ROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE COURSE TO BE STEERED IN SHIPS AT SEA, AND IN GALVANIC BATTERIES TO BE USED IN SOME CASES THEREWITH
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Newton Gisborne, of No. 3, Adelaide Place,
London Bridge, in the City of London, Engineer and Electrician, for
the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR
INDICATING THE COURSE TO BE STEERED IN SHIPS AT SEA, AND IN GALVANIC
BATTERIES TO BE USED IN SOME CASES THEREWITH."
Sealed the 23rd November 1861, and dated the 1st June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Newton Gisborne
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 1st June 1851.
I, FREDERIC NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge,
in the City of London, Engineer and Electrician, do hereby declare the
IN THE MEANS OF AND
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE COURSE TO BE STEERED IN SHIPS AT SEA, AND IN
GALVANIC BATTERIES TO BE USED IN SOME CASES THEREWITH," to be as follows :-
In some cases I use a box in which are two or more electro-magnets so
arranged that they act at pleasure upon certain moveable slides or lids.
Beneath those slides or lids are glass panels coloured green, red, or other
suitable color, and whereon "port," "hard-a-port," "starboard," "hard-a-
starboard," "steady," or other terms, are painted or impressed. A lamp placed
in the box at night-time reflects the signals in colours and words. In the same

page_text: circuit with the electro-magnets is an alarm bell. The keys or handles com-
municating with the indicator from the bow or paddle-boxes of ships or
steamers are likewise similarly lettered and coloured.
The battery which I use in some cases is constructed as follows:-A
cylinder of box, of ebonite, or other non-conducting substance is fitted with
air-tight end coverings, in which the terminals are so placed as to close the
tube when screwed into the poles of the battery. Electric action is attained
by coiling copper wire round zinc plates placed upon a wood centre, and with
brown paper, or other substance suitable for retaining moisture, between the
metals. The metals are dipped in water, and they are afterwards powdered
with sulphate of copper to obtain immediate effective action.
In some cases I dispense with the electric apparatus, and effect the
required motion of the inoveable slides by lines, or wires and pulleys, and
other suitable mechanical arrangements.
SPECIFICATION in parsuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederic Newton Gisborne in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th November 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, FREDERIC
NEWTON GISBORNE, of No. 3, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, in the City
of London, Engineer and Electrician, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederic Newton Gisborne, Her special license that 1, the said Frederic
Newton Gisborne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne, 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
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE COURSE
TO BE STEERED IN SHIPS AT SEA, AND IN GALVANIC BATTERIES TO BE USED IN SOME
CASES THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Frederic Newton Gisborne, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-

page_text: tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar inonths next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, thai I, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne,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,reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in the Means of and Apparatus for
Indicating the Course to be Steered by Ships at Sea, and in Galvanic
Batteries to be used in some Cases therewith," relates, first, to a novel
arrangement of electrical apparatus, whereby the look-out officer forward, or
mau at the masthead or other convenient part of the ship,may communicate
to the steersman abaft the requisite orders as to the direction in which to
In
steer the ship, in order to avoid obstacles that lie in the vessel's course.
conjunction with this part of the Invention I also propose to employ an
arrangement of electrical apparatus whereby the steersinan, on receiving in-
structions from the look-out officer what course to steer, may in reply com-
municate to that officer the information that he has noticed and understands
the signal that has been made to him.
The second part of the Invention relates to a novel construction of battery
to generate the electricity whereby the electrical apparatus above referred
to may be worked.
In Sheet I. of the Drawings I have shewn several views of the apparatus
whereby the information as to the course to steer the ship may be com-
inunicated from the look-out officer to the steersman.
Fig.1 is an external elevation,shewing the front of the apparatus; Fig. 2
is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the line 1,2,of Figures 1
and 3.and looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig.3; Fig.3 is a sectional
plau view, taken in the line 3,4,of Fig.2; Fig.4 is a view of the back of the
a, paratus seen in the plane 5, 6, of Fig. 2, and shewing the arrangement of
the electro-magnets and some of the other parts connected therewith; Fig.
5 is a side view of one of the electro-magnets detached.
The apparatus shewn in Figures 1,2,3, and 4 consists of a box or casc u,u
in which there are arranged two or more electric coils d, according to the
number of different siguals or words of command it may be desired to trans-
mit to the steersman. In the present instance the apparatus is intended to
make the five signals or give the five words of command which are most
usually required on board ship to instruct the steersman the proper course to

