IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS' LOGS AND SOUNDING MACHINES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edward Massey, of Number 17, Lower Chad-
well Street, Myddleton Square, London, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer of Patent Logs and Sounding Machines, for the Invention
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edward Massey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th January 1865.
I, JOHN EDWARD MASSEY, of Number 17, Lower Chadwell Street, Myddle-
ton Square, London, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer of Patent Logs
and Sounding Machines, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS' LOGS AND SOUNDING MACHINES," to be
as follows (that is to say):
This Invention has for its object certain improvements applicable to ships'
logs and sounding machines, and consists in causing the tube with its vanes,
train of wheels, and indices to revolve round a stationary worm shaft, geared
into the first motion or worm wheel of the train of wheels which carry the
pointers, motion being imparted to the train of wheels by rotation round the
stationary worm shaft.

page_text: A log constructed according to this Invention may consist of a cylindrical
tube of brass or other suitable material of, say, twelve or thirteen inches long,
and, say, one and a half inches in diameter, formed with a truncated conical
head of about three inches long. A longitudinal shaft extends through the
point of the cone, the outer end of which is fitted with a circular collar,
having the inner edge formed with a conical flange to coincide with the
conical head of the tube, and which extends backwards a short distance, say
an inch or so. This conical flange collar is not in actual contact with the
outer surface of the conical head of the tube, to avoid friction thereon; and
the object of which is to prevent seaweed or other foreign matter getting
between the conical head and spindle upon which it rotates. To the collar
on the outer end of the shaft is attached a metal loop or link for carrying the
"thimble," to which is spliced the log line, which latter it is preferred should
be formed "cable-laid," to obviate the tendency to twist, The longitudinal
shaft within the conical head is fitted with small wheels or friction rollers, the
axles of which spring from the shaft at right angles thereto. These friction
rollers abut on a transverse disc, which rests on the head of a solid metal
cone within the tube cone. This longitudinal shaft, which extends to about
the base of the cone on its inner end, is fitted with a cross head, the arms of
which extend through eyes formed in lugs or studs, formed on the outer ends
of the arms of a cross head on the outer end of a second longitudinal shaft,
the inner end of which shaft carries the worm, which gears into the worm
wheel actuating the train of wheels and pointers. The object of forming the
line shafting in two parts, and connecting them together as described, is to
enable the worm shaft to be placed, if required, a little out of the longitudinal
axis of the tube. The frame which carries the train of wheels, pointers, and
indices is connected to two discs, which fit the tube accurately, but admit of
the whole being turned round so as to enclose an opening which is formed on
the side of the tube, immediately over the face of the dials, which is done by
means of a curved plate extending from disc to disc, which closes the opening
when the same is turned round. To insure strength in the tube to enable it
to carry the vanes by which the same is rotated as it is drawn through the
water, the tube is strengthened internally by a wheel or diaphragm at or near
the rear end of the vanes, and a diaphragm is soldered or otherwise securely
fixed and made water-tight in rear of the index, and the rear end of the tube
is also enclosed by a dome, cap, or cover, also securely attached by soldering
or other means, so as to make the portion of the tube which carries the vanes
in rear of the index water-tight. In place of connecting the worm shaft with
the shaft upon which the tube rotates, the worm shaft may be connected to

page_text: the rear end of the apparatus by fitting a small tube through the centre
of the enclosed portion of the tube in the rear of the train of wheels carry-
ing the pointers and so forth, and by carrying a rod through the said small
tube, the outer or rear end of which is fitted with one, two, or more flat
blades of any convenient form, to prevent the rotation of the spindle during
the time the apparatus is being drawn through the water.
The action of this improved log is as follows:-The log is thrown overboard
and allowed to fall astern of the vessel a sufficient distance to be clear of the
wake or dead water of the ship, when by the action of the water against the
oblique vanes as the same is drawn forward by the vessel in her progress
through the water causes the tube and its contents to revolve round the axle
of the worm shaft, thereby imparting motion to the train of wheels carrying
the pointers on the graduated dials on the face of the index, as is well
understood.
It will be readily seen that this Invention may be applied to sounding
machines by suitably weighting the same and graduating the dials in fathoms
in place of knots, and adding a ratchet wheel an pall or its mechanical
equivalent to stop the action of the train of wheels during its ascent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Edward Massey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
EDWARD MASSEY, of Number 17, Lower Chadwell Street, Myddleton Square,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer of Patent Logs and
Sounding Machines, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Edward Massey, Her special licence that I, the said John
Edward Massey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Edward Massey, my executors, 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 "IMPROVE:

