Improvements Connected with Marine Signalling and in Lamps or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements Connected with Marine Signalling and in Lamps or
Apparatus therefor.
1, JOSEPH WALL, of 13, Claremont Road, Seaforth, in the County of Lancaster,
Master Mariner, 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 relates to marine night signals and lanterns for giving such signals.
The code used and according to my invention is a system of short and long bright or
coloured flashes of light, arranged to correspond with the "Ball, Pennant, and Flag,"
as now used and set forth in the "International Commercial Code Book," and with
Semaphone Signals," as now used. The means according to my invention for
giving the said short and long flashes of light in signalling, is a lantern, constructed
as hereafter more particularly described, with a holophotal lense and a shutter or
screen for exposing, or shutting off the light, as required.
The following is a description of my invention, reference being had to the annexed
drawings and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, like letters and
figures being used to denote the same or like parts throughout the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a lantern according to my invention, adapted to exhibit
the said flash signals.
Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a plan of the lantern shown at Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan of the lantern, taken at xx
Figure 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement of screen.
Figure 5 illustrates a dark shade to be applied to a portion of the lense.
Figure 6 is a plan of the shade shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 illustrates the "Ball, Pennant and Flag" the "Semaphore," and the
short and long flashes of light, which according to my invention, I use to correspond
with the said "Ball, Pennant and Flag," and semaphore signals.
Figure 8 illustrates symbols which may be used for the night code according to
my invention.
According to my invention I use a short bright flash to indicate and correspond
with the same letter or symbol, as that for which the "Ball" in the international
Code, or the horizontal arm in the semaphore signal, is used; I use a long bright
flash to correspond with the "Pennant," and the turned down arm in the semaphore
and I use a short bright flash and a long bright flash to correspond with the "Flag,"
and the turned up arm in the semaphore. These are illustrated in the comparative
diagram, Figure 7, in which A shows the Ball, Pennant and Flag; B the semaphore ;
and C the Flashes (represented by dashes), according to my invention, corresponding
therewith. The length of the dashes and their distances apart indicate intervals of
time, which may be one second for the short flash, three seconds for the long flash,
and three seconds for the intervals between flashes, the third sign being one second
dash, one second interval, and three seconds flash.
A lantern for the purpose of signalling by time flashes of light as above described,
and according to my invention, consists (reference to Figures 1 to 6) of an upper
casing or chamber of metal, a, with a chimney a¹; heat deflectors a², and a handle b
on the top of the casing; a lower casing of metal c; a holophotal lense d, preferably
of dioptric construction, set and held between the casings a and c, the casings being
connected and held together by the stays e, these being of tubular form and act as
ucts for air or the products of combustion from the upper to the lower casing.
The upper casing has a sight hole or window f, and a direction or code plate g, the

page_text: latter being inside the casing, and illuminated by the lamp. Inside the lantern there
is provided an opaque cylindrical screen h; this screen runs on guide rods h¹, and is
connected to and worked by a forked lever i, worked by a lever ¹, to which it is
connected by a rod ², carried in a case 3 on the front of the lantern, the lever being
set in the handle 62. Under the lever ¹ there is a bell or gong, which is sounded
each time the lever i¹ is worked, and a complete flash given. is the lamp which
fits into the lower casing c and is removable therefrom. The lamp k is provided with
an air supply chamber and a central air duct k². The lamp wick is fed and adjusted
by the vertical rod k³, and crosshead k, which passes up the central duct k², and
the wick is secured to the crosshead by a loose pin 45, which is inserted through a
hole in the burner, and which will feed a given length of wick on moving up the
rod 3. The burner is screwed onto the lamp oil vessel. Inside the lantern round
the lamp there is a coned plate m which serves to lead the heated air and products of
combustion from the chamber a, by the tubes e, to the chamber c and so on to the
burner. The bottom of the lamp is provided with segmental flange pieces n which
take over segmental flange pieces c¹, on the lower part of the casing c, and are
secured by set screws n', and thus attach the lamp k to the casing c.
