US169024A - Improvement in ships logs - Google Patents

Description

3Sheets--Sheet B. T." MoonE.

Ship-Log.

Patented Oct. 19, 1875.

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B. T. M00 RE.

Ship-Log.

Patented Oct. 19,1875.

No. 169,024.v

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

BENJAMIN THEOPHILUS MOORE, OF ELM LODGE, SPRING GROVE,

' ISLEWORTH, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIPS LOGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Fatent No. l 69,024, dated 4October 19, 1875 application filed February Q0, 1875.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it. known that l, BENJAMIN THEoPHrLUs MOORE, ot' Elm Lodge, Spring Grove, Isleworth, in the' county ot' Middlesex, England, civil engineer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented or discovered new and usei'ul Improvements in Current-Meters, Wa ter-Meters, and Ships Logs; and I, the said BENJAMIN THEoPHrLUs MOORE, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be i'iarticnlarly described and ascertained in and by the following' statement thereofthat is to say:

This invention has for its object improvements in current-meters, water-meters, and ships7 logs.

I employ, in the tirst place, a hollow cylindrical case, free to move about pivots at its extremities in the line of its axis. This hollow case is water-tight, and contains within itself a small frame-work, which carries a train ot' wheels. This frame-work is suspended from an axle, or upon pivots within the case, and fixed to it, and the train of wheels is connected, by an endless screw, a toothed wheel, or otherwise, with the axle or pivot, or withthe case, so that when the case is made to rotate the train ot' wheels is set in motion, the framework, carrying all the wheels ot' the train, remaining at rest, or nearly so. Thus the number ot' rotations of the case'can be registered by the train ot' Wheels within it. The case is made of metal or glass, or arcombination of metal and glass, so that the wheels can be seen within without opening the case. The case is provided with screw-blades on its outside, which, when acted upon by water in motion relative to the case, cause it to rotate.

1n the current-meter I support the casein a light frame provided with a rudder-like tail, and suspended by a stirrup and chainin such a manner that it will balance and remain horizontal, or nearly so, in still water.

When the machine is lowered into running water it takes a position, owing to its being snspended so as 13o-balance, such that the axis of the revolving case is. in the same direction as the stream. Thus the train ot' wheels registers the speed of the current at any depth to which the machine may be lowered. The machine is provided, moreover, with a brake, by which the rotation ot' the case can be started or stopped at any instant While under water. This brake consists ot' a spring', which presses against the exterior ofthe oase.

When the machine has been lowered it is started by relieving the pressure Ot' the brake swivel-joint, to the log-line; but a better arrangement consists in mounting the rotating spindlel inside a frame or hollow cylinder,d open or partially open, and provided with a tail or rudder and blades to prevent rotation ofthe outer cylinder.

For the water-meter I place the rotating cylinder or case within a water-tight box, into which the water passes by a pipe at one end, and out again by a pipe at the other.

The revolving case is in a horizontal position. and the box is provided with a plate of glass at the top, through which and the water the registering-wheels can-be seen. To make all the water act upon the blades ot' the case I inclose them within a case, which extends either to the entrance or exit pipe. I also employ blades fixed within the box, against which the waterimpinges. It'nrther employatell-tale or detecter, so arranged that, itl by any accident the case should stop or be retarded, and so not register the water passing through the box, the tell-tale immediately begins gradually to close a valve, which prevents the passage ot' the water. Attention is thus drawn to' the meter. I effect this by placing on the axle of the revolving case, and outside it, a small, light wheel, with screw-blades, which is in loose connection with a valve. On the axle is ascrew-thread, and within a portion of the travel ot' the wheel is a' corresponding thread. So long as the case revolves properly this small wheel revolves with it at the same or a slightly less rate, and the valve is not 2 temeer ait'ected; but it' the case stops or is retarded, the wheel immediately engages the screw on the axis of the case, and begins to close the valve.

ln order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried into etect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.

OnSheet lis represented a current-meter constructed according to my invention. Figure lis a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan ot' the upper side. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse and longitudinal sections of the revolving cylinder, showing the machinery; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section ot' the revolving cylinder, showing the machinery in plan.

a a a is the outer non-rotating frame, consisting' ot' three lia-t bars-two horizontal and.

