IMPROVED SHIP-LOG APPARATUS
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I THOMAS FERDINAND WALKER of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Engineer trading under the style or Firm of "Thomas Walker & Son" do hereby.
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED SHIP-LOG APPARATUS to be as
follows:-
My invention has reference especially to that class of ship-log in which the
registering apparatus is in-board or on the taffrail of the vessel whose speed of
progress through the water is being ascertained and the log or rotating implement
commonly called the rotator is in the water and one part of my improvement
consists in the mode of connecting to that rotating implement the rope or line
which connects that rotator with the registering apparatus and conveys the
rotations to the register.
In such rotating implements it is beneficial to their action in the water that the
buoyancy of the rear ends thereof be maintained and it is important to prevent
any unnecessary disturbance of the water or friction on the fore end from any
projections or obstructions such as knots or other inequalities at or near to that
fore end.
In order to attain these objects I form a hollow chamber in the fore-end of the
rotator of contracted form towards the front and having centrally of such contracted
end an opening into which is passed the tow line and around the casing of this
chamber parallel with the tube are provided suitable circular or other shaped holes
out through which this end of the tow line is capable of being passed, knotted, and
again withdrawn into the chamber until by the knot becoming locked or nipped in
the contracted end that tow line is securely connected and held firmly so that the
rotations are imparted thereto from the rotator. Over these openings slides &
cylindrical band or sliding piece so as to leave free or close the entrances to the
tube as desired.
By these means I am enabled to secure the lightness of the aft end of the tube
of the rotator or to form that end more or less solid of a light buoyant material.
A further improvement has reference to the chamber, shell, case or frame carrying
the first moving spindle and anti-friction rollers, which spindle receives and
transmits the revolutions of the rotator to the recording mechanism.
This chamber which for convenience of reference. I call the friction chamber is
carried by gimbals or other bearing parts attached to the ship and the object of
my improvement is to make the friction chamber easily separable from the
recording mechanism so as to facilitate access to the friction rollers and registering
wheelwork.

page_text: This I effect by forming the friction chamber so as to enable the recording
mechanism to be simply slid or passed therein until the projection or spindle of
the recorder engages the projection on the spindle of the friction chamber which
spindle is caused to revolve in accordance with the revolutions of the "rotator" in
the water.
In order to secure the recording mechanism from danger of accidental dis-
connection from the friction chamber into which it slides or is passed a spring or
other catch or stop may be applied to connect. the two together.
By this arrangement the recording mechanism may be removed instantaneously
and the anti-friction or roller bearing and the recorder at once exposed to view so
as to be got at for cleaning oiling or other purpose instead of having to employ
skilled labour to effect separation of the parts of the log for the purpose as is the
case generally where, as in existing logs those two parts by the nature of their
connections become practically otherwise fixtures, and access for supply of lubricant
can only be had by means of a small hole.
In order to facilitate the examination of the anti-friction rollers and registering
wheelwork I cut away portions of the friction chamber and also of the case
containing the registering wheelwork in such a manner as that, when the recorder
is slid into the friction chamber it shall be practicable to either expose or cover
both the anti-friction rollers and the recording mechanism or either of them by a
simple sliding action which may be longitudinal or rotary.
Another improvement has for its object the easy removal of the gimbal from its
socket shoe or other fixture attached to or carried by some part of the ship.
This object I attain by forming the spindle of the gimbal with a projection
which passes down into a slot in the socket and under a projecting ledge running
concentric with the said spindle so that by turning the spindle on its axis the
afore-said projection locks the spindle in its socket while still allowing it to rotate
with freedom, in such a manner that by fixing the socket with the slot inboards the
apparatus would have to be turned round a complete half circle from its normal
position when at work before it could be withdrawn from the socket. When the
sccket is retained by a separate fixture attached to the ship I make this fixture by
preference of the form of a flat plate recessed on its under side.
