Improvements in or connected with Ships' Course Recording Apparatus and Compasses.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ships' Course Recording
Apparatus and Compasses.
I, JOHN HOPE, of 8, Suburban Road, Anfield, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to apparatus for recording the course taken by a
ship at sea, wherein the record is effected by a marker of a suitable kind, working
or acting in connection with a chart, diagram, or sheet, whereon the actual course
or direction taken by a ship at sea in relation to a given point or points of the
compass is marked or registered; and it also has reference, and is in part
applicable, to ships' compasses of other or the ordinary kinds or types.
In ships' course recording apparatus according to this invention, the diagram,
sheet, chart, or the like is moved by a suitable motor (such as a spring motor)
past the marking device, said marking device being actuated also by the same, or
by a separate, motor. The marker is mounted upon an upright arbor or support,
and retains a north and south, or other position, by magnets connected with and
controlling its position, such magnets being disposed or immersed in liquid
contained within a suitable containing vessel or bowl.
The chief objects of the present invention are to provide improvements in
connection with recording apparatus for registering ships' courses, by which the
actions of the apparatus are rendered more steady, or are improved in effect,
especially in cases, or in times of storms, when a relatively large amount of move-
ment of the ship, is taking place; and also to provide simple forms or constructions
of parts of apparatus of ships' course recording apparatus; some or parts of which
objects and improvements also have reference to ships' compasses generally, in
which the magnets thereof are immersed or work in a liquid, and also to "dry"
compasses.
In ships' course recording apparatus according to the present invention, the
marking device (which preferably consists of a pricker or puncturing device) is
connected to magnets which work in a liquid, contained within a bowl or vessel;
and this device is fixed to or mounted on an arbor which moves with the bowl;
and thus the marking device moves with it out of the horizontal plane; whilst
the weight of the magnets and marking device are largely, or almost wholly,
removed from off or pressing upon the pivot, by buoyancy vessels or pontoons
connected with them. In one case this removal of weight is effected by enclosing
the magnets in pontoons (say of cylindrical form, or other form), the connection
between such pontoons and the marker (which in one arrangement is by the
vertical arbor) being a loose one, say by a loose joint, such as by gimbals; said
gimbals in one-and the preferred-arrangement being disposed near the pontoons.
The pontoons in one case may be rigidly connected to a bridge piece, and this
bridge piece connected to the arbor through gimbals; or, the bridge piece may be
fixed rigidly to the arbor and each pontoon gimballed to the bridge piece separately.
In cases in which I use two liquids of different specific gravities, as hereinafter
specified, the pontoons containing the magnets may be poised at their centre of
gravity or buoyancy, or at any intermediate point; but if I use one liquid only,
then the pontoons should be suspended and not poised.

page_text: In connection with the mounting or gimballing of the pontoons to the arbor,
different influences come into play. If the pontoons containing the magnets are
poised at their centre of gravity, terrestrial magnetism will cause them to assume
an angle, vertically, in accordance with the co-latitude of the place they are in,
geographically. If they are poised when immersed at their centre of buoyancy
they will "dip" one end, when taken into other latitudes; but, if they are allowed
to float on a liquid their buoyancy will offer resistance to dip, because of the
difference of the specific gravity of the liquid and that of the atmosphere resting
upon it; air however is impracticable for this purpose, and I use in the bowl two
liquids, one being of greater specific gravity than the other, viz., the one on which
the pontoons float is greater, and having no affinity for the lighter and upper
liquid. I so adjust the buoyancy of the pontoons while the magnets are within
them that they readily sink through the upper liquid, and float when they reach
the lower, in which position they are more steady than if they were immersed in
one liquid only. By adding to or taking from the lower liquid, I can adjust the
pontoons in height and thereby relieve the lower pivot of the arbor from aur
weight whatever; by this means great steadiness of the marker and perfection of
record is effected, even when the ship has a great amount of movement. Liquids
which will effect these ends are methylated spirit of wine, and highly refined
petroleum, the latter being of less specific gravity than the former, and possessing
a high degree of limpidity, and a low rate of evaporation, at ordinary atmospheric
temperatures.
