A NEW PORTABLE AND IMPROVED FIXED SIGNAL APPARATUS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, of Southampton,
Hauts, Gentleman, for the Invention of A NEW PORTABLE AND IMPROVED
FIXED SIGNAL APPARATUS."
Sealed the 17th May 1861, and dated the 24th November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Richard
Norris Palmer, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 24th November 1860.
1, CHRISTOPHER RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Southampton, Hanis,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
NEW PORTABLE AND IMPROVED FIXED SIGNAL APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
A new portable apparatus for calling any attendant from one room only, or
to signalize all the inmatesof a house simultaneously.-I place avulcan rubber
air vessel, wholly or partly covered on the bed, or within reach of invalid; an
elastic or pliable air tube. about th inch diameter (generally of vulcan rubber
and metal), connects air vessel with any small portable instrument capable of
being sounded by air (I prefer a whistle piece of suitable construction, fixed
inside a concave reflector of rigid material). The instrument placed outside
the bedroom door or wall will, on compressing the air vessel, sound and rever-
berate on the staircase or landing, and be heard all over the house, or iu one
room only, where placed. The tube being jointed may be lengthened or de-
tached for use in other rooms as often as required. It will be covered with a
new braid or plaited material of worsted and silk in combination.
By moulding vulcan rubber into flat, circular vessels (with or without a
central hole or passage) and attaching ordinary mechanical contrivances for
pulling or compressing them to operate the signal described I construct im-

page_text: proved fixed call signals or alarums for use in houses, ships, public and private
carriages. By attaching a rubber vessel to the whistle piece and reflector |
construct a table signal; also for shop doors, obtaining compression and signal
each time the door opens.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, CHRISTOPHER
RICHARD NORRIS PALMER, of Southampton, Hants, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the
year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, Her special licence, that I, the
said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, 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 terin
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 "A NEW PORTABLE AND IMPROVED
FIXED SIGNAL APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Christopher Richard Norris Palmer, my executors or administrators, 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 Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Christopher Richard Norris Palmer
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:-
My Invention chiefly consists in constructing a new class of portable call
signals for invalids and others, and other newor improved signal apparatus and
contrivances for the numerous purposes specified. Iuse and work atmospheric

page_text: air, whether on the condensing or exhausting principle, by means of small
compressible and expanding air vessels and air pipes or tubes; such vessels and
tubes being of smaller size and diameter than hitherto in use or found avail-
able for practical purposes of signalizing. I construct a universal or invalid
call signal by attaching an elastic air vessel, say, a spherical hollow ball of vul-
canized india-rubber one inch and ths inside diameter to a light pliable or
elastic tube of very small inner diameter, say ths to th of an inch, and
from 6 to 24 or 50 feet in length, such tube to be jointed or so constructed as
to be readily connected with and disconnected from the metal shank of a
whistle, bell, or other small portable sounding instrument. I place the latter
on the outer side of the bedroom or parlor door or wall, and I use the surface
of such door or wall as a refractor to increase the sound and cause it to rever-
berate on the landings and upwards and downwards against the walls and sides
of the staircase, thereby enabling all the servants and inmates to hear this
miniature call signal by day or night. Or the signal may be delivered in any
one distant room only wherein the whistle, bell, or sound instrument may be
placed. Being portable, the apparatus will be used sometimes in one room,
sometimes in another, at option. The universal or invalid call or alarum,
Fig. 1. is so constructed as to be taken to pieces, and combining four new
classes of signal in one. By removing the pliable tube, it forms a wall or
wainscot signal (Fig. 2). By screwing up the metal plug or tube (F) it
becomes a signal for parlor or office doors (Fig. 3), and by placing the air vessel
outside a bedroom door, and the whistle bell inside, an early call for bed-
rooms in hotels, &c., is constructed. Fig. 4 represents it as a new library
or table call, actuated in a perpendicular or any other position. The pliable
air tubes nse will be plain or covered with silk or worsted braids, or
plaited over by machinery. The vulcan rubber balls or air vessels of either
kind described will be plain or colored enamel, or covered wholly or partially
with silk, satin nets, or other material. The ball cups, or rigid caps or
covers, whether plain, scollop, or ornamented, and also the whistle bell
cups or concave reflectors, will be of any suitable rigid or other material,
such as metal, ivory, bone, ebonite, glass, porcelain, plain or ornamental
woods, &c., each varying according to taste and ornament, and the several
classes or quality of signal.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS ANNEXED.
Fig. I. A is a concave sound reflector, of cast or stamped metal, or other
suitable material, containing a whistle piece (W). B, a metal tube of th
incb inner diameter, and about two inches long, capable of screwing and

