Improvements in Ships' Logs.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 5th Jan., 185
Improvements in Ships' Logs.
I, FRANCIS AUGUSTUS BISHOP, of Bristol, in the State of Connecticut, United
States of America, Inventor, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improvement in ships' logs and more particularly to
an improvement in the connected apparatus for raising, lowering and registering
the revolutions of the log, and the object of my invention is to provide a device
which may be readily attached or removed while the vessel is still afloat for the
purpose of cleaning, making repairs or of making inspection of its condition; or
for safety while in port, and to protect it against mud, slime and other harbour
foulness while lying at port.
With these ends in view my invention consists in a log of improved construction,
apparatus for raising and lowering this log, means for shutting out the water,
cutting off the hanging sea weed or other debris, and draining out the water shut
in the log case; means for retaining the log at any elevation and sealing the case
water-tight; it consists further in novel registering mechanism and connected
devices for communicating the motion of the log to the register whereby an exact
record of the log is kept. It still further consists in certain novel features of
construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and
pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1, is a top plan view.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view.
Figure 3, is a plan of the group of friction rollers for confining and steadying the
vertical axle e and e' when extended.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the case.
Figure 5, is a similar view of the tube O with the register in position on its
upper end.
Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged views of the register mechanism.
Figure 8 is an enlarged plan of the log, with top removed.
Figure 9 is a vertical section.
Figure 10 is a plan view of the gate.
Figure 11 is a section of same, and
Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of a portion of tube O.
A represents the case of the apparatus, B the register and C the well. Au
opening is formed in the bottom of the vessel as shown in Figure 2 and around
this opening the well is secured. The case is secured on top of the well and in
effect forms a continuation of the well, and in these parts the water of course rises
to its level.
D. Figs. 2 and 4 is the log frame, composed of side bars and cross bars, the side.
bars operating between the guides t, t on front and rear walls of the case. The
side bars of the log frame are provided on one side with rack teeth D' Fig. 2 and a
spindle i journalled in the case is provided with pinions o, o, the teeth of which
mesh with the teeth of the rack bars as shown in Figure 2. The spin lle. is provided
on its outer end with a hand wheel c Figs. 1. and 4 by means of which it is turned
to raise and lower the frame as occasion may require. There is also provided a
toothed wheel on the spindle and a dog d' for locking the spindle and
consequently the log frame and log at any elevation.
P077

page_text: The log E is removably secured to the lower end of the log frame by screws or
other means as shown in Figure 2 so that when the frame is lowered the log is some
distance below the bottom of the vessel, as shown in full lines. As it is desirable
that there be a limit to the depression of the log, a stop p is located in position to
be struck by the upper cross bar of the log frame just before the upper ends of the
racks pass beyond the pinions o, o.
The dotted lines in Figure 2 indicate a convenient elevated position of the log
when raised out of the water, for inspection, repairs or other purposes. It will be
noticed that a hand holes is formed in the case at this point. Through this
opening access is had at any time to the log when raised. A door is provided
for closing this opening, suitable means being provided for making it water-tight
when closed. This door is so arranged that one end swings on the hinge bolts f³, f
that fasten that end of the door when in place. The said bolts pass through holes
and slots as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and are provided with nuts. By partially
unscrewing these nuts, and by swinging the hinge bolts at the other end of the
door out of their slots, the door ¹ can be moyed to one side, yet remaining fixed to
the case.
Beneath the hand-hole s, a gate chamber F is formed Figs. 2 10 and 11. This
chamber extends internally some distance and a gate n is mounted in the chamber
where it is capable of sliding, guides being provided to insure a perfect action of
the gate as it is slid back and forth; of course various means might be resorted to
for operating this gate but I have found it convenient to employ a screw such as
is used in a certain class of slide valves. This screw has a hand wheel on its
outer end by means of which it is manipulated. A stuffing box is arranged at the
outer end of the chamber for the screw or stem to turn in. This gate is adapted,
when closed, to entirely shut the water out and in order to cut off any sea weed or
other substance which may be hanging from the log when it is drawn out of the
water, a pair of knives 12 and k² on the case and gate respectively, are provided.
These come together when the gate is closed and any material between them is
severed. Assuming now that the log has been raised and the gate closed, the
spigot or valve d Figs. 1 and 2 is opened, and the water shut in the case above the
gate is drawn off. Then if access to the log is desirable the door may be
removed or opened without danger of letting water out into the vessel. The
appliances used for fastening this door may be any hitherto approved of, the
main thing being obviously to fasten the door water tight, and convenient for
handling.
The log which I have especially devised and which I prefer to employ is very
simple, and is shown enlarged and in detail in Figures 8 and 9. It comprises
essentially a circular chamber a2 and a water way 2 arranged tangentially with
relation to chamber and is in open communication therewith. Said waterway
extends longitudinally with the vessel, and both its forward and rear ends are open
for the free passage of the water therethrough. Fitted in the circular chambers is
the measuring wheel or log 2. This wheel or log is journaled in the centre of the
chamber and it has curved blades radially arranged around its hub. These
blades project across the waterway and as the water passes through the latter, it
revolves the wheel. The axle of the wheel is provided with a pinion g² and the
teeth of this pinion engage with the teeth of a larger wheel a² on the stem which
is connected with the registering machinery. A top is secured over the circular
chamber of the log box and in it a bearing is formed for the upper end of the stem
of the wheel or log b²..
