Improvements in Ship Log Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ship Log Apparatus.
I THOMAS FERDINAND WALKER of the firm of Thomas Walker & Son of
58 Oxford Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to apparatus for more correctly and conveniently indicating
or indicating and recording the progress of vessels through the water by means of
indications of the movements of a rotator submerged in the water and connected to
registering and recording mechanism.
The object of the invention is mainly to afford a convenient means for transmitting
the rotations of the rotator-motor to an indicating and registering apparatus placed
on the bridge close to the officer in charge of the vessel, or in such other situation
on the vessel as may be most convenient for reading the dial, and also in sufficiently
fine weather to facilitate the location of the rotator in the water at the side of the
vessel forward of the disturbed water, or wake with greater facility for withdrawal
of the rotator from the water when requirement arises.
I generally in moderate weather extend from the side of the vessel a spar, bar,
rod, tube or other support of sufficient length to carry a pendent line connected to
a submerged rotator clear of the vessel and forward of the wake and at or towards
the end of this support I mount a case from which projects a stem or rotatory part
which for convenience I will call the primary spindle having at its end a hook, eye
or connection of any suitable kind for attachment to the rotator line and this case
is so mounted that it may follow in its line of pull the motions of the rotator vertically
or horizontally or both. Within this case are anti-friction pulleys or like means
interposed between the inner end of the primary spindle and the bearing afforded in
the case so as to take off the strain of the rotator line and also means for trans-
mitting the rotations to another spindle, case, or bearing part, whereby the direction
of the motion may be translated in a variable direction to the bridge or other place
by a simple cord or other flexible connection to a register apparatus there secured,
preserving utmost freedom of motion to the rotating parts, avoiding friction from
side strain and inconvenience from the use of rigid connections.
According to one arrangement of these parts the inner end of the primary spindle
is connected to a bevel gear engaging another bevel gear on another axis mounted
in bearings in the case and on this axis externally to the case is mounted a universal
joint to which is attached a line to the register on the bridge or vessel. The case
may be mounted on trunnions and these in bearings on the spar, so giving vertical
swing to follow the line of draught of the rotator.
Or combined with this mounting for vertical swing to the case I connect to the
transverse axis a coiled spring or equivalent flexible rotation-conveying connection
by one end and the other end thereof I attach to an axis (called for convenience the
penultimate axis because in this arrangement it is the last axis before the connection
to the register) in a bearing mounted on an arm borne by the spar, or by the
supporting parts thereon which arm being jointed and adjustable as to the relative
angles of its joints and capable of being set at such angles, enables the motion to be
translated in any required direction the transverse axis retaining a definite position
relatively to the rotator line whilst the penultimate axis is brought into a line with
the register, the flexible connection conveying the motions between the two axes in
their different planes of motion, the jointed arm being adjusted so as to compensate
for differences of distance required between the ends of the axes according to the
straightness or curvature of the flexible connector. By a system of gearing or
equivalent device fixed to the jointed arm the above adjustment may be rendered

page_text: self adjusting. Or the varying angle and flexible connection may be combined with
the means for vertical swing and also means for horizontal rotation of the case on
its support to permit of its following deviations of direction of pull of the rotator
from the line of the vessel. Or instead of transmission of rotation in the case by
bevel gears the flexible transmitter may be connected opposite to the rotator line on
the primary spindle and conveyed to the bearing shaft of the register line. Or the
flexible connection may be attained in another form by universal joints. Or the
primary spindle may be antifrictionally mounted in gimbals on the spar and con-
nected by means of a universal joint with an intermediate axis carried by a fixed
bearing borne by the spar to which axis is attached one end of the flexible coupling
connection the other end being connected to another spindle borne on an adjustable
support fixed, in use, to the proper angle in line with the register and this spindle
may be connected to a universal joint or gimbal and antifrictional arrangement on
the end of the register line or the case may oscillate in a sling, attached to the end
of the spar by means of a metal ring fitting thereon, or the end of the sling may be
lashed to the spar by ropes or be suspended in equivalent manner.
When the sling is used the bearing of the penultimate axis may be borne by an
arm attached to the sling, which arm may be jointed if required.
The penultimate axis may in any of the modifications be mounted in gimbals and
have an antifrictional arrangement to take the strain of the register line.
The projecting spar or support may be provided with a slide way along which
the apparatus for sustaining the rotator line and for connecting the register line is
I run out and in by means of a line running around a pulley at the end of the spar
and attached at opposite ends to opposite ends of the carriage or the metal ring
previously alluded to may be sufficiently large to be utilised for the same purpose.