Access to this recess from above is obtained by means of a central hole with slot
something similar to a key-hole and the lower part of the socket has a projection
corresponding in shape to the slot so that the socket with its projection can be
introduced into the opening and turned like a key in such a manner that the flat
projection shall pass into the internal recess.
I also so form the part of the socket immediately above this flat projection in
such a manner that when the socket has been turned a complete half circle from
the entering position it can be pulled or pushed partly into the before-mentioned
slot so as to prevent it from turning while still leaving the gimbal free to revolve
by means of its spindlo.
The case containing the recording mechanism is so constructed as to be capablo
of being rotated on its axis inside the friction chamber so that the dial shall face
in any required direction.
When it is preferred to use a sling to retain the instrument instead of using a
gimbal for that purpose I make the metallic sling of such a cranked or bent form
as to allow the dial to be freely seen from either side which the dial is caused to
face.

page_text: I THOMAS FERDINAND WALKER of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Engineer trading under the style or firm of "Thomas Walker & Son" do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED SHIP-LOG APPARATUS and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
My invention has referenco especially to that class of ship log in which the
registering apparatus is in-board or on the taffrail of the vessel whose speed of
progress through the water is being ascertained and the log or rotating implement
commonly called the rotator is in the water and one part of my improvements
consists in the node of connecting to that rotating implement the rope or line
which connects that rotator with the registering apparatus and conveys the
rotations to the register.
In such rotating implements it is beneficial to their action in the water that the
buoyancy of the rear ends thereof be maintained and it is important to prevent
any unnecessary or avoidable disturbance of the water at, or friction on the
fore-end of the implement as it is drawn through the water, from any such
projections or obstructions as knots, or other inequalities at or near to that
fore end.
In order to attain these objects I form in the fore end of the rotatory
implement, one of which is shewn at A Figure 1 a hollow chamber a of contracted
form towards its front end a¹ and having centrally of such contracted end an
opening a² into which is passed the tow line b and around the casing of this
chamber a parallel with the tube as of the rotator, are provided one or more
suitable circular openings at or other suitably shaped holes out through which the
end of this tow rope b is capable of being passed and knotted and again withdrawn
into the chamber a until by the knot thus formed becoming locked or nipped
inside the contracted end a³ of the chamber that tow line b
securely connected
and held firmly so that the rotations are imparted thereto from the rotator A.
ais à cylindrical band or sliding piece adapted to be slid over so as to close
the opening or openings at, or, to be passed from over those openings onto the
tow line so as to leave free that opening at for protrusion of the end of the tow
line for knotting or in place of the uncovering of the entrance to this chamber a
being effected by a longitudinal movement of the covering band a³ this band
may be perforated with a hole or holes of similar size to that or those in the
side wall of the chamber a as shewn at a and access to the interior of that
chamber may be had by bringing the hole or holes of the chamber coincident
with the hole or holes of the covering ring as by a rotatory movement and
the closing effected by the interspacing of the open parts of the covering and
covered parts.
In Figure 1ª I have shewn my improved knot holding hollow chamber applied to
a rotator of solid material of a light buoyant character in respect of its shaft a* and
to which shaft are applied metal vanes a as is well understood as indicates a portion
of this shaft in rear of the hollow chamber loaded say with lead in order to give
preponderance and proper sinkage to that end in the water.
By such arrangements of these portions of a ship log rotator I am enabled to
secure the lightness of the aft end of the tube as of the rotator A. when so formed
or for the same purpose to form such shaft more or less solid of a light buoyant
material preserving preponderance to the fore end aided, or not, by special weighting
(as at a) and at the same time to avoid any projecting parts or knots at the front-
end of the rotator to interfere with correct working thereof.

page_text: A further portion of my improvement in ship log apparatus has reference to the
chamber, shell, case or frame carrying the first moving spindle and anti-friction
rollers which spindle receives and transmits the revolutions of the rotator to the
recording mechanism.