one vertical. b is a shield, cylindro-conicalin form, to which the bars o are all secured. c is a band, semicircular in form, which unites the three bars a near the middle of their lengths. This band c carries two studs or pivots, d, about which the whole instrument can turn when suspended by a balancing-support composed ot' a handle or stirrup, e. c1 cl are brackets, which also connect the three bars a near their rear end, thus completing the non-rotating` frame. fj' are horizontal and vertical thin plates, firmly attached to the frame a a a. g is a hollow cylinder', with a dome-shaped cover, g', which screws onto the end ot' it, torming a water-tight case. This case is free to turn upon two pivots, 7L lt, the backpivot h being adjustable and fixed by a guidingnut, tl. The case g is provided with screw-blades 7c k 7c. At its front end itl has a vater-tight window7 of glass, l. Within the case is a small spindle, fm, with its axis coincident wit-h that ofthe ca-se. This spindle turns with the case when the case revolves. From this spindle m a light Jr'rame, p, is suspended from two bearings, p', at its ends, so that when the case g and spindle m revolve together this i'rainep remains at rest, or nearly so, the weight of the frame and wheels, and ot' the wheels which it carries, tending to keep it below the spindle. q q q is the train of wheels, all of which are placed within this frame, the first wheel being connected by a worin-wheel with an endless screw, r, upon the spindle m. When the case g is made to rotate upon its bearings L this train ot' wheels l is thus set in motion, and the number ot' rotations is indicated by the revolving dials s. These dials are seen through the glass window l, without the necessity ot' opening the case.

The instrument is suspended by the handle or stirrup c, the pivot d being placed in such a position that in still water the axis ot' the re volving case hangs horizontally and the instrument in stable equilibrium. t is a spring, ixed to the frame a by a screw. It embraces irmly a portion of the cylinder g, acting upon it as a friction-brake, and preventing its rotation. At the top of the handle e is a swivel, u, to which acord can be attached. w is a projecting piece, with a small hole in it, through which a tine line or cord, x, passes, and which is attached to the end of the spring t. This cord or' has a stop, y, upon it, which prevents the spring being' overstrained when the cord is drawn up, as will be afterward explained.

The method of using the instrument is as follows: A cord is attached to the swivel u, ot' sufficient length to lower the instrument to the depth required, and another lighter cord is attached to the ring z at the end of the cord x. Vhen the instrument is at the required depth, the ruiming water, act-ing upon the plates fj', immediately causes the instrument to place itself', with the axis ot' the case g, parallel to the stream. The time then being noted, the springt is disengaged from the cylinderg by drawing up the lighter cord, when the ruiming water, acting on the screw-blades k, sets the cylinder g in rotation with an angular velocity, proportional, or nearly so, to the velocity ot' the stream at the depth in question. The instrument is stopped again, at any insta-nt, by letting' go the spring t.

The reading ot' the dials is noted before the instrumentislowered into the water, and again after it is drawn up, the ditterence giving the number of rotations in the observed time, and from this the velocity of the stream is irrimediately found, when the rate of the instrument is known.

The iirst dial indicates ten revolutions of the cylinder; the second,a hundred; the third, a thousand, and so on-the whole train registering a hundred thousand revolutions.

On Sheet 2 are shown ships7 logs constructed according to my invention. Fig. l is a plan 5 and Fig. 25 is a longitudinal vertical section, showing the machinery in elevation.

a, al is a strong non-rotating tube of brass, with a pointed cover, b, screwed into the front ot' it. This cover' is filled, or partially lilled, with lead, c. A strong spindle, d, turns in bearings e and el, fixed to the tubular frame d. To this spindle a. hollow tube, f, isv iirrnly attached. This tube has a cover', j", screwed into it, -and the case is made water-tight throughout. lt is provided witht'our or more screw-blades, g. A frame, containing a train of wheels similar to those ofthe current-meter, is suspended from a spindle, 7c, which is supported by two disks, Zand Z, connected together by two bars, l Z. The disks Z tit the case j' water-tight, like a piston, and the whole trame slides into the case f when the cover j" is removed. This case may be provided with glass, as a current-meter. When the log is drawn through the water, the blades g causethe case f to rotate about its axis, and the wheel-work is set .in motion in the same manner as in the current-meter. The blades and wheel-work are so adjusted that the tir-st dial indicates one sea mile; the second, ten, and so on for eachrevolution.

The pull upon the spindle d is sustained by a conical collar, d1, at its front end, to which it is secured by a nut and cotter. The friction caused by the pull between the collar dl and the bearing e1 may be reduced by .using friction-rollers; but I prefer to overcomey this friction by increasing the power ot' the blades g.

This log may be drawn by a ring attached to its front end, as is usual, or any other simple swivel-like connection may be made between the log-line and the spindle; but I make use of a balancing-support 'consisting ot' two rings or eyes, m m, attached to the non-rotatin g frame or supporting-tubea in such position that when the logis suspended from them in still water, its axis will be horizontal, asin the current-meter. By this arrangement the log has not the same tendency to rise to the surface as when drawn from the front, but will tra-vel at some depth below the surface.

By using two fiat blades or rings fixed to the tube a, and inclined slightly downward.

toward the front, the log may be made to travel at a still greater depth. below the surface.

Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of a log with protected blades. Fig. 4 is a portion ot' the log, showing the machinery in elevation. Figs. 5 and Gare sections of the same, showing the self-acting gear for starting and stopping the wheel-work when the protected log is used as a deep-current meter.

a a is a strong non-rotating case or tube, with pointed end b screwed into it, and filled, or partly lled, with lead. This tube a is rigidly connected with a larger and lighter tube, c, by four strong bars, d, at right angles to each other, and a similar cross-frame, d1, is fixed to the end of it. This frame terminates in a ring, @,into which another ring with crossbars, f, can be screwed. This frame f carries a pivot, g, screwed into it, and a corresponding pjvot, g', is screwed into a ring-frame, h, fixed inside the tube a near its front end. A tubular case, 7c k, water-tight, and strengthened by diaphragms Z l, rotates about these pivots gand g clear of the outer tube a. This case lc contains aframe and wheel-work, as before described, and is set in rotation by screwblades m and m, when the log is drawn through the water. Any number ot' blades may be used, but I prefer live or more. The tube a has a sliding or hinged shutter, and the case k a glass window, similar to that in the eurrent-meter, the shutter and glass being so arranged that the dials can be seen through the glass when the shutter is opened. This log is drawn opposite the opening. This log is drawn through the water in the same manner as before. The blades m are attached to a tube, which `slides over the case k, and is prevented t'rom 'rotating upon it by apin; When the frame fis removed the case lc can be drawn out through the ring e, leaving the blades within the cylinder c. p p is a truncated hollow cone slipped over the front end of this log, and resting against the four arms d. This` cone is perforated all over, so as to allow water to pass freely through the tubecc, but to throw oft' weeds or other floating matters which may impinge against it.

The instrument shown 1n Figs. 3 land 4 is intended to be used as a deep-sea currentmeter as well as aloe. For this purpose the case 7c is made very strong, and without av glass window, and it may be lilled with oil or.

descending inthe Water, or while heilig drawn up, I stop the motion of the wheel-work in thev following manner: On the spindle'which supports the frame containing the Wheel-workI tix a small wheel, al, Figs. 5 and 6, having a few Acoarse teeth. Immediately below this' wheel al is a small disk, b1, attached to, a boss,

c, which turns freely upon a pivot secured t-o vone side of the suspended frame.v This diskA is weighted on one side by a bob, d2, and hangs on the pivot like a pendulum. The opposite part ot' the disk is cut away, as shown in Fio.

5, so that the wheel al may rotatefreely'when the instrument does not deviate considerably` from the horizontal.

When, however, it is descendingv inthe Wa.

ter, or being drawn up, its axis is so much inclined from the'horizontal that the disk, in either case, passes between the teeth of the wheel a, .and the frame which carries the wheel-work thus becomes locked to the spin.

dle, and rotates with it and with the case 7c,

and the wheel-work does not register.

When the descent of the instrument is' stopped, it immediately becomes horizontal,

or nearly so, the disk bl is disengaged from'.

the wheel al, and the wheel-workis set in. motion. i y A This mechanism for startingand stopping the instrument may also be applied to the,

current-meter, (shown on Sheet l of the drawings,) the spring-brake being dispensed with.V On Sheet 3 ofthe drawings there is shown a` water-meter constructed according to my invention. Fifr. 1 is a general plan of the box with glass Window in cover. Fie'. 2 is cd1-vertical,

longitudinal section, showing internal arrangements generally. Fig. 3 is a vertical 4section of revolving cylinder with machinery and tell-v tale. Fic'. 4 is a transverse section through glass-cylinder.

a a a is a strong box of cast-iron,'tinned in'- side (or otherwise) to protect it from rust b, a water-tight cover, having an aperture, d, in which is a Athick plate of glass, secured to the cover by the frame c, and water-tight. e isa short connecting-piece, screwed water-tight into the box a, and connected with the sul. ply-pipef, as shown in th'edrawing. gis an-` other short connection, screwed water-tight into the opposite end of the box` a, and connected with thev delivery-pipe h, as shown in. the drawing. A stop-valve, strainer, and dirtboX are connected with the pipe f, as usual in water-meters, and the pipe h has also a stop' valve connected with it.' These are not shown in the drawings. k is a frame, consisting of two concentric rings connected together by blades, afterward described; and k2 is a bar, which supports the pivot m in the center ot' these rings. Z is a shield or cut-Water, which causes all the `water to pass between the two rings la. p is a cylinder, screwed into the tube g, having eight or other number of openings for the passage of water, and a cover, p', screwed upon the end ot it. This cover supports a pivot, m', exactly opposite the pivot m. A cylindrical case, q q, having a cover, g, screwed into one end, and a spindle, r, attached to this cover, is supported on the pivots m and m', about which it can rotate freely. This case has a glass tube, s, let into it, leaving (ive or more openings, as shown, and is water-tight both where the glass is attached and at the cover q.

