US1840568A - Ruling and plotting device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1932. c. L. CLARK 1,840,568

RULING AND PLOTTING DEVICE Filed June 1s,' 1930' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F IG.1.

INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS Jan. 12, 1932. c; L. CLARK 1,840,568

RULING AND PLOTTING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS (1 a v/Q Patented Jan. 12, 1932 CLIFFORD L. CLARK, OF FAIRFIELD, MAINE RULING AND rnorrme DEVICE Application filed June 18, 1980. Serial No. 461,878.

This invention relates to a ruling device preferably of transparent character which is adaptable for the use of navigators, surveyors and others in plotting points, laying down hearings or courses, drawing lines of position and for obtaining the geographical position, i. e. the latitude and longitude of the observer without the necessity of using supplemental devices such as parallel rulers and dividers or charts of any description.

One of the objects of thepresent invention resides in the provision of a rule device of the above character which will permit a desired bearing, course, etc. to be directly transposed to a simple blank sheet of paper with the aid of a pencil only. The particular problem which is to be handled can be computed by any of the well known methods using the ruling device as an adjunct thereto for plotting the points, drawing the lines, etc.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device which is adaptable for the obtaining of various kinds of navigational data involving latitude, longitude and direction and in which all of the pertinent data is available on the device itself and also in which rule guiding and plotting means is also provided on the device itself so that with the use of the device, in connection with a pencil and a sheet of paper only, the desired navigational data can be secured.

It is accordingly a further object of the present invention to provide a device of this character which will permit the use of charts, parallel rulers and dividers to be dispensed with and in which the desired data can be obtained more expeditiously than heretofore.

Further and other objects of thepresent invention will be hereinafter pointed out in the accompanying specifications and claims and shown in the drawings which by way of illustration show what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows my improved rule somewhat enlarged; and

Fig. 2 shows a diagram illustrating one manner of use of the rule for securing certain navigational data.

In more detail the rule comprises a sheet 10 of transparent material such as celluloid or the like. The size may be varied in ac' cordance with the degree of accuracy desired. In practice, however, a convenient size is about 4" by 7 Preferably the marginal edges of the rule are bevelled so that these edges may be more conveniently used for ruling lines. There is also provided rule guiding and plotting means preferably comprising a centrally disposed ruling slot designated 11. This slot should be comparatively narrow to permit the insertion of a fine pencil point and also it is desirable that the edges be somewhat bevelled. This slot at the top and bottom terminates at the ends of the 30 scale.

The ruling device is suitably engraved, cut or printed upon one face or upon both faces with certain graduations and scales which will be hereafter more fully described. If desired, certain scales or graduations can be placed'on one face and others upon the other or all of the graduations and markings can be placed on one face.

Protractor graduations being provided for each quadrant and a second set running from O to 360 being provided for the complete set of protractor graduations. Thus it will be noted that the two extremities of the line of the slot 11 will be 0360 and 0180 and a line at right angles to this groove and bisecting' it will align with 9090 and 9Q-270.

Longitude scale The longitude scale is comprise of a series of equidistant parallel straight lines 13 which run both lengthwise and crosswise on the transparent member, and which divide the entire face of the rule into equal squares which may be proportioned to a dimension of for example one-tenth of an inch to a side. This arrangement of graduations represents the scale of a Mercator projection or chart, one-tenth of an inch being equivalent to (1') one minute of longitude on the equator. Since on a Mercator projection the units of longitude are made to appear everywhere equal, it will be apparent that the longitude scales will remain constant for use in any latitude. Preferably for facility in reading, every fifth line 13 is displayed relatively more boldly or by a heavier line. Latitude scales There are also a series of straight latitude scales 14 provided on the transparent member which run lengthwise of the rule .as shoWn and which are parallel with each other. These scales cover the entire face of the rule except at the border portions where the protractor and longitude scales are shown. These scales 14 are provided one for each degree of latitude from 0, the equator, to 'north or south or further if desired. Each of the latitude scales is graduated proportionately to the previously mentioned longitude scales on the Mercator principle.

For a further explanation reference may be had to the American Practical Navigator by Bowditch, Chapter II, article 43. Hereafter for convenience in expression, the portion of the rule covered by the latitude scales will be termed the graph. The parallels of this graph are so spaced that the distance between any adjacent two of them is preferably .05 of an inch or 30 (30 seconds) i. e. onehalf minute of longitude. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that longitude can be measured lengthwise or across and between any twopoints on the rule.

The scales 14 are individually graduated with a series of small dots or dashes 15 and the space between any adjacent two of these dot or dash graduations upon any individual scale 14 is equivalent to one minute of latitude (1) or one nautical mile. Every fifth latitude parallel on the graph is graduated by dashes to facilitate reading andtheseparticular scales are numbered at their extremities with the .13, it will be noted that upon the graph portion of the rule that the 1 graduations of longitude are further sub-divided by inter mediate parallel transverse lines 17. These lines 17 in conjunction with the paralles of the latitude scales divide the face of the graph into equal squares of /2 of an inch or minute of longitude. All of these parallel lines across the graph are'thus closely spaced in order that any point on any of the latitude scales may be more accurately transferred perpendicularly over to the pencil slot so that a point can be plotted therein in an accurate manner.

