IMPROVE- MENTS IN MARINERS' COMPASSES, ALSO IN BAROMETERS AND IN CERTAIN OTHER MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1848

page_text: D. AND J. M. NAPIER'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
NAPIER and JAMES MURDOCH NAPIER, of the York Road, Lambeth, in the
County of Surrey, Engineers and Copartners, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twentieth day of
July, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said David Napier and James Murdock Napier, our exors, adîñors,
and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that we, the said David Napier and James Murdoch Napier, our exors, admors,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Napier and James Murdoch
Napier, our exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the
Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, our Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MARINERS' COMPASSES, ALSO IN BAROMETERS AND IN CERTAIN OTHER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso.
that we, the said David Napier and James Murdoch Napier, or one of us,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and

page_text: end of this lever is forked and bears upon each fork a piece e, upon the upper
ends of which pieces the three-branch piece F rests at points f. At the other
end of lever E a short connecting rod G attaches it to a lever end projecting
from the frame H. I is a standard piece to the holes, in the upper ends of
which a screwed spindle J is fitted. This spindle also passes through holes in
the upper part of the frame H, and forms bearings for the frame H to vibrato
upon. Plate K supports the clockwork which is fixed to the under side of it,
and upon the upper surface is fixed the standard I and other portions, as
shewn. The lever L is bored to fit the larger diameter of the screwed spindle
J, and has a small piece fixed to it which fits in the groove, so that when the
screw J is turned round the piece L moves along, it. The lower end of piece
L is forked and embraces the bottom bar of the frame H which keeps it in
position when the screw is turned, and also gives to it a vibrating motion from
the connection which it has with the crank spindle d. To the top of the piece
L is attached a lever M with a sharp point 9 fitted to its extreme end. This
lever can be raised at pleasure, working upon the centre h. The spring i falls
into a notch in the lever, when it is restored to its position and holds it with
sufficient firmness, nevertheless it can be easily raised, which should be done
before the compass card B is taken off. As the lever M rises and fails by
virtue of its connection with the crank spindle d, it will also be observed that
the branch piece F, being connected with lever E, must also rise and fall,
(in these motions it has the hollow standard j for its guide), the piece F reach-
ing its highest point when the lever M has descended to its lowest position.
In this condition the three arms of the piece F will form an abutment or
steadiment against the brass ring of the compass card, while the point g is
pricking through the paper. The weight N serves to balance the branch
piece F.
We may now proceed to explain the method by which the direction of a
ship's head is registered upon the paper by the point g. Figure 4 shows the
design which is printed on the paper, the concentric circles 1, 2, 1, &c., repre-
senting time in hours, and the radiating lines m, m, m, &c. representing points
and parts of points. When placing the instrument on board ship the line
O, P, shewn in Figure 2, must be made to range parallel with the keel of the
vessel, the O end of the line pointing towards the head of the vessel. On this
line the point 9 pricks, so that any prick which is made must be on that
radiating line on the paper which was pointing in the direction of the ship's
head at the time such prick was made; and, as one prick is made every three
minutes (being simultaneous with the revolutions of the crank d), we shall
have the position of the ship's head marked on the paper every three minutes