page_text: MENTS APPLICABLE TO SHIPS' LOGS AND SOUNDING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Edward Massey, 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 per-
formed, 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 John Edward Massey, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
This my said Invention has for its object certain improvements applicable
to ships' logs and sounding machines, and consists in causing the tube, with
its vanes, train of wheels, and indices to revolve round a stationary worm
shaft, geard into the first motion or worm wheel of the train of wheels which
carry the pointers, motion being imparted to the train of wheels by rotation
round the stationary worm shaft.
A log constructed according to this my said Invention may consist of a
cylindrical tube of brass or other suitable material of, say, twelve or thirteen
inches long, and, say, one and a half inches in diameter, formed with a trun-
cated conical bead of, say, three inches long. A longitudinal shaft extends
through the point of the cone, the outer end of which is fitted with a circular
collar, having the inner edge formed with a conical flange to coencide with the
conical head of the tube, and which extends backwards a short distance, say
an inch or so. This conical flange collar is not in actual contact with the
outer surface of the conical bead of the tube, to avoid friction thereon, and
the object of which receding flange or collar is to prevent seaweed or other
foreign matter getting between the conical head and spindle upon which it
rotates. To the collar on the outer end of the shaft I attach a metal loop or
link for carrying the "thimble," to which is spliced the log line, which latter
I prefer should be formed "cable laid," to obviate the tendency to twist. The
longitudinal shaft within the conical head I fit with small wheels or friction
rollers, the axles of which spring from the shaft, at right angles thereto.
These friction rollers abut and travel on a transverse disc, which rests on the
head of a solid metal cone within the tube cone. This longitudinal shaft,
which extends to about the base of the cone on its inner end, is fitted with a
cross head, the arms of which extend through eyes formed in lugs or studs
formed on the outer ends of the arms of a cross head on the outer end of a

page_text: second longitudinal shaft, the inner end of which shaft carries the worm which
gears into the worm wheel actuating the train of wheels and pointers. The
object I have in forming the line shafting in two parts, and connecting them
together as described, is to enable the worm shaft to be placed, if required, a
little out of the longitudinal axis of the tube. The frame which carries the
train of wheels, pointers, and indices I connect to two discs, which fit the tube
accurately, but admit of the whole being turned round so as to enclose an
opening which is formed in the side of the tube, immediately over the face of
the dials, which is done by means of a curved plate extending from disc to
disc, which closes the opening when the same is turned round or slid forward.
To insure strength in the tube to enable it to carry the vanes by which the
same is rotated as it is drawn through the water, the tube is strengthened.
internally by a wheel or diaphragm at or near a line near the rear end of the
vanes, and a diaphragm is soldered or otherwise securely fixed and made
water-tight in rear of the index, and the rear end of the tube is also enclosed
by a dome, cap, or cover, also securely attached by soldering or other means,
so as to make the portion of the tube which carries the vanos in rear of the
index water-tight In placo of connecting the worm shaft with the shaft
upon which the tube rotates, the worm shaft may be connected to the rear
end of the apparatus by fitting a small tube through the centre of the enclosed
portion of the tube, in rear end of the train of wheels carrying the pointers
and so forth, and by carrying a rod through the said small tube, the outer or
rear end of which is fitted with one, two, or more flat blades of any convenient
form, to prevent the rotation of the spindle during the time the apparatus is
being drawn through the water.
The action of this my improved log is as follows:-The log is thrown over-
board, and allowed to fall astern of the vessel a sufficient distance to be clear
of the wake or dead water of the ship, when by the action of the water against
the oblique vanes, as the same is drawn forward by the vessel in her progress
through the water, causes the tube and its contents to revolve round the axle
of the worm shaft, thereby imparting motion to the train of wheels carrying
the pointers on the graduated dials on the face of the index, as is well under-
stood.
It will be readily seen that this my said Invention may be applied to
sounding machines by suitably weighting the same, and graduating the dials
in fathoms in place of knots, and adding a ratchet wheel and pall, or its
mechanical equivalent, to stop the action of the train of wheels during its
ascent.
This my improved log and sounding machine may be mounted within a

