US2250466A - Device for practice in receiving international semaphore code signals - Google Patents

Description

July 29, 1941. w CATTANACH 2,250,466

DEVICE FOR PRACTICE IN RECEIVING INTERNATIONAL SEMAPHORE CODE SIGNALS Filed 001:. 14, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR FPEDFP/(K W. (4 TTA/VACH ATTORNEY July 29, 1941. F. w. CATTANACH 2,250,466 DEVICE FOR PRACTICE IN RECEIVING INTERNATIONAL SEMAPHORE CODE SIGNALS Filed Oct. 14, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FPFDiP/(A W. (mm/40 ATTORNEY y 1941' F. w. CATTANACH 2,250,466 DEVICE FOR PRACTICE IN RECEIVING INTERNATIONAL SEMAPHCRE CODE SIGNALS Filed Oct. 14, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR FPEDEQ/C'K 14 [ATM/V409 ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1941 DEVICE FOR PRACTICE IN'R-ECEIVING IN- TERNATIONAL SEMABHORE CODE SIGNALS- Frederick W. Cattanach, Cranford, N. J. Application October 14, 1939,.Serial No. 299,494

14 Claims.

This invention. relatesto device for practice in. receiving International semaphore. code signals.

object of this inventionis to provide a convenient pocket instrument for practice in acquiring. speed and accuracy in the art of interpreting all signal. arm positions of the International semaphore code of signals.

Aiurther object of this invention is to provide a, device of the character described, having the shape of a pocket watch and having a pair of semaphore flags which rotate about a common center asido the hands ot a watch, the device being provided with means to rotate the semaphore flags to various positions to represent various letters,,the device being further provided with means to show the letters corresponding to the positions of the flags in the various positions thereof.

Yetv another object of this invention is to provide; in a device of the character described, a spring pressed push button, and means to change the position of the flags each time the push button is depressed, to enable the user to practice receiving at times when an additional signal man is not available for sending.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a compact and durable device of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, and yetpractical and efficient to a high degree in use..

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The'invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, andarrangement of parts which will be exemplified' in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown oneof the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5. of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the device with the back case cover removed;

Fig. 7 is across. sectional view taken on line.

1-1 of Fig. 3; and

Referring? now. in detail to the drawings, I0"

designatesa semaphore signal practice device of. the character described. The same comprises a.

pocket size casing H shapedsimilarly to apocket: Watch.

The. casing: ll comprises an annular member lzzformedwith a radial neck l3. at the top. Within neck: 1-3; is: a.transverse.wall l4 formed with a through opening l5. Extending: throughv the. through opening. 15 is astem l6 provided with a fixed collar H at. its lower end. Above the transverse: wall lid is a coil compression spring I8 surrounding the, stem, and at. the upper end of the. stem, isv a head, l9 contacted, bythe. coil; spring;

Within, the: annularmember- [2 are a pair of; fixed, spaced, parallel, annular discs 22. and 23.- interconnected by aplurality-of spacer pins 24. The disc; 23 is. formed with, a central bearing" opening 25'. Journalledwithin saidbearing openingiisahub 25 carrying acam 21 at one end, disposed: between the discs 22 and 23, and'having a.

shape to be described hereinafter.

Fixed'to the cam.2.1,.and disposed between said camandthe'disc 23'; isa ratchetxan adapted to rotate-with saidcam. Pivoted tothe disc 23 is a pawl. arm. 32 having; a. 1ugt33. adapted.- to be con- IG. The pawl.

tacted by the lower end of: the stem arm. is. maintained. in. contact with they stem l6l by spring. 34.. Fixed to. the. disc 23 is apin. 35. passing: through a. slot 36 in the pawl arm, limit the angular rotationof. said pawl arm. On pawl arm 32. is apawl; 31 engaging. the teeth ofv theratchet. Each time the head 19 is. depressed, the ratchet is rotated to. a: predetermined angle.

Mountedon the hub 26, and disposed on the outer side of'the disc 23" is a plate 40 maintained onthe hub by-thehead of a-screw- 4 l screwed'into said'hub. The platerotates-with the cam 21 and ratchet 30. aremarked letters 42, there'being as many letters on theplate 40- as there are teeth in the ratchet 30;

Attached to the annular-member I2 is a back' cover case which covers the plate 40. The" On the outside of the-plate 40 of semaphore signals regulated by the position of the cam 21.

