A NEW OR IMPROVED INDICATOR LAMP AND SEMAPHORE FOR CABS AND OTHER PUBLIC CARRIAGES AND FOR FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO FOR REGULATING THE TRAFFIC IN THE PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES, AND RIFLE PRACTICE
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Peake Knight, of New Cross, in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED INDICATOR LAMP AND SEMAPHORE FOR CABS AND OTHER PUBLIC
CARRIAGES AND FOR FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO FOR REGULATING THE TRAFFIC
IN THE PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES, AND RIFLE PRACTICE."
Sealed the 11th September 1868, and dated the 14th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Peake Knight
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 14th March 1868.
I, JOHN PEAKE KNIGHT, of New, Cross, in the County of Kent,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED INDICATOR LAMP AND SEMAPHORE FOR CABS AND OTHER PUBLIC
CARRIAGES AND FOR FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO FOR REGULATING THE TRAFFIC IN
THE PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES, AND RIFLE PRACTICE," to be as follows, that is
to say:
This Invention has for its object, first, to provide a means whereby
cabs and other public carriages for hire shall be made to indicate at
sight whether the same are engaged or empty; secondly, to provide
omnibuses and other like vehicles with similar indicating media; thirdly,
for regulating the traffic in the public thoroughfares, and rifle practice;
and fourthly, for indicating the courses of ships at sea,

page_text: For carrying out the objects of the said Invention I propose to form
a lamp, or to fit ordinary lamps, with moving glasses of different colours
for indicating by night, and with moving discs or semaphores for
indicating by day. When the cab or other carriage is not engaged at
night the coloured glass is placed in front of the light by the driver;
in the day time a disc or semaphore is displayed to view by him, and
thus indicates respectively to the public that the vehicle is for hire.
When the cab or other carriage is engaged at night, the driver removes
the coloured glass, when the lamp will shew a bright white light; in
the day time the disc or semaphore is moved out of front view.
In the case of omnibuses the coloured glasses or discs are visible so
long as there is room for more passengers. For distinguishing between
the inside and outside accommodation a red light and disc may be used
for the one, and a green or blue for the other. When full the coloured
lights and discs are removed, the latter being invisible to front view by
day, and bright white lights taking the place of the coloured ones by
night.
It is proposed to place the number of the vehicle on the lamp and
disc.
An indicator lamp and disc or semaphore, formed or fitted in a
similar way to that above described, may also be used for regulating
the traffic of the public streets, being worked by the policeman or other
authorized officer, so as to indicate to the drivers of vehicles the times
for stopping, starting, and proceeding. A similar lamp and semaphore,
the former for night and the latter for day, may he used to regulate
foot traffic at crossings and at the junctions of streets.
I also propose to use a lamp and semaphore of similar construction
on board floating vessels by placing them at the mast-head, paddle-box,
or other part of the ship or vessel, so as to indicate its course, the
coloured lights and arms being worked by means of a wire or rope
connected with the steering apparatus, so as reliably to indicate every
movement of the helm to other vessels, and thereby diminish the risk
of collision at sea.
The indicating semaphore without the lamp may be used for
signalling purposes in rifle practice.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Peake Knight, in the Great Seal Patent
- Office on the 14th September 1868.
I, JOHN
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,
PEAKE KNIGHT, of New Cross, in the County of Kent, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS
Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the
day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-first year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Peake Knight, Her special
licence that I, the said John Peake Knight, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Peake Knight, 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 "A
NEW OR IMPROVED INDICATOR LAMP AND SEMAPHORE FOR CABS AND OTHER PUBLIC
CARRIAGES AND FOR FLOATING VESSELS, ALSO FOR REGULATING THE TRAFFIC IN THE
PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES, AND RIFLE PRACTICE." upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Peake Knight, 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 Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent...
said John Peake Knight, do hereby
Invention, and in what manner the
particularly described and ascertained
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the
declare the nature of my said
same is to be performed, to be
in and by the following statement (that is to say):—
This Invention has for its object, first, to provide a means by lamps
and semaphores whereby cabs and other public vehicles for hire shall
be made to indicate at sight whether the same are engaged or empty;
secondly, to provide omnibuses and other like vehicles with similar
indicating media; thirdly, for regulating the traffic in the public

