AN IMPROVED CLINOMETER-COMPASS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CON- NECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED CLINOMETER-COMPASS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN CON-
NECTION THEREWITH Communicated to him from abroad by Ebenezer
Farie Macgeorge of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, Gentleman
"
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th April 1883.
APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED CLINOMETER-COMPASS AND
Communicated to me from
abroad by Ebenezer Farie Macgeorge of Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, Gentleman
This Invention relates to an improved clinometer compass or altazimuth
instrument and to an improved apparatus for reading its indications. When used
as a self-acting clinometer-compass or automatic altazimuth instrument it registers
within itself the degree of inclination and the magnetic bearing of that inclination
at which it has been allowed for a certain time to repose. This internal registration
of gradient and azimuth is such, that, by inspection, the clinometer-compass may
be replaced after removal, in exactly the same position as to gradient and azimuth
as that in which it previously reposed.
According to the said Invention I provide a phial of glass or any non-magnetic
material having at its lower end a transparent bulb or chamber containing a
magnetic needle attached beneath a float of glass or other non-corrosive, non-
magnetic material, which needle is pivoted on a rod of light material passing
downwards through it and touching lightly the bottom of the hollow bulb. This
bulb is filled completely with any solidifiant fluid such as a gelatinous crytallizing
or glutinous solution, thick enough to form a firm jelly or mass on cooling. This
needle buoyed up to the point of leaving the bottom is free to assume the magnetic
meridian, while the solution is fluid, but is fixed in that position as it congeals.
A contracted glass tube, socketed in the neck of the bulb, keeps the magnet-float

page_text: from escaping, and while allowing for expansion keeps the bulb full of fluid, thus
preventing the formation of bubbles or free surfaces in the liquid; which would
impair the freedom of the needle. I make the needle deep and narrow in
proportion to its length so as to give the utmost direction and defining power
within the space it occupies.
At the upper end of the said phial is another bulb from which descends another
contracted pipe also socketed in the neck of such bulb and completely filled with
the solidifiant fluid. In this fluid I immerse a floating plummet, either rigid or
flexible between float and weight, as shewn in the drawing which is so adjusted as
to remain perpendicular and lightly touching that which is for the time being the
upper part of the bulb, whatever position the phial is caused to assume.
The spheroidal form of both the upper and lower bulbs prevents the plummet
and magnet from touching the sides of their chambers, the plummet from its
buoyancy, and the magnet by its weight seeking always the central part of the
concave it touches. The phial itself is also nearly filled with the solidifiant fluid,
and thus keeps the air from entering the bulbs through the tubes, while at the
same time receiving the surplus or supplying the defect of their contents. These
bulb-tubes may be either separate or joined in one, in the position shewn, so that
accidental air-bubbles will in being expelled, be unable to pass out of one into the
other. Except for difficulty of manufacture, I should prefer to join them in one.
Figure 1 shews this form of my clinometer-compass, A being the phial and B and C
the respective bulbs, B and C are the contracted tubes. B is the plummet and C
the magnetic needle B³ and C³ are the respective floats.
According to one modification of the said Invention the magnet float is placed in
the upper bulb, and lightened so that it touches the upper concave and pivots
there, while the plummet is placed in the lower bulb, is made slightly heavier, and
rests on the bottom. This form is shewn in Figure 2 where the plummet and
magnetic needle with their respective floats are indicated by similar letters to
those indicating corresponding parts in Figure 1.
According to another modification the magnet-float is placed in the upper bulb,
the connecting line between the float and magnet being either rigid or flexible, and
the whole apparatus being delicately adjusted so that if the upper bulb only is
visible, the said line will give the perpendicular, and the magnet the meridian by
inspection. I still continue the sunken plummet in the lower bulb, and with the
addition of a magnet as shewn, the readings of which, with the perpendicular line
shown, will either check the indications of the upper bulb, or be available if only
the lower bulb can be seen. Either of these forms may be used separately if
desirable, or both conjointly as described. Figures 3 illustrates this method of
construction.
In another modification illustrated in Figure 4 the upper bulb contains only a
bubble a, and on the fluid congealing, the bulb and attached phial may be replaced
at any time at their original inclination by means of a spirit level of the form
shewn in Figure 5 and consisting of a glass tube D with the lower end fitting the
bulb squarely and applied centrally to the fixed bubble, while its upper end termi-
nating in a bulb, as shewn, may be graduated with "parallels of latitude" at
definite intervals, by which means if the barrel of the phial be levelled the angle
of inclination may be at once read off, with the aid of a micrometer, from the spirit
bubble in the bulb.