In one special arrangement of these devices or parts, the arbor or vertical
support rests upon or near the bottom of the vessel or bowl containing the liquid,
and is supported laterally at its upper part by a bearing, where it passes through
the top, or cover, of said bowl or vessel. The supports for the arbor or spindle
may be, or are constituted of, jewels. The bowl is practically a closed one, one
aperture only for the said spindle or arbor existing in it, which said spindle or
arbor fills, and thereby the escape of the vapour of the liquid is almost entirely
prevented.
Above the cover of the bowl, a socket, seat, plate, or equivalent device is
provided on the arbor or pivot, onto which the marking device fits; and it is so
arranged or constructed that the said device can be arranged to lie in a north and
south position, or an east and west position, according as the ship is to make
passage in one or the other direction.
As previously stated, this marking device has no movement in relation to the
arbor or spindle, save in the case when it is raised and lowered onto and off the
it be
paper or other material which is to be marked; when in some cases may
hinged so as to allow it being so moved up to and away from the diagram, chart, or
paper.
The centre of gravity would theoretically be the correct place to hinge or
suspend the magnets, but I find to make the point of attachment to the arbor
above the centre of gravity is practically right, as a pendulous action is obtained,
and it causes them to act like a pendulum in finding only one fixed place of rest.
By this method of constructing a mariner's compass, the magnets have perfect
freedom to accommodate themselves to all disturbing influences such as the rolling
and pitching of the ship etc., with the least possible impairing of their directive
force; and in a compass so constructed, external gimballing may be dispensed
with, and yet the card or rose be perfectly steady and reliable.
In some cases 1 may use only one liquid, and I may adjust the buoyancy of the
pontoons so that they will rise, and not sink, in the liquid. In this case the point
of attachment to the arbor will be below the centre of gravity. I, however, cause
them to sink by the last piece of structure of which they form a part being added
to the arbor at its uppermost end. By this means I can exactly gauge the amount
of downward pressure being put on the lower pivot of the arbor.
The liquid is adapted to fill the bowl or vessel so that no washing about takes
place when the bowl oscillates; but a chamber is provided in the cover or upper

page_text: part of the bowl in which the liquid can flow when it expands by heat, and out of
which it can flow when it contracts. This chamber may be centrally disposed or
otherwise; and the aperture or space for the liquid to enter and leave it being
very small, in the ordinary oscillations of the bowl, little or no liquid will flow into
and out of this chamber.
I find that when the bowl or container of the liquid is of round form having a
flat top and bottom that the liquid remains stationary or nearly so when the bowl
is rotated to and fro horizontally; but, if it be moved in like manner vertically or
angularly, the liquid moves up and down with it, to obviate this I may construct it
of spherical or nearly spherical form.
A further feature according to this invention consists in providing the marking
device with two puncturing ends or points at 180° from each other, that is opposite
each other, and using a ring for actuating same from the motor, half of which
only acts upon the marker. Thus for half the circle, one puncturing point or
marker will be actuated, whilst for the other half circle, the other puncturing point
or marker will be actuated; and the points of these two markers being of different
kinds or form, the direction in which the ship has been sailing, that is whether she
has been sailing either a northern, or southern, or eastern, or western course
during the marking and recording of any particular chart or course, can be
ascertained from the diagram marked.
The actuating ring or device of ships' recorders according to this invention, may
be lifted up and down by levers, the ring being supported in suitable guides; and
the said levers are actuated from the motor by being pressed upon at one end by a
downward action of the actuating part worked or moved by the motor; but no
direct connection exists between them. Thus if the motor mechanism is above the
marker, and resting upon suitable columns or supports, it may be lifted off the
apparatus without breaking any connection, and replaced in position without
making any connection or joint.
In course recording apparatus, or compasses, wherein gimbals are used, the
bowl, or liquid containing vessel, may be supported on a ring, tray, or equivalent
support, connected with the gimbal ring or rings of the apparatus; by which
support, also, the table or surface in connection with which the diagram or chart
paper of course recorders works, is held in position; as may also be the store chart
paper, and other parts. By these constructions the bowl, and table also in course
recorders, may be lifted out of the apparatus with great facility and put back
without making any disconnection or connection.
