Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling by Daylight, especially Adapted for Ships' Use.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Signalling by Daylight, especially
Adapted for Ships' Use.
Cominunicated from abroad. by the "GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY," of
Schenectady, State of New York, United States of America.
I, JOSEPH CRAWHALL CHAPMAN, Chartered Patent Agent, of 70 Chancery
Lane, London, 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 :-
The object I have in view is to produce a system and apparatus for complete
signalling by daylight, in accordance with a preconcerted code, especially adapted
for ships' use, which system and apparatus will be simple and effective in con-
struction and operation, and will meet all the conditions of practical use. A system
is already in practical use for night signalling consisting of four pairs of red and
white electric lamps, operated by a key-board, and forming by the numerous
permutations made possible by the arrangement, the various signals of a preconcerted
code.
It is my object to produce a daylight signalling syetem, which will be equally
effective and certain, a thing which has not heretofore been accomplished.
In carrying out my invention, I mount aloft in suitable positions, upon a mast
or yard-arm, a number of objects such as semaphore arme. I may use eight of
these arms, arranged in four pairs, each pair, being capable of being raised
from a vertical or substantially invisible position, close in to the mast, to either
one of two or more angular positions with regard to the supporting mast, such as
a position of 45 degrees and a position of 90 degrees, thus giving each pair of
semaphore arms two or more signalling positions. For this purpose I employ
for each pair of semaphore arms two or more solenoids or eleotric motors, one
capable of moving a pair of semaphore arms to 45 degrees, and the other to
90 degrees, etc., which solenoids or electric motors are controlled by a suitable
keyboard or transmitter. In order that the semaphore arms may be seen from
any position, I prefer to employ one set of arms operating in a plane parallel
with the keel of the ship, and another set of arms operating in a plane perpen-
dicular to the keel of the ship. The arms are moved together in pairs, so that
the arms parallel with the keel are moved simultaneously and to the same extent
as the arms perpendicular to the keel.
In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof,
Figure 1 is an olevation showing four sets of semaphore arms mounted in position
on a mast;
Figure 2 is a top view showing one set of semaphore arms and their actuating
solenoids;
Figure 3 is a view largely in diagram; illustrating the method of operating the
semaphores from a keyboard.
Fig. 4 shows in some detail a double solenoid and its dash pot or air cushion.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, A, B, C, D, are four semaphore arms mounted
upon the mast E, and A, B, C, D are four similar semaphore arms mounted

page_text: upon the mast and operating in a plane perpendicular to that in which the sema-
phores A, B, C, D, operate. Each pair of semaphore arms is pivoted on a suitable
band F, secured to the mast, and the arms of each pair are moved simultaneously
through the same angle. G, H are two solenoids whose cores are both connected.
by cords or otherwise with both shafts of a pair of semaphore arms so as to
operate such shafts when energized. The core of the solenoid G, has a movement
twice as great as the core of the soleuoid H, so that when the solenoid H is
energized, the semaphores will be raised from a vertical position to a position of
45 degrees, and when the solenoid G is energized, the semaphores will be raised
to an angle of 90 degrees. The semaphore arms are balanced so as to be operated
with the minimum power, but still overweighted so that when released by the
solenoide, they will resume a vertical position close to or against the mast.
In Figure 3, the solenoids G, H are shown as arranged together as one double
solenoid and acting upon the same core, that is, when only the upper coil is
energized, the core is sucked down about half way, and when both coils are
energized; the core is sucked down all the way. This construction may be employed
in practice: In Fig. 3, I is the dynamo or other source of electrical energy, and
Kis the keyboard. Though not shown, a relay may be introduced into the circuit
should such a device be advantageous to operate the signals with the available
electrical power. Separate wires, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, lead from the keyboard to the
eight solenoids, or coils, or their relays from which a return wire 9 extends to one
pole of the dynamo I from the other pole of which the wire 10 extends to the
keyboard. The keyboard illustrated is that employed in the present system of
night signalling in the United States Navy, the circuiting being the same as that
employed with the electric lights of that system. As will be understood, the
movement of the lever L of the switch to any letter of the keyboard, and the
movement of the key on the end of that lever, will close such a combination of
circuits as will move the semaphore arms to the proper positions to indicate that
letter.
It will be understood that in the ordinary naval code, the letters are made by
permutations of lights, for instance the digits 2, 1, 1, 2 may be the letter A, etc.
In all forms of my system as illustrated, the movements or positions of the
different shapes will form the necessary combinations of digits. In Figures 1 &.3
the position of the different arms indicates (counting from the top) 1, 2, 1, which
may be the letter B for instance.
The two arms of each pair of semaphores may be pivoted on the same band
on the mast, as shown in Fig. 1. In order that these arms may swing together
into a horizontal position without interfering with each other. they are shown as
pivoted near the edge, and with notches N cut in each to admit the edge of the
other arm. When these notches N engage with each other, that pair of semaphore
arms is thus locked, so that each arm prevents the other from rising beyond
90 degrees..