In the use of the rule it is intended that the use of charts be wholly dispensed with. Furthermore no parallel rulers, dividers or like devices need be used. All that is needed is the rule, a sheet of blank paper which is placed under the rule and a sharp pencil together with a knowledge of the manner of use of the rule. The rule itself contains on its face all of the requisite longitude data, all of the requisite latitude data and all of the protractor data which is required for working out various nagivational and like problems involving latitude, longitude and direction.

Method of asz'ng'rale Various of the sundry plottings, laying down of bearings and courses and drawing of lines of position can be obtained by the use of the rule and the rule is also adaptable for use to obtain the same results in a variety of ways. For the purpose of explaining what is considered to be the most convenient method of using the rule there has been selected the example given in Chapter XV, Article 380, H. O. #9 (Bowditch) wherein the intersection of two Sumner lines, i. e. the ships position, is found by computation, the ships run between observations being involved and the foregoing illustrative ex- III lows 40' S. l Azimuth at right angles 115 3 1' W! to line, N. 51 E.

25 25".S. Azimuth at' right angles 115 33.5-W. to line,'N. 72 W.

and supposing the vessel from which the observations were taken that gave these lines to have runN. 54 E. (true) miles in the interval between the sights, find the position of the vessel at the time of the second sight.

For the purpose of explanation, let the extremity of the line containing the pencil slot 11 marked 0-360 be -called North, the opposite extremity marked 0-180 South, the extremity of the central or 0 line of the graph marked 90 East and its opposite marked 90-270 West.

W'ith the rule, first draw on a blank sheet of paper two lines 1 and 2 (see Fig. 2) which intersect each other at right angles. Either the slot 11 or the sides of the rule can be used to obtain the 90 relation of the lines. Let line 1 represent parallel of latitude 25 S. and line 2 meridian of longitude 115 31 W. The intersection of these linesis the point A through which the first Sumner line or line of position is to be drawn, but since this line must be advanced in a direction N. 54 E. (true) 35 miles, i. e. the ships run between sights, it is unnecessary to draw the line through point A here.

Now place the center of the protractor, North end toward top of diagram over the point A in such manner that the pencil slot 11 coincides with the meridian line 2. Plot a point where the 54th graduation of the pro- I guidance of the closely spaced parallel lines cutting all latitude scales perpendicularly. From this intersection. measure off on the 25 latitude, scale 35 or miles. This brings us to a point on the North end of the rule'where the 10 curve intersects the scale. Transfer this point perpendicularly to the pencil slotand call it A. A then is the point 35 miles N. 54 E. from the point A through which the first Sumner line N. 39 W., at right angles to the azimuth A is to be drawn.

Place center of the rule and the protractor over point A so that the parallel of latitude 25 40 S. coincides with or is parallel to any of the East and West lines on the rule. Plot a point where the 39th graduation of the protractor, West of North, cuts the paper. Call this point a'.- Draw straight line through line.

points A and a. A a is the first Sumner Next, to draw second Sumner line, place rule with North end toward top of diagram, in such manner that meridian 115 31 W.

coincides with 35 latitude scale and parallel of latitude 25 40 S. cuts the 25 latitude scale at its intersection with the 15 curve on South end of rule. Plot point at center of rule, this is point B in latitude 25 25' S. longitude 115 33.5 W. through which the second position line is to be drawn running N. 18 E. at right angles to azimuth B.

\Vithout moving rule from its former position, plot point 6 where the 18th graduation of the protractor, east of North, cuts the paper. Draw straight line through points B and b intersecting line A a at C. B?) then is the second Sumner line and C is the ships position at the time of the second observation.

Now move the rule with North end toward top of diagram to such position that point C falls in the 25 latitude scale, parallel 25 40 S. cuts same scale at its intersection with the South 25 curve and is parallel to the East The foregoing example has shown how the ,7

rule can be utilized for plotting points, laying down courses and bearings and obtaining the shlps position. Other uses will be apparent to those familiar with problems of this character and the particular manner of computing the data necessary in the solution of such problems may be varied as desired.

The data to be employed in using the rule can be obtained in connection with the solution of any problem of the position line whether Sumners, Marc St. Hilaires, Weems or any of the methods explained by the Hydrographic Ofiice publications be used.

What I claim is:

1. A rule device for plotting points and ruling lines upon sheets of paper, said rule comprising a transparent member provided with a pencil receiving ruling and plotting slot therein, said transparent member having thereon two sets of longitude scales, each set extending substantially completely across the transparent member and the respective sets being at right angles to each other to form a series of square rulings over substantially the entire face of the transparent member, latitude scales and protractor graduatherein, said transparent member having raduated over substantially its entiresurace parallel lines representative of longi-,

' tude scales, and also having graduated there- 7 on superimposed pa-rallel latitude scales, said member also having graduated thereon protractor graduations, said transparent member also havin in addition curved lines to aid in reading t e graduations of the latitude scales, said curved lines diverging from the adjacent curved lines as they progress from the zero latitude scale to higher latitude scales.

3. A rulingdevice for plotting points and ruling lines upon sheets 0 paper, said ruling device comprising a transparent member provided with a pencil receiving ruling and plotting slot therein, said transparent member having longitude scales disposed lengthwise and transverse thereof with the pencil slot parallel to the scales which extend in one direction, said member also having latitude scales disposed to intersect and extend above and below a transverse median line which intersects the pencil slot 1 at' right angles and which is representative of 0 minutes of latitude on any of the latitude scales.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

CLIFFORD L. CLARK.

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