Improvements in Time Charts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1891-Accented, 7th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Time Charts.
I, EDWARD ROWLAND ESPENETT COWELL, of the Village of Ypsilanti, in the
County of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, United States of America, Clerk,
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:-
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in time charts; and the
invention consists in applying to a map marked with the meridians arranged at
specified distances apart, a movable strip slidingly secured to the map or chart and
marked with the divisions of time corresponding with the time intervals between
the meridians, also arranged that by registering a given meridian at a given hour
the corresponding time of all other meridians will be indicated.
The invention further consists in the combination, and arrangement of the
various parts as more fully hereinafter pointed out and shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which,—
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device partly closed, and
Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.
Fig. 3 shows a modification in plan.
A is a suitable back preferably of paper, and consisting of two leaves C and D,
folded centrally to form two leaves.
Upon this back or sheet of paper is printed a map of the world extending to
near the top and also the meridians E arranged at stated intervals apart and
marked in degrees the distance from the standard meridian, such as Greenwich.
the
I preferably make the central or standard meridian upon the line F at which
map is folded. Above the map is the space G over which is slidingly secured
the strip H. This strip I secure to the back preferably by forming slits a at
suitable intervals and pass a flexible ribbon therethrough, as plainly shown in the
drawings. Upon this strip is marked two series of figures I from. 1 to 12,
indicating the hours of the day. In the normal position of the device the central
figure 12 is over the central or standard meridian, and the figure 12 at each edge
is over the 180 meridian, or the greatest distance from the middle. I also mark
this strip with the divisions of the day, as night, morning, noon and afternoon, the
distance between the figures indicating the hours of the day corresponding with the
distance upon the meridians the
The meridians are preferably arranged
upon map.
that every fifteen degrees indicated an hour of sun time and the time intervals
corresponding therewith would indicate the hours of the day.
The use of the device is especially intended for travellers on shipboard or
elsewhere to ascertain the time at any point of the world after ascertaining their
own location in degrees of longitude. For instance, if that traveller finds himself
upon the 60th degree of east longitude at noon of a given day, by moving the
strip carrying the hours of the day until the figure 12, marked noon was over this
60th degree, the other hours upon the strip would register meridians upon the map
It is also intended
and indicate the time at these meridians at the same moments.
for use in connection with the so called track charts.
It is evident that the strip may be moved along this to indicate to the traveller
crossing mid ocean the time in any part of the world corresponding to the hour at
which he makes the adjustment of the strip upon the map.
In making my device I will preferably arrange the meridians to indicate the
hours, half hours and quarter hours and mark the strip to indicate the same
divisions of time.
By making the article in the shape of a two leaf book I am enabled to bring

page_text: the fold at the standard meridian and thus put it in compact shape and enable the
user to more readily adjust the device east or west from the central point.
Instead of making the map in the shape of a book, marked with meridians on
Mercator's projection, I may modify its construction and working in various ways.
For instance, I show in Fig. 3, a map upon a round backing printed in imitation of
a globe. This, or other such obvious changes I may employ and keep within the
spirit of my invention.
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. In a time chart, the combination of a map marked with the meridians, of a
strip slidingly secured thereon, and marked with divisions of time, corresponding
to the time intervals between the meridians, substantially as described.
2. In a time chart, the combination of a map ou Mercator's projection, having
the meridians marked thereon at intervals both ways from the standard meridian,
and a sliding strip marked with divisions of time corresponding to the time intervals
between the meridians, substantially as described.
3. In a time chart, the combination of a map on Mercator's projection, having
the meridians marked thereon of a sliding strip marked with divisions of time
corresponding to the time intervals between the meridians, and secured in position
by passing through slits in the chart, substantially as described.
4. As a new article of manufacture, a time chart consisting of two leaf chart folded
centrally, of a map thereon marked with meridians, and a sliding flexible strip
marked with divisions of time corresponding with the time interval between the
meridians, substantially as described.
Dated, at Detroit, this 20th day of August 1891.
EDWARD ROWLAND ESPENETT COWELL.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.