Improvements in and connected with Measuring Instruments, more especially for Railway Use.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th May, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Measuring Instruments, more
especially for Railway Use.
A communication by CARL WOLFF & Co., of 5, Cornelius Strasse, Munich, in
the Empire of Germany, Washing Machine Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object to provide a very handy, light and convenient
instrument and one which can at the same time be carried about everywhere and is
capable of being rapidly made ready for use, for measuring both the gauge of the
railway lines as well as the difference in elevation between the rails.
The gauge and elevation measurers at present employed are large instruments of
considerable weight and are not suitable for being carried by the permanent way
inspectors in their daily inspection of the track, as from their weight they require
a workman to carry them. As, however, the, inspector is not always in a position
to have a workman with him to carry a measuring apparatus on his daily round
of inspection, the track can only be measured at given intervals of time, which is
not exactly advantageous for safety in working as it is well known that the gauge
and elevation of the rails may alter very rapidly.
Now this improved instrument is designed to do away with these objectionable
features by providing so that it may be used as a walking stick (and permanent
way inspectors always carry just such walking sticks on their long rounds) as well
as a very exact gauge and elevation measurer.
The actual parts forming the measuring apparatus are inserted at the top and
bottom of the hollow stick, one of these parts carries a spirit or other level, a
horizontal scale and a vertical scale, whilst the other part has a rectangular rest
to abut against the rail of the permanent way. The stick is so arranged that the
distance from the outside of the rest to the zero of the horizontal scale is equal to
the normal gauge of 1435 metres. The rest and the vertical scale. may be folded
down and into the two aforesaid parts, which are hollow, so that when these
aubular pieces are inserted in the hollow stick there will be no impediment to their
entrance. For this purpose the rest swings on a pivot, which is fastened in the
tubular piece and may be inserted in the latter through a suitable slot. In order
that when measuring, the rest may stand firmly and rectangularly it is held by the
edge of the slot against which it rests, and in order that the rest when the tubular
picce is drawn out of the hollow stick may project somewhat from such piece, a
spring is arranged inside the latter against which the rest presses.
In consequence of this when the parts of the stick are drawn out, the rest
always projects a little beyond the edge of the tubular piece and thus there is
always a gripping point when it is desired to draw the rest out.
On the other hand when the tubular piece is inserted in the hollow stick, the
spring is compressed and the rest fits completely into the tubular piece, and forms
therefore no longer a projection.
Slots are provided in the tubular piece at the other end of the hollow stick for
the vertical scale and the latter may be adjusted backwards and forwards and
upwards and downwards, in these slots this being effected in the following
manner-
The scale is placed in a sliding piece which is arranged in the tubular piece..

page_text: This sliding piece consists of two movable checks on the sides of which that are
turned towards the walls of the tubular piece, suitable springs are placed which
press against these walls and thus firmly clamp the cheeks against one another.
Further, the checks have slots, the breadth of which is not quite equal to the
thickness of the vertical scale, which is placed in these slots and which being also
clamped by the cheeks, is held thereby and can be easily brought into proper
-position. The slide with the scale may be pushed backwards and forwards in the
tubular piece, and remains firm and standing in any given position by means of
the pressure of the springs.
In order to connect the scale with the movable cheeks, a pin passes horizontally
through these latter and passes through a slot in the scale.
If the scale is to be folded down into the tubular piece, it is pressed to one
side by this means the cheeks of the slide are separated, the springs being
capable of yielding; in order that this may conveniently be done, the corners of
the slots are slightly bevelled. The scale may thus be conveniently folded down
in the tubular piece. In order however that when the tubular piece is drawn out
the scale may also automatically emerge from the holder, a spring is inserted
which forces out the scale as soon as the tubular piece is drawn out of the hollow
stick and the latter therefore ceases to hold the scale down. This allows the
vertical scale to be easily taken hold of and drawn out. In order to allow of the
three sections of the stick, the case or hollow stick hereinbefore called, and
the two tubular pieces being fixed in their given positions, spring knobs are
arranged at each end of the tubes and there are also openings in the case. These
knobs spring into these openings. They are conical in form in order that they
may be automatically compressed and pushed down when coming in contact with
the edges of the hollow stick.
