US178261A - Improvement in ships logs - Google Patents

Description

I. & G. H. BLISS.

SHIPS Los.

Patented June 6,1876,

N.PETERS. PHOTOMTHOGRAFNEK WASHINGTON 0 c.

UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BLISS AND GEORGE H. BLISS OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENTJN SHIPS LOGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 178,261., dated J une 6, 1876; application filed February 16,1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN BLIss and GEORGE H. Buss, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Ships Logs, of which the following is a specification:

Shipslogs'have been made with a registering mechanism in a circular or drum form connected with the vessel, and from this a line passes to the propeller in the water. This form is expensive and cumbersome.

Logs have also been made with an elongated registering mechanism with the propeller in one apparatus, and these are fastened to a line and thrown over together. Difficulty arises in making an accurate observation and allowing for the time in paying out and drawiug in the line. The elongated case and reg ister are those mostly used; but heretofore this character of register has not been fitted at the vessel and connected to the'distant propeller.

In the drawing, Figure l is a vertical section of the registering mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the propeller; and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the anti-friction rollers and a section of the log-case.

The case a is elongated and of a general form corresponding to the register-cases that have been connected directly to the propeller. Within this case are the dials and pointers b, and the shaft 0 has upon itthe worm-pinion c that gives motion to the registering mechanism. We apply with this elongated case an eye, d, at one end, to which a safety-cord is to be attached to prevent loss of the register in case ofaccident to the suspending devices, hereafter described; but the apparatus might be suspended by this eye alone, and an eye,

' d, atthe end of the shaft 0, to which the line or wire of suitable material, preferably a copper wire, 6, extending to the propeller It,

is attached; and within this case a there are anti-friction rollers it that run upon the flat, or nearly flat, surface It, and prevent the friction that results from tension upon the logwire 0 interfering with the accuracy of the registration.

The elongated register-case is preferably sustained near its center of gravity by the gimbaling mechanism that allows the elongated case to accommodate itself to the line of tension of the wire 6, so that the bearing of the shaft 0 will be relieved from as much friction as possible.

The yoke m is connected by the pivot-studs a to the case a, and when the register is to be sustained upon the rail of the vessel said yoke m will terminate in a vertical pivot that enters a socket forming a gimbal and swivel. It will, however, generally be preferable to have this yoke m long enough to occupy a horizontal position, as shown, so that the log can be attached at the stern'of the vessel by a horizontal bolt; or when the logis to be attached by a rope, an eye is to be provided at the end of the bail in place of the bolt.

This attachment is very convenient and reliable, and the registering mechanism can be placed out of the way of ropes and chains in a position where it may remain as a fixture.

.In drawing in the propeller, the rope or wire is frequently snapped from the twisting action of the propeller while still in thewater. This is augmented by the jerks that are often given in carelessly pulling in the propeller. We prevent the rotation of the propeller when it is being drawn in by a conical messenger, 1', of thin sheet metal or other suitable material that is allowed to run down the rope or wire 0, and sufficiently inclose or shield the front end of the propeller-blades to prevent them receiving the rotary motion in drawing through the water. This messenger has a central hole for the wire, and it may be split at one side andsprung open to allow of its being placed upon or taken off the wire 0.

The glass 8 is secured within the metal frame It, and this frame is'made as an arc of a circle upon the under side, so as to fit the cylindrical case a, and screws to are employed to connect the frame and case.

By using this glass and cement between the surfaces, the registering mechanism within the case a can be kept free from water, instead of being constantly wet, as heretofore. A small hole at 11 allows any moisture or condensation to escape.

The wire that leads from the vessel must be kept from sudden bends or kinks in winding and unwinding; otherwise the wire is liable to be broken or to twist off by the revolution of the propeller. To prevent injury to the wire in winding up or unwinding, we provide a reel in the form of a ring, :0, grooved upon its periphery to receive the wire. This ring is handled in winding up or letting off the wire, as the ring is of a size and shape to be grasped by the hands, and does not have any shaft or support; hence the winding is entirely in the hands of the operator. Fig. 5 represents said winding-ring by a side View and elevation. This grooved ringis preferably a trough shaped ring of cast or sheet metal; but it may be partially of wood.

We claim as our invention- 1. The elongated case and gimbaling mechanism supportin g such case near the center of gravity, in combination with the revolving shaft 0, propeller 7c, and cord or wire 6, substantially as set forth.

2. The elongated case a, with an eye at one end fora safety cord or chain, in combination with the shaft or spindle projecting from the other end, and connected by the wire or rope F with the propeller 70, substantially as set case a, and registering mechanism, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the propeller of a ,ships log, of a messenger-shield, 1', constructed substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed by us this 14th day of February, A. D. 1876.

JOHN BLISS. GEO. H. BLISS.

Witnesses:

GEo. T. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH.

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