NAVIGATION, INSTRUMENTS AND COMPASSES

MT 104

SUBMITTED BY: BAUTISTA, JOHN PATRICK G.

SECTION: MT11KA13
SUBMITTED TO: MR. JOSE N. NOMA
 MAGNETIC COMPASS

A compass is an instrument used for navigation and orientation that shows direction
relative to the geographic cardinal directions (or points). Usually, a diagram called a compass
rose shows the directions north, south, east and west on the compass face as abbreviated
initials. When the compass is used, the rose can be aligned with the corresponding geographic
directions; for example, the "N" mark on the rose points northward. Compasses often display
markings for angles in degrees in addition to (or sometimes instead of) the rose. North
corresponds to 0°, and the angles increase clockwise, so east is 90° degrees, south is 180°, and
west is 270°. These numbers allow the compass to show azimuths or bearing, which are
commonly stated in this notation.
The oldest navigational instrument and has been aiding sailors to cross the seas for
many centuries. Mariners can use magnetic compasses to fix a ship’s position on a chart by
using it to take bearings of visible.The magnetic compass is the most well-known of all
instruments used in finding direction. It is objects as well as allowing them to steer a particular
course.

History
The exact origins of the magnetic compass and the date that it was first used are unknown.
However, it is certain the Ancient Greeks were aware of the attractive properties of
magnetism, and the Chinese probably knew that iron bars acquired a directional north-south
property when stroked with a lodestone up to 2,000 years ago. This idea reached Europe in
the 10th century and was probably introduced by Arab traders who gained the information
from China. Simple magnetic compasses were used in the Mediterranean in the 12th century,
although they were often unreliable. In the Middle Ages, magnetic compasses were used
widely, but little was known about how they worked.
 GYRO COMPASS

A Gyro compass is a form of gyroscope, used widely on ships employing an

electrically powered, fast-spinning gyroscope wheel and frictional forces among other factors
utilising the basic physical laws, influences of gravity and the Earth’s rotation to find the true
north. A gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which is based on a fast-spinning disc
and the rotation of the Earth (or another planetary body if used elsewhere in the universe) to
find geographical direction automatically. Although one important component of a
gyrocompass is a gyroscope, these are not the same devices; a gyrocompass is built to use the
effect of gyroscopic precession, which is a distinctive aspect of the general gyroscopic effect.
Gyrocompasses are widely used for navigation on ship, because they have two significant
advantages over magnetic compasses.
History of GYRO COMPASS
Before the success of gyro compass, several attempts had been made in Europe to use
gyroscope instead. By 1880, William Thomson(lord Kelvin) tried to propose a gyrostat (tope) to
the British Navy. In 1889, Arthur Krebsadapted an electric motor to the Dumoulin-Froment
marine gyroscope, for the French Navy. That gave the Gymnote submarine the ability to keep
a straight line while underwater for several hours, and it allowed her to force a naval block in
1890.The first, not yet practical, form of gyrocompass was patented in 1885 by Marinus
Gerardus van den Bos. Usable gyrocompass was invented in 1906 in Germany by Hermann
Anschütz-Kaempfe, and after successful tests in 1908 became widely used in German Imperial
Navy.In the United States, Elmer Ambrose Sperry produced a workable gyrocompass system
(1908: patent #1,242,065), and founded the Sperry Gyroscope Company. The unit was
adopted by the U.S. Navy (1911), and played a major role in World War I.
 COMPASS COURSE AND BEARING CORRECTIONS

The true north pole and the magnetic north pole are not in the same place. Since they
are offset from each other there are two different angular measurements we can use. Our
choice depends on what type of navigation we are doing. In celestial navigation we would use
true north but for navigating around the bay or between islands we'd probably use magnetic
north. Magnetic has an advantage because our magnetic compass aligns itself with this field.
However, we will still need to be aware of true north. It is good practice to stick with one or
the other and label them correctly when plotting a course on a nautical chart. If we wanted to
sail a compass heading of 035°, we could use a capitol 'M' after it to indicate it is magnetic.
HISTORY OF COPASS COURSE AND BEARING CORRECTIONS