page_text: stecr. These signals or words of command are the words “port,” “hard-a-
port," "starboard," "hard-a-starboard," and "steady." These words, or any
others that may be desired, are painted, marked, or impressed upon pieces of
colored or plain glass or other transparent or translucent substance, which
picces are let into or placed over openings made in the inclined side or front
al of the box a,a, and a lantern or lamp b with a strong light is placed in a
suitable recess at the back of the apparatus,as shewn in Fig.2. If desired,
the above-mentioned words may be marked in different colored glasses, s
as to strike the attention more vividly. It will be understood that if a lamp
or strong light be placed at night-time in the box,as at b,Fig.2,it will show
through the openings that are covered with glass, but each of these open,
ings is provided with a sliding shutter, lid, or cover c, c, which will provent
the light from issuing therefrom except when the covers or either of them
are drawn up,as shewn at c* in Figures 1 and 2. When this is the case the
red light with the word "port" on the glass will be distinctly visible to the
steersman, who will at once ster in the direction indicated until he gets
another order of word of command, such as "steady" or "starboard," when
he will immediately follow or change his course according to the command
indicated. The shutters, covers,or lids c,c,are worked by the electromagnets
d', d, d³, d, d,by means of the arrangement of armatures and levers shown
in the Figures, and seen best in the detached view Fig.5; but it is obvious
that they may be worked by cords and pullies, or any other mechanical means.
The coils or electro-magnets d are provided, as seen in Figures 2, 4, and 5,
with armatures c,c,which are mounted on centres at 1,1,1,Fig. 4,and are pro-
vided at their outer ends with projecting pins 2,2,2, which bear on the ends
of the tumbling levers f, f, Fig. 5, whose centre of motion is 3. The other
end of this lever is provided with a pin, on which rests an army, which is
jointed at one end to the shutter c, and at the other is provided with a slot,
which as the arm is moved up and down works on a fixed in 4 as a
centre of motion. When the electric coil d is magnetized by the battery,
on closing the electric circuit the armature e will be attracted and drawn
down by the electro-magnet, as shewn at e" in Figures 2 and 4, and by so
doing will depress one end of the lever f, and thereby lift up the arm g,
and with it the shutter c, as shewn at Fig. 1; by this means the light from
the lamp b, Fig. 2, will be allowed to shine through the glass, and render
the word "port" visible, as shewn in the Figures. Upon the arm g being
lifted up on the centre pin 4, its rear end will be pushed back and brought
to bear against a spring-piece n, to which is connected a wire 6, as shewn in
Fig. 5, whereby a second circuit is completed with another battery

page_text: an an electric coil D, Fig. 3, whereby an alarum E is sounded, as will be
hereafter more partially described. The coils & are electrized, and the
soft iron cores therein are rendered magnetic in the ordinary way by means of
a battery, not shewn in the Drawing, but which communicates by means of
wires 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, with each of the electric coils d, d. These wires 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, from the coils d, d, are connected to the terminals of a commutator or
apparatus for making and breaking contact.
This apparatus is shewn in Sheet II. of the Drawings, in which Fig. 6 is a
plan or front view of the commutator, and Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same.
The frame of this apparatus is made of wood or other non-conductorof elec-
tricity. On the central study, which communicates by means of the wire
conductor with the battery of the coils d, d, is mounted the arm /, which is
capable of being worked to and fro on the centre i, by means of the handle
Metal blocks m, m², m³, m³, m², corresponding to the coils, de, d³, d².
and and consequently to the words of command on the glasses behind the
shutters c, c, are fixed in the wooden frame i, and communicate with the five
coils above referred to, by means of the wire conductors 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. It
will therefore be evident that if all the five coils are made to communicate
with one pole of the battery, and the latter is connected by means of the wire
conducter with the central stud, a circuit may be completed with any of
the five coils by moving the metal arm on to the corresponding block m, and
the corresponding coil d will be electrized, and its soft iron core rendered
magnetic, so as to attract and draw down its armature, and thereby raise the
shutter c, and expose the word of command to view, as has been already
explained.
It will be seen on referring to Fig. 7, that the arm is provided with a
spring, which bears against the under side of the barn, and keepsthe arm/
in its place. This arm is also provided with block on its under side, and
the blocks m, m, are notched at the upper sides to receive the block 3, and
prevent it from accidently slipping off. The conductor from the centre
block m³ communicates with the centre coil d³, Fig. 4, which operates the
shutter cover the word "steady" in the signalling apparatus; the outermost
Llocksm and m³ communicate with the coils d' and d. and work the shutters
before the commands "hard-a-port" and "hard-a-starboard; "the other blocks
m communicate with the other coils and work the shutters in front of the
words "port" and "starboard." Notched pieces o' and of are fixed at the ends
of flat springs pp, which are secured at one end to the blocks m³ and mt in
such a manner that the notched pieces o' and are supported a short distance
above the fixed blocks m' and m", as seen in the edge view, Fig. 5. When