For urgent signalling, when a vessel is in peril at sea, the lantern is used as
illustrated at Figures 1 or 4, so that the lense will show the light all round to all
points of the horizon simultaneously but for general signalling between vessels at
sea, or stations on land, I provide a removable opaque screen p (see Figures 5 and 6),
which is made to cover a portion of the lense and fit the contour of the lense; by
this screen the light can be directed and concentrated to one point. The screen also
acts as a reflector.
For Signalling, the lantern may be held in the hand of the user with its operating
lever for exposing and eclipsing the light directly under the thumb of the hand
which carries the lantern.
When the signals are desired to be given from an elevated position, such as a yard
or gaff end, the lever i is worked by a line from beneath; such a means of working
is shown in Figure 1, in which the lantern is hung from a gaff end, and by the line 9,
and the lever is worked by the line r. The lantern is shown in the drawings
provided with an oil lamp, but I would have it understood that if desired compressed
gas, or an electric lamp, or other light may be used. In these cases the gas supply or
the electric current is controlled from the lever i'. In connection with the lever 2¹
there may also be provided a register, counter, or index of any known kind, by
which the working of the lantern may be checked or recorded.
In Figure 4 the lantern is shown provided with an opaque cylindrical screen h²,
outside the lense. This screen is arranged to slide on the rods e, and can be used as
an emergency screen, should the working parts of the screen h get out of order; the
screen is worked by lines h³ connected to the line r, the liner being also connected
to the lever ¹, so that the gong ; may be sounded.
Figure 8 shows a code of symbols which I have arranged to be used in signalling;
they correspond with the Ball, Pennant and Flag. The key to the code is the
attention sign, which must always be shown first.
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. In a lantern for signalling, the combination of a holophotal lense, with a
cylindrical screen for exposing and eclipsing the light, adapted to be operated for the
purposes set forth.
2. In a lantern for signalling, the combination of a holophotal lense, with a
cylindrical screen for exposing and eclipsing the light, the gear or mechanism for
operating such screen, and the handle of the lamp, whereby the said shutter can be
operated when the lantern is being carried in suspension, as, or substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
3. In a lantern of the type herein described, the gear or device for operating the

page_text: screen thereof, such gear or device being disposed and arranged mainly in a casing
outside the lamp; substantially as set forth.
4. A lantern of the type herein described, composed of an upper portion, a
holophotal lense, and a lower portion, said upper and lower portions being connected
together by tubes adapted to conduct fluid from one portion to the other.
5. In a lantern of the type herein described, the combination of a bell or gong
adapted to be sounded when the light of the lamp is exposed or eclipsed.
6. The construction by which heated air or products of combustion from the upper
portion or chamber of the lamp is or are introduced to the burner of the lantern
thereof; substantially as set forth.
7. In a lantern of the type herein specified, the lamp wick adjusting device herein
described, or its equivalent, arranged in the centre of the lamp, whereby facility for
adjustment and security against derangement are afforded; substantially as set forth.
8. The lamp wick adjusting device, consisting of the adjustable rod k³, crosshead k*,
and movable pin ks, all arranged and operating as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a lantern having a holophotal lense, the employment of a removable shade
adapted to partially cover the lense, for the purposes set forth.
10. A signal code diagram, sheet, or plate, or the like, comprising a system of
dashes and spaces, such dashes and spaces being of defined length, and a plurality of
same being used to denote letters, figures, or words, and arranged and adapted to
correspond with the Ball, Pennant and Flag code of the International day distant
signals, such code to be used in connection with a signal lantern, lamp, or a plurality
of same, constructed or adapted to transmit flashes of light interspaced with periods
of darkness.
11. The signal code card, comprising dashes and spaces arranged to correspond
with the Ball, Pennant and Flag of the International day distant signals, or a
semaphore signal, arranged and compiled as described, and as illustrated in Figure 8
of the drawings hereto annexed.
12. In a lantern of the type herein described, the combination of a code plate
placed inside the lantern and illuminated by the lamp thereof, and a window for
observing and reading off the signals; substantially as set forth.
13. In a lantern of the type herein described, having a holophotal lense, a provisional
screen for temporary use, substantially as set forth.
14. The particular arrangement, combination and construction of parts of the
lamp as a whole, as set forth with reference to Figures 1. 2. and 3 of the drawings.
Dated thin 14th dose of Ma. 1900
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents.