Ascertaining the Approach of Vessels and like Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 11th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th July, 1888
Ascertaining the Approach of Vessels, and like Purposes.
I, LEON SOMZEÉ in care of Messrs. Bede & Co. 29 Rue Philippe le Bon Brussels in
the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means principally devised to prevent collisions at sea.
The devices for this purpose are partly of an electrical nature consisting in means for
transmitting electric currents from one vessel to another, through or by means of the
water, for actuating audible or visible signals; partly of a mechanical nature con-
sisting in means set in operation by such current for stopping the way of the vessel
or deflecting it from its course.
For operating electrical devices at a distance, sufficiently powerful sources of
electricity at placed upon the vessels, in communication with two electrodes placed in
the water, preferably one in front and one behind the vessel-If these electrodes are
at a sufficient distance apart, and a vessel also provided with these devices approaches,
a moment will arrive when the resistance between the electrodes of the different
vessels will be less than that between the electrodes of the same vessel-At this
moment a current will pass from one vessel to the other.
Artificial resistances can be interposed between the electrodes on either vessel,
serving to regulate the signalling distance.
Four bobbins may also be employed two primary with a battery and current breaker,
and two secondary with a telephone or syren in the circuit.
One group consisting of a primary & secondary bobbin is placed on the vessel,
the other group consisting of a primary and a secondary bobbin, on a bouy or the like
before the vessel.
If the current breaker is actuated the induced currents are produced in the
secondary bobbins-these balancing each other have no effect on the signal of the
telephone or syren-If during this time the bouy in front of the vessel arrives in
the neighbourhood of a vessel or of any metallic mass, the equilibrium will be broken
and the signals will sound with energy proportional to the approach of the metallic
hodv

page_text: In practise the function of the current breaker will be automatic and continuous.
The currents passing from vessel to vessel as aforesaid may operate upon electro-
magnets causing them to release or set in action mechanical devices for stopping or
reserving the movement of the ship or changing the course of the same or for any
other purpose.
The eddies created by sudden movement of such mechanical contrivances and
specially of those used in stopping, reversing or deflecting the movement of the vessel,
form a series of streams or currents so to say isolated from the mass of the water such
currents or eddies being particularly favorable to the transmission of electric currents
and of sound between the vessels if care is taken to give to such eddies or zones
thereof the requisite direction.
The sensibility of the telephonic or microphonic receivers is augmented by retaining
a tranquil zone or belt about them-This may be performed by allowing oil to flow
onto the water from the bouy or other object which carries said receivers.
Dated this 10th day of September 1887.

page_text: Ascertaining the Approach of Vessels, and like Purposes.
I LEON SOMZEE in care of Messieurs E. Bede & Cie. 37 Rue Phillipe le Bon
Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium Civil Engineer 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:-
The object of this invention is to prevent collisions at sea between ships or ships and
rocks or for like purposes.
To this end certain electrical and mechanical devices are employed as hereinafter set
forth for giving warning of the approach of vessels to each other or to dangerous
places as rocks etc. and for deflecting the vessel or vessels from her or their courses
whereby collision is avoided.
The accompanying diagramatic drawings illustrate the invention and manner of
performing the same.
Referring to Fig. 1 E° and G° are two bodies of any kind separated from one
another by water M° N°. On the body E° is a galvanic battery P° or other source of
electricity the poles of which are respectively connected with the plates B° and A°
immersed in the water aforesaid at a distance from each other. On the body G° is an
electrometer of any suitable kind the terminals of which are respectively connected to
the plates D, C also immersed in the water. As long as the two bodies are at a
sufficient distance apart the circuit of the battery Po will be completed through the
water between A° and B°. As the bodies approach each other however a movement will
come when the resistance in the part of the circuit from B° through the water to D°
through electro meter R° to plate Co through the water to A° will be so far reduced by
reason of the lessening of the distance between the plates D°, B and C, A° respectively,
that a current will pass along this circuit and be shown by the electrometer. Such
current will increase as the bodies approach. In the same manner the increase of the
current may be indicated by electrometers inserted in that part of the circuit which is
found on the body E° and the mechanical movements produced may be used to operate
or set in operation such mechanical devices as may deflect the body from its course or
make audible or visible signals.
If there be a battery in the circuit on the body G° the poles of which are in
connection respectively with the plates Do, Co the approach of the bodies will be
indicated either by an increase or decrease of the current according as the plates B°, D°
and A, C are respectively of the opposite or the same polarity. If there are inter-
posed in the circuit devices adapted to operate on decrease and others to operate on
increase of the current suitable signals and mechanical operations may be performed
or devices set in action as the respective case may require to deflect the course of
the body or bodies that collision may be avoided.

