IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL TELEGRAPHS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STRAN SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL TELEGRAPHS,
CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STRAN SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS.”—A.
communication from abroad by Andrew Gormly Myers, of the
City and State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 8th August 1871, and dated the 7th June 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th June 1871.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNAL
TELEGRAPHS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE. IN STEAM SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS,”
a communication, to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to a pneumatic signal telegraph, which consists.
of a transmitting diaphragm and a receiving diaphragm, the said

page_text: diaphragms being secured on air chambers communicating with each
other through air tubes, and each provided with a suitable index, in
such a manner that by depressing the transmitting diaphragm until its
index is carried to a certain point the receiving diaphragm is actuated,
and the index connected therewith is carried to a point corresponding
to that of the transmitting index. If, therefore, on the commander's
bridge of a steamer a box is placed which contains two transmitting
diaphragms, one to connect with a receiving diaphragm in the wheel
house, and the other with a receiving diaphragm in the engine room,
the commander is enabled by operating the transmitting diaphragms to :
signal his orders to the wheel house and to the engine room with the
greatest ease and correctness, and to keep the indices of the receiving
diaphragms in the wheel house and in the engine room on the word
indicating the order until the order is changed. For instance, the index
in the engine room will travel over a dial containing the words "stop,” -
"ahead slow," "ahead full speed," "astern, slow," astern, full
speed," and the index of the transmitting diaphragm which com-
municates with the engine room travels on a dial containing the same
words. If the commander' depresses his transmitting diaphragm until
the index connected thereto points to "stop," the index of the receiving
diaphragm in the engine room will also point to "stop," and will remain
in that position until the transmitting index is changed. In the same
manner the orders of the commander are transmitted to the wheel house,
and furthermore each order is kept before the eyes of the helmsman
until another order is given, viz., "steady," "port," "hard port,"
" starboard," or "hard starboard."
The great importance of this apparatus, particularly for large steamers,
will be readily appreciated, and the great simplicity of the mechanism is
another inducement for the speedy introduction of the same. A separate
transmitting and receiving diaphragm is used to operate a bell in the
engine room, so as to call the attention of the engineer to the fact that
a new order is being given. The clapper of the bell in this. case is
operated by a weight which acts on a suitable gear wheel retained by
a stop. If the transmitting diaphragm on the commander's bridge is
operated the stop is withdrawn and the bell is sounded. The trans-
mitting apparatus is provided also with a "tell-tale" dial and index
ásmanced in a separate air chamber and elastic dianhraom the said air

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chamber communicating by an air tube with the air chamber and
diaphragm located at the wheel, in such a manner that it will be operated
automatically by the movements of the receiving diaphragm at the
wheel, so that the "tell-tale" index at the commander's station will
indicate whether the proper signal has been correctly indicated at the
wheel. The "tell-tale" may also be operated automatically by the
movements of the wheel through a like arrangement of air chambers
and diaphragms and communicating air tubes. The transmitting elastic
diaphragm is arranged upon an air chamber, from the back of which an
air tube proceeds to the receiving or indicating apparatus, where the
tube enters an air chamber having a like elastic diaphragm. The
diaphragm is pushed in by a lever, which serves as an index to a dial
arranged on the top of the box provided with the proper "orders" for
the engineer (or the helmsman, as the case may be). The diaphragm is
restored by a spring extending from the stationary back or bottom of
the air chamber to the diaphragm. When the indicating diaphragm is
pushed outward by the column of air through the tube it acts on a.
lever and operates a weighted rock shaft which is connected to the arbor
of an index that travels over a dial provided with the proper orders.
When the diaphragm is drawn back by its spring the index is restored
to its normal position by a spring and weight. The restoration of the
diaphragms to their original position is also effected by an air valve in.
the air chamber of the audible signal, which valve is opened by means.
of a spring lever connected with a treadle. When pressure is madė.
upon the diaphragm the valve is closed; after every signal the lever and
treadle are moved back before giving a new signal. For the purpose of
attracting the attention of the engineer a bell is struck by means of a.
column of air forced from the air chamber through the operation of a.
treadle through an air chamber also provided with an elastic diaphragm,,
whose movement outward moves a detent, releases a watch movement,.
and causes the bell to be sounded. The arrangement of the signal.
apparatus for the wheel house or helmsman is effected substantially in.
the manner above described.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th December 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PNEUMATIC SIGNAL TELEGRAPHS, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN STEAM SHIPS
AND OTHER VESSELS," a communication to me from abroad by Andrew
Gormly Myers, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and a
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same 3
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
This Invention relates to a pneumatic signal telegraph, which consists
of a transmitting diaphragm and a receiving diaphragm, the said 3
diaphragms being secured on air chambers communicating with each

