Improved Means and Appliances for Ascertaining the Deviation of a Ship's Course with a view of Comparing or Rectifying the Ordinary or Sailing Compass.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for Ascertaining the Deviation of
a Ship's Course with a view of Comparing or Rectifying the
Ordinary or Sailing Compass.
I, WALLACE JOHN REYNOLDS, of 2 Heath Street, Commercial Road East
Middlesex, Nautical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means and appliances for ascertaining the
deviation of a ships course with a view of comparing or rectifying the ordinary or
sailing compass.
For the purpose of my invention, I attach to any desired part of a ship, or a frame-
work of, or attachable to a ship, a couple of guides or ropes, the upper ends of which
are connected to a bar preferably of wood, suspended from say, the top foremast and
top main mast, or top main mast and top mizzen mast, or at such a height that a
testing compass which can be raised up on these ropes as guides can be carried out of
the magnetic influence of the ship. The bar carries a couple of pullies and the cord
by which the testing compass is raised, passes from a suspending link at the upper
part of the testing compass frame over the two pullies down to and under a wheel, or
other appliance, then up to a link or ring at the lower part of the frame of the testing
compass and constituting an endless cord or band.
The testing compass is provided with say, a barometer disc, against which a point
on a lever fitted within the compass bowl presses, said lever being preferably in con-
nection with another lever which rises up in the compass bowl directly opposite to the
first lever.
The gimball ring of the compass bowl is supported by the surrounding frame,
this being in connection with a couple of thimbles, which ride upon the ropes first
mentioned.
A portion of the testing compass frame has a bolt, which when struck by a catch
acts upon the barometer disc and causes the two levers to nip the compass card
fixedly until the compass is lowered to the deck, so that the true position of the
compass can be read and the ship's course readily ascertained therefrom.
The bolt may become fixed after the catch has actuated it, in which case, the catch
would be arranged from the upper suspension bar, so that the catch would be released
again when the test compass has to be lowered or instead of a catch striking the
bolt, a lever suspended from the upper cross bar could be made to enter a slot of the
frame behind the bolt and then by a pull on a cord from below, the lever could be
made to act upon the bolt or the lever or a catch may be arranged in connection with
the test compass frame, so that after the compass has been elevated sufficiently long
for the card to become steady, a pull from below would release or shoot the bolt for
fixing the card.
The endless rope by which the test compass is moved may have a counterpoise to
prevent sudden lowering of the test compass when it is desired for reading purposes
and instead of two levers being fitted within the compass bowl, one only may be fitted,
the main object being to fix the compass card when at an elevation.
Dated this 4th day of December 1888.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said W. J. Reynolds.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for Ascertaining the Deviation of
a Ship's Course with a view of Comparing or Rectifying the
Ordinary or Sailing Compass.
I WALLACE JOHN REYNOLDS of 2 Heath Street, Commercial Road East, Middlesex,
Nautical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly, described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to improved means and appliances for ascertaining the
deviation of a ships course with a view of comparing or rectifying the ordinary or
sailing compass.
For the purpose of my invention I attach to any desired part of a ship, or a frame-
work of or attachable to a ship, a couple of guides or ropes the upper ends of which
are connected to a bar, preferably of wood, suspended from say the top foremast and
top main mast or top main mast and top mizzen mast or at such a height that a
testing compass which can be raised up on these ropes as guides can be carried out
of the magnetic influence of the ship. The bar carries a pulley and the cord by
which the testing compass is raised passes from a suspending link at the upper part
of the testing compass frame over the pulley down to and under a wheel or other
appliance, then up to a link or ring at the lower part of the frame of the testing
compass and constituting an endless cord or band.
The testing compass is provided with say a barometer disc against which a point
on a lever fitted within the compass bowl presses, said lever being preferably in con-
nection with another lever which rises up in the compass bowl directly opposite to the
first lever.
The gimball ring of the compass bowl is supported by the surrounding frame,
this being in connection with a couple of thimbles which ride upon the ropes, first.
mentioned.
"
A portion of the testing compass frame has a bolt which when struck by a catch
acts upon the barometer disc and causes the two levers to nip the compass card
fixedly until the compass is lowered to the deck, so that the true position of the
compass can be read and the ships course readily ascertained therefrom.
The bolt may become fixed after the catch has actuated it, in which case the catch
would be arranged from the upper suspension bar so that the catch would be released
again when the test compass has to be lowered, or instead of a catch striking the
bolt, a lever suspended from the upper cross bar could be made to enter a slot of the
frame below; the lever could be made to act upon the bolt or the lever or a catch
may be arranged in connection with the test compass frame so that after the compass;
has been.elevated sufficiently long for the card to become steady a pull from below
would release or shoot the bolt for fixing the card.
The endless rope by which the test compass is moved may have a friction disc to
prevent sudden lowering of the test compass when it is desired for reading purposes,
and instead of two levers being fitted within the compass bowl, one only may be fitted,
the main object being to fix the compass card when at an elevation.
My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional elevations of a pedestal to be secured to the deck of a.
vessel.
