Patent log (Massey's towed rotator)
Corredera de patente (rotor remolcado de Massey)
- Date
- 1802 · confidence medium
- Place
- London, England, United Kingdom
- Credited to
- Edward Massey
- Field
- Movement
What it is
A small rotor towed astern that spins according to the ship's speed and transmits its turns by a line to a counter showing the distance run. It avoided heaving the chip log and timing it with a sandglass.
What it led to
- continuous mechanical measurement of distance run
- Walker's 'Cherub' log (1861)
- electric and Doppler logs