IMPROVEMENTS IN MARINERS' OR SHIPS' COMPASSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augusto Albini, of Genoa, and also of No. 1,
New Broad Street Buildings, in the City of London, Captain in
the Royal Italian Navy, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MARINERS' OR SHIPS' COMPASSES."
Sealed the 29th December 1868, and dated the 4th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augusto Albini at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th July 1868.
I, AUGUSTO ALBINI, of Genoa, and also of No. 1, New Broad Street
Buildings, in the City of London, Captain in the Royal Italian Navy,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MARINERS' OR SHIPS' COMPASSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object so to construct mariners' or ships'
compasses as to make them capable of registering at short intervals
the course steered by the ship. I effect this object by constructing and
arranging the parts of the said mariners' or ships' compasses in the
following manner :-Under the usual compass card I fix a metallic ring

page_text: divided on its under side into the same number of points as and
At each division the said
corresponding to those of the compass card.
ring is engraved with one or more letters, figures, or conventional signs
to indicate the compass points and capable of answering as printing
types. The compass card fitted with the said ring is suspended in the
usual way upon a central pointed support. The said pointed support
is fixed upon a metallic frame containing a clockwork arrangement.
On the face of one of the frame plates is a clock dial to indicate the
time, and on the opposite frame plate is a piston or rod geared to the
said clockwork, and made by its action to rise and fall at fixed intervals.
The upper part of the piston or sliding rod is bent at right angles so
as to project above the card ring herein-before described. On the said
bent part of the sliding rod a small metallic point is fixed vertically,
the said point being fitted with a spiral spring; fixed on the front
frame plate and at the back of the sliding rod is a small horizontal
elastic cushion situated a little below the ring of the compass card when
suspended. A little below the level of the cushion and in the same
line is fixed a small horizontal plate carrying in its centre a small well,
filled with a suitable coloured liquid, and a little above the said plate
a narrow silk ribbon or other material is fixed, one end dipping in the
well and the other end being fixed to a metallic support at the further
end of the elastic cushion, the said ribbon being supported a little above
the surface of the said cushion. On each side of the elastic cushion a
pulley or drum is fixed, on one of which pulleys narrow paper slips
chemically prepared are coiled, the other pulley receiving the paper
slips as they are uncoiled from the first-mentioned pulley by the action
of the machine. At the base of the axis or point which carries the
needle is placed a metallic bar with a knob at each end for the purpose
of checking the vibrations of the compass card. The whole machine is
suspended on gimbals to allow for the motion of the ship.
The action of the several parts is as follows:-At every minute or
other fixed interval the clockwork causes a quick descent of the sliding
piston or rod. In its motion the upper bent part strikes over and
depresses the ring fitted to the compass card and causes the types
underneath it in the direction of the ship's head to press the prepared
silk tape and the paper slip upon the cushion by the descent of the
ring described and its pressure on the tape and paper slip. The letters
or signs on the under side of the ring are printed on the said paper slip,
the impressions made corresponding to the course followed by the ship,

page_text: as the sliding rod is constantly pointing in the direction of the ship's
head. On the descent of the sliding rod the small point connected with
it and fitted with a spiral spring strikes upon and marks the paper slip,
the mark indicating the centre of the ship's course printed on the paper
slip. After the paper slip has been impressed the sliding rod rises
slowly to its former position so as to prevent the vibration of the card.
The rising motion of the rod causes a slight rotation of the pulleys
and thereby removes the printed part of the paper slip and brings a
blank part in position for the next impression.
My Invention may be modified in the following ways:-I construct
the compasses of large diameter, and instead of fixing the engraved ring
in contact with the compass card I place the said ring below the card
in such a way as to remain connected with the card, but to leave a
space between them. In this arrangement the bent part of the sliding
rod moves in the space described in its striking action, and is not
exposed above the compass card. In place of the small well with
coloured liquid and the silk tape for the supply of the printing
material a circular disk of paper or material chemically prepared may
be used, the said disk moving on its centre after each impression. Or
instead of the said disk an endless silk ribbon suitably prepared may be
used. The said ribbon is placed over the pulleys carrying the paper
slips, and is made to revolve by their motion. The paper slips beforo
coming in contact with the cushion may pass through a small cup
containing a suitable chemical solution so as to cause a chemical action
when the moist paper comes in contact with the types of the ring and thus
leave an impression on the paper. The ring under the compass card
may be constructed in such a way as to contain the printing liquid
which by capillary attraction is caused to flow from the types at the
moment of contact with the paper.
O SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Augusto Albini in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTO
ALBINI, of Genoa, and also of No. 1, New Broad Street Buildings,
in the City of London, Captain. in the Royal Italian Navy, scud
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Augusto Albini, Her special licence that I,
the said Augusto Albini, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Augusto Albini, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 MARINERS' OR
SHIPS' COMPASSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said.
Augusto Albini, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Augusto Albini, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention has for its object so to construct mariners' or ships'
compasses as to make them capable of registering at short intervals the
course steered by the ship.
I effect this object by constructing and arranging the parts of the said
mariners' or ships' compasses in the following manner:-Under the
usual compass card I fix a metallic ring divided on its under side into
the same number of points as and corresponding to those of the compass
card. At each division the said ring is engraved with one or more
letters, figures, or conventional signs to indicate the compass points, and
capable of answering as printing types. The compass card fitted with
the said ring is suspended in the usual way upon a central pointed
support. The said pointed support is fixed upon a metallic frame con-
taining a clockwork arrangement. On the face of one of the frame
plates is a clock dial to indicate the time, and on the opposite frame

