Improvements in Electric Telegraphic Apparatus for Transmitting and Receiving Signals on Board Ship or other Places.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Electric Telegraphic Apparatus for Transmitting
and Receiving Signals on Board Ship or other Places.
I JOHN SACHEVERELL GISBORNE of Walthamstow in the County of Essex,
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHIC APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND
RECEIVING SIGNALS ON BOARD SHIP OR OTHER PLACES," to be as follows:―
This invention relates to a peculiar combination and arrangement of apparatus
worked by electric currents, for transmitting and receiving signals or orders on
board ship and in other places, and consists of a Transmitter having the required
orders indicated on a dial as is well understood which Transmitter is connected by
an electric cable with an Indicator having also on a dial corresponding orders to
those on the Transmitter. This cable contains a separate wire for every
"order "
also a wire cominon to any one of the "orders" of the series for completing the
circuit between the Transmitter, Indicator and Battery, also a wire connected with
the reply gong in the Transmitter. The wires thus combined in the cable serve to
convey the current necessary for displaying each separate order on the Indicator
and for bringing back the reply from the Indicator to the Transmitter. For this
purpose I employ any convenient locking and releasing mechanism provided it be
so arranged as to enable each order tablet when brought into view by the action of
an electro magnet to lock itself in its exposed position by a catch immediately the
order has been transmitted and to maintain itself so locked until the said catch is
released by the transmission of a succeeding order the current for which by passing
through a second electro magnet common to the locking catches of all the Tablets
effects through the agency of the said second electro magnet the release of any one
of the orders exposed. Thus when an order is transmitted the corresponding
indicating disc arm or tablet is caught by its own catch and held in view and when
the succeeding order is sent the electric current by passing through the unlocking
electro-magnet draws down its armature which is in mechanical connection with
all the catches and allows any of the tablets of the series to fall out of sight. On
the transmission of an order an electric goug in circuit with the Indicator is set
ringing and continues to ring until a reply is sent which is effected by pressing
Price I

page_text: a button or moving a lever so as to break circuit with the Indicator gong and
complete circuit with a reply gong in the Transmitter. It will thus be seen that
an order having been transmitted and its Tablet locked in position the said Tablet
cannot be displaced until a succeeding order has been transmitted and as the
locking catch of each order tablet forms a part of the reply circuit it follows that
the reply gong in the Transmitter cannot be sounded unless the particular reply
button or lever corresponding to the order Tablet locked has completed circuit by
being pressed or moved.
The aforesaid mode of action applies to any number of orders but the details of
the mechanical parts may be varied according to the requirements of the apparatus.
Dated this Oth done of Tanu 100%

page_text: Improvements in Electric Telegraphic Apparatus for Transmitting
and Receiving Signals on Board Ship or other Places.
I JOHN SACHEVERELL GISBORNE of Walthamstow in the County of Essex,
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to a peculiar combination and arrangement of apparatus
worked by Electric currents for transmitting and receiving signals or orders on
board ship and in other places and consists of a Transmitter having the required
orders indicated on a dial as is well understood which Transmitter is connected by
an Electric cable with an Indicator having also on a dial corresponding orders to
those on the Transmitter. This cable contains a separate insulated wire for every
"order" also a wire common to any one of the orders of the series for completing the
circuit between the Transmitter, Indicator and Battery, also a wire connected with
the reply gong in the Transmitter. The wires thus combined in the Cable serve to
convey the current necessary for indicating on the face of the Indicator each order
transmitted and for bringing back the reply from the Indicator to the Transmitter.
