A Combined Rule and Gradient or Angle Indicator.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Rule and Gradient or Angle Indicator.
We, JAMES AUSTIN DRAYTON of Roebuck Hotel, Oxford, Hotel Keeper and
JOHN RICHARD WILKINS of 28 Walton Crescent, Oxford, Builder, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a combined rule and gradient or angle indicator and has
for its. object to combine with a foot or two feet measuring rule means for ascer-
taining the correct inclination at which to lay pipes for instance, or to find the
proper gradient for roads & etc.
For this purpose two flat bars of wood or other suitable material and of equal
length are hinged together so as to lie flat one upon the other when closed. One
or both bars may be marked with an ordinary inch or other measuring scale and
at the free end of one of them is hinged a strip of metal which when the said bars
are closed together lies in a recess formed in the bar to which it is hinged. When
the bars are opened for the purpose of determining a gradient or angle, the free
end of the metal strip is passed through a slot formed in the end of the bar in
order to be fixed at the desired angle, the end of the said bar, which may be tipped
with brass or metal, being provided with a set screw for fixing the bar to the said
strip. The metal strip has marked on one of its edges a protractor scale for setting the
device to various angles, whilst the other edge is marked with divisions of one
hundred or other suitable scale for ascertaining or indicating gradients. A spirit
level may be used with my improved device and placed upon. one of the aforesaid
flat bars for maintaining such bar in a level position or the spirit level may be
constructed with and let into the said bar.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from
the principle thereof, we do not restrict ourselves to material, or dimensions.
Dated this 31st day of March 1890.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Combined Rule and Gradient or Angle Indicator.
We, JAMES AUSTIN DRAYTON of Roebuck Hotel Oxford, Hotel Keeper and
JOHN RICHARD WILKINS of 28 Walton Crescent, Oxford, Builder, 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 relates to a combined rule and gradient or angle indicator, and has
for its object to combine with a foot or two feet measuring rule means for ascer-
taining the correct inclination at which to lay pipes for instance, or to find the
proper gradient for roads and etc.
For this purpose two flat bars of wood or other suitable material and of equal
length are hinged together so as to be flush one against the other when closed. One
or both bars may be marked with an ordinary inch or other measuring scale a strip
of metal being hinged towards one end of one of these bars and located when the
latter are closed together in a recess formed in the bar to which it is hinged.
When the bars are opened for the purpose of determining a gradient or angle, the
free end of the metal strip is passed through a slot formed in the other bar in
order to be fixed at the desired angle, such slot being tipped with brass or metal
CDQ37

page_text: a set screw for securing the metal strip within the other par
A
aforesaid. The metal strip has marked on one of its edges a protractor scale for
setting the device to various angles, whilst the other edge is marked with divisions
of one hundred or other suitable scale for ascertaining or indicating gradients.
spirit level may be used with my improved device and placed upon one of the
aforesaid flat bars for maintaining such bar in a level position or the spirit level
may be constructed with and let into the said bar.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view of our improved instrument with the limbs open,
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively cross sections on lines x x and y y of Fig. 1.
A and B are the two limbs or arms of an ordinary foot rule made of any suitable
material and hinged at a as shown in Fig. 1. C is a strip of metal hinged to the
pin 6 which is secured transversely as shown in Fig. 3 through the limb B.
The strip C is located within the recess c (Fig. 4) formed in the thickness of the
limb B, when the limbs are closed, that is to say when the instrument is not
used, as a gradient indicator but merely as an ordinary foot rule, and the outline
of which (viz. the recess c) is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
The end'd of the strip C is passed when the instrument is required for use,
as a gradient or angle indicator, through a slot e formed in the limb A and is
secured therein in any suitable position i.e. according as the said limbs are more
or less open, by means of a screw f provided with a head having a milled edge
as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
As shewn in Fig. 1 the limbs A and B are divided into inches and their
sub-divisions in the ordinary way, while the strip C is furnished with a
protractor scale indicating the various angles formed when the limbs are more or
less opened according to the gradient which is being measured; the limb A which
has to remain horizontal in order that the inclination thereon of the limb B may
indicate the angle which is being measured, is furnished for this purpose with. a
spirit level
located in a suitable recess formed on the top and in the thickness
thereof; & j, are cavities for the thumb, formed respectively in the limb B and
the strip to facilitate the withdrawal of the strip C from its recess c.
In order
to ascertain the gradient, say of a water pipe for example, the instrument is first
open as shewn in Fig. 1 and the limb B is placed on edge on the said pipe when
by moving the limb A, until the bubble of the spirit level g shows that the latter
is horizontal, the strip C will indicate at the upper edge of the limb A, the number
of degrees contained in the gradient or angle measured.
Instead of combining our gradient or angle indicator with a foot rule or an
ordinary two foot rule as commonly used, we may make a separate instrument
thereof by dispensing with the divisions marked on the limbs A and B, and
making the latter thicker than is usual for foot rules in which case we may be
able to use a larger size level. We may also as a variation hinge the strip C to
either side of the limb on B; with a small spring catch to hold the end d in
required position when the said strip C is not in use. In this case a groove or
guide would be arranged at the corresponding side of the limb A to allow of the
strip C sliding therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
-(1)-The combined rule and gradient or angle indicator arranged, constructed
and operated substantially as herein before described and shown, and for the purpose
set forth.
(2) In a combined rule and gradient indicator the strip C hinged to one limb
of the rule and arranged to pass through an opening in the other limb of the said
rule for the purposes of fixing these limbs to a required angle one with the other,
the said strip: C being. arranged to fit entirely into a recess c when not in use....all

page_text: as before described and set forth in this Specification, and illustrated by accompanying
drawings.
(3) The combination of a spirit level as shewn with a rule and gradient indicator
as described and set forth.
Dated this 31st day of December 1890.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.