US1197671A - Navigational sounding apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

R. SCHNEIDER L R. O. MULLER.

NAVIGATION/n souNmNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATiON FILED AUG.24,1915.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEETI Snom/15015 R. SCHNEIDER. 1 Ri 0. MULLER.

NAYVIGATIONL SOUNDiNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24. I9I5.

tented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 fj TED STATES PATENT CFFIC.

RUDOLPH SCHNEIDER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND RICHARD O.

MULLER, OF BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO HELEN TANNER, 0F WASI-I- INGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

NAVIGATIONAL SOUNDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.l

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application led August 24, 1915. Serial N o. 47,187.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, RUDOLPH SCHNEIDER and RICHARD C. MULLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Vashington, in the District of Columbia, and Branford, Connecticut, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Navigational Sounding Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifica-tion.

The present invention relates to apparatus for navigational sounding and is designed as an improvement upon the sounding apparatus set forth in Patent No. 7 02,507 dated J une 17, 1902, to Z. L. Tanner, the objects of the invention being to produce an 1 apparatus with which the paying out of the sounding line or wire may be more accurately controlled than hereto-fore and the re-winding of the said line or wire eected through the instrumentalities of power mechanism incorporated in the machine or at the option of the user by manual operation.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a machine having incorp'oratedtherein, i

a power re-winding mechanism which is under the accurate control of the attendant, such power mechanism being so arranged as to not interfere with the use of the machineas a manually operated machine, should the necessary source of power be unavailable or temporarily inoperative.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,-Figure l is a front elevation with parts in section and parts broken away to disclose the internal construction. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, the section line being indica-ted in Fig. l at 2 2. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the housing for the clutch j erating devices with which machines of this character must be equipped in order to adapt them for use under all the varying conditions and eXigencies which may arise.

In the present instance the whole apparatus is carried by and partly within a main frame embodying a hollow standard A having a base portion formed by a bifurcation of the standard, the arms A of which are connected with a fiat base plate A2 adapted to be secured in place in any desired situation on the deck of a. vessel or elsewhere. Said arms A and base plate A2 form between them a chamber which extendsthrough the standard from side to side and is adapted for the. reception of an electric motor B suitably secured to the base plate A2 by bolts Z) or other appropriate fastenings.

At its upper end standard A is provided with a circular housing C preferably formed in sections with the edges abutting as at c in Fig.v l and provided in its opposite sides with journal bearings C for a relatively long transverse shaft D. The shaft D carries upon it a vdrum E, provided with divergent peripheral iianges e and forming the channel for the reception of the windings of the sounding line or wire F.

The housing C forms a rigid structure unlike the frame of the apparatus of the before-mentioned patent, and with the housing on each side ofthe drum E there are secured two uprights G forming the brake frame. These uprights G are adapted to be deflected toward each other at their upper ends andk on their proximate faces they carry curvedbrake shoes g adapted to contact with the outer faces of the divergent iianges e when the uprights G are deflected toward each other.

For applying and controlling the application of the brake shoes to the drum, the upper ends of the uprights G are provided with screw-stems H having right and left hand threads thereon respectively and surrounding these stems between the uprights, is a sleeve upon which is mounted or formed an operating handle H2, the arrangement being such that the movement of the handle in one direction or the other, will cause the application or the release of the brake shoes;

thus, the sounding ofiicer may, by the simple manipulation of the handle H2, accurately gage and control the speed at which the drum is permitted to rotate in either direction.

The. shaft D, journaled in the bearings in the housing, extends through the housing from side to side, but at one side of the housing is much longer than at the opposite side. On the ends of the shaft there are journaled crank handle boxes, to Which boxes there are pivotally connected crank handles I adapted to be turned up into position for coperating with the ends of the shaft for rotating the latter as in the before-mentioned patent. intermediate the crank handle on the long end of the shaft and the housing C the shaft carries poiver connections adapted to connect the shaft with the motor B. These power connections embody a speed reduction drive gearing and a manually controlled clutch whereby the sounding officer, with one hand on the clutch mechanism. control handle and the other on the brake handle, is in position to accurately control all of the movements of the sounding line or Wire in either direction, it being understood, of course, that the sounding line or Wire is normally adapted to pay out automatically and to be re-vvound by the motor.

