Improvements in Marine Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1893-Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Marine Signalling Apparatus.
We THOMAS FREDERICK MATTHEWS of 29 Bryanston Road Liverpool
Engineer, and JOHN JOHNSTON of 80 Park Hill Road Liverpool, Mariner do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to enable the look-out man on board steam ships
and other navigable vessels to signal in case of danger to the officer in charge of
such vessels, such signals being visible and audible.
Now according to this invention we provide two sets of signalling apparatus, one
on the bridge of the vessel where the officer in charge is stationed, and the other
at the stern of the vessel.
The signalling apparatus on the bridge consists of an indicator which is operated
by an electric switch fixed on the forecastle and operated by the man on the
look-out forward.
The indicator consists of a suitable case containing an electric bell and three
incandescent electric lamps. Three apertures are formed in the case covered by
red green and colourless glasses a lamp being placed behind each aperture.
The indicator is placed athwart the vessel the colourless glass being in the
middle the red glass on the left, and the green glass on the right of the centre
glass.
The wires from these lamps are connected to the above mentioned switch which
is provided with suitable contacts to enable the man on the look-out to switch on
the current to either lamp at will and ring the bell.
When the look-out sees danger ahead he switches on the centre lamp and shows
a white light. If the danger is on the port side he switches on the lamp showing
a red light and if to starboard the lamp showing a green light is put into circuit.
The bell rings no matter which lamp is put into circuit thus calling the attention
of the officer in charge of the vessel.
The switch is preferably so arranged that the handle is vertical when a white
light is shown to the right when the green and to the left when the red lights are
displayed.
The after alarm signal is used when entering and leaving port or when the
vessel is going astern. It consists of a case containing an incandescent electric
lamp. Apertures are formed in opposite sides of the case so as to show a light
fore and aft. The apertures are covered by colourless glass so as to show a white
light; behind the forward aperture however is a sliding frame carrying a red
glass so as to enable a red or white light to be shown to the officer on the bridge
according to whether the slide is raised or lowered. The case is mounted on a
pillar high enough to enable the light to be seen when the awnings are spread.
Inside the pillar is a tube or rod fixed to the deck projecting also inside the case
to the upper end of which tube or rod the lamp attached the rod or tube has
a spiral groove formed therein in which works a die pivotted to a lever one
end of which is pivotted to the case and the other to a link which connects the
aforesaid lever to a second lever secured to a weigh shaft. Two levers on the
weigh shaft are connected by means of suitable links to the sliding frame carrying
the red glass. A suitable handle is provided to rotate the outer pillar.
When the man on the look-out aft sees danger of the propeller being fouled or
a collision imminent he turns the handle rotates the pillar and raises the red glass
at the same time switching on the current to an electric bell on the bridge to call
the attention of the officer in charge.
Although we have described our invention as fitted on board vessels it may be

page_text: fixed on shore and any lamps or other source of light may be used instead of
electric lamps.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Marine Signalling Apparatus.
We, THOMAS FREDERICK MATTHEWS, of 29 Bryanston Road, Liverpool,
Engineer, and JOHN JOHNSTON, of 80 Park Hill Road, Liverpool, Mariner, 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 :-
"
The object of this invention is to enable the "look out man on board steam
ships and other navigable vessels to signal in case of danger to the officer in charge
of said vessels said signals being visible and audible.
Now according to this invention we provide two sets of signalling apparatus one
on the bridge of the vessel where the officer in charge is stationed and the other at
the stern of the vessel.
The signalling apparatus on the bridge consists of an indicator which is operated
by an electric switch fixed on the forecastle and operated by the man on the look
out forward..
The indicator consists of a suitable case containing an electric bell and three
incandescent electric lamps, three apertures are formed in the case covered by red,
green, and colorless glasses a lamp being placed behind each aperture.
The indicator is placed athwart the vessel the colorless glass being in the middle
the red glass on the left and the green glass on the right of the centre glass.
The wires from these lamps are connected to the above mentioned switch which
is provided with suitable contacts to enable the man on the look out to switch on
the current to either lamp at will and ring the bell.
When the look out sees danger ahead he switches on the centre lamp and shews
a white light.
If the danger is on the port side he switches on the lamp shewing a red light and
if to starboard the lamp shewing a green light is put into circuit.
The bell rings no matter which lamp is put into circuit thus calling the attention
of the officer in charge of the vessel.
The switch is preferably so arranged that the handle is vertical when a white
light is shewn, to the right when the green, and to the left when the red lights are
displayed.
The after alarm signal is used when entering and leaving port or when the vessel
is going astern. It consists of a case containing an incandescent electric lamp,
apertures are formed in opposite sides of the case so as to shew a light fore and aft,
the apertures are covered by colorless glass so as to shew a white light (fore and
aft) behind the after aperture however is a sliding frame carrying a red glass so as
to enable a red or white light to be shewn to the officer on the bridge according to
whether the slide is raised or lowered.
The case is mounted on a pillar high enough to enable the light to be seen when
the awnings are spread. Inside the pillar is a tube or rod projecting also inside
the case to which the lamp is attached the rod or tube has a spiral groove formed
therein in which works a die pivoted to a lever one end of which is pivoted to the
case and the other to a link which connects the aforesaid lever to a second lever
secured to a weigh shaft.
Two levers on the weigh shaft are connected by means of suitable links to the
sliding frame carrying the red glass a suitable handle is provided to rotate the
outer pillar.

