Improvements in Apparatus Ior signalling on board smp
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus Ior signalling on board smp.
JOHN LEA 75 Arlington Road, Camden Town in the county of Middlesex
Telegraph Engineere and ROWLAND MATTHEWS of 21 City Road in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING ON BOARD SHIP to be as follows:-
Instead of pointers, shutters or moveable indicators we use Incandascent Electric
lamps for the purpose of signaling orders on board ship turned on from the bridge
or other part of the ship by making connection, the same current ringing a bell or
gong with a heavier blow than the current would with one electro magnet by
arrangeing more than one in a manner that it moves its own contacts.
This Invention relates to improvements in instruments that are used on board
ship to signal between the Commander and the helmsmen and the Engineere or
any part where telegraphic orders and replys are required.
The first part of our Invention consists in the use of incandascent lamps placed
in chambers with glass fronts and the orders written upon the glass, the required
number of these chambers with their signaling lamps are placed in a case in a
position that they can be seen by the person to whom the order is to be given,
a bell or gong is placed in the return wire which is connected to all the orders so
that when the commander makes connection the lamp becomes illuminated shewing
the particular order and rings the bell, at the same time illuminating a small lamp
placed in the communicating instrument, these same small lamps are used as replies,
by pressing a contact on the communicator a circuit is made through the rudder
contact and illuminates whichever small lamp is in connection with the position
of the rudder.
The only mechanical part of the indicating apparatus is the bell or gong the
only moveable part is the hammer of the same, thus it will be understood that our
invention is cheapness and simplicity with certainty of action.
The communicator is an apparatus with as many push knobs or contact peices
as there are orders, arranged in a manner that moisture cannot pass in the
apparatus there is also a contact for the reply, that the commander can at any

page_text: time by useing it, see where the rudder is or at what speed the engin is going
ahead or astern this we do by an apparatus in the form of a fly or gouverner which
moves a contact maker according to the speed ahead or astern.
The second part of our invention consists in a bell or gong that is made to strike
a heavy blow by means of a contact upon the axis of the hammer stem that when
the electric current is put on it works more than one electro magnet placed in
such a manner that they pull one after the other and strike a much heavier blow
than a single one would do.
By our method of connecting up the same wires that are used for the orders
are used for replys.
We entirely dispence with pointers flaps or indicators that are now used, and
substitute light turned in and out by Electricity.
nated the 14th dow of Tulu 100%
JOHN LEA.
ROWLAND MATTHEWS.

page_text: We JOHN LEA of 75 Arlington Road, Camden Town in the county of Middlesex,
Telegraph Engineer, and RowLAND MATTHEWS of 21 City Road, also in the county
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to instruments to be used in board ship to signal between
the Commander and the Helmsman and the Engineer or any part of the ship
where telegraphic orders and replies are required.
:
This is effected by means of incandescent lamps placed in chambers with glass
fronts having the order written upon the glass. The required number of these
chambers with their signalling lamps are placed in a case in such position that
they can be seen by the person to whom the order is to be given a bell or gong
being placed in the return wire which is connected to all the orders so that when
the Commander makes connection, the lamp shewing the particular order is lit.up
and the bell is sounded at the same time. A small lamp placed in the communi-
cating instrument is also lighted. These same small lamps are used as replies by
pressing a contact on the communicator a circuit being made through the rudder
contact and lights up whichever small lamp is in connection with the position
of the rudder.
The only mechanical part of the indicating apparatus is the bell or gong, the
only working part is the hammer of the same thus it will be understood that our
invention is cheapness, and simplicity with certainty of action.
The communicator is an apparatus with as many push knobs or contact pieces
as there are orders, arranged in a manner that moisture cannot pass into the
apparatus. There is also a contact for the reply that the Commander can at any
time by using it, see where the rudder is, another .contact indicates at what speed
the engine is going ahead. or astern by means of an apparatus in the form of a fly
or governor which moves a contact maker according to the speed.
Our invention also relates to an arrangement of appliances for striking a heavy
blow on a bell or gong by means of a contact maker upon the axis of its hammer
stem so that when the electric current is put on it works several electro magnets
placed one after the other and strikes a much heavier blow than a single.electro-
magnet would.
"
By our method. of connecting up the same wires that are used for the orders are
used for replies.
We entirely dispense with the pointers, flaps or indicators now. used and we
substitute light turned in and out by electricity.
The description of this invention will be understood by reference to the annexed
drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional elevation and front elevation of the communicating
instrument or apparatus for sending the orders or commands. It consists of a
watertight case A (constructed of oak or any other suitable material) in which are
series of chambers B, B, with glass fronts CC and containing. incandescent
lamps DD preferably with reflectors E, E, behind. Orders are marked upon the

