IMPROVEMENTS IN CALLIPERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE EDWARDS of Whitby Lodge, New Thornton Heath, in the County
of Surrey Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN CALLIPERS to be as follows:―
My invention consists, in the first place, of the addition of a stopping arrange-
ment to sliding and compass-like callipers, by means of which a Turner may callip
his work, and ascertain its progress, without stopping the lathe.
This stop is attached to one part of the calliper or its arm or connector, by by
means of screw, spring, or ratchet, so as to prevent the other part closing (in the
case of outside calliping) or opening (in the case of inside calliping) beyond the
required distance, while it may be easily moved in the opposite direction.
These stops are made of steel or any suitable material, sometimes of flat metal
bent into shape, and so as to form springs for keeping them in their required places
with or without screws or catches, and others are cast into shape or otherwise
forged or shaped, and fitted with screws, springs, or catches, to hold them in place.
They are sometimes divided as verniers, so that they may more easily be fixed to a
sub-division of the unit of a scale.
In the second place, my invention consists of improvements in the form, and
mode of making the sliding parts of callipers.
These I prefer to make by cutting out, and bending sheet metal while hot or cold
(though they may be cast or otherwise constructed) so that they may only touch
the squares upon which they slide, at, or near the ends of the slides, (which are by
preference made longer than the jaws.) At these points of contact rollers, screws,
or studs, are sometimes placed, adjustable or fixed, and these slides are sometimes
divided in certain parts like verniers of large dimensions, so that the callipers may
be fixed minutely, without the main scale being minutely divided.
The third part of my invention consists of the addition, to the main parts of
callipers or calliper-squares, of arrangements by which they may be used as plumb-
rules, levels, and measures of degrees and proportions of angles. This object
is effected by means of plumb-bobs, pendulums, and suspended arms, and the
divisions on the callipers or calliper-arms, with holes, and depressions, for the
object suspended to rest or move in.

page_text: The fourth part of my invention consists in the introduction, to various parts of
callipers, of hollows, flutes, and ridges, so as to render them stiff and not lighter
than ordinary callipers, and in the addition of fixed or movable points to callipers,
so that they may be used as compasses.
The various parts of these callipers may be cast, forged, shaped, or made, or cut
out, by any suitable means, with the necessary holes cast, punched, or drilled in
them; a number of similar parts are then bolted or otherwise held together, and
shaped in a shaping machine where required. The parts required to be bent or
turned over, are put in moulds, or templates, and the fluting and bending effected
by press, stamp, or hammer. In other cases the machinery is so arranged as
to cut out the part, punch the holes, emboss, and turn down the edges at one
operation.
The stops and verniers are sometimes made of, or coated with, metal of a different
colour to the adjacent parts, so that their relative positions may be more easily
discerned.

page_text: I GEORGE EDWARDS of Whitby Lodge, New Thornton Heath, in the County
of Surrey Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN CALLIPERS and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists in the first place of the addition of a stopping arrange-
ment to sliding or compass like callipers by means of which a Turner may callip
his work and ascertain its progress without stopping the lathe.
This stop is attached to one part of the calliper or its arın or connector, by
means of screw spring or ratchet, so as to prevent the other part closing (in the
case of outside calliping) or opening (in the case of inside calliping) beyond the
required distance, while it may be easily moved in the opposite direction.
These stops are made of steel or any suitable material, sometimes of flat metal
bent into shape and so as to form springs for keeping them in their required places
with or without screws or catches and others are cast into shape or otherwise
forged or shaped and fitted with screws, springs or catches to hold them in place.
They are sometimes divided as verniers so that they may more easily be fixed to a
sub-division of the unit of a scale.
In the second place my invention consists of improvements in the form and
mode of making the sliding parts of callipers.
These I prefer to make by cutting out and bending sheet metal while hot or
cold (though they may be cast or otherwise constructed) so that they may only
touch the squares upon which they slide, at or near the ends of the slides (which
are, by preference made longer than the jaws) At these points of contact rollers,
screws or studs are sometimes placed adjustable or fixed. And these slides are
sometimes divided in certain parts like verniers of larger dimensions, so that;
the callipers may be fixed minutely without the main scale being minutely
divided.
The third part of my invention consists of the addition to the main parts of
callipers or calliper squares of arrangements by which they may be used as plumb
rules, levels and measures of degrees and proportions of angles.
This object is effected by means of plumb bobs, pendulums and suspended arms,.
and the divisions on the callipers or calliper arms with holes and depressions for
the object suspended to rest or move in.
The fourth part of my invention consists in the introduction to various parts of
callipers of hollows, flutes and ridges, so as to render them stiff and yet lighter:
than ordinary callipers, and in the addition of fixed or movable points to callipers
so that they may be used as compasses.
The various parts of these callipers may be cast, forged, shaped or made or cut,
out by any suitable means with the necessary holes cast punched or drilled in
them, a number of similar parts are then bolted or otherwise held together and
shaped in a shaping machine where required. The parts required to be bent or
turned over are put in moulds or templates and the fluting and bending effected
by press; stamp or hammer.