page_text: thoroughfares and places of public resort; fourthly, for indicating the
course of ships and other vessels at sea, and regulating and signalling
the times of their entrance and departure to and from harbours, docks,
and the like; and lastly, for signalling in rifle and gun practice.
For carrying out the objects of the said Invention I propose to form
a lamp or fit ordinary lamps, with moving discs or semaphores for
indicating by day, and with moving glasses of different colours for
indicating by night. When the cab or other carriage is not engaged
at night the coloured glass is placed in front of the light by the driver;
in the day time the disc or semaphore is displayed to view by him, and
thus indicates respectively to the public that the vehicle is for hire.
When the cab or other carriage is not for hire or engaged at night, the
driver removes the coloured glass, when the lamp will show a bright
white light; in the day time the same indication is effected by removing
the disc or semaphore out of front view.
In the case of omnibuses the coloured glasses or discs are fitted so
as to be visible as long as there is room for more passengers; and for
distinguishing between the inside and outside accommodation a red
light and dise may be used for the one, and a green or blue for the
other. When full the coloured light and discs are removed, the latter
being invisible to front view by day, and bright white lights taking
the place of coloured ones by night.
It is proposed to place the number of the vehicle on the lamp
and disc.
An indicator lamp and dise or semaphore, formed or fitted in a
similar way, may also be used for regulating the traffic of the public
streets, being worked by the policeman or other authorized officer, so as
to indicate to the drivers of vehicles the times for stopping, starting,
and proceeding. A similar lamp and semaphore, the former for day and
the latter for night, may also be used for regulating the foot passenger
traffic at crossings and at the junctions of streets.
I also propose to use a lamp and semaphore of similar construction
on board floating vessels by placing them at the mast-head, paddle-box,
or other part of the ship or vessel, so as to indicate its course, the
coloured lights and arms being worked by means of a chain, wire, or
rope connected with the steering apparatus, so as to reliably indicate
every movement of the helm to other vessels, and thus diminish the
risk of collision at sea.

page_text: The indicating semaphore without the lamp may be used for
signalling purposes in rifle and gun practice, red and white arms being
fitted and worked as required. The white arm may be dispensed with
and a skeleton frame carrying changing numbers substituted therefor
to indicate the degrees of accuracy of the respective shots.
The semaphore standard and rising and falling or moving parts
thereof for streets, I propose to make either plain or of an ornamental
character and use if required a fixed green or red light in the case of
streets being under repair or closed, when the green light or caution
signal is to indicate to the drivers of vehicles that they are to proceed
slowly along that side or place where it is displayed, and the red light
to indicate that they are not to pass on that side or place where it is
displayed, as, for instance, where one side of the street is open and the
other under repair.
In the case of the carriage or vehicle indicator lamp the semaphore
may form a part of the lamp or be fitted thereto, or mounted and worked
independently of the said lamp. These semaphores 1 make of a circular,
oval, or other form and of thin material, by preference of tin or zinc,
and paint one side black and the other white or of a bright red, or other
colour easily visible, and cause the latter side to be displayed to view
only when the vehicle is for hire. These discs may be formed with a
square stem so as to reverse in a socket or be hinged so as to rise and
fall, the hinge being fitted with a spring in order to maintain the disc or
arm when up or down in the required position.
In the case of the semaphore for floating vessels I propose to fit
right and left arms and make the larboard and starboard arms distinct
from each other by their forms and colours, and gear them and connect
them with the helm or steering apparatus so as to move simultaneously
therewith, and cause the larboard or port arm to rise or fall into view
as the rudder is moved into the respective corresponding positions.
indicating the way "of the vessel by the lamps I propose to use two
lights, and gear and work them in the same way as the semaphores,
and thus cause them to indicate the course of the ship in a similar
manner.
For
Having thus described the nature and objects of my said Invention,
and the means whereby the same may be carried into effect in practice,
I hereby further declare that what I claim and desire to secure by the

page_text: before-mentioned in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction and
application of indicating lamps and semaphores or discs fitted and
operated as herein described, or in a manner analogous thereto.
In witness whereof, 1, the said John Peake Knight, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this 26th day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. P. KNIGHT. (L.S.)