US882039A - Fog signaling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

No. 882,039. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. T. L. WILLSON.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8 1907.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

INVENTOR T. L .WILLSON.

PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908 T. L. WILLSON.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z 3 Fig. 9. 4 J

E 4 Q li a WITNESSES. INVENTDR. W 'LLJWILLSDN- PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908. T. L. WILLSON. FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTUB. T.L.WILL8ONZ WITNESSES MW? ATTY.

THOMAS LEOPOLD WILLSON, OF OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FOG SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed June 8, 1907. Serial No. 377,980.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, 'liIoMAs LICOIOLI) WILLSON, of the city of Ottawa, in the county of Carleton, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fog Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

IMy invention relates to improvements in fog signaling apparatus, and the objects of my invention are to .provide a simple and ellicient form of fog signaling apparatus for lightships, buoys, submarine bells, or other location on land or sea, which will operate continuously without attention for long periods of time and with a minimum cost for operation.

Fog signaling apparatus, as at present constructed, depends [or operation, either on the Wave motion communicated to the apparatus through the medium of a buoy, or on a mechanical motor, such a steam or gas engine, which either operates to produce the signal itself, or controls the admission oi the sound-producing medium to the signaling apparatus. Those depending on the wave motion have the disadvantage that they are silent in a caln'i sea, while those operated or controlled by a mechanical motor are generally costly in construction and require constant attention and repair to keep inoperation. I

My invention overcomes the defects of both these types of apparatus and provides a continuously and automatically operating signal which maybe placed in any location on land or sea and which is directly operated by the periodic explosion 01 a suitable explosive mixture.

In a preferable form, a bell is rung through the medium of a projectile discharged against it by the force of the explosion. in the alternativeform, the bell is replaced by a megaphone, or other sound-intensitying devicewhich accentuates the noise of the explosion.

An embodiment of the invention 's illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which,

Figure 1 is a side view partially in section of the apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the needle controlling valve. 5 is a central vertical section through the appas ratus used to alternately turn the supply of explosive fluid oil and on for predetermined periods of time. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail along the line 4 4, Fig. 5. Fig. -7 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the interior mechanism ol' the device shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of the means for mixing air with the explosive lluid. Fig. 10 illustrates my invention as applied to a combined bell and lighting buoy. Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 12 is a vertical section illustrating an alternative form of the invention.

1 lathe drawings, like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs.- 1 to f), A represents a bell, suitably supported, below which is the explosion chamber B connected by suitable conducting piping u with the supply of explosive lluid. inserted in the conducting ipe (L are a gas pressure rcgulator C, a necd e controlling valve l a device l) for alternately turning the supply of explosive oil and on, and a device E for mixingi air with the explosive lluid. The explosion chamber B is preferably in the form of an inverted cone, having the inlet port 2 at the constricted bottom thereof and the o 'utlet port b in the top of a diameter nearly equal to that of the top ol the chamber itself. On the exterior of the top of the explosion chamber, opposite the port I), a valve seat 0 is formed in which a striker (shown here as a ball F), or other lorm of projectile, seats, the said ball being of such weight that it will be raiscdo-fl' its seat by the force of an explosion within the chamber and be discharged against the bell. To guide the ball F when discharged, .l provide a tubular extension (Z on the explosion chamber, having an inner diameter sul'istantially equal to that of the ball.- Means are provided to enable the products of combustion to escape as soon as the ball has moved a determined distance, the. means I have shown being channels formed in the upper 'part of the tubular extension adapted to permit the escape of the products of combustion, around the ball, as soon as it has passed the lower portion 0.

Suitable means are provided for igniting the mixture within the chamber, preferably being automatically operated by the passage of gas through the chamber. The means I have invented to accomplish this comprise a discharges into a chamber 7' having gas burner G disposed near the oulet of a explosive mixture may thoroughly com- 1 mingle,

prior to their passage through the pigipg a into the explosion chamber B.

hen the apparatus is used in locations exposed to the weather, it Will be necessary to surround the burner G and device E with suitable protecting casings h and 23.

