IMPROVEMENTS IN BAROMETERS OR GAUGES FOR MEASURING THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS, PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66,. Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
L 'the. Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BAROMETERS OR GAUGES FOR MEASURING
THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS."-A communication from abroad by Felix
Richard, of Rue St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Empire of France.
!
ין.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th July 1863.
I WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery.
Lane; in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do. hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BAROMETERS OR GAUGES FOR
MEASURING THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to instruments constructed on the
principle of the aneroid barometer, but parts of the Invention are applicable to
other, gauges or instruments for ascertaining and indicating the pressure of

page_text: The first part of the Invention relates to the construction of the vacuum box
and the springs employed therein for resisting the external pressure. The
vacuum boxes are made of thin corrugated metal supported internally by flat
springs made either elliptical, or of U shape, or of a triangular or other form
which can be conveniently placed within the narrow limits of the vacuum
box.
The next part of the Invention relates to the mechanical arrangements for
transmitting the movements of the sides of the vacuum chamber, occasioned
by the variations in pressure, to the indicating apparatus; to this end a long
arm or lever is hinged or pivotted on to some convenient fixed part of the
casing, and is provided with a pin which bears against the central part of one
of the sides. The other end of the long arm or lever is connected to one end
of a small bell-crank or rocking lever, which is connected by a link to the
short end of a sector rack which gears into a pinion on the spindle of the
indicator needle. A spiral spring is adapted to this spindle for the purpose of
preventing loss of time in the rackwork, and also to bring back the needle and
spindle to their normal condition.
Another improvement consists in transferring the movement of both
side plates by a similar arrangement of levers to a common rocking
lever, which is connected by a link to the sector rack arrangement already
referred to.
Another improvement consists in mounting the spiral spring on a supple-
mentary shaft which carries a large toothed wheel which gears into the small
pinion on the spindle of the indicator. The barometers or instruments above
described may be combined with clock movements and also with thermometers
and hygrometers, and are provided with suitable dial plates. Mechanism
for recording on paper the barometric or thermometric changes indicated by
the instruments may also be combined therewith.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office $
on the 9th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 3
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousandeighthundredand sixty-three, in thetwenty-seventh yearof Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the suid
William Edward Newton, Her special license,that I,the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton,myexecutors,administrators, and assigns,should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BAROMETERS OR GAUGES FOR MEASURING THE PRESSURE OF FLUIDS," being a com-
munication from abroad by Felix Richard, of Rue Saint Sebastien, Paris, in
the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, 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 Willian Edward Newton, 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, reference, being had to, the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and-to.the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention, as.communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
consists in the construction. of various instruments, and principally those
metallic barometers on the principle of the aneroid barometer in which a
vacuum box is employed. Taking.these improved barometers as his principle
the Inventor has constructed a number of compound instruments which
form the subject of the present Invention, and which may be enumerated
as follows:-Barometer, watch or clock and compass; barometer and watch
or clock; barometer and compass;. or a thermometer with the same accom-
*paniments.
I will now describe, in succession, the different arrangements for the
construction of the simple barometer, and will afterwards point out the
-arrangements relative to its combination with other apparatus. These instru-
-ments are represented in various views in the accompanying Drawings.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVED ANEROID BAROMETER.
First Part. In Sheet I. of the Drawings, F.gures 1 and 2 are front and edge
outside views of the improved barometer, which is provided inside with a

page_text: metallic box or chamber A (shewn detached on an enlarged scale at Figures
3 and 4). The chamber A is formed of two plates of thin corrugated metal
lapped over and welded together, and which carrying the iudicatingmechanism
is completely enclosed in the case B, Figures 1 and 2.
The essential feature of the Invention consists in carrying out in the most
direct manner the idea of the first Inventor by the application of internal
U shaped springs C, Figures 3 and 4. The advantage of this form of spring is
that the nature of their flexion is the same as that of the sides which they
support,and which bend either as concaves or convexes. The functions of these
springsareso important and their structure of so much consequence that they
have been employed of various forms, for instance, the form of springs shewn
at Figures 5 and 6, formed of two parts each cut out into three arms and
jointed together.
:
Figures 7 and 8 represent another form of spring composed of a single sheet
having three arms bent over and united at the centre. The form of spring
represented at Figures 9 and 10 has also been employed, and consists either
of one straight plate of metal bent over and joined at one end, as shewn at
Fig. 9, or of two plates jointed together, as represented at Fig. 10.
Figures 11, 12, and 13 represent the internal mechanism of a barometer
with the outer casing removed, and comprising the body or flexible diaphragm
or chamber A,and also the parts which transmit the movement of the sides of
the chamber to an index or pointer a, which works outside the indicator dial.
The diaphragm or chamber A is enclosed within a metal framing D, in one of
the sides of which is a lever E jointed at b. This lever at about the centre of
the diaphragm or chamber A, carries a pin or stud c, Fig. 12, which bears
against the flexible side of the diaphragm or chamber. This lever is connected
at its other end by a small chain d with a bell-crank lever F, the other arm
of which is connected by a blade, which acts as a connecting rod with the
extremity of a toothed sector H, having its fulcrum at f, and taking into the
pinion I, mounted upon the shaft g of the index hand a, which.shaft is also
provided with a volute spring h, which is intended, as will be well understood,
to steady and regulate the movements of the mechanism.
It is easy to understand how the flexions of the sides of the diaphragm or
chamber A are multiplied and transmitted to the index hand a. On the
external pressure diminishing, the diaphragm will expand, and the pin c of the
first lever E will be raised, and cause that lever to rock on its fulcrum at b,
and describe an arc of a circle, thereby acting upon the chain d, and causing
the bell-crank lever F to rock, and impart motion to the sector rack H, which
through the pinion I will actuate the index hand a. If, on the contrary, the

