Improvements in and connected with Ships' Recording Compasses and Logs.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
1.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Communicated from abroad by THE TOWNSEND MARINE INVENTION COMPANY,
of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, United States of America,
Manufacturers of Ships' Recording Compasses.]
Improvements in and connected with Ships' Recording Compasses
and Logs.
I, WILLIAM EDWIN HEYS of 70 Market Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster, Patent Agent, 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 :-
My invention relates generally to the art of navigation, and more especially to a
compass arranged and constructed to make a continuous record of its movements
and thus produce a permanent log of the courses run by the vessel.
It is a well known fact that time is frequently lost on a voyage by the inefficiency
or inattention of the steersman, since any variation from the true course involves a
retardation of speed and a lengthening of the distance run. In cases of collision it
is exceedingly difficult to ascertain afterwards the exact course each vessel was
steering. So, too, when a ship is maliciously or carelessly wrecked, the fact that
she is off her course is one which the guilty parties are most anxious to conceal,
and one which is very hard to prove in evidence.
My invention is designed to record every course the vessel runs and thus provides
an effectual means of discovering just how the vessel was heading at any particular
moment during her voyage, and how long she sailed on any course. Among the
many advantages to be derived from such a record, in addition to the check it gives
upon the accuracy of the pilot, may be mentioned the possibility of laying down the
courses on the chart, should a long spell of stormy weather prevent the taking of
observations. In carrying out my invention, I avail myself of the art of photo-
graphy, arranging suitable mechanism to cause a strip of sensitized paper to travel
slowly under a narrow slot which is screened from the light, at all but one spot, by
a movable opaque disk or plate itself containing a narrow transparent line or slot
arranged to cross the aforesaid slot, and adapted to change the point of intersection
at every movement, however slight, of the compass needle. The result of this con-
trivance is that a continuing broken line is photographed on the paper, agreeing
exactly with the movements of the vessel, and forming when developed and fixed,
a permanent record of the courses she has run.
By means of suitable auxiliary devices, the strip is marked at regular intervals
of time, so that the record gives not only the directions run, but the time spent
on each course.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one way of reducing my invention to
practice.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire machine ;
Figure 1 is a top plan view;
Figure 2 is an elevation, with the doors open, and certain parts shown in cross
section ;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the compass needle and disk;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same;
Figure 5 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the removable dark box;
Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6, Fig. 5;
Figure 64 is a modification;
Figure 7 shows a portion of the record;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cover of the dark box ;
Figure 9 is "nerspective view of the dark box with the cover removed:

page_text: a sensitized surface travelling in the case just below the slit . The continuous
movement of the paper causes the pencil to trace a line X on the sensitized surface,
the position of the line shifting laterally across the paper as the disk swings to and
fro with the compass needle. So long as the vessel holds on a straight course, the
line will be parallel with the edges. Should the course be changed the line will
break off as at a', but will again proceed parallel with the line of travel of the
paper when the helm is brought back amidships, though at another part of the strip
corresponding with the new course. It will be noticed that the ends of the spiral
do not lie in the same radial line, but that the inner end of the spiral is separated
from the radial line of the other end by a space equal to the width of the slit a.
The object of this is to permit the formation of but one course line when the vessel
is steering due north, the outer end of the spiral being carried to the N. point on
the card, while the inner end will stop short of it.
It is evident that if both ends of the spiral ran to the N. point the light would
pass through both ends of it when a north course was being steered.
It also follows, from this construction, that when the course changes from east of
north to west of north, the record line is abruptly terminated on one side of the strip,
and continues at a transversely opposite point near the other side.
It should be remarked, too, that the compass needle is not hampered by any
device tending to retard its changes, even the most minute. The only work it has
to perform is overcoming and resisting the inertia of the disk H, and since this is
made extremely light, a powerful needle easily operates it.
THE DARK Box.
