IMPROVEMENTS APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING."ARRA
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip Howard Colomb, of Her Majesty's Dock-
yard, Devonport, in the County of Devon, Lieutenant in the Royal
Navy, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING."
ARRANGEMENTS AND
Sealed the 31st October 1862, and dated the 7th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip Howard Colomb
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on
the 7th May 1862.
I, PHILIP HOWARD COLOMB, of Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in
the County of Devon, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, do hereby declare the
nature of tho said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS AND
APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING," to be as follows:-
This Invention is applicable for the purpose of communicating signals
between vessels at sea, between vessels at sea and the shore, and for signalling
from one position to another upon land, whether the latter be for military or
other purposes. The principle of its action consists in the employment, for
night signals, of flashes of light separated by intervals of darkness, such
flashes being of varying duration, and a certain number of long or short
flashes, or the combination of a certain number of long with a certain number
of short flashes being taken to represent a certain number, letter, or other
distinguishing character of any recognised or pre-arranged code of signals.

page_text: By the use of long and short flashes of light, as described, I am enabled
to make a much greater number of distinct signals with the same number of
alternate flashes of light and intervals of darkness, and with less liability to
errors of observation, than if flashes of equal length only were employed.
Thus, for some signals I may employ one or more short flashes; for others, 5
one or more long flashes; then one or more short flashes followed by one or
more long flashes, or one or more long flashes followed by one or more short
flashes, and so on, varying the number, order, and combination of the flashes,
and assigning to each number, order, or combination of flashes, its particular
meaning in the code.
In order that the long and short flashes required may be readily and
correctly produced and repeated at proper intervals during any length of
time until the same shall have been duly seen and acknowledged from all the
ships or stations within sight or range of their influence, I make use of a
cylindrical or other formed barrel, or of an endless belt or chain, or other
equivalent or suitable arrangement, provided with one or more series of pins,
projections, depressions, or holes, which upon the barrel, belt, chain, or other
arrangement being caused to revolve or move either by a winch handle
or other convenient or suitable means, give motion through levers or other
suitable connections to a cover, whereby the signal light made use of is
obscured or exposed at proper intervals, and for the proper comparative
lengths of time to indicate the distinguishing number or marks of the signal
represented.
Where the signals of a code are distinguished by numbers, I employ (upon
or in the barrel, endless belt, chain, or other arrangement) as many series of
pins, projections, depressions, or holes as there are figures in the highest
number of the code. Each of these series consists of ten distinct rows or sets
of pins, projections, depressions, or holes, the first one being calculated to act
upon the cover of the signal light so as to make the signal 1, the second to
signal 2, and so on up to 9, and the remaining set to make the signal 0.
The several series are arranged so that one scries will have passed out of
action, leaving a marked space of time before a second series will have com
menced acting. If it be now understood that the several levers or other parts
appertaining to each series of pins, projections, depressions, or holes, and
intended for conveying motion to the cover of the light, can be placed so as to
be acted upon by any one of the ten sets of each series, it will be easily seer
that any number not comprising a greater number of figures than the machine
is calculated for may be readily signalled, and that it will only be necessary
to continue the machine in motion in order to continually repeat the signal

page_text: Thus, supposing the number to be signalled is 394, one lever or other con-
nection (whereby motion is given to the cover) is placed so as to be acted on
by set 3 of the first series, another by set 9 of the second series, and a third by
set of the third series. It is obvious that, on now working the machine, the
signal 394 will be continually repeated as long as the working continues. The
machine may in like manner be arranged to suit any other kind of code or
system of signals, or if found desirable, it may be made capable of working
either of two or more codes or systems, or a code or system, and various
special signals, as required.
For day signals, the same system of apparatus may be modified and
arranged so as to regulate the opening and closing of suitable shutters or
doors, the expansion and contraction or collapse of large balls or cones, or
other easily seen movement or movements of any suitable forms or bodies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Philip Howard Colomb in the Great Seal Patent Office ou
the 6th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PHILIP
HOWARD COLOMB, of Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in the County of
Devon, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Philip Howard Colomb, Her special licence that I, the said Philip
Howard Colomb, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Philip Howard Colomb, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ARRANGEMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Philip Howard Colomb, 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 in what manner the same was to be per-