page_text: unscrewing into the shank of A. C is an elastic or pliable tube of vulcanized
india-rubber, or other material, from 5 to 50 long, and th inch inner
diameter. D represents a collapsible air vessel, or vulcanized rubber ball, of
one and five-eights of an inch outside diameter, protected by the cup E. P
is a tube similar to B, of inch to two inches long, with a screw thread at one
end, and a button or flange at the other. S is a slide binding the tubes B &
C tightly together. The sounding instrument A will be placed outside the
door or wall of the room, and connected from within by the tube B (which will
generally pass thro' the key hole or under or thro' the door or wall)s crew-
ing into the shank on the outside, as described. Manual compression of
the air vessel D will effect one, two, or more call signals, and the sound
reverberating in the passage and staircase, as before explained, will be
audible to all the inmates of a house simultaneously, or the call may be de-
livered and heard in one room only in which the instrument may be placed.
Fig. 2 represents a new portable (or fixed) signal apparatus for attaching
to and working thro' walls or wainscots, &c., formed, as described, by
detaching the tubing and uniting D, E, and A together by the screw plug
or tube P (Fig. 1.)
Fig. 3, a new signal apparatus for attaching to parlor and bedroom doors, &c.
Being reversed, it forms a new contrivance for calling travellers sleeping at
hotels and ins. I add an indicator with moveable haud, marking the hour
or half hour call (or not) as required.
Fig. 4, a table library or office call, of shrill or deep tone, as required,
also adapted for invalids in bed.
Fig. 5. Similar to Fig. 4, but having a concave ornamental base, (into
which the whistle piece is fixed), and perforated or open pattern, to emit sound.
Figs. 6 & 7.
Here the whistle piece forms the pillar or stem, the lower
end screwing or fixing into the marble or metal foot, being also, if required,
an office call and paper weight combined.
Fig. 8.
W is the whistle piece of tube or stamped metal, ths long by
aths inch diameter, with whistle plug (reth to th inch thick,) stampt or
punched out of soft sheet brass or other metal, in the shape or figures deli-
neated, shewing one or two air passages required for single and double whistles
respectively. The dotted line across the double whistle plug represents the
metal partition requisite (with two air holes) in the double whistle pieces.
Fig. 9. A whistle holder, cast or stampt, into which it may be fixed or
screwed. The dotted outline represents a concave reflector of any required
size, shape, or material, into the bottom or centre of which the metallic
holder will be fixed or screwed.

page_text: Fig. 10. Ditto, with deeper cup or raised rim; a new contrivance, I invent
and adopt for deepening or regulating the whistle tone.
Fig. 11 shews another contrivance or arrangement by which I obtain a
deep or hollow, in place of a shrill sound.
Fig. 12, A, V, is an improved circular-shaped air vessel of moulded vulcan
rubber, two and th inch diameter by one inch in depth. B is a rigid cover
capable of being screwed by flange (or otherwise, as in Fig, 16), against a
wall, door, or other flat surface. When connected by the rigid or pliable
air tube with the whistle or bell-sounding instruments described, pressure of
the rigid plug or piston P effects the required signal.
Fig. 13, V, R, is a hollow ring, or ring ball of vulcanized rubber 2 inch
and th in diameter and one inch deep, having an open passage ths inch
diameter thro' the centre. Pulling the knob or plug P horizontally or per-
pendicularly effects the signal.
Fig. 14 & 15 describe a new single and double action mechanism for
working or striking bells of all classes used in buildings, and may be actuated
by the compression, expansion, or exhaustion of collapsible air vessels (or by
mouth piece or cylinder and piston), or by wires, bell pulls, cranks, or other
ordinary mechanical contrivances. The bell B is fixed to the rigid frame or
plate F. The square rod R works loosely thro' the guides, rods, or holes
G, G. V is a vulcan rubber air vessel, similar in size and shape to A, V.
Fig. 12, and will be connected by the rigid or pliable air tube (of th inch
diameter) with one or more of the compressible air vessels described, the
cubic contents or inner space of the latter being regulated by distance or
sigual power required. Compression will obviously inflate the vessel V
causing the rod R to rise and the flat spring hammer H (or the two hammers
Hand H, Fig. 15) to be lifted by the catch or trip lever T, and when
released to strike the signal bell B.
Figs. 16 & 17, an improved signal apparatus for public and private
carriages, ships, and other purposes. The air vessel used is similar in size
and shape to A, V, Fig. 13, and will be fixed to the roof; the chain, wire
tassel, or vulcan cord C being of any length required. Passengers by pulling
it readily sigualize the coachman, footman, or other person, as required. 1
use at option one, two, or more of these compressible air vessels, connected
by one tube or branch tubes with one, two, or more of the whistle or bell-
sounding instruments described.
Fig. 18 gives a front view of the back screw plate in Fig. 17.
Fig. 19, 20, a new bell call or alarum for walls, doors, &c., so contrived
that by turning the handle K the tooth of the wheel W fixed to the rod R

page_text: moves and draws back the hammer H, the flat spiral spring S being
tightened; H when released by the passing of the tooth will obviously
strike the bell B inside thereof.
1. I claim the use for the signalizing purposes described of a metal or
flexible air tube (or part metal and part flexible), whereof the air passage
or bore shall be one full eigth of an inch or less diameter.
2. The use for same purposes of spherical vulcan rubber air vessels not
exceeding one inch and ths outer diameter, or of any other size or shape
not containing a greater quantity of atmospheric air.
3. The combination, construction, and arrangement of the portable signal
apparatus, Fig. 1, and any modification thereof as regards the length or
bore of the tube, or size or shape of air vessel, or otherwise.
4. The use and application of one or more of the compressible air vessels
described in combination with an air tube, and one or more of the sounding
instruments also described for signalizing in buildings, carriages, ships, or
elsewhere.
5. The construction, combination, and arrangement of the door, wall, and
library or table bell signals, Figures 2 to 7 inclusive. Also the construction
and arrangement of the single and double whistle pieces and holders and
sound reflectors attached thereto, as described, and the contrivances for
obtaining deep or shrill-toned whistle sounds, as described Fig. 1,9, 10, 11.
6. The mode of constructing,arranging, and actuating the bell mechanism,
Fig. 14, 15, or any modification or arrangement thereof, for working, the
same thro' walls or doors as a strike bell or endless alarum, by means
of a cog or ratchet wheel fixed to a solid metal rod ths inch diameter
passing (by a hole in the frame or back plate) thro' the door or wall, and
worked by a circular action and lever handle from the inside of the door
or wall of the room.
7. Lastly, I claim the combination, arrangement, and mode of operating
the bell call or alarum apparatus described in Figures 19 and 20 in the whole
as new; and I claim to actuate clapper bells and others by the same
mechanical contrivance, or a mere modification thereof.
CHRI. K. N. PALMER.
(L.S.)
23rd May 1861.