GB1174061A - Improvements in or relating to Hydrographic Models - Google Patents

Abstract

1,174,061. Tilting tray hydrographic model. B. G. WHITE, W. E. GELSON, A.H. BECKETT, and J. W. T. TAPP. 13 March, 1967 [29 April, 1966], No. 18957/66. Heading G5G. A tilting tray hydrographic model for setting up a working model of a river bed or an estuary with its natural silting comprises a motor 64, mounted on a slide 50, which via a variable reduction gear 68, cam 74 and pivoted lever 84 effects rocking of a tray 2 about pivots 18. The tray includes a relief model of the river bed or estuary with water and loose bed material simulating silt therein. The amplitude of rocking movement is varied by turning a crank 54 thus effecting movement of the slide 50. The reduction gear also drives a cylinder 32 which carries a chart 43 having thereon a graph of the tidal movement at a particular location in the estuary. The simulated tidal movement at that location is sensed by a float 96 carried by a pivoted arm which has at its other end an obturator disc 100 which throws an image 104 on to the chart. The motor is controlled by a variable speed switch 92. The working model is set up when by appropriate adjustment of the switch 92, gear 68 and slide 50 the path of the image corresponds substantially to the graph. Electronic means may replace the manual controls, so that the speed and/or amplitude of tilt of the tray may be automatically adjusted when the light beam is not in correspondence with the graph on the chart.