IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LOGS OR APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE SPEED OF SHIPS AND THE RATE OF ANDDENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Mann Lowne of East End Finchley in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LOGS
OR APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE SPEED OF SHIPS AND THE RATE OF
ANDDENTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Mann Lowne at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July 1882.
ROBERT MANN LOWNE of East End, Finchley in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LOGS OR APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE SPEED
OF SHIPS, AND THE RATE OF CURRENTS."
My invention consists of an improved method of insulating electrical conductors
under salt water, and of making and breaking an electrical circuit under salt water
or otherwise and has for its object improvements in apparatus for recording by
electricity the number of revolutions of a rotator which may be placed under fresh
or salt water and at any convenient distance from a recording apparatus.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a rotator somewhat similar to
that of the ordinary mechanical ship's log, the rotator is towed by means of a
cable one end of which is made fast to the ship whilst the other end is attached to
the rotator in such a manner that the rotator may revolve freely. The cable
contains two insulated metallic conductors, the ends of these conductors are
connected respectively to a recording apparatus on board ship and to the rotator
under water.
The purpose of the rotator is to make and break an electrical circuit at every
given number of revolutions, which circuit being made and broken operates suitable
mechanism in the recording apparatus on board ship thereby recording the number
of revolutions of the rotator.
Having thus briefly described the means I employ to enable me to carry out my
invention I will now proceed to describe the novelties and details thereof.
Now according to my invention the rotator is constructed of brass or any
suitable metal and is in the form of a hollow case preferably cylindrical with.

page_text: blades fixed on the outside of the case with their surfaces at an angle with the
axis of rotation as usual. The hollow case of the rotator is hermetically sealed in
any convenient way in order to exclude water, and it contains all the apparatus
for making and breaking contact, there is no fixed point outside the case to
operate the mechanism inside, and I will now explain how this result is obtained.
Inside the rotator case is suspended a weight capable of revolving with its axis of
revolution in a line with the axis of revolution of the rotator, this weight is
attached to a spindle the ends of which pass through holes in plates fixed inside
the rotator case; with this arrangement the rotator will revolve round the weight,
the weight and its spindle remaining stationary.
The object of the weight is to get a fixed point inside the rotator case.
Instead of the weight being fixed to a spindle, it might be in the form of a ball
or cylinder supported so as to run round inside the rotator case, but I prefer the
weight and spindle. Attached to one end of the spindle is a projection or carrier
which comes in contact with another projection or carrier which is fixed to the
first of a train of wheels which operates a contact maker and breaker. The train
of wheels and contact apparatus are fixed to a framework which is fixed to the
inside of the rotator, and the framework revolves with the rotator. The first centre
of the train of wheels has its axis of rotation in a line with the axis of the rotator
itself and also in a line with the spindle of the weight.
When the rotator revolves, the first centre of the train of wheels is held
stationary by means of the carrier and the suspended weight. The train of wheels
gears into and runs round the stationary first centre and so operates the contact
maker and breaker. The spindle of the suspended weight might form the first
centre of the train of wheels itself, but I prefer to separate the weight from the
train of wheels. The contact maker and breaker may be of any convenient and
already known form, but the apparatus I prefer to employ for making and breaking
contact according to my invention is as follows.
I arrange a fly wheel free to move on its axis within or in a line with the axis
of motion of the last of the train of wheels, this fly wheel is caused to revolve on
its axis by a pin, which is fixed to, and projects from the last of the train of wheels,
which pin comes in contact with a corresponding pin fixed on the fly wheel, the
fly wheel is detached from the last of the train of wheels and gets its motion on its
axis from the projecting pin. On the fly wheel is a second pin which is arranged
in such a manner as to operate a spring for a certain distance of revolution of the
fly wheel, after this distance is passed the spring re-acts on the pin, causing the
fly wheel to revolve independently, during this independent revolution of the fly
wheel electrical contact is made and broken by means of any suitable arrangement
of levers or otherwise. The object of the fly wheel is to make a contact of longer
duration than can be done during the releasing of a spring, the contact is made
and broken by the momentum of the fly wheel after the spring is released and
ceases to act.
The electrical arrangement according to my invention is as follows.