The device D for alternately turning oil and on the supply of explosive fluid and which thus serves to prevent firing back, as hereinafter described, may be any of the various types-of similar apparatus employed with intermittently burning or flashing gas lights. That which I have illustrated, and which, for the sake of clearness, I will now describe, consists of a casing H formed with an upper 1part m and a base n, which is provided wit an inlet port 0 and an outlet port p, which communicate respectively with conduits g and 1', formed integral with the base and to which is connected the conducting P p 1 The passage of the explosive medium, ordinarily gas, through the inlet and outletports, is controlled by valve disks 8 and t,

' supported on the extremities of a lever u centrally pivoted to aprojecting lug v on the base. The tilting of this lever 14 is automatically controlled by the passage of the gas into the casing, its regulation being such that when a certain amount of gas has passed into the casing, the inlet port will be automatically closed and the outlet port opened, and then again, when this gas has assed out, the

- outlet port will be closed an I the inlet port opened. The means I show to accomplish s, comprise a lever w pivoted to a standard so formed integral with the base, the opposite end of the lever ha ving pivoted thereto, a U-shaped de endent spring member y having arms 7 an 8, adapted to reciprocate in tracks 5 and 6, which are secured 'to and upwardly extend from the base. The ex tremitiesof the arms 7 and 8 of the-spring member are connected to the lever it near the end thereof by means of toggle wires 9 and 10, the length of each of which is slightly greater than the distancebetween the arms will cause the gas to and the lever, whereby they will always tend to assume an inclined position, relatively to each other. By this means, when the endof l the lever 11; is raised, the lever u will not be moved until the points of attachment of the Wires 9 and 10 to the arms 7 and 8 have asscd above the oints of attachment to the ever u, when the ever 11, will operate quickly .diaphragm 12 pressed toward its lowest position b a suitable spring 13 and connected by a bolt 14, or other connecting means with the lever w. The tension of the spring 13 is regulated by a screw 15 extending through the top of the casing, whereby the pressure at which the diaphragm will operate, is controlled.

In operation, the gas passes into the casing, raising the flexible diaphragm l2 and the lever 10. As soon as the lever w has been raised sufficiently to move the extremities of the wires 9and 10 above the points of at tachment to the lever u the spring member will operate to reverse the position of the toggle wires and so depress the end of the. lever a, closing the inlet port and opening the outlet port. This enables the gas topass out by its own expansion, and proceed on its way to the explosion chamber. out, the diaphragm 12, under the actlon of the spring, lowers, lowering the lever to, which, lowering the extremities of the toggle wires, will cause the spring member to oper' ate themin a reverse manner to open the inlet port and close the outlet port. This ass to the air mixing device E in puffs, which will result in alter- As the gas passes nate pulis of pure air, and mixed air and gas which will pass in succession through the piping a into the explosion chamber. Thus any firing back in the piping is prevented by the puffs or plugs of ure air intervening between the puffs or p ugs of the explosive mixture of air andgas. The amount of the pressure of the gas fed into the device D is con. trolled by a needle valve P, or other suitable device. That illustrated comprises a casing 24 having a conical seat 25 therein, against which the conical end 26 of the screw 27 extending through the casing is ada ted to fit. The pressure of the gas is contro ed by the amount of space between the end of the screw and the seat. The flow of gas is rendered uniform in character by a suitable gas pressure regulator O of any suitable form which, being well known in the art, need not be here described.

In the operation of the device, the burner G is kept burning continuously, and the xplosive fluid, Whichis preferably the same gas 'as is supplied to the burner G, is passed through the pressure regulator C and needle nozzle "i, whence it draws the air in through the ports 7c and passest hroughthe combining tube Z and conducting piping'a into the bottom of the explosion chamber. Here, as the supply is continued, tlte explosive mix ture of as and air rises gradually to the top of the c amber, where a small portion of it Jasses out through the passageway g, and being ignited by the flame of the burner G, communicates the ignition to the explosive mixture now filling the chamber B. This causes an explosion of the same, which lifts 'the ball F off its seat and discharges it with great force against the bell A ringing the same. I

It will be observed that the force of the explosion is intensified by the construction .of the tubular extension d ,which prevents any of the gas escaping until the ball has moved passed the beginning of the channels f. After the explosion the passageway g, as well as the chamber itself, are cleared by the products of combustion passing out. But the spent gases pass out with the refillin of the chamber, and, as the ball instantly falls back after the explosion and stroke it falls upon the gases which are still in the chamber and passageway for the ball, so that the ball is cushioned 'by the gases contained in the chamber and passage. The explosion having taken place, back firing of the device E is prevented by the device D, causing alternate puffs of air and explosive mixture to pass through the piping (I, and before another explosion takes place, the explosion chamber B must be again gradually filled from the bottom, when the action will be again repeated.

It is evident that the periodicity of the explosion is controlled by the speed with which the explosive mixture is forced into the chamber and this will depend on the pressure of the gas itself, and hence, by regulating the needle valve, the periodicity of the explosion may be controlled. The periodicity is also to a certain extent, inlluenced by the size of the passage-way g, as the products of combustion from one explosion, must be cleared out of this, before the next can take place.