In the application of the parts of this invention which may be used in connection
with ordinary compasses, the card or rose in the case of liquid compasses may be
arranged inside the bowl, which would be provided with a glass cover or a glazed
cover; or the rose or card may be arranged outside the cover of the bowl proper
and enclosed in a suitable covering. In either or all cases the arbor would be fixed
and work as above described, and the rose or card would be fixed to it and move
or oscillate with it. Such compasses may rest on gimbals; or, they may stand on
feet or a fixed base.
The bowl may be entirely closed in these cases, or either of them.
Dated this 11th dor of Mon 1002
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Ships' Course Recording
Apparatus and Compasses.
I, JOHN HOPE, of 8, Suburban Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention has reference to apparatus for recording the course taken by a
ship at sea, wherein the record is effected by a marker of a suitable kind, working
or acting in connection with a chart, diagram, or sheet, whereon the actual course
or direction taken by a ship at sea in relation to a given point or points of the
compass is marked or registered; and it also has reference, and is in part applicable
to ship's compasses of other or the ordinary kinds or types.
In ships' course recording apparatus according to this invention, the diagram,
sheet, chart, or the like is moved by a suitable motor (such as a spring motor) past
the marking device, said marking device being actuated also by the same, or by a
separate, motor. The marker is mounted upon an upright arbor or support, and
retains a north and south, or other position, by magnets connected with and con-
trolling its position, such magnets being disposed or immersed in liquid contained
within a suitable containing vessel or bowl.
The chief objects of the present invention are to provide improvements in
connection with recording apparatus for registering ships' courses, by which the
actions of the apparatus are rendered more steady, or are improved in effect,
especially in cases, or in times of storms, when a relatively large amount of move-
ment of the ship, is taking place; and also to provide simple forms or constructions
of parts of apparatus of ships' course recording apparatus; some or parts of which
objects and improvements also have reference to ships' compasses generally, in
which the magnets thereof are immersed or work in a liquid, and also to "dry
compasses. The improvements herein described may be used or applied conjointly;
or separately or individually in course recorders or compasses.
37
In ships' course recording apparatus according to the present invention, the
marking device (which preferably consists of a pricker or puncturing device) is
connected to magnets which work in a liquid, contained within a bowl or vessel;
and this device is fixed to or mounted on an arbor which moves with the bowl; and
thus the marking device moves with it out of the horizontal plane; whilst the
weight of the magnets and marking device are largely, or almost wholly, removed
from off or pressing upon the pivot, by buoyancy vessels or pontoons connected with
them. In one case this removal of weight is effected by enclosing the magnets in
pontoons (say of cylindrical form, or other form), the connection between such
pontoons and the marker (which in one arrangement is by the vertical arbor) being
a loose one, say by a loose joint, such as by gimbals; said gimbals in one-and the
preferred-arrangement being disposed near the pontoons.
The pontoons in one case may be rigidly connected to a bridge piece, and this
bridge piece connected to the arbor through gimbals; or, the bridge piece may be
fixed rigidly to the arbor, and each pontoon gimballed to the bridge piece separately.
In cases in which I use two liquids of different specific gravities, as hereinafter
specified, the pontoons containing the magnets may be poised at their centre of
gravity or buoyancy, or at any intermediate point, but if I use one liquid only, then
the poutoons should be suspended and not poised.
In connection with the mounting or gimballing of the pontoons to the arbor,
different influences come into play. If the pontoons containing the magnets are

page_text: poised at their centre of gravity, terrestrial magnetism will cause them to assume
an angle, vertically, in accordance with the co-latitude of the place they are in
geographically. If they are poised when immersed at their centre of buoyancy
they will "dip" one end, when taken into other latitudes; but, if they are allowed
to float on the liquid their buoyancy will offer resistance to dip, because of the
difference of the specific gravity of the liquid and that of the atmosphere resting
upon it;
air however is impracticable for this purpose, and I use in the bowl two
liquids, one being of greater specific gravity than the other, viz., the one on which
the pontoons float is greater, and having no affinity for the lighter and upper liquid.
