IMPROVED SIGNALIZING APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS, AND IMPROVED MECHANICAL CONTRIVANCES AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PURPOSES SPECIFIED
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Christopher Richard Norris Palmer
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th June 1859.
I, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Gravesend, in the County of
Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED SIGNALIZING APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS, AND IMPROVED MECHANICAL
CONTRIVANCES AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PURPOSES SPECIFIED," to be as
follows:-
An improved bell signal instrument. Fig. 1 (a) is a ship bell firmly fixed
in the metal frame (b); c) is one (or two) flat brass or steel springs, one end
fixed in a frame, the other projecting thro' the hammer or hammers; (d) is a
white metal or tinned rod working thro' the square guide holes (f. f.); g) is
a new and improved vulcan rubber air vessel, capable of elongating or rising
perpendicularly several inches or any length reguired, with a 1-inch vulcan
rubber tube at the foot, passing thro' the bracket (h) on which the vessel (9)
(or a white metal cylinder and piston) is seated. This tube will be conducted
from the engine room to the bridge and forecastle, at which points a vulcan
rubber hollow ball or air vessel will be attached, protected by metal case or
cases. Compression of either ball effects a bell signal in the engine room, or.
in two engine rooms by using duplicate bell apparatus.
I construct a perfect engine room and steering telegraph and give all the
signals, sounding or silent, now given by mechanical contrivances by the
above means, and by using and connecting several of the elongating vessels (g)

page_text: and tubes, and causing each to raise or project a printed rod or indicator
pointing on a dial plate working these vessels or indicators in connection with
an air whistle, or the above sounding instrument calling attention to the
signal rod, raised or projected, and kept in its raised position or not, as
required.
The air tubes will be bound or moulded together into one signal cable
coated with a spiral wire, or enclosed in one larger metal pipe about one inch
diameter, and the rubber vessels at each end will be enclosed in circular metal
cases or otherwise, as most convenient. The signal cable and indicators
hanging from the engine room roof, if required, fixed or on the swing.
I construct the above apparatus perfectly air-tight, or, if preferd, I use a
valve or minute air hole in the signalizing ball, so arranged as to close by
compression on working the signal.
My improved mechanical engine room telegraph will be very similar to
those in use, except that I remove the present bell from the instrument, and
also the strike movement, and work the dial and indicator mechanism distinct
and separate, and effect the "call," or "stand by" sounding signals by means
of one (or two) air whistles or bell apparatus, Fig. 1, worked thro' one air
tube, as described. Also effecting a return signal by one tube having my bell
signal apparatus or patent air whistle at each end.
For collision signals I fix the apparatus, Fig. 1, (or powerful alarums in
connexion with the air vessel (g)) in the engine roons, midships, and helm,
and discharge them simultaneously by one vulcan rubber or metal tube or
branches, with self-closing mouthpieces attached, hanging on the port and
starboard bows and bridge. I adopt the same contrivance on sailing vessels
for safety purposes; also for steering from the forecastle, placing a bell and
gong with or without the above elongating vessels, and colored indicator
rods, as may be required, to distinguish port and starboard signals. I also
steer by colored lights on the bridge in combination with a tube and sounding
signal apparatus fixed near the helmsman.
Improved passenger guard and driver telegraph.-I fix the bell apparatus,
Fig. 1, in each guard carriage, also the tube and self-closing mouthpiece
described. A inch metal tube will be fixed under or along each carriage,
connected by a double male and female joint of vulcan rubber (about one inch
outer diameter) protected by sheet metal with fastening or bayonet catch. A
tin tube, inch diameter (one to two inches) long, projects from the male
joint and closes air-tight with the female joint when not in use, and dis-
connected from any other carriage or similar joint opposite. By blowing into
either mouthpiece (or compressing an enlarged vulcan air vessel (9)), each

page_text: guard or passenger may signal all other guards on the train. Also the driver
if required, by fixing Fig. 1 on the tender or engine.
My improved mechanical means of communicating is as follows :-I
suspend a light iron tube, about one inch diameter, by a loose rod or chain
under each carriage along the rail centre, at a certain fixed and measured
heeghth from the rail. A light but strong galvanized iron wire link chain will
run thro' these tubes from the rear of the train to tail of the tender, connected
between carriages by galvanized tinned iron links or swivel joints, and working
over one or more tind iron pulleys in each guard carriage. At the tail of the
tender I fix an upright metal rod or lever, turning back or forwards on a pin
or swivel, the lower end of the rod being exactly the same measured heigth
from the rail as the pendant iron tube described. The wire chain (or other
efficient signal line) links to the lower end of this rod of lever, and being
pulled by either guard, the upper end or knob will compress a stout vulcan
rubber air vessel (covered or protected by metal flange or box) connected by
4-inch pipe with an air whistle, or above sounding instrument, Fig. 1, & thus
or by ordinary mechanical contrivances, effect any kind of signal required.
Improvements in omnibus and carriage telegraph consist chiefly in making
T pieces and joints (also for ships) of vulcan rubber, and substituting rubber
tubing for metal; also constructing improved and more pliable air vessels with
a flange, and of a shape capable of discharging a greater quantity of air thro
whistle piece by a slighter and slower compression by passengers; applicable
to houses, buildings, ships, &c.
I propose to work the elongating air vessels (g) and the mechanism, Fig. 1,
on the vacuum principle; also as well as by wires or mechanical means; also
to adapt the frame and mechanism, Fig. 1, as an improvement on strike bells
or call bells and table bells now in use in houses, offices, & shops; and also
for working alarums or detonating signals for any purpose whatever, both self-
acting and otherwise.