Referring to the application of the device to gas buoys, as illustrated in Fig. 10, l is the float chamber of the buoy, which supports the gas generator tube J, from the top of which the conducting pipe 16 leads to the lamp K, supported in a suitable frame L. A suitable bell M is also supported on the frame, below which the explosion chamber B is arranged, together with the remaining parts of my apparatus as hereinbefore described. Branch conducting pipes 17 and ply the gas burner G and the explosion chamber respectively.

In the modified form illustrated in Fi 1 1, the port 1) in the top of the explosion cl amber is closed by a plate 19 connected to the lever 20' pivoted to the projection 21 on the side of the explosion chamber. In this modification the striker is in the form of an arm 22 which extends from the plate 19 and thus, when an explosion occurs within the chamber, the plate will be raised, swinging on the pivoted arm 20 and causing the striker 22 to hit the bell. In the alternative form illustrated inFig. 12, the port I) has deadening sound on the bell such as is difficult to avoid in the ordinary bell clapper. The products of combustion passing freely out, clear the chamber and outlet passageways therein.

lt will be observed that my-mode of operation dill'ers entirely from that hitherto employed, in which the explosive mixture was compressed in a chamber and then exploded,

since the mixture is not compressed but flows freely through the chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described herein with great particularity of detail, yet it will be readily understood that in carrying out the construction of the same, changes within the scope of'the appended claims, may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention What 1 claim as my invention 1s:. 1 l. A signaling apparatus including a striker, a sounding device operated thereby and an explosion device directly operating the striker.

2. A signaling device including a vibratory sound producing means, an explosion device operating intermittently at atmospheric pressure, and means for directly ap plying the force of the explosions to vibrate the sound producing means. 7

3. A signaling apparatus including a striker, a sounding device operated thereby, means for producing explosions of gas at atmospheric pressure, and means for applying theforce of the explosions to operate the striker.

18 ad from-the conducting pipe 16 to supl 4. A signaling apparatus, including a hell,

&.

a projectile means for creating an explosion, means for applying the force of the ex losion to direct the rojectile against the bel 5. A signa ing apparatus including in combination, means for producing an explosive mixture, means for igniting said mixture at substantially atmospheric ressure to produce an explosion and signa ing means oper* ated by the explosion.

6. A signaling apparatus including incombination, an explosion chamber having permanent communication with the open air, means for introducing an explosive mixture .into the chamber, means for igniting the mixture in the chamber, and signaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber.

7 A signalin apparatus including in combination an exp OSlOIl chamb'er having a permanently open port, means for introducing an explosive mixture at substantially atmospheric pressure into I the chamber, a gas burner exterior to the chamber adjacent to the port therein, adapted to (ignite the mixture through the ort and signaling means operated by an exp osion within the chamber. 8. The combination with a gas containing buo'y, of a sounding device, a striker therefor, and an explosion device directly operatin the striker and adapted to be operated by the gas carried by the buoy.

9. The combination with a buoy, and ga generating means thereon, of means for periy matically operatingto positively and odically producing explosions of a portion of said gas, and signaling means operated by the force. of the explosions.

10. The combination with a bell, of a projectile and an exploding apparatus autoer1- odicall impel the projectile against the ell.

11. he combination with a bell, of a pro jectile, an exploding ap aratus automatically o erating to positive y and periodically impel t e same against the bell, and means for'varying the periodicity of the discharge.

- 12. A signaling apparatus, including in combination, a bell, an explosion chamber, means for intermittently producing an explosion therein, and bell ringing means operated by the force of the explosion. v p

13. A signaling apparatus, including in .combination, a bell, an explosion chamber,

15. A signaling apparatus including incombination, [a bell, an explosion chamber having an outlet port therein, a gravity seated ball closing t e outlet port but adapted to be impelled by an explosion therein,

a tubular extension on the chamber adapted to direct the ball against the bell, the inner diameter of the tubular extension being substantially equal to that of the ball and means on the upper part of the extension for permitting the escape of the products of the explosion after the ball has traveled a determined distance, and, means for intermit tently creating an explosion within the chamber. r

17 A signaling apparatus including in combination, a bell, an explosion chamber, having an outlet port therein, a valve seat formed on the outer side of the outlet port, a ball in the valve seat ada; ted to be impelled by an explosion within t e chamber, means for directing the ball against the bell, andmeans for intermittently creating an explosion within the chamber.

18. A signaling apparatus including in combination, a bell, an explosion chamber having an outlet port therein, a gravity seated projectile normally closing the outlet port but adapted to be impelled by an explosion within the. chamber, and means. for preventing the escape of the products of the explosion until the projectile has moved a predetermined distance, and means for creat-- ing an explosion within the chamber.

19. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamber, means for introducing an explosive mixture near the bottom thereof, and igniting means at the pper part of the'chamber adapted to exu p ode the mixture when it rises to the said upper part and signaling means operated by an explosion Within the chamber.