I so adjust the buoyancy of the pontoons with the magnets within them, that they
readily sink through the upper liquid, and float when they reach the lower, in which
position they are more steady than if they were immersed in one liquid only. By
adding to or taking from the lower liquid, I can adjust the pontoons in height and
thereby relieve the lower pivot of the arbor from any weight whatever; by this
means great steadiness of the marker and perfection of record is effected, even
when the ship has a great amount of movement. Liquids which will effect these
ends are methylated spirit of wine, and highly refined petroleum, the latter being of
less specific gravity than the former, and of great limpidity, and having a low rate
of evaporation, at ordinary atmospheric temperatures.
In one special arrangement of these devices or parts, the arbor or vertical
support rests upon or near the bottom of the vessel or bowl containing the liquid,
and is supported laterally at its upper part by a bearing where it passes through
the top, or cover, of said bowl or vessel. The supports for the arbor or spindle
may be, or are constituted of, jewels. The bowl is practically a closed one, one
aperture only for the said spindle or arbor existing in it, which said spindle or
arbor fills, and thereby the escape of the vapour of the liquid is almost entirely
prevented.
Above the cover of the bowl, a socket, seat, plate, or equivalent device, is
provided on the arbor, onto which the marking device fits; and it is so arranged
or constructed that the said device can be arranged to lie in a north and south
position, or an east and west position, according as the ship is to make passage in
one or the other direction.
As previously stated, this marking device has no movement in relation to the
arbor or spindle, save in the case when it is raised and lowered onto and off the
paper or other material which is to be marked; when in some cases it may be
hinged so as to allow it being so moved up to and away from the diagram, chart,
or paper.
The centre of gravity would theoretically be the correct place to hinge or
Buspend the magnets, but I find to make the point of attachment to the arbor
above the centre of gravity is practically right, as a pendulous action is
obtained, and it causes them to act like a pendulum in finding only one fixed place
of rest.
By this method of constructing a mariner's compass, the magnets have perfect
freedom to accommodate themselves to all disturbing influences such as the rolling
and pitching of the ship etc., with the least possible impairing of their directive
force; and in a compass so constructed, external gimballing may be dispensed with
and yet the card or rose he perfectly steady and reliable.
In some cases I may use only one liquid, and I may adjust the buoyancy of the
pontoons so that they will rise, and not sink, in the liquid. In this case the point
of attachment to the arbor will be below the centre of gravity; I, however, cause
them to sink by the last piece of structure of which they form a part being
added to the arbor at its uppermost end. By this means I can exactly gauge
the amount of downward pressure being put on the lower pivot of the arbor.
The liquid is adapted to fill the bowl or vessel so that no washing takes place
when the bowl oscillates; but a chamber is provided in the cover or upper part
of the bowl in which the liquid can flow when it expands by heat, and out of
which it can flow when it contracts. This chamber may be centrally disposed or

page_text: otherwise; and the aperture or space for the liquid to enter and leave it being
very small, in the ordinary oscillations of the bowl, little or no liquid will flow into
and out of this chamber.
I find that when the bowl or container of the liquid is of round form having a
flat top and bottom, that the liquid remains stationary or nearly so when the bowl 5
is rotated to and fro horizontally; but, if it be moved in like manner vertically or
angularly, the liquid moves up and down with it; to obviate this I may construct
it of spherical or nearly spherical form.
A further feature according to this invention consists in providing the marking
device with two puncturing ends or points at 180° from each other, that is opposite
each other, and using a ring for actuating same from the motor, half of which only
acts upon the marker. Thus for half the circle, one puncturing point or marker
will be actuated, whilst for the other half circle, the other puncturing point or
marker will be actuated; and the points of these two markers being of different
kinds or form, the direction in which the ship has been sailing, that is whether she 1
has been sailing either a northern, or southern, or eastern, or western course, during
the marking and recording of any particular chart or course, can be ascertained
from the diagram marked.