page_text: plate is a piston or rod geared to the said clockwork and made by its
action to rise and fall at fixed intervals. The upper part of the piston.
or sliding rod is bent at right angles so as to project above the card ring:
herein-before described. On the said bent part of the sliding rod a small!
metallic point is fixed vertically, the said point being fitted with a spiral
spring. Fixed on the front frame plate and at the back of the sliding
rod is a small horizontal clastic cushion situated a little below the ring:
of the compass card when suspended. A little below the level of the
cushion and in the same line is fixed a small horizontal plate carrying in:
its centre a small well filled with a suitable coloured liquid, and a little-
above the said plate a narrow silk ribbon or other material is fixed, one.
end dipping in the well and the other end being fixed to a metallic
support at the further end of the clastic cushion, the said ribbon being
supported a little above the surface of the said cushion. Or the printing.
material may be contained in a drum around which the ribbon passes..
On each side of the elastic cushion a pulley or drum is fixed, on one of
which pulleys narrow paper slips are coiled, the other pulley receiving.
the paper slips as they are uncoiled from the first-mentioned pulley by-
the action of the machine. At the base of the axis or point which
carries the needle is placed a metallic bar with a knob at each end.
for the purpose of checking the vibrations of the compass card. The
whole machine is suspended on gimbals to allow for the motion of:
the ship.
The action of the several parts is as follows:-At every minute or..
other fixed interval the clockwork causes a quick descent of the sliding..
piston or rod. In its motion the upper bent part strikes over and..
depresses the ring fitted to the compass card and causes. the types under-..
neath it in the direction of the ship's head to press the prepared silk
tape and the paper slip upon the cushion. By the descent of the ring.
described and its pressure on the tape and paper slip the letters or signs..
on the under side of the ring are printed on the said paper slip, the
impressions made corresponding to the course followed by the ship as
the sliding rod is constantly pointing in the direction of the ship's lead.
On the descent of the sliding rod the small point connected with it and
fitted with a spiral spring strikes upon and marks the paper slip, the
mark indicating the centre of the ship's course printed on the paper slip..
After the paper slip has been impressed the sliding rod rises slowly to its
former position so as to prevent the vibration of the card. The rising:
motion of the rod causes a slight rotation of the pulleys and thereby

page_text: removes the printed part of the paper slip and brings a blank part in
position for the next impression.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent front, back, and side elevations respec-
tively of a mariner's or ship's compass constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 4 is a plan of the same; Figure 5 is a plan of the
under side of the compass card, and Figures 6 and 7 are sections of the
said card; Figures 8, 9, and 10 are front elevations of the mechanism
by which the sliding bar herein-after referred to is raised and lowered;
Figures 11 and 12 are a side elevation and a plan respectively of the said
mechanism; Figures 13 and 14 are detached parts of the same as
herein-after described. The same letters of reference indicate the same
parts in each Figure of the Drawings.
A', A, are the front and back plates carrying the several parts of
the compass; O is the compass card, the position of which is seen in
the several Figures of the Drawings. The said card O is furnished with
a magnetised bar o' carrying sliding weights o³, os, by means of which
the balance of the card can be adjusted as required. o* is a metallic
ring affixed to the under side of the compass card O, the said ring being
furnished with raised letters or printing types indicating the points
of the compass, the said letters or types of the ring of being situated
under and corresponding to those on the compass card O. The said
compass card fitted with its printing ring is suspended by and turns
on a central pointed support in the usual manner, as represented in the
Drawings. The construction of the compass card and its metallic
printing ring will be readily understood by an examiuation of Figures 5,
6, and 7, Figure 5 representing a plan of the under side of the compass
card and ring, and Figures 6 and 7 cross sections of the same taken at
right angles to one another. Underneath the printing ring o² of the
compass card O is a bar R provided with set screws 1, 1, which screws r, r,
by being adjusted as required under the ring o prevent the excessive
vibration of the said ring and card. is a drum on the axis of the
fusee herein-after described. Over this drum and the pulleys d', d', an
inking ribbon d³ passes, which ribbon is kept in a state of tension by
the said pulleys d', d'. One of the axes d³, d³, upon which thepulleys
d', d', are mounted is fixed to one of the bars d', and the other of the