page_text: other through air tubes, and each being provided with a suitable index
in such a manner that by depressing the transmitting diaphragm until its
index is carried to a certain point the receiving diaphragm is actuated and
the index connected therewith is carried to a point corresponding to that
of the transmitting index. If therefore on the commander's bridge of a
steamer a box is placed which contains two transmitting diaphragms,
one to connect with a receiving diaphragm in the wheel house and the
other with a receiving diaphragm in the engine room, the commander is
enabled by operating the transmitting diaphragm to signal his orders to
the wheel house and to the engine room with the greatest ease and
correctness, and to keep the indices of the receiving diaphragms in tho
wheel house and in the engine room on the word indicating the order
until the order is changed. For instance, the index in the engine room
will travel over a dial containing the words "stop,” “ahead slow,”
"ahead full speed,'
," "astern slow," "astern full speed;" and the index
of the transmitting diaphragm which communicates with the engine
room travels on a dial containing the same words. If the commander
depresses his transmitting diaphragm until the index connected thereto
points to "stop," the index of the receiving diaphragm in the engine
room will also point to "stop," and will remain in that position until the
transmitting index is changed. In the same manner the orders of the
commander are transmitted to the wheel house, and furthermore, each
order is kept before the eyes of the helmsman until another order is given,
viz., "steady," "port," "hard port," "starboard," or "hard starboard."
The great importance of this apparatus, particularly for large steamers,
will be readily appreciated, and the great simplicity of the mechanism
is another inducement for the speedy introduction of the same. A
separate transmitting and receiving diaphragm is used to operate a bell
in the engine room to call the attention of the engineer to the fact that
a new order is being given. The clapper of this bell in this case is
operated by a weight which acts on a suitable gear wheel retained by
a stop. If the transmitting diaphragm on the commander's bridge
is operated, the stop is withdrawn and the bell is sounded. The trans-
mitting apparatus is provided also with a "tell-tale" dial and index
arranged on a separate air chamber and elastic diaphragm, the said air
chamber communicating by an air tube with the air chamber and
diaphragm located at the wheel in such a manner that it will be

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operated automatically by the movements of the receiving diaphragm
at the wheel, so that the "tell-tale" index at the commander's station
will indicate whether the proper signal has been correctly indicated at
the wheel. The "tell-tale" may also be operated automatically by the.
movements of the wheel through a like arrangement of air chambers and
diaphragms and communicating air tubes.
19
•
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at the wheel, so that the "tell-tale" index at the commander's station
will indicate whether the proper signal has been correctly indicated at
the wheel. The "tell-tale" may also be operated automatically by the
movements of the wheel through a like arrangement of air chambers and
diaphragms and communicating air tubes.
4
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
10%
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the box stationed at
the commander's bridge; Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof in section
on the line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the said box;
Figure 4 is a detailed, sectional view on the line y, y, Figure 2; Figure 5
is an inside view of the receiving or indicating apparatus as arranged
both for visible and audible signals in the engine room; Figure 6 is a
section of Figure 5 on the line %, z; Figure 7 is a detail clevation of the
mechanism shown in Figures 5 and 6, for communicating the movements
of the indicating diaphragm to the index; Figure 8 is a face view of a
dial and index for the engine room; Figure 9 is an elevation of an
clastic diaphragm; Figure 10 is a section thereof on the line a¹, 2³,
Figure 9, showing how by means of a fixed pin 1 and a spirally grooved
collar 2 arranged upon a stud the diaphragm may be moved in and out!
by giving rotary motion to the collar.
The transmitting elastic diaphragm A, Figures 1, 2, and 4, is arranged
upon an air chamber B, from the back of which an air tube C proceeds
to the receiving or indicating apparatus, seen in Figures 5 and 6, where
the tube enters an air chamber D having a like elastic diaphragm E.
The diaphragm A is pushed in by a lever F which serves as an index
to a dial arranged on the top of a box provided with the proper
"orders" for the engineer (or the helmsman, as the case may be). The
diaphragm is restored by a spring extending from the stationary back
or bottom of the air chamber to the diaphragm. When the indicating
diaphragm E is pushed outward by the force of the column of air
impelled through the tube C it acts on a lever G whose fulcrum is at H,
and thereby operates a weighted rock shaft I connected by a chain J
to the arbor K of an index L that travels over a dial which is to be
provided with the same orders as those shewn in Figure 8. When the
diaphragm E is drawn back by its spring (as it will be when the

