Scientific American Supplement, No. 508, September 26, 1885Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 508, September 26, 1885
Various
Science -- Periodicals
This mode of correspondence is based upon the use of the Morse
alphabet. The signals are divided into night and day ones. The day
signals are made with small flags. When these are wanting, sheets of
white cardboard may be used. The night signals are made with a lantern
provided with a support, which may be fixed to a wall or upon a
bayonet.
In day signaling, the dashes of the Morse alphabet are formed by means
of two flags (Fig. 23) held simultaneously at arm's length by the
signaler. The dots are formed with a single flag held in the right
hand (Fig. 24). In this way it is possible, by extremely simple
combinations, to establish a correspondence, and produce any
conventional signal. By means of relay stations, the signals may be
transmitted from one to another to a great distance.
In signaling with the lantern, long and short interruptions of the
luminous source are produced by means of a screen.
OPTICAL TELEGRAPHY BY LUMINOUS BALLOONS.
Various interesting experiments have been made with a view to
utilizing luminous captive balloons for optical communications. As we
have already seen, this maybe effected by using opaque balloons, and
throwing upon them at unequal intervals a luminous fascicle by means
of a projector. As for using a luminous source placed in the car of a
balloon, that cannot be thought of in the present state of aeronautic
science; the continual rotation of the balloon around its axis would
render the projection and reception of the signals in a given
direction impossible.
OPTICAL TELEGRAPHY IN THE MARINE.
For communicating optically from ship to ship during the day, the
marine uses flags of different forms and colors, and flames. Between
ships and the land there are used what are called semaphore signals,
which are made by means of a mast provided with three arms and a disk
placed at the upper part. The combinations of signs thus obtained,
which are analogous in principle to those of the Chappe telegraph,
permit of satisfactorily communicating to a distance.
On board ship, hand signals are used like those employed by the army
for communicating between bodies of troops. For night communications
the marine employs lights corresponding to the day flags, as well as
rockets, and luminous rays projected by means of reflectors and
intercepted by screens.
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