Tube O is secured to the upper end of the case A as shown in Fig. 2, said tube
being preferably made in two or more sections so as to run up as far as necessary
according to the height of the deck where the register is placed. These sections
are necessary for convenience of construction and erection, for locating bearings for
the stems contained therein, for lubrication and observation. The adjacent ends of
the sections of the said tube O are provided with suitable flanges, said sections,
being secured together by bolting through these flanges or in any other convenient'

page_text: e,
el
way. The extreme upper end of the tube is also provided with a flange O¹ as
shown in Figures 6 and 7 and bolts or other fastenings are used at this point to
couple the register B to the tube. Through the tube O the stem
passes, the
latter extending from the log to the register. The lower end of the stem is made
in telescoping sections to admit of the log frame being raised and lowered without
moving the upper end of the stem. and in order to cause these sections of the stem
to rotate together they are provided with a feather and groove or other equivalent
means to insure a communication of rotary motion from one section to the other.
Also each section of the tube O is furnished with a disc or the like O", suitable
bearings being formed therein for the support of the stem e, e'. The outer ends of
each stem section are provided with clutches v, v their purpose being to impart the
rotary motion from one stem section to the next and it will be seen that
cramping due from slight departure from alignment will be obviated through the
action of these clutches. The lower end of section e is stepped at h in the lower
end of the log frame, and beneath this step the end of stem section e and the
adjacent end of stem are provided with clutches v, vas at the other ends of the
sections for the same purpose. As this portion goes into the water, it is enclosed
by a metal or glass tube R. Also to furnish protection for that portion of section e
which enters the water, a shield or the like T. Fig. 4 is secured to the log frame in
front of it.
any
Anti-friction rollers or bearings a Fig. 3 are fixed in a suitable position at the
upper end of the log frame to bear on the stem as it revolves, in order to reduce the
friction to a minimum and keep the telescoping sections in line.
The upper sections of the tube O are provided with hand-holes J as shown in
Figures 2, 5 and 12. The neck of the lower member when in place, comes flush
with the bottom of the hand hole, its top being slightly recessed so that it may
receive the base of the double step N. This step has a circular base and two
narrow and opposite sides inclining towards each other at the top. A bar across
the top and parallel with the base connects them. Both base. and bar are bored
central and vertical to receive and form journals for the ends of the stem sections
which meet at that point. In the base of said step are holes to permit the water
and collected air to pass up the tube. The haud holes are kept closed by a door J¹
held in place by bolts or similar means.
The register is indicated by the letter B as previously mentioned; of course any
approved register might be employed but as I have devised one especially for the
purpose I will now proceed to describe it in detail.
B' represents the base of the register, and G a hollow tube integral with the
lower face of the base and adapted to sit on and be secured to the upper end of the
upper section of tube O.. Through this tube a stem of corresponding size to
the stems e, e¹ and extends, it being provided at its lower end with a clutch v and
its-upper end protruding through a bearing 1 on top of the base. This.upper end
bas a small pinion g secured thereon through which motion of the stems is
communicated to the entire chain of gearing in the register as follows:-
Two upright spindles 5 and 6 are revolvably supported in the base B' at their
lower ends and in the overhanging arm 7 at their upper ends. Spindle. 5 is
provided with a large wheel 8 the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of pinion g
and on this spindle a single tooth.9 is secured in position to engage a tooth of a
large wheel 10 on spindle 6 and move the latter the space of one tooth each. time it
makes a revolution. I do not confine myself to a single tooth on any wheel for
reducing the velocity of the train, but may use full toothed wheels suitably
combined to obtain the same result..
Spindle 6 has a worm 11 formed at or near its upper end, and this worm engages
the teeth of a worm wheel 12 on the horizontal arbor m. This arbor is journalled
in brackets 14, 14 and is provided with a friction wheel P. Over the horizontal
arbor m is revolvably supported on the upper end of upright 16 a friction disc H.
From this upright projects the feather which enters a circular groove in the hub
of worm wheel 12; thus keeping the wheel from any lateral. motion from. the

page_text: friction wheel and the speed at which the disc is moved is regulated by mechanism
which will be hereinafter described. The edge diametrically opposite the points of
contact of the friction wheel P is supported by an idle wheel and contact of the
disc with the wheel is insured by the pressure roller k.
