Improvements in or relating to Signals for use on Steam-ships and other Vessels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Signals for use on Steam-ships and
other Vessels.
A communication from ALFRED GARTNER and CARL AUGUST NOACк, both of Dresden,
Germany, Civil Engineers.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declaro 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 of this invention is to enable those on board a steamship or other vessel
to ascertain the presence, bearings course or direction of other ships in a fog or
under such circumstances that the said other ships cannot be seen thereby avoiding
danger of collision at sea.
The invention consists in the improved electric alarm signal herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the arrangement and combination of
parts thereof substantially as bereinafter set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in each of the figures
:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of this improved alarm signal some of the parts being
shown in section.
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the funnel showing its electrical connections.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the annunciator.
In the said drawings D represents the frame which supports the instrument and is
adapted to be secured to any desired portion of the vessel. Within the framo D are
lugs upon which rest or is secured a plate D¹ for supporting a battery B. Upon
the top of the frame D is secured an annunciator box or chamber A firmly secured to
the frame D and extending through the upper part of the frame and the annunciator
chamber is a metallic post a. Near the top of said post and resting upon a shoulder
is secured an insulated drum provided on its periphery with carbon or metallic
projections or lugs cc at regular distances apart. Above the insulated drum and
resting upon a shoulder formed on said post a is a hollow drum / adapted to revolve
on the post a. From the upper side of the drum h extends an arm g connected with
a ring within which is enclosed a diaphragm e and the inner neck or smaller end of
Attached to the
a funnel d and to which the said diaphragm and neck are secured.
diaphragm e is a wire brush e¹ for transmitting current to the carbon projections on.
the insulated .drum. Within the drum his arranged an ordinary clock movement
whereby a continuous and slow rotary motion is imparted to the drum and with it the
funnel d. Within the annunciator box A are secured a series of electro magnets m m.
having armatures n n controlled by springs o o secured to studs pp only one of which.
is shown in the drawings. To the armatures n n are secured bell crank levers 22
carrying upon their outer end discs and are arranged to pass under openings s in
the upper plate of the annunciator chamber A.
An alarin bell c¹ is placed in any convenient place in the instrument in connection
with the battery. The wire connections are as follows:-
One wire leads directly from the battery to the post a through drum h, arm g, ring ƒ,
diaphragm e, to brush e¹.
The other wire passes from the battery through the bell, thence to the magnet m
and through it to the carbon projections c c on the insulated drum b. The circuit
therefore would be completed when the brush e¹ comes in contact with one of the
carbon projections c c as will be hereinafter explained.
In the normal condition of the instrument the wire brush e¹ should be so adjusted.

page_text: "
that when it is rotated by the clockwork in the drum h it will not come in contact
with the carbon c on the insulator b.
The funnel and the diaphragm are continually revolved at a slow speed by means
of the clock work in the drum or any other driving power may be employed as
desired.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The funnel with the diaphragm being continually rotated as soon as a sound wave
from any direction coming within the scope of the funnel strikes the diaphragm
it is caused to vibrate thereby bringing the wire brush into contact with one of
the carbon projections on the insulator. This closes the circuit and the armature n
is acted upon hy its magnet and by means of the bell crank lever connected
therewith causes the disc to pass under its opening in the top plate of the
annunciator chamber and according to the arrow or sign on the disc the direction
of the approaching vessel is at once indicated. Notice of this action is given by the
bell inside of the frame which is connected with the circuit.
As the funnel continues to revolve the circuit will be broken as soon as the wire
brush has passed over the carbon, the armature will be released and the disc returned
to its normal position. Should the sound wave continue in the same, direction, the
brush will come in contact with the same carbon on the completion of the revolution
of the funnel and the operation will be repeated.
Should the direction of the sound wave be changed the brush will come in contact
with another carbon and another disc exposed to view thus showing the change of the
course of the vessel at a glance.
Should it be desired to have the first alarm or closed circuit continued longer the
armature can be so arranged as to be kept in close contact with the magnet until
released by hand.
We do not desire to limit ourselves to the construction of apparatus herein specified
as changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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 by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The electric danger signal herein described consisting of a rotating metallic
drum such as h carrying a funnel such as d provided with a diaphragm e and metallic
brush such as e an insulator drum such as provided on its outer periphery with
carbon or metallic projections such as c a post such as a supporting said rotating and
insulating drums and adapted to serve as a conductor from a battery and a frame such
as D supporting said parts and an electric battery all the said parts being so arranged
that when the metallic brush and one of the carbon projections come in contact
the electric circuit will be closed substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
2. The electric danger signal herein described consisting of a frame such as D
carrying an annunciator a conducting post such as a supported in said frame an
insulated drum such as bon said post provided with carbon or metallic projections
such as c on its outer periphery a metallic drum such as h adapted to rotate on
said post provided with an arm g carrying a diaphragm e an annunciator provided
with openings in its face and indicating discs such as adapted to reciprocate
within the annunciator by magnetic action all said parts being so arranged and
combined that when the metallic brush is in contact with a carbon projection
the electric circuit is closed substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
3. In an electric danger signal a revolving metallic drum such as an arm
connected with said drum a diaphragm e connected to said arm a metallic brush
such as e secured to said diaphragm a funnel such as d secured to said arm and
means for revolving said drum substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth..

page_text: 4. In an electric danger signal the combination with a suitable supporting frame
of a metallic drum such as an arm g connected with said drum a diaphragm e
connected to said arm a metallic brush such as e¹ secured to said diaphragm a
funnel such as d secured to said arm means for revolving said drum an insulated
drum such as 6 on said frame provided with carbon or metallic projections such as c
on its outer periphery and electrical connections with an annunciator substantially as
and for the purposes described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete apparatus
substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Datel this and do 1000
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.