IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' LOGS, KNOWN AS MASSEY'S PATENT SHIPS' LOGS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Massey, of 3, Tysoe Street, Clerkenwell, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS'
LOGS, KNOWN AS MASSEY'S PATENT SHIPS' LOGS." "
Sealed the 26th May 1854, and dated the 22nd February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Massey at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
February 1854.
I, EDWARD MASSEY, of No. 3, Tysoe Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SHIPS' LOGS, KNOWN AS MASSEY'S PATENT SHIPS' LOGS,'" to be as
follows:-
In the ships' logs known as Massey's patent logs considerable inconvenience
has heretofore been felt from the liability of the universal joint by which the
rotator is attached to the registering apparatus to collect weeds and other matters
which interfere with the proper action of the log.
My improvements consist,―
First, in closing or covering in the universal joint by a suitable shield or
cover at the front and back part of the apparatus, which at the same
time permits the free action of the joint, and obviates the objection before
referred to. I also extend the side plates considerably below the joint, and
flush with the covering plates before mentioned.

page_text: The second part of my improvements consists in the use of pins fixed trans-
versely into the tail of the universal joint for the better securing the cord or
rope thereto; the strands of the cords being laid in longitudinal grooves and
bound round with the wax thread, the projecting pins prevent the whole being
drawn off. As a further improvement, I also attach the cord to the stem of
the rotator with pins in a similar manner.
The third part of my improvements consists in dispensing with the universal
joint altogether. To effect this, I extend the worm or screw axis of the regis-
tering apparatus below the box a sufficient length to enable me to attach
the rotator cord thereto direct. The attachment of the cord is effected with
pins, as before described. I also place a guard or cover on the front plate
(and at the back if necessary) of the registering apparatus, which protects the
lashing from the accumulation of weeds. This guard plate is carried beyond
the end of the screw spindle, in order to protect it in case of striking anything
when lowered down.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Massey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
MASSEY, of 3, Tysoe Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Edward Massey, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Massey,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Edward Massey, my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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, KNOWN AS MASSEY'S PATENT SHIPS' LOGS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Massey, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be

page_text: performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Massey, 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, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
In the ships' logs known as Massey's patent logs considerable inconvenience
has heretofore been felt from the liability of the universal joint by which the
rotator is attached to the registering apparatus to collect weeds and other
matters which interfere with the proper action of the log.
My improvements consist, ―
First, in closing or covering in the universal joint by a suitable shield or
cover at the front & back part of the apparatus, which at the same time
permits the free action of the joints, and obviates the objection before
referred to. I also extend the side plates considerably below the joint, and
flush with the covering plates before mentioned.
The second part of my improvements consists in the use of pins fixed trans-
versely into the tail of the universal joint, for the better securing the cord or
rope thereto; the strands of the cords being laid in longitudinal grooves and
bound round with wax thread, the projecting pins prevent the whole being
drawn off. As a further improvement, I also attach the cord to the stem of
the rotator with pins in a similar manner.
The third part of my improvements consist in dispensing with the universal
joint altogether. To effect this, I extend the worm or screw axis of the regis-
tering apparatus below the box a sufficient length to enable me to attach the
rotator cord thereto direct. The attachment of the cord is effected by pins, as
before described. I also place a guard or cover on the front plate, and at the
back of the registering apparatus which protects the lashing from the accumu-
lation of weeds; this guard plate is carried beyond the end of the screw
spindle in order to protect it in case of striking anything when lowered down.
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of a log complete, having my improve-
ments attached; Fig. 2, a side elevation with the lower part in section; and
Fig. 3, a back view of the same. a is the universal joint, in order to permit
the free action of which an opening is cut in the front plate 6, as represented
by the dotted lines c, c, which leaves the joint exposed in front as well as at the
back, where there has heretofore been no covering or protection. In order to
enclose it and prevent the liability of okum, weeds, and other matters collecting

page_text: on the joint during its rotatory motion in the water, I construct and apply a
covering plate d, which affords the necessary protection, and at the same time
permits the free action of the joint a, as will readily be seen by reference to
the sectional part, Fig. 2. I also carry the side plates f. f, down to the bottom
of b, and fix an inclined plate g, which affords a similar protection at the back
of the instrument.
The second part of my Invention refers to an improvement in fixing the
cord, by which the rotator h is attached to the tail of the universal joint a, as
will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3; it consists in the insertion of pins or cogs i, i,
through the tail piece k, in order to afford a better security for the lashing.
The strands of the rope are laid in the longitudinal grooves in the end of the
tail kc, an end view of which is seen at Fig. 4, and laid up the side of the tail,
and lashed round in the ordinary manner; the pins i, i, being of a length to be
flush with the surface of the lashing or to project slightly beyond, they prevent
the possibility of the lashing being drawn off, and consequently afford a better
hold for the strands of the cord. As a further improvement I also attach the
cord to the rotator in a similar manner, as seen separately at Fig. 5, which is
the top of the rotator detached; the pins or cogs i, i, give facilities for holding
the lashing not to be attained by projecting bands alone surrounding the tail as
at l. The cord m is secured by lashing wrapped round the strands laid against
the stem, as before described, using wax or other adhesive matter applied to
the lashing, as well understood.
The third part of my Invention refers to a method of dispensing with the
universal joint altogether, as represented in the partial back view, Fig. 6. I
attach a tail piece n to the rotating shaft of the log. This tail piece is in all
respects such as before described, and forms a stiff continuation of the rotating
shaft; the cord m is lashed directly to this, without the intervention of the
universal joint, the cord itself answering the purposes of that joint. In order
to protect the spindle n from weeds and other extraneous matters I apply a
guard plate p, which I fix to the front plate 6 of the instrument. I carry this
plate down below the tail n, as at q, to protect it when set down, or when it
strikes against anything in handling. A similar guard plate may also be
applied at the back of the instrument. Instead of applying the guard plate p,
the front plate of instrument may be carried down, and otherwise made to
answer all the purposes of the guard plate. In order to afford a better
security for the rope by which the log is dragged, I introduce a thumb screw s
to hold the spring plate t, as seen at Figs. 1 and 2, instead of the pin usually
employed to restrict the action of that spring. In addition to the tendency
of the spring t to keep close to the eye w of the log, and thereby prevent the

page_text: strap v becoming disengaged, I screw up the plate t by means of the thumb
screw s, which entirely prevents the possibility of the log becoming disengaged,
and is easily unscrewed when that is required to be done.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it understood that what I claim is,-
First, the application of guard plates d and g, and otherwise protecting
the universal joint in ships' logs, as herein-before described, and shewn in
Figs 1. and 2.
Secondly, the application of transverse pins or cogs or radial projections on the
tail of joint or otherwise, for fastening the cord to the rotator and register
instrument.
I also claim the arrangement represented at Fig. 5 of the Drawings for
dispensing with the universal joint altogether.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Massey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM CLARK,
Patent Agent,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
EDWD MASSEY. (L.S.)