Improved Surveying and Measuring Instrument Combined with Scales for Taking Horizontal and Vertical Measurements, and for other purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 9th June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Surveying and Measuring Instrument Combined with
Scales for Taking Horizontal and Vertical Measurements, and
for other purposes.
A communication by EDUARD TRÜMBACH, of Wunsiedel, in the Empire of
Germany, Assistant in the Royal Bavarian Forestry Office.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :—
A useful and convenient measuring instrument is much needed for surveyors of
forests, farming engineers, builders, and others, when measurements are wanted
the accuracy of which does not require a theodolite.
So called pantometers have been much used for horizontal measurements of low
levels; but apart from the expense of these instruments, when, as was frequently
the case, a compass was used with them, constant use of them was very trying to
the sight owing to the minute divisions of their scales, and, besides the use of
compasses as just mentioned, spirit levels, plummets, etcetera, had frequently to be
resorted to for a reliable horizontal adjustment; besides such objections, as the
foregoing, to this kind of instrument, there are others which need not be particularly
mentioned, and it was these objections which gave rise to this invention, which
consists of an instrument which, while being of simple construction, will also do
away with all the foregoing objections.
The construction or make of this instrument, and also its manner of use, will now
hereinafter be described by aid of the accompanying two sheets of drawings.
+
The body of the instrument consists of a square plate a, Figures 1-6 inclusive:
Figure 1 showing the front and Figure 2 the back of the plate whilst
Figures 3 to 6, as is self evident, show edge views and a cross section of the
plate.
The square plate is not all one piece, but is fitted with a revoluble disc b, equal
in thickness to the plate, by means of the circular ledge a' (Figure 4) and ring c;
it is really these three parts, a 6 c, which go to form the square plate.
For
retaining this revoluble disc in its various required positions, hereinafter
described, there are provided four triangular holes d, and, when the pins D,
Figures 7 and 8 (Sheet 1), are inserted therein, the disc then becomes fixed.
The pins D are provided with a little head E, in the form of a block, Figure 8,
into which can be stuck the point of a needle G, Figure 9 which is attached to the
thread F of a bead L, Figures 5, 6, 9, 16 and 17 (Sheet 1).
There is a graduated circle round the revoluble disc b, as shown in Figures 1
and 2, whilst a similar circle is marked off on the adjoining portion (that is to say,
on the ring c) of the square plate a; the divisions on the disc-circle are numbered
from right to left, whilst those on the plate-circle may be numbered from left to
right, by this means, a reading may be taken from either the inner or outer zero.
The sights, Figures 10 and 11 (Sheet 2) employed with this instrument are
removable instead of the ordinary fixed or collapsible ones, and, according to
requirement, are inserted in the holes fof the plate a or into those, y, of the disc b;
by providing these holes with countersunk recesses having pointed distensions (as
at gx, Figure 30, Sheet 1), and the sights with corresponding parts (e², e³,
Figures 10 and 11, Sheet 2) the latter can always be inserted at right angles to
the line of sight.

page_text: The various
The disc b has further a central hole of similar diameter to the holes f and g,
and this hole has, in its countersunk-part m¹, as seen in Figure 1, two pointed
distensions m turned towards the two holes.g, on its under side, however, the hole l
has merely an annular countersunk part, as seen in Figure 2.
additional instruments for fitting into the central hole, such as compass, 20,
Figures 4 and 12 (Sheet 1), gnomon, Figure 13 (Sheet 2), and spirit level,
Figure 14 (Sheet 1), have each two corresponding points e³ for fitting the pointed
distensions m, similar to the sights of Figs. 10 & 11 Sheet 2.
The sights e Figures 10 and 11 (Sheet 2) may be inserted by means of their
plugs or shanks e¹ and rings with points e, e, in the holes f 9 and 1, whilst they
may be secured by means of the screwed pins e and nuts e. A key S, Figure 15,
Sheet 1, is provided for loosening or tightening the nuts e*.
When sliding sights J J, Figures 5, 6, 16, 17, 18 and 19 (Sheet 1) are to be
employed, instead of or as well as the stationary ones, such are fitted, by means of
their strips J', in channels or grooves a², Figures 3 and 4, in the two sides of the
square plate a; the strips J¹ have little knobs J' to facilitate their adjustment in
the channels or grooves a².
