Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1900
I, CHARLES JOHN BANKS, of Westwood, Washington, in the County of Durham,
Managing Director of the Firm of R. S. Newall and Son, Limited, Wire Rope
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to micrometers or instruments for gauging certain sizes
of small objects or articles, such as the diameter of wire.
The micrometers generally used at present are of the screw type, but they possess
disadvantages in the way of manipulation and reading which tend to inaccuracy,
while their somewhat complex construction renders them costly to produce.
The object of my invention is to provide a micrometer or gauge that can be
cheaply manufactured, easily handled and read directly or without recourse to
mental calculation.
An instrument embodying my invention consists essentially of a tapered bar
and a frame having a correspondingly inclined surface for co-acting therewith,
the arrangement being such that between the bar and frame a space intervenes
which is gradually increased or diminished. on the movement of either, whereby
any object placed therein is gauged and its measurement shown by a convenient
scale or scales on one or both parts.
As will be obvious, my invention may be carried into practice by various
constructions, and according to one I employ a bar or rule and an open-ended
frame, box, casing or guide adapted to slide thereon or permit reciprocation
of the bar in or upon it. The upper edge of the bar is tapered or inclined longi-
tudinally and at the lower edge, which is horizontal, an appropriate scale is
furnished. The upper and lower inner edges or surfaces of the frame are disposed
or shaped to correspond with the respective edges of the bar and they are at a
distance apart equal to, or about the same as the greatest height or width of the
bar or rule. At one end of the frame, and commencing at its lower inner edge, a
notch or gap is made in the sides or lateral walls thereof, while at the other end,
the lower portion of one or both these walls is extended and thereon a vernier
scale is provided. The bar is placed within the frame with the inclined surfaces
in close contact, the maintenance of position being effected with the aid of a
projection or projections on one part taking into a groove or grooves in the other
and by a spring arranged to act on the underside of the bar, the spring being
attached within the frame suitably recessed therefor.
In use, the object to be gauged is inserted in the gap or notch aforesaid, then
the bar is moved towards same longitudinally through the frame or the latter
(with the object) similarly moved in the reverse direction on the bar whereby the
object is nipped between the lower edge of the bar and the adjacent edge of the
frame, whereupon the requisite measurement is directly shown by, and can be
readily ascertained on referring to, the scales.
"Dated this 13th dox of December 1898
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents.

page_text: I, CHARLES JOHN BANKS, of Westwood, Washington, in the County of Durham,
Managing Director of the Firm of R. S. Newall and Son, Limited, Wire Rope
Manufacturers, 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:-
-
This invention relates to micrometers or instruments for gauging certain sizes
of small objects or articles, such as the diameter of wire.
The micrometers generally used at present are of the screw type, but they possess
disadvantages in the way of manipulation and reading which tend to inaccuracy,
while their somewhat complex construction renders them costly to produce.
The object of my invention is to provide a micrometer or gauge that can be
cheaply manufactured, easily handled, and read directly, or without recourse to
mental calculation.
An instrument embodying my invention consists essentially of a tapered bar
and a frame having a correspondingly inclined surface for co-acting therewith,
the arrangement being such that between the bar and frame a space intervenes
which is gradually increased or diminished on the movement of either, whereby
any obiect placed therein is gauged and its measurement shown by a convenient
scale or scales on one or both parts.
As will be obvious, my invention may be carried into practice by various con-
structions but the construction that I prefer, and find to attain my object very
advantageously is shown in the accompanying drawings in reference to which I
will fully describe my invention.
In these drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete micrometer and
Fig. 2 is a similar view with a part (hereafter described) removed. Figs. 3 and 4
are end elevations at the left and right hand ends of Fig. I respectively; and
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line Z-Z in Fig. 2 looking to the left.
In the figures, A designates a bar or rule and B an open-ended frame, box,
casing or guide adapted to slide thereon, or permit reciprocation of the bar A in
or upon it. To permit these movements, the frame B is constituted by two
plates b, b', the former being plain whereas the other is fashioned or recessed as
shown to receive the bar A which is retained in place by fixing both the plates
together by screws 62, 62. The plate is the part before alluded to as removed
in Fig. 2.
The upper edge of the bar A is tapered or inclined longitudinally and the lower
edge made horizontal whereat an appropriate scale a is furnished. The upper
and lower inner edges or surfaces of the frame B (that is to say of the recess in
its plate 6) are disposed or shaped to correspond with the respective edges of the
bar A and they are at a distance apart equal to or about the same as the greatest
height or width of the bar or rule A. These features are clearly represented in
Figs. 1 and 2.
-
At one end of the frame B, and commencing at its lower inner edge, a notch or
gap 3. is made in the plates b, forming the sides or lateral walls thereof, while
at the other end. the lower portion of both these plates or walls is extended and
on that part adjacent to the scale a a vernier scale 64 is provided. For symmetry
and greater accuracy, I prefer to extend both the plates b, as specified, though
the plate b may only be so prolonged.
In Figs. 2 and 5 I show a plate fitted in a recess in, and screwed to the
plate b¹ so as to form part of same about the lower margin of the notch b³. I

