New or Improved Ships' Electrical Signalling Apparatus:
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Ships' Electrical Signalling Apparatus:
I, JAMES CAMPBELL of 76 Hyde Park Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Scotland, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus having for its object to communicate orders
between various parts of a ship, such as from the bridge or other part thereof to the
engine room or steering gear, by means of electricity, in a simple, economical and
efficient manner.
The apparatus as constructed according to my invention comprises a transmitting
dial case with handle, on bridge or other desired part of ship similar to those used in
existing mechanical telegraphs. The order indications may be of any required number.
Opposite each order indication are the contact parts, to which are connected the circuit
wires whose circuit is normally open, unless when connected by bringing the handle
opposite and depressing it whereby the circuit is closed and the order transmitted to
the engine room or other receiving dial. The receiving dial has a corresponding
number of signals to the indications on transmitting dial which indications and signals
are respectively connected by separate electric conducting wires and a return wire,
which said return wire serves for all. The receiving dial is fitted with signals consisting
of hinged or other shutters which normally are kept off by a spring or other means,
but when an order is transmitted and the circuit closed a signal is attracted into the
on position by a solenoid or magnet and locked thereat, until it is again unlocked by
the moving of the handle on transmitting dial, which causes to be actuated another
magnet (which may be termed the unlocking magnet) and which is common to all
the signals, and in whose circuit is an alarm bell which is common to all. Provision
is made at receiving dial by means of a return wire, for actuating a bell or other
alarm on transmitting dial as a reply that signal has been received.
The electricity may be supplied from cells, dynamos, or other source for working
the apparatus.
Dated this 29th day of November 1889
DAVID F. MASON, C.E.,
Glasgow, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Ships' Electrical Signalling Apparatus.
I, JAMES CAMPBELL formerly of 76 Hyde Park Street, but now of 5 Tillie Street,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Scotland, Electrical 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 :-
My said invention relates to a telegraph or apparatus having for its object to com-
municate orders between various parts of a ship, such as from the bridge or other part
thereof to the engine roon or steering gear; or for analogous purposes on land, by
means of electricity in a simple economical, and efficient manner.
On the annexed sheet of explanatory drawings
Fig. 1 represents the face of the telegraph receiving apparatus ;
Fig. 2 is a view looking from the back, with back of case off, and without handle,
of transmitting apparatus ;
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of a combined receiving and transmitting apparatus and
principal parts thereof, constituting a repeating telegraph.

page_text: The telegraph or apparatus as constructed according to my said invention comprises
an order or signal transmitting apparatus case 5 Fig. 2 on bridge of ship or other
place from which it is or may be desired that order be given similar to those used in
existing mechanical telegraphs. The said transmitter is fitted with an operating
handle 6 Fig. 3 (not shown in Fig. 2) which is fitted with a spring lock 7 which tends
to keep the said handle opposite the notches 8 Fig. 2 formed in rim of case when
locks slips into them. The handle is also fitted with a piston and spring 9 for connecting
the contact parts of contacts 10. The order or signal indications as set forth are
nine in number but obviously may be more or less and are engraved or otherwise put
on convenient part of case over which the handle operates. Opposite each transmitting
order indication is a notch 8 and insulated contact part 10 (Figs. 2 & 3) to which
each contact are connected the circuit wires 11, 12, whose circuit is normally open
unless when connected by bringing the handle 6 opposite one of the parts 10 and
pressing in the circuit making piston 9 or plunger whereby the said circuit is closed
and the current flows by wire 12 which wire is connected to one of the terminals 37
Fig. 2 on transmitter and then led to the receiving apparatus in engine room or
other place. Fig. 1 represents face of receiver of which said Fig. the lower half of
Fig. 3 may be taken as a sectional plan of front and working parts of said receiver
on line Fig. 1.
The upper half of Fig. 3 may be taken to represent a sectional plan of trans-
mitter Fig. 2. The receiver has a corresponding number of signals 13 to the
indications on transmitting case which corresponding set of indications and signals
are each respectively connected by one of the aforesaid wires 12 which are each
connected from terminals 37 to their several terminals 33 on receiver. The wire 12
then connects with a wire passing round magnet 18 from whence it passes and is
connected to a terminal on frame 17 (not shown) to which is also connected a return
wire (not shown) which last said return wire relates to and serves for all the signals
and is led and connected to terminal 34 in transmitter. The said signals 13 each
consist of a shutter 13 with the order or communication put on front thereof, and
fixed on end of and at right angles to a lever 14 hinged at 15 and normally kept off
or back from aperture 29 in face of receiver dial as shown at y Fig. 3 by a spring 16
fixed to an insulated frame 17 fixed in receiver case. When an order is transmitted
and one set of circuit wires 11, 12, closed the corresponding order or signal 13 is
actuated into the on position as shown at z Figs. 1 & 3 by a magnet 18 there being
one such separate magnet for each separate signal. Each magnet 18 has hinged at
outer end the armature 19 which is connected to the lever 14 so as to draw it inwards.
The front end of each lever 14 is formed with a hook or projection 14' which when
the signal is on as shown at z Fig. 3 slides over the catch on outer and lighter end of
lever 20 fulcrumed at 21 and is thereby locked thereat; the catch end being raised
by a spring not shown.
The circuit of wires 11, 12, may thus be opened without releasing signal thereby
greatly economising electricity. The lever 14 is unlocked by moving the trans-
mitter handle 6 which by means of one of a set of cams 22 projecting from a
ring 23 fixed to handle pushes in the contact making stud 24 against its spring
and thus connects the two contacts 25, 26. There is a cam 22 for every order
indication. The circuit of the unlocking magnet 30 in centre of frame 17 is thus
closed and the said magnet 30 attracts the armature on end of lever 20 thus releasing
the lever 14 the inner end of which is then drawn by spring 16, thereby withdrawing
signal 13 from behind aperture 29. In the circuit of the unlocking magnet 30 is
an alarm bell 27. Fig. 2. which serves for all the signals and is rung every time
an order is cancelled and transmitted.
The circuit of said unlocking magnet is led by a wire from one of the terminals 37
on transmitter then to one of the ends of spring contact 25. Another wire is connected
to end of spring contact 26 then to bell 27 from whence it is led to the receiver and
connected to one of terminals 33 from whence it passes round magnet 30, then is
connected to terminal on receiver not shown and returns by the return wire not
shown which is common to all the circuits.

page_text: The electricity for working the telegraph is supplied from cells, dynamos or other
electric source in usual manner.
A transmitter and receiver may be combined into one case as represented in section
at Fig. 3 it being obvious that two such combined apparatus with wires will constitute
a repeating telegraph.
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:
1st. Arranging and combining parts of transmitting and receiving apparatus for
making electric telegraphic communications as hereinbefore set forth and shown on
drawings.
2nd. An electric telegraph transmitting apparatus having operating handle 6, fitted
with plunger 9, spring 7, and ring 23, with cams 22 thereon, and pusher 24; all
constructed and combined with contacts 10, 25, and 26, as set forth and shown at
upper half of Fig. 3.
3rd. An electric telegraph receiving apparatus having a frame 17 from which
radiate magnets 18, and with one unlocking magnet 30, and spring 16 in combination
with levers 20, 19, and 14, arranged and constructed as hereinbefore described and
shown at lower half of Fig. 3.
4th. Combining an electric telegraph receiver and transmitter in one case so as
to make a repeating telegraph as hereinbefore set forth and shown at Fig. 3.
Dated this the 29th day of August 1890.
DAVID F. MASON,
Glasgow, Patent Agent.