:
:
Figures 3 and 4. are elevation and section of the appliance fitted up aloft between
the masts.
Figures 5 and 6 in elevation and section show the compass from which the reading
of an ordinary ships compass can be rectified..
Figure 7 is a perspective view of détail mechanism by which such reading
compass card can be locked.
Figure 8 is an elevation of a reading compass connected to a float capable of
being drawn from the stern of a vessel.

page_text: Figure 9 is an end view of the float.
Figure 10 is a view, shewing the position the parts occupy when fixed to a vessel.
A is the pedestal carrying at its upper part a head B within which is a pulley C
and a ratchet wheel D also a plate E and leather washer by which the grip against
the pulley wheel C can be regulated by a pinch nut. The rope is rove round the
pulley Cup through the guide eyes F, F, to a corresponding pulley G which is fixed
up aloft by means of the arms H these being secured by ropes see Figure 10 between
the two masts so that the frame I which carries the upper pulley wheel G is held in
a steady position preferably from a spar fitted for the purpose.
The upper pulley frame, Figures 3 and 4, have two other arms J, J, to which
guide ropes are affixed the lower ends of the guide ropes being attached to the
eyes K, K, on the bead of the pedestal A, said guide ropes being strained_tight by
the spring T which encircles the rod M at the lower part of the pedestal. The upper
end of this rod is fixed to the head B a sleeve or socket of the head riding on the
pedestal and prevented turning by the plates N.
By the strain of the spring L upon the guide ropes between the eyes K and the
arms J they are prevented sagging in a high wind.
The endless rope which passes round the pullies C and G is only made endless by
the attachment of its ends to the frame.Q, Q, of the reading compass, Figures 5
and 6. which enables it to be hauled up and down, the sides of the frame being
provided with rollers P. which embrace the guide ropes between J and K for guiding
the reading compass up and down between them.
This reading, compass is carried in a frame Q and to prevent sudden concussions
when at the end of its course, whether being raised or lowered, it is provided with
spring buffers R, R, the upper for striking against the cup S the pressure on the
spring being an indication that it is hauled up high enough and a pressure against
one of the guide tubes F, when lowered sufficiently.
When the reading compass is raised to its fullest height the tongue piece T on its
frame rides against a spring catch U of the upper pulley frame which it presses to
one side so that the catch U catches under the lip of the tongue piece T and locks
the fest compass in a raised position.
When it is desired to take a reading from this compass at an elevated position and
beyond the magnetic influence of the ship to which it is fitted, a pull on a cord
attached to the opposite end of the catch T causes the plate V to escape under
the action of its spring W and by its pin a which passes through one of
the gimballs to press against a diaphragm b on the outside of the compass
bowl and press in another pin c, shown more clearly at Figure 7, and with it a curved
strip d which is fitted within the compass bowl, (liquid or other); this simultaneously
through a transverse bar e acts upon another curved strip which locks the compass
card at the position it occupied when it was desired to take the reading.
The compass is now ready for being lowered for which purpose the handle X is
turned in the reverse direction to bring the testing compass down, the power exerted
on the handle being sufficient to overcome the grip of the plate E against the ratchet
wheel D, consequently the pulley c and plate E rotate while the ratchet wheel D
remains stationary by reason of the pawl being in one of the teeth. Simultaneously
with this pull on the cord the handle X is turned and when said compass is lowered
sufficiently the reading is taken of the other compass in connection therewith and the
necessary correction made.
This method of correcting ships compasses can be accomplished in any latitude and
according to the heel or list of the ship such as when under sail the reading compass
can by means of the wheel g and quadrant h. be kept from violent oscillation, or
instead thereof a bar on the compass may be partially immersed in Glycerine or other
liquid to resist violent oscillation.
The invention thus far described is for use between the top masts but it is equally
applicable for use with the stern line Y and float Z Figure 8, and to enable said float
to sink into the water and to prevent it rotating I arrange a blade or deflector i at

page_text: any desired angle for the purpose of drawing the head or eye portion into the water
the fang or wing & keeping the float Z in proper position.
The angle at which the stern rope Y hangs from over the stern rail enables the
reading compass to run down on rollers P, P, and when it is desired to take a reading
from this compass it being beyond the magnetic influence of the ship the cord is
pulled in a little and as the front roller P rotates it lifts the pawl 1, which corresponds
to T of Figure 6, and releases the plate V, the action of the spring W causing, the
pin a to act upon the strips d, f, as before described for locking the compass card,
the ships compass being corrected after the reading compass has been hauled
inboard.
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. In connection with a compass which can be raised beyond the magnetic influence
of a ship, the apparatus or appliances by which such a compass can be raised and
lowered and locked in a raised position and the card be secured in a fixed position
until lowered for the reading to be taken and other compass or compasses corrected
thereby, as described and substantially as shewn on the annexed drawings..
2. The appliances substantially as shewn at Figure 7 fitted within a compass bowl
and capable of being operated on from the outside for locking the card of such
compass as set forth.
The 2nd dive of Santambor 1000
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said W. J. Reynolds.