Improvements in Electrical Ships' Logs, or Means for Ascertaining by Electricity the Speed of Ships.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1890-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrical Ships' Logs, or Means for Ascertaining
by Electricity the Speed of Ships.
I, ROBERT MANN LOWNE, of Leicester House, East Finchley, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The invention relates to means of recording on board at any part or parts of a
ship, by electricity, the revolutions of a rotator which is immersed in water and
caused to revolve by the passage of the ship through the water, and to means
of insulating metallic conductors whilst immersed in sea water, for the purpose
described.
+
In carrying the invention into effect, I employ a rotator formed of a hollow metal
cylinder hermetically closed, and carrying blades or plates of metal, set at an angle
to its axis, for obtaining a rotary motion, as in other logs. The object of the
cylinder being closed hermetically is, that it may contain air, in order to make it
buoyant at the back, thus giving it a tendency to keep horizontal in the water, as
described in the specification of a previous patent granted to me for electric logs,
No. 3128 of the year 1882, or I may employ a rotator of any ordinary construction.
I attach to the front end of the rotator in any convenient manner, one end of a log
line of any suitable material, for towing the rotator through the water; the other
end of the log line I attach to, or let it bear on, a plate of metal, which plate bears
on friction rollers; the friction rollers bear on a second plate of metal, which is
fixed in any convenient manner, to the taffrail or any other convenient part of a
ship. The friction rollers are similar in construction to the friction rollers described
in the specification of previous patent hereinbefore referred to, and are for the same
purpose, viz., reducing the friction by means of the running weight being borne on
the rollers. Attached to the plate, or in connection with the end of the log line.
I arrange a pin or carrier, which bears on a second pin or carrier, which operates
mechanism for making and breaking an electrical circuit. The pin or carrier is
similar in construction to the pin or carrier described in the specification hereinbefore
referred to, and is for the same purpose, viz., dividing a heavy mechanism from a
comparatively light mechanism, in order to take off undue strain. I may dispense
with either the friction rollers, or the pin or carrier, or both, and connect the log
line directly with the mechanism for making and breaking the electrical circuit.
The mechanism which I usually employ for making and breaking electrical contact,
is similar in construction to the contact apparatus described in the aforesaid specifi-
cation. It has the same gravity weight, fly wheel and spring, and contact points,
which connect electrically an insulated with an uninsulated part of an hermetically
sealed cylinder, which contains the contact mechanism, but I may dispense with said
previous patent contact mechanism, and use any ordinary method for making and
breaking contact, where it is not necessary to insulate for sea water.
According to the present invention, when I use the hermetically sealed contact
cylinder, it may or may not contain wheels, pinions, or screws. for reducing or
multiplying the number of contacts as compared with the revolutions of the cylinder.
When no reducing or multiplying wheels are contained, one contact is made and
broken each revolution of the cylinder. It will be readily understood by the
description in the aforesaid specification, that by employing reducing wheel gearing.
any convenient number of revolutions of the contact cylinder may be made to
produce one electrical contact; also, by employing multiplying wheel gearing, that
two or more contacts may be made each revolution of the cylinder; or three contacts
may be made for two revolutions of the cylinder, or any other relation of contacts

page_text: as compared to the revolutions of the cylinder may be made by altering the whee!
gearing, in order to register a given number of revolutions of the rotator to equal
a given distance, such as the 10 of a mile, or other distance which may be deemed
desirable for recording on a dial. I electrically connect the contact mechanism with
a galvanic battery, formed of one or more cells of any reliable battery, such as the
Leclanche or silver battery; also, I connect it with a suitable indicator or indicators,
having dials and pointers, or other devices for denoting distance travelled.
The object of employing a hermetically sealed contact cylinder is to protect the
contact points and mechanism from spray, when it is in an exposed position, such
as the taffrail of an ordinary ship, or from becoming immersed in sea water, which
would inevitably be the case in bad weather, from the sea washing over the taffrail or
other part of the ship, and immersing the whole apparatus. It will be obvious under
these conditions, that it is necessary to insulate all exposed terminals and wires where
they are in a position that the sea water may cover them, either by their becoming
immersed, or by a wave washing over them.