The most convenient sensitized surface to use is ordinary photographic paper,
either silver print or blue print paper, as may be desired. The paper may be plain,
but I prefer to rule it longitudinally with thirty-two parallel and equidistant lines
corresponding with the points of the compass, so that the record may be easily
read.
A strip of this paper is wound into a roll I, and placed in one end of a light-
proof box K which fits into the case E. The strip is wound up on a roller at the
other end of the box by suitable mechanism, passing close under the slit æ in its
travel through the box. A screen in the top of the box is drawn aside to permit
the pencil of light entering through the slit to affect the paper. The width of the
strip is of course slightly greater than the length of the slit æ.
The box I prefer to use is made as shown in the drawing, being shallow to stand
above the needle F, which swings freely under it, and having at each end a depend-
ing well to hold the roll of paper I and the receiving and winding roller L. The
box rests on brackets e with its top snugly up against the top D. A cover K is
fitted to slide down over the box K, its edges abutting upon a flange k³, so that the
sides of the box are double, as shown in Figure 6. About midway of the cover is
an opening z, adapted to be closed by a screen or slide k running on suitable ledges
inside the box K, and moved by a transverse shaft k¹ carrying one or more pinions
meshing with a rack or racks secured to the slide, as shown. The opening in the
cover registers with the bevelled recess in the under side of the top D. The paper
runs up over a small roller journaled in the end of an adjustable slide K². It
passes thence over the roller M which presses the paper up into the recess in the
top plate, and close against the slit so that the light cannot strike any part of the
paper except that immediately below the slit. The roller is journaled in vertical
slots in the box K, its projecting journals resting on the ends of the rock-arms m
on the rock-shaft m'. A spring m² bears against a rock-arm m³ and presses the
roller M normally upwards. When the screen k is shut preparatory to removing
the box K from the case E, it crowds the roller down into the box and slides
over it.
After leaving the roller M, the paper passes over a feed-roll N, being held in
close frictional contact therewith by a presser-roller N¹ journaled in slots in the
५
The most convenient sensitized surface to use is ordinary photographic paper,
either silver print or blue print paper, as may be desired. The paper may be plain,
but I prefer to rule it longitudinally with thirty-two parallel and equidistant lines
corresponding with the points of the compass, so that the record may be easily
read.
A strip of this paper is wound into a roll I, and placed in one end of a light-
proof box K which fits into the case E. The strip is wound up on a roller at the
other end of the box by suitable mechanism, passing close under the slit & in its
travel through the box. A screen in the top of the box is drawn aside to permit
the pencil of light entering through the slit to affect the paper. The width of the
strip is of course slightly greater than the length of the slit a.
The
The box I prefer to use is made as shown in the drawing, being shallow to stand
above the needle F, which swings freely under it, and having at each end a depend-
ing well to hold the roll of paper 1 and the receiving and winding roller L.
box rests on brackets e with its top snugly up against the top D. A cover K' is
fitted to slide down over the box K, its edges abutting upon a flange k³, so that the
sides of the box are double, as shown in Figure 6. About midway of the cover is
an opening z, adapted to be closed by a screen or slide k running on suitable ledges
inside the box K, and moved by a transverse shaft & carrying one or more pinions
meshing with a rack or racks secured to the slide, as shown. The opening in the
cover registers with the bevelled recess in the under side of the top D. The paper
runs up over a small roller k² journaled in the end of an adjustable slide K². It
passes thence over the roller M which presses the paper up into the recess in the
top plate, and close against the slit so that the light cannot strike any part of the
paper except that immediately below the slit. The roller is journaled in vertical
slots in the box K, its projecting journals resting on the ends of the rock-arms m
on the rock-shaft m¹. A spring m² bears against a rock-arm m³ and presses the
roller M normally upwards. When the screen k is shut preparatory to removing
the box K from the case E, it crowds the roller down into the box and slides
over it.
