A New or Improved Self-registering Wind Vane.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Self-registering Wind Vane.
I, PATRICK YOUNG ALEXANDER, of The Experimental Works, Bath, in the
County of Somerset, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct mechanism whereby the direction of
the wind may be automatically registered.
To a bracket or other fixed support I fulcrum clock mechanism, in such a manner
that it is free to turn horizontally on its axis. A spindle having a screw thread on
its surface is so connected to one of the rotating wheels of the clock, that it turns
at a given speed, and on the clock turning on its axis, the said screw is brought
round, though it always maintains its horizontal position. A runner is mounted on
the screw and is provided with a pencil or other marker; and as the screw
rotates, the pencil is moved out away from the clock at a regular speed. The
clock is connected to a wind-vane in such a manner that the screw maintains a
relative position to the said wind vane, which latter turns the clock on its axis as
the direction of the wind varies. Below the pencil I place a chart having the
points of the compass marked thereon, and this chart may be connected to a board
in any suitable way.
It will thus be seen that the wind-vane moves the clock on its axis according to
the wind, and thus marks the chart as required, whilst the clock making the pencil
travel out from the centre, records the time of the various changes of the wind.
Dated this 11th day of Jul 1802
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
COMI LEIE DIEUTICALIA
A New or Improved Self-registering Wind Vane.
I, PATRICK YOUNG ALEXANDER, of The Experimental Works, Bath, in the
County of Somerset, Gentleman, 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 :—
The object of my invention is to construct mechanism whereby the direction of
the various changes of the wind and the time at which such changes take place
may be automatically registered.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters refer
to like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus constructed according to my invention,
and Figure 2 is a plan of same. Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing a modification
of my invention.
Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, A is a wind vane connected to a
spindle B, to which latter is attached a clock mechanism or a case containing such
as indicated at the letter C. To the side of the clock mechanism C a bracket D
is attached the end of which supports a screw E which is actuated by the clock
mechanism C. A runner or nut F is mounted on the screw E and is capable of
being traversed thereby and a pencil or other marker G is fitted to the lower part

page_text: of the said runner F. H is a chart, having the points of the compass and circles
at equal distances apart marked thereon, which circles may represent hours or
other periods of time."
When it is required to register the direction and changes of the wind the clock
mechanism is wound up, the runner F being set close to the clock frame. The
turning of the screw E through the medium of the clock mechanism C causes the
runner F to travel outwards at a uniform speed, the pencil point or other marker G
crossing the equidistant circles, (situated on the chart H,) in the time previously
'determined. Should the wind remain constant in one direction, the pencil G would
draw a straight line outwards from the centre of the chart H; but on a change in
the direction of the wind taking place, the clock C being attached to the wind
vane A moves the pencil G to the right or left, the time of such change being
registered by the distance from the centre of the chart H as shewn by the circles
thereon.
It is not always practicable to have the wind vane A and clock mechanism C in
direct communication through the medium of a spindle as shewn at Figures 1 and 2,
and in such cases the arrangement shewn at Figure 3 may suitably be employed.
In this arrangement the clock mechanism C is supported from the bracket J by
the spindle K being held in the required position by the collar K¹. The spindle K
is connected with the spindle B carrying the wind vane by means of rope gearing L
or other suitable connections.
It will thus be seen that the wind vane moves the clock on its axis according to
the wind, and thus marks the chart as required, whilst the clock causing the pencil
to travel out from the centre records the time of the various changes of the wind.
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 as my new or improved apparatus for registering the changes of direction of
the wind and times of such changes is as follows:―
First. The wind vane A, spindle B, clock C, screw E, runner F, and pencil G,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The wind vane A, spindle B, clock C, bracket D, screw E, runner F,
pencil G and chart H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The clock C and parts connected therewith for marking the chart H, in
combination with the bracket J, spindle K and collar K', substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Fourth. A vertical spindle actuated directly or indirectly by a wind vane, in
combination with a screwed shaft rotated by clock-work mechanism mounted in a
case or frame carried by the vertical spindle, a traversing nut upon the screwed
shaft, a pencil or the like carried by the traversing nut, and a suitably graduated
and marked card upon which the pencil acts whereby the pencil is given a longi-
tudinal traversing motion, according to lapse of time, and a revolving motion
according to the change of direction of wind, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various
parts forming my new or improved self-registering wind vane, substantially as
herein set forth, together with any mere modification or modifications thereof.
Dated this 25th day of November 1893.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.