Improvements relating to Magnetic Compasses.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1899
Comalate Cannifination Inft 2nd Mo 1000
Monanted
2nd Ont
1000
Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Loft, 3rd May, 1000 Accepted, 3rd Oct.,
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Magnetic Compasses.
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18,
Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad by
Charles Heit, of Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Master Mariner, to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to registering and indicating magnetic compasses, for
use in steering ships and the like, serving to register the courses, by electric
clock mechanism, which the vessel makes and notifies the captain of the changes
of course which have taken place during his absence from the bridge or deck of
the vessel.
The apparatus is based on the principle that a compass of good construction
indicates with regard to the "lubber's" point, the point of the compass to which
the vessel is steering. This is a point intermediate between two of the 32 points
of the compass. If an indicating arrow is placed on the compass card this arrow
will move from the lubber's point when the vessel steers badly; it is the
object to register these variations and to obtain at the end of a certain given
time, an indication of the course made by the vessel and to inform the captain,
by clock mechanism, if the said variations are too great.
6
The apparatus is composed of the following parts viz.:-A binnacle case with
contacts in the form of spherical segments vertically and conveniently placed
and connected by electric wires with a registering device.
A compass card which contrary to naval compasses, instead of having an
agate in its centre which rests on the pivot of the case has in its centre a pivot of
its own with reversed point; an agate or ruby being placed upon the support or
pivot in the centre. This pivot is fixed in the centre of the card. The agate is
surrounded by a small reservoir containing quicksilver.
An arrow fixed on the East or West of the compass card which engages with
the contacts fixed inside the case by automatic mechanism during a certain given
time, after which it retreats and has no contact with the contacts, leaving the
compass card to its magnetic influence.
A registering device moved by electricity, marking on a sheet which is auto-
matically unfolded by clock mechanism the variations or changes from the course
set which the vessel makes. electric bells of different tones informing the captain
of said variations should they exceed two degrees, also of the actions of the deck
officer etc.
The electric current passes, by means of an insulated wire, through the pivot
in the centre of the case and thence into the receiver surrounding the agate and
containing quicksilver. The compass card makes contact through its pivot and
is attached by a binding screw with an insulated wire which follows the arrow:
this arrow in its turn makes contact at its outer end by a ball which follows the
arrow, the said arrow in its turn making contact at its outer end by means of a

page_text: ball which, when it touches any contact, connects the current with the regis-
tering device.
At the inside of the case are fixed preferably 17 contacts com-
pletely insulated from one another; they are all of the same height but of different
width and have the form of spherical segments so that in all the oscillating move-
ments of the compass card contact may be made. Eleven or other number of
contacts of equal size serve for the registering device and are placed on the two
sides of the lubber's" point at 1, 3, 5 7 and 9 degrees. The four others have
different distances; two have the distance of a quarter (11 degrees) and the last
two of 151 degrees.
When contact is made on the four last contacts it is marked on the sheet in
order to indicate the time lost and to serve as witness in the event of accident.
This contact operates at the same time one of four bells of different tone which
notify the captain of variations of steering and of their direction. In order to
avoid the inconvenience arising from expansion, the pivotal support in the case
on which the agate is fixed, is movable at its base and can be adjusted by regula-
ting rods.
In order to avoid the vibrations caused by the engines of steam vessels the
universal joint on which the case rests is suspended on the binnacle by steel
wires fixed on one side on the blade of the joint and on the other side on a ball
resting on a spiral contact fixed on a copper bracket.
The arrow before described has a retreating movement at a given moment and
lets the needle of the compass obey the magnetic influence. This arrow is fixed
on the East or West point of the compass card and is connected with the pivot
by an electric wire in order to let the current pass to the extremity of the arrow.
The arrow has on its two extremities copper mounts. At one of its extremities
is a ball of red copper screwed on the mount so as to regulate the contact. This
ball has its extreme exterior similarly formed so that when contact exists the
adherence is complete.
The other extremity is fixed on a grooved roller having in its centre a spiral
spring which is preferably of paladium so as not to oxidize: in the groove of this
wheel a cord is fixed. This cord passes to a pulley and at its extremity a weight
is attached having a vertical to and fro movement, given by a clockwork. The
system is so arranged that when the weight is lifted the spiral spring is relaxed
and the arrow pushed from the front, comes into engagement with the contacts.
The time between the contacts may vary; generally it is preferable to estab-
lish them every 40 seconds, the contact being instantaneous and lasting from 5
to 7 seconds and the release rapid but not abrupt. A. counter-weight is fixed to
the compass card in order to balance the system.