page_text: suntable guard, consisting of metal mamework
after.
This my improved log and sounding machine may be mounted within a
suitable guard consisting of metal framework, as will be referred to hereafter.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings of so much of two modifications of my
improved log and sounding machine as will be necessary to illustrate the
Inventions, like letters and figures marked thereon being used to denote
similar parts.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of my improved logs,
and and Figure 2 is a front view of the index plate and pointers, but for which
latter I claim nothing new in itself; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a similar
log to that illustrated in Figure 1, but which is mounted in a suitable metal
guard frame, in which it rotates.
A is a hollow tube, enclosed at the rear end by B, a convex cap, and which
tube is formed on the front or fore end with C, a truncated conical point,
which internally, at the extreme end or point, is fitted with D, a conical metal
plug, through the centre of which passes E, an axle, round which the tube
revolves, and which is fitted with F, antifriction rollers, which are connected
with and have their axles at a right angle to the axle shaft E, and travel on
G, a disc, fitted loosely on the head of the conical plug D; H, a second disc,
surrounding the axle or shaft E on the opposite side of the antifriction
wheels; I, cross head on the lower end of the shaft E, which abuts against K
stud pieces on the extreme ends of the arms of L, a cross head on the outer
end of M, a worm shaft, gearing into a worm wheel, which gives motion to
the train of wheels actuating N, the pointers on the face of P, the dial plates,
as will be readily understood by those acquainted with the art. The frame
carrying the train of wheels, dial plates, and so forth is securely attached to
the tube, and rotates round the worm shaft therewith. The tube, it will be
observed, is formed with an opening at one side, for exposing the dial plates,
and which opening is covered by Q, a sliding cover, which in Figure One 1 is
seen open, and in Figure 3 slightly open, showing that it is held in position by R,
a band or zone, under which the cover Q slides; S, a nob or projection for
opening and closing the sliding cover Q, and the sides of which cover work in
longitudinal grooves formed on each side of the opening, immediately over the
dials; T and T', internal rings or diaphragms for strengthening the tube, to
enable it the better to support U, the feathers or driving vanes by which the
tube is rotated as it is drawn through the water; V and V, diaphragms,
soldered to the interior of the tube, and which carry the frame, in which is

page_text: mounted the train of wheels for actuating the pointers; W, piece of metal in
front of the truncated conical head of the revolving tube, through which passes
and is securely attached thereto the fixed spindle or axle E. This piece of
metal on the rear end is formed with or has attached thereto X, a truncated
conical flange or collar, which surrounds the point of the truncated conical
head of the revolving tube, for the purpose of preventing seaweed, sand, or
other foreign matter getting into the joint between the stationary piece W and
the head of the revolving tube; Y (Figure 1), a loop or eye, screwed to tho
piece of metal W, which carries Z, a "timble," to which is spliced the log line,
which line must be of sufficient length to allow the log, when in use, to fall
sufficiently astern of the ship to be clear of the dead water.
The log illustrated by Figure 3 is internally precisely the same as that
illustrated by Figuro 1, but is mounted in a, a rigid metal frame, in which it
rotates round the fixed axis, as seen at E, Figure 1, and on b, pivot on the
rear end of the tube, which revolves in a suitable bearing at the bottom of the
metal frame.
L, a swivelling catch, or stop piece, which consists of M and
N, a longitudinal and transverse blade jointed to the rigid guard at N, and is
prevented turning too far by means of O, a stop pin.
The action of the log illustrated at Figure 1, is as follows:-The log line being
attached to the thimble Z, the pointers turned to zero, and the cover colsed
thereon, the log is ready for use; to apply which it is simply required to bo
tbrown overboard and timed, when it drawn up and the rate of speed read off.
It will be understood that the log line loop Y, block of metal W, spindle E,
and worm shaft M do not revolve, but the tube with its other contents aro
caused to revolve by the action of the water of the vanes U, as it is drawn
there through round the shaft E and worm shaft M, imparting the necessary
motion to the train of wheels actuating the index pointers.
The application of the log, illustrated at Figure 3, is precisely the same as
that illustrated at Figure 1, but I prefer to use this modification, as the
weight of the metal guard frame assists to keep the log in the water, gives it
stability, and prevents it jumping, as is sometimes the case when the log wants
weight, and enables it to be used as a sounding machine.
When it is desired to use the instrument herein-before described as a
sounding machine, it is requisite to use the frame and graduate the index
scale in fathoms in place of nautical miles, and to attach a weight to the
thimble used for the line when as a log, and to connect the instrument
to the sounding line at the reverse of the frame in which the tube revolves,
and when it is lowered over the side of the vessel the horizontal plate of the

page_text: stop causes the stop to be turned out of the way by the action of the water
thereon, allowing the rotating tube and vanes to revolve freely on their axis
during the descent of the instrument, but upon being drawn up again the stop
falls back and comes into contact with one of the propelling vanes, and stops
the action of the revolving tube as the instrument is drawn up.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how I believe the same may be best carried into practical effect
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details,
relative proportions, or dimensions herein-before described and set forth, as it
will be readily seen that the same may be considerably varied without departing
from the Invention, but what I claim as my Invention is,--
Firstly, actuating the train or trains of wheels working the index pointers
by causing the same to revolve round the axis of the worm shaft, herein-before
described and set forth.
Secondly, the application and use of the truncated conical protecting cap or
cover, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described
and set forth.
Thirdly, the peculiar form and mode of applying the metal guard frame in
which the apparatus revolves, substantially in the manner and for the
herein-before described and set forth.
purposes
Fourthly, the peculiar description of locking piece for preventing the action.
of the indices during the time of the instrument being recovered when used as
a sounding machine, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and set forth.
And, lastly, the general arrangement; combination, and construction, and
mode of operating the improved logs and sounding machines, herein-before
described, set forth, and illustrated by Figures 1 and 3.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edward Massey, have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.
JOHN EDW (L.S.) MASSEY.