AN IMPROVED, REGISTERING LOG AND DEEP SEA. LEAD
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Walter Friend, of Freemantle, Southampton,
Watch and Clock Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED, REGISTERING
LOG AND DEEP SEA. LEAD."
Sealed the 10th June 1856, and dated the 14th December 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Walter-Friend
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th December 1855.
I, JOHN WALTER FRIEND, of 'Freemantle, Southampton, Watch and Clock
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
REGISTERING LOG AND DEEP SEA LEAD" to be as follows (that is to say):-
My Invention, which has for its object the registering of distances and the
depths of water at sea, so as to ascertain the position and safety of the ship or
vessel when required, consists, firstly, of an apparatus for registering the speed
or distance run by a ship or vessel, the improved construction of which obviates
the present defective liabilities to which instruments of the ordinary manu-
facture are exposed, namely, that of being borne to the surface of the water
when the ship or vessel is proceeding at great speed, as also of becoming
clogged with sea weed or other extraneous matter. To remedy these incon-
veniences I cause an instrument to be constructed with metallic wings or
blades, presented obliquely to the water, so that they may press the case or
instrument constantly downwards in the water, and keep it submerged. A
small float or paddle wheel, connected through the intervention of tooth and
pinion wheels to graduated wheel plates or dials, is caused to revolve by the
resistance of the water when travelling through it; each revolving wheel
plate or dial presenting the graduated scale or numeral corresponding to the
distance run.

page_text: My Invention, having reference, secondly, to a deep sea lead, consisting of
modifications of the above-mentioned self-registering apparatus, is employed
for ascertaining the depth or number of fathoms of water in which the ship or
vessel may be sailing. For this purpose I enclose within the lower portion of
a cylindrical case a fan wheel, which rotates vertically within the said case upon
suitable bearings, and upon the shaft of which is formed a thread or screw,.
which takes into and transmits its motion to a revolving dial or wheel plate, in
like manner to the registering log, as above described; the effect of which
upon the descent of the deep sea lead into the water causes the depth to be
accurately registered, and the fan wheel to be locked upon its being withdrawn
or hauled up.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Walter Friend in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WALTER FRIEND, of Freemantle, Southampton, Watch and Clock Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Walter Friend, Her special licence that I, the said John Walter
Friend, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Walter Friend, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IM-
PROVED REGISTERING LOG AND DEEP SEA LEAD," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Walter Friend, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Walter Friend, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings (that is
to say):
My Invention, which has for its object the registering of distances and the
depths of water at sea, so as to ascertain the position and safety of the ship or
vessel when required, consists, firstly, of an apparatus for registering the speed
or distance run by a ship or vessel, the improved construction of which obviates
the present defective liabilities to which instruments of the ordinary manu-
facture are exposed, namely, that of being borne to the surface of the water
when the ship or vessel is proceeding at great speed, as also of becoming
clogged with sea weed or other extraneous matters. To remedy these incon-
veniences I cause an instrument to be constructed with metallic wings, pre-
sented obliquely to the water, so that they may press the case or instrument
constantly downwards in the water, and keep it submerged. A small float or
paddle wheel, connected through the intervention of tooth and pinion wheels to
graduated wheel plates and dials, is caused to revolve through the resistance
of the water travelling through it; each revolving wheel plate or dial present-
ing the graduated scale or numerals corresponding to the distance run.
My Invention, having reference, secondly, to a deep sea lead, consisting of
modifications of the above-mentioned self-registering apparatus, is employed
for ascertaining the depth or number of fathoms in which the ship or vessel
may be sailing. For this purpose I enclose within the lower portion of a
cylindrical case a fan wheel, which rotates vertically within the said case upon
suitable bearings, and upon the shaft, of which is formed a thread or screw,
which takes into and transmits its motion to a revolving dial or wheel plate, in
like manner to the registering log, as above described; the effect of which
upon the descent of the deep sea lead into the water causes the depth to be
accurately registered, and the fan wheel to be locked upon its being withdrawn
or hauled up.
But in order that this my said Invention may be more fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I now proceed to describe it by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, reference being had to the letters and Figures.
thereon marked (that is to say).
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my improved apparatus for measuring
and registering the distance run by ships or other vessels proceeding through
the water; Fig. 2, a top or plan view; Fig. 3, a corresponding view, with the
surface plate and wings removed; Fig. 4, a front elevation of my improved
deep sea lead; Fig. 5, a log of the same principle of construction; Fig. 6, a
vertical section through the case, showing the internal mechanism; Fig. 7,

page_text: a transverse section of the same; and Fig. 8, a side view of a male and female
cam or tappet gearing, for giving motion to the graduated wheel-plate. F'. In
each Figure the same letters of reference denote similar corresponding parts.
A, A, shell or case; B, B, curved metal wings or blades diagonally fixed on
opposite sides of the shell or case, the cavities of which being uppermost
prevent. the instrument. from being dragged to the surface by the velocity of
the vessel; C, C, concentric case enclosing the float or blade wheel; D, D,
ingress opening or passage, through which the water enters for giving' motion
to the instrument; E, E, egress passage, through which the water is discharged
from the instrument; F and F¹, graduated wheel or dial plates; G and G¹,
cam wheel or tappet for giving an intermittent motion to the graduated wheel
plate F', which marks the tens; H, H, float or blade wheel; I, I, intermediate
toothed pinion and screw wheel gearing, communicating motion from the float
or blade wheel to the graduated wheel plates, as in manner shown; J, J,
passage or channel for conducting and forcing-the water upon the floats or
blades, and causing the wheel to revolve, as indicated by the dotted lines and
arrows in Fig. 1; K, K, ring for attaching or suspending the instrument by a
line or cord from the stern or other convenient part of the vessel; L, L, sinking
lead or weight, furnished with a concavity in the ordinary manner.
Having now fully described the nature of this my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would have it clearly
understood that I do not intend to confine myself to the precise details herein-
before described, as the same might be varied without departing from the
general principle of these my said improvements; but that which I do claim
as new and of my said Invention is, the employment of revolving graduated
discs or dial plates in connection with the general construction and arrange-
ment of the several mechanical parts, in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Walter Friend, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
F. R. DARKIN CAMPBELL,
JOHN WALTER FRIEND. (L.S.)
Clerk to Messrs. Weatherdon & Co.,
77, Chancery Lane.