According to my said invention I employ any convenient locking and releasing
mechanism provided it be so arranged as to enable each order tablet when brought
into view by the action of an electro magnet to lock itself in its exposed position
by a catch immediately the order has been transmitted and to maintain itself so
locked until the said catch is released by the transmission of a succeeding order the
current for which by passing through a second electro magnet common to the
locking catches of all the tablets effects through the agency of the said second
electro magnet the release and concealment of the exposed tablet of the last order
previously given. Thus when an order is transinitted the corresponding indicating
disc, arm or tablet is caught by its own catch and held in view and when the
succeeding order is sent the electric current by passing through the unlocking
electro magnet draws down its armature which is in mechanical connection with
the whole of the catches and allows any one or all of the tablets of the series to fall
out of sight. On the transmission of an order an electric gong in circuit with the
Indicator is set ringing and continues to ring until a reply is sent which is effected
by pressing a button or moving a lever so as to break circuit with the indicator
gong and complete circuit with a reply gong in the Transmitter. It will thus be
Sten that an order having been transmitted and its tablet locked in view the said
tablet cannot be released or displaced until a succeeding order is transmitted and
as the locking arrangement of each order tablet forms a part of the reply circuit
the reply gong in the Transmitter cannot be sounded unless the particular reply
button or lever corresponding to the order tablet which has been locked has
completed circuit by being pressed or moved. The aforesaid mode of action applies
to any number of orders and the details of the mechanical parts may be varied
according to the requirements of the apparatus.

page_text: In practice I find it convenient to have the orders permanently marked upon the
dials of the Transmitter and Indicator and to show on the Indicator the particular
order sent by bringing into view behind an aperture in the dial of the Indicator
corresponding to the order transmitted a plain tablet suitably coloured to attract
the eye so that the exposure of the said tablet shall indicate the order to be
attended to whilst the rest of the tablets remain out of sight for the time being.
If preferred the order may be marked on the face of the tablet itself.
Figure 1 of the Drawings attached is a Front elevation of the Transmitter.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same taken along the line 1-2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation thereof with the back plate removed (looking in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 2).
Figure 4 is an inner face view of a portion of the back plate of the Transmitter
carrying the Reply gong.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of the Indicator and parts in immediate connection
therewith.
Figure 6 is a corresponding inner face view thereof with the front dial removed
and the surrounding casing in section to show the locking and unlocking and reply
mechanism.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the reply portion of the indicating instrument.
Figures 8 and 9 are details (full size) of the locking and releasing mechanism
in connection with a single order tablet the same being repeated for each tablet
whatever number may be employed.
Figure 10 is a general diagram on a smaller scale showing the connection
between the Battery, the Transmitter, the Indicator and reply portion thereof.
To avoid unnecessary complication I have only shown two of the series of order
Tablets in the Indicator the one locked in view and the other released and out of
sight the connections with the Transmitter and Battery being shown with reference
to the locked tablet alone.
A is the Transmitter to be placed on the Bridge of a Steam ship or in any other
locality convenient to the hand of the person giving the orders-B is the Indicator.
C the Reply transmitter placed by preference in full view and convenient to the
hand of the person by whom the orders are to be received and replied to and D is
the Battery.
The Transmitter may consist of a circular or other casing A provided with a
fixed dial plate B on which are marked the orders to be transmitted. In the centre
of the dial plate is provided a short rotating stud C carrying at its outer end an
actuating spring-handle D, provided with a projection which as the handle is
shifted round to any order enters a notch E, corresponding to the said order, formed
in an annular projection F on the front part of the casing (see figures 1 and 2).
To the inner end of the stud C there is fixed a radial arm G the extremity of which
is curved in both directions transversely and formed with a central depression as
shown clearly in Figure 3. In this depression rests without being in contact
therewith the lower end of a radially disposed sliding piece or plunger H guided
by the socket piece I screwed into the lug K said socket carrying branch arms L L'
to which are attached the contact pieces M M². The upper end of the pin H is
tipped with vulcanite or other insulator and in its normal position is out of contact
with the said pieces M, M¹ the lower end of the pin H being forced into but so as
not to touch the central depression of the arm G by a helical spring inside the
Bocket piece. A similar make-and-break contact arrangement and connections_is
provided for each order on the dial but I have only shown two in Figure 3. In
Figures 1, 2 and 3 the Transmitter is shown in its normal condition with the
transmitting lever handle in the notch corresponding to, say order N° 1, or "Stop."
