Improvements in Levels and Clinometers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Levels and Clinometers.
WILLIAM OLIVER SMITH of 101 & 102 St. Martin's Lane in the County of
London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to that class of instrument used for surveying purposes,
especially for military work known as a clinometer for taking levels or slopes
quickly and with accuracy.
My clinometer is based on the well known form of pendulum clinometer in
which a weight is pivotted and the readings taken on a scale by means of a pointer
working with the pendulum an index on the pendulum itself or by other convenient
arrangement. Usually the divisions on the scale are very close together and
therefore difficult to read with accuracy. To overcome this, I multiply the
motion of the pointer which may be done in the following manner.
On the pivot
carrying the pendulum 1 mount concentrically with it a toothed wheel or segment
of a wheel gearing into another wheel having a different number of teeth, this
wheel being carried on. another pivot also carrying a pointer rigidly attached
thereto; thus the motion of the pendulum may be multiplied on the scale to any
extent according to the ratio of these wheels.
I usually mount the working parts of the clinometer in a semicircular metal
box and I use the plane surface formed by the diameter as a line of sight when
measuring angles or slopes with the clinometer, or I fix sights at either end for
more accurate working. For taking levels I provide a small circular sight hole
on one side of the box and opposite to it on the other side a larger circular or
other opening, across the centre of which I may stretch a wire or have one or
more points projecting from the circumference towards the centre, or other
convenient sighting arrangement. At right angles to the pointer working over
the scale I fix to it a metal strip carrying a small ball, disc, ring carrying a cross
wire or a support carrying a pin fixed horizontally to it, or other similar arrange-
ment, the instrument being so arranged that when the centre of the ball, disc or
pin coincides with the centre of the large opening as seen from the sight hole any
object seen through the opening on a line through the centre of the ball, disc or
pin is on a level with the eye. In order to clear the image of the sighting
arrangement on the metal-strip and that on the large opening, I place inside the
box at a convenient distance between the pivot and the sighting hole a diaphragm
with a small hole in it; the size of the hole being in proportion to the distance
between the diaphragm and the sighting hole.
I sometimes do away with the ball, disc or other projection on the metal strip
and read by the strip itself in such a way that an object can only be sighted when
the strip is on a level, when out of level the strip rises on one side or the other
and shuts out the direct view between the rear and fore sights. 'It is obvious
that in place of the strip il can use a tube or other arrangement fixed at. right
angles to the pointer and only allowing a clear reading when the instrument
is level.
In my clinometer I provide arrangements for checking the motion of 'the
pendulum for the purpose of bringing it quickly to rest and also for fixing it so

page_text: that the instrument can be moved without disturbing the reading. I also provide
a clamping arrangement for holding the pendulum when not in use.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1896.
Improvements in Levels and Clinometers.
WILLIAM OLIVER SMITH of 101 & 102 St. Martin's Lane in the County of
London, Manufacturer, 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 object of my present invention is to arrange or combine certain component
parts so as to produce an instrument giving a greater range than hitherto of
movement of a pointer working in conjunction with a pendulum and to allow of
level and angle readings by means of such pointer being made on a divided scale
with the speed and accuracy more especially required in military surveying.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a face view of clinometer level showing scale A pointer B, clamp pin C
and sighting pins D.
Fig. 2 is a side view with side of case E removed.
Fig. 3 is a plan with top of case E removed.
Fig. 4 is a face view with face of case E removed.
Fig. 5 is a side section with face of case E removed.
Fig. 6 shows the arrangement for multiplying the motion of pointer B, (Figs. 1,
2,4 & 5).
F (Fig. 6) is the first spindle carrying the pendulum P (Fig. 6). G (Fig. 6) is
a segment of a toothed wheel gearing into H and fixed rigidly on spindle F.
The wheel H is fixed on a separate spindle M to which spindle the pointer B
(Figs. 1, 2, 4 & 5) is also fixed. As shown, the wheel H has half the number of
teeth of the wheel of which G is a segment the motion of pendulum P being
therefore multiplied by two on the scale, but it is obvious that wheel M and
segment G can have different ratios to one another so as to obtain a greater or
lesser multiplication of movement of pointer B.
For taking levels a small circular sight hole L (Figs. 3 & 4) on the side of the
case E is provided and on the opposite side to it is a larger circular opening O
(Figs. 3 & 4). Projecting from the circumference of the opening O is a point S
(Fig. 3). Rigidly fixed at right angles to pointer B is a metal strip K (Figs. 3 & 4)
carrying a point N (Fig. 3) fixed horizontally. When the point N just coincides
with point S any object, seen through opening L on a line with centre of
points, S & N, is on a level with the eye.
An arrangement for clearing the image of the sighting arrangement and doing
away with blurr is shown at X (Figs. 2, & 4). A small diaphragm X having a
hole Y in it is fixed inside the case E the hole Y being in a line with centres of
holes L and O (Figs. 3 & 4) the size of hole Y being in proportion to its distance
from L.
For clamping, the spring R (Figs. 3 & 4) presses against the pendulum P and
clamps it in any position. When the pin C (Figs. 1, 3 & 4) is pressed, the
spring R. releases the pendulum P and allows a reading to be taken. When
the reading is taken C is released and spring R clamps the pendulum so that the
instrument may be moved without disturbing the reading.
For sighting slopes I may do so along the plane surface at top of box or I may
provide son.e other means of sighting such as two sight pins D D. so that in

page_text: looking along the plane surface the two pins are seen standing side by side to the
same height.
It will be understood that the pin S may be replaced by a crosswire whilst N
may be replaced by a ring carrying a cross wire, ball or disc or the metal strip K
may have projections for cutting off the openings when the instrument is not on
level or it may be replaced by a tube or other device for effecting the same
object.
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. In a clinometer or level the multiplying of the movement made by a pendulum
by means of wheels substantially as shown and described.
2. In a clinometer or level the multiplying of the movement made by a pendulum
by means of wheels and the reading of such multiplied movement on a scale in
conjunction with a pointer substantially as shown and described.
3. In a clinometer or level the sighting arrangements substantially as shown and
described.
4. In a clinometer or level the insertion of a diaphragm before the eyehole to
clear the image of sighting arrangement substantially as shown and described.
5. In a clinometer or level the check and clamp to the pendulum substantially as
shown and described.
6. The clinometer level substantially as shown and described.
Deted this 91st der of October 1896.
WILLIAM O. SMITH.