page_text: therefore the arm or lever is moved to the right or left, and brought over
either of the pieces o' and o, the latter will be depressed and brought into con-
tact with the fixed block underneath, and the electric circuit will be completed
from the battery wire k, along the arm l, through the blocks o and m, to the
wires 1 or 5, and from thence to the corresponding coil d in the signalling
apparatus shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The soft iron core of the
particular electric coil d having been magnetized, will draw down the arma-
ture e above, and will thus raise the shuttor e, as has been already described.
In order to attract the attention of the steersman, an audible signal is made
by striking a bell E, Figures 2, and 3, at the same time that the shutter cover
one of the words of command is raised. This is effected by means of a separate
coil D, which is electrized bya battery, not shown in the Drawing. This coil D
is connected by suitable conducting wires G with the spring pieces /,,of all
the coils. The circuit from the coils d to the coil 1) and its battery is
broken at the spring pieces h, h; but when one of the armatures c is drawn.
down by its coil d, the arm g will be pushed back, and its rear end brought
into contact with the spring piece h, and the circuit thereby completed. 'T'he
electric current will then pass from the local battery through the coil D, and
magnetize its soft iron cores, and by so doing will cause them to attract the
armature g*, and thereby draw back the arm * and release a hammer, which,
by striking the bell E,will attract the attention of the steersman. Itwillbescen
that the spring pieces h,, of all the coils d are connected with each other aud
are arranged in a circuit, of which all the armatures e and arms g may form a
part, so that whenever thearing of either of the armatures is brought into con-
tact with its spring piece h, the circuit through the coil D will be completed
and the alarum apparatus thereby acted upon.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that the look-out
officer or commander may, by means of the commutator shewn in Figures 6
and 7, Sheet II., make the required signal to the steersman by simplymoving
the handle to the right or left, so as to bring it over either of the blocks n, m,
and thereby complete the circuit through either of the coils d,according to the
signal required to be made.
The look-out officer or commander having given the necessary instructions
to the steersman as to the course to be steered, the latter will be required to
signify in reply that he has received and understands the command. This he
does by means of a separate apparatus shewn in Sheet III. of the Drawings,
in which Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the apparatus,and Fig. S
is an end view.
a,a, is a box,in which is mounted a metal lever bon a central stud or pin