The extremity of the arrow on which the ball is screwed passes over a pulley
which assists the action of the arrow in its horizontal movement to and fro, and
it also serves to conduct the electric current to the ball engaging the contacts.
The electric current passes through the centre of the pivotal support aforesaid
from there into the quicksilver bath which surrounds the agate, passes through
the steel pivot of the compass card which rests upon the agate, and makes contact
with the electric current by means of quicksilver. On the pivot is fastened a
cord fixed to the bracket which supports the aforesaid pulley. The copper fittings
of the arrow having a to and fro movement and resting upon the pulley by its
weight, thus makes contact.
The construction of the compass card is similar to that known as the "Thomp-
son "that is to say, the centre which is of aluminium on which the whole arrow
system is fixed, is connected by 32 wires with the ring on which the compass
card is fixed. The magnets are sustained by wires radiating from the exterior
ring and from the central armature.
The compass card must in no way be influenced by the electric current which
passes intermittently.
The magnets are at a sufficient distance and they are flat and thin in order to
possess a maximum magnetic power. In order to balance the compass card two

page_text: the variations which the vessel makes from the given course, which variations
are indicated by the angle of the guide line with that of the indicating arrow.
The improved compass is represented in the annexed drawings in which Sheet I
shows the bowl, the compass card and the arrow or pointer, and Sheet II a com-
plete view of the apparatus.
In Sheets I and 3 Fig. 1 is a section through the centre of the compass bowl,
Fig. 2 a plan view of the bowl, the compass card and the arrow; Fig. 3 is a front
view of the mechanism for operating a falling weight which causes the displace-
ment of the arrow; Fig. 4 is a section of the arrow showing the support of the
roller Talways following the flat part of the arrow or pointer M on its longi-
tudinal displacement; Fig. 5 the mechanism for movement of the arrow and
Fig. 6 a view of the current interrupter fixed to the clockwork y which clockwork
is for the purpose of regulating the periods of contact of the arrow with contacts
arranged on the compass bowl.
In Sheet II, Fig. 1* is a section on line a-b of Fig. 2*, showing the arrange-
ment of the whole movements and contacts in the interior of a compass case or
binnacle; Fig. 2* is a plan view of the compass; Fig. 3* is a section on the
lined of Fig. 1; Fig. 4* is a section showing in detail the ring c and its
operating mechanism.
THE COMPASS BOWL.
In the interior of the compass bowl a a rigid ring a¹ (Fig. 1,) is provided con-
sisting of some material which is a bad conductor of electricity of suitable thick-
ness and about 5 centimeters height, fitting exactly to the interior wall of the bowl.
Around the interior of the said ring preferably 27 metal contacts b completely
insulated from each other, are fixed, each being in contact with a battery or
other source of electricity and having the same height as the ring a¹ but of
different widths. These contacts have a concave shape, corresponding to the
radius of the compass card in order that even if the bowl is more or less inclined
or out of horizontal, the indicating arrow M can touch the contacts without hin-
drance. The middle contact is called contact 0.
The twenty-six other contacts
are placed symmetrically to the right and left of the contact Ŏ. It will be here-
inafter explained how and why contact takes place.
The above described bowl a is suspended by a double suspension device / and m,
Fig. 1, suspending the two rings jk and thus attaching the latter to the ring c
which rests upon rollers e capable of rolling upon an annular rail d see Fig. 4*.
In order to avoid the strong vibration occasioned by the machinery of steam
ships the said suspension device and m from which the bowl a is suspended
comprises metal wires 1 and 2 ending at one end in the knife supports 3 and 4
and at the other end in two balls 5 and 6, resting upon helical springs 7 and 8.
THE COMPASS CARD.
The card of this improved compass is provided in its centre with a steel axle
or pivot D (Fig. 1) the lower point of which rests upon an agate 9 inserted in a
small recess made in the centre of the support C of the bowl and surrounded by
mercury.
The six magnets E E E are of different size and are coupled in pairs similar
to the magnets of the Jamin system in order to have a maximum magnetic power.
The magnets are balanced by bars G of copper or any other non-magnetic metal
placed symmetrically with regard to the magnets on the same side as the arrow M.
The compass card is balanced on its circumference by three small pieces of lead L
similarly to the manner in which the balance wheels of clocks are balanced.
92 are centering screws for the pivot bearing of the compass end.
THE ARROW OR POINTER.