In China, compasses have been in use since the Han dynasty (2nd century BCE to 2nd century
CE) when they were referred to as “south-pointers”. However at first these magnets were only
used for geomancy much like in the art of Feng Shui. Eventually, during the Sung dynasty (1000
CE) many trading ships were then able to sail as far as Saudi Arabia using compasses for
marine navigation. Between 1405 and 1433, Emperor Chu Ti's Treasure Fleet of the Dragon
Throne ruled the entire South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, a territory that ranges from Korea
and Japan to the Eastern coast of Africa. At this time Western mariners were still rather
ignorant of the navigational use of the magnet. Petrus Perigrinus van Maricourt wrote a first
treatise on the magnet itself: “De Magnete” (1269). And though its nautical use was already
mentioned in 1187 by the English monk Alexander Neckham, the use onboard only came
about around the 13th and 14th century in the Mediterranean Sea. Much later, in 1545, Pedro
de Medina (Sevilla 1493-1567) wrote the Spanish standard work “Arte de Navegar” on marine
compass navigation. This masterpiece was first translated in Dutch (1580) and was -O Irony-
used by Jacob van Heemskerk when the Dutch destroyed the Spanish fleet near Gibraltar in
1607. The drawback was of course Van Heemskerk's
own death during this victory.

ERRORS OF COMPASS AND AZIMUTHS

If we expect to take several bearings whilst steering

the one steady course it makes good sense to arrive at
a single correction to apply to all those
bearings. Remembering that the variation remains
effectively the same whilst operating in one area, and that deviation only changes when we
change course, we can find the compass error for the course being steered and apply that to
all bearings taken whilst on that course. The angular difference between compass direction
and the compass corresponding true direction. This is also the algebraic sum of the variation
and the deviation . Use in converting compass direction to the true the direction or vice versa.
 PARTS AND FUNCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS

1. SCALE-These help measure distance on a map. If you check the common scale for the maps
in your area before buying a compass and can get them to match, this can make map work
a bit easier. A common scale for USGS topographic maps is 1:24,000, but this isn’t always
the case – so check. If your compass and map scales don’t match, most orienteering
compasses have centimeter and inch scales.
2. DIRECTION TRAVEL- This is an arrow that is marked on the baseplate. It guides the direction
of travel while following a bearing in the field.
3. ORIENTING ERROR- The orienting arrow is marked on the bottom of the housing and
rotates with the housing. It allows the baseplate to be aligned relative to the magnetic
needle. To take a basic field bearing, the housing is turned until the orienting arrow and the
magnetic needle are aligned. These two elements are then kept in alignment while
following the bearing.
4. DECLINATION SCALE- Declination is the difference, in angle of degree, between magnetic
north and true north. The declination scale makes it easier to adjust for this difference.
More advanced orienteering compasses often have an adjustable declination scale that can
be set, usually by way of a tiny screw on the bottom of the compass.
5. DIAL- The dial is part of the housing and is marked in two degree increments. When the dial
is rotated, the orienting arrow, declination scale and orienting lines also rotate as part of
the housing.
6. INDEX LINE/BEARING MARKER- This is where a bearing is read. A bearing is an angle
relative to true north (true bearing), or magnetic north (magnetic bearing).
7. MAGNETIC NEEDLE- A magnetic strip of metal that is on a pivot in the center of the
housing. The north end is usually painted red, while the other end is often white or black.
8. ORIENTING LINES.These lines are marked on the bottom of the housing and rotate with it,
the same as the orienting arrow. They are also often called meridian lines and north-south
lines.When taking a bearing from a map, the orienting lines are aligned with the north-
south.
9. HOUSING-A liquid filled capsule that contains the magnetic needle. Orienting lines are
etched on the bottom of the housing, and the dial is fixed to the top of the housing. The
liquid helps dampen the needle movement, making it easier to get a more accurate
reading. BASE PLATE
10.BASE PLATE- The base plate is used to taking bearing on a map. The edge is placed between
two points and the orienting lines and dial act as a protractor to give the bearing. The base
plate is marked with scales, direction of travel arrow.
 PRINCIPLES OF GYRO COMPASS
Gyrocompass, navigational instrument which makes use of a continuously driven gyroscope
to accurately seek the direction of true (geographic) north. It operates by seeking
an equilibrium direction under the combined effects of the force of gravity and the daily
rotation of the Earth. As such, it is immune to magnetic interferences such as those caused by
ore deposits, steel structures, or electric circuits. These properties make the gyrocompass a
prime navigational device in ships and submarines. It has found extensive use on ore ships on
the Great Lakes as the azimuths reference for gun and torpedo control on warships, and as a
reliable compass for navigation of any ship. It is not suitable an aircraft compass because the
speed of several hundred knots associated with such vehicles seriously affects the north-
seeking properties of the instrument. A Gyro compass is a form of gyroscope, used widely on
ships employing an electrically powered, fast-spinning gyroscope wheel and frictional forces
among other factors utilising the basic physical laws, influences of gravity and the Earth’s
rotation to find the true north.
 GYRO COMPASS ERRORS AND FUNCTIONS

