IMPROVEMENTS IN URINOMETERS, SACCHARO- METERS, ALCOHOMETERS, AND OTHER MEASURES OF DENSITY OF FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Blaise, of Number 67, Saint James'
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Surgical Instrument Maker,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN URINOMETERS, SACCHARO-
METERS, ALCOHOMETERS, AND OTHER MEASURES OF DENSITY OF FLUIDS OR
LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 29th December 1871, and dated the 2nd October 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Blaise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd October 1871.
I, LOUIS BLAISE, of Number 67, Saint James' Street, in the County
5 of Middlesex, Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN URINOMETERS, SACCHARO-
METERS, ALCOHOMETERS, AND OTHER MEASURES OF DENSITY OF FLUIDS OR LIQUIDS,"
to be as follows:—
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction or

page_text: measures of density of fluids or liquids, such as acidometers, lactometers,
or any similar measures of density.
Heretofore these measures or indicators have been constructed of
glass or metal, but whereas both materials occupy some time in
adjusting themselves to the degree of buoyancy required to indicate 5
the exact density of the fluid or liquid in which they may be placed,
and also that the metallic indicator is liable to corrosion or to the action
of acids or other corrosive liquids, I propose to form these measures of
density from the substances known as vulcanite or ebonite, or other
such materials or compounds possessing a base or foundation of hydro- 1
carbon, such as india-rubber or gutta percha.
These substances or compounds being naturally of a light specific
gravity will readily adjust themselves to the fluid or liquid in which
they may be placed; and the indicator thus formed will find its level
with little loss of time, and will also be free from the action of corrosive 1
acids or other similar influence.
The rigid balance weight may be of glass or of metal coated with the
ebonite, vulcanite, or similar hydrocarbon material.
The index rod may be of ebonite or glass properly regulated as to
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Louis Blaise in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th March 1872..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE 'PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
BLAISE, of Number 67, Saint James' Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Surgical Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Louis Blaise, Her special licence
that I, the said Louis Blaise, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Louis Blaise, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
3 and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN URINOMETERS,
SACCHAROMETERS, ALCOHOMETERS, AND OTHER MEASURES OF DENSITY OF FLUIDS OR
LIQUIDS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis
Blaise, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Blaise, do hereby declare
5 the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction or
manufacture of urinometers, saccharometers, alcohometers, and other
) measures of density of fluids or liquids such as acidometers, lactometers,
or any similar measures of density.
Heretofore these measures or indicators have been constructed of glass
or metal, but whereas both materials are easily injured, the one by
becoming indented, and the other by fracture, and also that the metallic
› indicator is liable to corrosion or to the action of acids or other corrosive
liquids, I propose to form these measures of density from the sub-
stances known as vulcanite or ebonite, or other such materials or
compounds possessing a base or foundation of hydrocarbon, such as
india-rubber or gutta percha.
Instruments constructed of these substances or compounds are less
easily injured than when made of metal or glass, and they will be free
from the action of corrosive acids, or other similar influence whilst they
are much cheaper than similar instruments made of metal.
The rigid balance weight may be of glass or of metal coated with the
› ebonite, vulcanite, or similar hydrocarbon material.

page_text: The index rod may be of ebonite or glass properly regulated as to
scale, whether for medicinal, chemical, or commercial purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying
Drawings, more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a section, and Figure 2 is an elevation of a spirit hydro-
meter; Figure 3 is a section, and Figure 4 is an elevation of a saccharo-
meter; Figure 5 is a section, and Figure 6 is an elevation of a
urinometer, and Figure 7 is a section, and Figure 8 is an elevation of 1
an alcohometer, constructed according to my Invention. In each of
the various Figures similar letters of reference are employed to indicate
like parts.
E
a is the floating bulb; & is the balance weight or bulb, and c is the
index rod. In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the index rods c are made hollow, 1
whilst in Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, they are made of solid thin flat strips.
The index rods c are screwed into the upper part of the floating bulb a,
which is formed hollow, as shown, and the floating bulb a is screwed
into the balance weight b, which is also formed hollow to receive shots
to facilitate adjustment in the usual way. In Figures 5 and 6, and 7 2
and 8 the index rods c are provided with scales on each side thereof, as
shown.
The various instruments shown in the Drawings are supposed to be
made entirely of ebonite, vulcanite, or other such materials or com-
pounds, but if desired the balance weight or bulb 6 may be made of 2
glass or of metal coated with the ebonite, vulcanite, or other similar
material, whilst the index rod c may be of ebonite or of glass properly
regulated as to scale for the particular use to which the instrument is to
be applied.
Other measures of the density of liquids may be constructed in a 3
similar manner, suitable scales being employed for the particular purpose
to which the instrument is to be applied. I would here remark that the
form of these instruments may be considerably varied without departing.
from the peculiar character of my Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the 8
mode in which I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood

page_text: that what I claim is the manufacture of urinometers, saccharometers,
alcohometers, and other measures of the density of liquids, of ebonite,
vulcanite, or other such materials in manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Blaise, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.