and Vertical Heights of Objects.
Year: 1886

page_text: and Vertical Heights of Objects.
I, WILLIAM FARQUHARSON, of the City of Montreal, District of Montreal,
Province of Quebec, Canada, Merchant Tailor, late Sergent of Her Majesty's
Regiment 78th Highlanders, 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 has reference to the construction and arrangement of two
instruments which, when used together in the manner hereinafter described, will
enable the distance from a given point to the object, to be read off from a
graduated circle on one of the instruments. They will also enable the distance
between two distant objects to be estimated with great accuracy, also the vertical
height above or below a datum or level line, consequently the difference of height
between the distant positions and their relative elevations from or as regarding the
point at which the sight or distances are taken from.
For clearness and shortness I wish to establish in this specification the meaning
of certain words and phrases which are as follows:
One of the instruments I am about to describe I shall call the "Distancer" and
this name is applicable because by it the distance between points is obtained. The
other instrument I shall call the " Cross-staff," because its principal function,
although it has others, is that of a cross-staff. -The front of the distancer is the
lower side of Fig. 1, or that upon which the person stands when taking a sight;
the opposite side thereto is the back. The right hand side of Fig. 1 is the right
side of the "distancer," and the opposite side thereto is the left.
With regard to the cross staff the end in Fig. 10 at a", I call the front end, the
opposite end thereto I call the back, the end at a¹s is the right side and the end
opposite thereto is the left side.
In mentioning front, back, right and left with regard to these instruments
as hereinafter described, they will always refer to and accord with the above
established meanings,
:
In the drawings hereunto annexed similar letters and nunerals of reference
indicate like parts and :-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the "distancer"; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the "distancer";
Fig. 3 is a left hand side elevation of the distancer; Fig. 4 is a plan of the table of

page_text: "
"
the distancer
inverted; Fig. 5 illustrates certain graduated scales on the right
or inner side of the left hand side of the frame f of the distancer; Figs. 6 and 7
shew details of construction of the indicating hand of the distancer. Fig. 8 is a
left hand side elevation of the cross-staff; Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the cross-
staff; Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional plan taken on line x x Figs 8 and 9, of the
cross-staff; Fig. 11 is a detail of the cross-staff; Fig. 12 is a horizontal section on
line y Fig. 8 and plan of the base of the cross-staff; Fig. 13 is a section taken on
line cc, Fig. 4, shewing a side elevation of the mechanism by which the fingers or
hands of the "distancer" are operated; Fig. 14 is a diagram to illustrate the
manner of using the distancer and cross-staff; Fig. 15 is a rough landscape view
to illustrate the manner of using the distancer and cross-staff.
I will first describe the construction and arrangement of the "distancer" next
that of the cross-staff and lastly the manner of using them.
THE "DISTANCER.”
L
a is a socket similar to that of an ordinary level, attached in a substantially
similar manner as most levels are to parallel plates provided with adjusting screws
for levelling the instruments by, and the whole is mounted on an ordinary tripod ;
these need not be shewn as there is no invention therein, and are such as are
generally to be found in most of the levels, theodolites and transits &c at present
in use.
bis a cross bar, made in one with the socket a, the ends of which turn upwards
and form bearings c for carrying the trunnions d, of a horizontal table e.
The ends of the cross-bar b, which extend upwards are each provided with
extensions forining sub frames f, on the right and left sides of the table e.
I would here remark that the forming of the frames f on both sides is not
absolutely necessary; yet it may be preferable for greater accuracy of holding the
table in position, to form them on both sides.
The upper surface of the table is made perfectly true, flat and smooth and is so
situated on its trunnions d that when turned to the proper position, its surface and
the upper surfaces of the frames f, will agree and be in one and the same plane,
therefore the surfaces of the side frames fare trued up also.
Care must be taken to have the axes of the two trunnions & in perfect line with
one another and with the plane of the upper surface of the table e.
The table is perfectly square excepting a small projection g. Through the
centre of the table e a small spindle h passes, being carried in bearings in a
bracket i, and upon it is attached the indicating hand k, also a worm wheel l.
The bracket i also carries a worm or screw m intermeshing with the wheel Z.
nn are milled heads for turning the screw m by.
o is a gear wheel secured on the spindle h, intermeshing with the toothed
segment p, attached on a spindle q carried by the bracket r.
The spindle g passes through the table e, and upon it is secured the sight hand s
so that by rotating the milled heads n, through the above described mechanism
connected therewith, the hands k and 8 are set to any desired position on the
table e.
t is a level set in the table e and adjusted so that when it shews "level," the
table will be level from right to left.
u is a level set in one side of the frame f, and adjusted so that when it shews
"level" the upper surface of the frame f will be level, therefore when the table is
set fair with the upper surfaces of the frames f, and they are level, the table will
be level also. If desired, the level u may be situated in the table 6, instead of the
frame f, and further and better, if desired, a level u may be secured in both the
frame and the table e.
v is a compass let into the table e and adjusted the north and south to agree
with a line at right angles to the line at which represents the line of axis upon
which the table e turns.

