Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
I, LUDWIG HEINRICH MATTHIAS VÖLCKERS of Glashüttenstrasse 111,
Hamburg in the Empire of Germany, Gentleman 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:-
This invention relates to apparatus to make ships recognisable at greater
distances.
For ship owners and all partaking circles of navigation and trade it is of the
greatest importance to have reliable reports of coming-up ships and floating cargos.
For the object of furnishing such information there are at many seaplaces established
stations of observation for passing ships. The names of the observed and recognised
(made out) ships are wired to those places of commerce, which come into
consideration and whereon the base of such reports the so called "ships billets'
are printed and sent to the subscribers.
"
A great inconvenience with these reports is however, that many ships are not
made out or recognised reliably, and it is the object of this inovation to remedy
this inconvenience so that mistakes of ships fitted out with this apparatus cannot
occur.
The enclosed drawings illustrate the invention.
Fig. 1 being an outer view, showing the disposition of the apparatus on board of
a ship.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the apparatus.
The apparatus is constructed in the manner of a transparency and can be
illuminated from within by any known means, f.i. candle-, lamp-, or electric light.
At both sides of the transparency-box or case a is provided a pane of glass 6 upon
which, besides the flag of the ship, the 4 signal-letters by which the ship is
identified in the official lists or registers, are shown. The box may be suitably
furnished with reflecting mirrors d or the like, in order to increase the effect of
the light.
The apparatus is placed on board of a ship in such a manner, that the same is
always as far as possible kept horizontal as shown in Fig. 1.
By means of this inovation it is possible to recognise each ship which is in
possession of the same, from a great distance. The number of the letters by which
a ship is marked out in the registers is but 4, for instance (R. D. K. Q.). As this
number is only small, the letters may be made pretty large, without necessitating
an apparatus of great dimensions.
To these four signal letters is added as a fifth mark of recognition the flag of the
ship, c.
If preferred the whole panes may be made of coloured glass, so that the flag is
represented by the combination of the colored glass forming the side walls of the
transparency and bearing the signal letters of the ship.
The name of the ship and other particulars may now be ascertained instantly by
looking into the alphabetic registers. By changing the glass panes & the apparatus
may also be used for signalising other particulars.
This apparatus will also serve to avoid collisions of ships, as ships, fitted out with
the same are much easier recognised by others.

page_text: 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. An apparatus to make ships recogniseable at greater distances, consisting of a
case or box a which may be illuminated from within and which bares on its
transparent side walls of coloured glass or the like, the flag and the 4 sigual letters
(for instance R. D. K. Q.) of the ship, for the purpose as set forth.
2. With an apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement to change the panes
or side walls, for signalising other particulars, substantially as set forth.
Dated February 6th 1895.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.