IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' LOGS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wilson, of Lossiemouth, near Elgin,
North Britain, Ship Master, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHIPS' LOGS."
Sealed the 15th January 1869, and dated the 1st August 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st August 1868.
I, GEORGE WILSON, of Lossiemouth, near Elgin, North Britain, Ship
Master, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' LOGS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a machine for measuring the distance run
by a ship at sea in a given time and for finding the leeway of such ship,
and provision is made to prove the same by the mariner at any time he
chooses when in use. Errors found may be corrected thereby and
insure a true reckoning. From experience I have found it almost
impossible for ships' logs, as hitherto used, to register the distance
always correctly, they being subject to many changes from the calm
smooth waters to the raging billows in a storm.

page_text: The construction of this machine I will now explain in three parts, as
follows: First. The register. Secondly. The reel and cord. Thirdly.
The motive power.
First. The register consists of cast brass; two plates are fixed on with
four screw pins in each to a frame resembling in shape a long box,
having two pivots on the centre of frame on the longest sides to revolve
upon. There is an axle goes through the ends of the box nearest to the
upper side with an endless screw inside that conveys the motion to
wheelworks connected with fingers to indexes on each register plate
above mentioned and divided into ten equal parts; the first index gives
one-tenth of a mile; second, one mile; third, ten miles; the fourth
one hundred miles. Also at the end of the box connected with screw
axle an index of ten equal parts; the first and last of the aforesaid
indexes is for measuring the distance in feet or parts of a mile,
thus proving the distance run by the common log, reel, and line. By
measuring a distance passed freely out on the line over the stern
in. the same instant of time you count on indexes the number of
feet difference, the mean of four or five trials will come sufficiently near
the truth, and thus show the per-centage gained or lost, and insuring the
distance given to be correct; there is also a slot in the end of the box
frame where a tube passes through connected with wheelwork, so as to
give a tracing motion up and down, and to which I shall again refer.
This box, with frame, and its plates screwed on, and wheelwork and
everything in its place is fitted upon its pivots before mentioned into the
centre of another frame, so that it can revolve within a cylinder fitted
in a frame horizontally each way fourteen points of the compass, two
points taken up on each side by the frame, indexes and frame standing
vertical to each other. The aforesaid tube connected with wheelwork has
a small pin of brass inside the tube traced out with a spring, so that the
pin presses towards the inside of cylinder where it traces its motion
when in use by rubbing a little olive oil on the cylinder on the upper
edge of which the points of the compass are marked; by these points
with the tracing motion the leeway is found we shall have reference
again. Another frame with three sides resembling a flattened triangle,
a pivot being fitted on the short end of each side with screw nuts; the
outer frame is then fitted to sides of frame with cylinder, so that it
revolves on its pivots at right angles to the horizontal motion of the box
containing wheelwork, the two sides being so fitted; the other side is
fitted with a shaft screwed in its centre equidistant from each of the

page_text: other sides and made of wrought iron; this shaft revolves in bushes
made on the wrought-iron bar about ten inches apart, which also works
in right angles with the others; this wrought-iron bar is fixed with
screw pins to a brass plate that is fitted firmly with screws in the centre.
of taffrail abaft the steering wheel clear and in such a manner as that.
the action of the machine is free on all sides to complete the whole.
The cylinder has a bottom and cover on the top for protecting the register
and keeping the water out.
•
I will now describe the first on a different construction. The register
consists of two brass circular plates; one plate has a strong pivot on
its centre fastened on to a brass ring, each with four screw pins. An
axle goes through the diameter of ring with endless screw inside, which
conveys the motion to wheelwork, the index with one finger connected
to wheelwork has the miles all upon one circle up to one hundred ;
another small finger and the division of ten equal parts makes it some-
thing like the dial of a clock with its hour and second hand; also on
this dial plate the points and half points of compass are marked to one-
half a circle close round its outer edge; there is also a division of ten
equal parts connected with finger to screw axle; this and the small one
and dial serves the same purpose in discovering errors, as I have already
explained. Now the register is fitted with a long socket in a strong
square brass bar with turned-up ends on a level with dial plate. The
register revolves horizontally on its pivot fourteen points of the compass
each way, two points being taken up on each side with the bar; there is
a line mark on top of each end of the bar that corresponds with any
line through centre of dial. By this simple means the leeway may be
found by the points moving round on the dial plate. The outer frame of
brass resembles in shape the half of a six-sided figure; at the ends two
pivots are screwed fitted so as to go in sockets in each end of bar, so that
it revolves on its pivots at right angles with motion of register. In the
centre of this frame equidistant from each end there is an iron shaft with
a large head screwed in; this shaft is passed through two bushes wrought
on an iron plate and revolves in its bushes at right angles to the bar
motion; the iron plate is then fixed with two screw pins to a strong plate
of brass that is fitted firmly in the centre of taffrail with screws abaft
the steering wheel, so that its action is clear on all sides. A cover to dial
makes the whole complete.
I prefer the last described as being more simple than the former; in
the above there are three different motions combined.

