AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT OF SIDE LIGHTS FOR VESSELS, AND LANTERNS THEREFOR
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, GEORGE T. PARRY of Philadelphia, in the State of Pensylvania, U.S.A.
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
ARRANGEMENT OF SIDE LIGHTS FOR VESSELS, AND LANTERNS THEREFOR" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to marine signal lights but more specifically to those
described in the specification of former Letters Patent Dated December 26 A.D. 1883,
No 5863 and consists of auxiliary movable or independent signal lights so arranged
upon the vessel with respect to the regular port and starboard lights required by
law, that they shall open or be exposed to view from the sides, as the vessel swings
around one or more points, and remain in view until she has turned a given
number of points say to two abaft of beam; thereby indicating to an observer on one
vessel the relative direction of movement or course of the other, the said auxiliary
lights being made movable with respect to the present fixed port and starboard
lights whereby they may be arranged in front or to the rear, above or below said
port and starboard lights as may be required to suit the location of said port and
starboard lights on vessels of different nations, as well as necessities of sailing
vessels of all kinds; further in providing tho auxiliary signal light with screens one
or both of which are adjustable; further in a signal box in which lantern is held in
guideways and all parts liable injury by coming into contact with cold water, are
enclosed within a box; and in details of construction all of which are fully set
forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings
which form part thereof.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1. is a plan view of the forward part of a vessel showing one arrangement
of my improved signal lights in which they are located in front of the regular port
and starboard lights but out of line so as not to obstruct the rays thereof.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of same, but in this case the auxiliary signal lights are
arranged a little above the regular port and starboard lights.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation of a sailing vessel and shows my auxiliary signal lights
arranged upon the stays of the main mast while the regular port and starboard
lights are carried on the stays of tho foremast.
Fig. 4. is an elevation of the stays and shows the regular port signal light and
my auxiliary light secured thereto-one above the other.
Fig. 5. is a perspective view of my improved auxiliary signal light.
Fig. 6. is a sectional plan view of same on line xx and Fig. 7. is a sectional
elevation of samo on line y y.
A is the vessel. B is her starboard or green light.and Clior port or red light as
required by law. These are provided with screen boards that they shall be seen

page_text: from directly ahead to two points abaft of beam. D D are my improved auxiliary
and adjustable signal lights and are provided with the screen boards E and F so
arranged that as the vessel swings about she will open her auxiliary light D on the
port side when. she has passed through say two points after screening her green or
starboard light or vice versa. For instanco if the vessel be directed toward the
arrow H both her port and starboard lights would be exposed but not her auxiliary
lights D D. Now as she turns to the position shown, and indicated by arrow G,
say one point, she will have just closed her starboard or green light B, and as she
still continues to swing off and after passing through say two points, she will
unscreen her port auxiliary light D, thus exposing two lights on the port side thus
indicating her course, and in practice theso auxiliary signal lights should be the
same color as the port or starboard light with which they are grouped thereby
showing two red or two green lights.
As the vessel passes both the regular port and auxiliary port lights will remain
exposed until she has passed two points abaft of beam when the screen boards
will shut them out.
In most steam ships the port and starboard lights are arranged at the break of
the bow, and it is easy to arrange the auxiliary lights to the rear thereof, but in
'some cases these port and starboard lights are placed so far aft that the auxiliary
lights must be placed in front of or above them." When placed in front and on the
sume horizontal plane they must be arranged out of line with said port and
starboard light as indicated in Fig. 1. or they may be arranged in the same vertical
plane but raised above them as indicated in Fig. 2, or they may be placed directly
above said port and starboard lights, and this is particularly necessary in singlo
masted yachts, as indicated in Fig. 4. From this it is seen that there is great
desirability in making the auxiliary lights separate, independent and movable with
reference to the fixed port and starboard lights. In all cases it is necessary to
separate these light by a space say six feet, or if desired they may be separated
by the distance between two masts (see Fig 3) or even by nearly the length of the
vessel, to prevent their blending at great distances.
With this system when two vessels are directed toward each other, each showing
only one light, to iudicate their exact course to each other it is simply required that
they be swung off a point or two so as to uncover their auxiliary, lights or signals.
Their courses will then be known and a collision could not take place. Heretofore,
when the red or green light was exposed alone, the course of the vessel could not
be determined within ten points and it was owing to this that the many of the
frequent collisions took place.
My auxiliary light is constructed as follows:-K is a box having a red or green
glass front O and top and bottom boards P. Laro vertical guides in which the
removable lantern M slides and which lantern is provided with a plain white glass
front N so as to allow the light to pass through the colored glass O. S is a hinged
cover having a ventilator cap T, and allows the lamp M to be removed from the
signal box, K. By this means no water is allowed to splash against the hot lainp,
thereby preventing all possibility of its extinguishment or breakage of glass globes
or chimneys.
This box arrangement may be applied to the port and starboard lights now in
use. E and F are the screon boards and are arranged vertically between the
boards P being preferably hinged as at e so that they may be adjusted to open or
close the light through any desired number of points of the compass. When set
they may be locked in position by locks and curved plates R having holes for
the bolts corresponding to one or more points of the compass. This prevents any
possibility of them having their position changed accidentally. If desired however
these screen boards may be constructed rigid and in place of being straight they
may be curved as shown in dotted lines.
Instead of hinging the screens, they may be made adjustable by making them in
the form of sides.

page_text: U are cleats by which the signal box K may be secured in a vertical position on
the oblique stays of a ship.
It is evident that two or inoro of these auxiliary signal lights opening at different
points of the compass might be placed on each side of the vessel.
While prefer the construction shown I do not limit myself thereto as the
details may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention.
Having now particulary 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
1st. In signal lights for vessels, the combination with the usual port and
starboard signal lights, of auxiliary and independent screened signal lights so
arranged with respect to said port and starboard lights that as the vessel swings
off said auxiliary lights shall be exposed to view at specified times as described to
indicate the course of the vessel, the said auxiliary lights being adapted to be
secured above, below, to the rear or in front of the present fixed port and starboard
lights as circumstances requires substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. In signal lights for vessels, the combination with the usual port and
starboard lights, of secondary or auxiliary signal lights in the front of said port and
starboard lights but out of line therewith so as not to obstruct their rays of light
and suitably screened from certain points as specified but having outer side
exposure, whereby as the vessel turns in her course said auxiliary light on one side
is exposed thereby indicating the vessels course, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3rd. In signal lights for vessels, the combination with the usual port and
starboard lights, of secondary or auxiliary signal lights arranged above said port
and starboard lights and suitably screened from certain points as specified but
having outer side exposure whereby as the vessel turns in her course said auxiliary
light on one side is exposed thereby indicating the vessels course, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
4th. An auxiliary signal light for vessels having adjustable screen boards
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5th. An auxiliary signal light for vessels having adjustable screen boards and
devices to lock said screen boards and devices to lock said screen boards in fixed
positions substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6th. A signal light for vessels which consists of a box having a colored glass face
guideways, and suitable screon boards in combination with a removable lamp or
Iantern having guides adapted to slide into said box and be protected from rain
and sea water substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7th. The combination of box K, cover S, glass face O, lamp or lantern M, and
screen boards E and F substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Sth. The combination of box K, cover S, glass face O, guides Llamp or lantern M,
having glass front N and screen boards E and F substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
9th. The combination of box K, cover S, glass face O, guides L lamp or lantern M,
having glass front N screen boards E and F adjustable hinged, and provided with
means to lock them in fixed positions substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 6th day of November 1884
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.