IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINERS COMPASSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I RICHARD MEAGER, 4 Brighton Terrace, New Cross in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MARINERS COMPASSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention relates to an improved compass card which is equally applicable
to the smallest fishing boat or to the line of battle ship, and it has for its object
to enable the mariner to ascertain by means of a simple practicable and inexpensive
code of sound signals the course of an approaching vessel in fog, snow or misty
weather, when all lights, and other visible scientific appliances are useless.
The Invention is partly applicable to an ordinary mariners compass that is to
say one which is unprovided with the code which I employ.
The improved card is represented in the accompanying Drawings.
According to my Invention the compass card instead of having a circular
circumference as heretofore, is made of polygonal form that is to say with sixteen
right lines forming the chords of the arcs of a circle described from the centre of
the card, and the sixteen principal points of the compass are opposite the angles
formed by the junction of the chords.
By reason of the polygonal form of this compass card, the respective points are
more correctly defined, so that a ship's course can be more readily found, and
retained by the eye of the helms-man free from that dazzling sensation that is
often experienced by continually looking at the circular form of an ordinary
compass.
The card is divided by a transverse band which I term an equatorial division
and serves to separate the north from the south points. This equatorial division
is advantageous as a means for more correctly defining the course signals, those in
the northern being all reversed in the southern hemisphere.
The course signals of the improved compass code are all marked upon the face
of the compass card, which is represented as having sixteen chords and sixteen
angles, and divided also by the equatorial division into two hemispheres; the eight
principal points in the northern hemisphere being denoted by certain long and long
and short sounds, and the eight principal points in the southern hemisphere being
denoted by certain short and short and long sounds of a whistle (for steam ships)
CD

page_text: or of a horn (for sailing ships). As the several signals are plainly marked upon
the sixteen principal points respectively, the corresponding number of sounds will
denote the course a ship may be steering to within two points of the compass in
from two to twelve seconds, thus
SAILING SHIP.
North-2 long blasts of horn
South 2 short "
"
"
N.E. 2 long and 2 short,,
There are nine circles also represented upon the face of the compass each
radiating from its centre and which are for use as follows:
1 The outer one, being the speed indicating circle, is divided by the eight
principal points of the compass into segments, having the Figures 5 to 19 (all odd
numbers) marked thereon so that the corresponding number of whistle sounds (for
steam ships) or horn sounds (for sailing ships) will denote her speed per hour in
knots thus if her speed be from to 10 knots she will sound 9, if from 10 to
11 knots she will sound 9 and 1 and so on; after once sounding the niue the
units only of the higher numbers need be sounded.
2nd The next is the engine indicating circle which is divided into four segments
each having their respective signals marked thereon thus two sounds of bell
denotes the ship to be going full speed ahead, four sounds of bell denotes her to be
going ahead slow, six sounds of bell denotes her to be stopped and eight sounds of
bell denotes her to be going full speed astern. By these signals the movements
of the engine may be readily made known to other vessels in a few seconds.
3rd The next is the starboard, and port tack or holding on and giving way
circle, which is divided by the equatorial division into semi-circles having their
respective signals marked thereon, thus four blasts of whistle (for steam ships)
or horn (for sailing ships) denotes her to be on the starboard tack,-holding on her
course; six short blasts denotes her to be on the port-tack-giving way.
4th The next is the "not under command" and "caution circle" which is also
divided by the equatorial division into semi-circles that in the northern division
having the words "not under command" (thirty sharp sounds of bell every two
minutes) and that in the southern division the words "sound your course" every
two minutes in thick weather.
1) <<
5th The next is the code circle which is also divided by the equatorial division
into semi-circles, having the words "long blasts four seconds" " short blasts "
one second" duration at intervals of "one second" marked thereon.
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The other four circles are also divided into semi-circles by the equatorial
division, and they relate to the duties of the ship under certain circumstances
which are all named thereon, thus:
6th Ships going free with the wind abeam give way to ships close hauled.
7th Steam ships, when under sail only to sound same signals as sailing ship.
8th Steam-ships, when under steam give way to sailing ships.
9th Whistle and bell for steam ships. Horn and bell for sailing ships.
This code of sound signals is not only useful in thick weather but its utility
would be appreciated by the careful mariner even in clear weather, for as a ship's
side lights do not always indicate her course to within eight or even ten points,
so large a margin leaves a vast scope for perplexity and doubt, which too often lead
to fatal results.

page_text: As the whole of this code is upon the face of the compass card it can be
understood at a glance, and is well adapted for an international code of sound or
fog signals. It could be printed on the compass card in various languages, and
thus enable the various maritime nations to work together to the interest and
benefit of all.
I would have it understood that although I have described the Invention in
connection with a code system both features of my Invention would be useful in
connection with ordinary mariners compasses.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1 Making a marine compass card with its circumference or periphery of
polygonal form substantially as shewn and described for the purpose specified.
2ndly In a marine compass card the employment of a transverse band or equatorial
division, marked on the surface of the card, and serving to separate the northern
from the southern points or courses substantially as shewn and described for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1984.