Improved Tool for Setting Out Work, such as Handrail Wreaths, Roofing, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Tool for Setting Out Work, such as Handrail Wreaths,
Roofing, and the like.
WILLIAM JOHN HARRISON Steeple Grange, Wirksworth Derbyshire Joiner,
and ISAAC GEORGE HARRISON Steeple Grange Wirksworth Derbyshire Mason,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A new method of mechanically obtaining by means of this instrument the
lengths, angles of twist, and shape of face mould for the circular parts of hand-
rails, stair strings, ramped stone coping, smith's work and the like. The
instrument consists of plates or pieces of metal, wood, or other material, their
edges making an angle of 90° having longitudinal slots in each piece, and so
graduated to scales and pivoted together that the person operating them may
read off the sizes shape and angles required for the construction of handrailing,
stairs, roofing, and the like.
The plates or pieces are marked along the edges of the slots, in the same manner
as a two feet rule, and in addition in one of the angles there is a quadrant, marked
with the degrees of a circle contained in it. One piece may be applied across the
other, and secured by means of the slots and screws, at such an angle that the
figures correspond with the length of the chord of any part of a circular handrail,
or other work that may be required to assume any position not horizontal and
therefore containing twist.
And another piece applied to the corresponding figure in height, that one end
of such circular work will be above the other when fixed in position when the size
of the elliptical curve (that said handrail or other work must be in) to stand fairly
over the circle when in position may be read off.
Also the amount of twist required to make the cross section horizontal on any
line radiating from the centre, may be read on the quadrant marked with degrees
of a circle.
The slots in the pieces may be used for drawing the elliptical curves for such
lengths of handrail, groins, or dome roofing, centres for skew arches and the like.
And the lengths and angles for joints of straight hip and valley roofing may be
read off in the same manner.
It enables an unskilled operator to mark out work while horizontal that will
stand fairly over a circular plan when raised to any given inclination.
Dated this 26th dex of May 1896
WILLIAM JOHN HARRISON.
ISAAC GEORGE HARRISON.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Tool for Setting Out Work, such as Handrail Wreaths,.
Roofing, and the like.
We, WILLIAM JOHN HARRISON, Joiner, and ISAAC GEORGE HARRISON,
Mason, both of Steeple Grange, Wirksworth, in the County of Derbyshire 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved tool, instrument, or the like, for
mechanically measuring, proportioning, and setting
out certain parts of
geometrically designed structures such, for example, as the curved parts of
staircase handrailing, staircase strings, ramped stone copings, skew-arches, and
hip and valley roofing, and has for its object to enable a workman, who does not
possess any knowledge of the principles of geometry, or of calculating the
measures, to ascertain the lengths, angles of twists, angles of joints, shapes of the
face moulds, and to set out in the flat, or when horizontal, work having inclination
when finished and fixed, so that the same may stand fairly over a curve in a very
simple and efficient manner.
The said tool or instrument consists essentially of a number of rule-like lengths
of any suitable material, adjustably connected together and to a base board or
frame; the whole of the parts having a set scale of measure upon their surfaces,
and being combined in such a manner as to operate in relation and give off the
necessary readings. Within the angle or upon the end of one of the rule-like
members, as aforesaid, is provided a quadrant or sector graduated to the degrees
of a circle, off which the angles of twist and joints, are read, and a radius bar
or length is provided for striking the elliptical curve. The component parts are
fitted with clamping means for periodically fixing them in position, and are
arranged to fold into a small compass when required. To show in detail our
invention we append herewith a sheet of drawings showing, in Fig. 1, a top side
plan of our invention, and in Fig. 2 a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse
section taken upon the dotted line X, whilst Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent views of
the radius bar and its appendages.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the sheet of
drawings. a represents a base board or carrier frame consisting of members a², a³,
and a, disposed at right angles to each other, and having within and upon their
top 'sides longitudinal and central grooves a, a, and inch scale graduations a, a.
The longitudinal grooves a, a, which are of a taper-sided cross section, (as
clearly shown in Fig. 3) open into each other at the point b, and constitute races
for a screwed bolt 2, having a taper head 63, adapted to fit the grooves a, a, and
traverse them. This screwed bolt carries a right angled and graduated rule-like
part e, consisting of two members c, c, the latter of which has a longitudinal
slot, wherethrough the shank of a bolt d, for a purpose as hereinafter described,
takes and works. The members c², c³, are rigidly connected together by the
latter member fitting within a recess in the former, and are clamped in this
position, and also adjustable in relation to the groove a, by a washer c, and a fly
nut c. The rule-like member c2 constitutes a set measure of the chord of the
curve or circle on the plan; whilst the member c³ is the measure of the height or
the inclination, and the combined parts or the right-angled members c are, or is,
capable of moving over the face of the parts a³, as, of the base board or frame a,
turning upon the bolt 62 as a joint, and of being clamped in a set position.
Another right angled and graduated member e, consisting of branches e, e, is
connected to the member c3 of the part c, as aforesaid, by means of the clamping

page_text: bolt d before mentioned; the latter being fitted with a head d³, a washer d³, and a
fly nut d'.
