Transmitting Orders or other Communications.
Year: 1887

page_text: Transmitting Orders or other Communications. .
1, GEORGE ALEXANDER CALVERT, of 5 Adelaide Villas, Cork, in the County of
Cork, Ireland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
:-
My said Invention has for its object to improve telegraphic apparatus designed for
transmitting orders and replies or other communications such as those passing between
the captain or pilot and engineer of a steamship; and my improved apparatus can be
adapted or modified to serve various analogous purposes.
With my improved apparatus arranged according to one modification as an engine-
room telegraph, on an order being sent from the bridge or other station a bell is set.
ringing in the engine room and another bell is set ringing at or near the sending
station, the latter showing the sender that the telegraph is working properly. When
the engineer observes the order he moves a handle into a position corresponding with
the order received and this movement is made to stop both bells; and the sender
knows by the stoppage of his bell exactly when receipt of his order is acknowledged;
his bell continuing to ring, as also the bell in the engine room, as long as the order is
unattended to.
In carrying out my Invention any convenient kind of mechanical telegraphic
apparatus is used for transmitting the orders, the sender operating by moving a handle
or index into a position on a dial corresponding to the order to be sent and the
movement being transmitted by chains, wires, geared shafting, or other means so as to
move an index over a similar dial in the engine room. The dials may be rectangular
with the index moving in a straight line or they may be circular with the index
making a partial or complete revolution. In the latter case the receiving index
has fixed to it or arranged to turn with it a metallic circular or arc-shaped commutator
which is connected to one pole of an electric battery and which has a notch formed at
one part of it or has a piece of ivory or other insulating material inlaid at the part.
A handle with index attached is fitted to turn on the same axis as the receiving index
This
and is provided with a spring contact piece to bear on the commutator arc.

page_text: contact piece whilst otherwise insulated has connected to it a wire which is connected
to an electric bell in the engine room and the continuation of which is connected to
an electric bell at the bridge or sending station, the continuation from the last bell
proceeding to the other pole of the battery. When an order is sent the receiving
index is turned and moves the uninsulated part of the commutator under the spring
contact piece, thereby completing the electric circuit and causing the bells to ring.
On the engineer acknowledging receipt of the order he moves his handle into the
corresponding position, and in doing so also moves the spring contact piece round to
the notch or insulated part of the commutator thereby breaking contact and stopping
the bells. Where it is desirable to have an audible distinction between the orders
"ahead" and "astern," I provide the bell in the engine room with two hammers.
acted upon by separate electro magnets arranged so that one hammer shall strike the
bell at shorter intervals of time than the other. For instance one hammer may make
500 beats per minute indicating and corresponding with an order "ahcad," whilst the
other hammer may make only 250 beats per minute to indicate "astern." In this
case there are two spring contact pieces, one for each hammer and two commutators,
the notched or insulated portions of which are extended so that the conducting
portions of each correspond to only about one half of the angular travel of the
index.
The wire for conveying the electric current to ring the bells may be arranged so
that the current may also act on bells in the captain's room, chief engineer's room,
shaft tunnel, stokehold, or other place; and when there are more than the two
principal bells the others may be provided with switches to put each into or out of
circuit as may be required.
In the engine room, the telegraphic apparatus, in addition to working the index of
the usual dial, may also act on two pins or catches fitted to the guard of the starting
and reversing lever of the main or a starting engine, one pin or catch being arranged
on each side of the reversing lever in such a manner that when the telegraph index is
at "stop" both pins project beyond the face of the guard and prevent the lever being
moved. When the index is moved in the direction of "ahead" the pin on the ahead
side of the reversing lever is partially withdrawn and permits the lever to be moved
in that direction. The pin on the astern side being similarly actuated on the telegraph
index being moved to the astern section of the dial. Both the pins may be temporarily
withdrawn by means of a special handle purposely moved by the engineer. With
this arrangement the engineer cannot by mistake move the lever in the direction
opposite to that of the order recorded on the dial as the lever will not be free to move
excepting in the direction of the order.