20. A signaling apparatus including in combination, anexplosion chamber, a supply pipe entering the same near the bottom thereof, means for mixing air with the explo-.

sive fluid during passage through the pipe, igniting means on the upper part of the chamber adapted to explode the mixture when it rises thereto, and means for preventing firing back after an explosion and signaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber. I

21; 'A signaling apparatus including in' combination, an explosion chamber, piping leading thereto, means foralternately passing through the piping, putl's of air and mixed air and gas, and igniting means at the upper part of the chamber adapted to explode the mixture when it rises thereto and signaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber.

22. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamber, a gas supply pipe therefor, means in said pipe for mixing air with the gas during passage therethrough, means for automatically turning the gas off and on for predetermined periods of time, igniting means disposed exterior to the chamber and means placing the same in communication with the interior of the chamber, signaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber.

23. A signaling apparatus including in combination, a chamber having an opening therein, means for passing an explosive mixture into the chamber, igniting means coacting with the chamber for periodically exploding the mixture while in the chamber, closing means for the opening in the chamber adapted" to be moved outwardly by an explosion within the chamber and a sound.-

ing device operated by the outward move ment of the closing means.

24'. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamber having an opening therein, outwardly movable closing means for the said opening, normally gravity heldin closed position but adapted to be moved outwardly by an explosion within the chamber, means for creating an explosion within the chamber and a sounding de- -vice operated by the closing means in its outward movement.

25. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamber having an opening therein, means for creating an explosion in the chamber, closing means for the openin adapted to be moved outwardly by an exp osion within the chamber, and a hell adapted to be rung by the closing means in its outward movement.

26. A signaling apparatus including in combination,- an explosion chamber, means for introducing an explosive mixture thereinto. and igniting ITI2LI1S external to the chamber, the. said chamber having a conducting passageway permanently open and adapted to afford communication between the mixture within the chamber and the ig niting means and signaling means operated by an explosion within the chamber.

27. A signaling apparatus including in combination, an explosion chamber having a permanently open inlet port at the bottom and an outlet port at the top, means for in troducing an explosive mixture through the inlet port, and igniting means external to the chamber, the said chamber having a con ducting passage-way at the top thereof, adapted to afford communication between the mixture within the chamber and the igniting 11108118, and signaling means operated by an explosion through the outlet port.

A signaling apparatus comprising a gradually enlarging explosion chamber, an inlet port near the smaller end thereof, an outlet port at the larger end, closing means at. the outlet port adapted to be displaced by an explosion within the chamber, means for introducing a mixture within the chamber, means for exploding the mixture, and signaling means operated by the displacement ol the closing means.

29-. A signaling apparatus comprising an explosion chamber having the interior thereof substantially in the form of an inverted cone, with an inlet port at the bottom and an outlet port at the top of nearly equal diameter with the large diameter of the cone, closing means for the outlet port adapted to be displaced by an explosion within the chamber, means for exploding the mixture and signaling means operated by the displacement of the closing means.

30. in combination with an explosion device, and signal operated thereby, of means lor su plying to the explosion device combustible and not1-combustiblc fluids in alternale succession.

31. in combination with an explosion de vice and signal operated thereby, ol a feed conduit for the explosion device and means for alternately providing in said conduit combustible and noil-combustible lluids.

3'3. in combination with an explosion device and signal operated thereby, ol' aleed conduit for the explosion device, means for passing a combustible lluid intermittently through said conduit and means for drawing air into said conduitby the passage of said lluid.

33. The combination with an explosion chamber of determined form having igniting means 1103i one end tliereol,aml an inlet port near the other end thereof, with a clear passage between, of means. for gradually feeding an explosive mixture by its own expension through the inlet port to the igniting means, and signaling means 'directly operated by the force of the explosion.

34. The combination of the explosion device and projectile discharged thereby, and of sounding means operated by the projectile when discharged by said explosion device, said explosion device being provided with means for holding the gases to cushion the projectile on its return.

in a signaling apparatus and in combination, an explosion chamber, means for supplying by its own expansion an explosive fluid thereto, means for igniting said fluid when the chamber is substantially filled, and signaling means actuated by an explosion oi the fluid.

36. A signaling apparatus including in combination, a vibratory sound producing means, a projectile and automatically actuating means for periodically and ositively impelling the projectile against t e sound producing means.

37. The combination with a sounding;

device, of an ex losive device adapted to intermittently discharge the roducts of combustion, and a striker for t e sounding vince of Ontario, this 4th day of June, 1907.

THOMAS LEOPOLD WILLSON.

Witnesses 2 RUSSELL S. SMART, MARYS. LYON.

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