When taking horizontal measurements, a support 9, Figures 3 and 4, may be
fitted to the central hole 1, which support is formed at the top with a peg or
pin n of the same size as the hole 1. The support has a quick-threaded screw o,
whilst its lower part is a conically hollowed out piece p. By this means, the
support and the plate can be firmly connected as soon as a
9.
suitably shaped screw
bolt r, Figures 20 and 21 (Sheet 1) is let into the centre of the peg or pin n from
above, and is screwed up tight from below by tightening up the nut ¹, Figures 4
and 22, by means of the key S, Figure 15.
The revolving disc may be rapidly and very effectively tightened by being
pressed upon by the head of the nut o', such being effected by means of a half turn
of the said nut (which has wings or projections o*, Figures 3, 4 and 23) engaging
in the under countersunk part of the central hole. By this means, by placing the
plate a with its revolving-disc directly on the support, the inner graduated circle
may be rendered stationary, and only the outer one, that is, the plate circle,
becomes movable, on which, as well as on the inner circle, the angle can be read
off, as soon as the sights e are transferred from the holes g of the disc into the
holes of the plate, and are adjusted for taking a fresh sight..
The support g serves also as a handle for the instrument when used as a
clinometer, Figures 24 and 25 (Sheet 2), in which case the support is inserted in
the uppermost of the holes g, and a pin B', carrying the plummet B, is inserted in
the centre hole, in the manner shown more clearly in Figures 26 and 27 (Sheet 1),
where the plummet B corresponds to the lower hole g of the disc b.
By this means, a very simple instrument is provided, by which angles may be
measured and which possesses the desired advantages of very easy horizontal
adjustment by the eye alone, large graduations, etcetera, and a vernier may easily
be immovably pegged on, if such be further desired for working out tenths of
degrees or minutes.
One of the simplest instruments for marking out right angles, the so called
"angle cross," may be employed with advantage in combination with this improved
measuring apparatus. A cross k, Figure 3, made of wood or other suitable
material, which has in its centre a hole of similar size as the large holes of the
frame of the revolving disc, is provided underneath with an annular countersunk
part corresponding to the circular head of the nut o', so that this cross may also
be placed on the cylindrical pin r of the support g and may be clamped as firmly
as desired by means of the nut o¹.
On the four arms of the cross, there are three fixed and one loose round vertical
pegs (about the thickness of a drawing pencil) at equal distances from the
centre, see Figure 28 (Sheet 2), the loose peg may be replaced by the attachment
peg u of the vernier u, see Figures 1, 29 and 30, Sheet 1, the lower part of the
peg u is of triangular cross section, as seen in Figure 29, and the hole in the arm

page_text: of the cross into which it fits is of the same shape. On these pegs z, the above
described plate may be placed by means of its four holes ='.
The plate a when it has the cross u fitted to it, may further have combined with
it a small compass, such as W, Figures 4 and 12 (Sheet 1), in such case the
compass has on its under side, and as seen in dotted outline in Figure 12 a small
plug or projection to fit the central hole of the plate and the pointed distensions
of this plug or projection coincide with the north and south points of the compass.
It will be seen that when there is applied to the plate a the cross k (along with
the bolt r) then the disc b is not only guided or supported by the circular ledge a¹
(Figure 4) but the head of the bolt also serves the same purposes; whereby
the centreing and stability of the whole angle measuring instrument are much
improved.
As the plate is symmetrical on all its sides and as in whatever position the plate
and the disc may be to one another there will always be corresponding holes on
the opposite sides of the centre, it is obvious that the instrument can be made of
use for many different kinds of measuring purposes, an advantage which is also
furthered by the use of the removable sights as their holes can then be made
use of for fitting in other instruments besides those for taking horizontal
measurements.
When vertical measurements have to be taken, the instrument may be suspended
in one of the following ways.
First. By means of a knife edge A', Figures 31 and 49, (Sheet 2) in which
case either of the holes y is made use of; as in Figures 24, 25, 32 and 33
(Sheet 2).
Second. By means also of the knife edge A¹, but in this case it is either of the
holes which is made use of, as in Figures 34 and 35 (Sheet 2).
Third. By means of a cylindrical peg C, Figures 36 and 37 (Sheet 2), passing
through the central hole as in Figures 38 and 39 (Sheet 2).
A suspension device is shown in Figures 31, 40 and 41, for the levelling or
gradient measuring instrument, or for batter levels, consisting of a jointed fork A*
turning on a pin A, which fork has beneath it a knife edge A¹.
In order to allow of the revolving disc frame or square, when suspended
pendulously, being more easily transported from one point to another, the same is
connected with a suitably perforated stand T by means of a pin A³, Figure 42,
Sheet 2. This pin A passes through that lower hole g or f of the square which
may at the time be in line with the stand T in the manner shown in Figures 32,
33, 34 and 35, Sheet 2.