The reason for pivoting the semaphore arms near the middle of their length is
to balance them' against the pressure of the wind.
Instead of using a keyboard of the form shown in Figure 3, I may use a key-
board in which the moving arm L is omitted, and in which separate keys are used
to close the circuits for.the different combinations of solenoids. If this keyboard
is used, I find it preferable to interpose relays between the keys and their respec-
tive solenoids, in order that the currents broken by the keys may be small. In
practice, I prefer to place such relays near the solenoids or even on them. The
keyboard may be put in a protected place even below the water line, thus assuring
the safety of the operator in battle.
In order that the movements of the semaphore arms may not be violent but
smooth, 1 attach to each solenoid core a suitable dash pot. I find that a very
effective one is made by adding a simple air chamber to each solenoid with a
piston P connected to the solenoid core, as shown in Figure 4. The solenoids may
be placed at the foot of the mast, as where most convenient.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
from abroad, I declare that what I claim is :
1. A system of day signaling, wherein are combined two or more independently
movable shapes, separate electromotive devices for moving such shapes independently,
a source of electrical energy and a manually operated keyboard or transmitter
whereby such shapes can be moved in accordance with a preconcerted code,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a system of day signaling, the combination with a common support of two
or more shapes adapted to be independently moved into different positions with
relation to said support, electromotive devices for moving such shapes inde-
pendently, a source of electrical energy and a manually operated keyboard or
transmitter, whereby such shapes can be moved in accordance with a preconcerted
code, substantially set forth..
3. In a system of day signalling, the combination of two or more similarly shaped
objects independently rotatable upon their support, so as to occupy two or more
different angular positions with relation thereto, separate electromotive devices for
moving said. objects independently to said two or more different angular positions,
a source of electrical energy and a manually operated keyboard or transmitter
for controlling said electromotive devices in accordance with the signals of a
preconcerted code, substantially as set forth.
4. In a system of day signaling, the combination of two or more semaphore
arms, electromotive devices moving said semaphore arms independently, a source of
electrical energy and a manually operated keyboard or transmitter for controlling
said electromotive devices, in accordance with a preconcerted code, substantially as
Bet forth.
5. In a system of day signaling, the combination of two or more semaphore arms,
electromotive devices adapted to move each of said semaphore arms independently
into two or more angular positions, a source of electrical energy, and a manually
operated keyboard or transmitter for controlling said electromotive devices in
nccordance with a preconcerted code, substantially as set forth.
6. In a system of day signaling, the combination of pairs of semaphore arms
or similar objects, the arms of each pair working together in the same horizontal
plane and having a position perpendicular to each other, substantially as set
forth.
7. In a system of day signaling, the combination with two or more pairs of
semaphore arms, the arms of each pair working together in planes perpendicular to
each other, two electromotive devices for each pair of arms, capable of moving
Buch arms to two different angular positions, a source of electrical energy and a
manually operated keyboard or transmitter for controlling such electromotive
devices in accordance with a preconcerted code, substantially as set forth.
8. In a system of day signaling, the combinations with a common support, of
two or more shapes visible from all points of a horizontal plane approximately on
the same level with the shapes, and adapted to be independently moved to
different positions with relation to said support, electromotive devices for moving
the said shapes independently, a source of electrical energy, and a keyboard or
transmitter whereby said shapes can be moved in accordance with a preconcerted
code, substantially as set forth.
9. In a system of day signaling, the combination of two or more similarly
shaped objects, independently rotatable on their support so as to occupy two or
more different angular positions with relation thereto, such objects being visible
from all points of the horizon, separate electromotive devices for moving said
objects independently to said two or more different angular positions, a source of
electrical energy, and a keyboard or transmitter for controlling said electromotive
devices in accordance with the signals of preconcerted code substantially as set
forth.

page_text: 10. In a system of day signaling, the combination with two or more semaphore
arms, such semaphore arms being capable of being made visible from all points of
the horizon, electromotive devices moving said semaphore arms independently,
a source of electrical energy, and a keyboard or transmitter for controlling said
electromotive devices in accordance with a preconcerted code, substantially as set
forth.
11. In a system of day signaling, the combination of two or more semaphore
arms, capable of being made visible from all points of the horizon, electromotive
devices adapted to move each of said semapliore arms independently into two or
more angular positions, a source of electrical energy, and a key board or transmitter
for controlling said electromotive devices, with a preconcerted code, substantially
ns set forth.
12. In a system of day signaling, the combination of pairs of semaphore arms.or
similar objects, such arms being adapted to be made visible from all points of the
horizon, the arms of each pair working together and having a position perpendicular
to each other, substantially as set forth.
Datoil this 24th.dow of December 1806
J. C., CHAPMAN;
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.