AN IMPROVED MEASURING GAUGE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Laidler, of Bow Common, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
MEASURING GAUGE."
Sealed the 4th February 1876, and dated the 11th August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Laidler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th August 1875.
I, WILLIAM HENRY LAIDLER, of Bow Common, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED MEASURING GAUGE," to be as follows:-
In accordance with this Invention a screw spindle is arranged, which
is connected to an improved sliding block or box working up and down
or to and fro with the said screw spindle over different scales of
measurement forming the main part of the instrument, to which is
attached an improved form of arm or finger which can be inserted into a
small hole or be otherwise applied for the purpose of obtaining an exact
measurement.

page_text: rr
"
This Invention has also for its object a more correct method than
heretofore of measuring the thickness of boiler plates or ship plates of
iron, steel, brass, copper, or any other material, and recording the
thickness of the same in several scales of measurement at one application.
The thickness of a plate of iron or other material can be shewn in
measurement as follows, that is to say, in "eighths or sixteenths,"
twelfths or twenty-fourths," "millimetres or centimetres," or "tenths
and twentieths' of an inch, and in conjunction with a circular
"vernier" scale of measurement fixed on the top of the screw spindle
and secured with a check nut, which is likewise used for adjusting and
firmly holding the circular "vernier" scale in one position to indicate
the scale of measurement thercon correctly. This "vernier "scale
of measurement as arranged and taken in connexion with the tenth
scale will shew the one-thousandth, ten-thousandth, or one-hundred-
thousandth part of an inch, or a still more exact measurement if the
circular "vernier scale be divided with greater fineness of division on
the scale and in conjunction with a screw spindle of finer pitch of
thread, showing at one time nine scales of measurement. The scales
can also be arranged so that they will indicate other measurements than
those above named to suit the scales or measures of other countries, and
the said scale of measurements in their application may be varied and
arranged to suit different branches of trade or manufacture.
"
This Invention also relates to a peculiar arrrangement of the sliding
box attached to the screw spindle, and working up and down with the
said screw as it may be actuated backwards or forwards, the said box
indicating at one view nine or more measurements by one application.
This improved gauge is self-acting, and is so arranged as to show various
scales of measurement, over which it passes without any adjustment
whatever, excepting only the first movement or application of the
instrument to the plate or material required to be measured.
This Invention also relates to an improved form of measuring arm or
finger which can be inserted into a small hole drilled in a plate of iron
or other material, so as to indicate the correct thickness of such plate
by a peculiar formation of the finger or point without coming in contact
with the "burr or rough edge that may have been left on the edge
of such hole by the operation of drilling, and thereby indicate the exact
thickness of such plate. This improved arm or finger can be turned
round while inserted in such hole and give the several thicknesses of the
""

page_text: plate at different radii, and thereby indicate or show whether such plate
is uniform in thickness, or if an old or worn and decayed plate it will
correctly indicate the extent of decay, or show any irregularity in the
surface of the plate.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Henry Laidler in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th February 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY LAIDLER, of Bow Common, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Henry Laidler, Her special
license, that I, the said William Henry Laidler, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Henry Laidler,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
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
"AN IMPROVED MEASURING GAUGE," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Henry Laidler, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, 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 William Henry Laidler, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
-

page_text: f
In accordance with this Invention a screw spindle is arranged, which
is connected to an improved sliding block or box working up and down
or to and fro with the said screw spindle over different scales of
measurement forming the main part of the instrument, to which is
attached an improved form of arm or finger which can be inserted into a
small hole, or be otherwise applied for the purpose of obtaining an exact
measurement.
This Invention has also for its object a more correct method than
heretofore of measuring the thickness of boiler plates or ship plates of
iron, brass, steel, copper, or any other material, and recording the
thickness of the same in several scales of measurement at one application.
The thickness of a plate of iron or other material can be shown in
measurement as follows, that is to say, in eighths or sixteenths,"
twelfths or twenty-fourths," "millimetres or centimetres," or "tenths
and twentieths" of an inch, and in conjunction with a circular
"vernier scale of measurement fixed on the top of the screw spindle
and secured with a check nut, which is likewise used for adjusting and
firmly holding the circular "vernier" scale in one position to indicate
the scale of measurement thereon correctly.
وو
The " vernier" scalc
of measurement as arranged and taken in connection with the tenth
scale will show the one-thousandth, ten-thousandth, and one-hundred-
thousandth part of an inch, or a still more exact measurement if the
circular "vernier " scale be divided with greater fineness of division on
the scale and in conjunction with a screw spindle of finer pitch of
thread, showing at one time nine scales of measurement. The scales
can also be arranged so that they will indicate other measurements than
those named to suit the scales or measures of other countries, and the
said scale of measurements in their application may be varied and
arranged to suit different branches of trade or manufacture.
This Invention also relates to a peculiar arrangement of the sliding
box attached to the screw spindle, and working up and down with the
said screw as it may be actuated backwards or forwards, the said box
indicating at one view nine or more measurements by one application.
This improved gauge is self-acting, and is so arranged as to show various
scales of measurement over which it passes without any adjustment
whatever, excepting only the first movement or application of the instru-
ment to the plate or material required to be measured.

