A New Method and Instrument for Measuring Distances and Altitudes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
A New Method and Instrument for Measuring Distances and
Altitudes.
HOWELL ROBERTS Bryn Eistedfod Clynnog Carnarvon Calvinistic Methodist
Minister do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The distance is to be measured by means of two angles one of which is a right
angle, the other a known one, which with the object whose distance is required will
determine the length of the base between the two angles and the number of times
the required distance is greater than the base. The length of the base also can be
found by the same method.
A staff, or a stick with instruments for measuring lengths angles and altitudes,
within or without it or them is made use of for working out the method.
The staff or stick is to be hollow within to contain the pins, scales and angles
required; or else, to be adapted outside for the attachment to it or them of those
requirements.
The staff or stick is stuck into the ground, or made to stand upon it—either the
whole staff or stick, or part of either, at the point from which the distance to any
object is to be measured. At that point, a base is drawn at a right angle with the
line of distance and along that base the surveyor is to walk to a point where
another known angle is found between the base at this second point and the line
from it to the object whose distance from the first point at the right angled end of
the base is wanted. The known angle at this second point is to be less than a
right angle, and equal to the angle which would be found at the same end of the
base, between the base and the line from that second point to the said object, if the
base was one yard, two yards, or four yards long, excetra, and the distance from
the first point to the object be forty yards. The base thus found will be 40,20 or 10,
exetra of the distance required.
Such is the method of measuring distances which I have invented and the
instrument in the form of a staff or a stick for working out that method; the
invention comprising both method and instrument and both combined.
When the distance of any object is found as above from any standpoint the
height of that object above or depth below that point can be ascertained from
what it will appear to be to the eye at a distance of a foot or a yard from that
standpoint. This can be done in the usual way by means of a level and a scale,
the distance being first found; however.
The angle measuring instrument to be similar to those in use for finding right
angles in land measuring, on staffs, with uprights containing a narrow opening at
one end and fine strings or wires at the other end &c. marking the size of angles
required. The instrument to be so adapted as to be carried within the staff or
stick, and to be adjusted for use.
Dated this 26th day of October 1893.

page_text: A New Method and Instrument for Measuring Distances and
Altitudes.
HOWELL ROBERTS Calvinistic Methodist Minister Bryn Eisteddfod Clynnog
Carnarvon 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:-
The distance is to be measured by means of two angles one of which is a right
angle, the other a known one, which with the object whose distance is required will
determine the length of the base between the two angles and the number of times
the required distance is greater than the base. The length of the base also can be
found by the same method.
A staff, or a stick with instruments for measuring lengths angles and altitudes
within or without it or them is made use of for working out the method. The staff
or stick is to be hollow within to contain the pins scales and angles required or else
to be adapted outside for the attachment to it or them of these requirements.
The staff or stick is stuck into the ground or made to stand upon it, either the
whole staff or stick, or part of either at the point from which the distance to any
object is to be measured. At that point, a base is drawn at a right angle with the
line of distance and along that base the surveyor is to walk to a point where
another known angle is found between the base at this second point and the line
from it to the object whose distance from the first point at the right angled end of
the base is wanted. The known angle at this second point is to be less than a
right angle and equal to the angle which would be found at the same end of the
base, between the base and the line from that second point to the said object if the
base was one yard two yards or four yards long excetra and the distance from
the first point to the object be forty yards. The base thus found will be 40, 20 or 16
excetra of the distance required.
Such is the method of measuring distances which I have invented and the
instrument in the form of a staff or a stick for working out that method; the
invention comprising both method and instrument.
When the distance of any object is found as above from any standpoint the
height of that object above or depth below that point can be ascertained from
what it will appear to be to the eye at a distance of a foot or a yard from that
standpoint. This can be done in the usual way by means of a level and a scale,
the distance being first found.
The angle-measuring instrument to be similar to those in use for finding right
angles in land measuring on staffs with uprights containing a narrow opening at
one end and fine strings or wire at the other end &c. marking the size of angles
required. The instrument to be so adapted as to be carried within the staff or
stick and to be adjusted for use.
In further explanation of this method and instrument I herewith send drawings
in three figures,
Fig. 1 shows the distance A C to be required. At A the base Aa, Ab, Ac or AB,
is taken at a right angle to A. C. Suppose AC to be 40 yards. At A the
stick DE is stuck to the ground and with the sights CA in the direction
of AC (Fig. 1.), and C B in the direction of A B the right angle C A B is
drawn. The sight at B, Fig. 2. is better explained in Fig. 3, the string 1 being
the one used for a right angle, 2 for the angle A. a. C, (Fig. 1) and 3 for the
angle AC, and 4 for the angle A e C. Another string would be required for the
sight to get the angle A B C.
Now the surveyor having found the right angle CA B, draws out the stick,
placing a peg or a pin in its place, and walks along A B until he gets the angle

page_text: at a with string 2 or at 6 with string 3 or at C with string 4 &c.
be Ab Ac 1 &c. of the distance A C.
Then A a will
The instrument for angles A B C Fig. 2. is hinged at C and A but not at B and
is so made that it can be carried within the stick as well as the sights & lead
line K. L.
Fig. 3, is also hinged at the four corners for the same purposes, that is, for being
used in measurement and for being placed within the stick.
The fine strings 1, 2, 3 and 4 should be at the following distances from each
other where C B, (Fig. 2.) is 1 foot,-from 1 to 2, 13 of an inch, from 1 to 3, % and
from 1 to 4 of an inch. In other countries other distances would be preferable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the object of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The invention of a method to measured distances by means of two known
angles, one being a right angle the other less than a right angle, the base between
the two becoming so many times less than the required distance.
2. The staff or stick and instrument as herein described for measuring distances.
Signed this 26th day of July 1894.
HOWELL ROBERTS.