page_text: of paper
passes
will be
said axes is fixed in an arm & which is jointed to the other bar, the
said arm being pressed outwards by a spring d³ (see the elevations
Figures 1 and 2). The required tension in the inking ribbon is
thus maintained. The drum & is hollow, and constitutes a reservoir
for the ink, which ink passes through perforations in the periphery
of the said drum to a strip of cloth with which it is covered. The
inking ribbon is by this means kept properly charged with ink.
H', H2, are drums situated within the inking ribbon (see Figure 1),
around which drums a strip of paper ³ is coiled. These drums turn
on the axes h, h, and are steadied by springs h', *. I is a horizontal
cushion situated a little below the printing ring o² of the compass card O.
On this cushion the strip of paper is printed. By an examination
of Figures 1 and 2 the manner in which the strip
over the cushion I and between it and the inking ribbon
readily seen. J is a sliding bar having guide slots j, j', working on
fixed guide pins j,, (see Figure 2). The said bar J has a rising
and falling motion communicated to it by means of mechanism
actuated by the clockwork combined with the compass, as herein-after
explained. To the top of the said sliding bar Ja small presser bar j
is affixed. The said presser bar ♬ is situated over the edge of the type
or printing ring o² of the compass card, and at each descent of the
said bar J presses down the said ring o³ upon the inking ribbon d³
and prints upon the strip of paper ³ the course followed by the ship.
Parallel with the presser bar is a rod which on each descent of
the bar J presses upon the inking ribbon and thereby leaves on
the paper a dot indicating the exact direction of the ship's head,
the pressure exerted by the said rod j being moderated by a coiled
spring. The rising and falling motion of the sliding bar J and
the feeding forward of the inking ribbon and strip of paper h³ are
effected at the proper times by mechanism constructed and actuated
by clockwork in the following manner :-B is a clock dial for indicating
the time, the said dial being fixed to the plate A²; C is the spring
or going barrel of the clock; D is the fusee which is wound up by
a handle d' on its axis. On the said axis of the fusee is the drum d²
over which the inking ribbon d³ is passed. By the motion of the said
fusee the ribbon d³ is moved slowly over the said drum and a fresh
portion of it is successively brought over a blank portion of the strip
of paper ha for the next impression of the type or printing ring and

page_text: rod. Motion is communicated from the fusee D by means of toothed
wheels do, E', E, F, F, and G to an axis g' on which are fixed a
counterbalance 9 and snail-shaped cam g³. The speed of the axis g
is retarded by a fly S on a shaft s', on which is fixed a pinion & which
is driven by a toothed wheel g". To the axis g¹ a lever g³ (shown
separately in Figure 13) is fixed, the end g' of which lever constitutes
a detent. To the free end of the said lever 9 is a segmental bar g
.which is furnished with detents g, g'. The detents g', g, and g' operate
in conjunction with the cam L, as herein-after described. The said cam
is shown separately in Figure 14. Above the lever gs is another lever K
turning on an axis and pressed down by the spring represented.
The said lever K is supported by an arm and eam g³. The lower
end of the arm of the lever K is turned at right angles, and upon
this bent part the cam g³ acts. The lower end of the sliding bar J
by which the descent of the printing ring o upon the strip of paper h
is effected, is jointed to the free end of the lever K. The sliding bar J,
is raised, supported, and allowed to descend at the proper times by the
operation of the cam g³ upon the arm k² of the lever K, to which
the said sliding bar J is jointed combined with the operation of the
cam L upon the lever g³. The cam L is double-acting, the portions
marked, P, having flat faces (see Figure 14). The said cam L is
fixed on an axis P, which carries the seconds' hand of the clock, and
gives motion by means of a toothed wheel to a pinion M which
is connected to a chronometer escapement N by which the motion of
the apparatus is regulated. The toothed wheel ' connected with the said
.escapement N carries a moveable pin which once a minute acts on a pin
on the periphery of a "remontoir" barrel so that in case the "going"
or spring barrel C is run down the motion of the works is stopped. The
action of the parts for giving the rising and falling motion to the bar J
is as follows: When the parts are in the respective positions represented
in Figures 1 and 8 the sliding bar J is supported in its raised position by
the arm resting on the cam g³. At every half minute the detent g of
the lever escapes from the part of the cam L by the rotation of the
axis of the seconds' hand, and the said lever g³ falls from the position
represented in Figures 1 and 8 to that represented in Figure 9 by the
partial rotation of the axis g', upon which the said lever g³ is fixed, the
cam partaking of the same motion. On the completion of the
minute the detent go of the lever g³ escapes by the further rotation of

