Improvements in connection with Shutters for Signalling and other Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed
by the decision of the Comptroller General of the 13th day of January 1899,
Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Lett, 9th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov.,
1893
Improvements in connection with Shutters for Signalling and
other Purposes.
I, FREDERICK GEORGE WILLIAM JAMES ADAMS, of The Royal Naval College,
Greenwich, Kent, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved form of shutter and consists of a base
of metal or other suitable material having an aperture over which works a shutter
of any required shape in one or more parts or pieces for signalling; preferably
in two. When formed in two parts the shutter travels on two spindles by means
of nuts which are either affixed to or cast on the shutter, each spindle for a
portion of its length being cut as a right hand and for a similar portion for a left
hand screw.
The shape, pitch, and number of the threads will vary under the
different conditions of size use, speed and the like. The screwed spindles work
and revolve either between centres or in bearings carried by arms or projections
affixed to or cast on the base. The complete shutter works in guides which are
cut out of or cast in or affixed to either base or arms as may be convenient.
To prevent the moving parts of the shutter from coming in violent contact
with the fixed parts or with one another buffers or rubber or other suitable
material are provided at suitable points.
Motion is imparted to the shutter by means of a frame fixed to the one half
of the shutter and working clear of the other half. The two sides of this frame
which may be most conveniently made in the form of rods are attached to the.
nuts or other convenient parts of the shutter and work within guides so placed
as to be clear of the working path of the second part of the shutter. The
connecting piece of the frame may be fitted with a thumb piece or with some
electrical or mechanical device or attachment for facilitating the working of the
shutter. Suitable springs are provided for operating the return of the moving
parts of the shutter to the closed position. The movement of the one part of
the shutter causes the spindle to revolve and operates the other half. If it is
desired to make the opening lengthen as well as broaden, it may be effected by
having two pairs of shutters opening in directions at right angles one lying over
the other. They may be operated by connecting the cross heads by a link the
operating parts being suitably modified.
The invention as above described is intended for any kind of signalling by
light during foggy weather or at night.
T: 10:1 1

page_text: Improvements in connection with Shutters for Signalling and
other Purposes.
I, FREDERICK GEORGE WILLIAM JAMES ADAMS, of Royal Naval College, Green-
wich, London, S.E., Electrician, 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 an improved form of shutter and consists of a base
of metal or other suitable material having an aperture over which works a shutter
of any required shape in two parts or pieces for signalling. The shutter travels
on two spindles by means of nuts which are either fixed to or cast on the shutter,
each spindle for a portion of its length being cut as a right hand and for a
similar portion as a left hand screw.
The shape pitch and number of the threads will vary under the different
conditions of size, use, speed, and the like.
The screwed spindles work and revolve either between curves or in bearings
carried by arms or projections affixed to or cast on the base.
The complete shutter works in guides which are cut out of or cast in, or
affixed to either base or arm as may be convenient.
To prevent the moving parts of the shutter from coming in violent contact
with the fixed parts, or with another, buffers of rubber or other suitable material
are provided at suitable points.
Motion is imparted to the shutter by means of a piece frame fixed to the one
half of the shutter and working clear of the other half.
The two sides of this frame, which may be most conveniently made in the form
cf rods, are attached to the nuts or other convenient parts of the shutter and
work within guides so placed as to be clear of the working path of the second
part of the shutter. The connecting piece of the frame may be fitted with a
thumb piece or with electrical or some mechanical device or attachment for
facilitating the working of the shutter. Suitable springs are provided for operat-
ing the return of the moving parts of the shutter to the closed position.
The movement of the one part of the shutter causes the spindle, to revolve and
operates the other half.
The invention as above described is intended for any kind of signalling by
light during foggy weather or at night. In order to make clear the mode in
which I carry on my said invention will describe it with reference to the
accompanying drawings which represent the form of my shutter mechanism
in which the aperture lengthens only; that is to say opens in one direction only
and not in two directions at right angles to one another.
Figure 1, is a plan view shewing the shutter closed.
Figure 2, is a section on the line X, Y, Fig. 1.
Figure 3, is a plan view shewing the shutter open.
Figure 4, is a cross section on line X, Y.
A is a base of metal or other suitable material having the aperture a over
which works the shutter bin two parts. These two parts work by means of the
nuts upon the spindles c. These nuts are affixed to the two halves of the
shutter as shewn; and the pitch of the screw is so adjusted that the spindles
can be employed to actuate the shutter through the nuts or the nuts, by being
passed along the spindles, can be made to cause them to rotate reciprocally.
Each spindle is cut for one half of its length with a right hand thread and for
the other half of its length with a left hand thread as shewn. The nuts are of
course formed to correspond therewith. The said spindles revolve between the

page_text: centres d and serve as guides for the two halves of the shutter in opening
and closing.
In addition to which supplementary guides may be added as shewn to assist
this guiding action in case through roughness of workmanship or through weak-
ness of the materials used it is desirable to have additional guiding control.
To prevent the moving parts of the shutter from coming into violent contact
with the base or with one another rubber buffers e are provided as shewn at
points at which such violent contact would otherwise occur.
Motion is imparted to the shutter by means of the frame f which consists as
shewn of a cross head and two rods. The rods f¹ are attached to the more distant
end of the shutter and the frame works clear of the nearer half.
The said rods f work through lugs attached to the base A and serve to
afford points of attachment for two springs h by means whereof the shutter is
automatically returned to its closed position. The frame is fitted with a thumb
piece for receiving the pressure of the operators hand in opening the shutter.
The action of these parts is as follows:-By means of pressure applied to the
thumb piece the shutter bis forced open the pressure being transmitted by
the rods f direct to the more distant half of the shutter. The motion of the
nuts attached to this half over the spindle e causes these latter to rotate and
by their rotation to produce in the other half of the shutter a motion equal and
opposite to that of the half already considered thus causing the shutter to open
and uncover the aperture Upon removal of the opening pressure the springs h
reverse these motions and cause the shutter to close.
a.
The action of the shutter is very rapid and very easily reversible and is there-
fore peculiarly well alapted to the purpose of signalling by means of light.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 The construction of a shutter to be used for signalling or other purposes as
herein shewn and described with reference to Figures numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4.
2-In the construction of a shutter to be used for signalling the employment
of the right and left screwed spindles in combination with nuts and frame f¹.
ff substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth and described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the construction of a shutter to be used for signalling, the employment
of the right and left screwed spindles e in combination with nuts 6 frame fi, f. f
and springs substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth and
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of September 1893.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.