page_text: i
by means of the screw J, which is made to tako a small portion of a turn after
each prick by the action of the two palls n and p. The pall n, being attached to
the frame H, takes one notch in the ratchet each time it vibrates and turns
the screw, while the pall p keeps the ratchet in the position it has attained,
and the return vibration of the frame H brings back the pall n to take another
notch consequently the lever M and the point g have a travelling motion
towards the centre of the compass card, and pass over the whole distance from
cireler to circles in twenty-four hours, pricking twenty times in each hour or
space from one circle to another; thus, by the stability of the magnetic needle
pointing north and south; we are enabled to register the direction of a ship,
and by the travelling motion given to the pricking point we can register tho
time or about the time when any prick has been made, which is ascertained
by the distance of such prick from circle where the operation commenced,
the time of commencement being proviously noted. The paper is removed at
the end of twenty-four hours, and a fresh one put in its place to receive the
subsequent twenty-four hours' register. When the paper is removed it will be
necessary to wind back the point g to its former position over the circle r, by
means of the milled button V, which is fixed to the end of the screw spindle.
When the screw is being turned to bring the point back the palls n and p will
keep the ratchet wheel from moving round, as the ratchet wheel has a friction
joint on the spindle J. It will be evident that the apparatus might be
arranged in such manner that the point 9 would prick more or less frequently,
if thought desirable, and the arrangement might be so altered that the con-
centric circles as drawn would represent half hours instead of hours; or other
detail alterations may be made in the paper and also in the apparatus.
Lever R is made to vibrate on the centre pin in standard S. To one end of the
lever is attached connecting piece T'; the other end is attached to a picco U,
which slides in the hollow standard j. Spring & acts underneath the lever R
and tends to raise connecting piece T, and consequently to depress the sliding
piece U, the top of which forms the steel point a. The piece 1, being fastened to
the lid of the box, is so adjusted that when the lid is opened the point a
descends, and when shut it raises the point by pressing upon the connecting
piece T. This is intended to prevent any damage arising to the point when
the lid is open, by placing on the card carelessly, or in other ways. Figures 5
and 6 are external views of the instrument mounted. The lid is furnished
with a glass top, that the registering process may be seen without opening it.
The clockwork is wound up every twenty-four hours by a key fitted to tho
spindle W.
What we claim in respect to this part of our Invention is, the combining

page_text: suitable apparatus and a maintaining power with a compass so as to produce a
self-acting means of registering the direction of a ship's head, as indicated by a
magnetic needle.
Drawing No. 3 illustrates the second part of our Invention, the same letters
denoting the same parts in each view or Figure. Figure 1 is an elevation,
and Figure 2 a plan of the instrument, the centre of the disc G being taken
away to show the work below. The Drawing represents so much of a common
wheel barometer as will enable us to describe our Invention; the parts differing
only in the spindle A being placed perpendicular, and having a circular
disc G fixed upon it, instead of the index point, which is usually placed on
the revolving spindle of wheel barometers. The spindle A is fitted to bearing
B and pivots in the step c; the circular disc G may be made of brass or other
inaterial if preferred. On this disc is placed a thin layer of cloth or velvet or
some soft substance, and above and upon this soft substance a sheet of paper
cut circular to the size of the disc is placed, and temporarily fixed by some
convenient means, upon which paper may be drawn or printed concentiis
circles, as shewn at 9, 9, 9, representing time in hours, and radiating lines as
at h, h, h, &c., representing measure in inches and parts. E is a lever with a
pricking point at the end. This lever rises and falls in any period of time that
may be desired, and each time it descends pricks a hole in the paper, which is
on the disc. It also travels regularly forward towards the centre of the disc,
until it passes over the whole distance from circle i to circle j; and supposing
it requires twenty-four hours to perform this journey, the circles as they
are drawn will represent hours. If then we allow the pricking lever E to
descend four times in each hour, we shall havo ninety-six punctures in the
paper, and the time or about the time at which any of these punctures have
been made can be obtained by the number of spaces or circles they are
distant from the outer circle i where the operation commenced, the time of
commencement having been noted. It is necessary next to explain how the
height of the mercury consequent upon the atmospheric pressure is registered.
Figure 2 shews the pricking point E exactly upon the radiating line, which
denotes 29.5 inches of mercury. The scale of measurement drawn upon
the paper must be such that, when the mercury rises or falls in, the tube, the
distance of the rise or fall will be represented by the distance which the disc
moves on its centre, consequently the height of the mercury will be always
represented by the radiating line which comes under the pricking point, and
therefore by the puncture which the point makes. Thus it will be clearly
perceived that by the circles representing time, and the radiating lines indi-
cating the height of mercury, the diagram pricked by the point can bo

