Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 25th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
1, THOMAS DOBIE, of Elie Villa, Tighnabruaich, Argyleshire, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention comprises a new or improved construction of clinometer and level of
a portable form, for taking the angle, or difference of level or displacement in feet,
inches, or it might be parts of other measures, as metres and decimetres, on the length
of ships or other floating or movable structures. Or otherwise it might also be secured
in a permanent manner to the inner sides or walls of such structures, so as to at once
show the angle of the structure for the time being of or from the true level.
The nature and novelty of the invention and construction of the apparatus consist
all as follows:-In mounting a small horizontal tube (as say about inch diameter
and 18 inches long) at the lower part of the instrument, joining into the lower ends of
two short larger vertical tubes (as say about 1 inches diameter and 24 inches long)
which might be termed the liquid containing tubes, having sockets at their upper ends,
into which would be mounted two small vertical tubes (of say about inch diameter
and 12 inches long in height) which is hereinafter termed the index tubes, and joined
at the top by a horizontal tube preferably of the same diameter. These vertical index
tubes would require to be formed of glass and might be made in one with the upper
horizontal tube bent in an inveried U form (n) having the two lower open ends of
these jointed liquid tight into the sockets on the upper ends of the short large liquid
containing tubes which might also be made of glass, or of metal which would résist
the action of incrcury. The whole instrument so formed would be mounted on short
end basement blocks below the liquid tubes, and also preferably secured to a vertical
board or frame for either resting on a horizontal surface or being hung or secured
horizontally to the vertical surface by its board in line with the object whose angle is

page_text: to be taken. A thin metallic index plate would preferably be fitted on the vertical
frame behind the vertical tubes, for having the scale divisions cut and numbered on it,
but which might also be scratched by a diamond on the glass. The instrument so
formed would preferably be filled with mercury to about half the height of the lower
vertical liquid containing tubes, and have water or spirits of wine or other liquid filled
above the mercury equally in both index tubes to about six inches or the middle,
where the zero level division would preferably be formed, and the index bo divided off
in divisions on the plate in proportions of feet and inches for English measures up and
down from this line on opposite sides of the tube, in proportion to units of feet in half
the length of the instrument between the centres of the vertical tubes or it might be
in proportion to the whole length of the ship or object for which the instrument was
desired to be made. Thus if the scale, on the one side of either or both tubes, was
divided vertically into divisions indicating inches in proportion to the feet in half the
length of the instrument, then the number on this scale would just require to be
multiplic] by the number of feet in the length of the ship to give the difference of
level or displacement on the length of the ship.
The other scales might be divided proportionally and numbered to indicate feet and
inches on the whole length of the ship or other floating or moving body, whose
difference of level at the extremities it was desired to be taken by the use of the instru-
ment, by setting it in line or parallel therewith, all thus without requiring-to-multiply
the smaller and larger scales made in proportion to the length of the instrument. In
this instrument the liquid rises in the one index tube and falls in the other propor-
tionally to the angle the ship assumes, and therefore the rise or fall in the tubes is in
the same proportion to half the length of the instrument as the rise and tail of the
whole ship is to its whole length; and although mercury and water or spirits have
been described as preferred, any liquid may be used in this way which has a tree fluid
action and is not liable to freeze.

