AN IMPROVED RAIN AND DEW GAUGE
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY CURZON of N° 61 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London W.C. Architect, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED RAIN AND DEW
GAUGE, to be as follows:-
I fix to a post or pillar or wall or fence of convenient height a receptacle for
falling rain of any superficial area diminishing funnel-wise to a pipe of small bore.
To this pipe I fix a tap or valve which being opened allows the rain-water
collected in the receptacle to pass into my Rain-gauge at pleasure.
My Rain-gauge is comprised of an upright tube or hollow column of much less
sectional area (measured horizontally) than the mouth of the receptacle and at the
bottom of the upright tube or hollow column connection is made with a glass tube.
This glass tube rises upwards in a raking or slanting direction at an angle with
the upright tube or hollow column-A scale of measurement is applied to this
glass tube.
The glass tube with its scale of measurement being thus united with tho
aforesaid upright tube or hollow column forms one part of the apparatus-I support
this part of the apparatus by hanging it on a pivot or hinge so that it may be
easily swung or tipped till the glass tube inclines downwards and the water is
discharged-I bolt or lock in position this part of the apparatus when replaced
ready to receive & register rain water.
Using any convenient graduated scale I make the first grade of such scale which
registers the Dew or trifling Rain-fall more protracted by narrowing to a small
bore the aforesaid upright tube or hollow column at the bottom-The other grades
of the scale will be smaller and regular and more or less protracted according to
the rake given to the glass tube.
I fix a concave sieve in the Receptacle for the purpose of holding a strong
colouring solid matter to tint the water to be registered-I attach to the receptaclo
a spirit lamp for the purpose of thawing ice or snow quickly.
I claim as my Invention the general arrangement described above and especially
(1) The disposition of the glass tube with its scale slanting upwards at an angle
with the upright hollow column and thus protracting the scale of measurement.
(2) Causing the first grade of Rainfall or Dew to occupy a longer length of the
said glass tube than is occupied by the regular and even grades following.
(3) The method of emptying the gauge by tipping the glass tube itself or with
it the whole or any portion of the apparatus.

page_text: I, HENRY CURZON of N° 61 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C. Architect do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVING THE METHOD OF
MEASURING OR REGISTERING RAIN-FALL OR DEW and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
This is an apparatus which can be fixed to a post, pillar or fence of convenient
height its function being to denote the amount of Rain-fall or Dew at the place
where it is fixed.
It consists of a receptacle for falling Rain of any superficial area diminishing
funnel-wise and delivering into a chamber or hollow column having parallel sides
or a tube of much less sectional area measured horizontally than the mouth of the
receptacle and at the bottom or lower end of this chamber hollow column or tube
connection is made with one end of a glass tube.
This glass tube rises upwards in a raking or slanting direction at an angle with
the horizon as high as the top of the said chamber hollow column or tube and the
level of the water collected in the said chamber hollow column or tube is apparent
in the glass tube and can be measured by reference to an attached scale the said
scale being made more or less protracted according to the rake given to the glass
tube.
Adopting any convenient graduated scale I make the first grade or degree of
such scale which registers the Dew or trifling Rain-fall more elongated than the
degrees which follow (& sometimes I subdivide it on the scale) by narrowing to
a smaller sectional aren the aforesaid chamber hollow column or tube at the bottom
or lower end thereof where connection is made with the glass tube.
I provide a safeguard within the glass tube against fracture by frost by inserting
an elastic India-rubber tube closed at its lower end so that the dilation of water
to ice may expend its force in compressing the elastic tube rather than in bursting
the glass tube.
This tube within a glass tube being strongly coloured also makes the level of the
water more conspicuous by optical refraction.
Hanging a part or the whole of the apparatus on a pivot or hinge I provide for
emptying it after registration by tipping it to a different angle or position on
withdrawal of a bolt or lock and so letting the contents be discharged through the
glass tube or the mouth of the receptacle or through some aperture specially
provided.
Sometimes I discharge the contents by means of a tap but I am not in favor of
this method.
Sometimes I provide a receptacle for an aniline cake or other strong colouring
matter which intervening tints the collected Rain-water marking its level in the
glass tube very conspicuously.
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
1. The construction and arrangement of receptacles for falling Rain as herein-
before described the quantity collected being made manifest in a glass tube

page_text: connected therewith at its lower end marked with a scale or having a scalo
attached and fixed slanting or raking upwards that is to say at an angle with the
horizon.
2. Exhibiting in a glass tube in the manner hereinbefore described the first
degree or grade of the scale at a more protracted length than those which follow.
3. The Combination as hereinbefore described of an elastic tube within a glass
tube or of a solid stick of glass or any other matter distinctly coloured within &
glass tube.
4. Emptying or discharging Rain-water collected in receptacles for measurement
by withdrawing a bolt or other fastenment & so allowing the receptacle or any
part of the apparatus to tip or cant and assume such an angle or position as will
enable the contents to flow away.