An Improved Level and Clinometer applicable for Telemetry.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Level and Clinometer applicable for Telemetry.
I, GOTTHOLD LANGER, of 3431, Osage Street, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
of America, Mechanical 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; -
My invention has relation to improvements in combined levels and angle-
measuring devices; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination
of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a longi-
tudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a similar section taken
on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
The object of my invention is to devise an instrument capable of measuring
angles when used in connection with any of the prevailing forms of levels or tran-
sits or as an ordinary level and inclination-measure when used independently of
such level or transit.
A further object is to provide the present device with means for ascertaining
and reading distances in connection with any of the prevailing forms of leveling-
rods, as will be fully explained by a detailed description of the invention, which
is as follows;
Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a web or rib of any convenient contour,
surrounded by an encompassing flange or ledge 2, projecting equally on each side
of said rib. The ledge serves to house the several movable parts of the device.
Mounted approximately at the centre of the frame and passing through the rib is
the spindle 3, carried by the casing 4 of the level tube 5, the expanded base 6 of
the spindle being secured directly to the casing. Projecting from the base of the
spindle 3 is an arm or index 7, which co-operates with a scale on the limb or plate 8,
secured to the front surface of the rib and graduated from zero to ninety degrees
for each quadrant.. Carried by the rearwardly-projecting portion of the spindle 3 is
a gear-wheel 9, the latter being protected by a rear cover-plate 10, conforming to
the contour of the frame and secured to the ledge 2 by means of screws 101 (shown
dotted in Fig. 1) passed, respectively, through the ledge and through the inwardly-
projecting flange 11, with which the cover-plate is provided, the said flange passing
on the inside of the ledge and the edge thereof resting against the rear surface of
the rib. There is thus formed a rear chamber or pocket 12 between the rib and
cover-plate 10 for the housing of the gear mechanism with which my present
device is provided.
Meshing with the gear-wheel 9 is a pinion 13, mounted on the spindle of the
milled head 14, said spindle passing through the centre of a graduated circular
plate 15, secured to the front face of the rib 1 and carrying an arm or index 16,
co-operating with the scale of said plate. In the present device the relation of
the diameters of the gear-wheel 9 and pinion 13 is as 6 is to 1, so that the angular
velocity of the free end of the arm 16 is six times that of a point on the arm 7
correspondingly removed from the axis of rotation of the spindle 3, by which it

page_text: is carried. It follows, therefore, by reason of the multiplying-gear by which the
arm 16 is connected to the arm 7 of the level, that for the distance the level
arm 7 travels, to describe, say, ten degrees on the limb 8, the corresponding distance
travelled by the free end of the arm 16 can be divided into six spaces, each of said
six spaces representing one-sixth of ten degrees of travel of the arm 7-that is to
say, one hundred minutes. Thus, for a given angle, which may be measured by
the level-arm 7, the sweep of the arm 16 is magnified according to the proportions
of the multiplying-gears used and the greater will be the facility of reading any
angle which the arm 7 records. This is obvious, for, by reason of the increased
travel of the arm 16 the space thus travelled can be sub-divided to better advantage.
In the present case, each of the one-hundred-minute divisions on the plate 15 is
subdivided into ten-minute divisions. The vernier 17, carried by the arm 16 of
the milled head 14, is graduated to read to single minutes. While the relation
between the main gear-wheel and the pinion of the supplemental scale with which
the plate 15 is provided is six to one, any other relation may subsist without depart-
ing from the nature of my invention.
The device thus far described may be used as a carpenter's level or a measure
of angles in connection with the ordinary transit-telescope 18 (shown dotted on
Fig. 1) and secured by arms 19 to the frame. When the instrument is perfectly
level or horizontal, the arms or indices point to the zero-marks on their respective
scales. When the instrument is dipped to a certain angle, the bubble of the
level-tube of course shifts to one end of the level-tube, being restored to its centre
position within the tube by restoring the latter to its horizontal position. This
is done by operating or turning the milled head 14 in proper direction until,
through the medium of the gearing described, the level-tube is restored to a
horizontal. The angle indicated by the pointers is the angle to which the instru-
ment has been dipped. This can be read on either of the scales heretofore referred
to.
Meshing also with the gear-wheel 9 at a point opposite the pinion 13 is a second
and similar pinion 20, the spindle 21 of which carries in the present instance a
series of radial arms 22, 23, 24, 25, increasing progressively in length and adapted
to co-operate with the division-marks or scales of a series of corresponding
diametrically-increasing circles marked on a plate 26, secured to the rib. This
second scale can be used as an inclination-measure for carpenters or as a measure
of distances when used with an ordinary transit, as follows: As an inclination-
measure the spindle 21 can be turned until anyone of the arms 22, 23, 24, 25 points
to a certain division-mark, shifting the bubble from its centre position in the tube.
The carpenter then has simply to tilt the frame until the bubble is in the centre
of the tube, for which positions the surface of the piece of work operated on will
conform to the angle to which the device has been set.
As a measure of distances, the second supplemental scale may be used as follows:
The inner or smallest circle can be divided into any number of arbitrary spaces.
The number of spaces of each succeeding circle in the present case are just double
those of the immediate smaller circle, the divisions being always made along ares
included between the continuation of the radii subtending any unit of division of
the inner circle. The divisions are originally marked with the aid of a levelling-
rod or other rod divided into equal spaces. Let us suppose the instrument to be
set at zero that is to say, the level is at zero-and the arms 22, 23, 24, 25 each
point to the zero of their respective circles. In this position let a levelling-rod
be sighted at a distance (previously measured) of one hundred feet, the horizontal
wire of the telescope of the transit covering the line of division between any two
spaces on the rod. Let the instrument be now tilted so as to bring the horizontal
wire opposite the next succeeding line of division on the rod. When this is done,
we note the arc which has been described by the shortest arm 22 for the angle thus
subtended (by reason of the tilting of the instrument for said space on the rod)
and mark the one-hundred-foot division-mark on said inner circle. The instru
ment thus becomes set for reading one hundred feet or any multiple thereof. For

