IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE DEPTH OF WATERS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, of the Firm of J.
Brandt and G. W. von Nawrocki, Civil Engineers and Patent Agents, of 124,
Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, in the German Empire, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE DEPTH OF WATERS." A com-
munication by Paul Rousset, of St. Petersburg, in the Russian Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gerard Wenzeslaus_von
Nawrocki at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June
1879.
GERARD WENZESLAUS VON NAWROCKI, of the Firm of J. Brandt and G. W. von
Nawrocki, Civil Engineers and Patent Agents, of No. 124, Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin,
in the German Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SOUNDING THE
DEPTH OF WATERS." [A communication by Paul Rousset, of St. Petersburg, in
the Russian Empire.]
According to the present Invention an apparatus precisely similar in construction
to the well known "patent log" (consisting of a counter or registering mechanism
enclosed in a casing and actuated by vanes rotated by movement through the
water) has attached to its one end a float of sufficient capacity to cause it to rise to
the surface of the water, while at its other end it carries a weight of sufficient size
to cause the log with its float to sink to the bottom. The weight (which may be
a stone) is connected to the log by a book or other fastening, that, on the motion
of the weight being arrested on touching the bottom releases its hold on the log,
which then again ascends to the surface. During such upward motion the vanes
of the log (which do not act during the descent) are rotated by their passage
through the water, and thus cause the distance through which the instrument
ascends to be registered on the counter, which distance can then be read off.

page_text: On the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews an elevation of the before described
apparatus; and Fig. 2 shews a diagram explaining its action.
The log L has at its lower end a ring a, and at its upper end a hollow sphero S,
or other suitably shaped float, which may either be connected to the log by a link,
as shewn, or it may be rigidly fixed thereto or formed in one therewith, and be so
shaped as to offer the least possible resistance to the passage of the apparatus
through the water.
The weight G is connected to the ring a by means of a hook b, which is so
formed that as soon as the downward motion of the weight is arrested it falls out of
the ring, and thus disconnects the weight from the log. The hook or other catch
might be attached to the log and the ring or eye to the weight, provided the catch
be so constructed as to disengage itself readily from the weight when this reaches
the bottom.
The counter or registering mechanism of the log is provided with a pawl and
ratchet wheel, or other suitable known contrivance for preventing the mechanisın
from being actuated during the descending motion of the apparatus.
The centre of gravity of the log should of course be arranged as low as possible,
so that it will always maintain a vertical position while ascending. Should the
water in which the sounding is to be taken have a more or less considerable flow
the correct depth can nevertheless be ascertained, as indicated by the diagram
Fig. 2, assuming the water to flow in the direction of the arrow, then if the
apparatus be put into the water at A it will descend in the inclined direction A, B,
and will afterwards ascend in the inclined direction B, C. The distance read off
from the counter of the apparatus irrespective of the distance A-C, between the
point of immersion and that where it again appears at the surface gives the actual
vertical depth B, D.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to ine by my correspondent, I claim in

page_text: respect of apparatus for measuring soundings the combination of a log for measuring
distances with a float and with a detachable weight, so arranged that the apparatus
is drawn by the weight to the bottom, where the weight becomes detached, and
the apparatus in rising again to the surface at the same time registers the distance
passed through, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gerard Wenzeslaus von Nawrocki, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
GERARD WENZESLAUS v. NAWROCKI. (L.S.)