In my invention I make no attempt to insulate the wires and conductors which
proceed from the zinc pole of the battery this being the non-oxidizing pole, but
the wires and conductors which proceed from the copper or oxidizing pole I insulate
in the manner which I will immediately explain.
All the oxidizable metallic conductors which proceed from the carbon or copper
pole of the battery that have to go under water, I cover with non-conducting
material and to connect such conductors with the contact apparatus within the
rotator, I employ a non-oxidizable metal such as platinum, the platinum although
exposed to salt water and in the electric circuit, technically speaking polarizes and
will not allow the current to pass if one cell of a battery is employed, a number of
cells may be employed but they must be coupled together for quantity not
intensity, if for intensity, water is decomposed and the platinum no longer prevents
the current of electricity from passing. Now according to my invention the

page_text: object of employing platinum is to connect the two poles of a battery metallically
with the contact maker and breaker without the entire intervention of non-
conducting materials or stuffing boxes and flexible diaphragms as before used, the
way I accomplish this is as follows. As before mentioned the case of the rotator
is hermetically sealed and contains the contact apparatus, the contact is produced
bycbringing two small metallic surfaces or points together which when apart are
insulated from one another as is well understood, one of these points is metallically
connected with the case of the rotator, the other is insulated from the rotator by non-
conducting material; The insulated point is connected to a platinum wire which
is brought through a tube attached to the front end of the rotator case.
This tube is in a line with the axis of rotation and the wire is carried through
its centre, the space between the tube and the wire is nearly filled with gutta
percha or any material which is a good non-conductor and at the same time
impervious to water; at the end of the platinum wire before mentioned is
attached a platinum centre, this platinum centre is let. into a plug of vulcanite,
which plug is let into the tube and covers its end in such a manner that the
platinum centre forms the end of the tube and the extreme end of the rotator, the
other end of the rotator is soldered up hermetically. Outside the tube before
mentioned and near its end is formed a screw which carries a nut, this nut secures
a first disc or plate which by the intervention of friction rollers pulls the rotator
through 'the water. The friction rollers according to my invention are three
wheels attached through their centres by pins to a ring which is fitted loosely
over the tube before mentioned, these wheels or friction rollers revolve each on its
own axis and they are free to run round the tube or axis of the rotator.
I arrange loosely over the tube, and between the rotator case and the friction
rollers a second disc or plate, this disc or plate has fixed to its edges a frame, which
frame contains the end of the tube with its platinum centre, also the first disc
mentioned, and likewise the friction rollers.
The rotator is pulled through the water in the following manner. The cable is
attached to the frame which imparts the pulling strain by means of the second
mentioned disc to the friction rollers, the friction rollers impart the strain to the
first mentioned disc which is free to run on the friction rollers. The first disc and the
rotator revolve together. By this means all the pulling strain is borne by the cir-
cumferences of the friction rollers, the centres of the friction rollers merely serving
to keep them in position. I make metallic contact between the conductor at the
end of the cable which is connected with the copper pole of the battery and the
platinum centre at the end of the rotator in the following manner. To the end of
the conductor before mentioned is soldered or fixed a piece of platinum, the joint
is covered with non-conducting material so that the platinum is the only conductor
exposed to the water. This platinum end of the conductor is connected by means
of platinum wire in any convenient manner to a platinum spring which is fixed
within the frame before mentioned, this platinum spring is arranged in such a
manner as to press a platinum end or point which forms part of or is fixed to the
spring into the platinum centre before mentioned. The platinum centre revolves
with the rotator, whilst the platinum end or point is stationary with the frame.
All the platinum parts are carefully insulated from every part of the apparatus,
but may be entirely exposed to the water.
The conductor which is connected with the zinc pole of the battery is metallically
connected with any convenient kind of swivel suitable for dragging the rotator, so
that the zinc pole of the battery is connected with the whole of the rotator. In
sea water it is not necessary to metallically connect the conductor coming from the
zinc pole of the battery with the rotator, as the sea water itself would be a sufficient
conductor.
According to my invention the hollow cylinder or case of the rotator is pro-
longed to such a length as to form an air chamber of sufficient buoyancy to hold
up the back end of the rotator which is not supported by the cable, the blades and

page_text: the weight of the mechanism of the rotator are placed as far forward as is
.convenient so that the weight may be supported as much as possible by the cable
the end which is not supported by the cable is held up by the air contained in the
air chamber at the back of the rotator.