The dial plate 17 is supported on posts 18, 18. Several dials are formed on this
plate and dial hands for indicating on these dials, are provided. A large toothed
wheel 19 is secured to the hub of the friction disc H and one of the hands is secured
on the upper end of the pivot w of this disc. There are two other arbors 20
and 21, one for each of the other hands, and arbor 20 has a large toothed wheel 20ª,
the teeth of which engage with the teeth on the axle of disc H, and arbor 21 has a
small wheel 22 thereon the teeth of which engage with the teeth on the large
wheel 19. So it will be seen froin the foregoing, that the motion is communicated
from the disc H to all three of the dial hands, the speed of each being regulated
by the size of the wheels, one hand making a complete revolution over its dial
for every ten knots, another for every hundred knots, and a third for every
thousand knots.
To return now to the regulating mechanism-Incorporated in the register train
is a novel device either for accelerating or for retarding the motion of the dial
pointers while the measuring wheel is moving at its normal velocity, which is
equivalent to changing the number of teeth in the gearing. This offers a delicate
and ready adjustment which cannot be made in a train of toothed wheels without
much trouble and expense.
To illustrate its operation; let it be assumed that the rate of the measuring
wheel has been determined by actual trial and the teeth in the train changed to
their limit, but not to the accuracy required. Now if the time in which the vessel
passes over a measured mile or any other known distance be observed and the
register indicates a distance in the same time, but either greater or less than the
real one.
Then if the distance, which the pointers show, be less than the actual,
the adjusting index must be changed so that the pointer speed may be increased.
On the other hand, if the pointers indicate a greater distance than the actual,
the index must be changed so that the pointer speed may be diminished. Hence,
by the method devised, the differential will be obtained by the simple movement
of an index.
In this way the master of a vessel in leaving a harbour and passing over
distances accurately known, can easily test his log, aided by tables showing the
increments of increase or decrease for each point on the adjuster dial.
A sleeve 23 is mounted on a shaft m and rendered capable of sliding thereon
by means of a feather. The exterior of said sleeve is formed into a circular
rack as shown. Under this rack and engaging with it is the toothed wheel q.
Its axle is supported by bridges 24, 24 which are set at right angles to
the rack.
The outer end of axle z is provided with a knob u for rotating it, and fixed to
knob u is an index which moves over the adjuster dial r.
By revolving wheel q in either direction the friction wheel P will advance or
retreat along the arbor m. The wheel keeps such position as may be fixed
upon, owing, first, to slight rubbing between the index and the dial and tightening
journals; and second because the teeth of the rack are parallel to those of the
wheel.
If at any point, say about midway on the semi-diameter, one revolution of the
friction wheel causes exactly one revolution of the disc, the point will be identical
with zero on the adjuster dial r and the first fixed point of departure for its index.
Any lateral movement therefore of the friction wheel towards the centre of the
. disc will increase the speed of the disc, while a movement in the contrary direction
will retard it.
The entire register mechanism is surmounted by a suitable case which is screwed
or otherwise secured in place. This case has a glass top through which to see the
hands of the dial.
:

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a suitable case, of a ships' log adapted to be raised
and lowered in the case, and a gate for shutting off the water beneath the log
when the latter is raised, for the purpose and substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The combination with a case and a ships' log capable of being raised and
lowered therein, of a gate for shutting off the water below the log when the latter
is raised and knives connected with the gate and case for severing sea weed or
other material between them, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The combination with a casing having a transverse gate-way formed therein
and a gate adapted to be moved in and out on the gate-way, to form a temporary
bottom in the casing at this point, of a rotary ships' log capable of being drawn up
above the gate, substantially as described and illustrated.
4. The combination with a casing and a ships' log constructed to be raised and
lowered in the casing, of a gate located in position to form a temporary bottom in
the casing and a discharge cock or opening above the gate for discharging water
confined above the gate, when the latter is closed, substantially as described and
illustrated.
5. The combination with a case, and a ships' log adapted to be raised and
lowered in the cases of a shut-off valve adapted to shut off the water beneath the
log when the latter is raised, a valve for drawing off the water shut in the case
above the gate, said case provided with a hand hole, and a door for opening and
closing this hand hole, substantially as described & illustrated.
6. The combination with a case, and a tube secured thereto, of a log, a register,
an extensible stem extending from the log to the register, and anti-friction bearings
or wheels between which the stem rotates, all for the purposes substantially as
described and illustrated.
7. The combination with a friction disc, and an arbor, of a friction wheel having
a rack attached thereto a regulator for shifting the rack and friction wheel, said
regulator comprising a spindle, a toothed wheel thereon, and a dial and pointer all
for the purposes and substantially as described and illustrated
8. The combination with a base plate, a standard and a friction dise revolubly
supported on upper end of standard, of a friction wheel adapted to engage the disc,
a cylinder rack connected with the friction wheel, means for shifting the rack,
gearing for actuating the friction wheel, a dial, pointers and gearing for
communicating motion from the disc to the several pointers, substantially as
described and illustrated.
9. The combination with a rotary friction disc, pointers and gearing extending
from the disc to the pointers, of a friction wheel having a cylindrical rack.
connected thereunto, a spindle having a pinion thereon the teeth of which engage
the teeth of the rack, means on said spindle whereby it is turned to set the friction
wheel relative to the centre of the disc, and suitable gearing for driving the friction
wheel, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 20th day of January 1894.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.