page_text: formed, 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 J, the said Philip Howard Colomb, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 is applicable for the purpose of communicating signals
between vessels at sea, between vessels at sea and the shore, and for signalling
from one position to another upon land, whether the latter be for military or
other purposes. The principle of its action consists in the employment, for
night signals, of flashes of light separated by intervals of darkness, such flashes
being of varying duration, and a certain number of long or short flashes, or
the combination of a certain number of long with a certain number of short
flashes being taken to represent a certain number, letter, or other distinguish-
ing character of any recognised or pre-arranged code of signals.
By the use of long and short flashes of light, as described, I am enabled to
make a much greater number of distinct signals with the same number of
alternate flashes of light and intervals of darkness, and with less liability to
errors of observation, than if flashes of equal length only were employed.
Thus, for some signals I may employ one or more short flashes; for others,
one or more long flashes; then one or more short flashes followed by one
or more long flashes, or one or more long flashes followed by one or more
short flashes, and so on. varying the number, order, and combination of the
flashes, and assigning to each number, order, and combination of flashes its
particular meaning in the code.
In order that the long and short flashes required may be readily and
correctly produced and repeated at proper intervals during any length of
time until the same shall have been duly seen and acknowledged from all the
ships or stations within sight or range of their influence, I make use of a
cylindrical or other formed barrel, or of an endless belt or chain, or other
equivalent or suitable arrangement provided with one or more series of pins,
projections, depressions, or holes, which upon the barrel, belt, chain, or other
arrangement being caused to revolve or move, either by a winch handle or
other convenient or suitable means, give motion through levers or other
suitable connections to a cover, whereby the signal light is obscured or exposed
at proper intervals, and for the proper comparative lengths of time to indicate
the distinguishing number or marks of the signal represented.
Where the signals of a code are distinguished by numbers, I employ

page_text: (upon or in the barrel, endless belt, chain, or other arrangement) as many
series of pins, projections, depressions, or holes as there are figures in the
highest number of the code. Each of these series consists of ten distinct rows
or sets of pins, projections, depressions, or holes, the first one being calcu-
lated to act upon the cover of the signal light so as to make the signal 1, the
second to sigual 2, and so on up to 9, and the remaining set to make the
signal 0. The several series are arranged so that one series will have passed
out of action, leaving a marked space of time before a second series will have
commenced acting. If it be now understood that the several levers or other
parts appertaining to each series of pins, projections, depressions, or holes, and
intended for conveying motion to the cover of the light, can be placed so as
to be acted upon by any one of the ten sets of each series, it will be easily
seen that any number, not comprising a greater number of figures than the
machine is calculated for, may be readily signalled, and that it will only be
necessary to continue the machine in motion in order to continually repeat
the signal. Thus, supposing the number to be signalled is 394, one lever or
other connection (whereby motion is given to the cover) is placed so as to be
acted upon by set 3 of the first series, another by set 9 of the second series,
and a third by set 4 of the third series; it is obvious that on now working the
machine, the signal 394 will be continually repeated as long as the working
continues. The machine may in like manner be arranged to suit any other
kind of code or system of signals, or, if found desirable, it may be made
capable of working either of two or more codes or systems, or a code or
system and various special siguals, as required.
For day signals, the sanic system of apparatus may be modified and
arranged so as to regulate the opening and closing of suitable shutters or
doors, the expansion and contraction or collapse of large balls or cones, or
other easily seen movement or movements of any suitable forms or bodies.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, Sheet. 1, is a general plan of one arrangement of the machine I
employ for the purpose of giving motion to the cover of the signal light at
proper intervals, as herein-before explained; Fig. 2, an end elevation of the
same, partly in section, having a portion of the framing removed for the pur-
pose of more clearly shewing the several working parts; and Fig. 3, an
elevation of the contrary end of the machine, shewing the levers to be connected
with and employed for giving motion to the cover of the light, as farther illus-
trated at Fig. 4, which represents a similar view of the machine drawn to a
reduced scale, and shews the manner in which the levers are connected with