page_text: easily read off, and a register of the atmospheric changes obtained. A fresh
paper should be laid on at the end of cach twenty-four hours, and should be
placed always to a certain mark, so that the scale may be found in its proper
position. We think it unnecessary to describe the self-acting apparatus by
which the pricking lever may be worked in its rising and falling, and also in its
travelling motion, as it would be a modification of that already explained in
the former part of our Invention. Where the same motions are used, the same
registering apparatus might be applied to wheel barometers, having their
spindle horizontal, by merely reversing.the apparatus.
In this second part of our Invention we claim the method of registering
upon a circular disc with a travelling point or pencil as applied to barometers
'and herein described.
Drawings Nos. 4 and 5 represent the third part of our Invention, the
Figures in Drawing No. 4 being shewn half size, and those on Drawing
No. 5 full size, the same letters having reference to the same parts in each
Figure. A represents part of the side of an iron ship, to which the instrument
is supposed to be secured. B is an axis (having vanes), which is made to
revolve by the water, and is represented in Figures 1 and 2 as external of
the ship, and is hung very freely upon its pivots. a is a tangent screw on the
spindle of the vane screw B geared into the worm wheel b. The pitch of the
vanes B is represented as being ono fathom to a revolution. The worm
wheel b communicates through the medium of the rod c, with the bevil
pinions d, d, encased in the metal box C, which in their turn through the
medium of the upright rod D, inside the metal tube or pillar E, communicate
with the bovil pinions e and f at the top of the rod D shewn in Figures
4 and 5; and, as the bevil pinion f upon the spindle g is intended to make
ten revolutions for every nautical mile, the small pinion h, which is in one picco
with the bevil pinion f gearing into wheel E2, which is fast on spindle F, thus
giving motion to an index point i, fixed at the extreme end of the spindle F,
which makes one revolution for every nautical mile. The wheel G in which
the pinion h also gears has on the end of its spindle a small pinion j, which
gives motion to the trains of wheels and their indexes k, k, k, &c., which havo
scope to register from one mile to ten thousand, similar to the trains commonly
used in gas meters, and which are well known, only in this case four spring
harrels II are represented and used in combination. One handle I, with the
gearing attached, serves to wind them all up simultaneously; the object of
this supplementary power, the application of which is the main feature in this
part of our Invention, is to work the registering dials, and the wheelwork
attached, and also to overcome the friction of the various parts, and so take

page_text: that duty from the screw or vanes B, which otherwise would have to work
the whole apparatus, and thus the speed of the vessel, or the velocity of the
current can be much more correctly ascertained, as but a very small portion
of the power imparted by the water to the screw or vanes B is consumed by
friction; the nature of the connection at the tangent screw a being such that
the force of the springs H, H, cannot make the screw revolve, and can only
act upon the indicators of the dials, when the current or progress of the
vessel makes the screw or vanes B revolve. The rod J in Figures 1 and 2
with its handle K, is attached to the metal piece L, on which the screw or
vanes B with its shield M is mounted, and which in its present position
secures it outside the vessel; but if the handle K be unscrewed from the front
plate N, the screw spindle B, with its appendages, may be drawn into the
metal box C, at which time the small rod c will pass through a hole in the
front plate N (which at other times will be stopped up), 'the bevil pinion d
sliding on the groove in the rod c; and should it be required to take the vano
screw B out for any purpose, O represents a slide valve, which, if shut
down so as to exclude the water, the instrument may be taken asunder at
pleasure,
In this the third part of our Invention, we claim the combination of a
supplementary or auxiliary power with any indicating log or apparatus for
ascertaining the velocity of vessels passing through water, or the velocity of
currents of water.
Drawing No. 6 illustrates the fourth part of our Invention, the letters
representing the same parts in each figure or view. Figure 1 is an elevation,
and Figure 2 a plan of the apparatus attached to a weigh bridge A for heavy
goods, eight pounds weight upon the end of the lever B, being intended to
balance one ton upon the weigh bridge, the lever B being connected with the
lever C by the bridle piece a, and acting upwards by the pressure of the weight
upon the weigh bridge compresses the spring 6 in proportion to that pressure.
c is a small chain attached to the piece a and to the pulley d, round which
it winds by the action of the balance weight a' as the lever B rises, the
balance weight also serving as a counterpoise to the piece a; the rode on
which the pulley d is fixed is made to turn very lightly on the friction pullies
ff. To the end of this rod is fixed the pointer D, which indicates the weight
upon the dial plate, and as it is necessary, especially for other parts yet to be
described, that the pointer D should move equal distances for equal additions
of weight, the pulley D is made of a spiral form, similar to the fusee of B
timepiece, so as to compensate for the encreasing strength of the spring 6; and,
as all the other indicating parts of the. machine receive their movement from