Specifically, the construction embodies in the form adopted for illustrating the invention, a sprocket wheel K journaled on the shaft D and adapted to be driven from a small sprocket Wheel K carried by an intermediate shaft 7c, and rotated from the motor through sprocket Wheels K2 and K3, the latter on the shaft of the motor. On one side, this sprocket Wheel K is provided with a conical clutch member L with which a complemental conical clutch member L is adapted to cooperate. The clutch member L is keyed on the shaft D and movable longitudinally thereon into and out of engage ment with its complemental member. For moving the clutch member L longitudinally of the shaft, the shaft is provided With a sleeve M connected with clutch member L by a flange and anti-friction thrust ball bearing iN Said sleeve is provided with an annular racevvay for the reception of inwardly projecting studs or antifriction rollers N carried by an annulus N from Which the operating` handle l 2 projects, as Will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. l. The studs or antifriction rollers N extend through spiral slots D, Fig. 3, formed in the Wall of an intermediate housing O Which surrounds the shaft and is secured at one end to the circular housing C. Said housing O not only serves as a support for the clutch operating member l 2, but also as a support for the upper portion of a hous- \"ing for the gearing connecting the motor and sounding drum shafts. This housing indicated by the reference character P is shown in section in Fig. l and its outline is dotted in Fig. 2. y

Suitable grease cups Q are provided in the bearings of the drum casing for supplying lubricant to the shaft D and the ends of the crank handles I, when turned into their inoperative positions, as Shown in Fig. l, are adapted to be held in suitable sockets or retainers formed in the standard and housing P, respectively. In order to prevent interference with the gearing it is preferred that the retainer for the handle I on the long end of the drum shaft shall be located at one edge of the housing P, as shown by the dotted lines R, in Fig. 2 and by the full lines in Fig. 4, but the handle on the opposite side of the standard may project directly into an opening or socket in the standard itself.

The starting box Sand rheostat S for the control of the motor B are conveniently located on a bracket A3 at one side of the standard A, the handle s for the starting box being located at one side of the casing C in convenient position to be reached by the sounding oflicer When he is in position for manipulating both the brake and the clutch mechanisms, so that all of these parts are brought into such relation that the officer may control the movements with the greatn est ease and regardless of unfavorable surrounding conditions.

As in said previously patented structure the rotation of the Winding drum controls an indicator T located at one side of the standard, but inasmuch as the gearing intermediate the indicator and drum 'forms no part of the present invention, particular description of the same is unnecessary.

ln operation, the paving out of the sounding line or Wire is preferably controlled entirely by the proper manipulation of the brake operating directly on the drum, and the Winding-up or re-Winding of the sounding line or Wire is preferably performed through the power connections with the motor and under the direct control of the clutch connecting the motor, With the Winding drinn shaft. The motor, for example, may be permitted to run continuously in a direction to 11e-Wind the sounding line, and after said line has been paid out to the desired extent, the clutch may be manipulated to immediately commence the re-Winding operation, and the speed of the motor may be regulated through the starting box if necessary, although an accurate control of the speed of movement of the Winding drum may be controlled by the proper manipulation of the clutch in connection With the brake.

It will be noted that the povver connections with the shaft D are normally loose, thus the shaft is as free to rotate as would be the case were no power connections employed, with the result that should the power fail for any reason whatever, or should it be desired to make use of the apparatus, where no power is available, the apparatus may be operated manually, through the medium of the crank handles, which are turned into position for that purpose, and held bythe usual catches.