In arranging my improved apparatus as a steering telegraph or in connection with
steering engines the movement effected in sending an order or in acting through the
apparatus on the steering engine or gear is made to turn a commutator are or ring as
in the engine-room apparatus, and the spring contact piece is arranged to be moved by
or in concert with the rudder. With this arrangement when a shift of ruddor is
telegraphed for the bells at the sending and receiving stations are set ringing and
continue to ring until the rudder is actually moved into the required position; and it
can always be ascertained at the sending station in what precise position the rudder is
at any moment by moving the handle there from position to position until the position
is found at which the handle being placed the bell does not ring. When the sending
apparatus acts directly upon the steering engine or gear only one bell, namely that
at the sending station need be used.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1887.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in and Connected with Telegraphic Apparatus for
Transmitting Orders or other Communications.
I, GEORGE ALEXANDER CALVERT, of 5 Adelaide Villas, Cork, in the County of Cork,
Ireland, 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, that is to say -
My said Invention has for its object to improve telegraphic apparatus designed for
transmitting orders and replies or other communications such as those passing between
the captain or pilot and engineer of a steamship; and my improved apparatus can be
adapted or modified to serve various analogous purposes.
With my improved apparatus arranged according to one modification, as an engine-
room telegraph, on an order being sent from the bridge or other station a bell is set
ringing in the engine room, and another bell is set ringing at or near the sending
station, the latter showing the sender that the telegraph is working properly. When
the engineer observes the order he moves a handle into a position corresponding with
the order received, and this movement is made to stop both bells; and the sender
knows by the stoppage of his bell exactly when receipt of his order is acknowledged,
his bell continuing to ring, as also the bell in the engine room, as long as the order is
unattended to.
In carrying out my Invention any convenient kind of mechanical telegraphic
apparatus is used for transmitting the orders, the sender operating by moving a handle
or index into a position on a dial corresponding to the order to be sent, and the
movement being transmitted by chains, wires, geared shafting, or other means, so as
to move an index over a similar dial in the engine room. The dials may be rectangular
with the index moving in a straight line, or they may be circular with the index
making a partial or complete revolution.
In the examples of my improved apparatus shown on the two accompanying sheets
of explanatory drawings circular dials are used. Figure, 1, on sheet, 1, is a vertical
section of one modification of the receiving instrument of an engine-room telegraph,
as at right angles to the dial, and figure, 2, is a vertical section as at right angles to
figure, 1, with a diagram of the electric bells and wires. The dial, A, figure, 1, which
is not seen in figure, 2, has on it the usual words or marks corresponding to similar
words or marks on the dial of the sending instrument; and an index, B, which can
move angularly or round over the dial is fixed on a short spindle, C, carried by the
casing, and also having fixed on it a flanged pulley, D. Chains or wires, E, attached
to the pulley, D, are guided by small pulleys, F, and other pulleys not shown, and
extending to the sending instrument are attached to a pulley which is turned by the
index handle of that instrument. On the spindle, C, there is fitted to turn loosely a
lever handle, G, which has fixed to it an insulated metallic pin, H, made with two
spring contact pieces, I, J. The inner flange of the pulley, D, forms a commutator

page_text: An
being indented or notched at, K, so as not to touch the contact piece, 1, when the
pulley, D, and handle, G, are in the relative positions in which they are shown in
figure, 2. A metallic strip, L, is fixed within but insulated from the cylindrical part
of the casing one end of it being fixed to an insulated binding screw, M; and on this
strip the contact piece, J, of the handle, G, presses in all positions of the handle.
Another insulated binding screw, N, fixed in the casing has fixed to inner end a
spring contact piece, P, which bearing on the flange, of the pulley, D, forms a
constant electrical communication between that pulley and the binding screw, N.
electric battery, Q, has one pole connected to the contact screw, N, and through it to
the commutator pulley flange, D, the other pole of the battery being connected to a
wire which is connected in circuit to two electric bells, one, R, in the engine room
and the other, S, at or near the sending station, the return wire being connected to
the binding screw, M, which through the metallic strip, L, is in constant electric
connection with the pin, H, on the handle, G. Any number of electric bells may be
interposed in the circuit between the two binding screws, M, N, as for example, in
the shaft tunnel, the stokeholds, the captain's and engineer's rooms and I prefer that
all the bells excepting the one in the engine room shall be fitted without a make-and-
break contact device so that their beats shall synchronise with those of the engine
room bell; but any of the bells may be provided with a switch for throwing it out of
circuit, without making the circuit discontinuous.