page_text: 25 divisions marked on it round its circumference; now if the vernier be
moved one division on its circumference it will indicate an opening of
one five-hundred part of an inch between the points S, P, and F, and
one entire revolution of the vernier V will show one-twentieth part of
an inch on the scale on B. Two revolutions of the vernier will show
one-tenth part of an inch on the scale on B, and so on. If finer
measurements be required the threads per inch can be increased in
fineness, and the divisions on the vernier more minute until the greatest
exactness is obtained. The vernier V can be adjusted at any time by
slacking the check nut N; the points S, P, and F can be ground or
dressed up true should they wear, and the vernier V again adjusted and
set true to the scales marked thereon in conjunction with the scale on
the edge of the instrument B.
Figure 2 is a side view and plan of a similar measuring gauge arranged
to act and constructed in accordance with my improvements. The arm A
and finger F are the same as in Figure 1; the arrangement of the scales
are however entirely different. I will describe the screw axis S, S, and
its action as it is essentially different to Figure 1. The screw axis S, S,
is screwed and passes through the check nut N, the vernier V, through
the projecting part B', into which it is also screwed, and on to the check
nuts n', n³, in each of which a corresponding thread is cut. The screw
axis S, S, then passes through the sliding block or box marked S, B,
loosely, then into and through the check nuts n² and n¹. On the under
side of check nut n the thread on the screw axis S, S, terminates and
becomes plain, passing through the projecting part B loosely and freely.
down to the point S, P, meeting point F. It will be seen when the
nuts and check nuts n¹, n², n³, and n', are screwed up to the sliding
block S, P, and adjusted so that the block will be held in one position
freely, that as soon as the screw axis S, S, is moved backwards or
forwards the said block S, B, will rise up or down as the screw axis S, S,
may be actuated; and directly opposite the marks, commencing at S¹, S²,
on the sliding block S, B, will show on the edge of B the amount of
opening between the points of axis S, P, and finger F. On the reverse
side of the instrument the sliding block can be arranged in the same
manner. The scales on the body being of different measurements, for
example, scale commencing at S₁ can be arranged and divided into eights
and sixteenth parts of an inch, and the scale commencing at S being
arranged in twelfths and twenty-fourth parts of an inch, and with two

page_text: scales on each face of the instrument, the sliding block will be travelling
over and indicating 4 different scales of measurements as the same
axis S, S, is actuated.
For vernier measurement, suppose the screw axis S, S, has 20 threads
per inch, and vernier V 50 divisions on its circumference, the movement
of one division backward will show an opening between points S, P,
and F to be one-thousandth part of an inch. The arrangement of the
check nut and vernier are the same for adjustment as in Figure 1.
The arrangement of the screw axis S, S, in Figures 3 and 4, is the
same as in Figure 1, with the addition of a small tightening screw
marked T, S. The projecting lug is split up to the screw axis S, S,
and a small piece of wood or other easily compressible packing w fitted
in, so that when the screw axis becomes slack with wear or other cause
the tightening screw T, S, will keep the screw axis at any required
stiffness. This gauge also differs from the two previously described
gauges by having the arm A and finger F moveable, being arranged in
the following manner:-The body of the instrument is drilled through
to receive the upper part of the rod or bar marked S, S, A, in Figure 4,
the upper part passing through hole drilled in body of instrument, and
also through milled screw marked S, Figure 3. This milled screw is for
securing arm A and point F tightly up to the screw spindle S, P. The
check nut marked N2 may or may not be used at pleasure for keeping
milled screw in its position when once screwed tightly in its place.
The object of this moveable leg is when a measurement is taken the
arm A can be released by easing check nut N and milled screw S, or
taking them off, and the leg and arm A entirely released from the
material measured without moving or altering the position of screw
axis S, S, and vernier V, thus showing the measurement on scale and
vernier where the instrument was applied (the same can be kept in this
position for reference if required).
Another object to be gained by this improved moveable leg, as above
described is, that legs of different lengths can be fitted to the same
instrument without extending the scales marked on body of instrument.
An examination of Figure 4 will explain this more fully, where the
extended arms are shown at the intended parting and lengthening on
arm A,

page_text: Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, what I claim is,-
First. The improved arrangement and combination of the arm and
finger A, F, acting substantially as described, for inserting into a small
hole to measure correctly, clear of any burr or rough edge, as described
with reference to Figure 1 of the Drawings annexed.
Second. The improved arrangement and combination of the axis with
vernier and check nut for setting and adjusting vernier to scales, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and
shewn in the Drawings annexed.
Third. The improved arrangement and combination of the adjustable
block moving over different scales at one operation, acting substantially
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described with reference
to Figure 2 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth. The improved arrangement and combination of the moveable
and extending arm or leg in conjunction with the screw axis, vernier,
and scales, acting substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Laidler, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
WILLIAM HENRY LAIDLER. (L.S.)