page_text: A New or Improved Clinometer and Level, Specially Suitable for
Taking the Trim of Ships, also Applicable for other Purposes.
A communication from abroad by JOHN GOURLEY DOBBIE, of Bombay, India,
Engineer.
I, THOMAS DOBIE, of Elie Villa, Tighnabruaich, Argyleshire. Engineer, 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 in
writing, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention comprises a new or improved construction of clinometer and level of
a portable form, for taking the angle or difference of level or displacement in feet,
inches, or it might be parts of other measures, as metres and decimetres, on the length
of ships or other floating or movable structures. Or otherwise it might also be secured
in a permanent manner to the inner sides or walls of such structures, so as to at once
show the angle of the structure for the time being of or from the true level.
And in order that this said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in both Figures where shown.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 2 a plan of the new or
improved clinometer and level, as constructed in a portable stand form mounted on a
wood sole-plate S, for taking the angle or difference of level or displacement on the
length of ships or other floating structures, but which might also be hung or otherwise
secured on the walls or other parts of the structure.
The nature and novelty of the invention and construction of the apparatus consist
all as follows:-In mounting a small horizontal tube A (as say about from to inch
diameter and 18 inches long) at the lower part of the instrument a little above the
sole-plate S, screwed into the lower ends of two short larger vertical tubes or
vessels B B (as say about 2 inches diameter and 24 inches long) which might be
termed the liquid containing vessels, having stuffing box sockets B' at their upper
ends, into which are mounted two small vertical tubes C, C (of say about inch
diameter and twelve inches long in height) which is hereinafter teruied the index
tubes, and joined at the top by a horizontal tube A' preferably of the same
diameter. These vertical index tubes C C are formed of glass and each commu-
nicate with the upper horizontal tube A', by means of a right angled socket
piece D with jointing stuffing box D', into which these tubes C C and A' are
secured with a screw plug D2 on top, or otherwise these vertical tubes C C',
might be made in one with the upper horizontal tube A' bent in an inverted
U form (n) having the two lower open ends of these tubes C, C, jointed liquid
tight into the sockets B² on the upper ends of the short large liquid containing
vessels B B', which preferably are made of iron, steel, or other metal, and screwed
by flanges at B³ to the ends of the sole-plate S, but they might be made of glass,
or other material. The whole instrument so formed is mounted on a basement
block S, or it might be a vertical board or frame for either resting on a horizontal
surface or being hung or sec ed horizontally to the vertical surface by its board
in line with the object whose mgle is to be taken. This sole-plate S, is preferably

page_text: fitted with a spirit levels sunk in the centre of its upper surface. A thin metallic
movable index plate or tube c c is fitted round each of the vertical tubes C C',
with the scale divisions cut and numbered on it, but which might also be scratched
by a diamond on the glass. Each index plate ce over the tubes C, and C³, has
a vertical open slit formed along its centre length, to enable the level of the liquid
in the glass tubes to be seen or observed on the index, and this index-tube would
be secured at its upper end to the chamber D preferably by an adjusting screw and
hand screw wheel E E'. The instrument so formed would preferably be filled with
mercury to about half the height of the lower vertical liquid containing tubes B B¹,
and have water or spirits of wine or other liquid filled above the mercury equally in
both index tubes CC, to about six inches or the middle, where the zero level division
would preferably be formed, and the index be divided off in divisions on the plate e c',
in proportions of feet and inches for English measures up and down from this line on
one or both sides of the tube plate, in proportion to units of feet in half the length of
the instrument between the centres of the vertical tubes, or it might be in proportion
to the whole length of the ship or object for which the instrument was desired to be
made. Thus if the scale, on the one side of either or both tubes CC, was divided
vertically into divisions indicating inches in proportion to the feet in half the length
of the instrument, then the number on this scale would just require to be multiplied
by the number of feet in the length of the ship to give the difference of level or dis-
placement on the length of the ship. The other scales might be divided proportionally
and numbered to indicate feet and inches on the whole length of the ship or other
floating or moving body, whose difference of level at the extremities was desired to
be taken by the use of the instrument, by setting it in fine or parallel therewith, all
thus without requiring to multiply the smaller and larger scales made in proportion to
the length of the instrument. This instrument is first adjusted level when the ship
or vessel is level so that the liquid is at zero in the opposite tubes C and C', and the
liquid rises in the one index tube C, and falls in the other (or vice versa propor-
tionally to the angle the ship assumies, and therefore the rise or fall in the tubes is in
the same proportion to half the length of the instrument as the rise and fall of the
whole ship is to its whole length; and although mercury, and water or spirits have
been described as preferred, any liquid may be used in this way which had a free
fluid action and not liable to freeze.
Although some of the liquid communicating tubes have been described as preferably
made of glass and some of them of metal, it is to be understood that they might be
wholly made of glass for the cheaper classes of instruments; and the upper tube A'
is not an absolute necessity to the efficient working of the instrument, although pre-
ferred for connecting the pressure of the fluids equally in both tubes, and for stiffening
and connecting the tops of both tubes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The construction, or arrangement and combination of the parts, of a clino-
meter and level, or instrument for taking the trim or angle, or difference of level and
displacement, of ships and other vessels, substantially as herein described, in reference
to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. An instrument, or clinometer and level, for taking the trim or angle, or
difference of level and displacement, of ships and other vessels, comprising vertical
liquid indicating tubes, communicating with a horizontal tube or tubes, substantially
as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
T
1000