Improvements in Indicating Devices for Speaking Tubes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Indicating Devices for Speaking Tubes.
I, HAHNEMANN DOLPHUS CUTMORE of 18 Queen's Road, South Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, Electrician, do bereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to indicating devices for speaking tubes especially such as
are known as the Homacoustic speaking tubes in which a switch plate or commutator
is employed. The arrangement usually is that all the speaking tubes are brought
up a column, upon the top of which is a plate carrying one branch which carries
the ear and mouth pieces and a number of whistles or equivalent signalling devices
so arranged that when the plate is turned the branch and whistles etc. are turned
from one pipe to another and it is important that a signal sent from the other end
of the tube should indicate at the receiving end which tube it is that has called so
that the switch plate can be turned to bring the mouth piece etc. to that particular
tube. For use, particularly on vessels at sea, and in exposed places generally, or
where the indicators are likely to be moved, I have found that the common flap
hinged indicators are sometimes not sufficiently reliable and the present invention
relates to an improved construction of the indicators which I prefer to construct as
follows:-
For each whistle, signal or orifice in the switch plate (excepting the previously
mentioned ear and mouth piece branch) I place an indicating device consisting of
a cap or cover preferably formed as a cone or extinguisher connected to or carried
by a rod, pin or equivalent working in suitably shaped grooves formed in brackets.
or equivalent secured upon the switch plate. By this means when the signal is
given the puff of air coming up the tube strikes the cap and either turns it over
upon the wire in such a manner that it is almost impossible for it to come back
again, or, and this is the usual result, both cap and wire are lifted bodily, the wire.
rising in the bracket grooves passing over the highest point and down on the
opposite side the result being that no rolling or movement of the ship or treatment
other than the deliberate replacing of the cap by the fingers will cause it to return
to its normal position so that there is no difficulty in ascertaining from which tube
the signal came.
It will be readily appreciated that instead of the grooves in the plates curved
projections or can faces could be employed for the same purpose and in the same
manner, also that since one of the important features is that the puff of air through
the tube shall raise the indicator up to and over the highest point in its course so
that it cannot return until it is intentionally lifted over it, any other device effecting
the same purpose might be used, perhaps equally well. For example pivotted
links so placed that the puff of air would raise the cap to the highest point of the
link which would then fall down with the cap on the opposite side, would effect the
same purpose.
Dated this 5th day of December 1893
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: improvements in caving Dev Speaking
1, HAHNEMANN ADOLPHUS CUTMORE, of 18 Queen's Road, South Norwood,
in the County of Surrey, Electrician, do hereby declare 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 :-
This invention relates to indicating devices for speaking tubes especially such as
are known as the Homacoustic speaking tubes, in which a switch plate or commutator
is employed. The arrangement usually is that all the speaking tubes are brought
up a column, upon the top of which is a plate carrying one branch which carries
the ear and mouth pieces and a number of whistles or equivalent signalling devices
so arranged that when the plate is turned, the branch and whistles are turned from
one pipe to another and it is important that a signal sent from the other end of the
tube should indicate at the receiving end which tube it is that has called so that
the switch plate can be turned to bring the mouth piece &c. to that particular
tube.
For use, particularly on vessels at sea, and in exposed places generally, or where
the indicators are likely to be moved, I have found that the common Hap hinged
indicators are sometimes not sufficiently reliable and the present invention relates
to an improved construction of the indicators.
But in order that my invention may be better understood I will now refer to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1, illustrates a plan of the switch plate shewing the arrangement of my
improved indicating devices.
Figure 2, is a section of the indicator and whistle, whilst Figure 3, is an elevation,
and Figure 4 a plan of same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they
occur in the several views.
Upon each signal whistle (A) in the switch plate (B), I place an indicating
device consisting of a cap or cover (C) preferably formed as a cone or extinguisher,
connected to or carried by a rod or pin (D) working in suitably shaped grooves (E)
formed in the brackets (F) and (F) or equivalent, secured upon the signal
whistle (A). By this means when the signal is given the puff of air coming up
the tube strikes the cap (C) and either turns it over upon the wire in such a manner
that it is almost impossible for it to come back again, or, and this is the usual
result, both cap and wire are lifted bodily the wire rising in the bracket grooves (E)
passing over the highest point and down on the opposite side the result being that
no rolling or movement of the ship, or treatment other than the deliberate replacing
of the cap by the fingers will cause it to return to its normal position so that there
is no difficulty in ascertaining from which tube the signal came.
It will be readily understood that instead of the grooves in the brackets (F),
curved projections or cam faces could be employed for the same purpose and in the
same manner, also that since one of the important features is, that the puff of air
through the tube shall raise the indicator up to and over the highest point in its
course so that it cannot return until it is intentionally lifted over it, any other
device effecting the same purpose might be used, perhaps equally well. For
example pivotted links so placed that the puff of air would raise the cap to the
highest point of the link which would then fall down with the cap on the opposite
side, would effect the same purpose.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
Firstly. A whistle signal indicating device for speaking tubes, consisting of a
suitably connected cap or cover (C) operated by a puff of air coming up the tube,
so as to raise it from its seat on the whistle and carry it over the highest point in
its course, so that it cannot return until it is intentionally lifted back again,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Secondly. A whistle signal indicating device, consisting of the combination and
arrangement of the cap or cover (C) carried by a rod (D) working in suitably
shaped grooves (E) formed in the brackets (F) and (F) substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and as illustrated in my drawings.
Dated the 4th doc of Soutombor 1901
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
67-69, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.