page_text: external pressure increases, the same movements take place, but in an inverse
direction...
It should be observed that with this arrangement the diaphragm bearing
upon one side of the frame D will rise and fall in a single piece, as it were,
with the expansions or contractions, by reason of which the respective flexions
of the two sides will together transmit their action to the point c.
The apparatus may, however, be constructed in such manner as to apply a
separate point c for each side of the diaphragm or chamber A. The apparatus
represented at Figures 14, 15, and 16 is constructed upon this principle. In
this arrangement the diaphragm or chamber A is enclosed in a circular frame
D', and its two faces are free; two levers E and E¹, provided with their
respective points c and c³, are placed at each side, and are jointed at their
elbow shaped extremities to a small rocking lever i, which through its arm j
acts upon the sector rack H, this latter operating as in the previously
described arrangement.
Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20 represent another arrangement, which includes
several important improvements. It will be observed, first, that in this
arrangement the diaphragm or chamber A is lentil-shaped, which form is
obtained by making the internal springsc sufficiently thin at those parts where
they are bent. Again, instead of mounting the volute spring / upon. the shaft
of the index hand a, it is placed upon a lateral axle, which communicates with
that of the index by means of a toothed wheel, of much larger diameter than
the pinion I of the index, into which it gears.
For the purpose of reducing the general dimensions of the instrument, an
arrangement is proposed in which the rocking lever E is fixed upon the frame
D; and has at its extremity an apparatus l, which passes through the frame D,
and carries a small elbow lever m, Fig. 20, which is provided with a stud c for
maintaining contact with the diaphragm A (for these details see Figure 19,
which is a section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 17, and Fig. 20, which is a
another section taken in the line 3, 4, of the same Figure). This small elbow
lever, which is jointed to the extremity of the lever E, is attached bya connecting
rodn to a first rack G, which acts upon a pinion o, mounted upon the shaft of
the second rack H, which, as before, drives the pinion on the shaft of the
index hand. In order to permit of the barometer being regulated, this lever
E is provided with an adjusting screw p, Fig. 20, which passes through it, and
the squared part of which abuts on an opening in the dial. On turning this
screw by means of a key the lever is raised or lowered, and with it the lever
n, which is by means of the spring always kept in contact with the

page_text: diaphragm. This lever mon rising performs an oscillating movement, and
the moving parts of the mechanism carry with them the index, which is thus,
moved into the required position
:
Second Part: In Sheet II. of the Drawings the transverse section Fig. 21.
and any one of the front views, Figures 22 to 25, will serve to explain the
general construction of the instrument, these Figures serving to indicate
particularly the different modifications which the,multiplying mechanism may
undergo. This consists, as in the apparatus above described, of the vacuum
box or motor A mounted inside the frame,B, on the outside of one side.of
which is the multiplying mechanism. This latter is covered by the dial C, in-
front of which is the indexor pointer aand the whole is enclosed in the watch
case D. It has been seen that the communication between the motor,or
diaphragm A and the mechanism of the pointer is established by means of a
contact lever or point c.connected with various parts, and that this stud.or
point by following the movements of the flexible diaphragm will cause those
parts to oscillate, and these movements are,multiplied and finally.communi-
cated to the index or, pointer. .
Inthearrangement represented at Fig.22 the point forms part ofa lever arm c
.passingthroughtheplateB,andmounteduponastraight shaftE, turning in steps
or bearings. This shaft carries a second lever 6 perpendicular to, the first one,
and connected by a small rode with the toothe:l sector H, which is hinged to the
bracket, and takes into the pinion I mounted on the shaft of the pointer a.
It has been seen that if this stude be not firmly attached to the diaphragm
or chamber A, but merely bears upon it, it is imperative that this contact be
.maintained.whatever may be the direction of flexion of, the diaphragm. For
this purpose a volute spring his employed as above mentioned, and which in
the present arrangement is placed upon a shaft of the sector H; but for the
purpose of completing this action a spring d'is added, which presses directly
upon the contact lever or point c³, and renders its contact certain.
The second arrangement, represented, at Fig. 23, is very similar to that of
the preceding one, with the exception of the position of the spring h, which is
mounted upon a supplementary, wheel k.
The two arrangements represented at Figures 24 and 25, which are alike
as regards their multiplying power, are distinguished from the preceding
arrangements by having two actuating pinions. Thus the first rack H, instead
of communicating directly with the pinion on the pointer shaft, takes, into,
pinion I mounted upon the shaft of a second rack J, which in its turn actuate
the pointer pinion, K, the effect of this addition being further to multiply th