page_text: the cover. Figs. 5 and 6 represent the system of projections made use of for
producing various signals. The same letters of reference are made use of to
identify the same parts in all the views.
The working barrel of the machine is fixed upon a shaft b, supported and
free to revolve in bearings formed in the end framing c of the machine. Upon
the shaft is also keyed a worm wheel d, actuated by a worm e, formed upon
the shaft f, working in bearings at f', and capable of being caused to revolve
by means of the winch handle y. Upon the barrel a are five series of projections
h, h, h, h³, and . The series h intended to act upon the lever arrangement
for signalling the unit figures; the series to act in like manner for signal-
ling the tens; the series h for the hundreds; and the series h³ for signalling
thousands; the remaining series in like manner actuates the levers, so as
to make any required one out of ten special signals, to each of which is
assigned a particular significance, according to the code adopted. In front of
the barrel a and parallel to its axis is a square shaft i, supported in bearings
formed in the framing-e, and carrying levers j,,, and j, capable of being
moved into various positions along its length, and having jointed to them the
pieces,,,, and, which take into notches formed in the flat bar 7, and
are held therein by springs m attached to the levers j. Upon the end of the
shaft i (which is capable of partial rotation in its bearings) is fixed a lever n,
jointed by a link o to another lever p (having its fulcrumat p¹), to which is
attached the cord q, passing over pullies q', as shewn at Fig. 4, and carrying
the cover, whereby the light of the signal lamp s is obscured. Each of the
notches in the bar is situated opposite to one of the rows of projections upon
the barrel a, and each notch is numbered to correspond with the signal to be
produced by the row of projections to which it is opposite. This being under-
stood, and also that the four series of numbers represent respectively units,
tens, hundreds, and thousands, the action of the machine will be easily
understood.
R
In the code of signals for which the machine is arranged the numeral 1 is
represented by one short flash or exposure of the light; 2, by two such short
flashes; 3, by three such short flashes; 4, by four such short flashes; 5, by
five such flashes; 6, by one long flash (or exposure of the light); 7, by one
short followed by one long flash; 8, by one long followed by one short flash;
9, by two short succeeded by one long flash; and the cypher 0, by one long
succeeded by two short flashes.
Now, let it be required to signal the number 394, the piece which is
jointed to the lever j is pulled backward out of the notch wherein it is shewn,
and the lever is moved along the shaft i to the notch 3 of the series h², as shewy

page_text: in red lines. The lever j¹ is in like manner moved into the position 9 of the
series h', and the lever'j into the position 4 of the series h, as likewise shewn in
red; the levers and j' not being required, remain out of action as shewn. On
the barrel being now caused to revolve in the direction of the arrows, the three
projections opposite to notch 3 of the series will successively come into con-
tact with the lever, thereby depressing it three times, and at each depression
raising the cover r, and as often momentarily exposing the light of the lamps,
and making the signal 3 as required. The circumference of the barrel a being
divided into equal divisions, each occupied by one series only of projections, a
marked interval will now clapse, during which the rotary movement of the
barrel will leave the cover » undisturbed. This interval marks the termination
of the flashes, representing the first figure of the signal. The continued revolu-
tion of the barrel then successively brings the three projections representing 9
of the series into contact with the lever j'; two of these projections being
short and the third of considerable length, successively act upon the lever j', thus
raising the cover and exposing the light during three corresponding periods
of time, thus signalling the second numeral required. A marked interval then
again occurs before the rotation of the barrel brings the projections 4 of the
series into action upon the lever for making the signal 4, which, consisting
of four short flashes, is made by a corresponding number of short projections
upon the barrel. The levers not being required for the signal made,
situated that the ends of the levers are
clear of the course of any of the projections.
and
are kept out of action by notches, so
It will be obvious to any competent mechanic that the projections made use
of in the machine described for acting upon the cover of the lamp may be sub-
stituted by depressions or holes, as also that a belt or chain formed or provided
with suitable projections, depressions, or holes, may be employed instead of the
barrel for giving motion to the cover.
In Sheet 2 are represented some arrangements which may conveniently
be employed for day signalling in connection with the before-mentioned
apparatus. In these cases the flash of the night signal is replaced by the
display of a conspicuous opaque figure, the appearance and total or partial
disappearance of which is regulated by the working of the apparatus in the
same manner as the raising of the cover of the light is regulated for the
purpose of night signalling.
The arrangement represented by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, consists of a series
of shutters or boards t, turning upon centres so as to be capable of being
set either edgewise or with their sides towards the observer. Fig. 1 is a front
view shewing the shutters open, or presenting their edges to the observer;