One of the tubular pieces is drawn out of the hollow stick by means of a stick
handle. Whilst the other tubular piece is easily drawn out by a small cross bar
which serves as a handle and which is arranged in the ferrule. If, when the stick
is drawn out, it be desired to measure the gauge, the stick is laid on the rails in
such a way that the rectangular rest rests against one of them. At the other end,
the movable scale standing at right angles to the stick is placed against the other
rail, and without further trouble the narrowing or extension may be read off above
on the horizontal scale, as the stick is so arranged that the distance of the rest
from the zero of the scale gives the normal gauge.
If, on the other hand, it be desired to measure the difference in elevation of the
rails, the stick is first laid over the rails in such a way that the rest rests against
the elevated rail. On the other hand the vertical scale is adjusted until it rests
with its under side directly on the head of the rail. Then it is adjusted in a
vertical direction until the air bubble in the water level is equiposed, until
therefore, the stick lies entirely horizontally. The excess elevation is then simply
read off from the vertical scale.
Such a stick may be modified in various ways. It may, for instance, be so
arranged that the sheath or body of the stick is not formed like part of the scale,
but forms the outer case or box for the scale in which the latter is inserted. The
actual scale may then be composed of square or round holders inserted one inside
the other, or of broad pieces folded together similar to the ordinary metre rules.
In this case, the vertical scale does not need to be arranged in a sliding piece,
but it can be let into a slot of the front piece, and pressed down by means of a
sheet spring or screw which allows it, still some play. The rest may also be let
into a slot in the rear portion.
Dated this 6th day of September 1892
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Measuring Instruments, more
especially for Railway Use.
A communication by CARL WOLFF & Co., of 5, Cornelius Strasse, Munich, in
the Empire of Germany. Washing Machine Manufacturers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to provide a very handy, light and convenient
instrument and one which can at the same time be carried about everywhere and is
capable of being rapidly made ready for use, for measuring both the gauge of the
railway lines as well as the difference in elevation hetween the rails.
The gauge and elevation measurers at present employed are large instruments of
considerable weight and are not suitable for being carried by the permanent way
inspectors in their daily inspection of the track, as owing to their weight they
require a workman to carry them. As, however, the inspector is not always in a
position to have a workman with him to carry a measuring apparatus on his daily
round of inspection, the track can only be measured at given intervals of time,
which is not exactly advantageous for a safe working of the railway as it is well
known that the gauge and elevation of the rails may alter very rapidly.
Now this improved instrument is designed to do away with these objectionable
features by so arranging it that it may be used as a walking stick (and permanent
way inspectors always carry just such walking sticks on their long rounds) as well
as a very exact gauge and elevation measurer.
This improved gauging and measuring apparatus is shown on the accompanying
drawing in which-
Figures and 2 show it as a walking stick ;
Figure 3 the mode of taking the gauge of the rails.
Figure 4 that of taking the difference in elevation of the rails, whilst the remaining
figures represent details.
The actual parts b and c forming the measuring apparatus are inserted at the top
and bottom of the hollow stick a, one of these parts b carries a spirit or other
level d, a horizontal scale e and a vertical scale whilst the other part c has a
rectangular rest g to abut against the rail of the permanent way. The stick is so
arranged that the distance from the outside of the rest g to the zero of the
horizontal scale is equal to the normal gauge of 1435 metres. The rest g and the
vertical scale may be folded down and into the two aforesaid parts c or b which
are hollow, so that when these tubular pieces are inserted in the hollow stick a there
will be no impediment to their entrance. For this purpose the rest g swings on a
pivot Figure 9, which is fastened in the tubular piece e and may be inserted in
the latter through a suitable slot i. In order that when measuring, the rest g may
stand firmly and rectangularly, it is held by the edge of the slot i against which
it rests, and in order that the rest-g when the tubular piece c is drawn out of the
hollow stick may project automatically somewhat from such piece c a spring / is
arranged inside the latter against which the rest y presses.
In consequence of this when the parts of the stick are drawn out, the rest g always
projects a little beyond the edge of the tubular piece e and thus there is always a
gripping point when it is desired to draw the rest out.
g
On the other hand when the tubular piece c is inserted in the hollow'stick a, the

page_text: spring is compressed and the rest fits completely into the tubular piece c and
forms therefore no longer a projection.
