Improvements in Making Diagrams for Illustrating the Principles of Mechanical Drawing.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Making Diagrams for Illustrating the Principles of
Mechanical Drawing.
I, THOMAS HUTTON, of 62, Lord Derby Street, Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Draughtsman and Science Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
In making large diagrams and text book plates which illustrate the principles
of delineating objects of three dimentions, it is usual at present to use one or more
flat sheets of paper, cardboard, or similar substance, on which are drawn the front,
end, sectional and other views of an object; and when one requires to learn the
shape of an object represented, the various views are placed, not in the real relative
positions which they were supposed to occupy when the drawings were being made,
but on a flat surface such as a table or a wall. Now the fact that drawings cannot
readily be placed in their real positions, causes some difficulty to people unaccus-
tomed to reading such drawings, but especially to students learning the principles
of making them.
The present invention consists in providing means whereby the various views
may be so connected that they may be instantly raised from a flat position into
their real relative positions and vice versa.
•
It also provides means whereby not only the drawings, but in many cases the
objects themselves may be placed in position.
"
The improved diagrams consist of a rectangular or other suitably shaped sheet
of cardboard, celluloid, or other suitable substance which we will call A, and on
which are made either all, or part of, the various views of an object exactly as at
present. To this sheet is then hinged by means of gummed linen, or in any other
manner desired, another sheet B, on which is drawn any one of the views of the
object; the hinge line of B must be at right angles to the " projectors" or pro-
jecting lines
of the view on sheet B, and the view itself exactly coinciding with
the corresponding view (if any) on sheet A. For example; suppose that sheet A
contains plan and elevation of an object, and that sheet B contains a reproduction
of the elevation; then, the hinged connection of A & B must be at right angles
to any line joining the plan of a point to its elevation, and the elevation on sheet B
must coincide with the elevation on sheet A when B is revolved on to A.
Sheet is conveniently made semi-circular, or partly circular and partly
rectilinear in outline, but not necessarily so.
Another sheet C is then also hinged to the first sheet A, with its hinge line
intersecting at any desired angle the hinge line between A & B. This latter sheet
is provided with a slit which intersects the hinged connection between A and C
at any convenient angle, and through which slit the sheet B must be passed
before C is hinged to A. The length and width of the slit in sheet C must be
sufficient to allow C to make a half revolution on its hinged edge, while the other
sheet B is within the slit; hence sheet C is necessarily wider than sheet B, or the

page_text: .
slit would cut it in two. Now if either sheet B or sheet C be lifted up from.
sheet A, the other will also be lifted, and the angle which either of them is required
to make with A while the other revolves through a given angle may be regulated
by the angles which the slit and the hinged edge of C, and the hinged connections
of B & C make with one another.
In order to fix the three planes in any desired position a snip may be made in
the outer edge of B and the cardboard or other substance bent in opposite directions
slightly so that when the slit encounters the snip it will be held there.
The sheet C may be used for views of an object, other than plan and elevation,
or for sections. It may also be used to represent planes, or lines or plane figures in
their actual positions. Or again, it may be used for attaching solids thereto, or
for merely holding the sheets A & B at right angles. Further, it is quite possible
to employ more than one sheet C so that more than three views, and more than one
plane, or line, or solid, may be placed in their actual positions.
In perspective diagrams, sheet A would represent the "ground," and sheet B
the "picture," plane or vice versa. Sheet C would be used very much as previously
explained. In order to make the diagrams still more useful I may sometimes
divide the sheets A, B, C &c. into degrees, taking the intersection of the hinged
lines as centre. I may also divide them into parallelograms by lines parallel and
at any desired angle to the hinged lines; but in some cases it is advisable to use
lines in one direction only.
<<
By means of my method of making diagrams it is also easy, in many cases, to
represent projectors." In some cases they may be drawn on the sheet C, and
in others they may be made by merely piercing a hole through the sheet containing
a point and those containing its projections, so that a piece of wire, thread or
similar thing may be passed through the perforations. I shall give examples of
these features in my Complete Specification.
Dated this 20.
