IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINE DIRECTION INDICATORS, COUNTERS AND TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Stout of 152 Prescot Road Fairfield Liverpool
in the County of Lancaster Civil Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN ENGINE DIRECTION INDICATORS, COUNTERS AND TELEGRAPHS
ROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Stout at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1883.
CHARLES STOUT of 152 Prescot Road Fairfield Liverpool in the county of
ancaster Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINE DIRECTION INDICATORS,
OUNTERS AND TELEGRAPHS
"
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for showing the way
arine engines and similar rotating motors are moving; the number of revolutions
ey are making and for transmitting orders from the bridge or deck of a steamship
the engine room; or similar purposes.
I make a spindle, having upon one end a V shaped screw-thread commencing,
and terminating in V shaped grooves.
These grooves are parallel with each other and their planes at right angles
with the longitudinal centre line of spindle and placed about one and a half
inches apart.
This spindle is carried in bearers or pedestals and free to revolve. Upon one
end a pulley is fixed to communicate motion from engine to spindle.
Upon this spindle I fit an ordinary engine governor.
I fit a lever about six inches long at right angles to the centre line of spindle
and having one end fitted with a V-shaped stud arranged to revolve in the
end of the lever and resting in the V-shaped screw-thread, when the governors
are expanded, the governors being connected to this lever so that when
they are down the stud in the lever is lifted out of the V-thread on the
spindle. This lever is also fitted with a flat spring on the en farthest from
the spindle, this spring is also arranged as to allow the lever to lift of the
screw-thread and by so doing, the V-shaped stud is lifted out of the V-shaped
screw-thread and the lever springs into the centre of the length between the
V-shaped grooves,

page_text: Working into the V shaped screw-thread is a wormed quadrant so arranged
that when the engine or spindle goes one way, the quadrant moves up, and
the reverse takes place when the spindle revolves the other way.
This quadrant moves a spindle which moves a card or pointer and exposes to
view, or points the words or lights indicating the direction the engines are
going.
This part of the mechanism is preferably placed in the engine-room in such
a position that the engineer on duty may see at once the way the engines are
going.
Or motion may be given to the spindle which moves the pointers or card by
a crank on the end of a spindle working into or connected with or from the
lever (No 3).
On each side of the lever is fitted a spring or stop, these springs or stops
which are connected with wire to the "Ahead" and "Astern bells" and so
arranged that they shall not be in contact with the lever (No 3) when it is
in the centre (as described when lifted off the screw-thread No 3A) but one
shall be pressed in when the spindle revolves fast enough to allow the
governors to expand and press the V-shaped stud which is on the end of the
lever (No 3) into the V shaped screw thread; because the thread will carry
the lever into one of the grooves according to the way the spindle revolves
and causes contact to be made with spring or stop and forms an electric
communication as described in (No 6) or the lever (No 3) may be connected to
one of the poles of the battery and the springs direct to the bells.
Each of these springs or stops when pressed by the lever, make a communi-
cation between an electric battery and an electric bell, each bell having a
different tone; and the poles of the bells when in action being magnetized
attracts a needle, which needle moves a card: or ratchet wheel and pawl
may be used worked from the bell hammer; this wheel moving a pointer, the
cards or dials having printed or otherwise exhibited upon them the direction
the engines are going, shews by sight, and the bells by sound, the way the
engines are moving.
Or opposite to each other two sets of electric coils may be placed (in a circular
or other shaped case made air tight) with a plate in between, within the
field of each magnet: on the end of the plate farthest from the point of
oscillation is fixed a toothed quadrant working into a pinion wheel, the shaft
of which carries index pointers. The plate is kept equal distance from, each
coil by a spring.
Both negative wires may converge into one.
These may be placed in any part of the ship when connected to the stops or
springs by wire.
