Patent GB-191021664-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Recording the Course of Ships.
Inventor: SPALAZZI FRANCESCO
IPC: B63B9/00
Filed: 1910-09-17
Granted: 1911-09-18
Abstract: 21,664. Spalazzi, F. Sept. 17. [Addition to 11,810/08.] Course - recording apparatus; mariners' compasses. - Comprises a form of the apparatus described in the parent Specification in which the course recorded corresponds more accurately with the course made by the ship, and, in addition, the course of an observed ship is recorded on the same sheet. Fig. 6 shows a vertical section of the disk with the recording- apparatus. Four electric motors 62, 130, 168, 210 are used, the first two to repeat the movements of the observing ship, and the others those of the observed ship. The motor 62 repeats the motion of the propeller shaft by means of a gear train and a switch, which may be of the kind described in Specification 11,338/09, [Class 38 (v), Electric switches &c.]. T h i s gear train is provided with a differential device controlled by a centrifugal governor, so that a correction is made in the ratio of transmission for various speeds. The transmitting-shaft of the train carries a fly-wheel fitted with a box containing a spring, which, when wound up or relaxed, according to the inertia of the ship at starting, or its momentum after the engines are stopped, furnishes a further correction. The shaft of the motor 62 drives a drum 78, which advances the recording-sheet proportionately therefore to the speed of the ship. The motor 130 repeats the movements of the compass, which is fitted with an arm 91, Figs. 9 and 10, having curved depending plates at its ends dipping into acidulated water in. a circular groove 92. A device 99 driven by a small motor 102 converts continuous current into alternating current for energizing a relay motor 94 which operates a mercury-cup switch supplying current to the motor 130. The shaft of this motor is connected by the gear shown in Fig. 6 to the roller 143, which, for moving the record sheet laterally, co - operates with the roller 144 carried by an arm which supports the printing-point 80. The third motor 168 reproduces the movements of a telescope trained on the observed ship. The movements of the handles 149, Fig. 13, for moving the telescope operate a switch 159 for the motor 168, the shaft 177 of which is geared to the sleeve 183 carrying the alidade 184. The movements of the telescope are at times very slow, tending to produce sparking when the brushes pass over the different sections of the segmental part of the switch. To prevent this, the action of the switch is regulated by a spring snap triangular member 189, shown in various positions in Figs. 14 and 15. The electric motor 210, which is similar to the motor 62, is carried by the alidade 184, and operates the screwed shaft 220, which displaces a movable carriage 221 so as to bring it into a position corresponding to the distance of the watched ship. Parallel to the shaft 220 is a shaft 225, which, when the electromagnets 222 are energized, turns and operates the arm 226 and lever 229, Fig. 8, carrying the writing-point 230 adapted to come in contact with the record sheet. An eccentric upon the shaft 230 also acts upon a marking-point 247 co-operating with the roller. A clock-work device (not shown) produces instantaneous closure of the circuit at regular intervals of time. The disk 239, Fig. 6, is transparent and subdivided by circular, horizontal, radial, and vertical lines, and the distances can be read off on a slotted ruler (not shown). The recording-apparatus may be placed if necessary in a chamber under the conning-tower, to which a telescope is fitted. By causing the observing-ship to steer a fixed course, the apparatus may be simplified, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. The motor 258, which repeats the number of revolutions of the propeller shaft as before, actuates a screwed spindle 262 having a nut 263 carrying a slide 264 which indicates the position and way made by the first ship. On the support 265 is mounted an alidade 266 fitted with two sights 267<1>, 267<11>, and also a pointer 268 sliding along a divided portion of the alidade.