provements in Levels and Clinometers
Year: 1898

page_text: JOHN KEMPSTER, 55, Chesterton Road, Plaistow, London, E., Clerk of Works,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvement I claim consists of a graduated vertical scale fitted in a small
compartment in the end of the instrument.
One end of the vertical scale has a piece of metal fixed at right angles thereto
through which a slow motion screw passes vertically, the end of which works in
a hardened steel set screw, fixed in the bottom of the instrument. The top of the
slow motion screw is shouldered down to the required thickness & length to form
a spindle and admit of a thumbscrew being fixed thereto. By turning the
thumbscrew on the top of the instrument the vertical scale is raised or lowered to
the required distance through an aperture made in the bottom of the instrument
for this purpose.
When the scale is not required it can be drawn up into the
instrument by means of the thumbscrew, then the instrument can be used as an
ordinary level. The scale will show gradients from 1 in 10 to 1 in 400. When a
gradient is required the scale is lowered by means of the thumbscrew till the desired
figures appear. Then the instrument is laid on a long straightedge one end of
which is raised or lowered till the bubble of level is in the centre of its run.
gradient is then extended by means of boning rods, to the required distance.
For giving the batter to retaining walls, chimney shafts, and the like,
a small cross level is fixed on the side of the instrument near the end and the scale
used in the same manner as for gradients.
The
The instrument can be used for giving the rise or fall to sewers, house drains,
roads, kerbs, channels footpaths and the like.
1 300
1000
mprovements in Levels and Clinometers.
JOHN KEMPSTER, 55, Chesterton Road, Plaistow, E., Clerk of Works, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My improvements in levels and clinometers consists of a small compartment con-
structed in the end of a level for fixing the mechanism required to raise or lower
the scale.

page_text: The scale is made to fit the internal dimensions of the sectional area of the end
of the level, marked A on plans, it has a piece of the same metal fixed to, and at
right angles to the scale, as shown on sections B, through which a slow motion
screw passes, the bottom of which works in a hardened-set-screw, fixed in the
bottom of the level at C. A spindle is formed of the required length near the top
end of the screw, with a thumb-screw fixed thereto, for turning the screw that raises
or lowers the scale as shown on sections D.
When the scale is required, it is lowered by turning the thumb screw on top of
the spindle, the scale passing through an aperture made in the bottom and near
the end of the level as shown in dotted lines on sections E.
The improved level and clinometer can be used for the following purposes
viz: Finding or giving gradients to sewers, house drains, and the formation to
carriageways, footpaths, kerbs, channels and such like. The batters to retaining
walls, chimney shafts, slopes and such like. It can also be used as an ordinary
level when not required for the purposes enumerated.
The ends of the instrument will be cast hollow with the bottom plate attached,
the top plate to be cast separately, the glass bubble tube, and the wood for the
body of the level to be of the best description.
If made of aluminium the whole of the body and ends, can be cast hollow, the
top plate to be cast separately.
The centre scale is made to indicate 1 in 10 to 1 in 400. The scales on the sides
shew 8th and 16th and 12th of an inch.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The mechanism which is fixed in a specially constructed compartment at the
end of the instrument, consisting of a vertical sliding scale, and the slow motion
screw, by which the scale can be raised or lowered as desired.
June 9th 1808