By a suitable adjustment of the revolving disc square, herein before described,
it
may
ulso be altered in the simplest manner to a most useful levelling instru-
ment indifferently whether for use as an incline measurer or leveller, or a mason's
level, or a clinometer or batter level. The instrument may, besides, be made into
an altitude measurer which can be easily set up and is also reliable, and in this
latter capacity, the perfect equipoise and symmetry of the instrument are of great
value. From these two latter causes, there are entirely dispensed with the
reading off devices hitherto employed, consisting of supplementary mirrors, notches
for the plummet, or the resting of the sight carrier on a screw. A silk thread F
having a needle G, Figures 5, 6 and 9, (Sheet 1) is passed through each of the
zero points of the sights J, Figures 16 and 17 (Sheet 1). Each needle is then
inserted in the head E of one of the two pins D, Figure 8, in this case not required
for making the revolving disc fixed as regards the square frame; the pins D with
their heads E will then hang down by the threads F from the beads L Figures 5
6 7, 8 & 9 (Sheet 1) thereby forming a pendulum.
The person employed in measuring trees or heights merely goes to the side of the
measuring scale suspended from the cylindrical peg C of the supporting staff in
order, after sighting, to read off at the lower edge the position of equilibrium of
the pendulum, Figures 38 and 39 (Sheet 2).
Referring to Figure 2, Sheet 1, it will be seen that the back of the instrument

page_text: instead of being covered with ornamental flourishes of various kinds may have
marked on it suitable measures and scales of different kinds whilst by applying a
gnomon as in Figure 13 Sheet 2 to the front side of the instrument it can then be
used as a sun-dial.
The revolving-disc plate above described forms for the usual work of planning
and surveying, a complete, durable and easily comprehensible measuring apparatus,
by which, in the various purposes for which it is used, thoroughly reliable and
satisfactory results may in every way be guaranteed.
The instrument is completed by a light stand W with a conical peg W,
Figure 43, (Sheet 2) set on a tripod for horizontal measurements, and by a pointed
staff T, Figures 34 and 35 (Sheet 2), for a levelling or gradient measuring
instrument.
The use of this universal instrument will be of great advantage as a teaching
instrument for technically training pupils in forestry, architecture scientific
agriculture, etcetera, for, briefly summed up, it contains--

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Surveying and Measuring Instrument Combined with
Scales for Taking Horizontal and Vertical Measurements, and
for other purposes.
A communication by EDUARD TRÜMBACH, of Wunsiedel, in the Empire of
Germany, Assistant in the Royal Bavarian Forestry Office.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
A useful and convenient measuring instrument is much needed for surveyors of
forests, farming engineers, builders, and others, when measurements are wanted the
accuracy of which does not require a theodolite.
So called pantometers have been much used for horizontal measurements of low
levels; but apart from the expense of these instruments, when, as was frequently
the case, a compass was used with them, constant use of them was very trying to
the sight owing to the minute divisions of their scales, and, besides the use of
compasses as just mentioned, spirit levels, plummets, etcetera, had frequently to be
resorted to for a reliable horizontal adjustment; besides such objections, as the
foregoing, to this kind of instrument, there are others which need not be particularly
mentioned, and it was these objections which gave rise to this invention, which
consists of an instrument which, while being of simple construction, will also do
away with all the foregoing objections.
The construction or make of this instrument, and also its manner of use, will now
hereinafter be described by aid of the two sheets of drawings accompanying the
Provisional Specification.
The body of the instrument consists of a square plate a, Figures 1-6 inclusive:
Figure 1 showing the front and Figure 2 the back of the plate whilst
:
Figures 3 to 6, as is self evident, show edge views and a cross section of the
plate.
The square plate is not all one piece, but is fitted with a revoluble disc b, equal
in thickness to the plate, by means of the circular ledge a' (Figure 4) and ring c;
it is really these three parts, a be, which go to form the square plate. For
retaining this revoluble disc 6 in its various required positions, hereinafter described,
there are provided four triangular holes d, and, when the pins D, Figures 7 and 8
(Sheet 1), are inserted therein, the disc then becomes fixed.
The pins D are provided with a little head E, in the form of a block, Figure 8,
into which can be stuck the point of a needle G, Figure 9, which is attached to the
thread F of a bead L, Figures 5, 6, 9, 16 and 17 (Sheet 1).
