IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANS- MITTING AND RECEIVING SIGNALS ON SHIPS AND VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER PUD DOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Ricardo Francis, of No. 52, Hatton Garden, and
Oxford House, Lawford Road, both in the County of Middlesex, Telegraph
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANS-
MITTING AND RECEIVING SIGNALS ON SHIPS AND VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER
PUD DOSES "
Sealed the 16th April 1880 in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
001 Ontoba 3070
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Ricardo Francis at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1879.
FRANK RICARDO FRANCIS, of No. 52, Hatton Garden, and Oxford House,
Lawford Road, both in the County of Middlesex, Telegraph Engineer. « IMPROVE
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING SIGNALS ON SHIPS AND
VESSELS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention of improvements in apparatus for transmitting and receiving
signals on ships and vessels, and for other purposes, consists in the combination and
arrangement of an instrument containing a series of commutators or transmitting
keys, in number corresponding to the signals employed in connection with insulated
copper wires for communication between the officer on deck, and the helmsman and
engineer in charge of the engines, and arranged so that each key or commutator is
capable of producing one signal only, and that each key when depressed causes the
transmission of either a positive or negative current, and thereby giving instantly
and by means of electricity orders and instructions for the navigation of the ship
or or vessel; and receiving replies and acknowledgements of such orders and
instructions. In connection with the before mentioned insulated copper wires
I employ a voltaic battery, arranged so as to convey currents of electricity to and
from other instruments in wheelhouse and engine room, consisting of vertical
galvanometers, on the dials of which are indicating needles or pointers, which by
the passage of electric currents along the insulated copper wires are caused to
deflect in different directions, and to indicate by pointing to certain written words
the signals so transmitted by the officer in charge. Thus, if "full speed a head" be
n

page_text: be given as an order to the engineer, the corresponding needle or pointer of the
instrument in the engine room deflects, and points to the words "full speed a head,"
and if the signal "hard starboard" be transmitted to the helmsman, the corre-
sponding needle or pointer of the instrument in wheelhouse deflects or points to
the words "
hard starboard," and similarly with other signals transmitted. For
arresting the attention of the engineer or helmsman to the indicating instruments,
I employ a bell or gong in each instance which is caused to ring by the passage of
a current of electricity through insulated copper wires previously to the required
signal being given. And for acknowledging the signal or order transmitted
I employ another bell or gong in connection with the transmitting instrument on
deck, and insulated copper wires which is also caused to ring by the engineer or
helmsman, by the depression of a key or commutator attached to the said
indicating instruments. For preventing the deflection of any needle or pointer
through or by the rolling or pitching of the ship or vessel at sea, I employ two
resisting springs fitted horizontally at the back of the galvanometers, and caused to
press against the bottom or north ends of the magnetic needles, and strong enough
to prevent any movement of such needles other than that caused by the passage
of a current of electricity. For night service, and to enable the officer in charge
to transmit signals correctly, I employ a segmental spherical dome at the top of the
transmitting instrument on deck, in which are inserted two lenses having inscribed
on their surfaces corresponding words to the signals represented by the trans-
mitting keys or commutators immediately under such lenses, and in the centre of
the dome I place a lamp for illuminating the interior of the dome.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Ricardo Francis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
April 1880.
FRANK RICARDO FRANCIS, of No. 52, Hatton Garden, and Oxford House, Lawford
Road, both in the County of Middlesex, Telegraph Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING SIGNALS ON SHIPS AND VESSELS,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for Transmitting and Receiving
Signals on Ships and Vessels, and for other Purposes," consists in the combination
and arrangement of an instrument containing a series of commutators or trans-
mitting keys corresponding to the number of signals required to be employed, and
other instruments hereinafter described. And in order that my Invention may be
properly understood and if desired carried into practical effect, I will now proceed to
describe the same more particularly, reference being had to the accompanying three
Sheets of Drawings, and to the Figures and letters of reference marked thereon,
that is to say-Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an elevation
showing one modification or arrangement of my improved transmitting instrument
for communicating instantaneous, audible, and visual signals; Fig. 2 is a vertical
section of the instrument taken on the line A, B, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a horizontal section.
taken on the line C, D, Fig. 2, to show the internal arrangement of the trans-
mitting portion of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a plan shewing the exterior of the cap
or upper portion of the instrument, as seen in Fig. 1; both these Figures are drawn
to a scale double the size of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a side view and plan of one of the
transmitting keys drawn to the full size. The instrument as arranged in this
example consists of a column or pillar A, formed either of metal, wood, or other
suitable material, which is fastened securely to the deck by means of bolts passing
through the Hange of the base. The pillar A has a tubular channel B formed
throughout its length to admit of the wires C and C₁, which are in connection with
the exciting battery passing through the pillar to the transmitting keys. The
upper part of the pillar A is hollowed out, as shown at D, Fig. 2, so as to form a
cavity in which the main portion of the transmitting apparatus is arranged. The
wires C and C extend from the positive and negative elements of the actuating
battery, and these are carried up through the pillar A to the terminals E. These
terminals are in turn connected by means of insulated wires with the series of
operating keys E, the exact form and arrangement of which are shewn in Fig. 6.
