US1512856A - nuschak - Google Patents

Description

1,512,855 F. NUSCHAK ASTRONOMIG NAUTICAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. :5, 1922 2 sneeze-sheet 1 W, flan/7 KM Oct. 21, 1924. 1,512,856

. F. NUSCHAK ASTRONOMIG NAUTICAL APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2,.1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 21, 1924.

PATENT QFFECE.

FRANCESCO NUSCHAK, OF TRIESTE, ITALY.

ASTRONOMI C NAUTICAL APPARATUS.

Application filed August 2, 1922. Serial No. 579,255.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCESCO N USCHAK,

a subject of the King of Italy, and residing at 1 Via Donizetti, Trieste, Italy, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Astronomic Nautical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

' The invention relates to a device intended to determine the position of an observer on the surface of the earth or the line of position of the observer and it is based on the fact that any such point or line may be determined by means of the latitude of the observer, the hour angle of.

a star, the altitude of the star and its declination at the moment of the observation. 1

According to the, invention, these four factors are reproduced on four arcs which represent respectively the prime meridian of the celestial sphere, a declination circle, the celestial equator and a vertical or azimuth circle. These four arcs are so combined and connected that their rotary movements are interdependent between them and they show automatically the value of any fourth factor when three fac tors are known or the variations of any unknown factor in dependence on the variations of a second unknown factor when two of these factors are known.

The device thus makes it possible to de termine automatically the position of any point on the surface of the earth with the sole assistance of a chronometer, a sextant, the astronomic-nautical chart, the horizon of the sea or the artificial horizon, and without any of the astronomic-nautical calculations which have been necessary up to now.

The invention is shown, by way of example, in the annexed drawing wherein Figures 1 and 2 show a perspective view of two constructional forms of the invention.

The device shown in Figure 1 comprises four arcs 1, 2, 3 and 4. The are 1 is arranged to rotate about the axis XX which passes through its center point at right angles to its plane. The are 2 is adapted to rotate about its diameter P--P which is parallel to the plane of the are 1, and is further capable of rotating about the axis XX together with the are 1 on which it is mounted. The are 3 is firmly secured to the arc 1 in a plane which is perpendicular to the plane of the are 1 and to the axis PP, and it may rotate about the axis XX together with the arcs 1 and 2. The are 4 is rotatable around its diameter ZZ which is parallel to the plane of the are 1.

These arcs are arranged so that the three arcs 2, 3, 4 have a common center 0 on the axis XX of the are 1. They are intended to measure the angles formed by their planes and for this purpose are provided with graduations and with a Vernier 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively totake the readings. The verniers 6 and 8 of the arcs 2 and 4 are con nected by a pin 9 on which they may rotate about the axis YY which passes through the center 0., In this way, an interdependence is created between the movements of the are 4 and those of the other arcs.

The arc 1 is rotatably mounted on a support 10 which has also pivotally secured to it the are 4 and the arcs 2 and 4 are counterweighted as shown in 11 and 12 to balance the device.

The are 1 represents the prime meridian of the celestial sphere and is graduated to show the latitudes. The are 2 represents a declination circle and is graduated so as to show the declinations of the stars. The. are 3 represents the celestial equator and is graduated to show the hour angles of the stars. The are 4 represents a vertical circle and is graduated to show the altitudes of the stars. The combination of these four arcs reproduces a quarter of the celestial vault, which is quite sufficient to solve all the combinations of the stars above the horizon of an observer, considering that eastward and westward of the prime meridian there appear the same combinations of arcs and therefore the same results, except that the hour angle must be substracted from 24 hours when it is to the east of the meridian.

Considering now that for determining the position of a point of observation on the surface of the earth it is necessary to have recourse to the following four factors, latitude of the observer, hour angle of a star,

the altitude of the star and its declination at the moment of observation, it is evident that when three of these factors are known and the verniers of the respective arcs are set in accordance with these factors, the device will automatically show the fourth factor and thus the position of the observer will be ascertained. Or when two factors are known the device will show the variations of the third factor in dependence on the variations of the fourth factor; When it is desired to determine the line of position of the observer it will be understood that when setting the device, for example in accordance with the declination and the altitude of the star, it will show for difierent latitudes different hour angles and therefore difierent longitudes and on the Mercator inap these points willbe the points of the line of position of the observer at the moment of the observation. 4 line perpendicular to this line will be the azimuth of the star.

When two observatioiis ot' stars made at the same moiiieiit and on the same side ofth'e priiiie meridian are available the device showiiin Figure 2 may be employed where in the three arcs 2, 3 and 'hav-e each a' double' indicated respectively by 2 3 and P. In this'case, when the distance between the two arcs 2 and 2 is set to be e'q'ualto the difl'erence of the right asceiision's of the stars and the are 2 is set in accordance with the declination of one star and the arc 2 in' accordance with the declinationot' the second star andthe' arcs 4 and 4 are set in accordance With the respective altitudes; it is possible to obtain immediately the latitude aiid the hour angle of a star and thereby the l'on itud'e of an observer a't the moment of ob.,

serva tioii; If the two stars are'oiie onltiief the-sum of the two hourtaiigles is equal to the difference ofthe right ascensio'iis of the two stars; the latitude indicated by the detor, and a'verti'cal circle, eacli'oiiwl ich arcs is coi'istructed to beset rotation on} an axis, the are representing the merid an and that representing the celestial equator, ing rigidly cdnfiecieamegsumran ed table" about a vertical axis a horizontal age on the meridian arc,'.rthe are. reiii esent ing the declination circle being rotatable about the horizor ta1po1ar axis; anathema or the 7 vertical ci i*cle bein,g rotatable abe 'it a 116m;

zontal axis, these tliree'ai es intersecting a common center poii'i't' above the' plane of the meridian arc.

2: .A d i a 191 1 11 wi emhe representing respectively the declination circle, the celestial equatorand the vertical circle are sash dupl cated in ,order to allow of determmm ,qfi0iu.obse

stars, the eogra hica'llatitude'and thiibtr angle of the point of observation.

In testimony where'ot I h" ve sa a at Trieste, in theKingdomofItaly, thisl Oth dayvof July, 1922, in thepi'esence of two sub scribing witnesses.

i F; NUSGHAIC Witnesses: I 1

GIOVANNI N USCH AK, GIORGIO Sdfinhil.

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