An Improved Adjustable Spirit-level or Clinometer.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adjustable Spirit-level or Clinometer.
I, THOMAS JAMES MOSS FLOWER, of Liverpool Chambers, Corn Street, in the City
and County of Bristol, Sanitary Engineer and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
―:
This invention consists in an improved spirit level designed more particularly for
use in laying down gradients in sewerage, drainage, railway and other works and for
ascertaining the rate of inclination of existing gradients.
The tube containing the spirit is fitted into an arm which at one end is provided
with a pointer and at the other is hinged to a box constituting a case or bed for
reception of the said arm when lowered. At the end of the case or bed opposite to
the hinge is a scale or index plate graduated to various rates of inclination. In
applying the instrument to laying down gradients the arm in which is fitted the spirit
tube, as aforesaid, is raised, either by means of an adjusting screw or otherwise, on its
hinge, and the pointer thus brought to coincide with the graduation on the index
corresponding to the rate of inclination determined upon.
If, now, the bed of the instrument be placed on the gradient the accuracy or otherwise
of the latter is indicated by the position of the bubble in the spirit tube which if the
gradient is correctly laid will be midway in the tube.
Similarly, if the bed or case of the instrument be applied to an existing gradient
and the arm carrying the spirit tube bo raised on its hinge until the bubble in the tube
is midway therein, the rate of inclination is indicated on the index by the position of
the pointer.
The arm carrying the spirit tube may be rigidly maintained after adjustment by a
clamping screw or other equivalent device applied towards either end or at any other
point in the arm.
Under a modification the index plate is dispensed with and the arm carrying the
spirit tube is graduated to various rates of inclination.
Under this arrangement the top or upper edgo of the case or bed serves as a
pointer.
1
"
1
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Adjustable Spirit-level or Olinometer.
I, THOMAS JAMES MOSS FLOWER, of Liverpool Chambers, Corn Street, in the City
and County of Bristol, Sanitary Engineer and Surveyor, 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 consists in an improved adjustable spirit level designed more
particularly for use as a clinometer in laying down gradients in sewerage, drainage,
railway and other works and for ascertaining the rate of inclination of existing
gradients.
Under one form of construction the tube containing the spirit is carried in an arm
hinged at one end to a second limb which may be conveniently termed the bed of the
instrument. Towards the outer end the bed is fitted with an index plate graduated
to various rates of inclination the graduations being, to obviate confusion, arranged
in columns or divisions. The index plate extends through a slot in the spirit-tube
arm. In applying the instrument to laying down a gradient the arm which carries

page_text: the spirit tube is raised on the hinge and the upper face of the arm is thus brought to
coincide with the graduation on the index plate corresponding to the rate of
inclination determined upon for. such gradient. In this position the arm is clamped
by a clamping screw. If, now, the bed of the instrument be placed on the gradient,
the accuracy or otherwise of the latter is shown by the position of the bubble in the
spirit tube which bubble, if the gradient has been correctly laid, will be midway in
the tube. Similarly, if the bed of the instrument be applied to an existing gradient
and the arm carrying the spirit tube be raised on its hinge until the bubble in the tube
is midway therein the rate of inclination of the gradient is ascertained. According to
another form of construction the arm carrying the spirit tube is made to fit into the
bed as a case and carries at its outer and free end a pointer extending over the face of
the index plate which is fixed to the bed or case. Or, with this form of instrument,
the index plate may be carried on the spirit-tube arm and, if this be so, the upper
edge of the bed or case sorves as a pointer.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of one form of my improved
adjustable spirit level or clinometer.
"
In the upper arm a which is hinged to the lower arm or bed is the spirit tube c.
Towards the outer end of the bed is fixed an index plate d graduated to various
degrees of inclination. The graduations are denoted by numerals which, to obviate
confusion, are preferably arranged in columns or divisions, as shown. The expression
one in" is understood as applied before reading any particular numeral or groups of
numerals. But the graduations may be otherwise shown on the plate and be other-
wise designated, as, for instance, "two in live" and so on. The index plate & passes
through a slot in the spirit-tube arm a. Ai Fig. 3 is illustrated the application of the
instrument to laying down a gradient of a previously determined rate of inclination,
which, in the example illustrated, is one foot in eighteen feet. The arm a having been
raised until its upper face coincides with the graduation 18 on the index plate d is then
clamped to the index plate by the clamping screw e. The instrument is then applied
to the gradient under formation, the bed being laid thereon and inclined to agree
therewith; the accuracy or otherwise of the setting out is then shown by the position
of the bubble in the spirit tube which bubble will if the gradient has been correctly
laid be midway in the spirit tube, as indicated in dotted lines at Fig. 3. The
instrument, therefore, constitutes a guide in setting out gradients.
Similarly, the rate of inclination in existing gradients is ascertained by laying the
instrument thereon and raising the arm a until the bubble is midway in the spirit
tube.
The rate of inclination is then read on the index plate d at the coincidence therewith
of the upper face of the arm a.
According to another form of construction comprised in this invention the bod bis
recessed and receives the arm a within it.
The latter has a pointer at the free end which extends along the face of the index
plate which is fixed at the side of the bed. Or, with this form of instrument, the
index plate may be fixed to the arm a and the upper edge of the bed & be made to
serve as a pointer.
In the instrument shown in side elevation at Fig. 4 a set screw is fitted to the
clamping vice g in which the clamping screw e works so that after the limb a has been
raised by hand to coincide approximately with any graduation the clamping vice is
bound upon the plate d by the screw e and the arm a is then adjusted to coincide
accurately with such graduation by turning the screw f. Toest may be fixed at each
end of the bed so that the instrument is not affected by any inequalities existing on
the inclined surface covered by it.
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. An adjustable spirit level or clinometer consisting of two limbs hinged together

page_text: at one end, one limb constituting a bed or base for the instrument and carrying
towards its free end a graduated index plate bearing various rates of inclination, the
other limb being above the said bed or base and fitted with a spirit tube, substantially
as hereinbefore described and for the purposes specified.
2. The modification herein before described in which the upper limb fits into the
lower limb as a case or box and the index plate is carried either on the upper or on
the lower limb.
Dated this 12th dor of December 1800.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.