page_text: recommend this plan because the plate 65 can be easily adjusted to meet any
adjustment that may be required in the instrument without necessitating the
adjustment of the essential components; therefore convenience and economy
accrue.
The bar A is placed within the frame B with the inclined surfaces in close
contact, the maintenance of position being effected with the aid of a projection 66
(or there may be two or more) on the plate 6 taking into a groove a¹ (or grooves)
in the bar A and by a spring arranged to act on the underside of the bar A;
the spring being attached within the frame-plate b, suitably recessed therefor,
by one of the screws 62, 62, as shown.
Obviously, the use of the parts 66, a¹ and 67 is not absolutely necessary, but I
prefer to employ them as they ensure accuracy; of course, in place of them, other
suitable or equivalent means may be adopted.
As will now be apparent, the reading at the scales will be zero when the
horizontal edge of the bar A is in contact with the corresponding edge of the
frame B, or the top of the plate 65, while as it recedes therefrom, the reading
gradually increases to the maximum.
The scales a and b exemplified are based on the decimal system, but of course,
such will vary according to circumstances. However, whatever the scale, the
accuracy can always be proved by noting the length and travel of the bar or rule A
and comparing the increase or decrease of the space at the notch 63 with the
reading.
The parts herein described as comprising my improved micrometer may be
constructed of any suitable material or materials known to those skilled in the
art to which my invention belongs.
Having described the construction of my improved micrometer, I will now
explain its operation in use.
The object say the wire C, Figs. and 2-to be gauged is inserted in the
gap or notch ; then the bar A is moved towards same longitudinally through
the frame B whereby the spring 67 is depressed and eventually the object C is
nipped between the lower edge of the bar A and the adjacent edge of the frame B,
owing to the diminution of the intervening space, as indicated by the dot-and-
dash lines in Fig. 2, whereupon the requisite measurement is directly shown by,
and can be readily ascertained on referring to, the scales a and 64. As will be
evident, the same results will be attained by sliding the frame B (with the object C)
backwards on the bar A; but I find it more convenient to move the bar and
maintain the frame more or less rigid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A micrometer consisting essentially of a tapered bar and a frame having a
correspondingly inclined surface for co-acting therewith, the arrangement being
such that between the bar and frame a space intervenes which is gradually increased
or diminished on the movement of either, whereby any object placed therein is
gauged and its measurement shown by a convenient scale or scales on one or both
parts, substantially as described in reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a micrometer, the combination of a bar or rule having a tapered or longi-
tudinally inclined upper edge and a lower horizontal edge furnished with a scale;
an open-ended frame, box, casing, or guide for receiving and co-acting with the
said bar or rule and provided with a scale or not; and a space, notch or gap in
he frame or like part for receiving the object to be measured, substantially as
lescribed in reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In a micrometer, the combination of a bar or rule (such as A) having a
apered or longitudinally inclined upper edge and a lower horizontal edge furnished
with a scale; an open-ended frame, box, casing, or guide (such as B) for receiving
and co-acting with the said bar or rule a space, notch or gap (such as 63) in the

page_text: frame or like part for receiving the object to be measured; a scale on the frame
or like part; and means for maintaining the position of the bar within the frame,
substantially as described in reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. A micrometer constructed and arranged or adapted for use, substantially as
described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of October 1899.
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.