In weather too rough for the spar arrangement to be employed I mount a case,
with the strain bearing parts, on supports at or near the stern so that it may main-
tain itself in line or working connection with the rotator connection and with a
universal coupling to the register line passing to the bridge or other part of the
vessel.
Dated the 26th day of June 1890.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ship Log Apparatus.
I THOMAS FERDINAND WALKER of the firm of Thomas Walker & Son, of
58 Oxford Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick, 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 :-
This invention relates to apparatus for more correctly and conveniently indicating
or indicating and recording the progress of vessels through the water by means of
indications of the movements of a rotator submerged in the water and connected to
registering and recording mechanism.
The object of the invention is mainly to afford a convenient means for trans-
mitting the rotations of the rotator-motor to an indicating and registering apparatus
placed on the bridge close to the officer in charge of the vessel, or in such other
situation on the vessel as may be most convenient for reading the dial, and also in
sufficiently fine weather to facilitate the location of the rotator in the water at the
side of the vessel forward of the disturbed water, or "wake," with greater facility
for withdrawal of the rotator from the water when requirement arises.
I prefer generally in moderate weather that a spar, bar, rod, tube or other support
be extended from the side of the vessel of sufficient length to carry a pendent line
connected to a submerged rotator clear of the vessel and forward of the wake and
at or towards the end of this support I mount a "case" from which projects a stem

page_text: or rotatory part which for convenience I will call the primary spindle having at its
end a hook, eye or connection of any suitable kind for attachment to the rotator line
and this case is so mounted that it may follow in its line of pull the motions of the
"rotator" vertically or horizontally or both.
I am aware that in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Frank Samuel
Pett No. 14798 dated 19th September 1889 certain arrangements in connection with
the "box" and its contained parts, for translating direction of the line of trans-
mission of rotations from the "rotator" to the "register," to enable them to swing
in a vertical direction are shewn and claimed but I make no claim to such arrange-
ment.
Within the case previously referred to are antifriction rollers or like means
interposed between the inner end of the primary spindle and the bearing afforded
in the case for the purpose of taking off the strain of the rotator line and also means
for transmitting the rotations to another spindle, case or bearing part, whereby the
direction of the motion may be translated in a variable direction to the bridge or
other place by a simple cord or other flexible connection to a register apparatus
there secured, preserving utmost freedom of motion to the rotating parts, avoiding
friction from side strain and inconvenience from the use of rigid connections.
According to one arrangement of these parts the inner end of the primary spindle
is connected to a bevel gear engaging another bevel gear on another axis mounted
in bearings in the case and on this axis externally to the case is mounted a universal
joint to which is attached a line to the register on the bridge or vessel. The
case may be mounted on trunnions and these in bearings on the spar, so giving
vertical swing to follow the line of draught of the rotator.
Or combined with this mounting for vertical swing to the case I connect to the
transverse axis a coiled spring or equivalent flexible rotation-conveying connection
by one end and the other end thereof I attach to an axis (called for convenience
the penultimate axis because in this arrangement it is the last axis before the con-
nection to the register) in a bearing mounted on an arm borne by the spar or by
supporting parts thereon, which arm being jointed and adjustable as to the relative
angles of its joints and capable of being set at such angles, enables the motion to be
translated in any required direction, the transverse axis retaining a definite position
relatively to the rotator line whilst the penultimate axis is brought into a line with
the register, the flexible connection conveying the motions between the two axes in
their relatively varying positions, the jointed arm being adjusted so as to compensate
for differences of distance required between the ends of the axes according to the
straightness or curvature of the flexible connector. By a system of gearing or
equivalent device fixed to the jointed arm the above adjustment may be rendered
self adjusting.
Or the varying angle and flexible connection may be combined with the means
for vertical swing and also means for horizontal rotation of the case on its support
to permit of its following deviations of direction of pull of the rotator from the line
of the vessel. Or instead of transmission of rotation in the case by level gears the
flexible transmitter may be connected opposite to the rotator line on the primary
spindle and conveyed to the bearing shaft of the register line. Or the flexible
connection may be attained in another form by universal joints.
Or the primary spindle may be antifrictionally mounted in gimbals on the spar
and connected by means of a universal joint with an intermediate axis carried by a
fixed bearing borne by the spar to which axis is attached one end of the flexible.
coupling connection the other end being connected to another spindle borne on an
adjustable support fixed, in use, to the proper angle in line with the register and
this spindle may be connected to a universal joint or gimbal and antifrictional
arrangement on the end of the register line. Or the case may oscillate in a sling,
attached to the end of the spar by means of a metal ring fitting thereon, or the end
of the sling may be lashed to the spar by ropes or be suspended in equivalent
manner.

