IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING DISTANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Ford Stanley, Optician, of 5, Great Turnstile,
Holborn, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING DISTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Ford Stanley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th May 1880.
WILLIAM FORD STANLEY, Optician, of 5, Great Turnstile, Holborn, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING DISTANCES."
This Invention is applicable to the measurement of distances by triangulation
from near and distant base.
It consists of the following pieces of apparatus :-A cylindrical steel measuring
line divided in parts to constitute a base, a telescope or sight director moving upon
a double axis with divided arc to read off degrees and parts or calculate distances;
a second telescope or sight on movable axis to be used sometimes, and two rods
having sights to direct them to an angle with one of the telescopes when two are
used. The measuring line is fixed between the rods if the base from which the
triangulation is taken is distant, and is fixed from telescope to telescope if the base
is near.
For a distant base the telescope used has necessarily a firm stand for a
near base; this stand may be used or not.
The whole of the above parts may be contained in one set of apparatus, but the
same parts would not all be used for taking a distant base as would be used for a
near base. For instance, for taking a distant base, one jointed telescope only
would be used, the base line being distended between the two rods, and for a near
base one rod would be dispensed with, the line being distended between the two
jointed telescopes. The telescopes with jointed axes may be constructed to answer
for near and distant bases, but if the one class of triangulation only is required, this
would make them unnecessarily complicated. The following will particularly
describe the parts necessary for each purpose.
The Measuring Line. In this Invention is made of steel wire tempered to spring
temper, so as to roll upon a coil and open out straight when unrolled. It will be
of some standard length, as 50 feet or 10 metres, or 100 links. This line will have
Prins G21

page_text: two handles, hooks, or other fastenings, so as to be able to distend it by tension
by pulling with the hand at each end. The same handle, hook, or fastening,
or a part of it, being also available to attach either to the two rods to be described.
When it is used for triangulating a distant base or from telescope to telescope,
when it is used for triangulating from a near base, this line will be divided by
marks at equal distances, the marks will be drilled; balls or rings slipped over the
wire line to measured distances to form distinct readings with appendage of
indication of quantities or otherwise. These marks are made to be visible with the
telescope when the base is not very distant. The line may also be used as a
measurer of distance for all general purposes on the field, or to duplicate or triplicate
a distant base.
It will be generally rolled up in a coil and placed with the telescopes in case of
complete apparatus, or it may be rolled up on a separate reel for carrying in the
hand, it may be jointed to separate into parts. This line or a modification of it
will be used at all times as a necessary part of the telemeters.
The Rods. These consist of two straight rods, preferably made of pine, of about
6 or 8 feet long; the rods will be shod with a point for entering the ground. At
about 4 feet 6 inches from the point there will be a hook or eye for attaching the
necessary line described above, or this hook or eye may be placed near the point of
the rod. Either within or about one of the rods will be constructed or attached a
sight director, by means of which the distended line between the rods may be set at
right angles. This sight director will be preferably a prism of glass cut to an
angle of one 90 and two 45 degrees. The only important part to this Invention
being, that it will enable the line to be fixed at right angles to one of the distant
telescopes. The second rod necessarily has no sight. The two rods will be used
for taking a distant base, but one of the rods only will be used for taking a near
base; or for this latter purpose they may both be dispensed with, and any vertical
object observed that may be at the distance to be measured, as the corner of a
building.
One Telescope with Axes for Triangulating a Distant Base. If this instrument
is made especially for taking a distant base only with the lines and rods described
above, the essential parts will be a telescope mounted on vertical axis with a clamp
and adjustments similar to the lower parts of a theodolite. The inner or upper
axis may be in the centre, as with a theodolite, but is preferably, if the instrument
is constructed for using with distant base only, placed nearly under the object glass
of the telescope. In either case this upper axis reads into a divided arc.
The arc
in this case is brought up into the field of the eyepiece through a slot in the
telescope, or it is brought up close to the eyepiece, and read by a separate eyepiece,
very near the eyepiece of the telescope, adjustments being affixed thereto.