The arrow is placed perpendicularly to the magnets, its purpose being to estab-
lish electrical communication with the registering apparatus by completing the
circuit between the metallic axle of the compass card to the mercury bath from
which a wire leads, and the contacts b on the ring a' in the bowl, as will be

page_text: iron bars of the same size as the magnets are placed on the side thereof where
the current passes. All the details of construction may vary.
For registering the beforementioned horizontal distances or variations which
the arrow makes with the lubber's point traced in the case in order to obtain,
after a given time, the trace of the course made by the vessel, the indicating
arrow must have a retreating movement at a given moment so that there is no
longer contact with the contacts of the case and so let the compass obey its mag-
netic influence. In case of disaster it is necessary to verify if the officers have
followed up the course given by the captain, and it is necessary to be able to
verify this. Therefore at each change of course the angle which the keel of the
vessel mákes with a constant point of the compass must be known.
A compass
by its magnetic power always indicates the North of the horizon and the keel
always makes some angle with the magnet of the compass. In order to know
this angle the arrow instead of being movable round the centre of the compass
card, is stationary, and is placed perpendicularly to the magnets.
The course line is traced on a ring arranged outside the case having the con-
tacts. The angle or distance between the arrow and course line is measured by
an electric registering device or a counter giving the number of degrees which
separate the arrow from the line which represents on the compass the keel of the
vessel. For this purpose the case having the contacts is moved in a circle round
the whole horizon by suitable tooth and crank gear. A rack connected to this
gear compels the revolution to always take place in the same direction. Upon
the ring which surrounds the case with slight friction the guide line is traced.
The universal joint is fixed at this point. The instrument being at rest the
guide line is marked on the ring in the same straight line as the contact of the
registering device.
The said registering device will not indicate the horizontal distances or vari-
ations which the helmsman makes with the given route but the said horizontal
distances or variations which the vessel makes with a constant point of the com-
pass, (West for instance). The captain who cannot touch the arrow which is sta-
tionary will be compelled to make the case move till the contact is in the same
straight line as the arrow that is on the point "West." The angle before men-
tioned will be the given route, because this angle is equal to that which the keel
makes with the line West."
Hatad this 2nd day of Act 1800
Improvements relating to aguent Compasses
I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18,
Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Charles Heit,
of Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Master Mariner, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a magnetic navigating compass and the object is firstly
to allow of registering exactly the course ordered by the master" mariner or
captain, and keeping record thereof on the sheets of a registering apparatus, sec-
ondly to allow of informing the captain by means of several bell mechanisms of

page_text: hereinafter shown. This arrow M must be constructed in such a manner as to
never prevent the compass card from submitting to the magnetic influence, and
only to come into contact with the contacts at fixed intervals. The said arrow
may be made of a stout piece of straw stalk on the extremities of which are fixed
copper armatures 10 and 11 and which terminates in a palladium or other metal
spiral S the purpose of which is to make contact with the before mentioned
contacts b.
The arrow is guided in its movement to and fro by a small projecting finger on
the axle T. The point of this finger penetrates into a small hole which is bored
in the flat part of the arrow M in such a manner as to constantly guide this arrow
during its displacement and to keep the circuit closed during the rolling of the
ship.
The extremity 10 of the arrow rests upon a small metallic pulley R which sup-
ports it, and communicates to the copper armature 10 the electric current which
is conducted by the wire g which connects it to the pivot of the compass card.
The palladium or other spiral $ is fixed at its extremities in order not to suffer
change of form.
The arrow must be mounted on or parallel to the East or West line of the com-
pass card; in the drawings it is shown on the West line.
REGISTERING APPARATUS.
The compass may be provided with an ordinary electric registering apparatus,
which is not represented in the drawing. The registering apparatus registers on
a strip of paper the curve of the course and the various evolutions of the vessel.
ACTION OF THE APPARATUS.
To set the course. The zero mark of the bowl is brought opposite the contact
spiral S by turning the bowl with its double suspension device and m as far as
may be necessary. The revolution of the bowl is accomplished through the crank
key and toothed gearing shown on the left of Fig. 1* as follows:
Supposing the crank key placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, when the
said key is turned the bevel gear wheels g¹ g₁, rod p' and pinion and the toothed
part of ringe (Figs. 1, 2 and 4*,) transmit the movement to the bowl which
is turned for as many degrees as desired. The bowl should be turned always in
the same direction without being able to turn back.
For finer adjustment, that is, if the angle through which the bowl is to be
turned is not an exact number of points, the operation is completed by trans-
ferring the key to the spindle operating the smaller toothed wheel q¹.
