A New or Improved Ships' Log.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SILITICATION.
A New or Improved Ships' Log.
I JOHN COULSON Watchmaker 87 High Street Elgin N.B. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An Apparatus for indicating the speed and distance run by Ships at sea, consisting
of a rotator (with curved blades) fitted into a triangular shaped frame, and revolving
on two centres the bearings being steel, metal and lignum vitae wood, the rotator
drives an arbor having at its upper end a screw thread which acts upon a wheel,
which revolving, presses one side of an air and water tight compartment or chamber
which side yielding, presses a spring within, which spring makes and breaks an
Electrical circuit, which circuit consists of insulated wires in a cable also the wire on
Electro-Magnets in the Indicators, and a number of Electrical Battery Cells. In
using this invention the Rotator in its frame is put into the water and drawn after and
by the vessel, which causes the rotator to revolve and so the actions take place as
described.
The indicator I use consists of an Electro Magnet which upon being excited by the
electrical current, draws up a suitably placed keeper or armature, the current ceasing
the keeper or armature falls, a tooth or paul on it engages a wheel and its rising and
falling causes a tooth of the wheel to pass, and so suitably numbered wheels, pinions,
and arbors are caused to revolve and by suitably placed pointers and dials indicate
the speed, and distance run by the ship: any low power battery may be used but I
use Leclanche Battery Cells to generate the electrical current required.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Ships' Log.
I, JOHN COULSON, of 87 High Street Elgin, N.B. Watchmaker, 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 :-
In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation entire of a log of my invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation in part in section; Figure 3 is an electrical contact box
in section; Figure 4 is part of figure 2 enlarged; Figure 5 is a detail view of an
Electrical Contact box: Fig. 6 an application of this said invention, shown in part
in section.
e
A is a frame having the pipe or neck a out of the line of centre of the frame A,
and the fins or thin parts bb; F is a cross piece; d and e are central bearings,
being adjustable for wear, having a set screw e or lock nut.
B, is a rotator or log, having four spiral wings fand bearings g h and cross pinj;
and working on the bearings d'and e; C is a worm or endless screw, its arbor working
in d its upper part engaging the wheel D Figure 2; the lower part connected to the
log or rotator B by the shackle and pin i and cross pin ;; D is a wheel having fifty
teeth, the arbor of which carries k, Figure 4; having one tooth which engages with
having six spaces or divisions, and on which is the stud m which lifts the lever r
figure 3 in passing.
E is a watertight box containing the contact spring n and adjustable stud o and
having its lower side covered by a metallic membrane s; and fitted with a slotted
plate t as shown in figure 5.
H is an Electric Cable of sufficient length having two insulated wires within it,
which are passed through the neck or pipe a and secured to the box E at n¹ o¹

page_text: .
figure 2; and are covered there with pitch, or any insulating material, and finally
covered with plates screwed on to the frame A; the other ends of the wires are
attached to an Electric Battery and an Electro Magnetic Indicator. To use this
arrangement of my said invention, the frame A containing the log or rotator B, and
other parts mentioned, is lowered into the sea by the cable H and when submerged,
the cable is made fast on the ship; as the ship moves through the water the log or
rotator revolves and actuates the parts mentioned, the stud m lifting the lever and
pressing it against the membrane s causes the contact spring n to touch the stud o
which completes the electrical circuit and causes an Electro magnet in the Indicator
to attract an armature; the stud m now passes the lever and the electrical circuit is
broken releasing the armature which carries one tooth of a fine ratchet wheel forward,
which is kept forward by a detent spring, and so parts of miles and miles as may be
desired are shown on the Indicator, dials by suitable hands or pointers.
Another application of this said invention is shown at Figure 6, in part in section;
G is a tube containing all the parts described in this specification from B to E
inclusive, ending at the words "figure 5" suitably arranged in and on the cross
piece Y the cross piece Y having the adjustable bearing e, as beforementioned and
being the aft support for the rotator or log B.
uu are inlet and outlet pipes or tubes having the stopcocks v v; w w are two
couplings internally screwthreaded, the tubes uu and G having external threads to
receive the couplings ww; two terminals connected with the box E, inside the tube
arg placed outside the tube G, at xx.
The tubes described being coupled together and arranged as described, the two
tubes are placed and secured opposite two holes made through the ship's side in
a suitable place.
Two insulated wires of suitable length are attached to the terminals the other ends
being attached to an Electric Battery and Electro Magnetic Indicator.
The taps or stop cocks vv being opened, as the ship moves through the water the
log or rotator revolves and the effect heroinbefore described takes place.
I sometimes lengthen the arbor or spindle of the wheel D and carry it through
to the outside of the tube G where I place a mechanical Indicator having suitable
wheels, pinions, pointers and indexes which the arbor of wheel D, actuates, and so
the speed of the ship and distance run is recorded; this mechanical indicator may be
electrically connected to an Electro Magnetic Indicator placed in any part of the
ship.
Let it be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact methods described
in this specification; I will adopt any method that experience may suggest, con-
forming to the nature of the said invention herein described.
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 not
the frame A or log B but is :
1st. The fins or thin parts 66 placed as shown on the log frame A, substantially
as herein shown and described.
2nd. Placing the pipe or neck a out of the line of centre of the frame A sub-
stantially as herein described and shown.
3rd. The central bearing d and the adjustable bearing e in the frame A, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose herein described and shown.
4th. The cross pin j and shackle and pin i substantially as, and for the purpose
herein shown and described.
5th. The piece k having one tooth and the piece having six spaces or divisions,
}
or having any number of teeth or spaces or divisions respectively, substantially as, and
for the purpose herein described and shown.
6th. The metallic membrane s the adjustable stud o the slotted plate t; in the
.watertight box E substantially as, and for the purpose herein described and shown.
7th. The pipes or tubes u u and G the stop cocks vv the couplings w w and cross
pieces Y¹ Y substantially as, and for the purpose herein shown and described.
1 >

page_text: Sth. The mechanical Indicator on the tube G which may be electrically connected
with an Electro Magnetic Indicator in another part of a ship, as a combination, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose herein described.
Dth: T
CA 1000
JOHN COULSON.