page_text: so that it may vibrate thereon. This lever is connected at each end with the
terminals or screw clamps 1, b', by means of wire conductors, which connect
the ends of this lever with the positive and negative poles of a battery, as shewn
in the Diagram, Fig. 9. The lever is also provided at each end with
wooden blocks or cushions c, c, which project through the front of the box a,
and are covered with leather or other yielding substance, and at the back of
the lever there are projectig metal blocks d. d. Immediately behind the
lever and opposite the metal blocks d, d, there is a metal spring bar e, e,
which is screwed or otherwise secured to the back of the box, and is in
metallic contact with the terminal or screw clampe, which by means of a con-
ducting wire communicates with the electric coil of a small vibrating needle
apparatus shewn in Figures 10, 11, and 12, which is placed in some convenient
position, so that the commander or look-out officer may see that his signals
have been seen and understood by the steersman. On the axle of the vibrating
needle of this apparatus is mounted a vibrating shutter s, Figures 10 and 12,
which is capable of moving on its centre in front of openings in the face plate
of the apparatus. These openings are fitted with colored glass, and a lamp u
is placed behind to shew a light through the glass. One of the cushions or
blocks c, in Figures Sand, represents "port," and the other "starboard," and
one of the openings of the apparatus, Figures 10 and 12, represents port,
and the other "starboard."
It will now be seen, on referring to the Diagram, Fig. 9, that one end of the
lever is connected with the positive pole of the battery, and the other end of
the lever with the negative pole; consequently by depressing the left-hand end
of the lever by means of the foot, the circuit will be completed by bringing
the block against the spring bar e. The electric current will then pass from
the battery in the direction of the arrows to the small signalling apparatus A,
shewn in detail in Figures 10, 11, and 12 (of which there may be one, two,
or more placed at different parts of the vessel.) The electro-magnet of this
signalling apparatus will cause the needle r, inside the coil, to be deflected to
the right or left as the case may be, and in so doing, to carry with it the
vi rating shutters, which is mounted on the same axis, and which, when
deflected to either side, will obstruct the rays of light that issue from one
of the openings t, corresponding to the end of the lever b (Fig. S) that has been
depressed.
If, on the contrary, the steersman places his foot on the other end of the
lever b, a different electric current will be set up, and will consequently deflect
the needle and shutter s in the opposite direction.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved construction of

page_text: battery which I propose to use in conjunction with the other part of my Inven
tion, but may also be employed for other purposes for which it may be appli-
cable. My improved battery is shewn at Figures 13, 14, and 15, in Sheet II.
Fig. 3 is an external view of the battery; Fig. 14, a longitudinal vertical
section; and Fig. 15, a cross section of the same. The battery consists of an
ebonite or vulcanite tube a, a, provided with air-tight end pieces b, b. Inside
this tube is a wooden roller c, round which are lapped two, three, or more
pieces of sheet zine d, d, and around these are wound coils of copper wire e, e.
At the ends of the roller care pieces of brass c', c', into which are screwed the
terminal or clamping screws f, f. It will be seen that one of the terminals o
clamps fis connected with the zinc or negative pole of the battery, and the
other terminal with the copper or positive pole. The copper coils are con-
nected as usual with the zinc of the adjoining series, and between the sheet
zinc and the coils of copper is placed a layer of sponge, paper, or fibrous sub-
stance g, see Fig. 15, that will hold water or other exciting liquid for some
time. In order to set this battery in action it will only be necessary to satu-
rate the sponge or other fibrous substance g between the zinc and copper with
the exciting liquid, and the battery will continue in action so long as the
moisture is retained, which will under ordinary circumstances be for about
forty-eight hours. The battery is connected by means of the terminal wires to
the electric coils of the apparatus above described, or with any other apparatus
to which it may be required to be adapted.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Meansofand
Apparatus for Indicating the Course to be Steered in Ships at Sea, and in
Galvanic Batteries to be used in some Cases therewith," and having explained
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured
to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid,―
First, the employment for the purpose herein set forth of moveable shutters
to cover openings fitted with glass or other transparent or translucent sub-
stance, and made in a case or box in which is placed a lamp or light, so
arranged that the rays therefrom are allowed to pass through the glasscovered
openings when the shutters are raised, by the agency of electro-magnetism or
cords and pullies, and thus any sigual, device, or word of command that may
be marked, painted, or impressed upon the glass will be rendered visible.
Second, I claim working these shutters by any suitable mechanical means,
or by the agency of electro-magnets, as herein set forth; I also claim the
arrangement of parts above described for raising the shutters and sounding
the alarum.
Third, I claim the apparatus shown at Figures 6 and 7, whereby the com-

page_text: mander or look-out officer may operate the signalling apparatus near the
steersinan.
Fourth, Iclaim the apparatus herein set forth for enabling the steersman to
make known to the commander of the vessel that he has seen and understood
the signals that have been made to him.
Fifth, I claim the mode herein set forth of constructing galvanic batteries
for the purposes aforesaid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Newton Gisborne, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
F. N. GISBORNE. (L.S.)