page_text: I will now describe the second part (the reel and cord). The cord is
for connecting the motive-power machine and taffrail together some
twenty-five to thirty fathoms apart to be sufficiently clear of the eddies
of the ship's wake. The cord is made of very fine wire, either brass,
copper, or iron, the same as sash cord; the smaller this cord is the better
it answers the purpose if sufficiently strong, served over with twine. At
one end of the cord there is a brass screw for connecting the axle of
machine on taffrail; at the other end there is fitted two brass shackles
which serve as a universal joint and connects the motive power. The
reel is for winding it up when not in use, and serves to run it out clear.
Everything is so fitted that the shipping and unshipping of it is simple
and easily done. The motive power being in the wake of the ship and
this cord being small any portion that may be exposed to the atmosphere
is little affected, so that the cord keeps in a straight line in the wake
of the vessel. By this means the leeway can be found, as before stated,
on the dial plate.
Thirdly. The motive power consists of the cast iron or other metal
cylinder with twelve vanes obliquely upon it tapering off to nothing at
one end. For sake of distinction I shall call it the screw. This screw is
fitted on to another cylinder made of copper (so that it slides backwards
or forwards as you require it) terminating with cones at the ends and
made water-tight. At one end the cord is connected with the screw, is
trimmed as may be required. By shifting it forward it keeps it under
water, backward it keeps it on the surface; this answers to whatever
speed the ship moves in the water, something of the nature of a dart.
When you have got it trimmed it is fastened with two screw pins to
cylinder.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
WILSON, of Lossiemouth, near Elgin, North Briton, Ship Master, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Wilson, Her special licence
that I, the said George Wilson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Wilson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SHIPS' LOGs," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Wilson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Wilson, 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 of improvements in ships' logs, and which I designate
"the nautilus log," consists of a machine for measuring the distance
run by a ship at sea in a given time and for finding the leeway of
such ship, and provision is made to prove the same by the mariner at
any time he chooses when in use. Errors found may be corrected
thereby and so insure a true reckoning. From experience I have found
it almost impossible for ships' logs as hitherto used to register the
distance always correctly, they being subject to many changes from
the calm smooth waters to the raging billows in a storm.
This machine consists, in the first place, of a circular brass box about
7 inches diameter and two inches deep supported by and moving
horizontally in a strong brass frame with turned-up ends. This brass
frame is suspended by the turned-up ends in and by pivots sunk in
the same, and upon those pivots moves vertically. The pivots mentioned
above proceed from and are fixed in another brass frame moving in
a transverse direction by means of the axle on which it is fixed, this

page_text: axle moving in bearings fastened on a brass plate, and this plate fixed
by screws to the centre of the taffrail abaft the steering wheel, this
being the most convenient place for freedom of action for the machine
and ready inspection by the mariners. The readings of the machine on
the upper side of the circular brass box which contains the usual wheel-
work and mechanism of an ordinary log now in common use engraved
on a circle of one hundred equal parts or miles, and the large index or
pointer fixed spring-tight on the centre of the dial on the last wheel of
the train can be set by hand when required. Below the main or mile
index is another small index and circle of ten dot divisions; this small
index is affixed spring-tight to the prolonged pivot of the first wheel of
the train, which wheel is moved by the endless screw on the axle passing
through the centre of the circular brass box below the dial which contains
the wheelwork; this small index makes one revolution in the tenth part
of a mile, and its object is to afford a ready means of proving the working
of the new log by the old log line. The side of dial next the ship is
graduated into sixteen divisions (with slight marks for half divisions)
representing half a compass.
When the ship is making no leeway the
end marks of this half compass correspond to the two black lines on the
turned-up ends of the brass frame; but when the ship is making leeway
the amount of that can be read at sight by the number of points or parts
of a point which has passed the black lines either to the one side or the
other, as the case may be. The whole box containing the wheelwork
with dial and indexes is covered and protected by a strong water-tight
brass cover; this completes the machine on board the ship.
I now describe the motive power, which consists of a hollow copper
cylinder, in length about four or five times its diameter with conical
ends; one end has a universal joint attached, and the other a water-tight
screw plug.
The motive power itself consists of another cylinder of less length
and freely moveable on the outside of the first cylinder; this outer
cylinder has cast upon it twelve vanes which gives it the necessary
motion in the sea; these vanes being obliquely placed this outer cylinder
can be fixed by means of screws either backward or forward on the cylinder
or float, backward causing the float to rise and forward will make it run
deeper into the sea.
Lastly, a line about thirty fathoms long made of fine wire, either brass,

page_text: copper, iron, or other suitable material, which line forms the connection
between the motive power or cylinder and the ship and gives. motion
to the machine on board; there is a reel the same as now ordinarily used
for winding it up when not in use, and the reel also serves for con-
veniently running it out when about to be again connected with the
machine on board.
Fig. A (scale one-third full size). 1, cylinder or float with conical ends.
2, screw or outer cylinder with twelve vanes placed obliquely upon it;
3, holes for fixing screw on float, also for shifting backwards or forwards
as may be required; 4, two shackles or universal joint.
Figs. B and C (scale half full size). 5, a line of wire cord of about
thirty fathoms; 6, connecting screw, the line 5 being fitted so that
a rotatory motion is secured to prevent twisting; 7, axle con-
nected with wheelwork in the box; 8, the circular box with dial
(shewn at Fig. C as a side view) supported by long pivot (17) which has
a screw in the end to prevent it moving from its socket; 9, frame
which supports circular box and gives the horizontal motion, this frame
being suspended by pivots gives the vertical motion; 10, pivots screwed
on to outer frame; 11, outer frame; 12, bearings of axle of outer
frame which gives the transverse motion to the same; 13, axle of
outer frame; 14, plate fixed with screws to taffrail or stern of vessel ;
15, taffrail or part of stern; 16, screw pins for fixing bearing of axle
of outer frame; 17, long pivot, see description Fig. 8.
Fig. D, general view of apparatus at work. 18, the vessel; 19, the
register; 20, the cord or line; 21, the cylinder with vanes.
Having thus described the nature and objects of my said Invention,
I declare that what I claim as my Invention and desire to be secured
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improvements
in ships' logs, substantially as herein-before described and particularly

page_text: illustrated on the annexed Sheet of Drawings or any mere modification
.thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 27th day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.
GEORGE WILSON. (L.S.)