page_text: When the sling is used the bearing of the penultimate axis may be borne by an
arm attached to the sling, which arm may be jointed if required.
The penultimate axis may in any of the modifications be mounted in gimbals or
rocking bearings and have an antifrictional arrangement to take the strain of the
register line.
The projecting spar or support may be provided with a slide way along which the
apparatus for sustaining the rotator line and for connecting the register line is run
out and in by means of a line running around a pulley at the end of the spar and
attached at opposite ends to opposite ends of the carriage, or the metal ring
previously alluded to may be sufficiently large to be utilized for the same purpose.
In weather too rough for the spar arrangement to be employed I mount a case,
with the strain bearing parts, on supports at or near the stern in such a manner so
that it may maintain itself in line with the rotator and with a universal coupling or
flexible transmitter to the register line passing to the bridge or other part of the
vessel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a simple form of the invention applied, and
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
a is the primary spindle on which is mounted (here shewn by screw thread) an
eye a² or it may be other form of connection into which the hook on rotator line
may be engaged, and the movements of the rotator thereby transmitted to the
toothed wheel a mounted on the opposite end of the spindle a. a' are ordinary
antifriction rollers and serving to support the wheel a³. This wheel a³ engages the
tooth-wheel a mounted on the spindle a which like the spindle a is mounted in
bearings in the casing a. This spindle a is affixed to the jaw a' which holds
within it, secured there by trunnions, the swivel as which is also held between the
jaw a being secured therein by a pin thus forming an universal joint between the
spindle a and the ring a connected to the cord all which leads to the registering
apparatus on the bridge or other place. The case a is formed with trunnions a
which are mounted in bearings in supports a rising from a plate a¹ which may be
affixed to a spar or to the bulwark or other part of the ship.
Fig. 3 shews a modified form of parts for effecting the transmission of rotations
from the rotator line to the register, a being the primary spindle as before and the
parts successively operated as far as the spindle a being the same. On the
spindle a is mounted a coupling piece a which at its opposite end is fastened to
one end of a coiled spring a¹e, the other end of this spring being fastened to another
coupling piece a mounted on a projecting pin from the jaw a' of the universal
joint connected to the ring a¹º.
Fig. 4 is a modification of the arrangement Fig. 3, but designed for conveyance
of the rotations in a direct line from the primary spindle a without translation of
direction by bevelled gearing as shewn in that figure, the primary spindle being
carried through the case a and connected to the coupling piece a¹.
16
a
Or the coupling piece a" may be formed to the jaw a² as indicated by Fig. 12.
Fig. 5 shews a plan view of another modification of parts embodying my inven-
tion, substantially like the preceding apparatus from the parts a² to a the spring a'
at its inward end being attached to the "penultimate" axis a mounted in
bearing in the end of the arm a¹8 carried from the support a¹³. This arm a¹ is
jointed and the joints overlap at the circular parts so as to be centred by the fixed
pin or screw a whilst their position relatively may be fixed by the clamping
screw a fixed in the under joint and in the slot a in the upper joint, but this
jointing may be effected in any suitable or equivalent manner.
Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5 and
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the joint with the parts arranged to transmit rotations of
the spring connection a16 at an angle.
Fig. 8 shews a plan view of another modification of that last described, in which
the coiled spring transmitter of rotation is retained but in place of an adjustable

page_text: arm,
66
on
I employ a joint composed of toothed gearing (shewn separately in detail in
Fig. 25) consisting of a plate having teeth on its edge which engage teeth
the edge of another plate b also formed with teeth 63 on its opposite edge which
engage teeth on another plate which is formed on the part 6 carrying the
penultimate axis" a" and bearing for same; mounted on the plate and centred
on an axis c² passing through the centre thereof, is another plate e the edge c³ of
which has teeth which gear with another like plate c¹ mounted on an axis c passing
through a centre in the plate 6. Through the centres from which the teeth of the
plate e and the teeth c³ of the plate c radiate are formed axes which serve as centres
of motion respectively for and means of connection between the superposed plates b
and c and b and c¹.
с
Fig. 9 is an edge view of these toothed plates and their connections, the dotted
lines d indicating a fan shaped plate similar to that shown by f in Fig. 13 and
secured at d¹ to the underside of a part of the framing carrying the case a or
forming part of such frame or be otherwise supported.