page_text: When the man on the look out aft sees danger of the propeller being fouled or a
llision imminent he turns the handle rotates the pillar and raises the red glass at
e same time switching on the current to an electric bell on the bridge to call the
tention of the officer in charge.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we will proceed
explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
ich:
Figure 1 represents elevation of switch on forecastle head.
Figure 1s section or same.
Figure 3 front view of indicator on bridge.
Figure 4 section of same.
Figures 5 and 6 are elevations partly in section of the after alarm signalling
apparatus fixed at the stern of the vessel.
Figure 7 is sectional plan of base shewing switch.
The same letters denote the same parts in Figures 1 2 3 and 4 and similar letters
of reference are used to indicate similar parts of the apparatus shewn in Figures 5 6
and 7.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is the handle which is operated by the man on the look out
forward this handle is provided with a spring catch b taking into depressions in the
angle bar c to retain the handle a in any desired position. d is a piece of vulcanite
or other insulating material carrying a stud e to the other end of which is attached
the metal bridge piece f the ends of which press against the metal contact pieces g h
mounted on an insulating base i.
The line wires from the dynamo or battery and the lamp wires are attached to
the contacts h in the usual way.
g
The switch may be placed in the outgoing or return circuit preferably the former.
Supposing this to be the case the current bearing wire from the dynamo is attached
to the contact g for example and another wire from the contact to the lamp A in
the indicator fixed on the bridge the return circuit being taken from lamp to
dynamo direct or by means of the ordinary return cable or lead.
Similarly the lamps P and S are connected to the contacts g¹ h¹ and 9" h¹¹
respectively so that when the handle a is in the position shewn at Figures 1 and 2
the lamp A is in circuit when the bridge piece / connects the contacts g' h¹ the
lamp P is in circuit and when the contacts g" are connected the lamp S is
in circuit when the handle a is in the intermediate position indicated by the
dotted lines x y all three lamps are cut out of the circuit.
The indicator shewn by Figures 3 and 4 consists of a box preferably of metal
and containing the lamps P. A. S. and preferably an electric bell the bell circuit
may be conveniently arranged as a shunt from the main leads so that whichever
of the lamps A. P. S. is switched on the bell will ring when the circuit is
completed.
glasses k¹ k kill to allow
being preferably colored
green so that if the man
The front of the indicator box is fitted with three
the light of the lamps to shew through, the glass
red, the glass white or colorless and the glass
on the look out forward sees danger ahead he places the handle a in the position
shewn in Figures 1 and 2 thereby switching on the current to the lamp A which
shews a white light at the same time the bell is rung and calls the attention of
the officer on the bridge.
If the danger is on the port side the look out man moves the handle a to the
left of the drawing till it is horizontal switching on the lamp P ringing the bell
and shewing a red light. If danger is apprehended from the starboard side the
handle a is moved over to the right till it is horizontal when the bell is rung,
the lamp S switched on and a green light shewn.
Both switch and indicator are preferably attached to pillars in the same
manner as the ordinary ships telegraphs.
The after alarm signal which is shewn by Figures 5 6 and 7 is used when
entering and leaving port or when the vessel is going astern and consists of a

page_text: case containing an incandescent electric lamp m.
l
Apertures n and o are formed
in the opposite sides of the case so as to shew a light fore and aft the said
apertures being covered by colorless glass so as to shew a white light fore and
aft. Behind the aperture n is a sliding frame p carrying a red glass g so as to
enable a red or white light to be shewn to the officer on the bridge according
to whether the slide is raised or lowered, the red light being shewn when the
frame P is raised.
The case is attached to the upper end of a pillar r of sufficient height to
enable the light to be seen when the awnings are spread. Inside the pillar r
is a tube or rods which is fixed to the deck at its lower end, this tube or
rod has the lamp m secured to the upper end thereof which projects into the case l.
The rod or tubes has a spiral groove u formed therein in which works a die or
dies pivoted to a lever pivoted at w to the case I and at x to a link
connects the said lever to a second lever z secured to a weigh shaft a¹.
which
The levers are attached by means of links b' to the sliding frame p carrying
the red glass
is a handle for rotating the outer pillar, d' is a piece of insulating material
which when the outer pillar is rotated forres the contact piece e' against the fixed
contact and so switches on the current to the lamp m. " is a waterproof case
fixed to the deck and provided with a gland and stuffing box through which passes
the pillar r.
When the man on the look out aft sees danger of the propeller being fouled or
a collision imminent he turns the handle e rotates the pillar turning the
aperture n towards the bridge raising the red glass g and switching on the current
to the lamp m and to an electric bell on the bridge to call the attention of the
officer in charge.
Although we have described our invention as fitted on board vessels it may be
fixed on shore any suitable lamps or other source of light may be used instead of
electric lamps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In marine signalling apparatus the combination of an indicator coupled to or
containing an electric bell and also containing three or more electric lamps having
an aperture covered with colored glass in front of each lamp with a switch for
putting any desired lamp and the bell in circuit with a dynamo machine or other
source of electrical energy and shewing white or colored lights substantially as and
for the purposes stated.
11. In a marine signalling apparatus the combination of an indicator containing
an electric lamp or other source of light the said indicator having two orifices
therein covered with glass one orifice being provided with a sliding frame having a
colored glass attached thereto with an alarm bell on the bridge or other portion of
the vessel and a means of raising and lowering the said sliding frame and sounding
the alarm bell for the purpose specified.
III. In marine signalling apparatus the indicator having an orifice therein
provided with a sliding frame to which is attached a colored glass in combination
with the levers and, links y and 'b' weigh shaft w and the fixed rod or tube s
having a spiral groove u therein substantially as described and shewn at Figures 5
and 6 and operating in the manner specified.
IV. In a marine signalling apparatus the switching apparatus attached to the
pillar substantially as described and shewn and for the purposes stated.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.