For convenience of
readily removing and replacing the lamp, part of the bottom of the case may he
renovable and he fixed in place by means of screws through lugs 7'. The advantage
of this construction of signaller is that a signal may be sent around the whole horizon,
in case it is uncertain to what point the signal is to be directed, and when such point
is known it is unnecessary to adjust the apparatus to any angular position. In this
modification, therefore, the means for setting the case at an angle with the arms by
which it is guided along the guide ropes are not required.
Figure 6 illustrates, in side elevation, a detail arrangement for operating a shutter
when such is arranged as louvres, as in the case of requiring a considerable depth of
opening for the passage of the signal light, as is sometimes desired when a lamp of a
very high illuminating power is employed. Referring to this figure, m m are louvres
fulcrumed at m' m'. F is a lever, and is fulcrumed at n to any suitable support.
A'B' are an electro-magnet, and a soft iron armature carried by the lever F. Two
of these electro-magnets are shown to be employed for the one lever, as will be seen
on reference to figure 7 which is a plan of the lever 1 (figure 6) and of the pair of
magnets (of which one only is shewn by figure 6). The armature is carried within a
bow formed in the lever, and projects on each side over the core of a magnet. Any.
suitable arrangement of armature and one or more magnets may be employed, the
arrangement shewn being simply by way of example. M is a vertical bar having
slots by which it engages with studs on levers oo on the axes of the louvres,
and o is a link connecting the lever F with the bar M. As the lever is lowered and
raised, in the manner before-described, the bar M is lowered and raised and thus opens
and closes the louvres. pp are guide slots in the bar M. Two levers F and bars M
may be employed, if desired, one for each end of the louvres.
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 in respect
of apparatus for giving signals by night, is :-
1. Means by which the shutter of the aperture through which the signal light is
transmitted is operated by making and breaking the electric circuit, substantially as
described for the purpose set forth.
2. The means by which the shutter is opened and closed, consisting essentially of a

page_text: lever or levers fulcrumed at one end and connected with the shutter at the other end,
of an electro-magnet or magnets operating in combination with an armature or arma-
tures upon the lever or levers to open the shutter, and of a spring or springs to close
the shutter, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. Means by which the lamp case is set at any desired angle in relation to the parts
to which it is attached, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination of parts forming the signalling apparatus substantially as
described with reference to the drawings on sheets 1, 2 and 3 herewith.
5. The combination of parts forming the signalling apparatus substantially as
described with reference to the drawings on sheets 4 and 5 herewith.
6. The means by which louvre shutters are operated substantially as described with
reference to the drawings on sheet 6 herewith.
T
11
"