Logging apparatus for vessels

Claim 2

Apparatus for indicating the distance travelled by a vessel comprising: means for producing an electrical output signal Substantially proportional and linear to the velocity of a vessel; means for producing an electrical signal that varies linearly with time between two set values; means for comparing the instantaneous value of said electrical signal with the instantaneous value of said electrical output signal and producing a control signal indicative of the difference between said instantaneous values; a counter; and control means including a control circuit responsive to said control signal for operating said counter in accordance with said difference whereby said counter renders an output indicative of the distance travelled by the vessel.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, said means for producing an electrical signal comprising a potentiometer having a resistance connected between a DC voltage source and a movable contact, means for moving said contact along the resistance from one end to the other in a continuous and repetitive cycling, the position of said contact at any one instant determining the value of the electrical signal.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, said control means for operating said counter comprising a clutch and electrically responsive means connected in said control circuit for engaging and disengaging said clutch.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, the higher of the two set values being substantially equal and opposite to the electrical output signal produced when the vessel moves at its maximum velocity, the lower of the two set values being approximately equal to the electrical output signal produced when the vessel has no velocity.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, said means for producing an electrical signal comprising a potentiometer having a resistance element of substantially 360* connected between a DC voltage source and a movable contact, means connecting said resistance element in series with a second resistance of approximately equal value, and a synchronous motor for rotating said movable contact around said resistance element, the position of said movable contact at any one instant determining the instantaneous value of the electrical signal.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, said means for producing an electrical output signal having an electrical connection between the resistance element of said potentiometer and the second resistance to provide a reference signal equal to the lower of the two set values, said output signal being substantially equal to the reference signal when the vessel has no velocity and becoming relatively lower as the vessel increases in velocity.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, said means for producing an electrical output signal comprising a transducer that produces a first signal that is nonlinear although proportional to the velocity of the vessel and means for modifying said first signal to produce an output signal that is linearly proportional to velocity.

Claim 9

Apparatus for indicating the distance travelled by a vessel comprising: means for producing an electrical output signal substantially proportional and linear to the velocity of a vessel; means for producing an electrical signal comprising a potentiometer having a resistance connected between a DC voltage source and a movable contact; means for moving said contact along the resistance from one end to the other in a continuous and repetitive cycling, the position of said contact at any one instant determining the value of said electrical signal; means for comparing the instantaneous value of said electrical signal with the instantaneous value of said output signal; a counter; means for operating said counter comprising a motor, a disengageable clutch connection, electrically responsive means for engaging and disengaging said clutch, and a control circuit for energizing said electrically responsive means; and means for energizing said control circuit with reference to the compared values of said electrical signal and said electrical output signal.

Claim 10

Apparatus for indicating the distance travelled by a vessel comprising: means for producing an electrical output signal substantially proportional and linear to the velocity of a vessel; means for producing an electrical signal comprising a potentiometer having a resistance connected between a DC voltage source and a movable contact; means for moving said contact along the resistance from one end to the other in a continuous and repetitive cycling, the position of said contact at any one instant determining the value of said electrical signal; means for comparing the instantaneous value of said electrical signal with the instantaneous value of said output signal; a counter; means for operating said counter comprising a motor, a disengageable clutch connection, electrically responsive means for engaging and disengaging said clutch, and a control circuit for energizing said electrically responsive means; and means for energizing said control circuit with reference to the compared values of said electrical signal and said electrical output signal.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising means connecting the resistance of said potentiometer in seRies with a second resistance of approximately equal value and applying the DC voltage across both resistances, the positive side of the voltage source being connected to one end of the potentiometer resistance and the negative side being connected to the end of the second resistance to establish two set values of electrical potential at opposite ends of the potentiometer resistance, the lower set value being approximately one-half the DC voltage; said means for producing an electrical output signal comprising a modifier having an electrical connection between the potentiometer resistance and said second resistance, the output signal of said modifier being substantially equal to the lower set value when the vessel has no velocity, said signal becoming increasingly lower in comparison to the lower set value as the vessel increases in velocity.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 and further comprising manually controlled circuitry for resetting the counter to zero, comprising a relay having a set of contacts and an energizing coil connected in series with a manually operable, normally open reset switch, one contact of said relay being normally open and connected in a holding circuit for said relay, a second contact of said relay being normally closed and connected in a first energizing circuit for the electrically responsive means, and a third contact of said relay being normally closed and connected in a second energizing circuit for the electrically responsive means; switching means for selectively connecting either said holding circuit or said second energizing circuit to a voltage supply line; said counter having a pointer operative associated with said switching means for deenergizing said holding circuit as the pointer arrives near its zero position while simultaneously connecting the second energizing circuit to the voltage supply line; and means connected to said holding circuit and energized with said holding circuit for operating said counter in reverse, deenergizing said means for operating said counter in reverse, deenergizing said electrically responsive means until the pointer arrives near its zero position, then momentarily energizing said electrically responsive means through the second energizing circuit to accurately position the pointer at its zero position.