The object of this air chamber is to keep the rotator in a horizontal position or
nearly so; I preferably make the air chamber sufficiently large so that its buoyancy
is sufficient to elevate the back of the rotator, the tendency of the rotator when
the back end is elevated is to dive under water when it is towed this obviates the
necessity of using a weight to sink the rotator.
Instead of connecting the log or apparatus to a moving ship it may be connected
to a light ship or to other fixed point to ascertain the speed of currents.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Mann Lowne in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd January 1883.
ROBERT MANN LOWNE of East End Finchley in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC LOGS OR APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE SPEED
OF SHIPS AND THE RATE OF CURRENTS."
My invention consists of an improved method of insulating electrical conductors
under salt water and of making and breaking an electrical circuit under salt water
or otherwise and has for its object improvements in apparatus for recording by
electricity the number of revolutions of a rotator which may be placed under fresh
or salt water and at any convenient distance from a recording apparatus.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ a rotator somewhat similar_to
that of the ordinary mechanical ship's log, the rotator is towed by means of a
cable one end of which is made fast to the ship whilst the other end is attached
to the rotator in such a manner that the rotator may revolve freely. The cable
contains two insulated metallic conductors the ends of these conductors are con-
nected respectively to a recording apparatus on board ship and to the rotator under
water. The purpose of the rotator is to make and break an electrical circuit at
every given number of revolutions which circuit being made and broken operates
suitable mechanism in the recording apparatus on board ship thereby recording
the number of revolutions of the rotator.
Having thus briefly described the means I employ to enable me to carry out my
invention I will now proceed to describe the novelties and details thereof.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electric log or apparatus constructed according
to my invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal sections drawn at right angles to each other
and Figure 4 is an end view of the rotator case-Figure 5 is a longitudinal section
of parts drawn to an enlarged scale. Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through the
frame to which the towing cable and the rotator are connected-Figure 7 is a cross
section on the line 1. 1. of Figures 1 and 6. Figure 8 is a plan of the friction
rollers and Figure 9 is a plan of the front disc or plate-Like parts are marked
with similar letters of reference in all the Figures.
Now according to my invention the rotator is constructed of brass or any
suitable metal and is in the form of a hollow case a preferably cylindrical with
blades a fixed on the outside of the case with their surfaces at an angle with the
axis of rotation as usual. Tho hollow case a of the rotator is hermetically sealed
in any convenient way in order to exclude water and it contains all the apparatus
for making and breaking contact there is no fixed point outside the case to
operate the mechanism inside, and I will now explain how this result is obtained.
Inside the rotator case a is suspended a weight b capable of revolving with its axis
of revolution in a line with the axis of revolution of the rotator; this weight is
attached to a spindle a' the ends of which pass through holes in the plates a². a³
fixed inside the rotator case a; with this arrangement the rotator will revolve
round the weight, the weight b and its spindle a¹³ remaining stationary. The
object of the weight b is to get a fixed point inside the rotator case a. Instead of
the weight b being fixed to a spindle it might be in the form of a ball or cylinder
supported so as to run round inside the rotator case but I prefer the weight and
spindle. Attached to one end of the spindle a¹ is a projection or carrier a which
comes in contact with another projection or carrier c which is fixed to the worm c¹
or first wheel of a train of wheels c'. c². c³, c. c which operates a contact maker

page_text: •
and breaker. The train of wheels c¹. c. c³. c. c³ and contact apparatus are fixed
to a framework co which is fixed to the inside of the rotator and the framework co
revolves with the rotator. The first centre of the train of wheels c¹. c², c³. c c³
has its axis of rotation in a line with the axis of the rotator itself and also in a
line with the spindle a¹ of the weight b. When the rotator revolves the first centre
of the train of wheels (that of the worm c¹) is held stationary by means of the
carrier a³ and the suspended weight b. The train of wheels c¹. c. c. c. c³ gears
into and runs round the stationary first centre c' and so operates the contact maker
and breaker. The spindle a¹ of the suspended weight b might form the first
centre of the train of wheels itself but I prefer to separate the weight 6 from the
train of wheels.