Gyro compasses are pre-eminently used in most ships in order to detect true north, steer,
and find positions and record courses. But due to the ship’s course, speed and latitude, there
could appear some steaming errors. It has been found that on Northerly courses the Gyro
compass north is slightly deflected to the West of the true meridian whereas on Southerly
courses it is deflected to the East. Modern ships use a GPS SYSTEM or other navigational aids
feed data to the Gyrocompass for correcting the error. An orthogonal triad of fibre optic design
and also ring laser gyroscopes which apply the principles of optical path difference to
determine rate of rotation, instead of depending upon mechanical parts, may help eliminate
the flaws and detect true north.
The total of the all the combined errors of the gyrocompass is called gyro error and is
expressed in degree E or W, unlike magnetic compass error, and being independent of Earth's
magnetic field, will be constant in one direction; that is, an error of one degree east will apply
to all bearings all around the compass.
The errors to which a gyrocompass is subject are speed error, latitude error, ballistic
deflection error, ballistic damping error, quadrantal error, and gimballing error. Additional
errors may be introduced by a malfunction or incorrect alignment with the centerline of the
vessel. Speed error is caused by the fact that a gyrocompass only moves directly east or west
when it is stationary (on the rotating earth) or placed on a vessel moving exactly east or west.
Any movement to the north or south will cause the compass to trace a path which is actually a
function of the speed of advance and the amount of northerly or southerly heading.

FUNCTIONS

 Master Compass: Discovers and maintains the true north reading with the help of
gyroscope.

 Repeater Compasses: Receive and indicate the true direction transmitted electrically
from the Master Compass.

 Course Recorder: Makes a continuous record of the manoeuvring on a moving strip of

paper.

 Control Panel: Governs the electrical operation of the system and ascertains the running
condition by means of a suitable meter.

 Voltage Regulator: Maintains constant supply of the ship to the motor-generator.

 Alarm Unit: Indicates failure of the ship’s supply.

 Amplifier Panel: Controls the follow-up system.

 Motor Generator: Converts the ship’s DC supply to AC and energizes the Compass
equipment.

Gyro compasses are linked to the

repeater compasses via one
transmission system. The fast-
spinning rotor attached weighs
from 1.25 pounds to 55 pounds. It
is driven thousands of revolutions
per minute by another electric
motor. However, the most
essential part in a Gyro compass
system is the spinning wheel,
which is known as the Gyroscope.