After leaving the roller M, the paper passes over a feed-roll N, being held in
close frictional contact therewith by a presser-roller N¹ journaled in slots in the
'

page_text: box K, the ends of a pair of rock-arms n on a shaft n¹ bearing upon the pro-
jecting journals. Attached to the inside of the cover K is a spring n² bearing on
the rock-arm n³, and exerting a downward pressure on the roll N¹. The rolls Ň N¹
are geared together, as shown. At the other end, the presser-roll has a small
sprocket wheel n' meshing with a suitable notched disk on the feed-roll N,
and serving to keep the two rolls in accurate relationship. At each end of one
of the rolls is a series of prick-points n' to indent the edges of the record paper
at regular intervals.
The feed-roll N is journaled in inclined slots in the box K, and latches N2
engage with the projecting journals to hold the roll in place. In the cover K¹
there is a hole, which registers with the end of this journal and permits the
hub of the gear-wheel T to be inserted. The hub is provided with one or more
pins which enter holes in the end of the journal, and the two parts are fastened
together by a screw t¹ which is inserted through the tubular hub of the gear-
wheel and screws into the end of the journal.
The box K is removable from the case E, being adapted to be slid out laterally,
when the door E' is opened. This enables me to insert the roll of paper I in a
dark room, close the screen k, place the box in the case, and then slide back the
screen by means of the button on the outer end of the shaft k¹.
When the paper has been exhausted, the screen is closed and the box is removed
to the dark room, where the record can be developed and fixed, and a fresh roll of
paper placed in the box, and all without any risk of exposing the paper to the
light.
THE DRIVING AND WINDING MECHANISM.
Within the case E below the box K is a train of clock-work contained in a
frame O, and driven preferably by a spring in the drum 03.
Should it be desired, however, to use a weight 0¹ instead of the spring, then a
depending tube O2 is attached to the bottom of the case E to enclose the weight.
A gear-wheel o is carried on the end of one of the shafts of the train projecting
through the frame 0. Meshing with this is a wheel 1 preferably of the same size,
and forming part of a train of gears 1, 2, 3, carried in a frame P which is hinged
to the frame O, the axis of the hinge being perpendicular to the line joining the
centers of the gear-wheels 01. The cog-wheel 3 meshes with the wheel T secured
upon the projecting end of the shaft that carries the feed-roll N. By means of
these gears, the clock-work is caused to rotate the feed-rolls at a uniform speed,
the time being recorded by the prick-points n'. It will be noticed that the cog-
wheels 1 and 3 overlap the ends of the box K. When it is desired to remove the
box for the purpose above set forth, the train 1, 2, 3 can be folded back against
the gear-wheel o, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, by reason of the hinged
attachment of the frame P, thus leaving the box free to be slid out of the case.
The winding drum L is provided with some means for clamping the end of the
paper I. As shown in the drawing, the drum is hollow and contains a longitudinal
slit to receive the end of the paper. A sleeve L¹ surrounds the drum, being
provided also with a slit. After inserting the paper, the sleeve is partially
revolved, carrying the two slits out of line, and firmly nipping the paper between
the sleeve and the drum.
The journals of the drum L are held in place in slots in the box K by means of
latches L. Journaled in suitable bearings in the case E is a drum Q on which is
wound a cord g the end of which is attached to a weight Q sliding in a tube Q²,
which is preferably arranged parallel with and secured to the tube O2. A. suitable
pulley R prevents the cord from chafing on the edge of the tube. A spring
drum Q3 may be used in place of the drum Q, cord and weight. The motion of
the drum Q is conveyed by a train of multiplying gears S, as shown, to a pinion
on the rear end of the shaft carrying the drum L. "The weight Q is just sufficient
to keep a light, steady tension on the paper so that it is snugly wound up as fast as

page_text: it passes the feed-rolls N N. In the back of the case E is a door e', which gives
access to these gears for the purpose of winding up the weight or of guiding the
pinion into mesh with its driving gear when the box K is slid into its case.
It is of course necessary that all the various parts of the apparatus shall be
constructed of brass or some other non-magnetic metal, so as not to affect the
compass needle.