The contact maker and breaker may be of any convenient and already known
form, but the apparatus I prefer to employ for making and breaking contact
according to my invention is as follows:-
I arrange a fly wheel & free to move on its axis within or in a line with the axis
of motion of the last of the train of wheels this fly wheel d is caused to revolve
on its axis by a pin c which is fixed to and projects from the last of the train
of wheels which pin c7 comes in contact with a corresponding pin d¹ fixed on the
fly wheel d, the fly wheel d is detached from the last of the train of wheels and
gets its motion on its axis from the projecting pin. On the fly wheel d is a second
pin d which is arranged in such a manner as to operate a spring e for a certain
distance of revolution of the fly wheel d after this distance is passed the spring e
reacts on the pin d³ causing the fly wheel d to revolve independently; during
this independent revolution of the fly wheel d electrical contact is made and
broken by means of any suitable arrangement of levers or otherwise.. The
following is the arrangement I have found to answer. The pin of the fly
wheel d gives motion to the lever f which causes the contact point f¹ to come in
contact with the contact point g¹. The points f¹. g. are kept in contact until the
pin d³ has passed the end of the lever f. The object of the fly wheel is to make a
contact of longer duration than can be done during the releasing of a spring; the
contact is made and broken during the time of the momentum of the flywheel
after the spring is released and ceases to re-act.
The electrical arrangement according to my invention is as follows; In my
invention I make no attempt.to insulate the wires and conductors which proceed
from the zinc pole of the battery this being the nonoxidizing pole but the wires
and conductors which proceed from the copper or oxidizing pole I insulate in the
manner which I will immediately explain. All the oxidizable metallic conductors
which proceed from the carbon or copper pole of the battery that have to go under
water I cover with nonconducting material and to connect such conductors with
the contact apparatus within the rotator I employ a nonoxidizable metal such as
platinum the platinum although exposed to salt water and in the electric circuit
technically speaking polarizes and will not allow the current to pass if one cell of
a battery is employed, a number of cells may be employed but they must be
coupled together for quantity and not intensity, if for intensity water is
decomposed and the platinum no longer prevents the current of electricity from
.passing.
Now according to my invention the object of employing platinum is to connect
the two poles of a battery metallically with the contact maker and breaker without
the entire intervention of non conducting materials or stuffing boxes and flexible
diaphragms as before used. The way I accomplish this is as follows: As before
mentioned the case a of the rotator is hermetically sealed and contains the contact
apparatus the contact is produced by bringing the two small metallic surfaces or
points f¹g together which when apart are insulated from one another as is well
understood; one of these points that marked f' is metallically connected through
the frame c with the case a of the rotator, the other g' is insulated from the
rotator by nonconducting material. The insulated point g' is connected to a
platinum wire g³ which is brought through a tube as attached to the front end of

page_text: the rotator case a-this tube a³ is in a line with the axis of rotation and the wire g³
is carried through its centre, the space between the tube a³ and the wire g³ is
nearly filled with gutta percha or any material which is a good nonconductor and
at the same time impervious to water; at the end of the platinum wire before
mentioned is attached a platinum centre or contact piece g³ this platinum centre
is let into a plug aⓇ of vulcanite which plug aº is let into the tube a³ and covers
its end in such a manner that the platinum centre g³ forms the end of the tube a
and the extreme end of the rotator a, the other end of the rotator a is soldered up
hermetically. Outside the tube a³ before mentioned and near its end is formed a
screw a which carries a nut h this nut secures a first disc or plate i which by the
intervention of friction rollers; pulls the rotator a through the water. The friction
rollers j according to my invention are three wheels attached through their centres.
by pins to a ring which is fitted loosely over the tube a³ before mentioned
these wheels or friction rollers j revolve each on its own axis and they are free to.
run round the tube or axis of the rotator. I arrange loosely over the tube a³ and
between the rotator case a and the friction rollers ; a second disc or plate k this
disc or plate k has fixed to its edges a frame k¹ which frame contains the end of
the tube a³ with its platinum centre 9 also the first disc i mentioned and likewise
the friction rollers j. The rotator a is pulled through the water in the following
manner: The cable is attached to the frame k' which imparts the pulling strain
by means of the second mentioned disck to the friction rollers ; the friction
rollers jimpart the strain to the first mentioned disc i which is free to run on the
friction rollers. The first disc i and the rotator a revolve together. By this means
all the pulling strain is borne by the circumferences of the friction rollers ; the
centres of the friction rollers j merely serving to keep them in position.