page_text: movements of the motive diaphragm which principle may be extended at
pleasure by increasing or diminishing the number of moving parts.
It will be observed that these two Figures 24 and 25 represent the same
arrangement modified with regard to the position of the spring h, which is
mounted in the one case directly upon the shaft of the first pinion I, and in
the other upon the shaft of a supplementary toothed wheel k.
Fig. 26 is a detached view shewing the action of the contact lever or pointe
above referred to. A is the vacuum box or diaphragm, and c the contact lever
or point set upon the rocking shaft E mounted upon the plate B, which
receives the whole of the mechanism. It will be seen that this point or leverc
is provided at its other end with a short arm c¹, upon which the spring & acts
for the purpose of maintaining the contact of the pointer with the actuating
side of the diaphragm A, or suitable contact between the point and the
diaphragm may be obtained by fixing in the side of this latter a small tail g,
Fig. 27, to which the contact lever might be connected by a fork and pin.
I will now describe an important parts of these improvements. It is found
necessary to regulate the barometer (that is to say) to bring the pointer a to any
given point on the dial,an operation which has already been mentioned, together
with the means of effecting it. This regulation of the index hand or pointer
is effected by acting upon the diaphragm or chamber A itself (see Fig. 28),
which is moved in its casing by bringing it nearer to or further from the
mechanism in such manner that in its movement it moves the contact lever c
and consequently all the mechanism. This adjustable movement of the
diaphragm or chamber A in the case B is produced by means of a screw nut m
mounted upon a male screw n made fast to the diaphragm. On turning this
screw nut by means of a key, such as is represented at Fig. 29, the diaphragm
will be moved laterally and produce the effect above mentioned. But during
the movements of the diaphragm it is necessary to keep it always in contact
with the mechanism; whatever may be the direction of the movement; for
this purpose I interpose between the side of the casing B and the diaphragm
or chamber A three springs Lacting through the agency of a steel washer Z.
Instead of three springs a single one provided with three arms may be
applied, as represented at Figures 30 and 31. Whether one or the other
method be employed, the spring or springs L may be placed upon the side
opposite to the diaphragm as shewn, at Fig. 32, or a U spring L, like that
in the same Figure, may be employed; in this case the regulating screw
nut m bears upon the internal face of the case B.
The male screw n
may be screwed directly into the side of the casing (see Fig. 33) and a bow
pring L-be fixed upon the extremity of this rod; this spring bearing upon the

page_text: external face of the casing B for the purpose of compensating for loss of time, in
turning the screw..
It has been explained in what manner the vacuum box is provided inside.
with springs intended to form an equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure
without changing the form of these springs or their mode of action; they mayè
however be placed outside and enclose the diaphragm or chamber between
them, as represented at Fig 34.
5
In order to move the pointer or index hand of a pocket barometer, or any
other baronieter in which the said pointer requires to be placed inside the glass.
which protects the dial, the means represented at Figures 35, 36, and 37 are
proposed to be employed. In Fig. 35, D is the outer box or casing of the
barometer, and C the dial. The index hand M is mounted upon a socket
adjusted in the dial itself and is sufficiently thick to allow the barometric needle
to pass freely through it. This socket carries a small wheel p taking into a
pinion q,
mounted upon a shaft r, which carries a second pinion s taking into 1
another wheelt, the shaft of which passes through the boss of the pendant and
terminates in a milled thumb piece u. In Fig. 36, instead of the wheel.p
and pinion q, a worn wheel p' and worm q¹ are employed. In the arrange-
ment represented at Fig. 37 the wheel mounted upon the shaft of the pointer
M is a ratchet wheel p³ actuated by a click lever v, which is effected by pressing
upon a button u¹ outside the case D.
As a principle of application of the above-described instrument it may be
remarked, first, that all things being otherwise equal, the barometer may be
converted into a thermometer by filling the motive box or diaphragm A with
alcoholor other liquid capable of great dilitation instead of creating a vacuum
therein and by providing it with any suitable graduation; secondly,all things
being otherwise equal, whether a barometer or a thermometer, the instrument
maybe converted into a barometrograph or thermometrograph by providing it
with free moveable index hands worked by the principal pointer,and shewing
the maxima and minima.
In Sheet III. various compound instruments are represented which are
formed by combining together the barometer and clockwork movements.or
compasses. Figures 38 and 39 represent a mode of connecting together a
Bourdon tube barometer and a clock movement, their two indicating gradua-
tions being set upon the same dial concentrically. In order to effect this..
combination the clock movement D is placed inside the barometrie tube A and
is secured upon the plate B. The mechanism of the barometer (that is: to
say) the rack c and its hand pinion d are set upon the back plate of the clock
movement, which arrangement is fully represented at Fig. 39. In order to

