The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1911-05-04
Engineer Tells Naval Architects and
Engineers How Il Stops Rolling
Motion Of Boats and How Ap-
piled to Compass.

such subjects were discussed as the
reduction of loss by fire aboard ship,
the use Of producer gas as motive pow
or, and coaling warships.
when the motive power Of vessels
changed from an upsetting force (the
sally to one almost exclusively OF for
ward thrust" said Mr.. Sperry, "the de-
sign of ships underwent quite radical
changes In connection with lines al
tecting the stability, decreasing this
factor and favoring decreased resist
anoe, aiding the attainment Of higher
speeds. Now that stability may be
Impaired to a structure Of naturally
small righting movement, we are on
the eve Of even more radical changes
In design.
"The problem is to hold the ship
from rolling by neutralizing with the
gyroscope each disturbing influence az
It reaches the ship while availing our
selves of all the aid possible through
the design Of the hull and the dispo-
sition of the masses. A great
many ships as they now stand could
with profit utilise the gyroscope
steadying gear. which is at present
available. and some important installar
tions are now being contemplated"
Mr.. sperry told US seeing Russian
warships constructed In Hamburg
which were furnished with $50 to 400
tons Of water slushing back and forth
periodically In huge tanks to counter.
act the roll Of the ship 20 as to make
it possible to operate the guns on q
level. The movement Of the water has
to be timed to the roll Of the sea. and
when it gets out Of time It turns into
menace.
1.-THE gyroscope, on the other hand.
Is not limited to any particular pe'
riod Of the boat; it simply responds
to whatever motion the ship has.
synchronous or non-synohronous."
said Mr.. sperry, "the question is often
asked: Why is q gyroscope better
than moving weight in a ship for
roll quenching?' Every pound In the
rotating mass Of the gyro can be
made to do the work Of from 160 to
200 pounds, and directed In any de-
sired line or plane. whereas when we
use water or any other form OF NOV
ing weight each pound represents
pound only and can do the work OF
only q pound and only In q vertical d.
rection."
Mr.. sperry gave very interesting.
though strictly scientific demonstra-
ton Of the peculiar faculty possessed
by the gyroscope which made 1t pos
sible to transfer energy around q
center" He compared ship with
out a gyrosoope to ship with one'
The model ship in a smooth surface Is
tilted to an angle Of 26 degrees and
then allowed to rock itself to an even
keel. The diagram showed that the
ship with the active gyroscope made
about three rocks in each direction
and then suddenly became 50 steady
that a man could shave or play bill
lizards, while the ship without 1t rock
ed too and fro, taking long time to
let the old cat die"
Mr. sperry praised the work OF
Capt. d. w. Taylor in the Washing.
ton navy yard in respect to the gyro
and said that his treatise on the sub
ject was of immense value toward the
understanding and practical applica'
ton Of gyroscopic energy.
The gyroscopic principles applied to
the compass has proved invaluable
Mr.. sperry said. "This type OF com
pass is not affected in the slightest de
gree by the steel Of the ship or cargo
or any magnetic disturbance. 1t ID also
free from the influences Of those dis
turbanoes technically known a. devt
alton or variation"
: Samuel D. MoComb gave q pape,
embodying suggestions as to the pre-
vention Of loss by fire. He spoke d
the harbor tugs. which are necessar
lily small for maneuvering, and ye'
must have high power. The result II
i that the engines must be made a
: large as tho space will permit. and
the walls Of the boilers are put a
close to the woodwork as the law vii
allow. Such a condition requires
more careful watching than most tui
masters give. and that explains tn
large number Of fires aboard tugs.