"
In order to distinguish audibly between the orders in the "ahead" and "astern
directions, the electric bell, R, in the engine room may be fitted with two electro
magnets and two hammers, one magnet and hammer being arranged to strike the bell
more rapidly than the other. In this case there are provided two binding screws, M,
(figures, 1, and 2) two insulated metallic strips, L, two insulated pins, H, in the
handle, G, and two pairs of spring contact pieces, I, J; and the binding screws, M,
are connected to the two electro magnets of the bell, R, and these to the circuit. wire.
The contact pieces, 1, are arranged to bear respectively on the two flanges of the
pulley, D, but these flanges are cut away at different parts so that one makes contact
when the pulley is turned in one direction the other doing so when the pulley is
turned in the opposite direction.
When the index at the sending instrument and the index, B, and handle, G, of the
receiving instrument are in their neutral positions or indicate the same order on the
dials there is no contact between the pulley, D, and the contact piece or pieces, I, of
the handle, G. When the index of the sending instrument is moved for the purpose
of transmitting an order the pulley, D, of the receiving instrument is correspondingly
turned and its flange makes contact with the contact piece, I, or with one of them
when there are two, and the bells are set ringing. On the engineer noticing the order
he must move the handle, G, into the position shown by the index, B, which move-
ment by bringing the contact piece, I, to the indented or cut-away part of the pulley
flange, D, will break contact and stop the bells, thereby indicating to the person
sending the order that the engineer acknowledges receipt of it. As the indexes
and pulleys are turned in opposite directions for "ahead" and
"
astern orders, it
will follow that if the engine-room bell is provided with two strikers there will be a
difference in the ringing accordingly as the order is the "ahead" or "astern
direction and there will be in consequence less likelihood of the engineer's making a
mistake in attending to the order. The handle, G, or its equivalent, instead of being
actuated by the engineer, may be connected by rods or chains to the reversing shaft
or levers of the engines, so that the bells will continue to ring until the reversing
gear is placed in the position "ahead" or "astern" corresponding to the order
indicated on the dial.
46
"
"
In the engine room the telegraphic apparatus in addition to working the index of
the usual dial may also act on parts arranged in connection with the starting and
reversing lever of the main engines or of a starting engine. Such an arrangement is
shown in sectional front and side elevation in figures, 3, and 4, on sheet, 1, of the
drawings. Two rods, U, V, are arranged to be acted on by the flanges of the
pulley, D, their upper ends passing through guide holes in the casing, and their lower

page_text: ends being jointed to weighted levers, W, which are upon rocking shafts, X, arranged
for transmitting the movements of the rods to the neighborhood of the reversing
lover, Y. On the rocking shafts, X, there are levers, Z, which are connected to
catches or bolts, 11, 12, placed on opposite sides of the middle position of the reversing
lever, Y, and guided horizontally, their front ends being capable of being projected
through slots in the back guard plate, 13, into the path of the reversing lever. The
weighted lovers, W, tend to keep both bolts, 11, 12, projected through the guard
plate, 13, but when on an order being sent the pulley, D, is turned the cam-like form
of one of its flanges acts on the rod, U, or, V, according to the order, and draws out
of the way that one of the bolts, 11, 12, which would prevent the movement of the
lever, Y, in the direction of the order, whilst the other bolt remains in the way and
prevents the lever from being moved in the wrong direction. When the reversing
lover, Y, is to one side and has to be moved to its middle position or to the other side,
if the bolt, 11, or 12, on the side from which the lever has to be moved should then be
projecting the lover acts on an inclined spring blade, 14, fixed to or resting on the
end of the bolt, pushes the bolt in, and passes it, the bolt being moved out again as
soon as the lever passes it. The rods, U, V, are made each in two pieces, with one
pieco fitted to enter a socket in the other, and with a spring, 15, applied between
flanges on the two pieces to keep the pieces distended. With this arrangement if any
obstruction to the movements of the rods occurs the springs will allow the upper parts
of the rods to yield to the action of the flanges of the pulley, D, so as not to prevent
the turning of the pulloy. By raising either of the weighted levers, W, the engineer
can at any time temporarily withdraw either of the bolts, 11, 12, if he requires to
do so.