The actuating ring or device of ships' recorders according to this invention, may
be lifted up and down by levers, the ring being supported in suitable guides; and
the said levers are actuated from the motor by being pressed upon at one end by a
downward action of the actuating part worked or moved by the motor; but no
direct connection exists between them. Thus if the motor mechanism is above the
marker, and resting upon suitable columns or supports, it may be lifted off the
apparatus without breaking any connection, and replaced in position without making
any connection or joint.
In course recording apparatus, or compasses, wherein gimbals are used, the bowl,
or liquid containing vessel, may be supported on a ring, tray, or equivalent support,
connected with the gimbal ring or rings of the apparatus; by which support, also,
the table or surface, in connection with which the diagram or chart paper of course
recorders works, is held in position. By these constructions, the bowl, and table
also, in course recorders, may be lifted out of the apparatus with great facility and
put back without making any disconuection or connection.
In the application of the parts of this invention which may be used in connection
with ordinary compasses, the card or rose in the case of liquid compasses may be
arranged inside the bowl, which would be provided with a glass cover or a glazed
cover; or the rose or card may be arranged outside the cover of the bowl proper
and enclosed in a suitable covering. In either or all cases the arbor would be fixed
and work as above described, and the rose or card would be fixed to it and move or
oscillate with it. Such compasses may rest on gimbals, or, they may stand on feet
or a fixed base.
The bowl may be entirely closed in these cases, or either of them.
Drawings illustrative of the improvements above specified are hereto annexeil.
In these:-
Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating a ship's course recording apparatus according
to my invention.
Figure 2 is an outside side elevation of the apparatus.
Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, side elevation and plan, illustrating the means
for actuating the marker.
Figures 5 and 6 are plan and elevation illustrating to an enlarged scale the
marker; and
Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the mode of mounting the marker on the arbor.
Figures 10 and 11 are cross section and plan, illustrating the mode of mounting
the pontoons and magnets.
Figure 12 is an outside elevation shewing a modified form of a bowl under the
invention.
Referring in the first instance to the figures of the drawings having reference

page_text: to ships' course recording apparatus, these shew the improvements above
referred to.
In the drawings, a are the magnets, which are mounted or held in position in
pontoons a, which float or work in a liquid contained in the bowl b, b' of which is
à cover which screws onto the neck 62. The magnet pontoons a' are connected to
the upright arbor c by a gimbal ring a², which is supported from said arbor by the
joint pins c¹, the gimbal ring a being supported to the connecting frame a³ of the
pontoons by the supporting pin joints a, whilst the arbor c is supported at its
lower end upon a socket c³, and above also, by the bearing e; both of which may
be jewelled.
As regards the mode of constructing ships' course recording apparatus, or
ordinary ships' compasses, with respect to the magnets and the marker connected
therewith, or the card or rose connected therewith, as the case may be, by having
the magnets gimballed to an arbor supported at the top and bottom, and to which
also the marker or compass card is fixed; and by having also the weight removed
almost wholly from off the bearings of the arbor, I an enabled to produce a
perfectly steady marker, or compass card; and this is largely attained by having
the pontoons, and magnets in them, perfectly free to accommodate themselves
under all disturbing influences, such as the rolling and pitching of the ship &c.; so
that their directive force, which is solely or mainly preserved by their being
positively steady, is secured, with the least possible impairment; and in a compass
so constructed external gimballing may be dispensed with, and yet the card or rose
will be perfectly steady and reliable.
The marking device is directly supported upon the end of the arbor c, and is a
fixture thereon, it being only capable of vertical movement for and in the act
of puncturing the chart paper. It will thus be seen, that whatever movement
from the horizontal plane the bowl receives, due to oscillations or movement of
the ship, the marker will also receive; and the object of the construction therein
shewn, is to render the pointer steady, that is, so that it will not oscillate about
its pivot, and yet be very sensitive and steady under the circumstances named.
This is effected by the combination shewn, that is by having the arbor fixed to the
marker, and borne at the top and bottom in bearings, and by taking the weight off
the bearings of this arbor by the pontoons a floating in said liquid, and by
connecting said pontoons with the pivot by a loose joint, such as a gimbal ring, at
or near the centre of gravity thereof. With this combination I have found that
perfect steadiness with a large degree of oscillation of the bowl, can be obtained,
the marker remaining absolutely in the same spot or position.
