Improved Apparatus for Teaching Army Signalling.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Teaching Army Signalling.
HARRY ANDREWS 25 New Road Woolwich Engineer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide Signalling Instructors with means whereby
they may instruct the art of Signalling in an ordinary room, while at the same time
the impression received by the pupils is identically the same as if from a living
signaller on the field.
The invention consists of a Miniature Model, or part thereof, of a soldier assuming
a suitable position for flag signalling, and provided with a flag. The said flag is fixed
to the end of a spindle which passes through the chest of the said Model soldier, and
is provided with suitable means for actuating the flag and giving motion to the arms
of the said Model soldier by way of the hands which are fixed to and apparently
holding the flag ready for action.
My invention may be advantageously carried into practice as herein described, that
is to say-A model soldier suitably constructed in part or whole, placed or built
immediately in front of a suitable size and color of screen or background, the said
background consisting preferably of the one side of a box containing therein any
suitable device connected with the aforesaid spindle for the purpose of actuating the
flag by means of a key accessable to the operator from the outside. The handle of
the said flag is fixed at right angles on to the end of the spindle passing through the
chest of the said Model Soldier, while at the other end of the said spindle which
terminates on the opposite side of the box screen, there is fitted a pointer, which
works over a suitable index scale at the same angle as the flag to indicate to the
operator the position of the said flag. This may also be defined by any suitable kind
of stop motion connected with the aforesaid operating key.
I sometimes also provide for a Lamp. in the aforesaid box containing the device for
actuating the Model, and furthermore arrange for the said lamp to flash by suitable
means actuated by the aforesaid flag signalling key for the purposes of night signalling,
Dated this 18th day of March 1889.
HARRY ANDREWS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Teaching Army Signalling.
I, HARRY ANDREWS of 25 New Road, Woolwich in the County of Kent, 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:
The object of this invention is to provide signalling Instructors with means whereby
they may instruct the Art of Signalling in an ordinary room, while at the same time,
the impression received by the pupils, is identically the same, as if from a living
signaller in the field.
ff.
My invention consists of a miniature or reduced model of a Soldier, or part thereof,
assuming a suitable position for flag signalling-either standing faceward or backward
-and provided with a flag.
The said flag is fixed to the end of a spindle which passes through the chest or body
of the said Model soldier and suitable means are provided for giving the part of a
rotation to the said spindle for the purpose of actuating the Flag and giving: motion
to the arms of the Model Signaller by way of the hands, which are loosely fixed to the
flag and apparently holding the same in correct position ready for action.
j

page_text: My Invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings and may conveniently be carried into practice as therein illustrated.
Figure 1. is a Full front view of the Model Signaller.
Figure 2. is a side view which shows the spindle passing through the body or chest
of Model Signaller.
Figure 3. is an enlarged view of a device for the purpose of conveniently giving
a reciprocating, part rotatory movement to the spindle passing through the body or
chest of Model Signaller as shewn in Figure 2.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.
The color of the background A Figure 1 may be varied by having a removable
cover of thin Metal or other suitable material for covering the face thereof. The
Model Signaller may be dressed to imitate the uniform of any desired Regiment.
B is the spindle which passes through the body or chest of the Model Signaller B.
The said spindle or shaft B' is attached to the drum which is supported by the
bracket, or arm, D carrying a boss or lugg at the end thereof, for the purpose of fixing
two set screws, D' about which the drum C revolves, and D" for to carry a stop for
regulating and limiting the movement of the arm or lever E. D is a piece of India
rubber or other soft material which forms the said stop. The object of using India
rubber, or other suitable soft material is for the purpose of rendering the working
of the apparatus as noiseless as possible. A platform F is provided to facilitate the
working of the lever E by the hand. Another stop F¹ is also provided on the said
platform to limit the depression of the arm or lever E. When the said arm or
lever E is depressed, the flexible cord or wire attached by its one end to the lever,
and partially wound around and secured to the drum C by the screw at its other
end, pulls the said drum C. circumferentially and partly rotates the same, thereby
operating the flag Gwhich is fastened to the end of the spindle B. When the
drum is being turned, the spiral spring H, which is held to the bracket or arm D
at one end by the screw H¹ the other end being secured to the drum at H", is com-
pressed, thereby always bringing the lever E and flag back to normal position.on
relieving the said lever E from any pressure.
By the mechanism as herein described and illustrated, the flag G can be rapidly
moved into the positions as shewn in figure.1, by the dotted lines G₁ and G which
indicates "dot" and "dash" or it can be moved to any other intermediary position.
The arms of the Model Signaller are loosely attached to the staff of the flag and
are carried with the said flag when in operation, thereby giving, an imitation of a
living signaller. for the purposes of instruction.
The Model Soldier B is constructed so as to be removable from its position as
shown for the purpose of being turned the reverse way (backwards) & giving
instruction from that position. In order to carry this change out the spindle or
shaft B is provided with a coupling B which may be readily broken and the
pins extracted from the feet & legs of the Model for the purpose of reversing the
samme to signal backwards.
For instruction in Flash Signalling. I provide my apparatus with a disc K attached
to the end of an arm or rod screwed into the drum, and the back ground with a
small opening.K. which the said disc may-cover or uncover by, the same means
provided for operating the flag.
:
The means I have, described & illustrated for operating the Model Signaller is
worked by the hand. I do not however limit myself to these means, as sometimes it
is desirable to work the apparatus, at a distance, I then employ two Electro Magnets
and alternately magnetize them, by operating a key which completes the circuit of a
current of electricity. I also employ two arms or levers fixed in a suitable position
and pivoted about their ends, while two, cords or flexible wires are attached to the
other ends and partially wounil around the drum....
Atta suitable distance along. cachtarm. from their pivots I fix to each an armature,
immediately below the said armatures, and for the purpose of operating the same; the
two Electro Magnets are secured...By. magnetising one.Magnet, the arm with its
armature attached thereto is attracted and the drum pulled partially around for
:

page_text: signalling a dot. Now by switching the key and magnetising the other Electro
Magnet while simultaneously demagnetising the first-the other arm is attracted and
pulls the drum sufficiently around to cause the flag to signal a dash. The flag is
brought to its normal position by the spiral spring, immediately on breaking the
electric current.
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 :-
First An apparatus for teaching Army Signalling consisting of the Model, or
part thereof, of a soldier constructed with a spindle passing through the chest or body
and having fixed at the front end thereof and at right angles thereto a signalling
flag, to the staff of which the arms of the said Model soldier are secured for the
purpose of being simultaneously moved with the flag when operated by the partial
rotatory movement of the said spindle for the purposes specified.
Second-The combination of a Model Signaller or part thereof, with a spindle
passing through the body or chest, and the gear or device for actuating the same as
herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Third: The combination of the Model signaller, or part thereof, with spindle
passing through the body or chest, and the modification of means as herein described
for actuating the same by an electric current.
Fourth-The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed & combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings and operating as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 17th day of December 1889.
HARRY ANDREWS.