page_text: Adapting these devices to ships, one of the plates is fixed in a suitable manner on or
before the bow of the vessel under the waterline and the other to a buoy connected to
the vessel by a cable having an insulated metallic core whereby the plate on the buoy
is in electrical connection with the battery and devices on the ship, such cable being
carried on a suitable windlass. The plate before the bow may also be carried on a
buoy but the cable connecting it to the vessel should be as short as possible. The
plates may be conveniently shaped to surround the buoys as a casing. The buoys are
hollow and made of buoyant material and provided with numerous small perforations.
They are filled with tow or the like soaked in oil so that the oil may gradually exude
from the perforations and form a still zone round the buoy protecting the latter in the
known manner from the force of the waves by neutralizing same.
Since all objects moving in water cause waves or undulations to spread before them
these undulations will pass to the nearest buoy and will be more numerous if those
before are neutralized as by the oil.
These waves or undulations are however of great use as conductors of electricity
from or to their source, and advantage is taken of this in the present invention by
placing on the vessels adjustable wings or plates A below the waterline which may be
placed flush with or flat upon the side of the vessel when required or deflected out-
ward to make such undulations in the water by driving against the latter during the
onward movement of the vessel.
These undulations in the direction of the approaching vessels are of use in trans-
mitting the electricity in that by their manner of action intermittent currents are
produced, these being most specially suitable for telephonic indications while the
vessels are still at a safe distance from each other.
The mechanism controlling the wings A is of such a nature that it is set in operation
immediately the current passes between the vessels the wings are deflected and the
undulations formed.
To receive the latter there are arranged on the vessel and on the buoy telephonic
transmittors T T¹ on a level with the surface of the water, their receiving membranes
being directed towards that quarter from which danger is expected to come, those on
the bow of the vessel being directed forwards those on the stern, backwards from the
vessel.
The transmitters are in connection with a receiver R on the vessel.
Referring to Fig. 2. E and G represent the counters or sterns of two vessels
proceeding in the same direction (that of the arrows f). The former vessel having
electrical instruments adapted to transmit sounds and make audible signals and to
control any suitable mechanical devices whereby the automatic government of the
vessel may be effected, the rear vessel having the wing A whereby the undulations
aforesaid may be made.
P represents the battery the wavy line F F the circuit on the vessel, passing from
the transmitter T¹ in connection with the plate M on the buoy to the vessel. On the
side of the vessel is a second transmitter T' in connection with a receiver R by a circuit
enclosing electromagnets H for setting in operation the mechanical devices necessary.
The current for the devices H arrives through plates M inserted in the water in any
suitable position. The line K illustrates the completion of the circuit between the
ships' electrodes. In the front of the vessel G is a similar set of apparatus in con-
nection with another receiver R and the vessel E is also fitted in the same manner as
the vessel G. As soon as the vessels arrive within a distance from each other in which
their electric currents influence each other special electromagnets are actuated, whereby
mechanism is set in action to open the wings A. The undulations are thereby formed
which influence the telephonic apparatus and inform the officer by the receiver R, a
galvanometer inserted in the circuit, showing by the amount and direction of the
deflection of its needle the direction or distance of the danger. If the wings A are
all arranged on the same side of each vessel their action will always tend to bring the
vessels parallel to each other whether the vessels are following each other or coming
from opposite directions towards each other. Should the vessels however in spite of
this arrangement yet approach within dangerous distance the current passing between

page_text: the vessels will become so strong that other electrical devices in the circuit may be
brought into action whereby the danger may be avoided in an appropiate manner.
Thus such devices may be brought into action as may open further the wings A for
instance into the position A² or A or the rudder or the propelling mechanism of the
vessel may be influenced. In place of utilizing the water for closing the circuit,
magnetic induction may be employed.
To this end referring to Fig. 3 there are arranged on each buoy before and behind
the vessel two insulated coils S¹ P¹ connected respectively with coils S³, P' on the bow
and stern of the vessel.
In the circuit of P1, P2 is a battery B2 and an automatic contact breaker I and in
the circuit S', S all the electric signalling and other devices so that the same are set
in action by dangerous approach of the vessel to another or other danger by induced
currents in this circuit. The coils P¹, P are wound in the same direction, the
coils S1, S2 in opposite directions. In consequence of the continual breaking and
making of the contact at I' intermittent currents are formed in the coils P¹, P' and
therefore equal but contrary and therefore neutralized, induced currents in the
coils S¹, S. If however there nears the buoy a dangerous body so that the resistance
of the water is less than that inserted for regulating the resistance in the circuit S¹ S'
the induction between the coils P¹ and S¹ is weakened and this will occur even if the
said dangerous body carry but one plate immersed in the water. The induced currents
in S¹, S are therefore rendered unequal and the stronger current will set in operation
the devices in said circuit. This arrangement is more suitable to set in action a simple
electric alarm bell at T2 but it may be used as the first described set of devices since
the effect of the dangerous body increases as it approaches.
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,
For the prevention of collisions between vessels or the running of vessels against
stationary objects such as rocks etc.
1. The provision on the rocks of immersed plates at suitable distances connected by
chains or suitable electric conductors and the provision on a vessel of a circuit in which
continuous or continually interrupted currents are produced by a battery said circuit
terminating in electrodes immersed in the water at a suitable distance apart one of
said electrodes being preferably placed upon a buoy substantially as set forth, said
circuit comprising suitable electrical devices for avoidance of the danger substantially
as set forth.
2. The provision of wings on the vessel adapted to be set in action and operate for
the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with the apparatus aforesaid of a perforated buoy containing
tow or the like steeped in oil for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the devices set forth in claim 1, of telephonic receivers and
transmitters arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
534404
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.