Improvements in Apparatus for ascertaining Actual Distances from Scale Drawings, Maps, and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for ascertaining Actual Distances from
Scale Drawings, Maps, and the like.
I, CAMILLE JOSEPIii Marie Bonneroi, of La Grand Combe, in the Republic of
France, Clock Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in apparatus for ascertaining actual
distances, from scale drawings, maps and the like, and refers to apparatus in which
the movement of a wheel passed over a curve or line, to be measured is trans-
mitted through a train of gearing to a pointer mounted upon a dial plate so that
the actual distance may be ascertained.
My improved apparatus is so constructed as to be universal that is, by my
arrangement the pointer can indicate the actual length of road under measure-
ment no matter what may be the scale of the map or plan from which the
measurement is being made.
To effect this I so construct the gearing by which the movement of the measur-
ing wheel is transmitted to the pointer that the gearing may be changed at
pleasure so as to adapt it to the varying scales of maps and of plans.
To this end I employ two wheels preferably friction wheels in conjunction
with the gearing the axes of which friction wheels can be brought nearer to
or further from each other so that the motion of one may be transmitted to the
other from a point more or less distant from its axis by means of which variable
motion may be transmitted as desired. One of the friction wheels is formed with
a conical face preferably roughened against which the other wheel bears.
This
In an instrument constructed in accordance with my invention the motion of
the measuring wheel is transmitted through suitable reducing gearing to the
friction wheel bearing upon the conical face of the other friction wheel.
latter friction wheel is formed with teeth on its periphery engaging with teeth
formed on a pinion secured to the axis of the pointer so that motion is com-
municated to the pointer from the measuring wheel. The conical faced friction
wheel is mounted on a pivotted lever the other end of which is connected by
means of a link to a screwed rod passing up within the interior of the handle of
the instrument. By operating a screw projecting beyond the handle and engag-
ing with the screwed rod the rod is raised or lowered thus rocking the lever upon
which the conical faced friction disc is mounted. Thus the distance between
the axes of the friction wheels can be readily varied, varying the motion trans-
mitted by the friction wheels.
Springs may be employed to keep the friction wheels in contact with each other.
The lever upon which the conical faced friction wheel is carried, is provided
with a pointer working against a graduated scale on the back of the instrument.
By operating the screwed nut and observing the scale at the back of the instru-
ment the lever is readily adjusted to place it into that position corresponding
exactly to the scale of the map or plan from which the actual distance is to be

page_text: measured, such distance being then transmitted from the measuring wheel through
the train of gearing and friction wheels to the pointer which indicates the dis-
tance upon the front dial plate.
It will be apparent from the above description that the important feature of
my invention consists in varying the motion from the measuring wheel to the
pointer to accomodate different scales of maps and the like by means of fric-
tion or other wheels or discs in the train of gearing the axes of which are capable
of being advanced or retracted from each other. I do not therefore confine
myself to the exact method described. For instance both friction wheels may
be mounted upon movable levers. The improved instrument may also be fitted
with all the usual accessories to facilitate its use and especially with means to
return the pointer to zero similar to the means at present in use.
Improvements in Apparatus for ascertaining Actual Distances from
Scale Drawings, Maps, and the like.
I, CAMILLE JOSEPH MARIE BONNEFOI, of La Grand' Combe, in the Republic of
France, Clock Maker, 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 and accompanying drawings;-
The instrument forming the subject matter of my invention consists of a dis-
tance measuring indicator in which the motion of the frictional roller which
runs upon the line or space to be measured on the map or plan is transmitted by
gearing to a needle working on an index the ratio of the gearing, that is to say
the proportion of speed relatively as between the friction roller and the needle,
being so arranged that the needle shall indicate upon the index the actual dis-
tance represented by the line or route traversed by the friction roller upon the
map.
My improved measuring appliance is universal in its nature that is to say it
can be adjusted to cause the needle to indicate upon the index the correct dis-
tance of the route line to be measured, whatever may be the scale of the map or
plan.