page_text: Fig. 2, a section through the line A of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a front view shewing
the shutters closed; and Fig. 4, a section through the line B of Fig. 3. In
order to work the shutters, the cord 9 attached to the lever p of the machine.
is in this case connected with a bar u, whereby its movement is communicated
to the shutters so as to close them and thus render the signal disc distinctly
visible at each depression of the lever p. The re-opening of the shutters is
effected by a spring which acts upon and raises the bar u the moment it
ceases to be held down by the lever p. Figs. 5 and 6 represent a hollow
cone formed of sail-cloth or other suitable material, and so arranged as in its
normal position (shewn at Fig. 5) to present only a comparatively small
surface, but when expanded or drawn out, as at Fig. 6, to be clearly visible
at a considerable distance. The drawing out or elongation of the cone,
which answers to the exposure of the light in the night signals, is effected by
the cord attached to the lever p, as the closing of the shutters was in the
previous arrangement. Figs. 7 and 8 represent an arrangement having the
form of a fan, which when closed appears as at Fig. 7, but when opened by
the action of the cord 7 (attached to the lever p as before) takes the form
represented by Fig. 8. Figs. and 10 are corresponding views of an
arrangement of semaphore (which may be suspended or fixed in any con-
venient situation) the arins of which hang down as at Fig. 9, but by the
drawing down of the cord 2 are instantly thrown out horizontally, as shewn at
Fig. 10. Figs. 11 and 12 represent a kind of bellows-formed collapsible
drum, the normal position of which is at Fig. 11, but which on being acted
upon by the cord 7 is expanded to the form shewn at Fig. 12. Figs. 13 and
14 represent a frame on which a flag or banner is displayed by the drawing
down of the cord 7.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same may be conveniently carried into
effect, I would point out that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise
details or arrangements described, as the same admit of being variously
modified without departing from the distinctive character thereof; but what I
claim is,
Firstly, the use, for night signalling, of a light (or lights) shewn or
exposed during varying periods of time, regulated as described.
Secondly, the use, for day signalling, of an opaque or other clearly visible
body (or bodies) shewn or exposed during varying periods of time, regulated
as described.
Thirdly, the use, for the purposes described, of a notched bar or other
equivalent arrangement for enabling the levers or other connections whereby

page_text: motion is imparted from the pins, projections, depressions, or holes, to be
adjusted so as to be acted upon by the required sets of pins, projections,
depressions, or holes, or to be thrown out of action as required.
Fourthly, the employment of levers or equivalent parts, adjustable end-
wise upon an angular or other bar, for the purpose of imparting the motion
received from the pins, projections, depressions, or holes, so as to regulate the
appearance and disappearance, or expansion and contraction, or change of
position or form of the signalling object or objects.
Fifthly, the use of a drum, endless belt, chain, or equivalent arrangement,
provided with pins, projections, depressions, or holes, and capable of being
driven with a continuous motion, for the purpose of regulating the appearance
and disappearance, expansion and contraction, or change of position or form
of figures or objects used in signalling.
Sixthly, the general arrangement and combination of parts constituting an
apparatus for signalling, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip Howard Colomb, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
PHILIP HOWARD (L.S.)