I make metallic contact between the conductor m at the end of the cable Z
which is connected with the copper pole of the battery and the platinum centre g³
at the end of the rotator a in the following manner. To the end of the con-
ductor m before mentioned is soldered or fixed a piece of platinum or platinum
wire m' the joint is covered with nonconducting material so that the platinum is
the only conductor exposed to the water. This platinum end m' of the conductor m
is connected by means of platinum or platinum wire in any convenient manner to
a platinum spring m³ which is fixed within the frame ¹ before, mentioned where
it is protected by a cover k³; this platinum spring m³ is arranged in such a manner
as to press a platinum end or point m³, which forms part of or is fixed to the
spring m³ into the platinum centre or contact piece g³ before mentioned. The
platinum centre g³ revolves with the rotator a. whilst the platinum end or point m³
is stationary with the frame k¹. All the platinum parts are carefully insulated
from every part of the apparatus but may be entirely exposed to the water. The
conductor n which is connected with the zinc pole of the battery is metallically
connected with any convenient kind of swivel o suitable for dragging the
rotator so that the zinc pole of the battery is connected with the whole of the
rotator.
In sea water it is not necessary to metallically connect the conductor n coming
from the zinc pole of the battery with the rotator as the sea water itself would be
a sufficient conductor.
According to my invention the hollow cylinder or case a of the rotator is
prolonged to such a length as to form an air chamber a³ of sufficient buoyancy to
hold up the back end of the rotator which is not supported by the cable the
blades a and the weight of the mechanism of the rotator are placed as far forward
as is convenient so that the weight may be supported as much as possible by the
cable the end which is not supported by the cable is held up by the air contained
in the air chamber as at the back of the rotator. The object of this air chamber
is to keep the rotator in a. horizontal position or nearly so. I preferably make the
air chamber sufficiently large so that its buoyancy is sufficient to elevate the back
of the rotator the tendency of the rotator when the back end is elevated is to dive

page_text: under water when it is towed, this obviates the necessity of using a weight to
sink the rotator.
Instead of connecting the log or apparatus to a moving ship it may be connected
to a light ship or to other fixed point to ascertain the speed of currents.
I
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the mode in which
carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim in an
electric log for ascertaining the speed of ships and the rate of currents is,
First. A hermetically closed rotator a containing the apparatus for making
and breaking contact and provided with an air chamber a substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Second. In combination with a hermetically closed case or rotator a an enclosed
suspended or rolling weight 6 which in the revolution of the rotator gives motion
by a projection or carrier c to a train of wheels c¹. c. c. c. c³ operating the contact
maker and breaker substantially as herein shewn and described.
Third. Making and breaking contact by means of a fly wheel d operated by a
spring e and a train of wheels cl. c². c. c. c³ set in motion by a suspended or
rolling weight 6 all enclosed within the hollow rotator substantially as herein
shown and described.
Fourth. Establishing electrical connection between the rotator and the copper
pole of the battery by means of a platinum centre or contact piece g³ carried by
the rotator and a platinum point m³ carried by a platinum spring m² connected to
the conductor m of the cable substantially as herein shown and described.
Fifth. Effecting electrical connection between the rotator and the zinc pole of
the battery by means of the rotator case a the surrounding water and the
swivel o which latter is in connection with the conductor n of the cable.
Sixth. The combination of hermetically closed rotator case a containing the
contact making and breaking mechanism, the disc i, wheels j, plate and frame k¹
substantially as herein shewn and described and for the purpose stated.
Seventh. The combination of hermetically closed rotator case a, enclosed
suspended or rolling weight b, train of wheels c'. c², c³. c. c³, fly wheel d,
contacts gf platinum centre or contact piece g³ platinum point m³ and spring m²
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Mann Lowne have hereunto set my hand
and seal this First day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and eighty three.