For this purpose the gearing by which the motion of the friction roller is
transmitted to the needle is arranged in a special manner which permits of the
alteration of the ratio of speed as desired so as to adapt the instrument for use
on maps and plans of different scales.
With this object I interpose in the train of gearing two frictional discs the
axes of which can be moved further from or nearer to each other as desired, so
as to vary the point of frictional contact and consequently the relative speeds.
One of the two discs has a conical face so that the other disc is only in contact
with it at a circumferential driving distance generated from the centre of the disc
so that the relative point of contact of the radials is exactly determined by the
relative separation of the two axes.
The accompanying drawing illustrates one method of carrying my invention
into effect.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the instrument.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the interior.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section.
Fig. 5 is a detail view on the line 5-5 Fig. 3.
A indicates the friction roller the movements of which are transmitted to the
indicating needle B, by the gearing C.
D and G indicate the two friction discs interposed in the train of gearing in
such a manner that the distance between their axes can be varied. The disc Dis
provided at its periphery with teeth which gear with a pinion b fixed on the
axis B of the needle B. The disc G is also formed on its periphery with teeth
whereby it receives motion from the friction roller A by means of one or more
intermediate wheels."
In order that the distance between the two friction wheels may be altered at
will, one of the said dises D is carried on a lever E capable of turning on the
axis B thus ensuring that the disc D) will always be in gear with the pinion
whatever may be the angular movements of the lever.
The lateral face of the said disc D is conical in formation and roughened,
while against this face is pressed by the action of two springs F, F', a similarly
roughened annular face on the disc G.
The movement of the lever E so as to change the ratio of the train of gearing,
is obtained by operating a milled nut H carried in the shank of the instrument
and acting when turned so as to impart longitudinal movement in one direction
or the other to the screw H¹.
This screw is connected to the lever H by a link H³, and the result is that when
the screw is moved, a corresponding angular alteration of the position of the
lever takes place on the axis b, with the result that the axis of the disc D is
caused to approach or move away from the axial centre of the disc G and thus
alter the ratio or proportion of the train of gearing. An index e carried by the
lever E and arranged in front of a scale serves as a ready means to set the lever E
to the exact position corresponding to the scale of the map or plan, the needle B
then indicating on the dial the exact mileage traversed on the scale map by the
friction roller A.
It may be remarked that owing to the conical form of the face of the friction
disc D the disc G bears upon it only at a point or circumferential line generated
from the axial centre in such a manner that the relative point of contact of the
radials is always exactly determined by the position of the lever E. This is an
important feature in my invention.
It is evident that it is immaterial whether the conical face is on the disc D,
or G and further the conical form might be replaced by an analogous convex
contour. Also the disc G might be movable round the axis of the preceding
wheel of the train of gearing, the disc D merely turning. Again the discs G
and I might both be mounted on levers respectively movable on the axes preced-
ing and following of the gearing. I do not confine myself in these respects, nor
do I. limit myself to the exact details of construction of the instrument, nor to
the dimensions or number of the gearing wheels nor to the mode of operating the
lever E.
I may also fit the instrument with all means for facilitating its use such for
instance as the provision of means such as the knob I for returning the instru-
ment to zero, the said means being similar to the ordinary appliances for
returning counters to zero.
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 :-
1) A universal registering distance measuring instrument in which the motion
of the friction runner is transmitted to the indicating needle by means of an
intersituated train of gearing with which is incorporated friction discs or wheels

page_text: capable of being moved away from or towards each others axes as desired so as
to vary the relative speeds of motion of the runner and the indicating needle,
substantially as described and shown.
•
2) In an instrument of the nature set forth under Claim 1 forming one of the
two friction discs or wheels with a conical convex or other analogously formed
face for the purposes and substantially as described and shown.
3) In an instrument of the indicated nature the arrangement whereby one of
the frictional discs or wheels is mounted on a lever capable of turning on the
axis of a preceding or-following wheel in the train of gearing, by means of a
nut and screw substantially as described, and indicated.
4) The general arrangement and construction of measuring instrument sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated.
Dated this 1st day of November 1898.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.