1007
Improvements in Making Diagrams for Illustrating the Principles of
Mechanical Drawing.
I, THOMAS HUTTON, of 62, Lord Derby Street, Blackburn, in the County of
Lancaster, Science Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
In large diagrams and text-book plates which illustrate the principles of repre-
senting objects of three dimensions, it is usual at present to use one or more flat
sheets of paper, cardboard, or similar substance; on which are drawn the various
views of an object.
When one requires to learn the shape of an object represented by such draw-
ings, the various views are placed, not in the real positions which they were
supposed to occupy when the drawings were being made, but on the same flat
surface, such as the top of a table or the face of a wall. Now the fact that the
drawings cannot be placed in their real positions causes some difficulty to people
unaccustomed to reading such drawings, but especially to students learning the
principles of making them.
The present invention consists in providing means whereby the various views
may be so connected that they may be instantly raised from a flat position into
their real positions and vice versa. It also provides means whereby objects, such

page_text: as lines, planes, plane figures, and in some cases solids may be placed in the
position represented by the drawings..
In the accompanying illustrations:-
Figs. 1, 3 & 4 are isometric views of three forms of diagram.
Fig. 2 shows the same diagram as Fig. 1, but in a flattened state.
Figs. 5, 6 & 7 are isometric views of diagrams showing some modifications in
the making and the arrangement of the parts of a diagram.
Figs. 8 & 9 show different forms of planes B & C.
An improved diagram consists of a rectangular or other suitably shaped sheet
of cardboard, celluloid, wood or other suitable substance as A, Fig. 1, 2, 7.
To A another thin piece of cardboard, celluloid or other suitable thin sub-
stance B is hinged along a line XY in any convenient manner, e.g. when card-
board is used, gummed cloth or other flexible material is convenient.
The sheet B is preferably semi-circular, but an outline partly or approximately
circular and partly rectilineal (as B, Fig. 8) or even polygonal may sometimes be
found convenient.
The sheet B is also provided with a notch, as N Figs. 1 & 2, the purpose of
which will be explained later.
Another sheet C of similar substance to B, with a groove D which intersects
an edge of C at an angle is also hinged to A, with its hinged edge PQ intersecting,
at any desired angle the hinge line X Y. The sheet B must be placed within the
groove in C before C is hinged to A.
The length and width of the groove in C must be at least sufficient to allow the
sheet B to move freely. within it to such an extent that the said sheet C may be
raised from lying flat on A to the desired angle with A. The sheet C must be so
wide as to leave no danger of its breaking into two parts at the end of the groove.
The angle which the groove in C makes with its hinged edge may be a right
angle, Fig. 1, an acute angle, Fig. 9, or an obtuse angle, Fig. 6. The angle for
any particular diagram is determined by supposing A, B & C to be planed, then,
when A, B & C are in their desired positions, the angles between the intersection
lines of C with A & B is the angle which the groove should make with the hinged
edge of C.
The arrangement just described enables the sheet (B, Fig. 2, for example) which.
is within a groove in another sheet (as C, Fig. 2) to be raised from lying flat on A,
through any desired angle simultaneously with the grooved sheet, while the said
grooved sheet is revolved from lying flat on the same sheet A into the position
(e.g. Fig. 1) it is to occupy. Further, the notch in B (as N, Figs. 1 & 2) indicates
the correct placing of the grooved sheet (C) and when B is of a semielastic sub-
stance like cardboard, the said notch affords a means of fixing the three planes
(as A, B, & C Figs. 1 & 2) in position by merely bending the sides of the notch
in opposite directions. Only one sheet B is shown, but it is clear that by making
more than one groove in the sheet C, more than one sheet B may be used.
To illustrate the manner of using the diagrams, suppose three views of an
The
object are to be shown, namely a plan, an elevation, and an angle view.
plan may be made on A, the elevation on B, and the angle view on C, as in Fig. 1;
or, any other arrangement may be made if more convenient.
