IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LAYING OUT COURSES, BEARINGS, OR A SHIP'S POSITION UPON A CHART
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henrik Ramsten, of Malmö, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
LAYING OUT COURSES, BEARINGS, OR A SHIP'S POSITION UPON A CHART."
Sealed the 21st March 1873, and dated the 27th September 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henrik Ramsten at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th September 1872.
I, HENRIK RAMSTEN, of Malmö, in the Kingdom of Sweden, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Apparatus for LAYING OUT COURSES, BEARINGS, OR A SHIP'S POSITION UPON A
CHART," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate more especially to an apparatus composed
of two bars, in or upon one of which the other can be caused to slide
and be moved round upon a centre. One of the bars, preferably the
upper one, has a circular plate which may be either fixed or made to
turn independently of the bar at the pivot end, whose face or periphery
is divided into points to correspond with the points upon a compass.

page_text: The face may also be divided into degrees or other parts.
There is at
the pivot end a tail piece with a groove or line cut along its centre, so
that when the sliding and turning bar is moved upon its pivot a reading
of the difference in the course can be taken.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henrik Ramsten in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th March 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRIK
RAMSTEN, of Malmö, in the Kingdom of Sweden, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henrik Ramsten, Her special
licence that I, the said Henrik Ramsten, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry Ramsten, my exc-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR LAYING OUT COURSES, BEARINGS, OR A SHIP'S POSITION UPON A
CHART," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henrik
Ramsten, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henrik Ramsten, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing
forming a part of this Specification :—

page_text: The object of my Invention is the construction of an instrument for
It may
laying off courses or bearings and a ship's position on a chart.
also be used for generally measuring angles on charts, maps, plans, and
the like.
The said Invention consists, first, in the combination of two rules or
bars, one of which has an index or graduated circular scale, and is jointed
or pivoted at the centre of the said index to a slide fitted in or on the
other rule or bar in such a manner that the said slide may be adjusted
in a line parallel to the sides of the said rule or bar. It is also adjustable
on its centre or pivot to any desired angle with the same. The said
index is marked with points, degrees, or other parts of a circle or
compass. The said Invention also consists in a rule or bar marked with
points, degrees, or other parts of a circle or compass pivoted to a guide,
constructed to be used alone or in combination with a common rule for
the nurmese specified
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved instrument; Figure 2 is a side
view; and Figure 3 an end view of the same.
Figure 4 illustrates the application of the said instrument to a chart
for finding a ship's course.
Like letters indicate the same parts in all of the Figures.
a is a flat rule or bar of hard wood, metal, or other suitable material;
bis the aforesaid index rule provided with a compass or graduated
circle b, preferably at one end, as shewn. The rule b at the centre of
the said compass is pivoted to turn freely on the slide c. The said slide
is so fitted in a groove a' in the rule or bar a that it may be moved along
the said rule in a line parallel to its edges.
On this slide c is marked a
centre line d.
In using my improved instrument to find a ship's course I proceed as
follows:-Say the course is between A and B, Figure 4, I lay the edge
of the bar or rule a over these two places. I adjust the index b' and
slide c to make the edge of the index rule coincide with the North and
South points of the compass on the chart, or it may be placed to coincide
with other points if desired. In this manner the course from A to B
will be indicated by the centre line d of the slide to be N.E. ½, E.; or
from B to A SWV ¼ W

page_text: If desired the compass may be stationary on the shac, but the index
rule must always be fitted to turn on its pivot or centre.
Having thus described my said Invention and the manner of performing
ing the same I wish it understood that I claim the instrument or
apparatus constructed and operating as herein set forth and for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henrik Ramsten, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.