If in lieu of the marker, a compass rose be employed, say in the liquid in the
bowl b, and be rendered visible through having a glass cover to the bowl, this part
of the invention is rendered applicable to ordinary mariners' compasses; or in lieu
of placing the card inside, it may be placed outside in the position of the pricker
marker above specified.
The construction of the marker d, as seen upon reference to the drawings, is of
double construction, that is, it has two pricker points d' d' on arms, which are hinged
at d² to a carrier d³, said carrier being mounted upon the head ex, detachably
supported upon the end of the arbor c, whilst the markers d are actuated by the
ring e, which is supported by vertical pins e' working in the brackets e³ on the bowl
cover, the raising and lowering being effected by levers e supported on fulcrums
on the arms e of the brackets e³, and actuated as hereinafter described, by the
motor mechanism. The connection of the marker d with the head cx, by which it
may be readily removed and placed in position, is effected by providing a collar d*
on the upper side of the carrier part d³, and a pin d¹ on the under side of said
part d³, the collar d* being adapted to slide readily over the boss c on the head c
and the said pin to enter a hold c* in said head c*; there being two such holes
in c* said pin can be placed into either, as may be desired. The marking pricker
points d' are used in duplicate, to indicate in which direction a ship has been

page_text: sailing when the chart was being made, namely, whether it was a northern or
southern course, or an eastern or western course the ship was making, by providing
the two points of the marker of different forms, so that the punctures will be
different, and by having the actuating ring e with half of the web e', which actuates
the marker, cut away and thus, only one of the marker points is actuated at a time,
as only when the web e is within the bifurcated jaw d' of the marker arms d³,
does the marker arm become actuated.
The liquid which I prefer to use in the bowl bis of two kinds, which possess
different specific gravities and do not diffuse, the heavier one, and on which the
pontoons a¹ are mainly supported being of course at the bottom, and the lighter
one at the top. This is employed for the following reasons, and I have found by
experiment that the effect stated is actually produced :-To obtain the conditions
required, that is to mount the pontoons a¹, so that when a ship rolls or pitches, the
movement of the pontoons shall not disturb the marker of the ship's recorder, or
the card of a compass, the said pontoons should be poised at or near their
centre of gravity. In such a case however, if the pontoons be immersed in
a liquid of one specific gravity, and the weight of and acting upon the pontoons be
just that which is necessary to keep the arbor on its pivot, terrestrial magnetism
will cause them to assume an angle vertically, in accordance with the co-latitude of
the place geographically, and they will dip one end when taken into other
latitudes; but, if they were allowed to float on a liquid, their buoyancy would
offer resistance to dip, because of the difference of the specific gravity of the liquid
and that of air; air however is impossible for this purpose, and to obtain the effect
desired I employ in the bowl the two liquids of different spécific gravities, and
without affinity for each other, so that the lighter one rests upon the heavier, and
the pontoons rest upon the heavier, the two filling the bowl. By this means, great
steadiness of the marker of a ship's course recorder and perfection of record is
effected, even when the ship has a great amount of movement; and in the case of
its application to ordinary mariners' compasses, the same great steadiness of the
card is afforded. I find by experiment that for the lower one, spirits of wine may
be used with advantage, whilst for the upper one, highly refined petroleum is
useful. These two liquids, although not of greatly different specific gravities, do
not diffuse, and even if mixed rapidly separate, the petroleum floating upon the
spirits of wine at a clear line of demarcation.
The cover of the bowl is carried up in the form of a neck, 62, which is covered
by a cap screwing thereon having an annular curtain 6, and an annular
horizontal plate 66 at the bottom of same, the outer edge of which almost touches
the inner surface of the neck 62. Thus an annular chamber 6 is formed, and this
is provided to constitute an expansion chamber in which the liquid can enter when
it expands, and from which can flow when it contracts; a small space only, is
allowed for the oil to get in or out, that is, it is not sufficient to allow the liquid
to wash in and out of the chamber 6 when simple oscillations of the bowl take
place. This neck is large enough to pass the pontoons a¹ into and out of the bowl.
