IMPROVEMENTS IN › INSTRUMENTS FOR OBTAINING SOLAR MEASUREMENTS OF LATITUDE AND TIME
Year: 1870

page_text: Sealed the 25th November 1870, and dated the 7th October 1870.
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Decla- .
ration, on the 7th October 1870, pursuant to the 9th Section of the
Patent Law Amendment Act; 1852.
66
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the International Patent Office," Southampton Build-
ings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ›
INSTRUMENTS FOR OBTAINING SOLAR MEASUREMENTS OF LATITUDE AND TIME," and..

page_text: have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have
made solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from
abroad by Ludwig Ignatius Trueg, of Saint Vincents, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction and arrange-
ment of an instrument by which the degrees of latitude and the
shadow of the sun-time are measured, and which instrument I call the
heliorama.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my Invention
appertains to make and use the same I will now proceed to describe its
construction and operation, referring to the annexed Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my entire instrument; Figure 2 is a
rear view; Figure 3 is an end view; Figure 4 is a plan view of the rear
portion of the instrument; and Figure 5 is a side view of the plate whose
shadow measures the sun-time.
My instrument, the heliorama, is composed of two parts, the helio-
clisis to measure the declination of the sun from the equator, and
consequently the degrees of latitude; and the hemerophora, by which the
shadow of the sun-time is measured.
A represents the basement, a plate of wood or any other suitable
material, having a recess in its upper side for the insertion of a compass
wherewith the instrument is adjusted. The needle of the compass has
to come even with the line N S, on the bed A, so that the north pole of
it shows towards N, thus bringing the sides of the bed due north and
south, and the ends east and west. It is self-evident that the basement
or bed A has to be put level when the instrument is set up for use. At
each end of the bed A is placed a side piece B perpendicular from the
bed. The lower parts of these side pieces have nearly the width of the
bed or basement; the higher are narrower, having a hole wherein the
pins or axles a, a, of the middle piece C are revolving. On the outside
of the side pieces B, B, are arcs L, L, with degrees marked thereon, one
for the latitude and the other for the height of the celestial equator,

page_text: the arms a, a, being each provided with a finger 6 pointing to the same.
C is the middle piece or plate revolving upon the pins a, a, in the side
pieces B, B. Crosswise on the plate C is placed a graduated arc D,
called the clisiologet. It is graduated so that degree 0 is in the middle,
and from this, degrees are counted on both sides up to 25, strictly
required, however, are only 23, because the declination of the sun on
the solstices does not exceed said number of degrees. E is the equatorial
gnomon, formed of a semicircular brass plate of the same radius as the
arc of the clisiologet D. The gnomon E is provided with two feet which
are inserted in the plate C.. The two arcs D. and E. bisect each other at
right angles, so that a radius perpendicular with the diameter or base of
the gnomon E wilk stand perpendicular with the arc or clisiologet D at
its centre, and its lower end being the centre of the semicircular gnomon
will touch that are on which the degrees are marked. When the instru-
ment is set up for use the plate A must be put level, and the compass
has to show north and south, as indicated by the letters N S. From this
it appears that the gnomon E, or rather its diameter or base, is in the
direction east and west, and since it follows the A equator is called the
equatorial gnomon. It must be remarked that the degrees of latitude
on the western side piece B. are laid out thus, that the arc L, on which
the degrees are measured, has its centre in the centre of the pin a; and
farther, in the distribution of the degrees about one-half degree (33
minutes) must be lost, so that on the place where 89 degrees 27 minutes
should come, 90 degrees will be marked. The reason for this will appear
hereafter. For convenience sake the surface of the middle piece or
plate C bears a list of the dates of the year with the degrees of the
declination of the sun marked opposite the respective dates. In case the
degree of latitude of that place is known where the device is set up, the
middle piece C is turned untill the indicator 6 shows the degree on the
arc L of the western end piece B. The arc L on the opposite end piece
is graduated in precisely the same manner, except that the degrees run
in the opposite direction, so that when the indicator shows 0 on the
latitude side the indicator on the celestial equator side will show 90
degrees. The shade of the sun cast by the gnomon E on the clisiologet D
indicates the declination of the sun from the equator north or south.
During the season when the sun is actually south of the equator the
shadow falls north of degree 0 on the clisiologet; but during the
season on which the sun is north of the A equator the shade falls south.
But in case the degrees of latitude of the respective places are not known,

page_text: then the list on the plate C has to be consulted. Supposing we have the
10th of February, the list shows that on this date the declination of the
sun amounts to 14' 4".
Having adjusted the instrument with regard to north and south, etc.,
I then turn the middle piece C until the shadow of the sun is cast on
the said degree north of degree 0.
After this I look on the arc L, what
degree is indicated thereon by the indicator the very same is the degree
of latitude of the place. The advantages of this part of my Invention
are, that the helioclisis shows the declination of the sun on the different
seasons, and it does this not only on the mid-day hour, but on every
hour, forenoon and afternoon. Its greatest advantage, though only a
consequence of the first, is this, that it shows the degrees of latitude in
case they are not known. The helioclisis will for this reason be of great
service to mariners. When used on the sea it has to be kept in its
direction (north and south). by means of a great magnet.
It might be asked how the effects of the refraction of the sunbeams in
our atmosphere is corrected. By the simple means, that on the distri
bution of the degrees on the arc L 33 minutes are lost, as described
above. The refraction of the sun is at 10 degrees, 10 seconds; at 20
degrees, 21 seconds; at 30 degrees, 33 seconds; and increasing until at
90 degrees it is 33 minutes.
Another point remains to be corrected, if deemed necessary. The sun
when casting a shadow does so not from the centre but from the outline
of its disk. In order now to get the shadow, as it were, cast from the
centre the radius of the sun's disk, which is 16 minutes, must be added
to the degrees of latitude, which can be effected by subtracting them
in the gradation of the arc L. So that with this second correction 90
degrees will be marked where 90°-(16'+33), that is, 89 degrees and
11 minutes ought to be.
On the rear side (north side) of the middle piece the hemerophora
is attached. This consists of a bearer G secured to the side of the plate C,
said bearer being provided with a semicircular cut, as shown in Fig. 2.
On the inner side of this cut is a groove all around the arc which admits
an are H, called the horologet. This arc is made of brass or other suit-
able material, and bears upon it the description of the hours of the day,
and is for this reason called horologet. The bearer might, however, also
properly be called equator, for the reason that it has to be set, by means
of the revolving middle picce C, in accordance with the celestial equator

