IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALS. APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Thorn, of 70, Cumberland Street, Pimlico, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SIGNALS. APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 23rd October 1860, and dated the 27th April 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Thorn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th April
1860.
I. PETER THORN. of 70, Cumberland Street, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SIGNALS. APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention has relation to that class of signals which operate by sound,
as bells, gongs, and the like, and consists in attaching to a bell or gong or
such like sounding instrument an indicating apparatus. which is released by
the action of the hammer, when it strikes the bell or gong, and simultaneously
with the signal, exposes an index as a cypher, number, or symbol of the
exhibition, of which it also gives notification, thereby directing the attention of
the individuals for whom the communications are intended to the place or
object desired, the replacement of the index simultaneously restoring the
apparatus to its original state, placing it in a condition for repeating the com-
munication. and giving notice that it has been attended to. The movement of
the hammer (which in most instances is distant from the person making the
communication) may be effected by any of the well-known means employed
for communicating between two distant places, as air (either by compression

page_text: omestic
or exhaustion) or water, in suitable tubes or by wires connecting the extreme
points of the entire apparatus. By these means I produce for the use of
houses generally, railways, ships, &c., a more perfect system of communication
than heretofore employed for such and similar purposes combining the signal
and indication in one operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Thorn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th October 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
THORN, of 70, Cumberland Street, Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reigns did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Peter Thorn, Her special licence that I, the said Peter Thorn,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said l'eter
Thorn, 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 "IMPROVEMENT IN
SIGNALS, APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC AND OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said Peter Thorn, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said luvention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Oflice within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Thorn. do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention. and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
This Invention has relation to that class of signals which operate by sound,
as bells, gongs, and the like, and consists in attaching to a bell or gong, or

page_text: such like sounding instrument, an indicating apparatus, which is released by
the action of the hammer, when it strikes the bell or gong, and simultaneously
with the signal exposes an index, as a cypher, number, or symbol of the
exhibition of which it gives notification, thereby directing the attention of the
individual for whom the communications are intended, to the place or object
desired, the replacement of the index simultaneously restoring the apparatus to
its original state, placing it in a condition for repeating the communication,
and giving notice that it has been attended to. The movement of the hammer
(which in most cases is distant from the person making the communication)
may be effected by any of the well-known means for communicating between
two distant places, as air (either by compression or exhaustion) or water in
suitable tubes, or by wires, connecting the extreme points of the entire appa-
ratus. By these means I produce for the use of houses generally, railways,
ships, and for all purposes where communication is required between distant
points, a more perfect system than heretofore employed for similar purposes,
combining the signal and indication or indications in one operation.
As the mode of application of this Invention to the many purposes for which
it is suitable may probably vary in every case to which it may be adapted, as
far as regards the means by which the extreme portions of the apparatus are
connected, it will be sufficient to describe the actuating and indicating portions
of it, as these may be connected by wires and cranks or tubes, containing air,
water, or other convenient medium for conveying the motion of the pull to
the bell or gong which gives the signal, and at the same time exhibits a
symbol as a figure or other cypher to indicate from what source the signal
proceeds.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The Drawing shows a section, elevation, and plan of the apparatus, the
communicating tube being broken off for the convenience of the Drawing.
A is a case or box of wood or metal let into or fixed to a wall or other
support B; C, a cylinder or other chamber, in which a piston D. or any
substitute therefor as a diaphragm of flexible material is put in motion by a
rod or stem E passing through a guide F, and terminating in a knob G. by
which the piston D is drawn out or thrust into the cylinder or chamber C, so
as to put in motion either the air or water (air being used by preference) con-
Lained in it; H is an aperture, to which the communicating pipe is attached

page_text: by a union joint or other convenient means, and through which the air or
water is drawn or forced, as the knob G may be drawn out or forced into the
chamber C; in either case a spring I is applied against a collar on the rod or
stem E, to replace the piston or diaphragm D: after the communication has
been made any ornamental character may be given to this portion of the appa-
ratus to suit the apartment in which it is employed. K is a case of wood or
metal containing the bell or gong with the striking hammer, actuating
cylinder, and piston, releasing catch or detent, and the indicator; M is a small
cylinder fixed on brackets or otherwise to the case K, and connected with the
communicating pipe at an aperture N; O is a piston: P. a stem upon which
is fixed a collar Q. so that by the sudden ascent of the piston O the curved
tail of the detent R, which is suspended from a pin S. may be moved from its
position and allow the plate T, upon which the indicating cypher or other
symbol is fixed, to fall down upon its rest W. On the upper end of the
plate T is a projection, which takes on to a corresponding projection on the
point of the detent R. and suspends the plate T, together with the indicator V
when not in use, in which position it is masked by a portion of the case K.
It will be seen that the tail of the detent is curved in such manner as to admit
of the collar Q passing it both in the ascent and descent of the pision O.
and being suspended from the pin S above it, it always resumes its position
when the collar Q has passed it, the hooked end being so made that its
weight will restore it to its position without the aid of springs. To use the
apparatus it is only necessary to raise the indicator by means of the small knob
in its front, and it becomes suspended by the plate T on the detent R, the
symbol being obscured by the mask or front of the case, and is now in position
for use.
When the knob G is moved smartly the fluid or other communi-
cating agent acts upon the piston O in the cylinder M. and raises it with the
collar past the detent R. which withdraws the hooked end, and releases the
plate T, which falls, and allows the indicator with its symbol to come into
view simultaneously with the signal being made by the bell or gong, and this
symbol representing a room in the building, informs the attendant where
his attendance is required. At the same time that the hammer or stem P
strikes the bell or gong it draws in air through an aperture in the bottom of
the cylinder M. from which a pipe leads to the apartment of a third party (or
more if desired), and causes a notice to be given by means of a whistle at the
end of such pipe, and after having struck the bell or gong the stem falls and
forces out the air which is beneath the piston, and repeats the whistling sound
as a check upon the attendant. When the communication has been attended
to, the indicator is replaced by the attendant, and notification is given thereof

page_text: to the third party by a pull and cylinder connected with the third party's room
by a pipe, at the end of which a whistle is fixed, or it may be done by a con-
nection between the indicator and the said cylinder, so that the replacement of
the indicator gives the notice.
In applying this apparatus to a large building a cabinet or other stand may be
arranged to contain the number of bells or gongs required, but it is not
absolutely necessary that there should be a separate bell or gong for each
room, as the hammers may be so arranged as to require only one, bell or gong
to two indicators, or one bell or gong may be made to serve for a number of
indicators placed around it. Ordinary bells hung with springs, and fitted with
ordinary pendulous indicators. may be acted upon by similar apparatus when a
more continuous ringing is desired.
Having now fully described the apparatus according to my Invention. I
would have it understood that I do not claim the use of any particular
medium or means of communicating between the extremes of the apparatus,
nor do I confine myself to the precise arrangement or configuration of the
several parts, so long as the main features of my Invention are retained, as
they may be varied according to circumstances, to suit the object in view; but
what I do claim is, the combination of parts as herein described for com-
municating by signal, and simultaneously therewith exhibiting an indicator or
indicators, by which attention is directed to the point desired, whatever may
be the medium employed for connecting the actuating and indicating portions
of the apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Thorn, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixiv.
Witness,
AMRT H. RENTON,
12, Buckingham Street,
Adelphi.
PETER THORN. (L.S.)