It will now be seen that the three views may be laid flat as in Fig. 2, or, when
so required, may be instantly raised from a flat position into their real relative
positions, as shown in Fig. 1. Generally speaking, in geometrical diagrams, the
sheet A takes the place of an ordinary diagram. The uses of the sheets B & C are
interchangeable. Thus, 1st one, as just explained, may be used for an elevation,
and the other for a second elevation, 2nd: one may be used for a plan, and the
other for a second plan. 3rd one being used for a plan or an elevation, the other
may be used for :-
(a) To represent a plane and any necessary lines in the plane, see Figs. 3, 4,

page_text: (b) To contain a line or a number of lines, whose projections are required; see
Fig. 4.
(c) To contain a plane figure or plane figures whose projections are required,
Fig. 3.
(d) To contain one face of a solid whose projections are required, e.g. The
square ABCD in Fig. 3, may be the base of a square pyramid or the side a cube.
(e) To afford a means of supporting a solid in a certain position with regard
to the sheets A & B (or C), e.g. in Fig. 3, the pyramid may be attached to sheet B.
(f) To merely hold A & B (or C) at a right or other angle to each other.
(g) To contain, or be parallel to, a section or other plane figure whose true form
is required. Figs. 1 & 2.
() Various combinations and modifications of (a) (b)—(9)..
In perspective diagrams A (as in Fig. 4) may represent the "ground" plane.
The uses of B & C would be interchangeable in a manner similar to that already
explained for geometrical diagrams. Thus, one as C, Fig. 4, would represent the
picture" plane and the other (or others) B any plane (or planes) passing through
eye of the spectator" K and containing (i) A line, as MN (or a number of
- lines) and the visual rays MK, NK of the said line, or (2) a plane figure, and if
desired, the visual rays of the said plane figure.
the "
(k) A face, plane section, or the like of a solid, and if desired, the visual rays
of the said face, plane section or the like.
() The vanishing parallel or parallels of a line or a number of lines, e.g. KR
Fig. 4.
(m) Various, combinations and modifications of (i) (j) (k) (?).
Having now given a general description of the making and the uses of the
diagrams, I will now give some instances showing how they may be varied to
suit circumstances.
1st. In geometrical diagrams, the principal sheet A may have duplicates of the
drawings on B & C so placed that each duplicate exactly coincides with its original
when B & C are flattened on to A as in Fig. 2. This enables one to see the draw-
ings in their real relative positions and in their flattened state simultaneously.
2nd. When the plan is made on B as it would be in Figs. 5 & 6 the lower
edge VW of A is conveniently arranged about half the width of B below the
hinged line X Y.
This edge VW may then be also hinged to an approximately horizontal surface (D
as shown. The lower extremity ST of C may then be so arranged that when it
is in position and resting on (D), A will be approximately vertical. The advantage
gained is that, instead of A being horizontal (which in this case is not its true
position, because A represents the vertical plane) it may be lifted vertical, and
further, by merely lifting A, B & C will be simultaneously placed in position.
3rd. When the plan is made on C as in Fig. 3, the form of B may be made
as shown in Fig. 8 and the figure named, and the lower extremities of A & B
arranged as described in the last paragraph.
4th. When the sheet C is made with a groove in it and attached to A on both
sides of B as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, & 6, the sheets B & C cannot be released
from each other. If it is desired to have B & C so that they may be disconnected,
the said sheet C may be made as follows:-
(a) It may be cut to the form shown in Figs. 7, 2, &.9 so that when B & C are
hinged to A, (Fig. 7), and C is of a flexible and elastic substance, the lip E may be
hent laterally until B may be placed against the edge of the sheet C, then the
lip E being freed, it will. regain its normal position behind B and thus B & C will
be connected in effect as before, but they may be disconnected at will.
(b) When C is not of a flexible substance a piece of flexible material such as
leather or celluloid may be attached to C in any manner provided that the same
end may be obtained.
(c) When it is desired to have C extended on both sides of B, & B & C dis-
5

page_text: connectable, as in Fig. 5, the two parts may be arranged to overlap each other as
shown, and clamped or pinned together by any easily adjustable means.