The instrument constructed according to another modification may also be used
either with or without a lower bulb containing a magnet, and is of the form shewn
in Figure 5 being graduated by the parallel circles; the solidifiant fluid with which
it is nearly filled will on cooling leave a bubble under or near one of these parallels,
which will, by the use of a micrometer give on inspection the angle of solidification.
Either of these upper bulbs may be used in conjunction with a lower bulb
containing either a magnet or a magnet-plummet as before described.
The fluid used may be of the kind which consolidates within a certain time, of its
own accord, or it may be of such a nature that, upon the admission of air or any

page_text: gas, fluid, or solid by a connection under manual control, the contents of the phials
will crystallize or solidify, or the same result may be brought about by a detent
released by a train of clockwork set to a given time. If the apparatus is used as
a hand clinometer-compass three forms of which are represented by Figures 7. 8,
and 9 with magnet and plummet, bubble or magnet plummet, the fluid may be of a
non-solidifying nature.
According to another modification shewn in Figure 6 a box compass is so
arranged and suspended in gimball rings, similar to a ships compass, that it may
when free hang level, and thus by its face indicate a horizontal plane, and at the
same time allow the magnetic needle to be free to indicate the meridian. But
when the elastic suspending clips or clamps are allowed by an upward movement
of the detent pin h to close together they jamb and clamp on the conical bearings bb
and compress the elastic gimball ring rr so as to contract its diameter there, and
by so much expand it in the reverse direction and increase its diameter, so that
the conical axes affixed to its interior at t t are drawn partly out of their conical
bearings in the compass-box, and thereby clamp and arrest its movement. Attached
to one of these, as at t¹ by a stud passing loosely through a hole in its vertical leg,
is a stop-lever which is drawn out by the same movement, and turning on its
pivot p, presses upwards by its horizontal leg the compass needle off its pivot
against the glass horizontal surface or cover g, thus clamping the needle. The whole
apparatus being now clamped in the position assumed while in the desired
situation, may be removed for inspection, the horizontal surface giving a horizon
to which the angle of its containing vessel (of like dimensions with the phials
before described) may be referred, and the azimuth indicated by the needle being
the direction of the inclination of the said vessel. The instrument constructed
according to this last modification may be used also in a fluid for steadying
purposes. The motion of the detent-pin necessary to clamp the apparatus is
obtained by clockwork set to a given time like an alarum, and contained in another
part of the instrument. It may also be brought about by an electric current if
required or by a connecting line or tube actuated by hand at pleasure.
In all the forms of instruments herein before described the lower bulb, whether
containing magnet alone or plummet alone or magnet-plummet, may, like the upper
bulb whether containing magnet, plummet, or magnet-plummet, be used singly and
separately with a fluid either of a consolidating or non-consolidating nature,
according as it is used for indirect or direct observation.
In each of this series of modifications the automatic compass-clinometer is
included in one strong guide-tube impervious to air or water at whatever pressure,
and forms one complete apparatus which may be used for testing the deviation of
bore holes, for example. Or one or more of any one of these modifications may be
used for the same purpose and similarly enclosed, the object of multiplying the
number of these clinometer-compasses for any one observation being to obtain a
number of readings, from which a mean may be taken, and the object of varying
the form of the instrument being to eliminate errors which may be peculiar to any
one form by combining the indications of diverse forms in one mean reading, the
principle being the same as that upon which all careful surveys are made that is to
say by a mean of many readings under diverse circumstances. By a series of
observations at progressive measured depths in a bore-hole (as by a " traverse" in
ordinary survey) the exact path of a bore hole, however irregular may be defined
and plotted on paper for future guidance and for the present safety of the drill,
which is more frequently injured by the irregularities in the line of bore than by
any other cause. At the same time when cores are left standing at the bottom of
bore-holes, they may be extracted in such a manner as to enable the operator to
hold them for inspection on the surface in the exact position they occupied below,
and from thence to deduce the dip and strike, or the "lay" of the strata and reefs
from which they are taken, so that it may be inferred to what quarter of the
compass and at what "underlie" any reef pierced by the drill is tending. Figure 10
shews the apparatus for this purpose. which is attached to the foremost end of the

page_text: guide-tube. It consists of a tube whose mouth fits the bore-hole outside, and the
core inside. Its other end which also fits the bore-hole is fixed excentrically upon
the guide tube, and the intervening tube or core extractor which is split and sprung
from end to end so as to compress and secure the core is consequently set at an agle
with the core.
