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Magnetic Compass Adjustment

The document provides instructions for adjusting a magnetic ship's compass. It describes the order of placing correctors such as the Flinders bar and spheres. It then explains the analysis method for calculating coefficients and adjusting the correctors. Alternative tentative methods are also outlined, along with precautions to ensure proper compass adjustment such as checking for bubbles, moment, and residual magnetism.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
109 views18 pages

Magnetic Compass Adjustment

The document provides instructions for adjusting a magnetic ship's compass. It describes the order of placing correctors such as the Flinders bar and spheres. It then explains the analysis method for calculating coefficients and adjusting the correctors. Alternative tentative methods are also outlined, along with precautions to ensure proper compass adjustment such as checking for bubbles, moment, and residual magnetism.

Uploaded by

Mili Verma
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MAGNETIC COMPASS

ADJUSTMENT
Order of Placing Correctors

• 1a: Flinders Bar


• Will produce a, e, and k rods
• 1b: Spheres
• Will compensate for a and e rod, but also create k rod
• 2a: Heeling Magnets
• Will compensate for R, k and e2 but will induce a field in the Flinders
Bar (P)
• 2b: Horizontal Magnets
• In any order but generally to correct larger of P and Q.
MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT: ANALYSIS
METHOD
Analysis Method

• Head ship E or W and place a length of Flinders bar to


correct for an estimated induced coefficient B of
approximately 3°-4°
• Place the spheres at mid position on the bracket arms
• Swing the ship through 360° and find the deviations on
the cardinal and intercardinal headings.
• Analyse the coefficients
• On a well-placed compass the following will be analysed
coefficients:
•B
•C
•D
Analysis Method

• Head ship at any of the intercardinal headings and


adjust the spheres to correct the D coefficient
• When +D: move spheres forward
• When -D: moves spheres outward
• Head ship E or W and correct heeling error using the
vertical force instrument by placing permanent magnets
in the heeling error bucket placed below the compass
• Head ship E or W and correct coefficient B by placing
fore and aft permanent magnets in the ship's binnacle
Analysis Method

• Head ship N or S and correct coefficient C by


placing athwartship permanent in the binnacle
• Swing the ship slowly over 360° and observe
the residual deviations on the cardinal and
intercardinal points
• Draw up the deviation card
MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT: TENTATIVE
METHOD
Tentative Method

• The following method of adjustment may be used in a


ship at least a year old and in which the magnetism has
become fairly stable.
• It may be used on normal routine swings when the
investigation is in fact an adjustment to the original
compensation as described in the Analysis Method.
• Care should be exercised in case a vessel has undergone
serious structural alterations or suffered considerable
damage as a result of a grounding or collision.
• In such cases the Analysis Method should be used.
Tentative Method

• The Tentative Method permits certain liberties to be


taken with regard to the order of placing the correctors
and the amount they correct.
• It assumes that the original or last compensation was
properly carried out and that the present deviations to
be adjusted for are not large.
• In this method the coefficients are not calculated but
the deviations on various headings are removed or
nearly removed instead.
• A well placed compass is assumed, and the compass is
taken to be free from mechanical defects.
• The steps to take are as follows…
Tentative Method

• A: The Flinders bar and spheres should be checked for


permanent magnetism.
• B: When there is a slight swell running, head ship
approximately N or S by compass. When the compass
card starts oscillating when the ship rolls, steady the
compass card by lowering down or raising up the
heeling error bucket.
• C: The ship is then steadied on E or W by compass and
the deviation removed by adjusting the fore and aft
magnets.
• D: The ship is headed N or S by compass and the
deviation removed by adjusting the athwartship
magnets.
Tentative Method

• E: The ship is now headed on any quadrantal point by


compass and the deviation removed by adjusting the
position of the spheres.
• F: The last adjustment may influence the adjustment in
the d-rod and e-rod so that the ship is now headed on
the opposite direction to that in C above. Half the
observed deviation is removed with the fore and aft
magnets.
• G: The ship is steadied likewise on the opposite heading
to that in D above. Half the observed deviation is
removed with the athwartships magnets.
Tentative Method

• H: The adjustment made in F and G may influence the


adjustment made in E above so that the ship is now
steadied on a quadrantal point and half the deviation
removed by adjusting the setting of the spheres.
• I: Swing the ship slowly and observe the deviations on
the cardinal and intercardinal points.
• J: Draw up the deviation card.
MAGNETIC COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT:
PRECAUTIONS TO BE
OBSERVED
Precautions to be Observed

• The following precautions are to be taken before adjustment:


• Remove any bubbles in compass bowl:
• Compass fluid may be added by means of filling plug on the side of the
compass bowl.
• If an appreciable amount of compass fluid has leaked out a careful check
should be made on the condition of the sealing gasket and filling plug.
• Test for moment and sensibility (friction) of compass needles:
• The compass should be removed from the ship and taken to some place
free from all magnetic influences except the earth's magnetic field for tests
of moment and sensibility.
• These tests involve measurements of the time of vibration and the ability
of the compass card to return to a consistent reading after deflection.
Precautions to be Observed

• Remove any slack in the gimbal arrangements.


• Magnetisation check of spheres and Flinders bars: A careful check should be
made on the spheres and Flinders bars for residual magnetism.
• Move the spheres as close to the compass as possible and slowly rotate each
sphere separately.
• Any appreciable deflection (2° or more) of the compass needles resulting from
this rotation indicates residual magnetism in the spheres.
Precautions to be Observed

• To check for residual magnetism in the Flinders bars note the compass reading
with the Flinders bars in the holder.
• Invert the flinders bars in the holder and again note the reading.
• Any appreciable difference (2° or more) between these observed readings
indicates residual magnetism in the Flinders bars.
• Spheres and Flinders bars that show signs of residual magnetism should be
annealed- heated to a dull red and allowed to cool slowly.
Precautions to be Observed

• Alignment of compass with fore-and-aft line of the ship:


• Correct alignment of the lubber's line of the compass and gyro repeaters with
the fore-and-aft line of the ship is of major importance.
• Such a misalignment will produce a constant A error in the curve of deviations.
• Standard compasses should always be aligned so that the lubber's line of the
compass is parallel to the fore-and-aft line of the ship.
Precautions to be Observed

• Alignment of magnets in binnacle:


• Alignment of heeling magnets tube under pivot point of compass.
• See that corrector magnets are available.
• Derricks and cranes in the sea-going position .
• Vessel to be upright.
• No ships within three cables since they may cause magnetic effects sufficient
to upset the adjustment.
• No loose metal in the vicinity of the compass.

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