page_text: it being exactly perpendicular or at right angles with the middle piece C.
The division of the arc H regarding the inscription of the hours is simply
this, 6 o'clock of the morning and 6 o'clock of the evening are 180
degrees distant from each other, so that a straight line drawn from
6 to 6 passes through the centre of the arc. The remaining hours. are
15 degrees distant from each other, thus, if we call 6 o'clock of the
morning degree 0, 7 o'clock comes on degree 15; 8 on 30, etc.; 12 o'clock
on degree 90. The horologet is more than a semicircle in order to gain
space for the inscription of at least one hour more for the morning and
one for the evening. Thus provision is made for the summer season,
when the day is longer than 24 hours. The horologet H can be shifted
around its own centre. The motion is however very small, amounting
in all only to the space which half an hour, or more accurately, 31
minutes, on the horologet occupy. The object of this motion is to set
the horologet so that it indicates the middle time, or the time of a
correct clock, for the sun time differs more or less from the latter, it
being sometimes too slow, sometimes too fast.
I represents the meridinal gnomon or indicator, consisting of a brass
plate, see Fig. 5, the upper end, d, e, d, being an arc the centre of which
is i. As it is represented in the Drawing, the arc extends on both sides
of e a little over 30 degrees. Of strict necessity are however only 23
degrees on both sides, these being the amount of the declination of the
sun; but it seems preferable to let the arc extend farther for the sake of
obtaining a full and distinct shade cast on the horologet, especially at
the time of the solstices. The radius i, e, has to be obtained thus:-Take
the radius of the horologet, add to it one thirty-second part of its own
length, the sum is the radius of the guomon I. The reason for this will
be herein-after set forth. The gnomon has to be set in the following
manner :—The line i, e, has to stand perpendicular on the horologet
passing through its centre; the line f, i,f, bisects the horologet at right
angles, and moreover touches the surface of the inner side of the horo-
loget so that the point i touches the middle of it, or more accurately,
i touches that circular line passing along the middle of the horologet on
which the divisions of the hours are marked.
It may here be observed that the shape of the bearer or equator G is
not essential, only so that in all cases it is perpendicular to and revolves
with the middle piece C; that it carries around in this revolution the
horologet H, giving to it the direction described above; that it admits of

page_text: the horologet being shifted around its own centre, and that it carries
along when turned around together with the horologet also the gnomon
I and the apparatus required for shifting the horologet. This apparatus
will be hereafter described.
The advantages of the hemerophora are that it shows at every season
of the year, at every time of the day, and at every place on the globe,
the correct time, that is the time which a correct clock shows.
It might be asked, whether the refraction of the sunbeams in our
atmosphere would not affect the hemerophora, preventing it from
showing the correct time. It does not, since provision is made for that.
The gnomon I is, as described above, shaped so that the radius of the
arc d, e, d, is by 1/2 greater than the radius of the horologet. The effect
of this is, that in the morning the shadow is cast backward, on the
evening forward. If, for instance, on the 21st of March the sun rises.
in fact, not in appearance, at 6 o'clock (suntime) the shadow of the
rising sun is cast backward by a few minutes, showing 5.53. As the
apparent sun, so to speak, rises over the horizon, little by little, the
shadow falls on 6 o'clock at the very point of time when the real sun
rises. Under the bearer G is a box J of semicircular shape, having upon
the inside of its rim and on its bottom the days in the year so arranged
that the days, when there is no variation between the sun and clock
time, will be immediately below the centre of the gnomon I, and the
names or dates will come in regular rotation on each side of the centre ;
that is, one side for the suntime becoming slower, and the other side
for it becoming faster, only such dates, however, being put in where the
difference is not less than one minute from the preceding date. In the
bearer G is hung a finger m pointing towards the names in the box J;
this finger is by suitable mechanical devices connected with the horo-
loget H in such a manner that moving the finger one space will cause
the horologet to be turned around its own centre the distance of one
minute. By this means I am enabled at any time so to set the horologet
that it will show the exact time.
Having thus fully described my Invention, what I claim as new and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is,---
1st. The equatorial gnomon E in combination with the clisiologet Da
and revolving plate C, all constructed and arranged substantially as and
fav the nurnacno harain sat forth

page_text: 2nd. The end pieces B, B, provided with graduated arcs L, L, and
used in combination with the equatorial gnomon E, clisiologet D,
and revolving plate C, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
3rd. The meridinal gnomon I in combination with the horologet H
revolving or moving around its own centre within the grooved bearer G,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
4th. The combination of the bed A, end pieces B, B, plate C, pins a, a,
fingers b, b, arcs L, L, clisiologet D, gnomon E, bearer G, horologet H,
and gnomon I, all constructed and arranged as described, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hercunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
W. ROBT. LAKE.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)