Or a spindle having a pulley fitted on one end and free to revolve in bearers
or pedestals; and a friction clutch fitted on the spindle or raised part thereon,
so arranged that when the spindle revolves, the clutch revolves with it until
it comes into contact with the spring or stop, which spring or stop is connected
to the positive or negative poles of the bells or coils described in (No 6): the
friction clutch being connected to the reverse pole and to the battery, and so
balanced with weight or spring that it always stops with the pointer or dial
at " "Stop." Fixed to the clutch is a dial or pointer to indicate which way
the spindle is moving: if the dial is used, the words, Ahead,-Stop,-Astern―
or words having similar meaning would be placed upon it, if the pointer is
used, a dial as described will be fixed; this may be dispensed with and a coil
used as described in (No 6)
Or instead of friction clutch a stud fixed in or on the spindle and arranged
that when it revolves it makes a contact with the base of a pointer or dial,
and moves them to one side or other, the dial or pointer being stopped by
contact with the studs or springs, and making contact as described in (No 6)

page_text: The spindle may in each case be so connected with wormed and toothed
wheels and dials, that they will form a counter to tell the number of
revolutions the engines have made; also, a small stud fitted in or on the
spindle and making contact with a lever or spring which is connected to
the positive or negative poles of coil or battery, and the reverse pole connected
to the spindle or friction clutch, and so arranged that each revolution makes
and breaks with each coil, and by so doing causes the block to be attracted to
each coil, alternately moving a ratchet wheel arranged with wheels and dials
so as to record the number of revolutions the engines have made, or, are
making, The coils are the same as described in (No 6)
0
Any part of the engines may be used having alternate movement sufficient to
change the current from one coil to the opposite one.
Instead of a separate spindle, the main shaft of the engine may be used in
any of the above instances. Upon the bridge of a steam ship or other
convenient place, I erect a dial having upon it the necessary words that may
be desired to communicate.
If for instance the words "Ahead slow, Ahead full speed-Stop-" are used,
and the dial is a circular form, at each of the words or sentences except
'Stop" a spring is placed.
"
"
t
'
From these springs, wires are led to coils as described in (N° 6) Preferably,
Ahead" on one side and "Astern" on the other and connected so that
Slow ahead" and "Full speed ahead" will be opposite coils, the same applies
to astern.
In the centre "Stop" so that when neither coils are affected the plate is in
the centre and the pointer regesters "Stop."
The handle on the dial is fitted with a pointer and arranged so as to compass
each word or sentance and is connected to one of the poles of a battery, the
reverse pole is attached respectively and severally to the reverse side of the
coils, so that when the handle is in contact with any of the springs that
particular coil to which it is attached will have an electric current passing
through it by that means, the pole of that coil will become for the time a
magnet and will attract the plate to it, thereby causing the pointers to
move to the word or sentance corresponding to that on the dial which is
on deck.
In the engine room or wherever the dial may be placed: one or more pointers
may be required. A bell is fitted at each coil so that when any communication
is made it is struck by a hammer attached to the plate (between the magnets)
with a spring.
To prevent the plate being magnatized by constant contact with the magnets,
I cover it with silk, paper or similar material

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Stout in the Patent Office on the 26th March 1884.
CHARLES STOUT of 152 Prescot Road, Fairfield, Liverpool, in the county of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENGINE DIRECTION INDICATORS,
COUNTERS, AND TELEGRAPHS."
I make a spindle 1 having upon one end a V-shaped screw thread 2 commencing
and terminating in V-shaped grooves 3, these grooves are parallel with each other
and their planes at right angles with longitudinal centre line of spindle and
spaced about one inch apart. The spindle is carried in bearers 4 and free
to rotate.
Upon one end of spindle I fit a pulley 5 to communicate motion from the engine
or shaft (the direction of which it is desired to know). I fit an ordinary engine
governor 6 on the spindle 1.
I fit a lever 7 about six inches long at right angles with the longitudinal centre
line of spindle 1, and having one end fitted with a stud 8 arranged to fit into
V-shaped screw thread 2 (when the spindle rotates fast enough to cause the
governors 6 to expand). The lever being attached to the governor 6 in such a
manner so that when the governors 6 are down the stud 8 is out of the V-shaped
screw thread or grooves, and when the governors are expanded the stud 8 is pressed
into V-shaped screw thread 2, and is thus carried either one way or other by a
screw 2 until it gets to the grooves 3, in this position the spindle 1. may continue
to rotate without the lever 7 being affected. The other end of this lever is a flat
spring 9 which is secured to a socket 10, this socket works upon a spindle 11,
the object of this spring 9 is to carry lever 6 into the centre of the space formed
by the grooves.3 when not pressed into screw 2. In this way when the spindle 1
stops, the governors 6 fall from their expanded position and in so doing lift the
lever 7, and the stud 8 being thus released from the grooves 3 the lever 7 springs
into the centre of the space between grooves 3 and is then in a position to move up
or down according to the way the spindle rotates.