Each key consists of a metal bar G arranged somewhat similar to the key of a
pianoforte, it is pivotted upon a stud piece H, and in its normal position is kept
pressed upwards by a spring I secured to the back of the stud piece H. In this
position the inner end of the key rests upon the small stump K. The outer end of
each key extends through a slot formed in the pillar A, and terminates in a thumb
plate having engraved upon its face the word or words of the signal required to be
given, as shewn in the example Fig. 6. The wire communicating with one pole of
the battery is secured under the screw of the spring I, while the wire from the
other pole is in metallic connection with the stud L, which is arranged immediately
beneath the key G. The stud is by. preference capped with platinum to avoid
oxidation. Upon depressing the key the electric circuit is completed, and this
conveys the signal to the receiving Instrument hereinafter described. The keys are
arranged round each side of the instrument, as shewn in the plan Fig. 4, one half
of them being arranged for giving the signals for going "ahead," and the other
portion for "astern," thus there are four signalling keys on each side. The central
key "M" is marked with the letter "B," and when depressed it causes the electric
current to flow through an electro-magnet and strike a bell arranged in the
receiving instrument; this gives the engineer or other person in charge intimation

page_text: that a signal is about to be sent to him. The instrument on deck is also fitted
with an electro magnetic bell arrangement, this is in order that the officer in
charge may receive an acknowledgement of his signal from the engineer below.
An ordinary electro magnetic coil N is fitted within a convenient part of the
cavity D, and the wires from the instrument in the engine room are put in
connection with it. Upon the current passing through the coil N, the armature
carrying the hammer head "O" is attracted thereto, and strikes the bell P
giving an audible signal on deck to indicate that the order has been received. The
upper part of the instrument A terminates in a metal dome Q which has curved
slots cut in it, as shown in the plan Fig. 4; in these openings correspondingly curved
plates of glass R are inserted, and they are marked with words the same as on the
keys F. The glass plates are made with white letters upon a tinted ground so that
the words may be as distinct as possible when light is transmitted through them.
An aperture is left in the centre of the dome Q in which a lamp S is inserted.
The lamp is made with a small glass well similar to a cabin or railway lamp, and
thus prevent any oil dropping into the interior of the instrument. By this means
of illumination the signals are as easily transmitted at night as during the day
time. In some cases it may be preferred to fit the lamp at the side of the instru-
ment, and thus throw its rays in a lateral direction, and where extra illumination
may be found desirable, two or more lamps may be employed for that purpose.
I have referred to the officer in charge of the deck instrument receiving an audible
signal through the bell P; the signal is transmitted by means of what I term a
"recording instrument," and it forms a part of the receiving apparatus; it is shown
in front view in Fig. 5. It consists of a mahogany or other suitable base T grooved
at the back to receive the two wires from the bell in the transmitting instrument
Fig. 1, Sheet 1. The front of this recording instrument has a metal dial plate U
with the signals engraved thereon, as shewn. A circular slot is cut in the dial plate.
in which the hand lever V traverses. Upon receiving the signal the engineer or other
person in charge at once executes the order, and having done so he then moves the
lever V round to the segment marked with the word of the signal sent, this rings the
bell in the transmitting instrument and that indicates that the order has been
received and attended to. The lever is left opposite the word showing the signal last
sent and remains there until another signal is sent, thus serving as a recording
instrument in connection with the receiving instrument, in character similar to an
ordinary billiard marker. I may here observe that the pillar of the deck instru-
ment is in some cases dispensed with as in small vessels, and the whole is contained
within a shallow box either with or without the illuminating lamp. This trans-
mitting instrument may be further varied in form to admit of its being applied to
the transmission of signals for other purposes than on board ships. Thus it may be
applied for transmitting signals in coal pits and be very readily adapted for
conveying such signals to the remotest part of the workings, and in this way
signals may be given to and fro and thus facilitate the working of the pit, and
at the same time may tend to increase its security. The same general arrangement
of the apparatus is applicable to railways, mines, quarries, and in tunelling, also
to mills, factories, and other large buildings where an instantaneons and reliable
system of signalling is desirable. I will now proceed to describe the construction
of the receiving instrument as delineated on Sheet 2 of the accompanying
Drawings; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the instrument; Fig. 8 is a back view of
the same, and Fig. 9 a side view to show the internal arrangement. The casing a
is of wood, metal, or other suitable material; it is made in two parts, back and front,
and fastened by screws at b so as to afford ready means of access to inspect the
interior. The front portion of the frame has four rectangular openings through
which are seen the needle plates c each carrying a swinging needle or pointer d;
each pointer is pivotted to the small bridge piece e, and the upper free end of is
limited in its lateral traverse by the pins f which are placed just below the signal
words corresponding to those arranged around the dome of the transmitting
instrument, and above these words are the engraved plates "astern," "ahead," to
.