It should be remarked that by means of the wheel q pinion S and gear wheel t
mounted on ball bearings u the shaft h (Fig. 1*) is turned for the same angle as
the bowl. By this means the wires 12 fixed to the binding screws n (Fig. 1*)
can never be broken or twisted. The said shaft h is hollow and forms a conduit
for the conducting wires. Constant contact is ensured by brushes z bearing
aginst insulated rings on the shaft with which rings the wires 12 respectively
connect. The revolution of the bowl also registers the course set.
REGISTRATION OF THE COURSE.
The lever b (Fig. 6) of the current interrupter operated by the clock work y
closes the circuit of the electro magnet (Fig. 1*), say every 30 seconds, by means
of the pivoted rod c¹ (Fig. 6) which plunges into a mercury cup. The rod c¹ is
returned to position by a spring d¹.
The armature of the said electro magnet vis attracted and presses the bellows
(Fig. 1). The said bellows r forces air to the bellows F through the tube x¹
(Fig. 1). The bellows F expands and being connected indirectly to a weight P
allows this weight P to fall upon the plate X (Fig. 5). The extremity 11 of the
arrow is attached to an arm B, projecting from the axle O to which the plate X
is attached. When the weight P rests on the said plate ✗ the latter is pressed

page_text: down, and causes the arm B to move the arrow M. On the axle of plate X is
fixed an arm with counter weight Q which when the weight is raised causes
the plate to again take its first position. The weight P which has an up and
down movement is actuated by the before mentioned bellows of india rubber
or metal fixed on the inner side of the bowl; to this bellows is connected a wire
running towards the centre of the bowl where it operates a lever Z upon which
is hung the weight P and a counter-weight r. K is a support for the lever Z and
counter weight and J is a guide for the wire supporting the weight P. This
guide is carried by a screw h and nuts thereon.
By the movement thus given to the arrow M the spiral $ is caused to bear
against the contact 6 on the bowl, which may happen to be opposite to it; the
g the
circuit comprising the support C, the mercury bath, the pivot the wire
spiral S, the contact and the registering apparatus is closed, and marks the
point corresponding to the contact touched by the spiral.
It must be remarked that the arrow being fixed on the compass card follows
its movements and deviates to the right or lett of the zero mark through an angle
more or less great according to whether the ship points more or less to port or
starboard from its set course.
When the current in the electro-magnet (Fig. 1*) has ceased (the duration
of the contact may be two seconds) the weight l' ascends owing to the counter-
weight r and the contraction of bellows F and the plate X assumes its first posi-
tion owing to the counter-weight Q and the arrow is drawn back.
The pin T (see more particularly Fig. 4) is placed in such a manner that in
no case can the contact be broken by the rolling motion of the vessel. The inter-
val between two contacts is less than the breadth of the palladium or other spiral
which has to make contact. Therefore no point can go unmarked, on the regis-
tering paper but two consecutive ones can be simultaneously marked in which
case the mean between same must be taken.
Of the 27 contacts, 15 are of equal breadth and correspond to digressions of
The other 12 are as
from 1° to 7° to port or starboard from the given course.
Fallows
The number of contacts can vary according to the exactitude it is desired the
registering apparatus should have.
BELLS.
At the same time as the said contacts operate the registering apparatus elec-
trically they set in motion bells of different tone which inform the captain of the
deviations from the set course and by means of their different tone make it
known to him whether the said deviations are to port or starboard and their
amount.
These bells are mounted in parallel on the circuit of the registering apparatus.
Each bell is connected on the one hand with the pole of the battery on the other
hand with one of the wires which lead from the contacts to the registering
apparatus.
The number of bells may vary according to the precision with which it is
desired the captain should be informed.
As well as electrically operating the registering apparatus these contacts may
set in motion bells of different tone or other suitable signal.
The number of contacts can vary according to the exactitude which it is desired
registering apparatus should have.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An indicating, informing and course registering compass in which the
arrow M follows the magnetic movement of the magnets, remaining always per-
pendicular to same, and permits of registering by means of its contact with con-
tacts receiving an electric current the course given by the captain or other officer
and the deviations from said course made by the vessel.
2. The arrangement of contacts for informing the captain at a distance of
too large deviations from the given course made by the vessel by means of bells
of different tone or other suitable signal.
3. The arrangement causing the contact of the arrow with the compass bowl
by means of the plate X, weight P, counterweights Q and r and an indiarubber
or metal bellows.
4. The arrangement of the conduit for the electric wires permitting of turning
the said conduit automatically and at the same angle as the bowl in order not
to break the electric wires.
5. The combination of the various devices mentioned above for production of
an indicating, informing and registering course substantially as illustrated and
described.
H. J. HADDAN.