Improvements in Parallel Rulers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Parallel Rulers.
I, CHARLES HENRY BEELER Jr., of 5308 Lancaster Avenue, in the City and
County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, one of the United States of
America, Artist, 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 :-
My invention relates to parallel rulers in which two straight edges are connected
together by two parallel pivotted links.
The object of my improvements is to so construct such parallel rulers that
measurements can be accurately and quickly made and which can be used for
section lining or for making numerous designs in imitation of engine turning and
for mechanical drawing purposes in general.
This object attain in the following manner, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved parallel ruler ;
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the ruler closed;
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the ruler partly opened ;
Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the ruler full opened;
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a double ruler;
Fig. 6 is a side view of the ruler shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-7, Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 Fig. 5;
Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the series of designs made by the use of the ruler.
A is one member of the ruler, and B is the other member; these members are
connected together by links D D₁ which are secured to each member by pivots d,
these pivots have tapered heads adapted to the tapered openings in the links, as
clearly shown in Fig. 8, so that by striking the heads of the pivots the lost motion
caused by wear can be readily taken up without throwing the ruler out of centre.
Projecting from the end of the link D pivotted to the member B is an arm D'
the end of which is bevelled so as to rest under the bevelled edge of the segment B¹
also secured to or forming part of the member B of the ruler, this segment extends
over the member A of the ruler, as clearly shown in the drawings, and is graduated
in any manner required and on the arm D is a line which when opposite any of the
graduations will indicate corresponding openings of the ruler, thus for instance, if
the member A is moved so that the arm will be in line with the 16 graduation, as
in Fig. 3, the distance between the member A and the member B will be
one sixteenth of an inch, but if the member A is moved to the position shown in
Fig. 4 with the arm D2 in line with the one inch graduation then the distance
between the members will be one inch.
It will be noticed that the distance between the graduations increases or
multiplies as the ruler is opened and thus very accurate work can be made owing
to the fact that the spaces can be indicated clearly.
E is an adjustable stop through an elongated slot in which passes a set screw F,
by screwing down which the stop can be fixed in an adjusted position on the
member B; when this stop is not in use it can be secured on one end of the ruler
by screwing the set screw F into a screw threaded opening f, this stop is specially
useful when the ruler is used for section lining and by adjusting the stop to the
width of space between lines required, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and by first
manipulating one member and then the other, section lines can be made equidistant
anart

page_text: I preferably arrange, adjacent to one or both edges, a series of centre holes i
preferably arranged at a given distance apart, say for instance, an eighth or a
sixteenth of an inch apart, these centre holes not only act as graduations of a ruler
but also as a centre point for a compass, thus by centering the compass on the ruler
and moving the ruler intermittently a series of circles can be made on an inclined
line without drawing a line on the paper and by moving the compass from one
centre to another as well as moving one member of the ruler other figures can
be made.
The edges of the rule are bevelled, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, one side being
specially adapted for pencil and the other for pen.
The underside of the links are cut away at the centre so as to reduce friction.
The underside of the members of the ruler may be also cut away for the same
purpose.
Thus by the above arrangement the ruler is compact and can be cheaply
manufactured and the wear of parts can be readily taken up and the ruler can be
utilized to make numerous designs in imitation of engine turning and can also be
used to advantage in making mechanical drawings where accuracy is required as
the measurements may be made directly by the ruler instead of by dividers or
scales.
In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a rule in which the link D¹ is also provided
with an arm aligning with a segment; the graduations on this segment may differ
from the graduations on the segment B', for instance the sixty fourth measurements
may be marked on one segment and the thirty second graduations on the other and
one may be graduated to inches and the other to metres.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. In a parallel ruler of the kind herein referred to, providing one or both of
the pivotted links with an arm projecting at an angle therefrom and having its end
situated against a graduated segment fixed to one of the members of the ruler and
projecting over the other member, substantially as described.
2. The combination in a parallel ruler of the two members A. and B, links
connecting the two members together, an arm on one of said links, a segment fixed
on one member and overhanging the other and an adjustable stop for limiting the
movement of the arms, substantially as described.
3. The combination in a parallel ruler, of the two members A and B, links D, D¹,
pivoted to the said members an arm D extending from the base of the link D at
an angle thereto and having a bevelled end, a graduated segment secured to or
forming part of the portion B, said segment overlapping the portion A and having
an undercut edge adapted to receive the bevelled end of the arm D2, substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.
4. The combination in a parallel ruler of the two members A and B links D D¹
pivotted to the said members, arms D extending from the bases of the said links
at an angle thereto, and segments B₁ B₁ fixed respectively to the member A and
the member B the said segments being graduated either with the same or with
different divisions, substantially as described.
5. In combination with the construction of parallel ruler referred to in Claims 3
and 4, the use of slotted adjustable stop or stops E secured by setting screws F for
limiting the motion of the members A and B, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of July 1894
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.