I insulate moveable wires and terminals by placing them within a chamber formed
of vulcanite or other suitable non-conducting material; the approach or approaches
to this chamber, I make in the form of long tube or tubes of vulcanite or other non-
conducting material; the tube or tubes I keep as long as is practically convenient for
the purpose which I will presently explain. When it is required to tighten or move
a terminal screw or conductor within the chamber, I sometimes employ a removeable
covering to the chamber. According to the invention, when a moveable conductor is
required to be insulated in sea water, I insulate it in any ordinary manner, covering
it with non-conducting material, such as vulcanite or gutta percha, but leaving the
end of the conductor exposed and clean. I then place the exposed and clean end
through the tube and into the chamber, the insulated part of the conductor nearly
filling up the tube. The clean end of the wire is now insulated, and may be secured
or connected to any metallic conductor or terminal contained within the chamber.
The object of the tube for receiving the exposed conductor is to avoid packing or
tight fitting. It will be readily understood that sea water will enter the tube and lie
within the tube between the insulated conductor and the sides of the tube, which will
form a thin channel of sea water leading to the exposed end of the insulated conductor,
but, on account of the enormous electrical resistance of a thin and long channel of sea
water, the exposed end of the insulated conductor will be practically insulated for the
purpose required. I may dispense with the chamber and merely employ a tube or
tubes for receiving the exposed end or ends of metallic conductors, the object being to
avoid tight fitting or packing for moveable conductors when it is required to insulate
their exposed ends in sea water. It is not absolutely necessary for their exposed
ends to touch for completing an electrical circuit, for if the tube is filled or partially
filled with sea water, the electrical circuit may be completed through the water.
Exposed ends of conductors treated in the manner we have just explained, will be
practically insulated for the purpose required, and if the tube is placed vertically with
its opening downwards, the conductor will in time become perfectly insulated, as
water will be decomposed and gas set free, which will surround the exposed end, but
in this case the exposed end must touch a terminal or metallic conductor to complete
the electrical circuit.
Having described, according to the present invention, the combination of a rotator
with a fixed towing line, operating an electrical contact mechanism connected with
a galvanic battery and indicator or indicators, I will now describe the working and
position of the arrangement when in use.
The indicator or indicators are placed on board in any convenient part or parts of
the ship, such as the chart room. or on the bridge, in the engine room, or saloon.
Electrical wires are connected and put in circuit with the indicator or indicators and
a battery. The wires are led to the taffrail or other part of the ship. The contact.
mechanism is fixed to the taffrail or other part of the ship. The wires are connected
with the contact mechanism, and the end of the log line is attached to the pin or
carrier which operates the contact mechanism. The rotator is thrown overboard and

page_text: revolves, causing the pin or carrier to operate the contact mechanism. When the
contact is made, the electrical circuit is completed and a current passes through the
indicator or indicators, causing it or them to work and denote the revolutions of
the rotator.
Instead of having the contact mechanism fixed to the taffrail or other part of
the ship, I may modify the arrangement, and have it towed at any desired distance
from the ship, under water or not as the case may be, and I may employ an electrical
cable for towing and connecting it with the battery and indicator or indicators.
When I employ this modification I may place the battery within the hermetically
sealed contact cylinder or close to it or comparatively close to it. The object of
placing the battery within the hermetically sealed contact cylinder, or close to it, or
comparatively close to it. is that when it is connected to the indicator or indicators by
submerged wires, the battery may only be electrically connected to the submerged
wires during the time which the contact is made. The advantage of this is that if
there is any leakage of electricity caused by bad insulation in the submerged wires, the
corrosive influence of the battery only acts upon such badly insulated parts during
the time of contact, and is thereby reduced to a minimum.
When the battery is placed comparatively close to the contact cylinder, I insulate
the conductors leading to it in a specially strong manner, which would not be con-
venient, and in some instances would not be possible, with long lengths of cable. The
only object of separating the battery from the contact cylinder in this case is to dis-
tribute the weight, and it is desirable to keep them as close together as possible for the
reason we have given, viz., in case of bad insulation in submerged wires or cable.
Dalad this oth ay ni August 1000
BOBERT MANN LOWNE.