Figure, 5, on sheet, 2, is a front elevation of an engine-room receiving instrument
as with the dial and some other parts removed, and figure, 6, is a vertical section as at
right angles to figure, 5. Figure, 7, is a front elevation of the lever handle, G, and
parts connected to it which is not shown in figure, 5. This modification differs from
that shown in figures, 1, and 2, and hereinbefore described in the parts now to be
described. The pulley, D, is made with an elongated tubular boss fitted to turn on a
stud, 16, fixed in the back of the casing, and the flanges of the pulley are used only
for acting on the rods, U, V, which operate in connection with the starting and
reversing lever (Y) as hereinbefore described with reference to figures, 3, and 4, these
flanges being shaped so that one depresses one rod, U, when the pulley turns to one
side of the middle position, the other rod, V, being depressed when the pulley turns to
the other side. The hand lever, G, is jointed to a boss, 17, fitted to turn on a reduced
part of the boss of the pulley, D; and a blade spring, 18, fixed to the lever, G, bears
against the inner side of the dial, A, and presses the lever into notches made in the
rim of the casing at positions corresponding to the various orders marked on the dial.
The handle lever boss, 17, has fixed in it an insulated pin, 19, to which is fixed near
its inner end a volute spring, 20, the said end of the spring being strengthened and
fitted with a point, 21, to bear on the larger part of the boss of the pulley, D, which is
made to act as a commutator there being fixed on it two strips of platinum with a
piece of ivory or other suitable nonconductor between them. The outer end of the
volute spring, 20, is fixed to the insulated binding screw, M, to which one end of the
circuit wire is attached; and the insulated binding screw, N, for the other end of
the circuit wire has fixed to it the outer end of a volute spring, 22, which has its inner
end fixed to the boss of the pulley, D. The volute springs, 20, 22, keep the point, 21,
attached to the lever handle, G, and the pulley, D, in constant electric connection
with the ends of the circuit wire without sliding contacts, the volutes allowing of the
angular movements of the lever handle and pulley without inaterial resistance.
In arranging my improved apparatus as a steering telegraph or in connection with
steering engines the movement effected in sending an order, or in acting through the
apparatus on the steering engine or gear is made to turn a commutator arc or ring or
pulley as in the engine-room apparatus, the spring contact piece is arranged to be
moved by or in concert with the rudder. The receiving instrument of such apparatus
is shown in figures, 8, 9, and 10, on sheet, 2, of the drawings, figure, 10, being a front

page_text: elevation showing the dial, A, and index, B, and figures, 8, and 9, being vertical
sections as at right angles to each other. The parts are like those shown in figures, 1,
and 2, and hereinbeforo described excepting that for the lever handle (G) there is
substituted a second pulley, 23, which has the insulated pin, H, fixed to it and which
is turned by means of chains or wires attached to it and passing round guide
pulleys, 24, and other pulleys to the steering apparatus being connected to a suitable
part of that apparatus so that the pulley, 23, may turn correspondingly with the
movements of the rudder. With this arrangement when a shift of rudder is telegraphed
for the bells, R, S, at the sending and receiving stations are set ringing and continue
to ring until the rudder is actually moved into the required position; and it can
always be ascertained at the sending station in what preciso position the rudder is at
any moment by moving the handle there from position to position until the position is
found at which the handle being placed the bell does not ring. When the sending
apparatus acts directly upon the steering engine or gear, the pulley, D, is connected
to the shafting or gearing leading from the steering wheel to the steering engine or
gear, and the dial, A, index, B, and electric bell, R, may be dispensed with. Should
the pulley, 23, moved by the rudder fail to follow the motion of the pulley, D, moved
by the steering wheel, the electric circuit will remain unbroken, and the electric
bell, S, started by the movement of the steering wheel will continue to ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
.
1. In telegraphic apparatus for transmitting orders or other communications, the
combining of mechanical telegraphic apparatus with an electric circuit having in
connection one or more electric bells, and with commutator or contact appliances
arranged to start the ringing of the bell or bells when a transmitting movement is
made and to stop the ringing when a corresponding acknowledging movement is
made, the parts being arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
2. Combining with engine-room telegraphic receiving instruments devices for
locking and unlocking the starting or reversing lever of a main engine or of a
starting engine the said. devices being substantially such as are hereinbefore
described.
3. Combining telegraphic apparatus of the kind claimed for general purposes in
the first claiming clause hereof with steering engines or gear substantially in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this Tonth day of T... 1000
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.