Improvements in and relating to Electric Lamps for Signalling Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1889
_ _Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1889 -Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Lamps for Signalling
Purposes.
I, JOHN PRICE REES, of 1. Boundary Terrace. Camberwell. in the County
of Surrey, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to electric lamps for signalling purposes.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a self-contained electric lamp
by means of which flashes of light of long or short duration may be produced at the
will of the operator for the transmission of signals or messages according to any pre-
arranged system or code.
My improved signalling lamp is very advantageous for naval and military purposes,
but is also applicable for other purposes..
One feature of my said invention is the combination with an incandescent electric
lamp and an electric battery connected therewith, of a device for closing and
interrupting the circuit of the said battery for the purpose of producing "flashing"
signals.
Another feature of my said 'invention consists in making the lens or lenses adjustable
towards and away from the light to suit the varying distances through which the
signals have to be transmitted.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I attach an incandescent electric lamp,
in any suitable manner to a portable battery of any well-known or suitable construc-
tion by preference to the battery cover. The electric connections between the lamp
and battery are contained within the case or cover of the said battery and are thereby
protected against injury, and the said connections are provided with a suitable spring
or key or other device for making and breaking contact to close and interrupt the
circuit.
By operating the said contact device. flashes of light of any desired length or
frequency may be produced. I provide a cover or casing over the incandescent lamp
for the purpose of enclosing the light and preventing the dispersion of its rays except
through the lens, and also to protect the lamp against injury. This lamp casing or
cover is preferably hinged to the battery-case so that it can be readily turned to one
side to permit access to the lamp: and in the said cover I mount a suitable lens or
lenses for concentrating and directing the light produced by the lamp. I sometimes
also provide a small hole in one side of the said case for the purpose of obtaining
light for reading a message or to permit the examination of the lamp without
removing the cover or casing. This hole is closed by a sliding or other
suitable lid.
The lid or cover of the battery-case is constructed so as to make a tight joint when
closed in order to prevent spilling of the acid when the battery is being carried about,
and the said battery is provided with a suitable handle or handles to facilitate the
carrying of the said battery and to permit its suspension if necessary from a suitable
support.
To provide for the adjustment of the lens or lenses relatively to the light, I arrange
the said lenses in one or more tubes fitted to slide within the lamp-casing, and I
provide suitable means for securing the lens or lenses in any required position.
Dated this 19th day of January 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: CUM DEIL DI DUITIVATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electric Lamps for Signalling
Purposes.
I, JOHN PRICE REES, of 1 Boundary Terrace, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
Electrical 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:—
My invention relates to electrical signalling apparatus.
-The-main-object-of-my-said-invention-is-to-provide-a-portable-self-contained-
electric lamp by means of which flashes of light of long or short duration may be
produced at the will of the operator for the transmission of signals or messages
according to any pre-arranged system or code.
My improved signalling apparatus is very advantageous for naval and military
purposes it is, however, also applicable for other purposes.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown a convenient and advantageous form
of my improved signalling apparatus.
Figure 1 is a plan of the said apparatus some of the parts being removed.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal central section.
Figure is a front elevation partly in vertical section on the line,, Figure 2.
some of the parts being removed; and,
Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section on the line y. y. Figure 2,
with some of the moving parts in a different position.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is a box or case containing the electric battery and forming the base of the signal-
ling apparatus. Bis an electric incandescent lamp which is supported on a bracket 13¹
attached to the lid or cover Al of the box A, and the leading-in wires of which are
connected with the battery as follows, viz.:-one of the said wires is connected with
one pole of the battery by means of a metal conductor ; the other of the said wires
is connected with a metal conductor b having a contact piece b. is a contact spring
or key which is secured to the lid or cover A and is connected with the other pole of
the battery, and which forms the device for completing or closing and interrupting
the electric circuit as required. The spring and conductor are so arranged that
the connection of the same with the respective poles of the battery will be effected by
the placing of the lid or cover A on the box or case A. The electrical connections
between the lamp and battery are, therefore, contained within the battery-case and
its lid or cover and are thus protected against injury.
C is a cover or casing placed over the incandescent lamp to enclose the light and
afford protection to the lamp against injury. This casing or cover is secured to the
lid A of the battery case or box in such a manner that it can be readily removed and
replaced, thus permitting ready access to the lamp; or the said casing may be
connected to the lid A by a hinge-joint.