The bowl.is carried by a tray u, which is suspended from the main supporting
gimbal ring by the suspension links v. The tray u also carries the coil of the
paper which is marked by the instrument, this is carried on a roller w supported or
carried by a pendent bracket w¹ connected to or formed on the underside of
Baid tray.
The table over which the chart passes is designated f, and is supported from
the tray u by uprights constituting columns with shoulders at thereon, on
which, by projecting lugs f the table frests; whilst the upper gear whereon the
motor spring and mechanism for actuating the ring e and moving the paper is
located and carried, is supported by columns 7, the upper part h¹ whereof is
reduced, and whereon the plates i, which carry said upper mechanism, slide or fit,
the lower one resting on the shoulder of the column h. Thus by unscrewing the
thumb screws u³, the whole of the upper gear and table above the bowl can be

page_text: directly removed, leaving the ring e with its actuating levers e³ on the bowl.
When these upper parts are thus removed, the bowl also, and the parts connected
to it, can just be lifted off the tray u. So by a very simple arrangement and
construction, the motor mechanism and table can at one operation be taken off ;
and then, by another operation, the bowl and its contents can be removed.
The levers which actuate the ring lifting levers e are designated j, and are
mounted at j¹ to the inside of the frames of the table f, and they, at their outer
ends bear upon a pin e' on the outer end of the levers e², and at their other end
they are connected by the side rods to the upper cross bar j*, which receives
intermittent motion up and down by a fixed upper toothed cam wheel k on the
crosshead, and a movable corresponding lower cam wheel ', which is inter-
mittently allowed to rotate one tooths distance by a clock escapement mechanism 3
connected with and operated by the clockwork at ; this mechanism is of
known kind.
The operation of the pricker or marker actuating ring e is thus effected by the
cam disc wheels k k¹ (the lower one of which is driven by the clock z intermittently),
the cross bar, side rods ³, levers ; on the side frames of the table f, and the
levers e actuated by j, mounted on the brackets e on the bowl b, the ends of which
levers come under the projecting parts e of the ring e, and the opposite ends being
depressed in the puncturing action (that is, when operating the pricker arms d³) by
the levers j. Thus no direct connection exists between the lever e³ and j.
The chart or paper y is passed over the table f between the ring 9, which holds
it down on the table, and the upper surface of said table, a circular hole being
provided in the table in the path of the pricker markers d' d', to allow them to
act. The paper is drawn past the marker by the roller which is driven by any
suitable toothed gearing from the motor mechanism Z; and the paper is pressed
onto the roller, by the twin rollers, which are connected together loosely at
their end by links with extending shafts 13; the said links being supported in
brackets, in which they are free to move.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 12, I shew a modification applicable to
ships course recorders, or mariners compasses, the main feature of which is the
employment of a spherical bowl. This is designed to overcome certain defects in
the form of bowls hitherto employed. I have found when the bowl is of round
form having flat top and bottom, that although the liquid remained stationary or
nearly so when the bowl is rotated horizontally, that when it is moved out of the
horizontal plane, that is oscillated vertically or angularly, the liquid moves up and
down with it, and so acts upon the pontoons and magnets and disturbs them, and
the marker or compass card, as the case may be. By the spherical form, however,
the liquid does not move with the bowl, and so the magnets and parts are not
disturbed, and overcome the objections and produce the improved effect.
The bowl 6 (and the whole apparatus) in this case rests upon rigid legs, gimballed
rings being dispensed with, the ring o being supported upon the legs o¹, and the
table f carried or supported from the ring o by the standards u'. Otherwise than
in these respects, this apparatus is constructed similarly to that set forth with
reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A ships course recording apparatus or a mariners' compass wherein a vertical
arbor is employed and the marker or compass card is fixed thereon, and said arbor
has connected with it magnets contained in pontoons and immersed in a liquid
contained in a bowl, said pontoons being connected to said arbor by a loose joint
connection, whereby the angular or vertical motion imparted to the arbor and the
marker or card when a ship is rolling or pitching, is not transmitted to said
pontoons and magnets, and said pontoons and magnets remain steady and prévent
rotary oscillation of the marker or card; operating substantially as set forth.