By Harris & Mills.
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
Improvements in Electrical Ships' Logs, or Means for Ascertaining
by Electricity the Speed of Ships.
I, ROBERT MANN LOWNE, of Leicester House. East Finchley, in the County of
Middlesex, Electrical 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
and to the Figures and letters marked thereon:-
The invention relates to means of recording on board at any part or parts of a ship.
by electricity, the revolutions of a rotator which is immersed in water and caused to
revolve by the passage of the ship through the water. and to means of insulating
metallic conductors whilst immersed in sea water, for the purpose described.
In carrying the invention into effect, I employ a rotator formed of a hollow metal
cylinder hermetically closed, and carrying blades or plates of metal, set at an angle to
its axis. for obtaining a rotary motion, as in other logs. The object of the cylinder
being closed hermetically is, that it may contain air, in order to make it buoyant at
the back. thus giving it a tendency to keep horizontal in the water, as described in the
specification of a previous patent granted to me for electric logs, No. 3128 of the
year 1882, or I may employ a rotator of any ordinary construction. 1 attach to
the front end of the rotator in any convenient manner, one end of a log line of any
suitable material, for towing the rotator through the water; the other end of the log
line I attach to. or let it bear on, a plate of metal, which plate bears on friction rollers:
the friction rollers bear on a second plate of metal, which is fixed in any convenient
manner, to the taffrail or any other convenient part of a ship. The friction rollers and
bearing plates are similar in construction to those described in the specification of
previous patent hereinbefore referred to, and are for the same purpose, viz., reducing
the friction by means of the running weight being borne on the rollers.
Attached to the plate, or in connection with the end of the log line, I arrange a pin

page_text: or carrier, which bears on a second pin or carrier, which operates mechanism for
making and breaking an electrical circuit. The pin or carrier is similar in con-
struction to the pin or carrier described in the specification hereinbefore referred
to, and is for the same purpose, viz., dividing a heavy mechanism from a com-
paratively light mechanism, in order to take off undue strain. I may dispense with'
either the friction rollers, or the pin or carrier, or both, and connect the log line
directly with the mechanism for making and breaking the electrical circuit.
The mechanism which I usually employ for making and breaking electrical
contact, is similar in construction to the contact apparatus described in the afore-
said specification. It has the same gravity weight, fly wheel and spring, and contact
points, which connect electrically an insulated with an uninsulated part of a
hermetically sealed cylinder, which contains the contact mechanism, but I may
dispense with said previous patent contact mechanism, and use any ordinary method
for making and breaking contact, where it is not necessary to insulate for sea
water.
According to the present invention, when I use the hermetically sealed contact
cylinder, it may or may not contain wheels, pinions, or screws, for reducing or
multiplying the number of contacts as compared with the revolutions of the cylinder.
When no reducing or multiplying wheels are contained, one contact is made and
broken each revolution of the cylinder. It will be readily understood by the
description in the aforesaid specification, that by employing reducing wheel gearing,
any convenient number of revolutions of the contact cylinder may be made to
produce one electrical contact; also, by employing multiplying wheel gearing, that
two or more contacts may be made cach revolution of the cylinder; or three
contacts may be made for two revolutions of the cylinder, or any other relation of
contacts as compared to the revolutions of the cylinder may be made by altering
the wheel gearing, in order to register a given number of revolutions of the
rotator to equal a given distance, such as the 10 of a mile, or other distance which
may be deemed desirable for recording on a dial. electrically connect the
contact mechanism with a galvanic battery, formed of one or more cells of any
reliable battery, such as the Leclanche or silver battery; also I connect it with a
suitable indicator or indicators, having dials and pointers or other devices for
denoting distance travelled.
The object of employing a hermetically sealed contact cylinder is to protect the
contact points and mechanism from spray when it is in an exposed position, such
as the taffrail of an ordinary ship, or from becoming immersed in sea water, which
would inevitably be the case in bad weather from the sea washing over the taffrail
or other part of the ship, and immersing the whole apparatus. It will be obvious
under these conditions, that it is necessary to insulate all exposed terminals and
wires where they are in a position that the sea water may cover them, either by
their becoming immersed, or by a wave washing over them.