This chamber c shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and which I call for convenience of
reference hereafter, the friction chamber, is carried by gimbals d or other bearing
parts attached to the ship and the object of my improvement in this particular is
to make the friction chamber easily separable from the recording mechanism e so
as by withdrawing the part e from within the part c to expose and facilitate access
to the friction rollers f which take and ease the pressure of the spindle i imparted
to the plate g which by the projecting pin or eccentric gl moves the register
spindle arns j¹ and thereby the wheels which in turn move the dial-hands or the
indicators k. l. m. These friction rollers f are interposed between the plates g and
the base of the chamber c and they revolve on short axes radiating from a ring
encompassing the spindle i which spindle by a loop h is connected to the tow line b
and thereby to the "rotator."
This junction of the registering and recording portion of the mechanism B with
the holding and rotating mechanism c is effected by a frictional holding of that
part B by the tubular part c and it enables that part B to be simply slid or passed
into c until the projection or spindle of the recording mechanism engages the
projection g on the enlarged end or plate g in the friction chamber c and is
thereby caused to partake of the rotatory movements conveyed thereto by the
--rotator rope-b-from-the-rotator-in-the-water.-
In order to secure the recording mechanism from accidental or undesired
disconnection from the friction chamber c into which it is slidden and held, a
spring catch, or a screw stop n, or other retainer or stop is found to be convenient
for connecting these two portions B and c together while for separation it can
be readily withdrawn admitting of the recording mechanism being instantly
removed and the antifriction or roller bearings and the recorder at once exposed
to view so as to be accessible for cleaning oiling or other purpose instead of
having to employ skilled labour in order to effect such separation of the parts
of logs for like purposes as is the case generally in existing logs where those
two parts become by the nature of their connection practically fixtures and
inseparable safely by unskilled hands and access to the revolving parts for supply
or replenishment of lubricant has to be effected by means of a small hole, with
consequent inconvenience.
In order to facilitate the examination of the antifriction rollers I cut away
suitable portions of the friction chamber and also of the case containing the
registering wheelwork in such manner as that when the recorder portion B is slid
into the friction chamber c it is practicable to expose the anti-friction rollers by a
rotary or sliding movement; and the recording mechanism may in a similar way be
exposed by bringing a similar opening in its case out beyond the friction chamber c
for inspection by a longitudinal movement or by turning the inner recording
mechanism until by an aperture, such as is indicated by the broken lines e' in the
case c, being brought more or less coincident with a portion c¹ cut away in the
case that wheelwork is rendered accessible.
In various emergencies in nautical operations it is very desirable to have no
avoidable projections from the taffrails or other parts of the vessels and this is so
for instance in fishing boats when the nets may suddenly be swept around and any
projection might tear them or catch; and another portion of my improvement in
ship log apparatus has reference to support for the recorder holder on the ships
side or other part and has for its object the easy and rapid removal of the gimbal
from its socket, shoe, or other fixture or hold attached to or carried by the ship.
This object I attain as shewn in Figure 3 by the gimbal d having its spindle d¹
formed with a projection which passes down into a slot o¹ in the socket o and
under a projecting ledge of running concentric with the spindle so that by
turning that spindle on its axis the projection d locks the spindle in its socket o

page_text: whilst still allowing it to rotate with freedom in such manner that by fixing the
socket with the entering slot o' inboards the removeable apparatus would have to
be turned round a complete half circle in its holder from its normal position when
at work before by the projection d coming coincident with the entrance slot o¹
that projection d by passing out thereby releases the apparatus from its socket.
In cases when the greater or less projection of the socket portion of the
appliance from the clear line of the vessel to which it is applied is not so material
the arrangement of such parts indicated in Figure 1 may be used or these parts
may be arranged as shewn in Figures 4, 5 and 6 by sectional side, edge or end,
and plan view of socket, with the gimbal in place therein in the two former of
these figures. In this modification the projection d' engages with the projecting
ledge o and is released or applied at the slot o¹ In this and other of these
figures the arrows indicate the direction of strain normally of the tow line d.
