Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 4th June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th July, 1888
I, GEORGE WILSON HEATH of Crayford in the County of Kent Nautical Instrument
Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (the result partly of a
communication from William Miller Walters of Chew Stoke in the County of
Somerset Master Mariner, now on the high seas, and partly my own invention,) to be
as follows:
--
In this invention the rotator whether for a towing log or a taffrail register log is
made with the usual helical vanes but these vanes are according to this invention
made with a materially increased pitch so that in the absence of any compensating or
retarding means a falsely high rate of speed of the vessel would be indicated. Means
are therefore provided for compensating or retarding the rotation in any required
measure. Such means may suitably consist of two or more wings, vanes or other
projections which are made to protrude from the body of the rotator by preference in
a more or less radial or lateral direction. Facilities are also given for adjusting or
regulating the amount of resistance to rotation which such vanes or projections shall
exert in order to counteract to the required extent the falsely high rate of speed.
By this means not only the variations caused by mechanical defects or irregularities
in the make of the article can be fully met or compensated for but also other varying
influences such as those arising from the varying speeds of ships or the height of the
log register from the water. In this manner also the same rotator can be applied to
logs made by different makers and intended to work at different speeds. In one forin
or construction the rear end of the rotator is provided with two vanes which are
connected to a screw or nut. By turning the screw or nut the vanes are caused to
protrude from the body of the rotator or recede into the same to the required extent
so as to offer the desired resistance. Each vane may for instance be jointed at one
end and have a slanting slot at a distance from the fulcrum pin. In the slots work
pegs on a nut which by means of a central screw can be made to travel fore or aft in
the body of the rotator and thus cause the adjustable vanes to be protruded more or
less in a radial direction.
Another part of this invention consists in the application of an alarm or audiblo

page_text: signal appliance to the rotator of a towing log for the purpose of indicating obstruction
and consequent stoppage or irregular working of the rotator. The means for
producing such a signal are applied to a shackle or part attached to the inboard end of
the towing rope.
When through any obstruction the connection between the log and
the towing rope should become fouled or jammed the towing rope will be caused to
rotate and therewith also the aforesaid shackle whereby a gong or other signal part
will be struck, thus giving the desired indication. The shackle may for instance be
formed with a tooth which catches against a spring arm or hammer.
The dial of the taffrail register and if desired also of the towing log register is by
preference made with a luminous surface so as to be clearly visible by night.
I may in conjunction with the improved rotator hereinbefore described employ the
air chamber described in my Provisional Specification dated 10th December 1886
No. 16202.
T
1 1
1007
GEORGE WILSON HEATH.
By Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.
Improvements in Ships' Logs.
I, GEORGE WILSON HEATH of Crayford in the County of Kent Nautical Instrument
Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention (the result partly of a
communication from William Miller Walters, of Chew Stoke, in the County of
Somerset Master Mariner, now on the high seas, and partly my own invention) and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
In this invention the rotator, whether for a towing log or a taffrail register log is
made with the usual helical vanes but these vanes are made with a materially increased
pitch so that in the absence of any compensating or retarding means a falsely high
rate of speed of the vessel would be indicated. Means are therefore provided for
compensating or retarding the rotation in any required measure, these means
consisting of two or more wings, vanes or other projections which according to this
invention are made to protrude in a mor. or less radial or lateral direction from the
body of the rotator, suitable appliances being provided for adjusting the position or
extent of lateral protrusion of the vanes or projections and thereby regulating the