page_text: "
"
glasses CC such as "Full Speed Astern" Half Speed Astern," Easy Astern,"
"Stand by," "Stop," "Easy Ahead" "Half Speed Ahead," and "Full Speed Ahead,"
on the series communicating with the Engineer, and "Hard Starboard," "Starboard,"
'Steady' Port" and " Hard Port" on the series communicating with the
"
" "
Helmsman.
The glasses C C of the chamber signalling Starboard, Hard Starboard, Port and
Hard Port are preferably green and red respectively.
The lower part of the case A contains as many push knobs F, F, as there are
orders, the same orders being marked upon them as are upon the glasses C. C.
The knobs F, F, are fixed upon spindles G, G, (passing through stuffing boxes in
the woodwork A formed by two metal bushes or plates H, I, and a packing J of
tow and tallow) with projections or collars K K to receive springs L L in the
cases. M, M. The other ends of the spindles G, G, carry contact buttons N, N,
which can make electrical circuits by contact with the springs P, P, P¹ P¹ on
pressing the push knobs F, F. The two additional push knobs F and F are
arranged to make contacts for replies from the engine room and helm respectively.
The cable containing the wires from the instrument may be carried through a
stand below it or be disposed in any convenient manner.
Figure 3 represents a contact maker or switch the arm or handle Q of which is
connected in any suitable manner with the tiller or rope therefrom so that the
handle and rudder of the vessel shall move simultaneously The arm Q moves
on the centre R carrying with it a short arm S of slate or other insulating
material having a spring T (with contact piece U) above it and a spring V (with
contact piece W) below it. The contact piece U can slide over a series of contact
plates X, X, X, which are insulated from each other and from which wires Y pass
through the oak baseplate Z to other apparatus. The contact piece W slides over
a quadrant Z¹ of brass or other suitable electric conductor.
Figures 4 and 5 are elevation and section respectively of a break or contact
maker to be operated by the Helmsman and Engineer On depressing with the
foot the lever a which is pivotted at b the short arm c within the case d acts upon
the spring e to withdraw the contact f from the contact springs g and h for the
purpose of breaking a circuit. On lifting the foot the circuit is closed by the
weight taking the arm c off the spring e or by any other convenient means.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the governor apparatus for indicating the speed of
the engine ahead or astern and Figure 7 a section of the contacts. The governor
balls j are connected loosely by a ring k with a weight to which is secured a
contact maker m having a platinum contact n on both sides and at the bottom
edge. The contact n by the motion of the governor is moved over contact
plates p., p.
The contact maker m has a plate q which runs under one of the
plates 7, . When the engine is stopped the contact maker m rests on the
contacts s or 8¹.
Figure 8 is a front elevation, Figure 9 a back elevation and Figure 10 a
longitudinal section of the receiver instrument for the Helmsman. A similar
instrument is placed in the Engine room but having eight chambers containing
incandescent lamps with the proper orders marked on the glasses. This instrument
contains several chambers B, B, within a case A each chamber having a glass
front C through which the light of an incandescent lamp D may shine and
illuminate the words marked upon the said glass C. In the centre of the
apparatus is a chamber t containing a bell or gong u and its hammer u¹ and
stem u².
An electromagnet v is fixed upon a plate w within the case A to the armature x
of which is attached a rod y. The rod y on the armature being attracted by
the magnet throw's over the bent rod y² of the spindle 2 which passes through the
wall of the chamber't and carries the hammer stem u³ and thus causes the bell or
gong u to be struck.
Figure 11 shows the arrangement for striking a bell, or gong according to the
second part of our invention. The bell hammer rod a¹ or rod for operating the

page_text: same passes through a link or loop 61 in a horizontal rod c¹ on which are
collets c, c for the armatures d', d³, d³ of three electro magnets e¹, e² e³ to rest
against each of which armatures is placed at a different distance from the pole of
the electro magnet. The rod a' has at its extremity a contactf capable of sliding
over a number of insulated contact pieces g³, g³, gs and putting each of the electro
magnets beginning at that which has its armature nearest to its pole successively
in circuit. By this means the greatest mechanical motion of the bell hammer is
obtained.
The manner of arranging the apparatus hereinbefore described for signalling in
board ship and the operation of the same will be understood by the diagram on
Sheet 5 which represents the circuit for communicating with the helm. The
engine circuit is similar but has ten wires in the cable, being arranged for lighting
eight lamps instead of five.
When an order is to be sent, one of the pushers a, a, a, is operated a current
then passes through the push a to the incandescent lamp 6 which it lights up in
the sending instrument thence by the cable to the incandescent lamp c (which it
lights up) in the receiver instrument through the call bell magnet d and break e
returning by the cable through the switch contact f to the battery or dynamo
The Helmsman when he receives a signal operates the break e and thus extinguishes
the lights When the commander desires to know whether the helm is in the
required position he depresses the reply push knob a¹ which by the contacts g
and h completes a circuit (without the lamps c and bell d) through one of the
helm contacts jjj and the corresponding incandescent lamp 6 thus indicating the
position of the rudder.
Several cables in different parts of the ship may be arranged so as to be
employed in case of injury to the one in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. Signalling by lighting and putting out electric lamps as hereinbefore described
and substantially in the manner set forth.
2. The several apparatus and instruments for signalling in board ship herein-
before described and substantially as shown on the annexed drawings.
100 100 чау от штaу госо
H. GARDNER,
Agent for the said J. Lea and R. Matthews.