page_text: the rod e, they will also partake of the uniformity obtained by the fusce pulley
d. E is a curved plate of metal permanently secured to the five circular
rings 9, 9, &c., on which is placed a sheet of paper, held fast by the ten
grippers h, h, &c. F is a chain pulley fast upon the shaft i, with the chain j
connecting it with the pulley k, which is fixed upon the spindle 6; and, as the
curve plato E with all its appendages is nicely balanced on shaft i, it will by
the aid of a small suspended weight have sufficient tendency to turn inwards
during the ascent of the lever B, so as to overcome the friction of a pencil to
bo afterwards described. G is a spur wheel working loose upon a stud con-
centric with the shaft i, and is a ratchet ring secured to the wheel G; the
piece m, with eight catches attached to it, is secured to the chain pulley F, the
catches falling into the ratchet / in succession during the inward revolution of
the plato E, consequent upon the rising of the lever B. II is a pencil holder,
which pencil presses lightly on the paper moving on the screwed rods n; and o
is a small ratchet and catch, with connecting rod p for turning the rod n one
notch at a time after the ascent of the lever B, theroby marking the length of
the pencil line and consequent weight of the goods, and placing the pencil in a
new position for the next line. I is a metal cylinder grooved in the form of a
screw from end to end, leaving a flat belt for divisions and figures. K is a
pointer sliding upon the rod L, and moving along by the screw on the cylinder.
Mis a spur wheel fast upon the cylinder spindle, and connected with a similar
wheel G by the intermediate wheel N; and as the plate E with its paper
moves backwards and forwards in connection with and in proportion to the
rising and falling of the lever B, so the cylinder I is moved a like proportion,
but always in one direction, that is inwards at every descent of the lever B,
which is effected by the ratchet ring 7 and catches already described. The
catches may be increased in number, so as to diminish the fractional parts of a
ton or cwt., as the case may be; the lever B is always forced down to zero or
the stop 9 previous to removing the load by means yet to be described. O is
the handle by which the machine is worked, being connected through the redr
with the top of the upright screw P by means of bevil gear. The brass nut R
rises or descends upon the screw P, according as the handle O is turned; and,
as the end of the lever B projects under the brass nut R in a forked shape,
the turning of the handle in the one direction, that is to the left hand, will
press the lever down to the stop 9, where it must remain while a change of
loads is taking place; turning the handle in the opposite direction, that is to
the right hand, will allow the lever to riso until it has indicated the weight of
the load on the dial by the pointer D, and on the paper with the pencil.
When the lever B is again depressed by turning the handle O to the left hand,

page_text: the curved plate E with its paper will, by means of the chain c, be brought
back to its original position, and consequently the cylinder I will, through the
medium of the ratchet and wheels already described, be moved to the same
extent, and thereby add the last weight into the sum of the loads already
weighed, the object of this cylinder being to exhibit the aggregate amount of
work done, for which purpose it is divided and numbered from 1 to 8000 tons.
The handle O requires four turns and no more for each operation, and there-
fore there is on the spindler, inside the frame, a small pinion in gear with
wheel four times its diameter, which is provided with a stop; and on the same
wheel there is a tappet, which lifts the end of connecting rod p, thereby moving
the ratchet o one notch, and so changes the position of the pencil for the next
line. The object of the two small cylinders s, s, is simply for counting up the
number of loads weighed; they are mounted similar to the cylinder I, and are
numbered from one to three hundred. Ratchets T, T, are moved one notch
at a time by the tappets on the two outer rings g, g, at every operation. The
apparatus which we have just described may, if required, be placed out of the
reach of the person superintending the weighing, and may serve to prevent
frauds and to correct mistakes to which such men are more or less liable.
In this, the fourth part of our Invention, we would remark, that we do not
confine ourselves to the details of the above description, so long as the peculiar
character of this part of our Invention be retained; but we claim the measuring
and registering weight in connection with weigh bridges or platform weighing
machines, by applying thereto apparatus acting as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Murdoch Napier, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fast mine
(L.B.) JAMES M. NAPIER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of January, in
the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid James Murdoch Napier came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped accord-
ing to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.