5th. The surfaces of A B & C may be prepared so that lines of chalk or other
marking material may be made on and erased from them. The diagram may then
be used for various temporary purposes. In this case, three forms of C namely one
with a right angle Fig. 7, one with an acute angle Fig. 9, and one with an obtuse
angle Fig. 6, may be used in connection with the same pair of planes A & B
provided that a moveable hinged connection be arranged between A & C.
The hinged connection between A & C may be conveniently made by means of a
rod F, Fig. 7, pivoted at any convenient point as near as possible to XY, but so
far from it as to allow F a complete half revolution when B is at right angles to A.
The pivot should be provided with a friction joint or a screw G so that when Fis
once adjusted it will remain in position.
"
"
7th. Such planes of the diagrams as are used for the planes of projection in
geometrical diagrams, and such as are used for the picture and ground
planes in perspective diagrams may be of a different colour from the rest so as
to aid the eye to discriminate between them.
Sth. In the arrangement for temporary diagrams, the notch (as N Figs. 1, 2 &c.)
in B which is used for fixing C in position may be dispensed with and its place
supplied by a series of holes, as in Fig. 7, near the free edge of B, and a hook H to
engage therewith; or any like device, that will lock the edge e of C at any desired
angle to the hinged edge of B, may be used.
9th. Some of the planes may be made of transparent celluloid.
10th. The various planes in the arrangement for temporary diagrams may be
divided into parallelograms by lines parallel and at a right or other angle to
the hinged connections, in order to assist the eye in gauging distances.
11th. The sheets A & B (or C) may be divided into degrees, the centre being the
intersection of the hinged edges of B & C.
12th. In cases where a plane contains a real object as the square A B C D in
plane B, Fig. 3, and it is desired to show the projectors of a point, as D, a perfora-
tion may be made at D in sheet B and another at d¹ the elevation of point D.
Also I may be drawn in sheet B perpendicular to the horizontal plane C. Then,
it is evident that by passing a wire through the perforations D &, the wire and
the perpendicular Dd will represent the projectors of point D. In a like manner
the projectors of other points may be shown.
13th. In the arrangement for temporary diagrams, the sheets representing the
planes of projection are conveniently made of matted or unpolished celluloid which
readily admits chalk marks to be made on and erased from it. The other sheets
may be made of either matted, unpolished or transparent celluloid.
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. The improvement in diagrams for illustrating mechanical drawing which
consists in hinging two or more planes to a third principal plane, and connecting
the said two or more planes together by a groove or grooves in one of them, in
such a manner that by lifting the plane which contains the said groove or grooves,
the other plane or planes may be simultaneously lifted substantially as described.
2. The improvement in diagrams for illustrating mechanical drawing which
consists in making a notch, or providing its equivalent, in the edge of the hinged
plane B, in order to indicate the position of the grooved planes and to provide a
means of fixing the said grooved plane and the others in their true relative
positions substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying diagrams.
3rd. The improvement in diagrams for illustrating mechanical drawing which
consists in hinging three or more planes together as described, and also hinging
the principal of the said planes to an independant surface in such a manner that
by lifting the said principal plane, the others are simultaneously placed in position

page_text: substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 & 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
4th. The improvement in diagrams for illustrating mechanical drawing which
consists in hinging two planes to a third plane as described, and connecting the
said two planes together by the equivalent of a groove in one of them in such a
manner that the connection may be severed at will, but still permitting the planes
to be simultaneously lifted and fixed at various angles to each other substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 2, 5, 7 & 9.
5th. The improvement in diagrams for illustrating mechanical drawing which
consists in hinging three or more planes together as described, one or more of
the said planes being matted, or unpolished celluloid prepared for the reception
of chalk lines substantially as described.
6th. The improvement in diagrams for illustrating mechanical drawing which
consists in hinging and fixing three or more planes together as described and thus
providing means by reason of the third (and other planes if used) of placing
objects in their real positions substantially as described.
7th. The construction and combination of parts taken as a whole forming an
improved diagram for illustrating mechanical drawing substantially as described
and illustrated.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1898.
THOMAS HUTTON,
Of 62, Lord Derby Street, Blackburn.