page_text: 61 is a stop projecting from the table and so situated that when the sight
hands is turned to bear against it, the hand will be exactly in line with the line a'.
The sight of the hands is formed by a suitable projection c¹, at one extremity and
a split d', in the spindle q or in any other desired ordinary manner; in fact with
regard to this, the sight hand may consist of a telescope provided with cross-hairs,
in every way similar to those used in the ordinary levels &c; which I consider to
be the equivalent of the sight hand.
From the centre of the table e which is also the centre of the spindle h, two
circles e¹, are engraved upon it these are graduated in the manner hereinafter
described.
The hands 8 and k will be preferably set on their respective spindles q and h, so
that when the hand 8 is at exact right angles with the line a¹ the hand k will be
parallel with it or as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
fl is a toothed segment secured on the under side of the table e intermeshing
with a screw threaded spindle g¹ carried in a bracket h' attached to the cross bar b,
(see Figs. 2 and 3) the spindle g¹ being operated by a milled head ¹.
In fitting the spindle g' and teeth of the segment f1 and all the bearing surfaces,
care must be taken to have them fitted tightly together so that no lost motion will
exist, although they are free to operate; this remark also applies to the above
mentioned mechanism by which the hands 8 and k are operated.
On the inner side of one of the frames f, lines are drawn at right angles to the
upper surface of the frames f (see Figs. 3 and 5) and at a given and known
distance, such as two, three or four inches, from the axis a¹ upon which the table e
turns, these lines are graduated into inches and suitable parts of an inch,
preferably decimals. Great care must be taken with the situating of the lines k¹,
and the graduating of these, because the accuracy of all the measurements of
height and depth or depressions will be influenced by any inaccuracy in this
respect.
Within the line of the scale of inches ¹ in any desired position is engraved a
line of degrees by which it can be seen to what angle of inclination from "level"
the table is turned to sight any elevated or depressed object. This scale of
degrees is not necessary; but it is considered desirable to have it so that the height
of the object may be calculated by the angle of inclination of the table as well as
by the measurement on the scale k¹.
J
turned to a
The projection g is formed on the table e so that when the table
great inclination as indicated by the line m¹; (Fig. 3) it will be long enough to
reach across the scale k¹.
The above completes the description of the construction and arrangement of the
instrument I call the "distancer" with the exception of the graduating of the
circles e¹ (Fig. 1) which I reserve until I come to the description of how measure-
ments are taken.
THE CROSS STAFF.
a³ is a socket attached to parallel plates, provided with adjusting screws and a
tripod similarly in every respect as above mentioned for the socket a, this is made
in one with the head b³, the upper plate of which is made circular and upon it
circles are engraved graduated into a scale d' of degrees &c, preferably round the
whole circle as shewn.
.
In the centre of the plate c³ an opening is formed to receive and fit closely the
part of the foot e³ within it; the lower extension of the foot extends to receive
upon it a nut g³ by which the foot and frame ƒ³ may be securely clamped in the
required position.
:
Made in one with the foot e³ and extending above as shewn in Figs. 9, 10.
and 11, is an annular frame f³ recessed to receive and hold in place a short
cylinder h³, the recess in the frame f' being closely fitted to the cylinder so that
while it is free to turn within the recess i³ there will not be any lost motion.