page_text: "
""
indicate the direction in which the officer desires the engines to be moved. With
respect to the internal arrangement of the instrument the whole construction may
be readily followed out upon examination of Figures 8 and 9 on Sheet 2, and of
Fig. 10 on Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings, the latter Figure being a front
elevation of the instrument corresponding to Figure 7, Sheet 2, but with a portion
of the front part of the case broken away to show more clearly the arrangement of
the several connections and of the bell. The four terminals g to the right and left
of the instrument are connected by means of branch wires to the terminals of the
main circuit wires C and C, Fig. 1, which are in connection with the battery.
These four terminals correspond to the four signals "stop," "slow," "half," "full,"
arranged under the respective divisions "astern," ahead," and each terminal is thus
in connection with the corresponding key of the deck instrument. The electric
current is conveyed by the insulated wires h, which form a part of the electro-
magnetic coils i; these coils are of the ordinary kind used in electro-magnetic
instruments. The coils are attached by brackets to the back horizontal bar k,
which is supported by small pillars projecting from the front plates c. The vertical
magnet of each coil is carried upon an arbor 7 that extends through the bark and
is pivotted to the adjusting screw m in the supporting bracket n. The front end
of the arbor extends through the front plate c and carries the needle
pointer which points to the required signal as given from the deck instrument.
Thus when the key marked "slow" of the "astern" side of the transmitting
instrument is, depressed the corresponding pointer on the receiving instrument
will be deflected to the right pointing to the word, and when the key "stop" is
depressed the pointer will be thrown over to the left pointing to the word
stop;" a like movement of the several pointers takes place throughout the
series of signals. For giving the audible signal from the key marked B of the deck
or transmitting instrument, the receiving instrument is furnished with an electro-
magnetic bell or gong. The ordinary magneto coil is shown at o, and the two wires
from the main circuit are connected up to the two terminals p adjacent to the coil.
The two wires from the coil are connected to the base plate of the terminals, as
clearly shown in Fig. 10,-Sheet 3. The bell or gong q is by preference suspended
below the case a, but it may be placed in any other convenient part; the arrange-
ment of the armature and hammer r is of the usual kind, and is sufficiently explained
by the Drawing Fig. 10. In order to prevent the deflection of the pointers by the
rolling of the vessel I employ the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 on Sheet 2. The
arbor of each pointer carries at its inner end a small curved pendant piece of
metal 8, which oscillates freely with the motion of the magnet. The free ends of
the pendant curve 8 are pressed upon by two delicate springs t, which extend
laterally or vertically on each side of the pendant 8. These springs although very
delicate in their pressure are sufficient to prevent any motion of the pointers in
their normal state or from the rolling of the ship, but they do not impede to any
appreciable extent their motion when the current is put on. From this it will be
seen that this mechanical arrangement effectually provides against any disturbance
of the pointers whether on ship board or in other places where the instrument
might be subjected to motion; and although I have described the instrument
as having four pointers specially adapted for ships' signals, it is obvious that
the number and arrangement of the pointers as well as the indicating words
may be varied according to the particular use for which the instrument may be
required. In cases where it is more convenient to give the audible or bell signal
by the pressure of the foot in place of a key, I use the deck or floor arrangement
shown in Figs. 11, 12, and 13, on Sheet 3, of the accompanying Drawings. It
consists of a foot presser or "push," and is generally similar to those used for
making metallic contact in electric bell work; Fig. 11 is a plan; Fig. 12 is a
vertical section, and 13, a plan of the foot push; all these Figures are drawn to a
full size scale. It consists of a case u, by preference of metal, this is covered by the
cap which is screwed to the case u. In the centre of the cap v there is a button w
which rests upon the spiral spring ✗, the centre and free extremity of which is over

page_text: the lower metallic contact y, the circuit wires being respectively connected to the
two metallic parts x and y. Upon pressing the button w with the foot the spring x
is brought into contact with the lower part y, and the bell is sounded. Such an
arrangement may be used for giving code signals, that is to say, that a given
number of strokes more or less prolonged shall indicate a certain definite order.
With regard to the electric battery used with these improvements, I do not confine
myself to any particular form or variety of battery as these may be varied to an
almost infinite extent. It is, however, highly important that for sea going purposes
the battery should be constant and capable of sustaining its power for a lengthened
period of time. Hitherto I have found the chloride of ammonium or sal ammoniac
battery known as the "Leclanché" to answer the purpose the best, but I do not
by any means confine myself thereto. An external view of such a battery is shown
in Fig. 14, the glass or other cells containing the elements are hermetically sealed
and arranged in a stout teak case to withstand rough usage and effectually protect
the contents. The wires of the electric circuit proceed from the terminals z, as is
well understood and needs no further description.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same may, if desired, be carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that do not confine myself to the precise
arrangement of the several mechanical details I have hereinbefore had occasion to
describe and refer to in the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied to
some extent without departing from the essential and distinguishing features of my
improvements, but what I beleive to be novel and therefore claim is,-
The general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts forming the
apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals on ships and vessels and for other
purposes, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Ricardo Francis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year One thousand
aight hundred and night
Witness,
C. S. JOHNS,
Agent.
F. R. FRANCIS. (L.S.)