I insulate moveable wires and terminals by placing them within a chamber formed
of vulcanite or other suitable non-conducting material; the approach or approaches
to this chamber, I make in the form of long tube or tubes of vulcanite or other
non-conducting material; the tube or tubes I keep as long as is practically con-
venient for the purpose which I will presently explain. When it is required to
tighten or move a terminal screw or conductor within the chamber, I sometimes
employ a removeable covering to the chamber. According to the invention, when a
moveable conductor is required to be insulated in sea water. I insulate it in any
ordinary manner, covering it with non-conducting material, such as vulcanite or
gutta percha, but leaving the end of the conductor exposed and clean. I then
place the exposed and clean end through the tube and into the chamber, the
insulated part of the conductor nearly filling up the tube. The clean end of the
wire is by this means insulated and may be secured or connected to any metallic
conductor or terminal, contained within the chamber.
The object of the inbe for receiving the exposed conductor is to avoid packing
or tight fitting. It will be readily understood that sea water will enter the tube

page_text: and lie within the tube between the insulated conductor and the sides of the tube,
which will form a thin channel of sea water leading to the exposed end of the
insulated conductor, but on account of the enormous electrical resistance of a thin
and long channel of sea water, the exposed end of the insulated conductor will be
practically insulated for the purpose required.
1 may dispense with the chamber and merely employ a tube or tubes for
receiving the exposed end or ends of metallic conductors, the objects being to avoid
tight fitting or packing for moveable conductors when it is required to insulate their
exposed ends in sea water. It is not absolutely necessary for their exposed ends to
touch for completing an electrical circuit, for if the tube is filled or partially filled
with sea water, the electrical circuit 'may be completed through the water. Exposed
ends of conductors treated in the manner I have just explained will be practically
insulated for the purpose required and if the tube is placed vertically with its
opening downwards, the conductor will in time become perfectly insulated, as water
will be decomposed and gas set free, which will surround the exposed end, but in
this case the exposed end must touch a terminal of metallic conductor to complete
the electrical circuit.
Having described, according to the present invention, the combination of a rotator
with a fixed towing line, operating an electrical contact mechanism connected with
a galvanic battery and indicator or indicators, I will now describe the working and
position of the arrangement when in use.
The indicator or indicators are placed on board in any convenient part or parts
of the ship, such as the chart room, or on the bridge, in the engine room, or saloon.
Electrical wires are connected and put in circuit with the indicator or indicators
and a battery. The wires are led to the taffrail or other part of the ship. The
contact mechanism is fixed to the taffrail or other part of the ship. The wires
are connected with. the contact mechanism, and the end of the log towing line is
attached to the pin or carrier which operates the contact mechanism. The rotator
is thrown overboard and revolves, causing the pin or carrier to operate the contact
mechanism. When the contact is made, the electrical circuit is completed and a
current passes through the indicator or indicators, causing it or them to work and
denote the revolutions of the rotator.
Instead of having the contact mechanism fixed to the taffrail or other part of
the ship, I may modify the arrangement, and have it towed at any desired distance
from the ship. under water or not as the case may be, and I may employ an
electrical cable for towing and connecting it with the battery and indicator or
indicators.
When employ this modification I may place the battery within the hermetically
sealed contact cylinder or close to it or comparatively close to it. The object of
placing the battery within the hermetically sealed contact cylinder, or close to it, or
comparatively close to it, is that when it is connected to the indicator or indicators by
submerged wires, the battery may only be electrically connected to the submerged
wires during the time at which the contact is made. The advantage of this is that if
there is any breakage of electricity caused by bad insulation in the submerged wires,
the corrosive influence of the battery only acts upon such badly insulated parts during
the time of contact, and is thereby reduced to a minimum. The protection of the
conducting wires from the corrosive influence of the battery forms an essential part of
my invention.
When the battery is placed comparatively close to the contact cylinder, I insulate
the conductors leading to it in a specially strong manner, which would not be con-
venient and in some instances, would not be possible with long lengths of cable. The
only object of separating the battery from the contact cylinder in this case is to
distribute the weight, and it is desirable to keep them as close together as possible for
the reason I have given. ciz., in case of bad insulation in submerged wires or cable.