Figures 7 and 8, and Figures 9 and 10 indicate by section and plan modifications
in this portion of the invention adapted to arrangements wherein the socket q
which receives the spindle d' is retained by a separate fixture p attached to the
ship and into which fixture, it is separably inserted and left capable of rotating or
is fixed by pinning. I make this fixture p by preference of flat plate form as
shewn in these figures, recessed on its underside p' and for insertion of the socket q
access to this recess p' is obtained for the projection q' by means of a central hole p³
with enlargement or slot at one side somewhat similar in its form to some key
holes and the lower part 2 of this socket q conforms in shape to its slotted
opening p' so that this socket which is inserted can be passed in and turned like
a key.
In figures 7 and 8 is shewn a form of socket q adapted to be inserted with the
spindle d of the gimbal d. centrical of the opening p' and then turned about one
balf revolution but its normal position under the towing strain from the rotator is
to be drawn towards and locked against one side of such opening as indicated. In
figures 9 and 10 this locking of the projection q' after having described one half
circle or revolution is effected by a pin passed through the fixture p and pro-
jection q² on the side opposite to the opening p or this locking may be effected by
a part of the socket passing when pulled or pushed sidewise partly into the slot p
whilst in each case the freedom of rotation preserved for the gimbal d is unimpaired
by reason of the spindle a¹ thereof being left free to turn in the socket and it is
retained from rising out by a pin or screw engaging in a recess at q³ or by an
equivalent retaining device.
As a security against loss by letting go of the apparatus on detachment from
its connection to the ship the gimbal socket q may be attached to the vessel by a
line either passed around it or through a ring fixed to it or by like means to hold
the gimbal support from dropping away overboard..
The case containing the recording mechanism is so constructed, in Figures 11.
12. 13. 14 and 15, as to be capable of being rotated on its axis inside the friction
chamber so that the dials shall be caused to face in any required direction and the
dials can also be held in the frame that supports the casing so as to enable them to
be read conveniently whatever be their situation at work.
Commonly ship log registering apparatus hung in slings on the taffrail are hung
at the stern when no great difficulty is experienced in getting access to the dials
but this position of hanging at the stern has the serious disadvantage of being
inimical to the best operation of the machine because it brings the log within the
disturbing influences of the wake of the vessel.
One particular object I have in view is to adapt registering ship logs to be
readily and efficiently used when slung or hung from spars or other parts projecting
from a vessels side so as to throw the log out in a line clear of the disturbing
effects of the wake as well as to enable the log to be worked with a much shorter
length of line and for other advantage.
Consequent upon such situation of the log at the side of the vessel from which
its dial is to be read it is necessary to make provision for such dial to be turned

page_text: towards the vessel at whichever side the log may be in use for the time being and
for easily changing the side towards which the dial shall face as the log is changed
from one side to another.
When it is preferred to employ a sling instead of a gimbal to retain the instru-
ment at the side of the vessel I make the metallic sling w or substitute for the
gimbal of such a cranked form as is indicated by plan and side views respectively
at Figures 11 and 12 or bent into loop form was shown in Figures 13 and 14 by
corresponding views so as thereby to permit of the dial being freely inspected from
either side of the instrument according as the circumstances of the case may require
the log to be run out from one or other side of the ship and the dials will be
correspondingly adjusted so that they face inboard.
This change of direction for the dial to face I effect in the arrangement shown in
Figures 11 and 12 by simply grasping and turning the milled end of that din!
case B thereby turning that inner dial case half around within the outer case c
which partial rotation brings the dials and fingers coincident with one of the
openings or transparent portions c¹ of the outer case c which openings are arranged
on reverse sides thereof.
In this arrangement as shewn, access to the dials for setting the hands at starting
a run may be obtained by releasing the inner case B by unscrewing the holding
screw and partially withdrawing the inner case or registering chamber from the
friction chamber c.
