AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PLUMBING OR LEVELLING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry George Barrey, of Lymington, in the County of
Hants, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR
PLUMBING OR LEVELLING."
Sealed the 23rd March 1877, and dated the 11th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry George Barrey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1877.
HENRY GEORGE BARREY, of Lymington, in the County of Hants.
"AN
IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PLUMBING OR LEVELLING."
This Invention relates to the production of an improved self-indicating instru-
ment or apparatus (of simple construction and of a handy and convenient form) for
use in plumbing or levelling.
.
The improved instrument is constructed with three material parts, a stock or
frame, a weighted or fixed indicator or pointer, and a fixed or weighted dial.
These parts may be combined in various ways, the most simple of which I will now
describe.
In one modification the block is made of a square or plane-shaped figure, and has
a semicircular dial fixed on one side, the centre of the dial carrying a pin or pivot
from which a weighted indicator depends. This modification may be varied by
fixing the indicator and pivoting a weighted dial on the pin. The indications in
this modification are made downwardly.
In another modification the block is made with a plane bearing surface and of a
rounded and more convenient form than in the preceding modification, and has a
circular dial fixed on one side, the centre of the dial carrying a pin on which a
weighted indicator is pivotted centrally of its length or nearly so.
This modification may also be varied by fixing the indicator and. pivotting a
weighted dial on the pin. The indications in this modification are made upwardly.
The dials may be marked in degrees or other conveniently read measurements
either on the face or edge, and they may be enclosed and protected by glass. Such
an instrument forms a very convenient and accurate plumb and level automatically
indicative of any and what incline of surface on or in contact with which it may be
placed; the weighted indicator or dial always preserving a vertical position,
irrespective of the stock and fixed dial or indicator.

page_text: •
The stock or frame may be of wood, metal, or other suitable material; and the
dials or scales of paper, ivory, wood, or metal; the pointers being preferably of
metal.
The stock may be provided with a sight-hole from end to end near the top in the
square form, or near the bottom in the other forms,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry George Barrey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th July
1877.
HENRY GEORGE BARREY, of Lymington, in the County of Hants.
IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR PLUMBING OR LEVELLING.".
"AN
This Invention relates to improved self-indicating instruments or apparatus for
use in plumbing or levelling.
The improved instruments (which are illustrated in some varieties of their con-
struction in Figures 1 to 4 on the accompanying Drawings) embrace three material
parts; a stock or frame, a weighted (or fixed) indicator, and a fixed (or weighted)
dial, which parts may be combined in various ways.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 1, the block or stand 1 is made of a
squared or solid figure, and has a semicircular dial 2 in one side, a pin or pivot 3
projecting from the centre of the dial, and from which a weighted indicator 4
depends. The indications in this modification are made downwardly. This form is
handy, portable, and accurate in its readings.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 2 the stand I is made with a plano
bearing surface and of a more generally useful form than in the preceding modifica-
tion, and it has a circular dial fixed on one side, a pin projecting from the centre of
the dial and on which a weighted indicator is pivotted centrally of its length.
This modification may be varied by fixing the indicator and pivotting a weighted
dial on the pin. The indications in this modification are made upwardly and down-
wardly. This form is the most convenient for levelling, plumbing, and measuring
the run or inclination on the over or under sides of various objects.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 3 the stand is made for use as a square
and angle of 45°, the indicator is made of a greater length, and the dial is made of
a greater radius but of a less extensive circuit. This form is very sensitive and
accurate in its readings, but its use is limited or very nearly so to plumbing and
levelling, yet as a tool it is a good square and angle of 45°.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of Figure 2, and shows more clearly the construc-
tion of the instruments. The stand 1 is made of hard wood edged with metal 5,
and from it rise stays 6 which support a metal case 7, within which is a second
metal case 8, the space between the cases being occupied by a waved metal strip or
band 9. Within the case 8 the dials 2 are placed and cemented or pressed by a
metal ring 10 against the back or sides tliereof.
As shown on the accompanying Drawings the dials are divided on the face into
four equal parts by two lines at right angles, and these parts are each divided into
90° commencing at 0° at each end of the vertical line, and continuing to 90° at each
end of the horizontal line. The dials or scales, which may be formed of paper,
ivory, wood, metal, or any other suitable material, may however be marked on the
edge, and with any other desirable or conveniently read measurements. The pin 3
projects from the case 8, passes through the centre of the dial, and is formed as a
finely tapered steel pivot, it carries glass washers 11 which keep the delicately
suspended double ended indicator or pointer 4 in position. The pointer is formed of
inetal and is kept in a vertical position by a weight 12 of soft metal to prevent
attraction, and the inner side of which is covered with paper, linen, or similar
material 13, so that the dial shall not be soiled by its continual passage. The

page_text: pointer is formed double ended as being most useful, the top end for over-head
work and the bottom end for (say) drain work. The dial and pointer are protected
and enclosed within the case 8 by a glass disc 14 secured by a metal ring 15. The
pointer is prevented shaking about when being carried, or not in use, by a spring 16,
one end of which is rivetted to the back of the case 7, and the other end of which is
turned up as at 17, and passes through the back of the case 8, and the dial
engaging in a countersunk hole 18 in the papered side of the weight 12 presses its
other side against the glass 14 as shown. When required for use the pointer is
released from the pressure of the spring 16 by the lattor being turned back by a
thumb lever or key 19. The waved or spring band 9 keeps the case 8 in position,
but notches in the rim of the latter allow of its being turned so that the dial within
it may be quickly and accurately adjusted to its indicator at any time.
So far as their structures will allow, the details of the other forms of instruments
depicted are arranged conformably to the construction above described. In the
modifications illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the outer cases are formed in the wood
of the stocks or stands which are bound on all their working faces with brass.
These and other forms may be made of metal or wood, of metal and wood com-
bined, or of any suitable material, and either plain or ornamental, and of any
required dimensions.
The application or use of these instruments, say of the form shown in Figure 2,
is as follows:-Its base being placed on or under a level object, its pointer indi-
cates 0°, 0°, or if the object be not level, it will indicate how many degrees it
deviates therefrom. In plumbing also if the base be placed upright against a per-
pendicular object the pointer will indicate 90°, 90°, or if the object be not upright
it will indicate how many degrees it deviates therefrom. Conical objects such as
columns or cannons may be set upright or laid horizontal; and lines, level, upright,
or inclining to any given number of degrees may be instantly produced on any
vertical plane, as a wall or board, by the use of these instruments. These instru-
ments therefore form very convenient and accurate plumbs, levels, and incline
indicators, automatically indicative of any and what incline of surface on or in
contact with which they may be placed; the free weighted indicators or dials
always preserving a vertical position irrespective of the stocks and fixed dials or
indicators.
The stocks may be provided with sight holes from end to end, near the top in the
squared forms, or near the bottom in the other forms.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the con-
struction of self-indicating instruments for use in plumbing and levelling, consisting
of a plumbing and levelling stock or stand, a free weighted or fixed indicator or
pointer, and a fixed or free weighted dial, these parts being arranged substantially
as herein-above described and as illustrated on the accompanying Drawings in
combination with the various other described and illustrated subsidiary improve-
ments.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry George Barrey, have hereunto' set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand night hundred and seventy.CAWAN
HENRY GEORGE BARREY. (L.S.)`