According to my invention, Figures and 2 represent a rotator a with affixed
towing line b attached to and operating contact apparatus contained in a cylinder c
fitted with friction rollers and bearing plates,as described in myaforesaid specification;

page_text: such contact apparatus is connected to electrical wires d,d,battery f, and indicator or
indicators gg' is any convenient part on board ship suitable for placing the indictor g
and is part of the taffrail or any other convenient part of the ship or attachment
suitable for towing the rotator.
Figures 3, 4 and show my method of insulating exposed ends of metallic
conductors. h is the chamber formed within the insulating material. are the
approaches or tubes leading to the chamber h. d. d, Figure 3,. d Figure 4. and d
Figure 5, are the moveable conductors placed in position. ¡ is the insulating material
covering such conductors and leaving their ends exposed within the chambers h, h, h.
The space between and jis the channel of sea water, in practice the insulating
covering would be made to fit the approach has nearly as convenient. Figure 3
represents two moveable conductors electrically connected by sea water within the
chamber h.
Figure 4 represents one moveable conductor d electrically connected to a terminal
screw is the removeable covering which enables the screw i to be tightened.
Figure 5 shows the moveable conductor inposition for revolving within the approach
or tube 2. is a metallic spring for keeping contact with the conductor d
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of apparatus showing the method 1 preferably
employ according to my invention for making and breaking contact both under water
and above water. c is the hermetically closed contact cylinder containing the contact
mechanism n. h' shows my method of insulation as illustrated by Figure 5, combined
with the contact mechanism 2 within the cylinder c, Figure 6.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of apparatus representing my method of combining
the battery with the contact mechanism. c' is a cylinder which contains the battery f
The poles c. 2; 2, and their wires may be insulated from sea water by means of
paraffin wax or any suitable insulating material, or the cylinder c' may be hermetically
closed; in this case further insulation is not required. The wire d is insulated from
the cylinder c by any of the above described methods and it is brought outside the
cylinder through a plug of insulating material j.
The cylinder c'. Figure 7. when combined with the contact cylinder c and
mechanism. Figure 6, has its screwed end c screwed into the joint c; when in
this position the wire d at d. Figure 7, touches the conductor &. Figure 6, and is
insulated by the plug Figure 7. and the corresponding socket Figure 6. The
conductor Figure 6 is insulated and is continuous to the point d', which is insulated
from the mechanism n and, as represented in the drawing, breaks contact with d'.
The contact point d'is continuous with the insulated conductor . The conductor d
is continuous with the indicator or indicators on board ship: it is also continuous
with the conductor d. In order to complete the electrical circuit, the conductor d
is metallically connected at d through tubes m and c to the cylinder c' Figure 7, and
the cylinder c' Figure 7 is metallically connected to one of the poles of the battery
at d
The action will readily be understood by following the conductor d Figure 7. It
starts from one pole of the battery at d and is insulated, as previously shown and
described, up to and through the parts d', and where it is broken by the contact
points being separated; when they are brought together by the contact mechanism,
the conductor d is then continued to d' and d. and d is continued through the cable o
to the electrical wires and the indicator or indicators on board ship.and the conductor
is brought back through the wires and cable to do Figure 6 and to the other pole of the
battery through tubes'm and c. Figure 6, and tube c' Figure 7. to the wire at dº.
Instead of the conductor d being brought back through the cable to do, the
conductor d might be dispensed with and the pole of the battery at might be
electrically connected to the indicator or indicators on board ship by means of the
In that case the insulated conductor d after passing through the indicator or
indicators on board ship would be carried to any conducting surface plate or conductor
immersed in the sea at or about the ship, and the circuit would be completed
through the sea to the cylinders c and c¹ and to the pole of the battery at d.
sea.
Figure 8 represents the rotator « with affixed towing line operating the battery

page_text: cylinder c¹ combined with the contact cylinder c, which is combined with electrical
cable o containing the conductors and d, in connection with indicator or indicators
as before described.
The affixed towing line b, Figure 8, may be formed of an electrical cable and the
battery, instead of being within the cylinder c', may be placed within the rotator a.