To use the Part of the Apparatus necessary for Triangulation from a Distant
Base. Assistants go to the required distance and erect the two rods described, one
at right angles to the telescope at the distance, apart of the distended measuring
line which is now attached to these rods, or hold the rods with the hand in this
position with the line distended between them. The telescope is directed to one of
these rods, and clamped in this position. The arc of the telescope or its vernier is
then moved by a tangent screw, until the second vertical rod is read by the angle
subtended, the distance is calculated by well known rules, or by a table provided
with the instrument.
Two Telescopes with Axes for Triangulating Near Base.-The telescopic apparatus
above described may be duplicated. An arın will in this case be attached to each
telescope or its axis, to which the measuring line will be attached, this line will
direct the axes of the telescopes by its tension when the axes are unclamped. But if
the instrument is to be employed for near base only, the parts will be simplified as
follows The telescope will move on free axis, and instead of any adjustment by
clamping, the measuring line will be attached directly to an arm projected from the
telescope or its axis, so that it will direct this axis by the tension of the line and
need no other adjustment. Further, as the tension of the line will be constant, no

page_text: stand will be required for the telescopes, and they may be held in the hands of two
persons, the line being kept taut between them. In this case a divided are will be
necessary on one of the telescopes only, and this will read directly into the
eyepiece. This are may be in degrees or in proportional lines to give direct
measurement at sight.
To use the Part of Apparatus Necessary for Triangulating from a Near Base.
If the first form of telescopic apparatus is used, the measuring line will be fixed
from telescope to telescope, both telescopes being rigid on their stands. The clamps
may be used to fix them in this position. But if the simpler form of the last
described form is used, the telescopes may be held in the hands of two persons.
One of the rods described being placed at a distance, or another object to be
measured, the measuring line is stretched taut and one of the telescopes is moved
to bring this rod into the field by advancing or retiring, until the line is at right
angles, which is dicoverable by the distant object being seen in the telescope at a
metal point in the eyepiece. The second telescope is now directed to the same
object, and the reading projected into the field of vision is now read by the angle
subtended; the distance is calculated by well known rules or by a table provided
with the instrument as before.
The novelties claimed in this telemetrical apparatus are the entire apparatus
used for the purposes of telemetry. The parts new to mechanics separately claimed
aro
1. A single wire measuring line to be used as base with the instrument or as a
separate measurer.
2. Sighted rod to give direction of line to one telescope.
3. The telescope reading an angle in or at the eyepiece.
4. Telescope with the axis of the divided arc near the object glass..
5. The telescopic axes constructed so as to be directed by the tension of a line.
6. The five separate parts are claimed as new and may be used as a part of the
combined apparatus or separately, same parts may be varied; as for instance for
rougher measurements, a hempen or other line may be used for the base attached to
the two telescopes, which are constructed especially to be directed by this line.
The line being applied by tension to direct the axes of these telescopes, it will be
the equivalent of the steel line as regards its action on the direction of them, or
this hempen or other line may be used for still rougher measurements by being
attached to sights instead of telescopes, but the sights in this case must be
jointed as the telescopes described, and if this line directs by its tension the axes of
the sights, and the apparatus be divided to read the angle of direction given by the
tension, one of the principles (5) of this Invention is preserved, and it is thereby
claimed as a part. In this last simple modification the divisions would be placed
near the distant sight. Other details may be varied, but if the mechanical
principles fully described are followed, the Invention and its separate parts are
claimed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Ford Stanley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
November 1880.
"
WILLIAM FORD STANLEY, Optician, of 5, Great Turnstile, Holborn, London.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MEASURING DISTANCES."
This Invention is applicable to the measurement of distances by triangulation
from near and distant base. It consists of the following pieces of apparatus:-
A cylindrical steel measuring line divided in parts to constitute a base; a
telescope or sight director moving upon a double axis with divided are to read off
degrees and parts or calculated distances; a second telescope or sight on moveable
axes, to be used sometimes; and two rods having sights to direct them to an angle
with one of the telescopes when two are used. The measuring line is fixed between
the rods if the base from which the triangulation is taken be distant, and is fixed
from telescope to telescope if the base is near. For a distant base the telescope
used has necessarily a firm stand; for a near base, this stand may be used or not.
