IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN VESSELS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner of 166 Fleet Street in the city of
London Patent Agent for an Invention of IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS
FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN VESSELS communicated to him from abroad by
George M Mowbray of North Adams Massachusetts in the United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1883.
HENRY GARDNER of 166 Fleet Street in the city of London Patent Agent
IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN VESSELS A commu-
nication to me from abroad by George, M, Mowbray of North Adams Massachusetts
in the United States of America
The object of this invention is to perfect the present mode of signalling required
by law, in use by steam or sailing vessels, to avoid collisions; and it consists in a
method of visual indication by night or day of the course proposed to be followed
by vessels approaching each other "head on " and in apparatus adapted for the
ready display of such visual indications.
For this purpose in addition to the lights required by law, a central white light
or white signal is arranged preferably directly above the pilot house or on the
bridge or at the bow or on one of the masts with a red light or red signal on
the port side of said central light or signal and a green light or green signal on the
starboard side of said central light or signal which lights or signals are operated by
the occupants of the pilot-house from within the pilot house in such a way that
the presentation to view of the white light or signal and the red light or signal shows
the intention of the signaling vessel to present her port side to the approaching
vessel in passing her and contrariwise the presentation to view of the white light
or signal and the green light or signal shows the intention of the signalling vessel
to present her starboard side to the approaching. vessel in passing her.
The apparatus is composed of a platform or base preferably of an oval form and
upon this is placed vertically a vane with wings one extending towards the bow of

page_text: the vessel and having others at right angles thereto also another wing looking
towards the stern of the vessel.
A spindle passes down the centre of the vane and terminates in a crank arm
or hand wheel with a handle within convenient access to the pilot or wheelman
said apparatus has any suitable stop or detent to arrest the rotation at the desired
point.
The operation is, when the pilot of the signaling vessel wishes to indicate to the
approaching vessel the course he intends to pursue after the usual warning whistle
he turns by means of a handle, vanes and lights, so as to display in one instance
only white and red signals and in the other instance only white and green signals
the combination of the white with the red signals will indicate the intention of the
signaling vessel to present her port port side to the approaching vessel and the
combination of the white and green signals will indicate the intention of presenting
the starboard side to the approaching vessel.
The lights spoken of will present the signals in the night and the colors of the
vane in the day.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed.
by the said Henry Gardner in the Patent Office on the 27th March 1884.
_HENRY GARDNER of 106 Fleet Street in the city of London Patent Agent
"IMPROVED MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING BETWEEN VESSELS A
communication to me from abroad by George. M. Mowbray of North Adams,
Massachusetts in the United States of America
"
The object of this invention is to perfect the present mode of signalling required
by law in use by steam or sailing vessels, to avoid collisions and it consists in a
method of visual indication by night or day of the course proposed to be followed
by vessels approaching each other "head on "and in the apparatus adapted for the
ready display of such visual indications.
For this purpose in steam vessels in addition to the lights required by law a
central white light or white signal arranged preferably directly above the pilot
house with a red light or red signal on the port side of said central light or signal
and a green light or green signal on the starboard side of said central light or
signal which lights or signals are operated by the occupants of the pilot house from
within the pilot house in such a way that the presentation to view of the white
light or signal and the red light or signal shows the intention of the signalling
vessel to present her port side to the approaching vessel in passing her and
contrariwise the presentation to view of the white light or signal and the green
light or signal shows the intention of the signalling vessel to present her starboard
side to the approaching vessel in passing her.
For the better understanding of this invention reference should be had to the
accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the pilot house of
a steamer with the signalling apparatus in position and Figures 2 and 3 are details
of the apparatus.
Similar letters denote corresponding parts in each Figure.
A denotes the pilot house upon the roof of which is placed the signalling
apparatus composed of a platform or base B preferably of an oval form and upon
this is placed vertically a vane C with wings a extending toward the bow of the
vessel a a³ extending at right angles to the wing a and a wing as extending toward
the stern of the vessel when in a normal position and not signalling. Both sides
of the wing a and the sides of the wings a¹ a² turned toward the bow of the vessel
are white, the after side of the wing a¹ and the port side of the wing a³ are red,
and the after side of the wing a³ and the starboard side of the wing a³ are green.
A spindle D passing down through the centre of the vane C and the base B and
through suitable bearings attached to the roof of the pilot house, extends down into
the pilot house terminating in a crank arm or hand wheel E with a handle E¹
within convenient access to the pilot or wheelman and said apparatus has any
suitable stop or detent to arrest the rotation at the desired point. Upon the base B
and directly in front of the wing a is placed the white light F while on the port
side of the wing a³ is placed the red light G and on the starboard side of the
wing a³ is placed the green light H.
When the pilot of the signalling vessel wishes to indicate to the approaching
vessel the course he intends to pursue after the usual warning whistle, he turns, by
means of the handle E¹ the vanes and lights so as to display in one instanco only
white and red signals and in the other instance only white and green signals, and
as before explained the combination of the white with the red signals indicates the
intention of the signalling vessel to present her port side to the approaching vessel

page_text: and the combination of the white and green signal indicates the intention of
presenting the starboard side to the approaching vessel.
It will be understood that the lights spoken of will present the signals in the
night and the colors of the vane in the day.
It will also be understood that the lights may be of any suitable character,
stationary or removable, electric lights being preferred in steam vessels.
It is evident that this system or mode of signalling and substantially the same
apparatus may be employed upon sailing vessels and may be placed permanently
or removably at or near the bow or arranged to be hoisted upon the foremast or
placed at the foremasthead. It is evident also that these signal lights in
connection with the lights now required by law will not tend to confuse for the
reason they are grouped so closely together.
The advantage of this system is that it conveys at once to each of two
approaching vessels what its intended course is to be, which is not done by the
system of signals established by law.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
First The system of signalling for vessels by displaying colored signals by night or
day to indicate the intended course of the signalling vessel which system
consists in the employment of a central and two lateral signals arranged
above the wheelhouse upon a platform or base adapted to be operated
from the interior of the wheel house and which platform or base when
stationary presents on a front view only one of the signals but when
turned or viewed at an angle to the front presents two of the signals
substantially as described
Secondly The apparatus for signalling consisting of three lights of different colors
and a vane of three different colours, said vane having a front rear and
two side wings with the lights arranged respectively one at the forward
end of the front wing and one on each side of the rear wing upon a
platform or base pivotted so as to be turned to present the two desired
colored signals by night or day substantially as described.
Thirdly A signalling apparatus consisting of three lights of different colors and a
vane of three different colors, said vane having a front, rear, and two side
wings with the lights arranged respectively, one at the forward end of
the front wing and one on each side of the rear wing upon a platform or
base arranged above the wheel house and adapted to be operated by a
hand wheel or crank within the wheel house, substantially as described
and as shown.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Gardner have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty seventh day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.