D is a screw-threaded tube in which are mounted suitable lenses E. E' for concen-
trating and directing rays of light emanating from the lamp B. The tube D is fitted
in a correspondingly screw-threaded aperture in the casing C so that it can be adjusted
therein by turning it in one or the other direction, to vary the distance between the
lamp and the lenses according to the distance through which the signals have to be
transmitted. .
I sometimes provide for the adjustment of the lens or lenses relatively to the
lamp, by arranging the tube carrying the said lens or lenses to slide in the said
casing, and employing suitable means for securing the said tube in any required
position.
F is a partition or diaphragm in the casing C between the lamp B and the lens E¹.
This partition or diaphragm is formed with an aperture F which is closed by a disc
or shutter G mounted upon a lever G which is pivoted at G2 to the partition or
diaphragm F. The short arm of this lever is coupled by means of a link H to one

page_text: arm of a lever J pivoted at J to the said partition or diaphragm F. The short arm
of the lever J is provided with an elongated hole or slot through which is passed a
pin or bolt whereby the said lever is connected with another lever K extending
through a slot C in the casing C and pivoted at K' to the said casing. This lever K
is acted upon by a spring L, whereby it is held in the position shown in Figure 3 aud
is returned to this position when it is released after having been depressed by hand as
hereinafter described.
I sometimes provide a small hole C in one side of the said casing C to permit of
obtaining light for reading a message, or to permit the inspection of the lamp without
removing the said casing." This hole is closed by a pivoted or sliding shutter M, or
by other suitable means.
The lid or cover A of the battery case is constructed so as to make a tight joint
when closed in order to prevent spilling of the acid when the battery is being carried
about, and the box or case A is provided with a suitable handle N to facilitate the
carrying of the apparatus and to permit its suspension if necessary from a suitable
support.
My improved signalling apparatus constructed as above described is operated as
follows, viz. The battery is properly charged and the lid or cover tightly screwed
down. When it is desired to transmit a message or signal by flashes of light, the
spring or key is depressed until it hears upon the contact-piece 1. and is held in
this position, thus completing the circuit through the lamp B and rendering the
filament of the said lamp incandescent. The disc or shutter G is then operated by
hand by alternately depressing and releasing the lever K so as to open and close the
aperture F in such a manner as to produce the desired signal or signals according to
the Morse or other code.
When the spring or key is released. it will return by its own elasticity to the
position shown in Figure 3, thus interrupting the circuit. The said spring or key
must, therefore, he held down during the transmission of signals, but cannot be left
in its closed position like an ordinary switch. I thus provide for saving the battery
power as much as is practicable and preventing waste thereof.
It is obvious that, if desired. I can dispense with the disc or shutter G and the
means for operating it, and produce the signals by alternately depressing and releasing
the spring or key e and thus completing the electric circuit through the lamp B
during intermittent periods of longer or shorter duration according to the signal to he
transmitted. I prefer, however, to employ the disc or shutter and to use the device
comprising the spring or key for the purpose above specified.
I provide on the casing C a sighting tube P to facilitate the directing of the light
towards the place to which the messages or signals are to be transmitted. This tube
is provided at its rear end with a suitable shield P¹.
It is evident that means other than those above described can be used in an
analogous manner for completing and interrupting the electric circuit or for operating
the disc or shutter G for the purpose above specified without departing from the
nature of my invention.
Moreover other forms of battery and lamp may be used. For instance I. can, if
desired, use an electric arc lamp instead of the incandescent lamp above mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I
claim-
First. A portable electrical apparatus for signalling by means of flashes of light.
Second. The combination with an electric battery and an electric lamp connected
therewith of a device for closing and-interrupting-the circuit and a-casing enclosing
the said lamp and provided with one or more lenses substantially as, and for the
purposes, set forth.
Third. In an electric signalling apparatus such as I have hereinbefore described a
tube provided with one or more lenses and so fitted in a casing enclosing the lamp

page_text: that it can be adjusted towards and away from the said lamp, for the purpose above
specified.
Fourth. In an electrical signalling apparatus such as I have herein before described.
the employment between the lamp and the lens of a partition or diaphragm provided
with a suitable aperture, and a disc or shutter provided with means for operating
it to open and close the said aperture, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Fifth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above
specified.