Artificial light may be provided to affect the sensitized paper. A binnacle lamp
with a reflector is easily arranged to throw sufficient light upon the disk H to effect
the desired result. I prefer to use such a lamp constantly by day as well as at
night, in order to give better control of the illumination, and to secure a more
uniform record. The hood U may have a suitable slide u, to enable the disk to be
inspected from time to time. The disk is preferably provided with the points of
the compass, so as to constitute a compass card.
The machine can be placed in a vessel in any desired position, though it is
preferable to arrange the slit r due fore and aft parallel with the line of the keel.
When used as a tell-tale, the device can be locked up and arranged in such a
manner that the record can only be read by the person having the proper key.
Instead of depending on the prick-points on the feed-roll to mark on the strip
regular intervals of time, I may use a disk V, provided with one or more radial
slots or notches v, or with a diaphanous spiral ₁, or both. This disk is arranged to
rotate horizontally, preferably in the same plane as the disk H, and adjacent
thereto, co-operating with a slit, or with a prolongation of the slit c, so as to
control a pencil of light falling on or near one edge of the sensitized strip. The
disk V is rotated at an even rate by the clock-work, and thus photographs on the
strip a series of marks, or a regularly recurring succession of diagonal lines,
indicating similar periods of time.
Should it be desired to record the speed of the vessel, a diagonally slotted
slide W may be arranged to control a pencil of light falling on the strip; the slide
being connected at one end to an adjustable spring w, and at the other end to a
drag towing astern of the vessel. The resistance offered by the drag will vary with
the speed of the vessel, and being opposed by the spring causes the slide to assume
different positions corresponding with said speeds, whereby the pencil of light con-
trolled by the slide is shifted accordingly and produces an irregular line on the
sensitized strip. The ordinates of this line, measured from the base line produced
when the vessel is at rest, give the rates of speed.
By making the three records simultaneously on one strip of paper, it is possible
to arrive at an exact determination of the vessel's course and speed at any given
time. It is evident, however, that the speed-recorder may be used separately from
the course-recorder.
I have described the disk V and slide W as "slotted." By this I mean cutting
completely through the disk or slide when made of opaque material, or through
an opaque coating or layer applied to a transparent disk or slide.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1. The combination with a casing having a slit, of a vertical shaft carrying a
magnetic needle, and an opaque disk containing a diaphanous spiral line forming
but a single turn, and intersecting the plane of the slit, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a case having a slit, of a magnetic needle, and a screen
covering said slit and adapted to be moved by the needle, said screen consisting of
a sheet of glass or other transparent material having an opaque coating, a portion
of said coating being removed in a line intersecting the plane of the slit, sub-
stantially as described.
3. The combination with a case having a slit, of a vertical shaft, carrying a
magnetic needle and a glass disk blackened on one side, the opaque coating being
removed in a spiral line, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. ine combination with a case naving a sIIL, OL a vertical shaft carrying a
magnetic needle and an opaque disk having a diaphanous spiral line forming but a
single turn, with its ends falling short of the same radial line by an amount equal
to the width of the slit, substantially as described.
5. A recording compass comprising a suitable case for the compass needle, and a
removable dark box for containing a sensitized surface to be affected by the
movements of the compass needle, substantially as described.
6. The combination with the case E, containing the shaft and compass needle, of
the shallow box adapted to fit up against the top of the case above the needle,
substantially as described.
7. A recording compass comprising the case E, the removable box K having an
opening in its top, the slide k adapted to close said opening, and provided with a
rack, and the shaft carrying a pinion meshing with said rack, substantially as
described.
,
8. A recording compass comprising the box K having an opening in its top.
the screen k for closing said opening, the rock-shaft m' having rock-arms m, m³
the roller M journaled in the arms m, and the spring m² bearing against the arm m³,
substantially as described.
