New or Improved Apparatus for Indloating the Times of the Tides.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
:
[Communicated from abroad by ABBOT AUGUSTUS Low, of No. 31 Burling
Slip, New York City, New York, United States of America, Merchant.]
New or Improved Apparatus for Indloating the Times of the Tides.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BECK, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 is designed to afford a simple and effective device for indicating
upon and by means of an ordinary clock the relation of high and low tide to the
meridian, as well as the exact hour and condition of the tide at the time of consul-
tation; and the invention consists in the special combination and arrangement of parts
hereinafter described, whereby a ring adjustable with relation to the clock dial but
otherwise stationary upon the clock, is made to perform the double function above
set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1, is a front view of a clock provided with my tidal ring; and Figure 2,
a top view, partly in section, of the same, the parts being shown in the simplest
form and arrangement.
In carrying out my invention it is not essential whether the tide ring A, is
incorporated with the clock B, or simply forms an adjunct or attachment thereto;
the essential feature being the combination and arrangement with the clock, so as
to be adjustable with relation to the dial thereof, of the tidal ring A, having the
semi-circular divisions of contrasting shade or color, these sections a, a¹, being
divided into six equal parts a 2, representing approximately the several hours of
the tide.
In the accompanying drawings a plain cylindrical clock case is shown, over the
front of which the tide ring A, fits snugly while permitting of the turning of the
ring around the clock in either direction in order to adjust it with relation to
the clock dial C.
The distinction between the rising and falling of the tide may be emphasized by
making one semi-circular a, white or light in color, while the other semi-circle a¹, is
of a darker shade or color.
To set the device for use for twelve hours one of the main division lines a 3, a 3,
is brought into coincidence with the sub-divisiou in the clock dial nearest to that
corresponding to the time designated by the local time table as the time of high
water, after which the hour hand of the clock c, will not only indicate the hour of
the day but will also point out approximately the hour of the tide. Thus as shown
in Figure 1, we will suppose that the ring A, is set for high tide at half-past
one p.m. or nearly so. The position of the lines a 3, a 3, with relation to 12 m.
shows at a glance the relation of tide to meridian. It will be seen that at three
o'clock the hour hand c, will point to about the middle of the second sub-division a 2,
of one semi-circular half a', of the ring, thereby indicating that it is an hour and
one-half approximately, since high tide, and so on, until it passes the other
registering line a 3, when it will begin to indicate relatively the lapse of time
since low tide.
My tide indicator affords a simple, cheap and convenient device, adapted for use
on vessels, in hotels and bathing establishments, and in various situations in which
it is desirable to indicate visually the relation of time and tide.

page_text: It will be seen that my contrivance or attachment, simple as it is, performs a
double function in that it indicates at a glance the relation of the tide to the
meridian, while simultaneously indicating both the hour of the day and the hour
of the tide.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,
The combination of a clock and dial, a ring adjustable on the clock with
relation to the dial thereof, said ring being divided into two equal parts, distin-
guished by contrasting shades or colore, representing approximately high and low
tide, said two equal divisions being sub-divided into six equal parts and numbered to
represent approximately the hours of the tide, and the hour-hand of the clock,
the whole arranged and operatinglin such manner that the said hour-hand indicates
simultaneously both the hour of the day and the hour of the tide, while the position
of the ring with relation to the dial indicates the relation of the tide to the
meridian, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 7th day of October 1896
W. H. BECK,
115 Cannon Street, London, Applicant.