Within this case a frame and train of wheels may be placed, as in the current-meter, the dials, in this case, having their faces horizontal, Yso as to enable them to be seen from above through the glass plate cl and the glass cylinder s. By means ot' these dials the number ot' revolutions of the cylinderq may be counted.

But for the water-meter I prefer another arrangement of the machinery, which I will now describe. t and u are two bars, to which two parallel spindles, w and x. are rmly attached at their ends. w carries a series ot Wheels and disks, and or a series of wheels and pinions. The rst of these disk-wheels, y, is rigidly connected with the wheel yf, but not with the second disk-wheel, and the wheel z and pinion z are attached to the same short tube which rides loosely on the spindle x, and the same arrangement holds good for all the other disks, wheels, and pinions in the series. al is a small wheel and pinion, which connects the series of wheels and pinions just described with another pinion, b1. This pinion bl is part of a bearing or pivot, c1, which supports one end, u, ol" the t'i'aine, the other end being supported by a pivot, d1, attached to the end ot' the cylinder q. The axes of these pivots cl and all coincide with the axis of the case q, o1 being supported by a movable bar, b3.

Theframe,\vith themachineryjustdescribed, turns freely upon the pivot c1 and d1, and remains at rest, or nearly so, when these pivots are caused to rotate by the rotation of the case q upon its bearings at m; and m but the Wheel a being in gear with the pivot b1, the Whole of the wheel-work is then set in motion. TheI wheel-work is so arranged that the first disk makes ten revolutions for one ot' the second, the second ten for one of the third, and so on. lThe case g has a series ot' blades', 751, inclosed by an ou teii ring. The water, passing' between the rings 7c, is diverted by a series of iixedblades, which cause it to impinge upon the blades kl, by which the case q is set in motion. In order to make all the water' pass through these blades an elastic water-tight joint is employed. This consists of a troughlike flange, l', fixed to the outer of the rings k. A line ring, o, is placed within this flange, and is pressed tightly against a projecting plane surface, o', upon the ring, which incloses the blades k1 by spiral or other springs, (not shown in the dra\ving,) and the water is prevented from passing' between this ring 0 and the case. l by a cupped leather ring, as shown in Fig. 3. The pressure of the water on the back ofthe ring o renders this joint more secure. The blades k1 are so constructed, and the wheel-work so adjusted, that when the cylinder q is set in motion, by water passing through the meter, the rst wheel y makes one revolution for every ten gallons, the second one for every onehundred, and so on. The reading of these Wheels is distinctly visible through the glass plate d and the glass cylinder s, while the latter is in rotation.

In the event of any accident happening to the meter, whereby the rotating cylinder q might be stopped, the water would dow through without registration. To prevent this I employ a small hollow cylinder, a2, provided w-ith screw-blades b2, which rides loosely upon the spindle r, upon which a screwthread is cut, and a corresponding thread is formed in the nave ot' the cylinder a?. A curved crosshead, c2, has two small rods attached to it, which pass through small holes in the cover p ofthe cylinder p, and are rigidly connected with an equilibri11m-valve, e2, fitting easily inside theY cylinder p. The blades b2 are so formed that the cylinder az shall rotate in the same direction as the case q, but with less angular velocity. When, however, the case q stops, or its rotation is much retarded, the cylinder a2 continues to rotate, and engages the screw upon the spindle r, and thus moves slowly away from the case q, moving the valve c2, so as to prevent, the passage ot' the water through the openings in the cylinderp. Attention is then drawn to the meter. This small rotating cylinder and valve are not essential parts ot this watermeter.y It may be omitted altogether, the spindle r being made much shorter, and the pivot m supported by a bar attached immediately to the tube g. a3 are straight waterguides. These guides prevent the rotation ot' the water after it has passed through the blades la and 7c.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the current-meter, ships log, and water-meter are. each provided with a watertight case, having a removable cover or section to afford access to the interior, which case is caused to revolve by external blades or screws,

upon which the water acts, and has remov-v ably suspendedwithin it a frame carrying all the wheels ot' a train of counting-wheels and their dials, thus admitting of the removal of the wheels and dials in a body for inspection, repair, Ste., and ot' their replacement, without disturbing their relative positions or working order inthe pendulous frame.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention, and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claiml. The combination ot the removable pendullous frame, the train of counting-Wheels and 2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the non-rotating frame or ease, the revolving water-tight case, the counting-\vheels, and their supporting-trame, suspendedl Within the revolving ease.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbet'ore set forth, of the Water-tight revolving oase, its suspended counting-Wheels, the nonrotating frame or outer oase, and the balancing suspending-support, for the purpose specilied.

B. T. MOORE.

Witnesses:

WILMER M. HARRIS, JOHN DEAN,

Both of No. 17 Gracechurch St.,London, E. U.

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