page_text: kis a recessed clamping plate attached to the frame f³ by screwed bolts 1³
which may be adjusted to allow the cylinder to turn with sufficient freedom and
without lost motion, also when desired may be tightened by the bolts ³ to lock
the cylinder in place.
In the cylinder h³ circular openings are formed, so that the axes of these two
openings will be in one and the same straight line which line will pass through
the axis of the cylinder at right angles; in one of these openings is screwed a
perfectly trued tube m' and through the other fitting closely there with passes a
short tube n both of these connect with a centre piece o³ the tube n³ being
screwed thereto as shewn at p³ Fig. 10 and the tube m³ abutting against a shoulder
of the centre piece as shewn at q³.
At q³ a perfectly trued tube 7³ is screwed into the centre piece o³ and is fitted
closely to the tube m³ so that the centre piece o³ may be turned on its axis; the
tubes and n³ serving as the trunnions upon which it turns.
Through the above mentioned parts a sight is formed to take a line directed to
any distant object and the sight must be arranged and the parts fitted so accurately
that the turning of the centre piece o and tubes ³ ³ will not vary the line
of sight.
A socket
is formed as shewn in one side of the centre piece o³ in which is
screwed a sight tube and a projection u is formed on the opposite side of the
centre piece o³
Through these last above mentioned parts an accurate sight-at right angles to
the sight through the tube m³ is formed.
. On one side of the tube m³ a level at is situated adjusted so that when the
sight is level the level will shew level. When it is desired to make the tube m³
project from the left side of the cross staff instead of the right, as shewn in Fig. 10,
it is only necessary to unscrew the tube t, turn over the centre piece o³ and with
it the tubes n' and, thus bringing the projection us to the right side of the
cross-staff and again screw the tube to into its place.
On the cylinder h³ (see Fig. 9) a zero mark is formed as shewn at b* and
on the inside of the frame f³ a scale o' of degrees is engraved; these should be so
arranged that when the plate c³ is level, also the sight and level at the zero on the
scale of degrees will agree with the zero mark 6'; zero marks are also formed
at d' on the foot e and at opposite points in the circle of degrees d on the
plate c³.
The Cross-Staff and * Distancer" having been constructed as above described,
are used in the following manner :—
See Figs. 14 and 15. I will suppose that it is simply desired to know (in the
first place) the distance from the point A to a distant fort B. At A I situate
the cross-staff with a tripod in the ordinary manner, and properly adjust it;
I then turn the sight through the tube m³ to line the centre of the fort B to do
which, the set screws 13 and clamping plate k³ are slackened sufficiently to allow
the cylinder h³ to turn. I next clamp the foot by means of the nut g³ to secure
the frame frigidly in position. I then by the cross-sight of the cross-staff set
off a line A C at right angles to the line A B, and measure off the line A C to a
desired length such as 50, 100, 500 or 1000 yards, or any other desired distance,
having thus secured the point C, I set up the distancer" over it so that the
spindle h will be vertically over the point Č; I then adjust or level the table e and
frame fand turn it until the line a¹ agrees with the line A C which will be easily
done by setting the sight-hand 8 when turned to rest against the stop 61 and then
turning the table e until the hand & fairly sights the cross-staff.
"
But in cases where the points A and C are very unequal in level, the setting and
adjusting of the line a¹ of the "distancer" to agree with the line AC may be done
in the following manner:
Having set up and levelled the "distancer" over the point C, as before, and
having the hands in the position shewn in Fig. 1, turn the table e until the
hands agrees with the point A which may be easily done by also inclining the

page_text: table e as required, which will be done by revolving the milled head 2, and then
I set up a picket or pole (so that it will reach to the level of the hand 8) at H in
the line A C; I turn the hands to rest against the stop b' and turn the table ●
round until the hand a fairly sights the pole at H, I next turn the hand a to the
position shewn in Fig. 1 and the instrument is now ready to take the distance
from A to B, or any other required in the line A B or extension thereof. The
sight hands is then turned to sight the fort B by the mechanism operated by
the milled heads n n, which at the same time operates the indicating hand k
The indicating hand will by the graduations of the circles e indicate the number
of times and fractions of a time that the base or line A C is contained in the
perpendicular or line A B.
I would here remark that in turning the hands from the position shewn in
Fig. 1, to agree with the line a¹ the hand k may be compelled to describe more
than a complete circle, it is therefore made in two parts as shown in Figs. 6 and 7,
the point end will ship and unship to enable this movement to be made; the pro-
jection a¹o being accurately fitted to the socket a¹¹ so that no variation of position
of the point a¹ will occur by removing and replacing the point of the hand or by
turning it over as shewn (see Figa. 6 and 7).
It now becomes time to explain how the graduations of the circles e¹ are made.
At any distance in the table e and on the line a¹ take a point a and through it
draw a line b³ cat right angles to the line a¹ and from the line a c cut off a
part das equal to the distance a³ is from the centre of the spindle q and draw the
line g 6%; thus in the right angle triangle g a do we have the two sides d³ a
and a q equal one another therefore the angle at d³ is equal to the angle at q or
forty five degrees and an object sighted by the hands when so set and being in
the line A B must be equally distant from the point A in that line that the
point C is from A.
Again from the line 63 cut off other parts of and f³ ³ equal to a³ d³ and
through the points f" and c draw the lines g5 g and h³ q, therefore objects in the
line A B sighted by the hand 8, when turned to agree with these lines, will be
respectively at double and threble the distances that the point C is from the
point A. Thus in Fig. 14 the point 1 is measured by turning the hand 8 to an
angle of 45° from the line a¹.
The positions of the points 1 and 3, Fig. 14, are obtained by turning the hand 8
to agree with the lines gq and h³ q respectively and so on for the positions 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9 and in fact any desired number of positions.
This turning of the hands being caused by operating the mechanism below the
table e, as before described, also operates the indicating hand k an exaggerated
amount corresponding as it were on a larger scale with the movements of the
hand 8.
The position obtained by setting the hand & to agree with the line at g³,
Fig. 1, will, we will suppose, cause the hand k to come to the position mark or
graduation is in the circles e¹.
When the hands is turned to agree with the line h³ Fig. 1 or C3 in Fig. 14 we
will suppose that the hand k will move to the mark in the circles e¹ and corre-
spondingly the marks 15 m³ n° 0° 9° and represent the positions of the bands k
and 8 when they are set to correspond with the points up to 9, which is B in the
line A. B. So that if the fort at B is fairly sighted by the hand 8 when it is turned
to such a position that the hand k agrees and points exactly to the graduation it
will be at once known that B is distant from the point A nine times the amount
of the base A C. Now if we know the base A C to be 500 yards therefore the
distance A B is 4,500 yards. For convenience the graduations is h³ 15 m³ &c will
be numbered by numbers engraved upon the table e to agree with the number of
times that each position represents the number of lengths of the base A. C. in the
line A B, and the distance between each of these graduations may be subdivided
5 to represent fractional parts of the base A. C.
Having obtained the distance from A to B, we will suppose that it is next
required to know the difference of relative height between these two points