page_text: the cam L from the part 1, and the cam ³ releases the armi kand
allows the lever K and bar J to fall, the said parts assuming the posi-
tions represented in Figures 10, 11, and 12. By the descent of the bar J
the printing of the ship's course upon the strip of paper is effected,
the ring o of the compass O being depressed by the presser bar ♬,
and the rod at the same time being caused to make a dot on the
paper. The detent 98 of the lever g³ having thus escaped from the
cam L and caused the descent of the bar J and the printing of the
ship's course, the detent g' of the said lever which is of slightly greater
length than the detent grests on the said cam L for two seconds in
order to defer for that space of time the revolution of the cam g³ and
thus prevent the undue vibration of the compass card, which would
result from the too sudden rise of the presser bar from the ring o²
of the said compass card. On the expiration of the two seconds the
rotation of the cam L permits the escape of the detent g' therefrom and
allows of the further rotation of the cam g³, whereby the said cam is
brought round to the position represented in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 8, and
by acting on the arm of the lever K raises the bar J and lifts the
pressure bar and rod 8. The lever gs having been brought round
with the cam g³ to the position Figures 1 and 8, the said lever g³ is
again ready to be released at the proper times by the cam L and cause
by its action the descent of the cam g³ and the consequent fall of the
bar J and the printing of the ship's course as herein-before described.
In Figure 4 the printing of the ship's course and the centre of the ship's
course at intervals of a minute upon the strip of paper is indicated in
dotted lines. The strip of paper ³ is shifted on the raising of the bar J
so as to bring a blank part in position for the next impression in the
following manner:-On the face of one of the drums H³ upon which
the strip of paper is coiled is a series of pins h³, ³, one of which
pins is acted upon at each ascent of the bar J by the pall jointed to
the lower end of the said bar J; an intermittent rotatory motion is
thereby given to the drum H³, the return motion of the said drum being
prevented by the pawl j", which turns on one of the guide pins of the
bar J (see Figure 1). Attached to the pawl is an elbow lever ³, by
means of which the said pawl can be thrown into or out of gear with
the drum H, as may be required. The said pawl is furnished with a
catch which when the said pawl is out of gear, as indicated in dotted
lines in Figure 1, rests on the bearing in which thic axis turns and

page_text: thus prevents the descent of the sliding bar J. By means of a milled
button T fixed on an axis t connected by toothed wheels to the "motion
work" of the hands of the clock the said hands may be set as required.
The parts of the mechanism of the clock which I have not described
are of the ordinary kind. The whole of the compass is suspended on
gimbals P, P, to allow for the motion of the ship. Instead of causing.
the descent of the sliding rod J and the printing of the ship's course at
intervals of a minute the clockwork may be so arranged as to cause the
descent of the said rod J at other short intervals. Some of the parts
of the compass may be modified in the following ways:-I construct
the compasses of large diameter, and instead of fixing the engraved or
printing ring in contact with the compass card, as herein-before
described, I place the said ring below the card in such a way as to
remain connected with the card, but to leave a space between them.
In this arrangement the bent upper part of the sliding rod J moves
in the space described in its striking action, and is not exposed above
the compass card. In place of the inking ribbon and paper strip
described a circular disk of paper or material chemically prepared or not
may be used, the said disc moving on its centre after each impression.
Or instead of the said disc an endless silk ribbon suitably prepared
may be used. The said ribbon is placed over the pulleys carrying the
paper strips, and is made to revolve by their motion.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein-before described
and illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention; but I claim as my Inventton of improvements
in mariners' or ships' compasses,-
Firstly. Fixing under the compress card of the said mariners' or
ships' compasses a metallic (or other hard) type or printing ring
provided on its under side with the same number of raised letters,
figures, or signs, as and corresponding to those of the compass card for
the purpose and substantially as herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination with the said compass card and type or
printing ring of clockwork, and mechanism for causing the said ring to
print, mark, or register at every minute or other short interval of time

page_text: the course steered by the ship, the said clockwork and mechanism being
constructed and operating substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augusto Albini, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.