Slots ware provided in the tubular piece b at the other end of the hollow
stick for the vertical scale f and the latter may be adjusted backwards and
forwards and upwards and downwards in these slots, this being effected in the
following manner :-
The scale is placed in a sliding piece m² m² Figures 5 to 7 which is arranged
in the tubular piece b. This sliding piece consists of two movable cheeks m² m² on
the sides of which that are turned towards the walls of the tubular piece b, suitable
springs n are placed which press against these walls. and thus firmly clamp the
checks m' m² against one another. Further, the checks m² m² have slots o' o², the
breadth of which is not quite equal to the thickness of the vertical scale f which is
placed in these slots and which being also clamped by the cheeks, is held thereby
and can be easily brought into proper position. The slide with the scale may be
pushed backwards and forwards in the tubular piece and remains firm and standing
at right angles in any given position by means of the pressure of the springs n' n².
In order to connect the scale with the movable checks m' and m², a pin p passes
horizontally through these latter and passes through a slot y in the scale f
If the scale is to be folded down into the tubular piece bit is pressed to one
side; by this means the checks m' and m² of the slide are separated, the springs n¹²
being capable of yielding; in order that this may conveniently be done, the
corners of the slots of o² are slightly bevelled. The scale may thus be con-
veniently folded down in the tubular piece, as shown in Figure 7. In order, however,
that when the tubular piece is drawn out, the scale may also automatically
emerge from the holder, a spring is inserted which forces out the scale as soon as
the tubular piece is drawn out of the hollow stick a and the latter therefore
ceases to hold the scale down. This allows the vertical scale to be easily.taken
hold of and drawn out. In order to allow of the three sections bac of the stick,
the case or hollow stick herein before called, and the two tubular pieces being fixed
in their given positions, spring knobs s are arranged at each end of the tubes;b
and c and there are also openings u in the case a. These knobs spring into these
openings. They are conical in form in order that they may be automatically
compressed and pushed down when coming in contact with the edges of the hollow
stick a.
*
The tubular piece is drawn out of the hollow stick a by means of a stick handle.
The other tubular piece c is easily drawn out by a small cross bar which serves
as a handle and which is arranged in the ferrule.
If, when the stick is drawn out, it be desired to measure the gauge, the stick is
laid on the rails in such a way that the rectangular rest rests against one of them.
At the other end the movable scale standing at right angles to the stick is placed
against the other rail, and without further trouble the narrowing or extension may
be read off above on the horizontal scale, as the stick is so arranged that the
distance of the rest y from the zero of the scale gives the normal gauge, sce
Figure 3.
If, on the other hand, it be desired to measure the difference in elevation of the
rails, the stick is first laid over the rails in such a way that the rest g rests against
the elevated rail. On the other hand the vertical scale fis adjusted until it rests
with its under side directly on the head of the rail. Then it is adjusted in a vertical
direction until the air bubble in the water level d is equiposed, until therefore, the
stick lies entirely horizontally. The excess elevation is then simply read off from
the vertical scale f, see Figure 4.
'
Such a stick may be modified in various ways. It may, for instance, be so
arranged that the sheath or body a of the stick is not formed like part of the scale,
but forms the outer case or box for the scale in which the latter is inserted. The
actual scale may then be composed of square or round holders inserted one inside
the other, or of broad pieces folded together similar to the ordinary metre rules.
In this case, the vertical scale fdoes not need to be arranged in a sliding piece,

page_text: but it can be let into a slot of the front piece, and pressed down hy means of a sheet
spring or screw which allows it still some play. The rest g may also be let into a
slot in the rear portion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
A walking stick which may be extended and its parts fixed, serving as a gauge
and elevation measurer more especially for railway tracks, in which there are
arranged a rest g, which may be folded into the stick, as well as an elevation
measuring scale f, which can also be folded into the stick, and which, in com-
bination with a horizontal scale e and level d, enable the gauge and elevation of
the rails or other object to be measured by placing the stick thereon when in an
extended condition.
Dated this 26th do of Mo 1902
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.