Account of the Skerryvore lighthouse : $b with notes on the illumination of lighthousesStevenson, Alan
History
Account of the Skerryvore lighthouse : $b with notes on the illumination of lighthouses
Stevenson, Alan
Skerryvore Lighthouse (Hebrides, Scotland)
[69] The angle OAX is easily found, as will be seen by referring to
fig. 73, p. 277; for, AH being horizontal by construction and AO
vertical, HAO = 90°; and HAC and CAU being both known, we have
OAX = 90° - (HAU + UAX) = 90° - (HAU + ¹⁄₂ CAU).
[Illustration: Fig. 76.]
The positions of the apices A and B of the angles of the zones are also
easily found in reference to the focus, and are given in the Table in
the Appendix. In fig. 76 we may, in reference to the known position of
C, find that of A or B, by simply adding the quantities AH, HC, and BK,
to C _y_ or C _x_, and by deducting CK from C _y_; while it is obvious
that those quantities are respectively proportional to the length of
the known sides AC and BC, modified by the inclination of those sides
with the horizon. Hence we have AH = AC . sin ACH; HC = AC . cos ACH;
BK = BC . sin BCK; and CK = BC . cos BCK.
In the process of grinding the zones, it is found convenient for the
workman to give a curved form to the refracting sides BC and AC, the
one being made convex and the other concave, so that both being ground
to the same radius, the convergence of the rays produced by the first
shall be neutralized by the divergence caused by the second. By this
arrangement we have three points given in space from which, with given
radii, to describe a curvilinear triangle whose revolution round the
vertical axis of the system generates the zone required. Co-ordinates
to those two centres of curvature for the surfaces AC and BC were
determined in reference to arris A of each zone, and will be found in
the Appendix. The mode of finding those co-ordinates is, of course,
similar to that already given; and, the radii being assumed at 4000
millimètres, the co-ordinates are respectively proportional to the sine
and cosine of the inclination of the radius at A to the vertical line,
which inclination depends upon the relations of known angles around A
and C.
The section ABC (fig. 71, p. 271) of the first zone being thus
determined, we proceed by fixing the point C₂ of the second zone, which
is at the intersection of the horizon GAG₂ with the ray FBC₂ passing
through B. This arrangement prevents any loss of light between the
adjacent zones. The calculation of the elements of the second and of
every following zone, is precisely similar to that of the first.
~Testing of Zones.~
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account