R

page_text: 2. The herein described improvement in ships course recording apparatus or
mariners' compasses consisting of a vertical arbor, a marker or compass card fixed
thereto, magnets contained in pontoons and connected with said arbor, a bowl
containing liquid in which said pontoons are placed and work, said pontoons being
connected with the arbor at or near the centre of gravity thereof by a loose joint
connection--as by gimbal rings, and adapted to support the weight of said arbor
and parts connected with it: operating substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. In a ships course recording apparatus or mariners' compasses wherein the
controlling magnets are contained in pontoons immersed and working in a liquid
contained in a suitable bowl, the employment of two liquids of different specific
gravities, the said pontoons being adapted to work in connection with said liquid
in a manner substantially as herein described for the purposes specified.
4. The herein described improvement in a ships' course recording apparatus or
mariners' compasses in which magnets are contained in pontoons immersed and
working in a liquid, a spherical bowl (b) filled with said liquid in which the
magnets and pontoons work, whereby said liquid and pontoons remain stationary
when said bowl oscillates vertically or angularly as well as horizontally; for the
purposes specified.
5. In ships' course recording apparatus, a marking device controlled by magnets
and mounted upon a central support and so constructed and adapted-substantially
as described as to be placed and work on said support parallel with the said
magnets and lie north and south and mark a north and south course, or in an
easterly and westerly one, at will, for marking an eastern and western course; for
the purposes herein set forth.
6. The herein described improvement in ships' course recording apparatus,
consisting of a marker with two marking parts 180°.removed from each other, in
combination with an actuating ring of which only half acts upon the marker, and
so that only one of said marking points is acted upon at once, whereby it may
be
ascertained by the chart produced as to whether the ship was sailing in a northern
or southern or in an eastern or western direction: operating substantially as set
forth.
7. The berein described improvement in ships' course recording apparatus or
mariners' compasses, consisting of a bowl b containing a liquid wherein pontoons
containing magnets work, and having a chamber in same into and out of which the
liquid is enabled to pass when it expands or contracts, and at the same time the
bowl is always kept full, operating substantially as set forth.
8. In a ships course recording apparatus wherein the motor mechanism is
disposed above the magnets and marking device, effecting the operation of said
marking device by levers disconnected from but working on one another, one being
connected with the motor mechanism and operated thereby, and the other with and
adapted to operate the marker, said levers being adapted to be moved off one
another without breaking any connection, and replaced in position without making
any connection; substantially as herein set forth.
9. A gimballess ships' course recorder or mariners' compass, wherein a vertical
arbor has connected with it or fixed on it at right angles thereto a marking device
or rose or card, and magnets contained in pontoons connected therewith through a
loose joint connection, and working in a liquid contained in a bowl, and operating
substantially as herein set forth.
10. The herein described improvement connected with ships course recording
apparatus set forth more particularly with reference to Figures 1, 5, and 6,
comprising the combination of a vertically mounted arbor connected with and
controlled by the magnets, and a fixed marking device thereon having an arm or
arms hinged in the horizontal plane and adapted to be operated solely vertically by
the actuating mechanism thereof, as set forth.
11. In a ships course recording apparatus, the marking device mounting or

page_text: support constructed and adapted to operate as set forth more particularly with
reference to Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the drawings.
12. The herein described improvement connected with ships course recording
apparatus or mariners' compasses set forth more particularly with reference to
Figures 10, 11 and 1 of the drawings, comprising an arbor mounted at the top
and bottom, and pontoons containing the magnets and connected to said arbor by
gimbal rings, as set forth.
13. In a ships' course recording apparatus, wherein the magnets work in a liquid
in a bowl, and the motor mechanism is supported above same, a base, as u, mounted
upon gimbal rings which carry the apparatus, and upon which base the said
bowl and said upper gear are supported, said support being so constructed that said
motor mechanism, and the bowl, can be removed; substantially as herein set forth
and shewn in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings for the purposes specified.
18 9th day of February 1094.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.