Within the angle of the right-angled part e, and forming one piece with its
branches e, e, is a quadrant or sector f, graduated upon its surface f to the
degrees of a circle, off which is read the angles of twist or the like as hereinbefore
referred to:
This right angle and quadrant containing part e is capable of traversing bodily
up and down the slot c of the member of the right-angled part c, and can be
turned upon the pin d as a pivot or joint when a measure or proportion is being
obtained, but clamped in the set position by a fly nut d.
The branch e of the right angled part e represents the measure of the required
elliptical chord and, in some cases, the major axis of the ellipse; whilst, from the
quadrant, is obtained the measure of the angle of twist, the reading being the
amount required for a quarter circle, which will enable the cross sectional figure
of the work to be horizontal on any line radiating from the centre of its curve.
The graduated members of the different parts of the instrument combine to give
proportional measures for any circular or inclined work as set forth, the resultant
curve being struck when necessary by a radius bar shown in Fig. 4; the same.
consisting of a longitudinally slotted and scale graduated bar 9 fitted with
adjustable joint pins h, 2, and adjustable marker 3, the said parts traversing in
the slot g². The lower parts i of the joint pins h, h2, are made circular and inclined,
as shown at Fig. to work within the grooves as, as, of the base board or frame a,
for the purpose of striking the elliptical curve.
To show how a proportional measure is obtained by our improved instrument
we will discuss that part of a staircase handrail which bends or follows round the
curved well of a continuous flight of stairs :-
Assuming the handrail of the continuous staircase to curve round to the extent
of a semi-circle, (the said curve possessing a joint dividing it into two quarter
circles) and that the rise between the extremities of one of these quarter circles
(the radius of which is 9 inches) to be 15 inches, then, to measure one of these
quarters, set off the member c² along and across the parts a³, a', of the base
board a so as to cut off respectively in the said parts 9 inches whilst, at the
same time, a measure of 13 inches, constituting the measure of the chord line,.
will be embraced along the member c; thus finding from the radius, by the use of
the base board, the length of the chord line on plan. Along the height or
inclination bar 3 by means of the branch c², set off the 15 inches rise, and bring
one part of the said branch e over the top of and coincident with the point of
measure of the member 2, with the part a, which will give the measure of the
elliptical inclined chord required, the said measure reading as 20 inches. On now
inspecting the quadrant we find that the angle of twist, in respect of the member ca.
is 50°; therefore, we know that the minor axis of the elliptical curve required is
the same as the diameter of the quarter circle on plan, namely, 13 inches, the
elliptical chord 20 inches, and that the angle of twist in the material is 50°.
These measurements being obtained it is an easy matter to strike the elliptical
curve upon the material to be worked, either with the radius bar, as described, or
other means, and the said curved part will be found when inclined to follow fairly
round the semi-circular bend of the staircase well.
If the radius bar, as shown in Fig. 4, is used for striking the curve, the
marker is set at the position shown in Fig. 4, and from this is set off the radius
on plan, being half the measure of the minor axis, the joint pin h being fixed so as
to cut off the length of elliptical chord from the said marker. By now using the
said radius bar with its movable joint pins h, h, working in the grooves a, a, the
semi-elliptical curve, representing the centre line of the quarter circle hand railing,.
can be obtained; the remaining quarter circle being obtained in like manner.
In obtaining the dimensions and curves of inclined parts more or less than a
quarter circle, as described, the base board only takes the form of a mounting, the
measure of the chord of the curve on plan being given. In the case of measuring

page_text: the lengths and the angles of the top and bottom bevels of the corner rafters in hip
and valley roofing, the measure of the seat of rafter is taken along the parts a³, a²,
of the base board by the member c.. The pitch or height is then measured by
the branch along the height or inclination bar c, which gives the required length
of the rafter; the quadrant at the same time setting forth the inclination or cut of
the top and bottom bevels.
The parts of our improved instrument may be constructed from any suitable
material, and may be graduated or divided up by any recognised system or scale,
and the base board or frame, which can be of an indefinite length, may be built in
sections adapted to fold or close into a small space, as also can the parts c and e.
Instead of the grooves and slots in the parts as shown, rods or their equivalents
may be used, on which the different members would be mounted by a suitable aud
adjustable fitting.
We may also provide further means of clamping the member and the branche
at their point of adjusted coincidence.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. A measuring, proportioning, and setting out instrument, tool, or the like,
consisting of a base board or frame, an adjustable right angled rule-like part,
and a quadrant or sector carrying rule-like part, for the purposes substantially as
described.
Second. A measuring, proportioning, and setting out instrument, tool, or the
like, consisting of a graduated and slotted base board or frame a, a jointed
adjustable and traversing right angled graduated rule-like part c, having a slotted
member, and a graduated quadrant or sector carrying part e, the said parts being
mounted and carried substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Third. A measuring, proportioning, and setting out instrument, tool, or the
like, comprising a graduated and slotted right angled part c, and a graduated
quadrant or sector carrying part e, the one part adjustably mounted upon aud
carried by the other, substantially as and for the purposes described and set
forth.
Fourth. In a setting out instrument, tool, or the like, the combination of a
graduated and slotted radius bar g, provided with adjustable joint pins, and a
marker, with a right-angled and grooved base board or frame a, for the purposes
substantially as described and set forth.
Fifth. In measuring, proportioning, and setting out instruments, tools, or the
like, as described, the mounting, adjustment, and combination of the several parts
as set forth.
2000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for the Applicants.