Improvements in Aneroid Barometers.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aneroid Barometers.
We, EDWARD WHYMPER of Surrey House, Victoria Embankment, Artist and
JAMES JOSEPH HICKS of 8 Hatton Garden, Meteorological Instrument
Manufacturer, both in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention to be as follows:-
It has been found that aneroid barometers as hitherto constructed and supplied
to the public have been subject to material errors or variations in their indications
on being submitted to low pressures for a considerable period. We have
endeavoured to cure this defect by submitting the barometer when completely
manufactured and adjusted, or the separate completely manufactured parts thereof
to an annealing process continued for a long period at as high a temperature as
possible short of melting or softening the solder or of in any way injuring any part
of the barometer.
The above method of treatment has to a large extent succeeded in curing or
minimizing the defect above referred to but we have succeeded still further in
curing or minimizing this defect by means of our present invention which relates to
the construction of the vacuum boxes and which may be used in combination or not
with the annealing process above referred to. We manufacture the top and bottom
of the vacuum box, as heretofore, of metal discs in which a number of concentric
annular corrugations are formed by "spinning," but in addition thereto we
interpose between the two corrugated metal discs, a number of metallic springs.
(preferably three), which are fixed to one of such discs and bear against the other
disc. The two discs are then soldered together and exhausted in the usual way..
A vacuum box thus constructed, after having been submitted to low pressure for
a considerable, time, is almost, if not altogether, free of the errors or variations
above referred to as the internal springs prevent or counteract the tendency of the
sides of the vacuum box to become strained or fatigued.
Dated thin ooh dois of 1902
1
EDWARD WHYMPER,
JAS. J. HICKS,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Aneroid Barometers.
We, EDWARD WHYMPER, of Surrey House, Victoria Embankment, Artist, and
JAMES JOSEPH HICKS, of 8 Hatton Garden, Meteorological Instrument
Manufacturer, both in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
It has been found that aneroid barometers as hitherto constructed and supplied
to the public have been subject to material errors or variations in their indications
on being submitted to low pressures for a considerable period.
We have endeavoured to cure this defect by submitting the barometer, when
completely manufactured and adjusted, or the separate completely manufactured
parts thereof, to an annealing process continued for a long period at as high a
temperature as possible, short of melting or softening the solder or of in any way
injuring any part of the barometer.

page_text: The above method of treatment has to a large extent succeeded in curing or
minimizing the defect above referred to; but we have succeeded still further in
curing or minimizing this defect by means of our present invention, which relates
to the construction or improvement of the vacuum boxes, and which may be used in
combination or not with the annealing process above referred to.
Our improved vacuum box is represented in the accompanying drawing in
which:-
Fig. 1 is an interior view of one of the discs and
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the complete vacuum box.
In carrying our invention into effect we manufacture the top and bottom of the
vacuum box as heretofore of metal discs. a a', in which a number of concentric
annular corrugations are formed by "spinning"; but, in addition thereto, we
interpose between the two corrugated metal discs a a¹, a number of metallic
springs b, preferably three, which are fixed to one of such discs, say the disc a, and
bear against the other disc. The two discs are soldered together around their
peripheries, and the enclosed space exhausted in the usual way.
b
We have found the form of spring represented in the drawings to answer the
purpose well, but other forms of spring may be employed without departing from
our invention.
A vacuum box constructed or improved as above described, after having been
submitted to low pressures for a considerable time, is almost, if not altogether, free
of the errors or variations above referred to, as the internal springs prevent or
counteract the tendency of the sides of the vacuum box to become strained or
fatigued.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In aneroid barometers, the improved vacuum box having internal springs,
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. In aneroid barometers, the improved vacuum box having internal springs, in
combination with an annealing process to which the completely manufactured
barometer is submitted, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1893.