page_text: In other cases the machinery is so arranged as to cut out the parts, punch the
holes, emboss and turn down the edges at one operation.
The stops and verniers are sometimes made of or coated with metal of a different
colour to the adjacent parts so that their relative positions may be more easily
discerned.
Having now stated the nature of the said invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by aid of the
accompanying drawings.
Figs 1 and 2 are elevations and fig 3 section of sliding callipers with my
improved slides, stops and movable points.
Fig 4 is an elevation and fig 5 a view edgeways of similar callipers with fixed
points and part of a slide.
Fig 6 elevation of an ordinary engineers square fitted with my improved calliper
slide and figs 7 and 8 are enlarged views of an improved arrangement for locking
the slides to the square.
Figs 9 and 9 elevations and sections of two other forms of slides.
Figs 10. 11 and 12. sections showing some varieties of stops.
Figs 13, 134 13³ 13° 14 and 16 are views of improved jointed callipers com-
bined with my improved compass points, divisions, measuring bars and stops.
Fig 15 view and section showing the application of my improvements to ordinary
jointed callipers.
Figs 17. 18. 19 and 20 are diagrams to show the application of my improved
callipers to plumbing, levelling and measuring inclinations.
.
Fig 21 sections applicable to arms, legs slides, bars and joint washers of
callipers.
A (figs 1. 2. 3) are calliper squares with the two arms rivetted or otherwise
fastened together in different planes.
A¹ (figs 4. 5, 6, 7) are calliper squares both arms of which lie in the same plane.
B¹ (fig 1, 2. 3) improved slide made of plates fastened together by means of
rivets, studs or screws and washers or wheels at C, and so arranged as to slide
freely upon the square A. When required, however, the slide B is made to slide
less freely, or to be locked on the square A by means of the screws D, which press
the plates together or apart as the case may be.
The screws D are sometimes superseded by a tightening lever J (figs 6, 7. 8)
shown by the full lines to hold the sides of the slide B₁ against the square A¹
while the dotted lines J show the position of the lever for the slide to move
freely to effect this portions of the lever J and the sides B, B¹ (figs 1 to 8) are
bevelled.
Sometimes the lever J, and bevelled edges are inside the plates of the slide B. B¹
to hold them apart or allow them to press against the square A¹ as required.
Fig 6. shows how the calliper slides are reversible B¹ being reversed to the
position of B¹¹
Fig 9 shows a simple form of calliper slide made of one piece of metal and bent
over to form the guide h; one or more of which bent portions may be made long
enough to form a tightening spring i, acted upon by screw or lever similar to those
described above.
Fig 9 calliper slide with guide studs h¹ and spring adjuster 2, which spring
may be part of or affixed to, the slide plate B¹.
E (figs 1, 2.) verniers.
F movable points (some of which are pencil holders) to use as compasses, shown
out of use by the dotted lines and in place for use by the full lines. These points
may be screwed as shown or rivetted, and applied to any of my improved
callipers. The forks and holes at F¹ may be used as spanners or screw drivers to
turn the screws with.
G (figs 1 to 5) screw stop fastened to the arms at the required distance by means
of the screw H. In the figures 1, 2. 3. the stop G is shown fastened at a given