The disc 22 is formed with a central bearing opening 53 in which is journalled a hub 51 carrying a pinion 52 at its inner end disposed between the disc 22 and the cam 21. On the outer end of the hub 5! there is carried a radial semaphore signal 55 which may have the shape of a semaphore flag.

The hub 51 is formed with an axial through opening 55 and journalled in said opening, is a shaft 51' carrying at its outer end a second semaphore signal 58. The shaft 5? is also journalled in an axial bore 59 in the hub 26, and carries a pinion 85 of similar size to the pinin 52.

interconnecting the discs 22 and 23 are a pair of transverse pins 54 and 85. Rotatably mounted on said pins are bell cranks 65 and 51. On bell crank 65 is a segmental gear 68. lvieshin with the pinion 52 and on bell crank 67, is a segmental gear 69 meshing with the pinion 69.

Bell crank 66 is furthermore provided withan arm 16 carrying a roller H in engagement with the periphery of the cam 2'5. Bell crank 61 is furthermore formed with an arm 12 carrying a roller E3 in engagement with another portion of the peri hery of the cam 27. The rollers H and :3 are maintained in engagement with the cam by springs l5 and i8 engaging the bell cranks.

It will now be understood that as the cam rotates the bell cranks 66 and B"! will be rotated about the pins 64 and 65 to in turn rotate the pinions 52 and 65 to various positions for rotating the signals 55 and 58 to different positions.

The cam 27 is so shaped that in each angular position thereof, the semaphore signals 55 and 53 are moved to predetermined relative positions corresponding to the letter 42 on the plate 40 which may be seen through the peepsight 46. As the push button or stem [6 is depressed, the ratchet 33 is rotated to rotate the cam, and as the cam is rotated, the semaphore signals are swung to difierent relative positions. The operator may thus depress the button, and then look at the signals and see whether he knows the letter corresponding to the position of the signals. He may then look through the peepsight to see whether his interpretation of the signal is correct.

It will now be understood that the two signal arms in the form of miniature flags turn about a common center as do the hands of a watch, and that each application of pressure on the external button or stem, so actuates the internal mechanism as to cause the two signal arms to assume the relative code positions on the dial representing a letter of the alphabet. Similarly repeated applications of pressure will give, one at a time, all the flag positions required by semaphore code.

The cam disc 2'. may be replaced by other cams having different outlines to produce different sequences of letters, and such cams may be shaped to spell out coded or spelled words or messages.

To cover the signal arms 55 and 58 there may be attached to the front edge of the annular member 2, a bezel 82] carryin a glass plate 8|, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Furthermore, a looped handle 82 may be swiveled onto the neck E3, in the manner or" a watch.

It will thus be een that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted upon a common center, a depressible member means to rotate said arms to various relative code positions upon successively depressing said member, and means controlled by said first means to indicate the letters of the alphabet corresponding to the various positions of the signal arms, said signal arms being located at the front of the device, and the means to indicate the letters being located at the back of the device.

2. In a device of the character described, a ratchet, a depressible member, pawl means to advance the ratchet each time the depressible member is depressed, a cam fixed to the ratchet for rotation therewith, a pair of signal arms mounted for rotation about the center of said ratchet, a pinion on each signal arm adapted to rotate therewith, a pair of bell cranks, each having a segmental gear engaging one of the pinions, and means on said bell cranks to engage the periphery of said cam.

