IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO BINNACLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ruffe Williams and Charles Arthur Williams of
Newport in the County of Monmouth Opticians and Nautical Instrument
Makers for an invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO
BINNACLES
"3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ruffe Williams and
Charles Arthur Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 24th March 1882.
WILLIAM RUFFE WILLIAMS and CHARLES ARTHUR WILLIAMS, of Newport, in
the county of Monmouth, Opticians and Nautical Instrument Makers "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO BINNACLES
"
This invention relates to the improvements hereinafter described in ships'
standard binnacles whereby they also serve the purpose of steering binnacles.
In carrying out our invention we attach to the standard binnacle a trunk, the
deck beneath the trunk being cut away-We provide a number of reflectors or
mirrors, the first. reflector being placed in the binnacle itself below and abaft the
compass and placed at a suitable angle; a second reflector is fixed in the fore part
of the wheel house directly facing the man at the wheel and the compass we employ
we make transparent.
By this arrangement the compass being transparent the image thereof will be
thrown onto the first mentioned reflector by which it will be reflected onto the
reflector in the wheel house so that the image of the compass will thus appear
directly in front of the helmsman even though the compass itself may be placed
several feet above in order to remove it from the near contact with iron used in
the ships construction and fittings.
Among the advantages of our improvements may be mentioned the following,
videlicet:-
We obtain a combined standard compass which may be rendered practically
correct and a corresponding steering compass forming at the same a tell-tale as
the captain on the bridge has only to glance at the compass to assure himself that
the steering is being properly attended to; further, as our improved binnacle and
transparent compass serve the purpose of two ordinary binnacles we not only
effect an economy in first cost but also effect a saving in the consumption of oil, as
two lamps only are required in place of four as now used.
The improved binnacle may also be used as a pole or mast compass in which
case it is mounted on an open stand so as not to interfere with the helmsman's
look out.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Ruffe Williams and Charles Arthur Williams in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd September 1882.
WILLIAM RUFFE WILLIAMS and CHARLES ARTHUR WILLIAMS of Newport in
The county of Monmouth, Opticians and Nautical Instrument Makers " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO BINNACLES."
*This invention relates to the improvements hereinafter described in ships'
standard binnacles whereby they also serve the purpose of steering binnacles.
In carrying out our invention we attach to the standard binnacle a trunk, the
deck beneath the trunk being cut away. We provide a number. of reflectors or
mirrors, the first reflector being placed in the binnacle itself below and abaft the
compass and placed at a suitable angle; a second reflector is fixed in the fore part
of the wheel house directly facing the man at the wheel and the compass we
employ we make transparent the outside of the bowl of the compass being preferably
coiled with insulated copper wire and having a band of zinc inside.
In order to enable our invention to be better understood we will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, is
a vertical longitudinal section of a standard and steering binnacle constructed
according to our improvements; figure 2, is a plan; figure 3, a section and figure 4,
part elevation of the compass we employ with the said binnacle.
In figure 1, a, a, is the standard binnacle fixed on the bridge deck b,,as usual;
c, is the trunk attached to the standard .binnacle a, the deck beneath the trunk
being cut away as shewn at d; e, is the reflector or mirror placed in the binnacle a,
below and abaft the compass f; g, is the mirror or reflector in the fore part of the
wheel house and working on a swivel at h, to allow of the reflector g, being
adjusted to any required angle; i, is the usual steering wheel.
In figures 2, 3, and 4, j, is the bowl or kettle of the compass; , is the coil of
'copper wire covered with silk and placed round the bowl or kettle j; l, zinc ring
or circle on the inside of the bowl or kettle j, to which ring the end of the coil k,
is connected; m, is a thickness of paper between the zinc ring 1, and the bowl or
kettle in, lead ring to balance the kettle; o, clips for fixing the india rubber
'suspenders p; q and r, are the gimbal rings or hoops; s, the pivots or shoulders;
t, spring centre; u, glass in the bottom of the compass whereby the same is
rendered transparent; v, top glass; w, agate cap; a, compass card made of talc so
as to be transparent.
The hereinbefore described compass is of the ordinary construction with the
exception that the card and bottom of the bowl or kettle are made transparent
and that it is provided with the copper coil, and zinc ring 1, for the purpose of
diminishing the liability of the magnetic needle to oscillation.
By this arrangement the bottom u, of the compass bowl j, and the compass
card, being transparent as hereinbefore described, the image of the card will be
thrown onto the mirror e, by which it will be reflected onto the mirror or reflector ġ,
in the wheel house so that the image of the compass card will thus appear directly
in front of the helmsman even though the compass itself be placed several feet
above as shewn in the drawing for the purpose of removing it from near contact
with the iron used in the ship's construction and fittings.
Among the advantages of our improvements may be mentioned the following,
videlicet:-
:-
We obtain a combined standard compass which may be rendered practically
correct and a corresponding steering compass forming at the same time a tell-tale

page_text: as the captain on the bridge has only to glance at the compass to assure himself
that the steering is being properly attended to; further as our improved binnacle
and transparent compass serve the purpose of two ordinary binnacles we not only.
effect an economy in first cost but also effect a saving in the consumption of oil,
as two lamps only are required in place of four as now used.
The improved binnacle may also be used as a pole or mast compass in which
case it is mounted on an open stand so as not to interfere with the helmsman's
look out.
Having thus described our invention and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect we wish it to be understood that what we
claim is ;-
Firstly. The combination with a binnacle as described of a transparent compass
and of reflectors or mirrors so arranged that the image of the compass card will be
reflected in the mirror in the wheel house below the binnacle so as to appear in
front of the helmsman substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. The use in binnacles constructed as herein described of a compass
having a transparent card and bottom and with or without the herein described
copper coil and zinc ring substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof we the said William Ruffe Williams and Charles Arthur
Williams have hereto set our hands and seals this twenty first day of
September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty
two.
W. R. WILLIAMS (L.S.)
C. A. WILLIAMS
(L.S.)