Improvements in Fog Signalling at Sea.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog Signalling at Sea.
We, RICHARD CROSBY, of 9, Plymouth Road, Penarth, Master Mariner, and
JOSEPH SPIRIDION, of 29, Duke Street, Cardiff, Watch Maker and Optician, both
in the County of Glamorgan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means for automatically signalling by
aural or other means during foggy weather at sea.
It is well known that during such weather the means employed on steamers are
blasts of the fogwhistle worked by hand, of varying durations of time, such as one
long blast not exceeding every two minutes.
This vague method of signalling is liable to frequent mistakes, and accidents are
liable to occur therefrom.
According to our invention we provide an automatic means of producing blasts
of fixed durations at uniform intervals, which may be varied to suit any
regulations that may be brought forward at any time by the Board of Trade or
other authorities.
We provide a mechanical arrangement, the motive power of which is preferably
a strong spring actuating a series of wheels which communicate with a cam so
formed that a lever with a friction roller pressing against its periphery comes in
contact with a projection or depression, so that the roller is either raised or lowered
according to the nature and shape of the cam, a spring or weight keeping the roller
in contact. The shape of the periphery of the cam is governed by the extent and
duration of the blasts required. We propose to make the blasts of ten seconds
every two minutes or thereabouts, therefore the periphery of the cam will have a
depression in it equal to the length of stroke required to operate the whistle or its
equivalent. The cam in its revolution will have the lower part of its depression
concentric for a certain portion of its circumference of sufficient length to allow of
the cams revolving a certain distance say one twelfth of its circumference, the
whistle during this period being open, the periphery of the cam being then made
so as to cause the lever to rise suddenly and close the whistle where it remains for
the rest of the revolution. Suitable means are provided for the communication
from the friction roller and its lever to the whistle valve. The latter is preferably
of an equilibrium nature so as to require little power to operate it. Suitable
governing arrangements are applied to the apparatus to regulate its speed and a
dial is fixed to the machine to shew when the apparatus requires winding up.
Dated this 4th day of June 1891.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fog Signalling at Sea.
We, RICHARD CROSBY, of No. 9, Plymouth Road, Penarth; Master Mariner,
and JOSEPH SPIRIDION, of No. 29, Duke Street, Cardiff, Watch Maker and
Optician, both in the County of Glamorgan, 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 provide an improved device for automatically
signalling by aural means during foggy weather at sea.

page_text: It is well known that during such weather the means employed on steamers are
blasts of the fog-whistle worked by hand, of varying durations of time, such as one
long blast not exceeding every two minutes.
This vague method of signalling is liable to frequent mistakes, and accidents are
liable to occur therefrom..
According to our invention, we provide an automatic means of producing
blasts of fixed duration at uniform intervals, which may be varied to suit any
regulations that may be brought forward at any time by the Board of Trade or
other authorities.
We provide a mechanical arrangement the motive power of which is, preferably,
a strong spring actuating a series of wheels which communicate with a cam so
formed that a lever with a friction roller pressing against its periphery comes in
contact with a projection or depression, so that the roller is either raised or
lowered according to the nature and shape of the cam, a spring or weight
keeping the roller in contact. The shape of the periphery of the cam is governed
by the extent and duration of the blasts required. We propose to make the blasts
of ten seconds every two minutes or thereabouts, therefore the periphery of the
cam has a depression in it equal to the length of stroke required to operate the
whistle or its equivalent. The cam, in its revolution, has the lower part of its
depression concentric for a certain portion of its circumference of sufficient length
to allow of it revolving a certain distance, say one twelfth of its circumference,
the whistle during this period being open, the periphery of the cam being there
made so as to cause the lever to rise suddenly and close the whistle, where it
remains for the rest of the revolution. Suitable means are provided for the com-
imunication from the friction roller and its lever to the whistle-valve. The latter
is, preferably, of an equilibrium type so as to require little power to operate it.
Suitable governing arrangements are applied to the apparatus to regulate its
speed, and a dial is fixed to the machine to shew when the apparatus requires
winding up.
In order that our invention, and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, we will now describe it and them
in detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken
as part of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is an elevation taken on the line y-z of Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a plan.
A is a cylinder to which is attached internally a powerful coiled spring. One
end of the latter is also made fast to a spindle B, after the manner employed in
clock movements. A winding handle C with ratchet wheel D is fixed on one of
the outer ends of the spindle B.
A pawl E working on a pin F engages in the ratchet wheel D to prevent the
above mentioned spring in the opposite direction. Another pawl G is fixed to the
handle C. On the outer periphery of the cylinder, a suitably formed cam H is
fixed. The shape of this cam depends entirely upon the nature and duration of the
blasts required, and can be arranged accordingly.
A friction roller I attached to the lever J'engages with the outer edge of the
cam H, and is raised up as the cam revolves. The lever and friction-roller are
brought back to its position by means of a balance weight K or its equivalent. An
attachment is made at any convenient point on the lever J for the purpose of
actuating a rod or connecting link L the other end of which is attached to the
valve of the steam whistle.
This whistle may be of the ordinary type used on board the steamer, or a special
one may be supplied to work in connection with the apparatus, and having an easily
worked valve, that it may be operated by the before mentioned mechanism without
undue friction or resistance.
A stop M is fixed to the frame of the apparatus for the lever to rest on, so
1 11
TCL L

page_text: the action of the weight K. Instead of the weight K, a spring of any convenient
form may be used, and a regulating screw applied so as to increase or diminish the
power of the spring at will.
A train of wheels and pinions N, O, P, Q, of any convenient proportions is
constructed to convey the motion from the main spring to the fly or regulating
arrangement R. This fly may be of any convenient form that may be found most
suitable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination of an automatically driven train of wheel gear, a cam
having its periphery set out according to the desiderated times and intervals, a
lever in contact therewith at one end and connected with the steam whistle at the
other, as set forth.
2. The general construction of the improved device for automatically signalling
by aural means during foggy weather at sea, as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of March 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.