IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECORDING A SHIP'S COURSE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Anthon Steenberg, Patent Agent, of Copenhagen, Denmark,
for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECORDING
A SHIP'S COURSE." A communication by Frederik Alsing, Machinist, and
Harald Sachmann, of Copenhagen.
Sealed the 11th January 1878, and dated the 16th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Anthon Steenberg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th July 1877.
ANTHON STEENBERG, Patent Agent, of Copenhagen, Denmark.
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECORDING A SHIP'S COURSE." A communication
from Frederik Alsing, Machinist, and Harald Sachmann, of Copenhagen.
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for recording a
ship's course, whereby such course can be correctly ascertained after the conclusion
of a voyage.
A diagram is drawn upon a strip of paper, showing exactly every course of the
vessel during the voyage, and thus making known every place visited by the vessel,
as well as the course and position of it at any time of the voyage, from its leaving
the harbour till its arrival at the appointed place.
The apparatus is composed of a common ship compass combined with the ship
chronometer or other clockwork. The chronometer gives motion to an axle, which
gives motion to a series of rollers, causing the paper strip to move with a certain
speed. On the compass card, which is placed a short distance above the paper strip,
is fastened at a short distance from the centre a small holder (or two may be used,
one ou each side of the centre), wherein a drawing pen or pencil or other marking
instrument is loosely fixed in such a manner that its lowest point, by the weight of
the pen or pencil or in some other way, constantly touches the paper.
The cylinder and the drawing pen or pencil do not in any way influence the
movement of the compass. card, which in the usual way is kept moving
horizontally.
If the ship turns or alters its course the position of the compass card also alters,
and the drawing pen or pencil consequently marks a line on the paper corresponding

page_text: to the alteration of the course. If, on the contrary, the ship sails in a straight line,
the strip of paper, which is constantly advancing, will by a straight line on the
diagram show that direction.
If two pens be used, serving to balance the compass card, two diagrams can be
produced, correcting each other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Anthon Steenberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th
January 1878.
ANTHON STEENBERG, Patent Agent, of Copenhagen, Denmark.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR RECORDING A SHIP'S COURSE." A communication
by Frederik Alsing, Machinist, and Harald Sachmann, of Copenhagen.
.
This Invention relates to improvements in means or apparatus for recording a
ship's course, whereby such course can be correctly ascertained after the conclusion
of a voyage.
A diagram is drawn upon a strip of paper, showing exactly every course of the
vessel during the voyage, and thus making known every place visited by the vessel,
as well as the course and position of it at any time of the voyage, from its leaving
the harbour till its arrival at the appointed place.
The apparatus is composed of a common ship's compass combined with the ship
chronometer or other clockwork. The chronometer gives motion to an axle, which
gives motion to a series of rollers, causing the paper strip to move with a certain
speed. On the compass card, which is placed a short distance above the paper
strip, is fastened at a short distance from the centre a small holder (or two may be
used, one on each side of the centre), wherein a drawing pen or pencil or other
marking instrument is loosely fixed in such a manner that its lowest point, by the
weight of the pen or pencil or in some other way, constantly touches the paper.
The cylinder and the drawing pen or pencil do not in any way influence the
movement of the compass card, which, in the usual way, is kept moving
horizontally.
If the ship turns or alters its course the position of the compass card also alters,
and the drawing pen or pencil consequently marks a line on the paper corresponding
to the alteration of the course. If, on the contrary, the ship sails in a straight line,
the strip of paper which is constantly advancing will by a straight line on the
diagram show that direction.
If two pens be used, serving to balance the compass card, two diagrams can be
produced, correcting each other.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
to describe the same

page_text: which are driven by the works, as usual; C is an axis driven by the clockwork
upon which the roller a¹ is fixed; a¹, a², a³, a', are axes which are mounted in
bearings in the frames m, m¹; b, 62, 63, 6', are rollers fixed on the axes a', a², a³, a¹;
c is the paper strip, which is mounted in the form of a roll on the roller b', and is
drawn therefrom over the guide rollers 63, 6, and wound up on the roller b'; i
represents the compass card, which is mounted on the centre or pivot f, which is
fixed to the framework of the clock by the bracket ; e are two holders fixed in the
compass card, in each of which a pen, pencil, or other marking instrument is loosely
placed in such manner that its point constantly touches the paper.
It will be understood that when the clockwork moves the roller b¹ the paper is
drawn from the roller b over the rollers 63, 62, and wound up on the roller b₁, and in
its course passes the pen or pencil d, which marks the exact course of the vessel.
The clock must be suitably swung, as is well understood, in order that it may
constantly maintain its vertical position, notwithstanding the varying positions the
ship may take.
If desired the recording apparatus may be carried and operated by the ordinary
ship's chronometer.
If the ship turns or alters its course the position of the compass card also alters,
and the drawing pen or pencil consequently marks a line on the paper corresponding
to the alteration of the course. If, on the contrary, the ship sails in a straight line,
the strip of paper, which is constantly advancing, will by a straight line on the
diagram show that direction.
If two pens be used, serving to balance the compass card, two diagrams can be
produced, correcting each other.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,―
Firstly. The combination of a ship's compass card with a ship's chronometer or
other suitable timekeeper in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
And, Secondly. I claim the application of one or more pens, pencils, or other
marking instruments to the compass card, so as to cause a diagram of the ship's
course to be drawn on a strip of paper set in motion by the ship's chronometer or
other suitable timekeeper, in manner substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Anthon Steenberg, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ANTHON STEENBERG. (LS.)