Fig. 10 shews the toothed plates turned on their respective centres, and with the
spring connection working in a curve, the plate d serving as a platform, when
used, for the part to swing to and fro upon a wheel d³ (Fig. 9) being mounted on
its under side to reduce friction.
Figs. 84 and 8 shew by plan and side views respectively the arrangement shewn
by Fig. 8 modified so as to admit of the primary axis a rotating in the same
line as the axis connected to the flexible connection and so as to dispense with
the bevelled gearing shewn in Fig. 8. An anti friction device such as d² in
Fig. 9 may be applied between the geared plates or plate 65 and the fan shaped
platform d.
In Fig. 84, the upper protecting plates d³, d¹ shewn in Fig. 8B are removed
for the sake of simplicity.
In place of the case a being mounted with trunnions in rigid supports, the
trunnions may be mounted in a forked piece, as shewn at e Fig. 11, the fork having
a stem e supported with capability of rotation in a socket e² which may be secured
to the bulwark of the ship.
Fig. 12 shews a modification of Fig. 4, in which the intervening coiled spring a¹6
is dispensed with.
Figs. 13 and 14 by plan and side views respectively shew a modified arrange-
ment of flexible joint between the coupling piece a¹ and the " penultimate"
axis a¹7.
Here the connection is by universal joint a2 and the "penultimate" axis has
its bearing in a removable support e which is fixed in an adjustable position
determined by its position in the space, formed between the arc shaped plates f, f
and capable of being fixed in such position by means of screws f f passed one f
from underneath through the lower plate fi into the block e and another f³ from
above through the upper plate ƒ thereinto.
Fig. 15 shews by plan view & Fig. 16 by a side view an arrangement of
apparatus in which the primary spindle a is mounted in gimbals or universal
joint, preserving a constant fixed position for the centre of motion of the connection
of that spindle to the flexible rotation transmitter in relation to the supported
parts on the spar or projection from the vessel, and to the vessel itself.
a is the primary spindle mounted in the case a, as before, but connected by a
jaw g, through which passes an axis 9' which forms the centre of the swivel g
which again is centred to the jaw g³ in the manner of universal joints and this
jaw is carried on an axis h which is supported in a fixed bearing borne on an
arm rigidly carried by the support for the whole. The trunnions supporting the
case a are borne in a fork e the stem e' of which is held with capability of rotation
in a socket e. i is a dirt shield which may be used if desired fixed to the stem h.
However the primary axis a may oscillate the centre of motion of the connection
on the axis g being at the point of intersection of the axial lines of the primary
spindle a and the case trunnion a¹, will remain always constant, relatively to its

page_text: support. In like manner the rotation transmitter here shewn as a coiled spring,
at its opposite end is fixed to an axis which is borne in a fixed supporting
bearing carried by a fixed part, as k, which may be attached to the spar nearer
the vessel than the parts A and at such an angle as will best enable the rotations
to be freely transmitted to the register on board. The parts B for transmitting
the rotations of the flexible transmitter al are the repetition of the parts A and the
operation simply the reverse. The axis transmitting motion to the register by
a flexible connection. Or the axis 2 may be directly connected to the flexible
connection or equivalent conveyor of rotations to the register on board, dispensing
with the second set of parts B.
In place of hanging the trunnions a¹² in bearings a¹³ supported rigidly on the
spar (Fig. 3) or in a fork having its stem rotating in a socket, (Fig. 11). the
trunnions may be held as shewn by Figs. 17 and 18 in side and edge view respectively
in a fork suspended from a ring m by a connecting hinged connection. The ring
being strung on the spar or lashed to it or fixed in ordinary manner of split ring
connections.
In all cases where the flexible transmitting device is shewn applied at right
angles to the original axial line of motion it may be applied in the same line
as the original axis of motion, and vice versa, where it is shewn in action in the
same line it may be applied to act at right angles; and where one form of flexible
transmitting device is shewn associated with a particular form of other parts it
will be understood that another form of flexible transmitter shewn or described
may be substituted.
Fig. 19 shews by vertical sectional view, and Fig. 20 in plan, another arrange-
ment of parts corresponding to those shown by Figs. 8 and 9, as regards the flexible
connection for transmitting the rotatory motion.
Fig. 21 shews the same parts in a bent position for transmitting motion by the
axis a" in a direction substantially the reverse of the line of action of the axis p or
they may be set to act at any intermediate angle. This and other arrangements
by which an extreme range of action is made possible are designed especially to
meet the case of the parts carrying the primary axis being supported laterally from
the fore part of the vessel and the flexible connection being bent at a more or less
extreme angle backwards to point correctly to the captain's bridge or other location
of the register.
