AN IMPROVED MANOMETRICAL SOUNDING APPARATUS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Tolhausen, of 149, Boulevart Magenta,
Paris, in the Empire of France, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MANOMETRICAL SOUNDING APPARATUS."-A communication
from Ernest Dubois, Civil Engineer, residing at Paris, aforesaid.
Sealed the 29th March 1867, and dated the 2nd October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Tolhausen at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1866.
I, FREDERICK TOLHAUSEN, of 149, Boulevart Magenta, Paris, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MANO-
METRICAL SOUNDING APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
The sounding lines and screw apparatus which are usually employed by
sailors cannot give the precise length of the perpendicular representing the
depth of the sea, not to mention the difficulties met with in using the sounding
line. This depth might be ascertained exactly and with mathematical pre-
ciseness if it were possible to know the weight of the vertical column of water
which presses per square inch on the bottom of the sea, it being known that
one kilogram of pressure per square inch corresponds exactly with ten metres
height of water (1 kil. = 2.20 lb., 1 metre = 39-37 inches). The said weight
may easily be found by casting a water or steam gauge to the bottom of the
sea, the index of which will mark the pressure, upon it and remain stationary

page_text: on being withdrawn; the depth can then be read off on the dial of the
apparatus.
This apparatus comprizes, firstly, an elastic tube or plate, which measures
the weight of the column of water; secondly, a mechanism, which indi-
cates and registers the deflections of the tube or plate; thirdly, a metallic
bar, which contains the mechanism, and which allows the water to act solely
on the surface of the tube or plate. Any tube or plate employed in the various
kinds of steam gauges in use, may be adapted. The tube actuates a lever,
which multiplies its deflections and acts upon the hand or index; a click and
spring retains the hand or index at the maximum point of deflection when the
apparatus comes up again. A thick glass in the box protects the dial, and
a screw allows the index to be brought back to the starting point after
reading off.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Tolhausen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd April 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
TOLHAUSEN, of 149, Boulevart Magenta, Paris, in the Empire of France,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing, date the Second day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Frederick Tolhausen, Her special licence that 1, the said Frederick
Tolhausen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Frederick Tolhausen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should.
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN
IMPROVED MANOMETRICAL SOUNDING APPARATUS," a communication to me from.
Ernest Dubois, Civil Engineer, a person resident at Paris, aforesaid, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick Tolhausen, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,

page_text: and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six.
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Tolhausen, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be,
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The sounding apparatus and screw apparatus which are usually employed
by sailors and hydrographers cannot give the precise length of the perpendi-
cular representing the depth of the sea, not to mention the ordinary difficulties
met with in using the sounding line. This depth may be ascertained exactly
and even with mathematical precision by determining the weight of the
vertical column of water, which presses per square inch upon the bottom of
the sea, it being known that one kilogram pressure per square inch corre-
sponds exactly with ten metres height of water (1 kil. = 2.20 lb., 1 mètre =
39.37 inches). The weight of the column of water may thus easily be found
by casting a water or steam gauge to the bottom of the sea, the index of
which will mark the pressure on it, and remain stationary on being hauled
up; the depth can then be read off on the dial of the apparatus.
This apparatus comprises, firstly, an elastic (corrugated) tubo or plate, by
which the weight of the column of water is measured; secondly, a mechanism
which indicates and registers the deflections of the tube or plate; thirdly, a
metallic box or case which contains the mechanism, and allows the water
pressure to act solely on the interior surface of the tube or plate. Any tube
or plate employed in the various kinds of steam gauges may be made available
for this purpose. The tube actuates a lever which multiplies the amplitude
of its deflections, and acts upon the hand or index. A click and spring
arrangement retains the index at the maximum point when the apparatus
comes up again. A thick glass in the box covers and protects the dial, and
a screw allows the hand or index to be brought home to the starting point
after reading off.
On the annexed Sheet of Drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of the apparatus
opened; Fig. 2 a central cross section of the same.
a, corrugated elastic tube, into which the water enters by the orifice of the
hollow nut and screw joint 6; c, deflecting rod; d, adjustable piece on the
deflecting rod acting upon the short arm of the bell-crank lever e, f, which
turns about the pivot g, and has a segmental rack h at its lower end to act
upon the pinion i of the hand j, which indicates the degree of pressure on the
dial k; l, m, n, click, spring, and ratchet wheel for retaining the indicator at

page_text: the maximum point of pressure it bas been subjected to when sunk; 0, 0,
framing; p, regulating stop screw; 9, 9, flanged water-tight box or case of
cast-iron or other suitable material; r, Fig. 2, thick glass cover; s, s, Fig. 2,
protecting cage or frame; t, t, rings for fastening the sinking lines thereto;
u, backlash spring; v, tappet worked from outside for acting on the lug w of
the pawl Z, and releasing the same for the purpose of bringing the hand home
to the starting point.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Tolhausen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
F. TOLIAUSEN. (L.S.)