The whole of the above parts may be contained in one set of apparatus, but the
same parts would not all be used for taking a distant base as would be used for a
near base. For instance, for taking a distant base, one jointed telescope only would
be used, the base line being distended between the two rods, and for a near base
one rod would be dispensed with, the line being distended between the two jointed
telescopes. The telescopes with jointed axes may be constructed to answer for near
and distant bases; but if the one class of triangulation only is required, this would
make them unnecessarily complicated. The following will particularly describe the
parts of apparatus necessary for each purpose.
The Measuring Line-In this Invention is made of steel wire tempered to spring
temper, shewn in Drawings in eight places, all marked A, the entire length being
shewn distended between the rods at A'. It will be of some standard length, as
fifty feet, or ten metres, or one hundred links. This line will have two handles,
hooks, or other fastenings, so as to be able to distend it by tension by pulling with
the hand at each end. The same handle, hook, or fastening, or a part of it, being
also available to attach either to the two rods to be described, shewn B, B¹, on
Drawings, when it is used for triangulating a distant base. The same line is used
from telescope to telescope; when it is used for triangulating from a near base it
will be divided by marks at equal distances, as shewn at A, b; the marks will be
drilled balls or rings slipped over the wire line to measured distances, to form
distinct readings, with appendage of indication of quantities or otherwise. These
marks are made to be visible with the telescope when the base is not very distant.
The line may also be used as a measurer of distances for all general purposes on the
field, or to duplicate or triplicate a distant base. It must be particularly observed
that the line is a wire, not a band, as a band has been before used for measuring.
This line is placed with the telescopes, in the case with the complete apparatus, or
it may be rolled up in a separate reel for carrying in the hand; it may be jointed
to separate into parts in a few places, but not closely jointed as a land chain is.
This line or a modification of it will be used at all times as a necessary part of the
measuring apparatus.
The Rods. These consist of two straight rods, divided or plain, preferably made
of pine, of about six or eight feet long; the rods will be generally shod with a
point for entering the ground. At about four feet six inches from the point there
will be a hook or eye for attaching the necessary line described above, or this hook
or eye may be placed near the point of the rods. Either within or about one of
the rods will be constructed or attached a sight director, by means of which the
distended line between the rods may be set at right angles. This sight director

page_text: will be preferably a prism of glass cut to an angle of one 90 and two 45 degrees.
It is shewn on the Drawings in section at C, or as it appears in elevation in the
rod at C¹, its position in the rod being shewn at C". This is the only important
part to this part of the Invention, as it enables a vertical rod at the end of the line
to be fixed at right angles to one of the distant telescopes; the rod itself may be an
ordinary rod or a divided staff, such as is used for levelling. The second rod of the
two necessarily has no sight. The two rods will be used for taking a distant base,
but one of the rods only will be used for taking a near base; or for this latter
purpose they may both be dispensed with, and a levelling staff or any vertical
object observed that may be at the distance to be measured, as, for instance, the
corner of a building.
One Telescope with Axes for Triangulating a Distant Base.-If this instrument
is made especially for taking a distant base only with the lines and rods described
above, the essential parts will be a telescope mounted on vertical axis, with a clamp
and adjustments similar to the lower parts of a theodolite, shewn at D, side
clevation, and at D', end elevation. The inner or upper axis may be in the centre,
as with a theodolite, but is preferably, if the instrument is constructed for using
with distant base only, placed nearly under the object glass of the telescope, as at z.
In either case this upper axis reads into a divided arc. The arc, in this case, is
brought up into the field of the eye piece through a slot in the telescope, as shewn
in the Drawing E at y, or it is brought up close to the eye piece and read by a
separate eye piece very near the eye piece of the telescope, as shewn at in the
Drawing D', adjustments being affixed thereto.