Fig. 22 shews a detail being a view of the end plate o looking from the left hand
towards the right hand.
Fig. 23 is a corresponding view of the opposite end plate o' looking in the reverse
direction.
In these figures the same letters indicate corresponding parts to those shewn by
Figs. 8 and 9.
In this arrangement the coiled spring a" and the toothed plates and their con-
nections are arranged to be enclosed within another coiled spring or equivalent
guard a* which takes hold on the end pieces o and o' to which are also secured
the opposite ends of the series of articulated toothed plates c, b &c. The axis p
may be equivalent to the axis a' of Fig. 8. Or as in Fig. 8 it may be driven
directly by the connection from the rotator. The axis is here shewn connected
to the universal joint a 10, for attachment to a cord or other connection for
conveying the rotations to the register. The part may be held in a fixed
support and the part o in an adjustable support, or the part o¹ may run as in
Fig. 9 on a platform as d and be provided with an antifriction roll as d² in that
figure.
In Fig. 24 I have shewn a device for effecting transmission and translation of
the direction of axial line of rotation of the axis driven by the rotator cord, con-
sisting of a universal jointed spindle formed by oppositely disposed jaws 7 with
connecting swivels in combination with a series of geared and jointed plates such
as already described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the plates c and e¹ being
connected to the universal jointed spindle by two standards 8. 8. which carry in

page_text: bearings formed therein, the parts 9 of the said universal joint axis. The centres
of motion of the swivels and the centres of motion of the geared and jointed plates
are relatively coincident, according to whether one or more requirements for change
of direction of translation and transmission of axial line of motion arise the parts
described for intervention between the cords to the rotator and to the register may
be multiplied. For instance if the register is so placed as to render it inconvenient
to attach the line actuating the register direct on to the transmitter which primarily
receives the rotations of the rotator, a second transmitter, or a series of transmitters
may be interposed between the primary transmitter and the register. One apparatus
may
be made to actuate two or more registers simultaneously, if needed, by com-
bining the two systems shewn in Fig. 8 and in Fig. 84, namely: by continuing
the primary spindle through the end of the case, as in Fig. 8, and also by means
of bevilled gearing as in Fig. 8 passing a spindle through one of the trunnions, or
by a third bevilled wheel passing a third spindle through the other trunnion, a
flexible transmitter being affixed to each of the said projecting spindles, and attached
at their free ends to lines or other connections actuating separate registers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination or arrangement and use of parts of apparatus for translating
the direction of the axial line of motion and transmitting the rotations of a ship.
log rotator, from the primary axis to the transmitter actuating the register parts as
shewn and described in respect of Figures 1 and 2.
2. The various combinations or arrangements of parts of apparatus for translating
direction of the axial line of motion and transmitting the rotations of a ship log
rotator by the aid of flexible connection substantially as set forth.
3. In ship log apparatus parts for translating the direction of the axial line of
motion and transmitting the rotations of a ship log rotator in the water to a register
apparatus on board in combination with a flexible transmitter of motion substan-
tially as shewn and described in respect of Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 84, 8, 9, 10, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21.
4. In ship log apparatus the combination or arrangement and use of parts of
mechanism for conveying the motions of a ship log rotator in the water to a register
on board with a flexible articulated intermediate member capable of being set in
adjusted position according to the angle to which the direction of the axial line of
motion is to be translated as described and shewn in respect of Figures 5, 6, 7, 13
and 14.
5. The various arrangements or combinations of parts of ship log apparatus
whereby the primary spindle, or spindle taking up the rotatory motion initiated by
the rotator in the water, is enabled to preserve its direction of axial line of rotatory
motion substantially coincident with that of the rotator whilst retaining its freedom
of transmission of rotatory motion to the register, by the intervening apparatus
adapted to effect the necessary and varying translation of the axial line of that
motion substantially as set forth.
6. In ship log apparatus, a flexible and self adjusting transmitter, and translator
of line of direction of transmission, of axial rotations derived from a rotator in the
water; consisting of a universal-jointed or flexible rotation-transmitter in com-
bination with a self adjusting support composed of geared and jointed plates
substantially as set forth in respect of Figures 8, 9, 10, 84, 88, 19, 20, 21 and 24.
7. The various combinations or arrangements of parts of ship log apparatus and
their use substantially as described and shewn.
Dated the oul 1
1 1001
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.