page_text: cause the hands of both clock and barometer to work on the same dial of the
case which encloses them both, the shaft of the minute hand is made hollow,and
through it is passed the shaft upon which are mounted the pointer a and its
pinion d.
Figures 40 and 41 represent an arrangement in which the barometer dia
is set concentrically inside the clock face. In this instance the mechanism
of the barometer is set upon its own face B, but the shaft of the minute
hand passes through the shaft of the barometer pinion d. For this purpose
this pinion has for its axle a hollow cylindrical socket d, which works in
an opening made for that purpose in the plate B, and carries at its exterior
the barometer index a, which in this instance is behind the clock hands.
The rotation of this pinion, which is effected by operating on the outside
of its socket, and the diameter of which is somewhat considerable in
order to allow of the passage through it if the minute hand shaft e, has led to
the employment of the following special mechanism -Instead of adjusting
this socket d to work with friction in a circular hole it is set between four anti-
friction rollersf, Fig. 40, which turn upon fine shafts set iu a bridle piece g, a
bar g', and a plate B' in the centre of the main plate B, and upon which this
bridle piece and bearers are screwed. These four rollers, instead of being in
the same plane, occupy in pairs the two sides of the pinion in the position
where they counterbalance the natural oblique force due to the transmitting
action.
Figures 42 and 43 represent an arrangement in which the barometer dial
is set inside the clock dial and excentrically thereto. The manner in which
this is effected will be best seen on reference to the sectional view, Fig. 42,
where it will be seen that, as before, the barometric tube A is mounted upon its
plate B, aud surrounds the clockwork movement D. The principal feature is
the form and arrangement of the sector c, the radius of which projects beyond
the centre of the minute hand, and which has an open frame sufficiently large
to embrace the shaft of the minute hand, and also space requisite for its own
movements.
Figures 44and 45 represent in outside view and transverse section compound
instruments,comprising a barometer with watch or clock movement and com-
pass, the vacuum box or chamber A being mounted (together with its
transmission mechanism) between two metal places b and c, and the whole
enclosed in an outside case B. A box or case D enclosing the watch move-
ment, and another case C containing the needle d of the compass, are fixed upon
the plate h

page_text: Fig.46 represents in outside view an analogous apparatus, which comprisesa
barometer connected with one of the two others, a watch or a compass. The
place only of the watch is occupied, and instead of this watch the compass may
be substituted. If instead of creating a vacuum in the box or chamber A,
Fig. 45, it be filled with a liquid capable of considerable dilatation, such as
alcohol, the barometer will as above stated be immediately converted into a
thermometer, which may be made a compound instrument by combining it with
either a watch and compass, or a watch or compass only.
Fig. 47 represents a compound instrument, consisting of a box barometer
and a clock movement, which constitutes the principal part of the apparatus,
and which may be of the same dimensions as in the first-described arrange.
ments. On the plate B is an appendage B', to which is attached the
vacuum box A,Fig.45, the multiplying mechanism of which transmits motion,
by means of a small connecting rod b,to the rack c,which receives an oscillating
angular movement.
Having now described the nature of this Invention as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I desire it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent I claim,-
Firstly, the improvements in barometers above described having for their
object the construction of the aneroid barometer.
Secondly, the special arrangements having for their objects the construction
of the vacuum box diaphragm or chamber, which is the body or motor in this
construction of barometer.
Thirdly, the various arrangements above shewnand described of the multiply-
ing mechanism which transmits the effects of this motor and admits of the
motions to be indicated being transmitted to the pointer.
Fourthly,all the arrangements and combinations above shewn and described
having for their object the construction of theinstrument ofthesmallest possible
or of any other required size.
Fifthly, the conversion of the barometer into a thermometer by filling the
motive box, diaphragm or chamber, with a liquid capable of considerable
expansion instead of causing a vacuum therein.
Sixthly, the application of special parts having for their object to render the
instrument registering (that is to say) to convert it into a barometrograph or a
thermometrograph.
Seventhly, the establishment of multiple apparatus by combining themetallic
barometer or thermometer constructed on the Bourdon or aneroid principle

page_text: with a compass and with a clock work movement whatever may be its nature,
whether watch, chronometer, or clock.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Second day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTO
(LB.)