The machine thus embodies all of the capabilities of the machine of the prior patent, and at the same time it is adapted for use with the power mechanism for relieving the attendants of the labor of re-winding and controlling the movements of the drum by a manual manipulation 0f the crank handle connections. Y

What we claim is l. In a navigational sounding apparatus, the combination with the substantially rigid housing, drum journaled in said housing and provided with oppositely extending crank handle connections whereby the drum may be rotated, of uprights attached to the inner faces of the sides of the housing and projecting above the same, said uprights being adapted to be deected toward each other independently of the sides of the housing, brake-shoes mounted on said uprights in position to coperate with the drum, means for delecting said uprights toward each other and a handle controlling said means located Yat the upper ends of the uprights.

2. In a navigational sounding apparatus, the combination with a standard, substantially rigid circular housing/carried by the standard and having oppositely arranged bearings therein, of a drum mounted within the housing, a shaft for the drum extending through said bearings with crank handle connections at opposite ends of the shaft, brake uprights located within the housing, connected at their lower ends to the inner faces of the sides of the housing and projecting above the housing at their upper ends, brake-shoes mounted on the proximate faces of the uprights in position to eoperate with the drum, and means for deflecting said uprights toward each other independently of the sides of the housing embodying a screw and sleeve with which said screw cooperates, and a brake operating handle located on the outer side of the housing at the upper ends of the uprights.

3. In a navigational sounding apparatus, the combination with the substantiallv rigid housing having a plurality of openings in its upper edge portion, a drum journaled in the housing and inclosedthereby and provided with oppositely extending crank handle connections whereby the drum may be rotated, of uprights mounted on the inner of the housing, brake shoes mounted on said uprights in position to coperate with the drum, means for defiecting said uprights toward each other and a handle controlling said means located at the upper ends of the uprights.

4. In a navigational soundingapparatus, the combination with a standard, a substantially rigid circular housing carried by the standard, a plurality of openings in the upper edge portion of the housing and oppositely arranged bearings in the sides thereof, of a drum mounted within and inclosed by the housing, a shaft for the drum extending through said bearings with crank handle connections at opposite ends of the shaft, brake uprights secured at their lower ends to the inner faces of the sides of the housing and projecting at their upper ends through the openings in the top of the housing, brake shoes mounted on the proximate faces of the uprights in position to coperate with the drum, and means for deflecting said uprights toward each other independently of the sides of the housing, said dellecting Vmeans embodying a screw and sleeve with which said screw coperates, and a brake operating hancle located at the upper ends of the uprights on the exterior of the housing.

5. In a navigational sounding apparatus, the combination with a 'standard having its lower portion bifurcated and a circular casing carried by its upper portion, a winding drum mounted in the circular casing, a drum shaft journaed in the casing and projecting at one end a greater distance than at the other, a brake mounted within the casing for controlling the movement of the drum, a motor mounted between the arms of the standard, gearing intermediate said motor and longer end of the shaft, said gearing embodying complemental clutch members surrounding the shaft, and a clutch controlling handle located intermediate the clutch and casing, and crank handles journaled on the ends of the shaft, at opposite sides of the casing and gearing, with means whereby said crank handles may be operatively connected with the shaft.

6. In a navigational sounding apparatus, the combination with the standard having its lower end bifurcated and a circular casing mounted on its upper end, a winding drum located within the casing, a winding drum shaft j ournaled in the casing and projecting at one end farther than at the opposite end, a motor mounted between the arms of the lower portion of the standard, gearing intermediate the motor and longer end ofthe winding drum shaft, said gearing connected or disconnected for rotating the shaft, a brake located Within the casing and brake control handle located above the cas- 10 lng and in proximity to the clutch control handle.

RUDOLPH SCHNEIDER. RICHARD O. MULLER.

embodying complemental clutch members surrounding the shaft, a housing projecting from the casing around the shaft and clutch members, a clutch operating handle carried 5 by said last mentioned housing, crank handles mounted on opposite ends of the shaft, with means whereby said handles may be Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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