There is a graduated circle round the revoluble disc b, as shown in Figures 1 and 2,
whilst a similar circle is marked off on the adjoining portion (that is to say, on the
ring c) of the square plate a; the divisions on the disc-circle are numbered from
right to left, whilst those on the plate-circle may be numbered from left to right,
by this means, a reading may be taken from either the inner or outer zero.
The sights, Figures 10 and 11 (Sheet 2) employed with this instrument, are
removable instead of the ordinary fixed or collapsible ones, and, according to
requirement, are inserted in the holes of the plate a or into those, 9, of the disc b ;
by providing these holes with countersunk recesses having pointed distensions (as
at g, Figure 30, Sheet 1), and the sights with corresponding parts (e³, e³,
Figures 10 and 11, Sheet 2) the latter can always be inserted at right angles to
the line of sight.
The disc 6 has further a central hole of similar' diameter to the holes f-and "g,
}
:

page_text: and this hole / has, in its countersunk part m', as seen in Figure 1, two pointed
distensions m turned towards the two holes g, on its under side, however, the hole /
has merely an annular countersunk part, as seen in Figure 2. The various
additional instruments for fitting into the central hole, such as compass, 20,
Figures 4 and 12 (Sheet 1), gnomon, Figure 13 (Sheet 2), and spirit level; Figure 14
(Sheet 1), have each two corresponding points e² for fitting the pointed distensions m
similar to the sights of Figures 10 and 11, Sheet 2.
The sights e, Figures 10 and 11 (Sheet 2), may be inserted by means of their
plugs or shanks e¹ and rings with points e³, e³, in the holes fg and 1, whilst they
may be secured by means of the screwed pins e and nuts e. A key S, Figure 15,
Sheet 1, is provided for loosening or tightening the nuts e..
When sliding sights J J, Figures 5, 6, 16, 17, 18 and 19 (Sheet 1) are to be
employed, instead of or as well as the stationary ones, such are fitted, by means of
their strips J, in channels or grooves a², Figures 3 and 4, in the two sides of the.
square plate a; the strips J¹ have little knobs J' to facilitate their adjustment in
the channels or grooves a².
When taking horizontal measurements, a support 7, Figures 3 and 4, may be
fitted to the central hole l, which support is formed at the top with a peg or pin n
of the same size as the hole 1. The support has a quick-threaded screw o, whilst
its lower part is a conically hollowed out piece p. By this means, the support and
the plate can be firmly connected as soon as a suitably shaped screw bolt r,
Figures 20 and 21 (Sheet 1) is let into the centre of the peg or pin n from above,
and is screwed up tight from below by tightening up the nut r¹, Figures 4 and 22,
by means of the key S, Figure 15.
The revolving disc may be rapidly and very effectively tightened by being
pressed upon by the head of the nut o¹, such being effected by means of a half
turn of the said nut which has wings or projections o' Figs. 3, 4 & 23 engaging in
the under countersunk part of the central hole.
By this means, by placing the plate a with its revolving-disc directly on the
support, the inner graduated circle may be rendered stationary, and only the outer
one, that is, the plate circle, becomes movable, on which, as well as on the inner
circle, the angle can be read off, as soon as the sights e are transferred from the
holes g of the disc into the holes f of the plate, and are adjusted for taking a fresh
sight.
The support 9 serves also as a handle for the instrument when used as a clino-
meter, Figures 24 and 25 (Sheet 2), in which case the support is inserted in the
uppermost of the holes g, and a pin B', carrying the plummet B, is inserted in the
centre hole, in the manner shown more clearly in Figures 26 and 27 (Sheet 1),
where the plummet B corresponds to the lower hole g of the disc b.
By this means, a very simple instrument is provided, by which angles may be
measured and which possesses the desired advantages of very easy horizontal
adjustment by the eye alone, large graduations, etcetera, and a vernier may easily
be immovably pegged on, if such be further desired for working out tenths of
degrees or minutes.
One of the simplest instruments for marking out right angles, the so-called.
angle cross," may be employed with advantage in combination with this improved
measuring apparatus. A cross k, Figure 3, made of wood or other suitable
material, which has in its centre a hole of similar size as the large holes of the
frame of the revolving disc, is provided underneath with an annular countersunk
part corresponding to the circular head of the nut o', so that this cross may also be
placed on the cylindrical pin r of the support 9 and may be clamped as firmly as
desired by means of the nut o¹.