page_text: distance while the slide B is free to move, so that an object turning in a lathe, may
be introduced between the jaws as shown by the circle I, The space between the
stop G and the slide B shows at a glance the excess in diameter without stopping
the lathe. When required the stop may be fastened to the short arın as shown
figs 4 and 5.-and it can be removed by slacking the screw, and turning it on its
swivel nut as shown by the dotted lines H. These stops may be made of any suit-
able shape, some of which are shown at figs 10, 11, and 12 in which; a, is the
square, and 9, the stop; D tightening screws; e bevelled edges for verniers and f
(fig 12) parts to press for the purpose of relieving the spring stop. The stops may
be made longer as shown by the dotted lines at (fig 11) These sliding callipers
when required are marked with any desired scale with or without verniers, as also
like a protractor shown figs 1. 4. 6.
The diagrams (figs 17. 18. 19. 20.) though not marked or divided, show how they
are used as plumb-rules, levels and for measuring inclines.
Figs 13 to 13° show improved forms and arrangments of jointed callipers with
fixed points L to serve as compasses. The points being bevelled as shown at L are
(when folded as at figs 13A 13B) protected by the calliper noses.
At F is a movable pencil point-and when this instrument is divided with scale
and angle lines similar to those shown it forms a combination of callipers, com-
passes, rule, square and bevel.
Fig 14 shows a combination similar to that at fig 13 but with two additional
joints.
Figs 15 and 16 show the application of my improved system of stop to jointed
callipers. M connecting bar fastened to one leg as at N, and movable on a guide
fastened to another leg at N¹. The stop O slides along the bar M (which may be
straight or curved as shown). The bar M and stop O may be used with any of my
improved jointed callipers.
When desired to use these callipers with the stop O, it is fastened to the bar M
by means of a screw P, or any suitable means, and the joint at Q is left loose so
that when measuring an object larger than required by the position of the stop,
the jaws may open freely and show the excess as described above in connection
with the sliding callipers and stop.
The joint may be permanently loose or rendered tight or loose by means of a
screw, and the screw of the guide at N¹ may serve to lock the callipers and com-
passes in any required position.
The fixed points L and the divisions on the straight legs, render these callipers
useful also as compasses rule, square and bevel.
Fig 16 improved form of callipers and fixed compass points, combined so that,
when folded in the manner shown by the full lines, the compass points are shielded
by the calliper heels and a measuring rule is formed.
This form may be varied so that the points of callipers and compasses are in a
line with the joints N¹ and O.
These my improved callipers and their various parts and appendages may be
made of any suitable material, size and strength, and the transverse section of the
arms, slides, legs, bars and joint washers may be embossed rolled, cast, or stamped
flat or like those shown in fig 21 or any other suitable form-The screws or nuts
for tightening may be milled, thumb, fly, hexagon or groove headed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
) I claim is
Firstly. The addition to callipers of adjustable stops whereby objects revolving,
as well as fixed, may be measured, substantially as shown and described.
Secondly. The form and manner of making the slides of calliper squares, with or
without verniers and the manner of locking or making them to slide loosely on
5 the squares as shown and described.

page_text: Thirdly. The addition to callipers of scales, protractors and other markings by
means of which they may be used as levels plumb rules, bevels and squares as shown
and described.
Fourthly. The improved forms of callipers with fixed points to be used as com-
passes, and so arranged that when in certain folded positions the compass points
are protected as shown and described.
Fifthly. The addition to jointed callipers and compasses of adjustable measuring
bars and stops for use with loose and stiff joints, and in the manner of locking or
tightening the guides as shown and described.
Sixthly. The addition to callipers and calliper squares of loose points and pencil
holders, substantially as described and shown in the drawings.