A binnacle/ˈbɪnəkəl/ is a waist-high case or stand on the deck of a ship, generally mounted in front of the helmsman, in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments. Its traditional purpose was to hold the ship's magnetic compass, mounted in gimbals to keep it level while the ship pitched and rolled. A binnacle may be subdivided into sections and its contents typically include one or more compasses and an oil lamp or other light source. Other devices such as a sand timer for estimating speed may have been stored in the binnacle as well.
Binnacle with iron correcting spheres at each side and clinometer below compassModern binnacle with compass
Binnacle can also refer to the cluster of instruments and switches mounted in a circular casing on or near the steering column of a car.[1]
A compass binnacle in front of the ship's wheel. The small stove-pipe chimney vents the lamp used to illuminate the compass face at night.
Before 18th century bittacle, through Frenchbitacle, from Latinhabitaculum, "little dwelling".
Historyedit
Statue of Lord Kelvin in Belfast, with a corrected binnacle behind him
The construction of many early (mid-18th century) binnacles used iron nails, which were later discovered to cause magnetic deviations in compass readings. As the development of the compass and understanding of magnetism progressed, greater attention was given to binnacle construction to avoid compass disturbances caused by iron.
With the introduction of iron-clad ships the magnetic deviation observed in compasses became more severe. Methods of compensation by arranging iron or magnetic objects near the binnacle were developed. In 1854, a new type of binnacle was patented by John Gray of Liverpool which directly incorporated adjustable correcting magnets on screws or rack and pinions. This was improved again when Lord Kelvin patented in the 1880s another system of compass and which incorporated two compensating spheres. These are colloquially known as "Kelvin's balls"[2] in the UK, and "navigator's balls" in the United States. The Royal Maritime museum at Greenwich, London, has an extensive collection of binnacles. [3]
The ship's "binnacle list" is the medical department's report of personnel at sick bay, excused from that day's duty.[4]
^"What is Binnacle? - Automotive dictionary and encyklopedia - all about cars, motorcycles, engines etc. - CarSpector".
^. Sea Ice Physics and Ecosystem eXperiment. acecrc.sipex.aq. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
^"Compass and binnacle | Royal Museums Greenwich".
^. Hospital Corpsman Revised Edition - Complete Navy Nursing manual for hospital training purposes. tpub.com. Binnacle List. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
Alan Gurney, Compass: A Story of Exploration and Innovation, W.W. Norton & Company, 2004, ISBN0-393-32713-2.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Binnacles.
Look up binnacle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
binnacle, binnacle, waist, high, case, stand, deck, ship, generally, mounted, front, helmsman, which, navigational, instruments, placed, easy, quick, reference, well, protect, delicate, instruments, traditional, purpose, hold, ship, magnetic, compass, mounted,. A binnacle ˈ b ɪ n e k el is a waist high case or stand on the deck of a ship generally mounted in front of the helmsman in which navigational instruments are placed for easy and quick reference as well as to protect the delicate instruments Its traditional purpose was to hold the ship s magnetic compass mounted in gimbals to keep it level while the ship pitched and rolled A binnacle may be subdivided into sections and its contents typically include one or more compasses and an oil lamp or other light source Other devices such as a sand timer for estimating speed may have been stored in the binnacle as well Binnacle with iron correcting spheres at each side and clinometer below compass Modern binnacle with compass Binnacle can also refer to the cluster of instruments and switches mounted in a circular casing on or near the steering column of a car 1 Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksEtymology edit nbsp A compass binnacle in front of the ship s wheel The small stove pipe chimney vents the lamp used to illuminate the compass face at night Before 18th century bittacle through French bitacle from Latin habitaculum little dwelling History edit nbsp Statue of Lord Kelvin in Belfast with a corrected binnacle behind him The construction of many early mid 18th century binnacles used iron nails which were later discovered to cause magnetic deviations in compass readings As the development of the compass and understanding of magnetism progressed greater attention was given to binnacle construction to avoid compass disturbances caused by iron With the introduction of iron clad ships the magnetic deviation observed in compasses became more severe Methods of compensation by arranging iron or magnetic objects near the binnacle were developed In 1854 a new type of binnacle was patented by John Gray of Liverpool which directly incorporated adjustable correcting magnets on screws or rack and pinions This was improved again when Lord Kelvin patented in the 1880s another system of compass and which incorporated two compensating spheres These are colloquially known as Kelvin s balls 2 in the UK and navigator s balls in the United States The Royal Maritime museum at Greenwich London has an extensive collection of binnacles 3 The ship s binnacle list is the medical department s report of personnel at sick bay excused from that day s duty 4 See also editGyrocompass LogbookReferences edit What is Binnacle Automotive dictionary and encyklopedia all about cars motorcycles engines etc CarSpector Ship s Magnetic Compass Sea Ice Physics and Ecosystem eXperiment acecrc sipex aq Archived from the original on 2011 09 03 Retrieved 7 October 2011 Compass and binnacle Royal Museums Greenwich Morning Report of the Sick Hospital Corpsman Revised Edition Complete Navy Nursing manual for hospital training purposes tpub com Binnacle List Archived from the original on 2011 06 29 Retrieved 7 October 2011 Alan Gurney Compass A Story of Exploration and Innovation W W Norton amp Company 2004 ISBN 0 393 32713 2 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Binnacles nbsp Look up binnacle in Wiktionary the free dictionary Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Binnacle Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 3 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 949 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Binnacle amp oldid 1219966564, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