On the four arms of the cross, there are three fixed and one loose round vertical
pegs (about the thickness of a drawing pencil) at equal distances from the centre,
see Figure 28 (Sheet 2), the loose peg may be replaced by the attachment peg u¹
of the vernier u, see Figures 1, 29 and 30, Sheet 1, the lower part of the peg u¹ is
of triangular cross section, as seen in Figure 29, and the hole in the arm of the

page_text: cross into which it fits is of the same shape. On these pegs z, the above described
plate may
be placed by means of its four holes z¹.
The plate a, when it has the cross u fitted to it, may further have combined with
it a small compass, such as W, Figures 4 and 12 (Sheet 1), in such case, the
compass has on its under side, and as seen in dotted outline in Figure 12, a small
plug or projection to fit the central hole 1 of the plate, and the pointed
distensions of this plug or projection coincide with the north and south points of
the compass.
It will be seen that, when there is applied to the plate a the cross k (along with
the bolt r), then the disc b is not only guided or supported by the circular ledge a¹
(Figure 4) but the head of the bolt r also serves the same purposes; whereby
the centreing and stability of the whole angle measuring instrument are much
improved.
As the plate is symmetrical on all its sides and as, in whatever position the
plate and the disc may be to one another, there will always be corresponding holes
on the opposite sides of the centre, it is obvious that the instrument can be made
of use for many different kinds of measuring purposes, an advantage which is also
furthered by the use of the removable sights, as their holes can then be made
use of for fitting in other instruments besides those for taking horizontal
measurements.
When vertical measurements have to be taken, the instrument may be suspended
in one of the following ways
First. By means of a knife edge A', Figures 31 and 49, (Sheet 2) in which
case either of the holes g is made use of: as in Figures 24, 25, 32 and 33
(Sheet 2).
Second. By means also of the knife edge A¹, but in this case it is either of the
holes which is made use of, as in Figures 34 and 35 (Sheet 2).
Third. By means of a cylindrical peg C, Figures 36 and 37 (Sheet 2), passing
through the central hole, as in Figures 38 and 39 (Sheet 2).
A suspension device is shown in Figures 31, 40 and 41, for the levelling or
gradient measuring instrument, or for batter levels, consisting of a jointed fork A'
turning on a pin A, which fork has beneath it a knife edge A¹.
In order to allow of the revolving disc frame or square, when suspended
pendulously, being more easily transported from one point to another, the same is
connected with a suitably perforated stand T by means of a pin A³, Figure 42,
Sheet 2. This pin A³ passes through that lower hole g or of the square which
may at the time be in line with the stand T in the manner shown in Figures 32, 33,
34 and 35, Sheet 2.
By a suitable adjustment of the revolving disc square, hereinbefore described, it
may also be altered in the simplest manner to a most useful levelling instrument,
indifferently whether for use as an incline measurer or leveller, or a mason's level,
or a clinometer or batter level. The instrument may, besides, be made into an
altitude measurer which can be easily set up and is also reliable, and, in this latter
capacity, the perfect equipoise and symmetry of the instrument are of great value.
From these two latter causes, there are entirely dispensed with the reading off
devices hitherto employed, consisting of supplementary mirrors, notches for the
plummet, or the resting of the sight carrier on a screw. A silk thread F having
a needle G, Figures 5, 6 and 9, (Sheet 1) is passed through each of the zero
points of the sights J, Figures 16 and 17 (Sheet 1). Each needle is then inserted
in the head E of one of the two pins D, Figure 8, in this case not required for
making the revolving disc fixed as regards the square frame; the pins D with
their heads E will then hang down by the threads F from the beads L, Figures 5,
6, 7, 8 and 9, (Sheet 1) thereby forming a pendulum.
The person employed in measuring trees or heights merely goes to the side of
the measuring scale suspended from the cylindrical peg C of the supporting staff
in order, after sighting, to read off at the lower edge the position of equilibrium of
the pendulum, Figures 38 and 39 (Sheet 2).

page_text: 1st. In the case of horizontal measurements be placed horizontally on a stand in
the central hole 1, and either the revolving disc be connected with the stand, and
turned to the square side, or the latter be fixed and the former turned, so that the
angle may be read off both on, the frame as well as on the circle of the disc
inserted therein, whilst the zero of one circular scale always serves as indicator for
the other circle.
2nd. In the case of measuring altitudes (by degrees, percentages, or measures of
length) it can be suspended on a stand or on a handle provided with a peg by
means of the central hole, or one of the holes for inserting the sights, substantially
as described.
Dad his on of T 1902
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,.
Agents for the Applicant.