Improvements in Linear Measuring Instruments.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897--Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Linear Measuring Instruments.
I, CHARLES ROBERT STEDMAN, residing at Norwalk, in the County of Huron,
State of Ohio, U.S.A. Architect and Builder, 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:-
My invention has relation to improvements in linear measuring instruments in
estimating and contracting, and the object is to provide a simple and reliable tool
or instrument for this purpose that will be portable and convenient. To this end
the novelty consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of the same
as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawing the same figures of reference indicate the same
parts of the invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved measure as it appears in use;
Figure 2 is a top plan view, showing the cover-plate removed;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the zeroising plate detached from the case.
1 represents the case, and 2 the cover-plate removably secured thereto by
screws 3. 4 is a standard secured in the bottom of the casing 1, which forms a
guide for the push button 5, the outer end of which projects through a circular
orifice 6 in the plate 2, and its inner end is provided with a cap 7 having a flange 8
to prevent it sliding out of the orifice in the cover, and it is also formed with a
guide orifice 9, by means of which it slides freely on the standard 4.
"
10 is the "units" wheel, rigidly mounted on a shaft 12 having its ends journaled
in the case and cover. The tens wheel 13 and the "hundreds" wheel 14 are
similarly mounted. The milled rim 15 of the units wheel 10 projects through a
slot 16 in the end of the case 1, and said rim is made to travel over the line to be
measured, one complete revolution of said wheel causing its pin 17 to engage one
of the ten teeth 18 on the tens wheel and rotate it one tooth. One revolution of
the tens wheel 13, or ten revolutions of the units wheel 10, causes the pin 19
on the tens wheel 13 to engage one of the ten teeth 20 on the hundreds wheel 14
and rotate said wheel one tooth, after the usual manner of similar machine counters.
The faces of the wheels are provided with the usual digits, which are conveniently
read through the visual orifices 21 in the cover-plate.
The shaft of the tens wheel 13 is formed with journals which allow of a longi-
tudinal movement of said shaft just sufficient to permit the pin 19 to be released
from the plane of the teeth on the hundreds wheel, and at the same time remove
its own teeth from the path of the teeth in the wheel 10 when the tens wheel is
pressed down by the action of the zeroising plate.
This operation disconnects all three of the wheels, and leaves them free to be
rotated or returned to zero by the zeroising plates, as will be hereinafter described.
22 is a longitudinal zeroising plate, having one end secured in a recess 23 in
one end of the case 1, and it is provided with a guide hole 24, through which the
standard 4 passes and a V-shaped spring 25; the free ends of which are provided

page_text: with guide orifices 26-27, through which the standard passes; is located between
said zeroising plate and the bottom of the case, said spring pressing the plate
upward and causing the push button 5 to be normally projected beyond the plate 2.
The free end of this plate 22 is provided with orifices 28-29 and 30, through
which the shafts of the index wheels pass. Each of the orifices in the plate 22 is
provided with an inwardly projecting cylindrical flange 31, the inclined face 32
of which is normally out of contact with a radial pin 33 on each of the shafts of
the index wheels. After the instrument has been used, the index wheels have
been left at various points, and it is desired to return them to zero, or the starting
point, a simple pressure on the thumb button presses the zeroising plate 22
inwardly. This causes the inclined face of the flanges 31 to engage the radial pins
on the shafts of the index wheels and rotate said shafts until the pins strike the
highest points of the inclined face of said flanges, which point, of course, is so
arranged as to present the zero character or O to the visual orifices in the plate.
In practice, I prefer to use light flat tension springs 34-35 under the units and
hundreds wheels to produce enough friction and prevent their accidental movement
or displacement, the spring 25 under the zeroising plate 22 serving the same
purpose for the tens wheel; and of course when the zeroising plate 22 is pressed
down, the tension is relieved from all the wheels, so that they may be readily set.
To use the instrument, the milled rim of the units wheel is placed on the line
to be measured, estimated or computed, with the pointer 34¹ on the cover plate
at the end of the line, and the instrument is moved along the rim of the unit wheel
following the course of the line precisely until the pointer 34¹ reaches the end of
the line and as the drawings of architects and contractors are usually drawn on
a scale of one-quarter of an inch to the foot, and the diameter, of the milled wheel,
in the present instance, is equal to ten feet, at the scale the drawings are usually
made, it follows that the length of the line traversed can be instantly and correctly
read on the dials.
A number of lines, straight, curved or irregular, may be measured one after
the other, and their sum read off as indicated, and after the reading is noted, a
simple pressure of the push button restores all the wheels to zero, ready for a new
movement.
I do not desire to confine myself to the scale indicated, as it is obvious that, the
diameter or the circumference of the traversing wheel may be increased, or
diminished to conform to any scale desired.
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. The combination with the units wheel 10 having a pin 17 adapted to engage
the teeth on the tens wheel 13, of means substantially as described for releasing
the teeth on the tens wheel from the pin on the units wheel and simultaneously
restoring both wheels to zero, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with the units wheel 10 having the radial pin 33, and the
pin 17, the tens wheel 13 provided with circumferential teeth 18, a pin 17, and a
radial pin 33, and the hundreds wheel 14 provided with a series of teeth and a
radial pin 33, of means substantially as described for restoring said, wheels to
zero, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with the units and tens wheels provided with the radial
pins 33, of the zero plate 22 provided with the cylindrical flanges 31 having
inclined faces 32, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The case 1 and cover 2, in which is mounted a series of registering wheels
substantially as described, the shafts of which are provided with pins 33, in com-
bination with the zeroising plate 22, its spring 25 and push button 5, and provided
with guide orifices 28, 29 and 30, having cylindrical flanges 31, the inclined
faces 32 of which are adapted to engage the pins 33 when operated, by the push
button 5, as and for the purpose set forth..

page_text: 5. The case 1, cover 2 provided with the pointer 34¹, a series of registering
wheels located in said case, the milled rim of one of said registering wheels project-
ing beyond said case and adapted to be propelled over the surface to be measured,
and means substantially as described for restoring said registering wheels to zero,
as and for the purpose set forth.
1
001 1
h 1906
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.