Improved Apparatus for Ascertaining Angles of Inclination, and other Data connected with same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1895--Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Ascertaining Angles of Inclination, and
other Data connected with same.
JAMES WIMSHURST of 7 Crescent Grove Clapham Common, London, and
HENRY CLAUDIUS WIMSHURST an Officer in the Staff of Messrs. Denny Bros.
Dumbarton, resident, Westonlee Terrace, Dumbarton, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention refers to an improved apparatus for ascertaining levels-or-the
angles of inclination of bodies, surfaces, or of lines, and of readily obtaining other
data connected therewith.
In this invention we employ tubes of various sizes, in combination with reservoirs
or cysterns, in these tubes reservoirs, or cysterns we use fluids of various kinds and
of different densities in such manner that the travel or flow of the lighter fluid may
be multiplied, or increased in any required degree, relatively to the respective
densities of the fluids in use, and also to their travel or flow, due to any change
made in the position of the instrument relatively to the plane of the horizon.
In combination with these tubes we use suitably drawn, and divided scales
graduated and lettered to suit the particular work for which the instrument may for
the time be required. Thus-for use on board ship the scales may be drawn to
indicate the several angles of heel, caused by the movement of any known. weight,
& in the same reading the metacentric height or other data valuable to the ship
master or the naval architect may be obtained.
Other scales may be graduated to furnish angles, gradients &c. for the use of the
civil engineer.
The many scales may be each on separate cards, and these be shifted-or-the
scales may be drawn continuously on paper or cloth, the paper or cloth being moved
by suitable rollers-in like manner to the date box.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February 1995.
JAMES WIMSHURST,
HENRY C. WIMSHURST.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Ascertaining Angles of Inclination, and
other Data connected with same.
JAMES WIMSHURST a Surveyor of Iron Vessels, and HENRY CLAUDIUS
WINSHURST Engineer, both of 7 Crescent Grove, Clapham Common, London S. W.
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 :-
This invention consists of improved instruments, or apparatus, for ascertaining
either levels, or angles of inclination of bodies, surfaces or lines-or for other like

page_text: The improved instruments, or apparatus is designed, or constructed of reservoirs,
of suitable size and form, the one being situated on one side of the instrument, and
the second being upon the other side of the instrument, the bottoms of such
reservoirs being connected by means of a tube C. The tops of these reservoirs
are also connected together by a second tube D. bent to such form as may be
convenient, or suitable, usually this tube as it leaves one reservoir, it extends
nearly horizontally towards the centre line of the instrument, it then forms a
vertical column of suitable length, at which point it bends over to form a
corresponding, or second vertical column, terminating in, or connected to the top of
the second reservoir B. For all purposes this bent tube, while it connects the tops
of the reservoirs may be considered as continuous, it is of small diameter. To
overcome misplacements of the fluids which may be caused by inverting, or in the
carriage of the instruments, a receptacle, or bulb, or bulbs E. are furnished, at, or
near the extremity of the bent tube, also to check the too rapid flow of the fluids
through this tube, a choke, or a cock which forms an adjustable choke F. is placed
in, or forms a part of such tube-whenever such check, or cock is desirable.
The reservoirs are then partly filled with a heavy finid, commonly mercury-
above this, the one reservoir, or it may be both reservoirs are charged with a light,
and usually colored fluid, extending to a suitable distance in the one, or in both
tubes the reservoirs, & their tubes are then fitted into suitably shaped cases and
scales of angles, of gradients &c. are fixed thereto, by means of which any change
from a level may be read.
The instrument may be made of somewhat different form, that is to say the said
reservoirs may be situated widely apart, and be connected together by means of a
small diameter straight tube, or nearly straight tube in which case the whole may
be partially filled, or charged, with fluid of one character, and the reading
produced by any change of level in the position of the instrument may be read, by
means of a small bead of mercury-or any other suitable fluid, or by use of an air
bubble, placed in the horizontal tube.
It will be obvious that the two fluids used in all cases must be of such nature
that they have neither affinity for, nor chemical action upon each other.
For use when great angles of inclination have to be ascertained-such as are
produced by the rolling of a vessel in a sea way, an instrument which has moderate
sized reservoirs, placed at comparatively small distances apart would be selected,
such an instrument is shown on Sheet 1.
When a record of the greatest angle reached is required, an instrument which has
the tubes bent to a horizontal position would be selected-into these, bolts of steel
are placed, which are drawn down owing to the capilarity of the fluid, in like
manner to that of the registering thermometer.
When a more sensitive instrument is required, the reservoirs are of large size,
and are spread more widely apart as shown on Sheet 2. for the fluids therein travel
through greater distances with each degree of inclination of the instrument-or the
form of instrument which has its reservoirs connected together at the bottoms by a
straight tube may be selected. It is in these more sensitive instruments that either
a fixed, or an adjustable choke is fitted. When the choke is adjusted to a very
small size the instrument may be used by naval architects to obtain, or measure the
angle of inclination produced in a ship by reason of weights being removed
transversely notwithstanding that the said ship may be floating in water which is
not still, and herself rolling through some degrees, or it may be used for many
purposes by the civil engineer, or the naval officer. The scale, or scales in each
case being suitably designed, or calculated for the particular use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which it may be carried out we declare that what we
.claim is―
The employment of reservoirs connected together by tubes of suitably reduced
11:
cific movite wherehe

page_text: the travel of the said fluid may be multiplied to any desired extent, such flow or
travel being produced by any change from the level which may be imparted to the
instrument, substantially in the manner, and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 16th day of November 1895.
JAMES WIMSHURST.
HENRY CLAUDIUS WIMSHURST..