An Improved Clinometer for Military Sketching.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1894-Accepted, 20th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Clinometer for Military Sketching.
Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE ALBAN LEWES, Professor of Military Topography
at the Royal Military College, Camberley, Surrey do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
A metal pendulum the lower end of which works along a metal arc on which is
marked a scale of degrees right & left from the centre. The pendulum cannot
move away from the metal are as at the registering end it is made of thick metal
forked out just wide enough to receive the metal of the arc & work freely on it
when the board is held in a vertical position. A spring clip is provided, attached
to the metal arc, which holds the pendulum when not in use.
This clinometer can be used attached to any sketching board or as a separate
instrument.
Dated this 4th dox of December 1893
G. ALBAN LEWES,
Lt.-Colonel.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Clinometer for Military Sketching.
I, GEORGE ALBAN LEWES Royal Military College Camberley Surrey
Lieutenant Colonel in Her Majesty's Army 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 a clinometer more particularly for military sketching and
has for its object the ready observance of slopes of hills both up & down and in
profile from a distance, also it is portable and easy of construction.
The parts are all preferably made of brass.
The chief advantages of my clinometer are that it is strong, portable simple of
construction easy to use and rapid in its work, that slopes in profile can be taken
from a distance and that the whole instrument can be attached to and used in
conjunction with any drawing board having a straight edge. Further that from the
form of the pendulum it cannot fall away from or be accidentally moved out from
the arc.
In the accompanying drawing
:-
Fig. 1 represents the clinometer attached to a small piece of board ready for use.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the board showing 5 pin holes, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16-Of these pin
holes 13 and 15 are used to attach the board to a "field sketching board "
other instrument : 14 receives the ping: 12 and 16 receive the pins h, h, which
hold the brass arc d and the spring e to the board f.
or
in Fig. 2 shows the plan of the slot in the board prepared to receive the
spring e.
In Fig. 3 shows this slot in section, with the spring e in position; retained
there by the pin h passing through the hole in the spring, and holding the brass
arc d tight down on it.
Fig. 4 is an elevation showing how b, d, e and f appear when put together.
Fig. 5 shows the plan of the pendulum a with b and c already referred to.
Fig. 6 shows the back plan of a with the chamber
button m of the spring e.
prepared to receive the

page_text: Fig. 7 shows a side section of a.
Fig. 8 gives a plan of the spring e showing the button catch m.
Fig. 9 shows side section of spring.
Fig. 10 shows pin g, see Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 shows pin h, h-see Figs. 3 & 4.
In Fig. 1a is the pendulum, shown also in Figs. 5, 6 & 7.
refers to the portion of the forked extremity of the pendulum bearing the
index.
e refers to th under part of the forked extremity.
d is the brass arc. This arc is made of rolled spring brass-of such spring that
when a small pressure is applied by the thumb, finger or any other means, to the lower
portion of the arc when taking an observation c will be held in position until the
reading has been taken the removal of the pressure releases the pendulum. f is
the board, g is the pin on which the pendulum swings.
The instrument when put together is so arranged, that when the upper edge of
the wood is perfectly horizontal, the arrow at the bottom of the pendulum will point
exactly to the zero line on the graduated brass arc.
When fixing this instrument on a drawing board, care must be taken to place
the long side of the wooden base parallel to the edge of the drawing board.
When not in use the pendulum is pushed to one side and caught by the spring e
from which it is likewise released by a push or tap from the finger, pencil or any
other instrument.
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 the use of a pendulum grooved, as shown and described, to
prevent it from falling forward, and thus becoming injured.
2. In a clinometer the spring arc as shown and described, arranged in combi-
nation with, and to clamp, the said pendulum at any position of the said
divided arc.
3. In a clinometer the combination with the said pendulum and are of a
spring clamp arrangement as shown and described, for securing pendulum when
not in use.
4. The clinometer substantially as shown and described in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Dated this 30th day of August 1801
G. ALBAN LEWES,
Lt.-Colonel.