3. In a device of the character described, a ratchet, a depressible member, pawl means to ad Vance the ratchet each time the depressible member is depressed, a cam fixed to the ratchet for rotation therewith, a pair of signal arms mounted for rotation about the center of said ratchet, a pinion on each signal arm adapted to rotate therewith, a pair of bell cranks, each having a segmental gear engaging one of the pinions, means on said bell cranks to engage the periphery of said cam, and spring means for retaining the cam engaging means in contact with the periphery of said cam.

i. In a device of the character described, a ratchet, a depressible member, pawl means to advance the ratchet each time the depressible member is depressed, a cam fixed to the ratchet for rotation therewith, a pair of signal arms mounted for rotation about the center of said ratchet, a pinion on each signal arm adapted to rotate therewith, a pair of bell cranks, each having a segmental gear engaging one of the pinions, means on said bell cranks to engage the periphery of said cam, a plate fixed to said ratchet for rotation therewith, and a fixed cover on said device having an opening through which a portion of the plate may be seen.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a watch shaped casing, a spring pressed depressible button on said casing, a pair of signal arms within said casing rotatable about a common axis, said casing being provided with a glass plate at the front of the casing, through which the signal arms may be seen, and means for rotating the signal arms to various code positions each time the button is depressed, and means at the back of the casing controlled by the first means to indicate the code positions of said signal arms.

6. A device of the character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressed push button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of .said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl onsaid pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about theaxis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinionsrespectively,

'7. A device of the character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressed push button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl on said pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about the axis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinions respectively, and spring means to retain said rollers in engagement with the periphery of said cam.

8. A device of the character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressed push button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl on said pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about the axis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinions respectively, spring means to retain said rollers in engagement with the periphery of said cam, and means to limit angular movement of said pawl arm.

9. A device of the character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressed push button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl on said pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about the axis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinions respectively, spring means to retain said rollers in engagement with the periphery of said cam, means to limit angular movement of said pawl arm, and means to maintain said pawl arm in engagement with the spring pressed button.

I 10. A device of the'character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressedpush button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl on said pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about the axis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinions respectively, spring means to retain said rollers in engagement with the periphery of said cam, means to limit angular movement of said pawl arm, means to maintain said pawl arm in engagement with the spring pressed button, and a plate fixed for rotation with said ratchet, and a cover attached to said annular member, and closing said plate, said cover being formed with an opening through which a portion of said plate may be seen.

11. In a device of the character described, a ratchet, a depressible member, pawl means to advance the ratchet each time the depressible member is depressed, a cam fixed to the ratchet for rotation therewith, a pair of signal arms mounted for rotation about the center of said ratchet, a pinion on each signal arm adapted to rotate therewith, a pair of bell cranks, each having a segmental gear engaging one of the pinions, and means on said bell cranks to engage the periphery of said cam, said pawl means comprising a link pivoted at one end on a fixed pivot, a pointed member pivoted to the other end of said link and engaging said ratchet, and said depressible member engaging said link, the pivotal point between the pointer and link being located between the fixed pivot and the point of engagement between said pointer and said ratchet, and being adapted to move toward a line connecting said fixed pivot and point of engagement, upon depressing said depressible member.

12. A device of the character described, comprising a watch shaped casing, a spring pressed depressible button on said casing, a pair of signal arms within said casing rotatable about a common axis, said casing being provided with a glass plate at the front of the casing, through which the signal arms may be seen, means for rotating the signal arms to various code positions each time the button is depressed, and means at the back of the casing controlled by the first means to indicate the code positions of said signal arms, one signal arm being mounted on a hollow shaft receiving the shaft on which the other signal arm is mounted.

13. A device of the character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressed push button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl on said pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about the axis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinions respectively, said rollers being spaced apart about 120 relative to the center of said discs.

14. A device of the character described, comprising an annular member formed with a radial neck, a spring pressed push button on said neck, a pair of parallel transverse discs on said annular member, a ratchet rotatably mounted on one of said discs, a pawl arm pivoted to said disc and adapted to be depressed by said push button, a pawl on said pawl arm engaging the teeth of said ratchet, a cam fixed to said ratchet, a pair of signal arms rotatably mounted about the axis of said ratchet, and each carrying a pinion, said pinions being similar, a pair of bell cranks pivotally mounted on and between said discs, each having an arm provided with a roller engaging the periphery of said cam, and each having a second arm provided with a segmental gear, said gears meshing with said pinions respectively, and spring means to retain said rollers in engagement with the periphery of said cam, the pivotal point of the pawl on the pawl arm being adapted to move toward the center of the ratchet when said push button is depressed.

FREDERICK W. CATTANACH.

Images