CONTROL OF THE MASTER GYRO

1.The master compass has a new spring suspension having more flexibility, far
greater freedom of movement, and improved damping. This suspension is
designed to protect the compass from the heavy shocks and violent motions
likely to be encountered on submarines. The change has necessitated
enlarging the binnacle diameter from 25 inches to 32 inches.

2. The improved spring suspension has also necessitated the use of larger
gimbal rings. The new gimbal rings are designed so that they can be separated
into two sections, for easy pas-age through small submarine hatchways.

3. The master compass has been made drip-proof, affording greater protection
to the compass.

4. The follow-up panel has been redesigned to withstand severe shock. Rubber
cushioned supports have been substituted for the spring mounting clips. The
new type supports do not flex as much under severe shock. To further insure
prevention of contact between the rectifier tubes and panel, the depth of the
tube box has been increased 2 inches.

5. The Mk. 7 Mods. 0 & 1 repeater panels have been redesigned to permit the
use of a Portsmouth type control panel on both the Groton and Portsmouth
type submarines.

6. The repeater compasses are equipped with a new type compass card which
appears red at night when illuminated from below. The red illumination is best
for dark-adapted personnel, and is less visible at a distance for the same
degree of readability at close range.
 TYPES OF GYRO COMPASS

A compass is a navigational instrument for determining direction relative to Earth’s magnetic

poles. It consists of magnetized pointer that is free to be aligned to magnetic North or true north
or sometimes to an arbitrary direction based on the location of the celestial bodies. Magnetic
North refers to the pole of Earth's magnetic field. It is the direction of the north tip of the Earth’s
magnetic field and true north refers to the geographic north pole. The compass has been used
extensive since ancient times for direction setting and for navigating across the oceans.
Content.
TYPES OF GYRO COMPASS
 Magnetic compass: The most common type of compass is the magnetic compass, which is
used to determine the direction of magnetic north. A magnetic compass is made by placing a
bit of magnetized iron or steel which is set in a low friction so that it is allowed to move
freely. In most compasses, the north end of the metal piece is marked with red paint so that
all directions may be determined.
 Gyro compass: It is a special type of compass developed in 19th century which determines
the true north. A gyro compass is basically a very fast spinning wheel or ball which uses the
law of conservation of angular momentum and the spinning of earth’s axis to point towards
the true north. The gyro compass is commonly used in large ships and in other circumstances
where the accurate prediction of true north is needed.
 Astrocompass: This is another type of compass which can predict true north rather than
magnetic north. This compass relies on the direction of celestial bodies to find true north,
which is used in many circumstances, mainly in the far north and south poles where magnetic
compass would become erratic and gyro compass stops working. The use of astro compass in
determining the exact direction of true north requires the accurate information of time, date,
longitudinal and latitudinal location.
 Solid state compass: In this modern digital world, solid state compass are becoming more
popular. These use many of the electronic magnetic sensors which would calculate the
accurate direction the compass is pointing.
 GPS compass: GPS compasses are rapidly replacing the use of other traditional compasses.
However, most military and ships use the gyro compass or magnetic compass if GPS compass
could not pick up enough satellite. GPS compasses make use of satellites in a geo
synchronous orbit over the earth to distinguish the bearer’s exact location and direction they
are heading. Many hikers and drivers like this compass due to its relative reliability.
 Base plate compass: It is the most affordable compass. The liquid filled compass rise on the
rectangular base made of clear plastic. This compass includes a magnifying lens
for map reading, luminous components for low light conditions and different scales for world
wide use. This compass is fine for plotting purposes.
 Card compass: Card compass or marine compass is commonly used in ships and boats. It
uses a fixed needle, depending on the moving compass card for directional readings since the
moving card absorbs much of the motion of the boat.
 Thumb compass: This compass attaches to the user’s thumb allowing the user to hold both
the map and the compass in one hand while traveling at speed by bike or by canoe. It is also
known as competition compass.
 Prismatic compass: It is a sophisticated device designed for highly accurate navigation. The
prism sighting arrangement allows the user to read the compass bearings while seeing
distant objects.