The operator by means of connecting rods (7) pushes the apparatus
down straight upon the core, which enters the elastic tube, and is pressed at the
same time to one side by its excentricity. Eventually the core will snap at m, and
the apparatus after being allowed to rest without further disturbance for some
hours, to allow the contents of the phials in the guide-tube to "set" is withdrawn
bringing the core up with it. The same operation can be performed by a tube of
excentric bore, also slotted on thin sides see Figure 11. Upon un-screwing the
core-extractor n which has a tube attached to its upper end p containing a phial of
the form described in the second modification the projecting bulb of which phial
remaining attached to the core extractor will enable that and the core q it contains
to be set in the same position as it was taken from in the bore-hole. By making a
mark upon the core itself, through the slot in the tube before withdrawing the
core from the core extractor, it may be readily placed bare in its true position, and
by its veins, and lamination, the angle and bearing of the strata it belonged to may
be inferred.
The remainder of the phials in the guide-tube will give a number of readings
from which the gradient and azimuth of the bore-hole itself may be more exactly
ascertained.
arc a, a.
For reading off the angles of inclination to the horizon or perpendicular, and of
magnetic azimuth, as indicated by the consolidated contents of the phials, I employ
an apparatus of which Figures 12 and 13 represent respectively a side elevation
and plan. A tripod framing with levelling screws f. f. f. supports a vertical
Socketed in the centre of this arc is an arm r carrying a cradle c which
may be either a slotted and "spring" tube, or clips, or V's as best suits the shape
and size of the compass-clinometer usually inserted in it. This arm carries an
index which moves with it round the graduated arc a, a, and by which the angle
from the vertical may be read. At the extremity of this arm are socketed one
member or link of the parallel motion p, p, and the microscopes m, m, which are
rigidly fixed together and are kept with their axes at right angles, and truly
horizontal in all positions of the arm by the parallel motion. Stretched in the
inner end of each microscope are hairs placed truly vertical for the purpose of
ascertaining that the congealed plummet in the upper bulb of the phial is truly
vertical, a result which is attained by revolving the phial in its cradle and by
raising or lowering the arm by the tangent-screw, and worm t. Revolving
horizontally in an axis in the tripod stand is a circular mirror l, in a graduated
framing, touching the index i. Crossing the mirror at convenient distances and
consequently revolving with it are several parallel lines. The phial having been
already brought, by the observation of the congealed plummet, to the position in
which it became embedded, the mirror is revolved beneath the magnet-bulb or
chamber, until the reflection of the magnet is bisected longitudinally by one of the
parallel lines. The azimuthal angle read at the index i, is the magnetic azimuth of
the inclined phial.
-
In the case of the instrument constructed according to the third and fourth
modifications the microscopes m, m, may be modified or altogether dispensed with,
according as the spirit level or the graduations are used to ascertain the inclination
of the phial at the time of congelation.
The needle of the said clinometer-compass may be wholly immersed, floated or
semi-floated and touching either a bottom or top surface, for both direct observation
as in direct surveying or marine operations (in which case the fluid may be
non-congealing) and for indirect observations, such as the survey of bore-holes, of
buried mains, of the sinuosities of sounding-lines, of the gradient of the bottom on
which the lead rests and for similar purposes, in the latter cases the fluid must be
of a congealing or consolidating nature, so as to fix the results for future

page_text: examination and record. Either clinometer or compass or both combined may be
used in conjunction with a viscid fluid for the purpose of obtaining a mean of
shifting or fluctuating azimuths or gradients, or both during a certain period of
time, as for example on board ship to obtain a mean course steered, or a mean
inclination of the ship under stress of canvas or driving power.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I do not claim the use of glass tubes or phials containing a congealing or
consolidating fluid for the purposes herein described, but I Claim
First. The improved clinometer-compass or altazimuth instrument and its several
modifications as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 7, 8 and 9
of the drawing in each of which figures there is either a bulb at one or both ends
of the phial, the bulb in the former case containing a combined clinometer and
compass as shown in Figures 3 and 9, and one bulb in the latter case containing
the clinometer and the other the compass as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, and 7, and in
every case the said bulbs being filled with a fluid in which they float and which
sometimes is of a solidifiant or viscid nature and sometimes of a permanently
liquid character as described.
Second. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the apparatus for
reading the indications of the improved clinometer-compass substantially as herein
described, with reference to Figures 12 and 13 of the drawing.
Third. The combination of the clinometer-compass herein before described with
a core-extractor in the manner and for the purpose herein described with reference
to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawing.
Fourth. The box clinometer compass substantially as herein described with
reference to Figure 6 of the drawing.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-seventh day of April in the year of Our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
TUM DODT T