The object of separating the battery from the contact cylinder c is to distribute the
weight.
Figure 9 shows a modification in which I dispense with the affixed towing line b.
The battery is contained in the cylinder c', a a are the blades of the rotator and c
is the contact cylinder. and are the conduciors leading to the indicator or
indicators.
When everyrevolution of the contact cylinder is required to make and break contact,
the reducing wheels n' and n shown at Figure 6, would be dispensed with and the
wheel would be fixed on to the spindle n', and would have the direction of its
axis altered to correspond to that of the spindle n', also the other parts carrying
the fly wheel and springs would be altered in order conveniently to keep their
relative positions, or mitre wheels might be interposed between such parts. When
the battery Figure 7 is within the contact cylinder the joint c³, Figure 6, c³ Figure 7
would be dispensed with, and the contact cylinder would be made sufliciently long
to contain the battery. The object of the joint c², c, is to give a ready means of
renewing the battery when worn out.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8, the blades of the rotator may be attached to the contact
cylinder c or the battery cylinder c', or the rotator may be attached separately by
means of the affixed towing line b shown in Figures 1, 2 and 8.
The length of the contact cylinder c, Figure 6. may with advantage be shortened
when employed out of the water, as in the arrangement shown in Figure 2, or it
may be shortened still more and attached to the taffrail in any convenient manner
for giving it freedom in order to take off strain when the ship rocks.
When the battery is combined with the cylinder c. as shown in Figures 6, 7, 8
and 9, the spring d'Figure 6 carrying the contact point must be insulated, but when
the battery is on board ship, as shown in Figure 2, the spring Figure 6. carrying
the contact point must then be metallically connected to the conductor Figure 6,
which would be done by connecting it to any part of the contact cylinder c.
According to another modification, represented at Figure 10. in which a rotator of
any ordinary construction may be employed, I attach to the front end of a rotator a.
in any convenient manner, one end of a log line b of any suitable material for towing
the rotator through the water. The other end of the log line I attach to or let it
bear on a plate of metal m', Figure 10. which plate bears on friction rollers m²; the
friction rollers bear on a second plate of metal m", which is fixed in any convenient
manner to the taffrail or any other convenient part of a ship. The friction rollers are
similar in construction to the friction rollers described in the specification of previous
patent hereinbefore referred to, and are for the same purpose, viz., reducing the friction
by means of the running weight being borne on the rollers. Attached to the
plate m', or in connection with the end of the log line b. I arrange a pin or carrier m*,
which bears on a second pin or carrier m,which operates, by means of the gearing mª.
mechanism contained within the contact cylinder c for makingand breakingan electrical
circuit, as herein explained. The pin or carrier is similar in construction to the pin
or carrier described in the specification hereinbefore referred to and is for the same
purpose, viz., dividing a heavy mechanism from a comparatively light mechanism, in
order to take off undue strain. I may dispense with either the friction rollers, or
the pin or carrier, or both, and connect the log line directly with the mechanism for
making and breaking the electrical circuit. The difference between the arrangement
of Figure 2 and Figure 10 is that in Figure 2 the log line is attached directly to the
contact cylinder C which, as also the plate m³, revolves with it, the towing weight
being borne by the plate m', whilst in Figure 10 the log line b is attached to or bears
on the plate m¹ and revolves the contact cylinderc through the carriers m' m³, and the
intermediate gearing me, the towing weight being borne by the plate m³.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A rotator with affixed towing line operating an electrical contact apparatus on
board ship, or at any convenient distance therefrom, substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
2. A rotator with affixed towing line operating an electrical contact apparatus on
board ship, or at any convenient distance therefrom, in combination with conductors,
battery, indicator or indicators, substantially as hercin shown and described and for
the purpose stated.
3. The combination of rotator, affixed towing line, battery, contact apparatus,
conductor. cable, and indicator or indicators on board ship, substantially as herein
shown and described with respect to Figures 6, 7 and 8 for the purpose stated.
4. The combination of combined rotator, battery, and contact apparatus, with
conductor. cable and an indicator or indicators on board ship, substantially as herein
shown and described with respect to Figure 9. and for the purpose stated.
5. The method of insulating moveable conductors substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.