The circuit for this order is formed by a wire 1 connected to the socket piece I
corresponding to the said order and leading through the cable N (Figure 10) to
the corresponding terminal 1 in the connection box O, here shown as attached to the
plate carrying the Indicator but it may be placed in any other convenient position.

page_text: Although I have shown 13 terminals in the said box 0 of which 8 are for
connecting the 8 orders with their separate cable wires the connections of N° 1
only of the eight order terminals are shown complete in my drawings-similar
connections being employed for all the other orders. Terminal N° 9 connects
through the battery with N° 9 cable wire which is common to all the orders for
completing circuit with any one of them through the unlocking arrangement and
reply gong in the Transmitter. N° 10 terminal in the connection box is connected
with No 10 Cable wire which is led to one portion of the unlocking device in the
Transmitter and is also common to the unlocking of all the order tablets of the
Indicator. No 11 terminal is connected with the battery direct and with one end
of a single coil Electro magnet hereinafter referred to for making and breaking
contact with the Indicator gong hereinafter referred to as each order is transmitted
and replied to, it being common to all the order circuits. N° 11 Cable wire
is connected with a terminal N° 11 in the Transmitter (see Figures 3 and 10)
and through a make-and-break contact arrangement hereinafter referred to, with
the battery and is also common to all the order circuits. Terminal No 12 in the
Connection Box O connects with N° 12 cable wire leading to one end of the coils
of the reply gong in the Transmitter the same Terminal being also connected to
the Reply Transmitter C by a wire common to all the reply buttons therein.
N° 13 terminal connects with the other end of the before mentioned single coil
electro magnet for making and breaking circuit with the Indicator gong and also
connects with one end of the electro magnetic coils of the Indicator gong and
works in cominon with all the order circuits. It is obvious that the several
connections may be made in various ways without altering the principle of action
of the apparatus.
From the terminal No 1 before referred to the wire 1, is led to a corresponding
terminal 1 in the Indicator casing which contains other terminals corresponding to
the other orders but I shall only refer to one terminal and its connections the same
arrangement being repeated for each order. From this terminal 1, in the Indicator
the wire 1, leads to one end of the coils of the Electro magnets P (figures 6 and 10)
and thence to the insulated connecting segment Q inside the indicator casing
common to all the order wires-From this common connector the said wire 1
passes to the terminal N° 9 in the connection box O and thence to a terminal 1, on
the frame of the Indicator, through any suitable make-and-break contact arrange-
ment R (shown more clearly in Figure 5) which may consist for example of two
insulated plates connected together by the insertion of a plug between them thereby
making contact and completing circuit with the Battery D-To enable the reply to
the order, to be sent, which reply consists in sounding the Reply gong S in the
Transmitter (see figures 4 and 10) a corresponding reply button T is provided in
the reply dial (Figures 5,7 and 10) there being as many reply buttons as there are
orders or indications on each of the dials of the Transmitter and Indicator.
On Transinitting an order the handle D is moved round from the order last given
(in this case "Stop") to the notch corresponding to the order "Slow" (for example)
and in being moved it brings either of the raised curved portions of the metal
arm G (according to the direction in which it is moved) in contact with the lower
end of the plunger H and by forcing outwards the said plunger so as to bring the
pieces M and M' in contact together practically forming at the same time two
separate circuits-the one through M and M' and through the unlocking electro
magnets V in the Indicator by the wires 9 and 10 and the other through the tablet
displaying electro magnets P¹ duplicates of the Electro magnets P (Figure 6) in
connection with the next order tablet say for example "Slow" by a wire not shown
in the drawings but corresponding to N° 1 wire said wire being connected with the
socket piece I of the transmitting mechanism for the next order this circuit being
completed through the arm G spindle C metal casing of the Transmitter and the
Battery wire 11 common to all the series of orders. The mechanism I prefer to
employ for locking and releasing each order tablet is shown in full sized detail at

page_text: Figures 8 and 9-The order tablet W being shown as released or in its dropped
position in both these figures. P is a pair of Electro magnets mounted in a frame
or holder X the several holders with their electro magnets and armatures being
secured to a plate fixed to the interior of the Indicator casing and arranged in the
form of a circle there being a locking and releasing apparatus for each order.