On each side of lever 7 is fitted a spring or stop 12 which is connected by wire
to the ahead and astern bells or coils 13 and 14 so arranged that they shall not be
in contact with lever 7 when it is in the centre of the grooves 3, as described when
spindle 1 is stopped, but shall make contact on one side or other when lever 7 is
in one of the grooves 3. The lever being attached to the positive or negative pole
of a battery or generator, and the springs or stops 12 to the reverse having the
bells or coils 13 and 14 in between (the bells having different tones and the coils.
giving motion to a pointer to be described in another part of this Specification) a
current is thus completed, and either bells or coils are actuated.
Instead of the aforedescribed mechanism, I make a spindle 15 or shaft having a
pulley 16 fitted thereon free to rotate in bearers 17. a friction clamp or clutch 18
is fitted and arranged with springs 19 to keep same always a uniform pressure on
the shaft or spindle so that when the spindle or shaft rotates the clamp or clutch
is carried with it until it comes into contact with the stops or springs B 12 which
are connected as before described, the reverse poles being attached to the clamp 18,
and to the reverse pole of the battery or generator, the clamp or clutch is fitted
with weight or spring A to keep it out of contact with stops B 12 when the
spindle or shaft is at rest, this is not necessary if a generator is used, because when
the spindle stops the generator ceases to make electricity and the bells or coils are
not actuated.
The coils 13 and 14 are the ordinary bobbins of an electro-magnet and in this
case are placed opposite to each other so that the poles of each set of electro-
magnets may have an equal effect upon a pendulum 21 which is hung within the
field of each set, and arranged so that whichever coil is actuated by a current of
electricity that magnet attracts the pendulum to it. This pendulum is fitted at

page_text: the end of suspension with a flat spring 22 so that when the magnet ceases to
actuate the pendulum it goes in the centre of the two sets of electro-magnets and
registers, blank or stop.
On the opposite end of the pendulum is fitted a quadrant 24 arranged to set in
motion a spindle 20. This may be a toothed quadrant or having a pin working into
a crank which crank is fixed to the spindle 20, in either case the quadrant should
actuate the spindle on the under side or that which is farthest from the point of
oscillation because the pointer counterbalances the pendulum and prevents the
movement of the pointer when the steam ship is rolling.
The spindle 20 carries a pointer 23 which moves on the face of a dial shewing
if the shaft is going backward or forward, if a generator be used the dial may be
marked so that it will indicate slow half speed, full speed, and so on. The
magnetic force in the electro-magnets being increased or decreased according to the
speed the spindle of the generator rotates.
The spindle 1 or 20 may be connected with worm wheel and screw arranged to
form a counter by having on the spindle 1 or 20 a screw-thread cut with a wormed
wheel working into it with a ratio of 1 to 10, upon the said wheel a pinion is fixed
to drive a wheel having a ratio of 1 to 10 and so on according to the number of
numerals it is desired to represent. Each wheel will have marked upon it numbers
0 to 9 so that the number or revolutions may be seen at a glance.
Upon a bridge of a steamer or other convenient place I erect a dial 25 having
upon it the words it is desired to communicate, if for instance the words slow, half
speed, full speed, stop, are used and the dial of a circular form I place at each of
the words or sentences a spring or stop 12 which are connected by wires to coils
(as 13 and 14), the reverse wire from each coil is attached to one common conductor
and led to a pole of a generator or battery, the reverse pole is connected to the
handle 26 of the dial which handle makes contact with each of the springs or
stops. If a generator is used the handle is arranged to set it in motion so that a
current of electricity is made and as the handle passes cach stop or spring makes
contact and actuates the coil to which it is attached.
These coils are arranged as before described with pendulum pointer dial or
movable dial so that upon an index board the words it is desired to communicate
are recorded.
To prevent the plates of the pendulum being permanently magnetized I cover
them with silk or some such preventing material.
Having now described my invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect I wish it to be understood that what I desire to protect under the
Letters Patent is :-
1st. The screw thread 2 and the grooves 3 with the lever 7 and the spring 9 in
combination with the governors 6 substantially as described.
2nd. The magnetic coils 13 and 14 in combination with the pendulum 21 and
the quadrant 24 actuating the spindle 20 substantially as described.
3rd. The friction clamp or clutch kept in position by springs or weights and
kept a uniform pressure upon shaft 15 by springs or spring and substantially
as described.
4th. The arrangement and combination of dial 25 with stops or springs 12
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Stout have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 24th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.