To use this part of the apparatus necessary for triangulation from a distant
base,―
Assistants go to the required distance and erect the two rods B, B¹, one at right
angles to the telescope, at the distance apart of the distended measuring line, which
is now attached to these rods, or hold the rods with the hand in this position with
the line distended between them, the rods being sighted by the prism square to the
telescope. The telescope is directed to one of these rods and clamped in this
position. The arc of the telescope or its vernier is then moved by a tangent screw
until the second vertical rod is read by the angle subtended between the rods; the
distance is calculated by well known rules, or by a table provided with the
instrument, or, if the base is near, between marks on the line A, b, b¹, b¹¹, b¹¹¹, as
required.
Two Telescopes with Axes for Triangulating Near Base.-The telescopic apparatus
above described may be duplicated. An arm will in this case be attached to tho
telescope or its axis, to which the measuring line will be attached; this line will
direct the axes of the telescopes by its tension when the axes are unclamped. But
if the instrument is to be employed for near base only, the parts will be simplified
as follows: The telescope will move on free axes, and instead of any adjustment
by clamping, the measuring line will be attached directly to an arın projected from
the telescope or its axis, so that it will direct this axis by the tension of the line,
and will need no further adjustment. Further, as the tension of the line will be
constant, no stand will be required for the telescopes, and they may be held in the
hands of two persons, the line being kept taut between them.
In this case a
divided are will be necessary to one of the telescopes only, and this will read
directly into the eye piece. This arc may be divided in degrees or in proportional
lives to give direct measurement at sight. This arrangement is shewn in all the
Drawings marked E, E, being in section, E' horizontal in service, E¹¹ being vertical
in service. The second telescope F will need no arc, being left free on its axis to
take the direction of the line. This is shewn in section F, plan F', elevation F".
To use the Part of Apparatus Necessary for Triangulating from a Near Base.-If
the first form of telescope apparatus D is used, the measuring line will be fixed from
telescope to telescope, both telescopes being rigid on their stands. The clamps may
be used to fix them in this position. But if the simpler form last described, shown
on Drawings E, F, is used, the telescopes may be held in the hands of two persons.

page_text: One of the rods described being placed at a distance, or another object may be
taken in the distance which is to be measured, the measuring line is stretched taut
from telescope to telescope, and one of the telescopes F is moved to bring this rod
into the field of view by advancing or retiring, until the line is at right angles,
which is discoverable by the distant object being seen in the telescope at a metal
point in the eye piece A, shewn at G. The second telescope is now directed to the
same object, and the reading projected into the field of vision is now read by the
angle subtended; the distance is calculated by well known rules, or by a table pro-
vided with the instrument, as before.
The novelties claimed in this measuring apparatus are the entire apparatus used
for the purposes of telemetry. The parts new to mechanics separately claimed
are,-
1. A single wire measuring line to be used as base with the instrument, or as a
separate measurer.
2. Sighted rod or staff to give direction of line to one telescope.
3. The telescope reading an angle in or at the eye-piece, preferably by a point
E, y, and G.
4. Telescope with the axis of the divided arc near the object glass D), x.
5. The telescopic axes constructed so as to be directed by the tension of a line
E¹, A, A, F₁
The five separate parts are claimed as new, and may be used combined or
separately; some parts may be varied, as for instance, for rougher measurements a
hempen or other line may be used for the base attached to the two telescopes,
which are constructed especially to be directed by this line. The line being applied
by tension to direct the axes of these telescopes, it will be the equivalent of the
steel wire as regards its action on the direction of the telescopes, or this hempen, or
other line may be used for still rougher measurements by being attached to sights
instead of telescopes, but the sights in this case must be jointed as the telescopes
described, and if this line direct by its tension, one of the principles (5) of this
Invention is preserved, and it is thereby claimed as a part. In this last simple
modification the divisions would be placed near the distant sight. Other details
may be varied, but if the mechanical principles fully described are followed, the
Invention and its separate parts are claimed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Ford Stanley, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.