9. A recording compass comprising the case E, the box K removable therefrom
and containing the feed-roll N, whose axle carries the cog-wheel T outside of the
box K, the clockwork O contained in a frame secured to the case E, and a train of
gears adapted to connect the clock-work and the cog-wheel T when the box is
placed in the case, substantially as described.
10. A recording compass comprising the case E, the box K removable therefrom
and containing the winding drum L, a pinion on the axle of the winding drum and
outside of the box, a drum Q journaled in fixed bearings in the case E, a weighted
cord wound around the drum and gearing connected with the drum and adapted
to mesh with the pinion when the box K is placed in the case, substantially as
described.
11. A recording compass comprising the case E, the removable box containing
the feed-roll N provided with a cog-wheel T outside of the box, the clock-work
having a gear-wheel o, and a train of gears connecting the gear-wheel o and the
cog-wheel T, said train being mounted on a frame adapted to be swung clear
of the box K when the latter is to be removed from the case, substantially as
described.
12. In a recording compass, the combination with the casing containing a slit, of
the magnetic needle secured to the vertical spindle, the disk H mounted on the
spindle in close proximity to the slit in the casing and containing the spiral y which
makes substantially a complete turn, and is thereby adapted to intersect the plane
of the slit at every position of the needle, a sensitized strip arranged to travel
at one side of the spindle, and a motor for moving the strip, substantially as
described.
13. In a recording compass, the combination with the casing having in its top D
the slit, of the spindle G passing below the top D and having the spiral y making
substantially a complete turn and intersecting the plane of the slit, the travelling
sensitized strip arranged below the top D at one side of the spindle, and a motor
for moving the strip, substantially as described.
14. A recording compass comprising the casing having the slit x, the dark box
arranged below the top D, the spindle arranged at one side of the dark box and
carrying the disk H above the top of the casing, and a long magnetic needle
secured to the spindle and arranged to swing below the dark box, substantially as
described.
15. The combination with the casing having the slotted top D, of the inagnetic
needle F secured upon the spindle G, the conical step-bearing g, and the adjustable
conical bearing g¹ for the spindle, the disk H secured to the spindle just above the
top D, the dark box immediately below the top D at one side of the spindle, and
means for moving a sensitized strip in the dark box, substantially as described.

page_text: 16. A recording compass comprising in combination with the magnetic needle, a
screen having a slot, and a disk having a spiral y forming but a single turn, and
intersecting the plane of the slot, its ends lying nearly in the same radial line,
and both on the same side of the center of the disk, substantially as described.
17. A recording compass comprising a case having a bevelled recess in the under
side of its top, and a slit at the summit of the recess, a movable screen con-
trolling the passage of light through the slit, a sensitized strip travelling below
the slit, and a suitable device for pressing said strip into the recess, substantially as
described.
18. A recording compass, comprising a magnetic needle, a disk moved thereby
and containing the spiral y, a sensitized surface, a motor arranged to move said
surface under the disk, and a time-recording device adapted to mark upon the
sensitized surface regular intervals of time, substantially as described.
19. An apparatus for recording graphically the courses, time, and rates of speed
of a vessel, consisting of a magnetic needle, a clock, a submerged device offering a
resistance to its passage through the water, three movable screens connecting
respectively with the needle, the clock, and the submerged device, and a sensitized
surface travelling below the screens, substantially as described.
20. A speed recorder for vessels, consisting of the combination with a casing
having a slit, of a slotted slide movable below the slit, a drag connected with said
slide, a sensitized surface below the slide, and suitable means for moving the
sensitized surface, substantially as described.
21. A speed and course recorder for vessels, comprising a magnetic needle, an
opaque disk moved thereby and containing a spiral y, an opaque slotted slide, a
tension device and a floating drag, both connected with said slide, an opaque screen
having one or more slots arranged to co-act with the disk and slide, and a motor
arranged to move a sensitized sheet beneath the disk, slide and screen, substantially
as described.
...
1
T
A D 1000
WILLIAM E. HEYS.