IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR THE LINEAR MEASUREMENT OF SURFACES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake &
Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR THE LINEAR MEASUREMENT OF
SURFACES A communication from abroad by Viktor von Reitzner, of
Vienna, Austria
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR THE
LINEAR MEASUREMENT OF SURFACES A communication from abroad by Viktor
von Reitzner, of Vienna, Austria
"
This invention relates to instruments for the mensurement of straight and curved
lines upon convex concave or other surfaces. It consists essentially in arranging a
series of graduated discs within a suitable case, which is preferably in the form of
a locket; the said discs are marked with figures so that the distance measured may
be easily ascertained It further consists in a simplified construction of such
instruments as hereinafter set forth According to one method I provide three
discs, which are properly graduated and are capable of revolving upon axles fixed
in the front and back parts of the case of the instrument, or they may be fixed
upon axles capable of revolving in bearings in the said case
The disc, by means of which the measurement is effected, has a circumference of
a given length or measurement and is graduated around the rim in such a manner
that each division is a given distance, say exactly one millimetre, from the adjacent
ones. Upon the axle of this disc is fixed a toothed wheel having eight teeth which
gear with the teeth upon a second disc which is of suitable diameter and has upon
its periphery forty eight teeth equal to each other in size and shape. Each
complete revolution of this disc represents a certain measurement and the circum-
ference of the disc is divided by division lines into twenty four equal parts. Upon
the axle of the second disc is fixed a toothed wheel having six teeth which gear

page_text: with the teeth of a third disc. The latter is of suitable diameter and has upon its
circumference seventy two perfectly equal teeth and is divided by graduation lines
into twelve equal parts, each representing a certain measurement. The discs are
preferably arranged in such a manner, that the graduations of the first and second
discs are visible at the front side and the graduations of the third disc at the back
of the case, and they are also arranged so that by turning the first disc, three
points which are attached to the case and serve as indicators can be made to point
to zero on the three discs or dials, the zero point of the first disc occupying the
lowermost position
According to another method a graduated disc having a circumference of given
measurement is provided, the axle of which is carried in bearings in a suitably
shaped handle. At the back of the said disc a cam is attached upon which bears
a spring fixed to the handle; this spring causes an audible click, as soon as the
said disc has made a complete revolution and thus facilitates the counting of the
number of revolutions made by the said disc. It will be obvious that the number
of divisions upon the discs and the measurements they represent, and also the
number of teeth upon the several wheels may be varied, and that the form of the
instrument may be modified without departing from the nature of the said
invention

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, " IMPROVEMENTS IN INSTRUMENTS FOR THE
LINEAR MEASUREMENT OF SURFACES A communication from abroad by Viktor
von Reitzner, of Vienna, Austria
"
This invention relates to instruments for the measurement of straight and curved
lines, upon convex, concave, or other surfaces. The said invention consists essen-
tially in arranging a series of graduated discs within a suitable case which is
preferably in the form of a locket; the said discs are marked with figures so that
the distance measured may be readily ascertained as hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a measuring instrument constructed according
to this invention, the front of the case being removed,
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the instrument complete.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same.
Figures 4 and 5 are front and rear elevations of a modification of this
invention.
According to the said invention I provide three discs A. B. C. as shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3 the faces of which are properly graduated; the said discs are
capable of revolving upon axles having bearings in the front and rear plates of the
case of the instrument. The disc A which runs on the line to be measured has a cir-
cumference of say one inch, and is graduated in such a manner that each division
line is, for example, exactly one sixteenth of an inch distant from the adjacent ones.
Upon the axle of the disc A is fixed a toothed wheel having eight teeth which gear
with the teeth upon the circumference of the disc B. The disc B has upon its
periphery ninety six teeth so that each complete revolution of the said disc
represents twelve revolutions of the disc A. The circumference of the disc B is
divided into twenty four equal parts each of which represents half an inch. Upon
the axle of the disc B, is fixed a toothed wheel having six teeth which gear with
the teeth upon the periphery of the disc C, The latter is of suitable diameter and
has upon its periphery seventy two teeth, and is divided by graduation lines into
twelve equal parts each of which represents one revolution of the disc B and the
measurement of a line of twelve inches in length. The discs are preferably
arranged in such a manner, that the graduations of discs A and B are visible at the
front of the case as shewn in Figure 2 and the graduations of the disc C at the
back of the case, as shewn in Figure 3; they are also arranged so that by turning
the disc A the three pointers a, b, c, which are attached to the case and serve as
indicators, can be made to point to zero on their respective discs or dials, the zero
point of disc A occupying the lowermost position as shewn in Figure 2.
operation of the instrument is as follows, that is to say, if the disc A is moved
along a straight or curved line upon a surface, the number of whole feet traversed
is indicated by the disc C at the back of the case; upon the disc B on the front
side of the case the number of whole and half inches is indicated whilst on disc A
the fractions of an inch are shewn in sixteenths; the whole distance thus measured
can be at once ascertained.
The
According to a modification of this invention as shewn in Figures 4 and 5 a
graduated disc having a circumference of say one inch is provided, the axle of
which is carried in bearings in a suitably shaped handle, At the back of the said
disc a cam is attached (Figure 4) upon which bears the spring ffixed to the handle;

page_text: this spring causes an audible click, as soon as the said disc has made a complete
revolution and thus facilitates the counting of the number of revolutions made by
the said disc.
It is obvious that the number of divisions upon the discs, and the measurements
they represent, and also the number of teeth upon the several wheels may be
varied, and that the form of the instrument may be modified without departing
from the nature of the said invention.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
Foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim.
First. An instrument for measuring straight and curved lines upon convex,
concave and other surfaces, wherein the discs are arranged within a case having the
form of a locket, the said discs being geared together and graduated according to
the scale of measurement they are intended to register, all substantially as shewn
and described.
Second, An instrument for measuring straight and curved lines upon convex,
concave or other surfaces, wherein a disc, which is graduated upon its face according
to any suitable scale of measurement, is attached to a suitable handle, the said
handle having secured to it a spring which bears against a cam attached to the disc,
so that at every revolution of the said disc an audible sound is produced,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this First day of November in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two