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pressure of air is removed) the index is restored to its normal position
by a spring and weight G', seen in Figures 5 and 6. The air pressure is
removed from air chamber D and diaphragm E by bringing the lever F
back to the position given to it in Figure 3, whereby the spring of the
air chamber B is allowed to push back the diaphragm A, thereby pro-
ducing a vacuum, inducing a return of the air previously forced out,
and allowing the diaphragm E to collapse. This restoration of the
diaphragms to their original position is also effected by an air valve A',
shewn in Figure 1, in the air chamber M of the audible signal, which
valve is opened by means of a spring lever N¹ connected with the
treadle N. The air valve A' allows the parts to return to their original
position more rapidly. When pressure is applied upon the diaphragm the
valve is closed. After every signal the lever F and also the treadle N
are moved back to their first position before giving a new signal.
For the purpose of attracting the attention of the engineer when a
signal is about to be given a bell Q' is struck by means of a column of
air forced from the air chamber M. (by the operation of a treadle N,
shewn in the lower part of the box, Figures 1 and 2) through an air
chamber O, also provided with an elastic diaphragm O', whose movement
outward moves the detent P, releases a watch movement Q, and causes
the bell Q', shewn in Figures 5 and 6, to sound until the collapse of
the diaphragm, as before explained, restores the detent or stop to its
engagement with the ratchet wheel of the movement.
The arrangement of the signal apparatus for the wheel house or
helmsman is effected substantially in the manner above described dis-
pensing with the audible signal (if preferred) and using the appropriate
signal orders for directing the helmsman.
"
The parts are made adjustable to accomplish the object of the said
Invention with facility. The "tell-tale apparatus can be operated
automatically by means of the device shewn in Figure 10, whereby the
movement or rotation of the wheel or helm can be imparted to the
collar, and an air column be caused to operate the "tell-tale" air
chamber and diaphragm. In a similar manner a "tell-tale" can be
arranged from the engine room to the transmitting apparatus on the
control of the commander

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, as commuicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First. The elastic transmitting' diaphragm A, air chamber B, air
tube C, and indicating apparatus, Figure 6, combined, arranged, and
operated as herein set forth.
Second. The lever F for operating the elastic diaphragm A, arranged
upon an order dial, as shewn in Figure 3, in combination with the
transmitting and indicating apparatus, as herein described.
Third. In combination with the elastic diaphragm E, the lever G,
and rock shaft I communicating with an index L and indicating dial,
as herein described.
Fourth. In combination with the diaphragm E and air chamber D, the
air valve, shewn in Figure 1, arranged and operated as herein described.
Fifth. The combination of the treadle N with the air chamber M
and O and their elastic diaphragms and with a watch movement and
bell, as herein described.
Sixth. In combination with the transmitting and indicating diaphragms
and apparatus above described, the automatic "tell-tale," as herein set
forth for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)