I have only shown two such apparatus in Figure 6 the one for the order "stop
being represented with its Indicator tablet locked in position to be seen through
a corresponding aperture in the dial and the other for the order "Slow" being
shown unlocked or released with the indicator tablet dropped out of sight. Y is
an armature pivotted on centres and having an arm Z rigidly secured thereto the
free end of which arm engages with the shorter arm of a lever a working on a fixed
centre b the longer arm of which lever is slotted and connected by a pin with a lug
or projection c on one side of the freely hung lever arm & carrying the indicator
tablet W. e is a spring which presses against the lever a and serves to assist the
fall and dropping out of sight of the tablet when released as hereinafter described.
Notches are formed in the butt end of the tablet lever d with which notches engages
the nose of a moveable catch or deteut f connected to an adjustable rod g jointed to
the unlocking disc h (Figure 6) which is fast on a spindle i carrying a radially
disposed armature / acted upon by the electro magnets V. The moment the circuit
is established through the Electro magnets V the armature k is attracted thereto and
by its movement causes the disc h to turn slightly and in so doing to push outwards
the connecting rods g of all the order tablets simultaneously thereby withdrawing
the corresponding catches f from the notches in the tablet levers and allowing the
tablets to fall out of sight this movement being assisted by the spring e (Figures 8
and 9) before referred to. The bringing into view and locking in position of any
desired tablet (as shown with reference to the tablet corresponding to the order
"Stop" in Figure 6) is effected by the direct action of the electro magnets P (or
their duplicates) when excited by the current passing through the contact pieces M
and M¹ of the Transmitter the said magnets attracting the armature Y which
brings the lever a into action and lifts the indicating tablet which is at the same
time caught by the self acting catch fin which condition it remains locked until
released by the act of moving the Transmission lever D to any other of the orders―
7, (figure 6) is a single Electro magnet fixed to the back plate of the Indicator-
m is a spring armature thereton is a spring catch having a slot in the outer
end, in which slot engages the free end of the armature when the catch n is pressed
forward by the rigid arm o secured to the unlocking disc by the partial rotation
of the said disc under the action of the electro magnets V. The object of the
spring armature and catch is to complete circuit through them with the Battery
When the reply is sent by
and the gong p in connection with the Indicator.
pressing any one of the Reply buttons T of the Indicator, the current passes
through the single coil of the electro magnet 1, and in attracting the spring
armature m breaks contact with the spring catch thereby cutting off the current
from the Indicator gong p and at the same time completing circuit with the Reply
gong S in the Transmitter through the wires 12, and 9 as will be readily
understood.
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
1. An Electric Telegraphic signalling apparatus for the purpose set forth, so
constructed and arranged as to complete two separate circuits each time an order
is sent from the Transmitter, the one circuit releasing or unlocking a tablet or
equivalent device showing on the Indicator the order last previously given and the
other bringing into view the tablet or equivalent device corresponding to the order
transmitted and in so doing causing the same to lock itself in position until
released by the transmission of the succeeding order as specified.

page_text: 2. An Electric Telegraphic signalling apparatus for the purpose set forth so
constructed and arranged as to complete three separate circuits each time an order
is transmitted the first releasing or unlocking a tablet or equivalent device showing
on the Indicator the order last previously given the second bringing the Indicator
gong into operation and the third bringing into view and thereby causing to
be locked in position the tablet or equivalent device corresponding to the order
transmitted as specified.
3. The combination with an Electric Telegraphic signalling apparatus such as
herein set forth of a Reply arrangement which simultaneously cuts out of circuit
the Indicator gong and completes circuit with the tell-tale reply gong thereby
notifying that the tablet or other device indicating the order transmitted has been
locked in position substantially as specified.
4. Electric Telegraphic signalling apparatus for transmitting and receiving
signals on board ship and other places, arranged and caused to operate substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by my drawings.