page_text: example, let us suppose the instrument is again set at zero and the rod is carried
to a distance which we wish to calculate. We direct the horizontal wire of the
cross-hair of the telescope to cover any line of division on the rod and then tilt
the instrument to an angle sufficient to subtend a full space of division. We
then note the position of any of the arms 22, 23, 24, 25. Suppose the arm 22,
instead of travelling the full length of the one-hundred foot are of the inner circle,
has moved only one-eighth of the are, (a fact fully and accurately indicated by the
arm 25, which, under the circumstances, would come opposite the end of the first
of the eight divisions into which the are through which it travels is divided) then
inasmuch as the angle subtended decreases mathematically in proportion as the
distance increases it follows that the distance of the rod is eight times one hundred
feet or eight hundred feet distant. Of course the same result could be accom-
plished by dividing the unit of division (one-hundred foot division) of the inner
circle into eight parts. Then, if the arm 22 moved only the distance of one of
said parts, it would indicate that the rod was eight times as far distant as it would.
be were the arm to move the full length of the are thus divided. The arc could,
of course, be divided into ten or twenty parts, in the latter case the instrument
reading to two thousand feet. The object of spacing the inner divisions along
circles increasing diametrically is to avoid crowding the minor divisions into a
small space, and thus facilitating the reading of the instrument.
While one main limb and only two supplemental scales are herein shown, it is
obvious that the principle can be carried to any number of such scales and that
minor changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of
the invention. The larger angles can of course be read on the main limb. The
smaller readings can be read on the right hand supplemental scale. Distances
can be recorded by the left-hand supplemental scale. It is apparent that, by
means of the present device, distances can be read with levels or transits whose
telescopes are not provided with the usual parallel wires or hair by which the
divisions on the levelling-rod are subtended and distances read.
The level and index arms are preferably protected by a front cover plate 30,
cut away in such portions as may be necessary to uncover the scales and allow
for the free oscillation of the level tube. The cover is secured by arms 31, screwed
directly to the web 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
1. In a level, a suitable frame comprising a web and a circumscribing ledge pro-
jecting over or beyond each face thereof a suitable distance to protect the movable
parts of the device, a level having a spindle, mounted in the web, said spindle
projecting through the web, a gear-wheel carried by said rear projecting end of
the spindle and protected by said ledge, a graduated limb on the front face of the
web, an index arm carried by the level and co-operating with said limb, a second
spindle carried by the web, a pinion mounted on said spindle and meshing with
the gear-wheel, a supplemental scale, and co-operating with said second scale, a
unit division of the scale on the main limb being indicated on the supplemental
scale by a series of divisions numerically increased in the proportion as the diameter.
of the pinion is contained in the diameter of the gear-wheel, the parts operating
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a level, a suitable frame comprising a flat web and circumscribing ledge
projecting over or beyond each face thereof a suitable distance to protect the
movable parts of the device, a level having a spindle mounted in the web, a rear.
cover plate carried by the frame and forming a pocket or chamber with the wall
of the web, the spindle of the level projecting into said pocket, a gear-wheel
carried by the spindle, a graduated limb secured to the front face of the web, an
index carried by the level and co-operating with said limb, a second spindle carried

page_text: by the web, a pinion mounted on the said spindle within the pocket, and meshing
with the gear wheel, a supplemental scale, an arm connected to the said spindle and
co-operating with said second scale, a milled head for said second spindle for operat-
ing the same, a unit division of the scale of the main limb being indicated on the
supplemental scale by a series of divisions numerically increased in the proportion
as the diameter of the pinion is contained in the diameter of the gear wheel and
a vernier carried by the arm of the second spindle, the parts operating substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a level a suitable frame comprising a web and a circumscribing ledge
projecting over or beyond each face thereof a suitable distance to protect the
movable parts of the device, a level having a spindle, mounted in the web, said
spindle projecting through the web, a gear-wheel carried by said rear projecting
end of the spindle and protected by said ledge, a graduated limb on the front face
of the web, an index arm carried by the level and co-operating with said limb, a
second spindle carried by the web, a pinion mounted on said spindle and meshing
with the gear-wheel, a second supplemental scale, an arm connected to said second
spindle and co-operating with said second scale, a unit division of the scale on
the main limb being indicated on the supplemental scale by a series of divisions
numerically increased in the proportion as the diameter of the pinion is contained
in the diameter of the gear-wheel, a third supplemental scale, an arm or arms
therefor, similar intermediate speed-multiplying gearing between the first and
third index arms, the parts operating substantially as, and for the purpose set
forth.
4. In a level, a suitable frame comprising a flat web and a circumscribing ledge
projecting over or beyond each face thereof a suitable distance to protect the
movable parts of the device, a level pivotally mounted on the web along one face
thereof within the confines of the ledge, suitable scales and index arms in con-
nection with the level also located along the same face of the web, and intermediate
gearing mounted on the opposite face of the web within the confines or limits of
the ledge, said gearing serving to connect the index-arms of the said scales with
the axis of the level, substantially as set forth.
11 111
11000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, and
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents.