IMPROVEMENTS: IN. THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANEROID BAROMETERS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM GAUGES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lucien Vidie, of Paris, France, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS: IN. THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANEROID BAROMETERS,
PARTLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM GAUGES."
Sealed the 22nd August 1862, and dated the 13th March 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lucien Vidie at the Office-
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th March
1862.
LUCIEN VIDIE, of Paris, France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANEROID
BAROMETERS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM GAUGES," to be as follows, that is
to say:
My improvements have for object improved arrangements in the construction
and mechanism of the aneroid barometer as hitherto constructed," parts of
which are applicable to the mechanism of the aneroid steam gauge, and consists
as follows:-
First, in taking the movement for working the hand off the spring, not as
before, from top to bottom, but off a point of the said spring working
horizontally, or in taking it off a point working in the same direction on a
piece fixed to the said spring without links..
Secondly, in applying an external spring of a secondary force to cause a

page_text: pressure on the vacuum box, which box is sufficiently supported against the
atmospheric pressure by one or more internal or external springs, and in
employing the said external spring to cause the working of the mechanism to
determine the point, and to support the counterweight. This spring may be
thus applied for the above more conveniently, as, for instance, in making its
extremity to abut against the vacuum box.
Thirdly, in converting the vertical movement of the vacuum box into a
horizontal movement, by means of two rods abutting at right angles against
a lever, the axis of which is placed diagonally, and. turns on pivots, points, or
knives, and if a flexible blade be preferred to an axis to support the lever, the
said blade must be also set diagonally.
Fourthly, in applying. to the rotative motion of the axis (actuating the axis
of the hand) two pins set in conical orifices, or laying one in a hole and the
other in a groove, or in applying knives, or on a pin and a knife, and in
surrounding that axis with a strap to prevent it escaping from a shock.
Fifthly, in making use of a bow for expanding a wire or metallic blade
when I employ the said wire or a blade for giving the rotative motion to the
axis of the pointer or other piece, care being taken to attach the said wire or
blade by the middle to the piece by twisting the wire round it one or more
times, and by causing the bow to be conducted at one of its ends by the
mechanism, and to have it drawn back by an adjusting spring.
Sixthly, in attaching the end of the chain, wire blade, or bow before
mentioned by a hook or buckle, acting by means of a point or knife on the
end of a conducting rod, instead of having it pinned.
Seventhly, in forming a helix with a metallic wire, which, after being
twisted spirally, one of its ends is drawn back to the centre to serve as a pivot,
and the other end is drawn back to the centre to serve as the axis of the
pointer.
Eighthly, in regulating the course when I use an endless screw, by inclining
more or less the axis of the lever by which the said screw is made to turn;
thus, for instance, if this axis be fixed on the blade of a spring, this blade can
be made to bend more or less on one side by means of an adjusting screw.
The end of the motive lever by being raised can thus be more or less with-
drawn from the centre of the screw.
Ninthly, in employing as a counterweight a piece, having its centre of
gravity, brought out of the centre, and capable of turning on itself within a
horizontal plane at the extremity of the arm of a lever; for instance, in order
to vary the action at will.
:
Tenthly, in placing the counterweight inside the vacuum box at the end of

page_text: the lower blade of a spring, the said blade being sufficiently extended beyond
the point on which it rests at the bottom of the box.
Eleventhly, in attaching to the central part of the diaphragm an arm.
advancing horizontally inside or outside, and having at its extremity a counter-
weight, which has thereby a tendency to cause the rocking of the central part
of the diaphragm, and the raising slightly of the point from which the movement.
is taken.
Twelfthly, in replacing by a box the sole plate on which the apparatus is
fixed. This box has a conical bottom, and is thereby strong enough to enable
the vacuum box to be attached to it. The said box having its raised part of
different diameters with one or more intermediate rests on which to fix the
spring or other mechanism. By these means the box acquires great rigidity.
I apply the improvements described under 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th
heads, also to the mechanism giving the movement to the pointers of steam
gauges.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Lucien Vidie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
September 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LUCIEN
VIDIE, of Paris, France, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Lucien Vidie, Her special licence that I, the said Lucien Vidie,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Lucien; Vidie, my executors, administrators, 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, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANEROID BAROMETERS, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO STEAM GAUGES,"
upon the condition (amongst, others) that I, the said Lucien Vidie, my execu-
tors 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

page_text: 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 Lucien Vidie, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:―
My improvements have for object improved arrangements in the construction
of the mechanism of the aneroid barometer as hitherto constructed by me,
parts of which are applicable-to the mechanism of the aneroid steam gauge,
and consist as follows:-
..
:
First, I take the movement for working the hand off the spring, not as
before, from top to bottom, but off a point of the spring (a-point working in a
horizontal direction); for which purpose I form the spring with one or more
vertical or nearly vertical parts; or I take the movement off a piece fixed
permanently on the spring, and working like a vertical lever in a horizontal
direction at its extremity. In taking the movement in this way, it is necessary
to cause the spring to assume a greater curve, which will produce a greater
friction in the play of the pieces attaching the box to the spring. To avoid or
lessen this friction, instead of having the blade to terminate horizontally above
the box, I employ a longer blade, and I cause it to rise, then to descend in
both cases vertically, or nearly so, and I fix its extremity permanently to the
box. The kind of fold thus formed in opening allows the extremity of the
working blade to describe an are like a lever, and dispenses with friction
articulations, between the blade and the box. I take care to make the vertical
parts of the blade narrower or thinner than the principal part, in order to
allow the curving movement of this latter blade to take place as freely as
possible. I can also have at the end of the blade a single part rising vertically,
and I fix to the box a strong piece of a certain height, the upper extremity of
which is bent like a hook, and which will press upon the upper part of the
vertical blade. I can also, instead of one or two vertical parts, employ a
greater number. Whatever may be the number employed, I can have one
extremity of the vertical parts fixed permanently to the spring, and the other
also permanently fixed to the box, or only one extremity fixed either to the
box or to the spring, and the other extremity acting by application, or hooked.
In the preceding description the working part of the blade has been supposed
to be underneath, if it be preferred to place it above it will be easy to arrange
the vertical parts accordingly...
Secondly, I apply an external spring of a secondary force on a vacuum box

page_text: 1
:
sufficiently supported against atmospheric pressure by one or more internal
or external springs. I employ the said external spring pressing on the 'said
box to cause the working of the mechanism, to fix the hand at the point,
and to support the counterweight. This spring may be thus applied for tho
above purposes more conveniently, as, for instance, by making its extremity
abut against the vacuum box.
:
Thirdly, I convert the vertical movement of the vacuum box into a
horizontal movement by means of two rods abutting at right angles against
a lever; the axis of this lever is placed diagonally, and turns on pivots, pins,
òr knives, and if a flexible blade be preferred to an axis to support the lever,
the said blade must be also set diagonally.
Fourthly, I apply to the rotative motion of the axis (actuating the axis of
the hand) two pins resting in conical orifices, or one resting in a hole, and the
other in a groove; or I employ knives, or a pin and a knife, and I surround
the axis with a strap to prevent it escaping from the effect of a shock.
. Fifthly, I make use of a bow for holding a wire or metallic blade stretched,
when I employ the said wire or a blade for giving the rotative motion to the
axis of the hand or other piece of the mechanism. Care must be taken to
attach the said wire or blade at its middle to this piece. I afterwards twist
the wire round it one or more times, and I cause the bow to be conducted at
one of its ends by the mechanism, and to have it drawn back by an adjusting
spring. This bow may also be fixed crosswise at its middle at the end of a
motive lever.
:
Sixthly, I attach the end of the chain, wire, blade, or bow before.mentioned
by a hook or buckle acting by means of a small pointed piece, or a knife on
the end of a conducting rod, instead of having it pinned.
:
Seventhly, I form a helix with a metallic wire, which, after being twisted
spirally, one of its ends is drawn back to the centre to serve as a pivot, and
the other end is drawn back to the centre to serve as the axis of the hand.
Eighthly, when I use an endless screw for turning the axis of the hand, I
regulate the course of this hand by inclining more or less the axis of a lever,
which I employ to turn the said screw in rising. The end of this motive
lever in rising obliquely causes the screw to turn more or less; for this
purpose I can set the axis of the lever on a spring blade, which I can cause
to bend more or less at the side by means of a pressure screw.
a
Ninthly, I employ as a counterweight piece having its centre of gravity
brought out of its own centre, and capable of turning on itself on the extremity
of the arm of a lever, in order to regulate the action of the counterweight as
required.

page_text: Tenthly; I place the counterweight inside the vacuum box at the end of the
lower blade of a spring; the said blade being sufficiently extended beyond the
point on which it rests at the bottom of the box.
Eleventhly, I attach to the central part of the upper diaphragm of the
vacuum box an..arm advancing horizontally inside or outside, and having at
its extremity a counterweight, which has thereby a tendency to cause the
central part of the diaphragm to rock, and to rise slightly at the point from
which the movement is taken.
Twelfthly, I replace by a metallic box the sole plate on which the apparatus
is fixed. This box has a conical bottom, and is thereby rendered strong
enough for the vacuum box to be attached to it. The said box has its raised
part of different diameters with one or more intermediate rests, on which to
fix the spring or other mechanism. By these means the box acquires great
rigidity. The said improvements may be employed separately, or several
together.
I apply one or several of the improvements described under the 3rd, 4th,
5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th heads, also to the construction of the mechanism giving
motion to the hands of steam gauges.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, what I claim as new and intended to be protected by
the herein in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First, the improvements in the construction of aneroid barometers herein
laid down, and as herein-before described.
Secondly, the application of the improvements under the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th,
7th, and 8th heads of Invention to the construction of steam gauges, as herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lucien Vidie, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
LN. VIDIE. (L.S.)