page_text: Having carefully adjusted the frames f level, the table is then turned to sight
the fort at B with the hands and the amount of inclination of the table e is
measured on the scale which we will suppose to be distant four inches from the
axis a (see Fig. 5) of the table e, next find the length of the hypothenuse C B of
the triangle A, B, C Fig. 14, which is easy to do having the length of the sides A B
and A C; then as four inches are to the number of inches contained in the
hypothenuse B C, so is the amount indicated on the scale k¹ of inclination of the
table e to the length of the line B D required Fig. 15. The line A D represents &
level line from the hand 8.
In like manner the distance and beight of the point E which we will suppose to
be a tree on a hill can be obtained and by the scale of degrees d³ on the plate o³
the angle BAE will be measured on the cross-staff so that having the length of
the lines A B and E A; and the angle B A E the distance of the point E from the
point B.can be obtained in the ordinary manner. The relative height of the
point E with regard to the point A can be obtained as before to that of the point B,
with regard to the point A, and from these will be found the relative heights of
the points B and E as regard each other and likewise with any distant object and
this with much greater ease and rapidity than heretofore and without approaching
near to the distant points.
I would here remark that by properly arranging the position of the hand k on the
spindle and hands on the spindle q so that when the hand k rests against the
spindle q as in the position shewn in Fig. 7, the hands will be exactly at right
angles to the line a¹ and may be so set at any time by bringing the hand k to this
position.
The scale o of degrees on the cross-staff (see Fig. 11) is only given so that by
the inclination of the sight of the cross-staff from the level to the line of sight
placed on the distant object, this angle may be measured, and by the ordinary
calculation, the height or depth, below the datum line, as taken by the distancer in
the manner hereinbefore described may be verified if desired otherwise this scale
is not required.
The difference of height between the points A and C must be obtained and
accounted for.
It will be observed that in the description above given and in the drawings
hereunto annexed that the base A C is laid off to the right of the point A and
that all the angles of the lines C¹ C &c are taken by turning the hands towards
the left side of the "distancer" (see Fig. 1).
If it is desired to lay off the base AC to the left of the point A as well as to
the right, a second circle of graduations must be described on the table e. In this
second circle, however, the graduations will be the reverse of those shewn; thus
the graduations will be correspondingly to the left of the hand 8; and the
graduation correspondingly to the right of the hands and so on for all the rest
of the graduations with which the table may be provided.
For the purpose of providing the table with these graduations a second circle e¹
will be described upon the table immediately within or without the circle e¹, shewn
and said graduations marked upon it with sub divisions as on the circles e¹. As 4
before remarked the graduations may be of any number although only nine have
been referred to.
It is evident that when the base A C is a long one and from the nature of the
ground difficult to measure by a chain or any other line it may be measured and
set off in the same manner substantially as described for measuring the distances 5
on the line A B.
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 cross-staff having cross-sights as described in combination with the 5
"Distancer" having oscillating table e and hands 8 and k graduated clieles c¹
anbotentielles described

page_text: 2. In combination with a cross-staff constructed and arranged substantially as
described, the "distancer" having oscillating table e provided with graduated
circles e¹ and level t; cross-bar b frame f having graduated scales k¹ and level u
the whole constructed and arranged substantially as described.
3. In the instrument called the " 'distancer," the combination of cross-bar b,
frame f having level u and scales k', table e having level t and graduated circles e¹
and trunnions d hands 8 and k with a mechanism substantially as described for
actuating the said hands; and mechanism for adjusting the table either to the
level or at an inclination, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as
shewn and described for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination in the cross-staff of the plate having graduated scale of
degrees d³, foot e³, frame ƒ³ cylinder h³, plate, sight m², having level at cross
sight, the whole constructed and arranged substantially as described for the
purposes set forth.