page_text: amount of resistance to rotation which such vanes or projections shall exert in order
to counteract to the required extent the falsely high rate of speed.
By this means not only the variations caused by slight mechanical defects or
irregularities in the make of the article can be fully met or compensated for but also
other varying influences such as those arising from the varying speeds of ships or the
height of the log register from the level of the water.
In this manner also the same
rotator can be applied to logs made by different makers and intended to work at
different speeds of revolution owing to the pitch of their helical vanes being
different.
In one form or construction of log rotator the rear end of the rotator is provided
with two vanes which are connected to a screw or nut. By turning the screw or nut
the vanes are caused to protrude sideways from the body of the rotator or recede into
the same to the required extent so as to offer the desired resistance.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a part sectional plan of a rotator thus
constructed and Figure 2 a transverse section. Each of the two vanes a is pin
jointed at one end to the cross bar disc or partition 6 which is fixed within the body
or casing of the rotator by screws or otherwise. Each vane a is at a distance from
the fulcrum pin provided with a slanting slot a'. In the slots a work pegs c on a nut
or cross head d which by means of a central screw e can be made to travel fore or aft
in the body of the rotator and thus cause the adjustable vanes a to protrude more or
less sideways in a radial direction. The screw e at its inner end works in the
partition band has at its outer end a notched head f for turning it by means of a
screw-driver. The vanes are shown in full lines quite folded within the rotator and
in dotted lines quite extended sideways or radially, the pins c in the two positions
being at the extreme ends of the slots. In practice some intermediate position will
generally be found requisite.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of a rotator in which the slots a¹ in the vanes a
are arranged at the opposite end of that shown in the previous figures the construction
being otherwise similar.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views of another form in which the cross-head dis
fixed on the end of a toothed rack e which by means of a pinion can be moved
lengthwise in the body or casing the spindle of the pinion being provided with a
notched head for turning it by with a screw-driver. The rack e is guided by a
cross-bar or partition band by a cross-pin g. The vanes are here shown in their
extreme folded position.
Figures 7 and 8 are similar views of another form in which the vanes a being pin
jointed at one end to the partition or cross-bar b are at their other end provided with
pegs or pins a which take into the grooves of a scroll disc or button e mounted on
the end of the rotator body and held by a central bolt h which is fixed to the cross-bar
or partition b. The scroll button has a milled edge or may be formed to suit a
spanner.
In Figures 9 and 10 is shewn an arrangement in which the vanes a by means of
links a' are connected to the travelling adjusting nut d on the screw e.
Figures 11 and 12 show an arrangement in which the vanes a are provided with
flanges a', the nut d being formed with lugs which engage with both sides of the
flanges a¹ and thus serve to adjust the sideways extended or radial position of the
vanes a.
I have described some modes of carrying this part of the invention into effect but it
must be clearly understood that I do not restrict myself to them.
Another part of this invention consists in the application of an alarm or audible
signal appliance to the rotator of a towing log for the purpose of indicating obstruction
and consequent stoppage or irregular working of the rotator. The means for
producing such a signal are in the sectional view Figure 13 and plan Figure 14 shown
applied to a shackle a (or other part) attached to the inboard end of the towing rope.
The shackle is formed with a tooth b which in the revolution of the shackle catches
against oue arm or end c¹ of a lever the other end c of which acts as a hammer c

page_text: against the bell d. The bent lever cc' passes through a slot in the eye-bolt e and has
a spring which normally holds the hammer in the position shown.
When through any obstruction the connection between the log and the towing
rope should become fouled or jammed the towing rope will be caused to rotate and
therewith also the aforesaid shackle a the tooth b of which will strike the arm c¹ and
when it has snapped past it, thereby compressing the spring f, the other arm or end o
will by the reaction of the spring be forced against the bell d and make it sound thus
giving the desired signal or indication.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
==
First. In a towing log or taffrail register log rotator having helical vanes with a
falsely high or increased pitch the application and use of two or more wings vanes or
other projecting parts which are capable of being protruded to any required degree
from the body of the rotator in a radial direction or side-wise of the body for the
purpose of efficiently compensating for or retarding the falsely high pitch and
causing an accurate indication of the speed of the vessel substantially as set forth.
Second. In ship log rotators the constructions of sidewise or radially moveable or
adjustable wings or vanes with the means or appliances for so moving or adjusting
them substantially as described and shown.
Third. The construction of towing rope alarm for audibly indicating at the inboard
end of the towing rope of a towing log any obstruction and stoppage or irregular
working of the rotator consisting of the shackle a with tooth bloose on the eyebolt e
in combination with the double armed spring hammer lever cc' and the bell d fixed
on the eyebolt e substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 4th day of Iu 1000