In the arrangement shewn by Figures 13 and 14 the turning of the dial of the
log to be slung towards the side-of-the-vessel-may-be effected-by-reversing-the-
whole register mechanism together with its supporting frame was the loop form
of that double frame admits of inspection of the dials during oscillation of the
registering apparatus on the trunnions, or centres equally well whichever side of
the frame be uppermost and the reversal in conformity to circumstances will
bring the dials facing towards the ship.
To enable the wheelwork of the registering mechanism which operates the dials
as k l m to be got at readily for oiling the register tube e (Fig. 1) may be cut
away at a suitable part such as indicated by the broken lines e¹ whereby that
tube e may be turned so that that opening e¹ may expose the wheelwork through
the opening c when those openings are coincident or through another opening
specially provided in the outer case c.
Another way of effecting this is to wholly or partly withdraw the inner or
registering chamber until through this hole e' the wheel work is exposed.
Where it is desirablo to prevent separation of the inner register tube e and the
outer friction tube c I form the tube e with a slot e³ into which the pin or screw n
pusses and limits the travel of the tube e longitudinally for withdrawal and
rotatively for covering or uncovering the dials (and also the oiling opening when
such is made accessible also by rotation-and the slot modified accordingly) as
shewn by a separate view of a tube e at Figure 15.
In order to strengthen the construction of the outer metal case or friction
chamber which holds the registering wheelwork and dials I sometimes vary that
construction by making the outer case in two parts as is indicated by Figures 11
and 12 one part o may slide or be passed within and be secured by any convenient
fastening device such as the screw n for instance to an outer frame piece or
socket y which is pivotted at v to the sling or frame wor it may be arranged to
work in a gimbal and socket and this outer frame piece takes the strain of the tow
line and by so taking the strain relieves the register holding case c therefrom and
this variation of the construction is shewn applied in Figures 11. 12. 13. and 14.
Figure 16 shews a section of an inner and outer case e and c such as Figure 14
supposed to be taken at about the line xx of that Figure by which it will be seen
that the opening 2 of the tube s can be brought coincident with either the
opening c¹ protected by the glass or the opening c* not covered.
E
This arrangement affords means of easy and speedy access to the dials to set the
hands or indicators at starting

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I am aware that rotator bodies or shafts have
been formed hollow throughout their length and the rope passed therethrough
from end to end and knotted and redrawn thereinto and the knot nipped or held
in the fore end Also I am aware that a knot chamber has as a separate device
been inserted in the line of or connected with the tow line in front of a rotator for
the purpose of facilitating connection and disconnection of a rotator and its tow
line and also that such chambers have been designed to reduce the friction of a
loop tie or knot in the tow rope but such separate hollow knot chamber in itself
forms an inconvenient obstacle to the passage of the log rotator through the water
and I make no claim thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction and use of a rotator for a ship log with a separate knot
chamber formed in its fore end having an end hole for the passage of a tow rope
thereinto and another or other side hole or holes for "knotting" the inner end of
said rope, either with or without a cover to said side holes, and with or without a
loaded chamber, substantially as set forth.
2. In a "taffrail" ship log registering mechanism or ship log having its
registering apparatus on board, the arrangements or combinations of apparatus to
Bupport and retain the registering and operating parts so as to permit of the ready
separation or partial separation for access to and examination of the interior
portions thereof without detaching the rotator retaining parts from the vessel's
side or other part to which said attachment is made as set forth.
3. In a ship log registering apparatus operating on board the arrangements and
combinations of parts for holding, protecting and facilitating the use of the
registering and indicating parts as set forth.
4. In a ship log registering apparatus operating on board the arrangements or
combinations of parts for receiving, retaining and readily detaching the gimbals or
supports for the registering mechanism, upon and from the side of the vessel
or other part thereof substantially as set forth.
5. The arrangements or combinations of parts for slinging or suspending ship log
registering apparatus from or at the side of a vessel so as to facilitate inspection of
the registering or indicating dials and pointers or equivalent parts in manner and
for the purpose substantially as set forth.
6. The general combinations of ship log registering apparatus as set forth.