US709046A - Pocket-compass. - Google Patents

Description

No. 709,046. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

C. C. BUEGER.

POCKET COMPASS.

(Application filed July 16, 1901.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-8heet I.

T norms Pnzns :0. won;

No. 709,046. Patented Sept. l6, I902.

C. C. RUEGEH. POCKET COMPASS.

(Application filed July 18, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

BY 2 I WWAtir/rfieya Lin-40,, WASHINGYON u c UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. RUEGER, OF'BUTTE, MONTANA.

-POCKET-COMPASS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,046, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed July 16. 1901. Serial No. 68,505. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. RUEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Com passes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form in which 1 have contemplated embodying my invention, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my improved compass drawn to a larger scale than the actual size, the folding diopters being removed. Fig.1 represents a central section through the level attached to the instrument. Fig. 1 rep resents an end view of the level, showing in detail the attaching; -sorew and eccentric sleeve. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section through the instrument, showing the diopters in place and folded down upon the top of the instrument. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the instrument, showing the arrangement of the indicating-marks on its exterior. Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of the clinometer-disk, showing the graduations thereon. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of one side of the com pass-casing and levelring, showing a method of attaching the parts together. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the two diopters. Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the devices for attaching the level to its ring and for adjusting it.

The object of my invention is to provide a pocket instrument of moderate size which will permit with the greatest convenience and sufficient accuracy those angular measurements which the practical mining engineer is most frequently required to make, and the device is adapted for use under ground as Well as upon the surface.

In the drawings, A represents the compasscasing, which is provided with a flush glass cover B, having its edges beveled, as indi cated in the drawings, Fig. 2, and secured in place by means of a friction retaining-ring 1), adapted to fit snugly within the upper part of the casing and flush therewithand having its inner face or periphery beveled to overhang the beveled edge of the glass cover, and thus retain it in position. This construction provides the compass with a flush upper surface having no projecting parts to obstruct the view and which is readily kept clean. In the use of these instruments under ground particularly dirt, water, grease from candles, and other foreign matter frequently drop upon the glass cover, and it is at once apparent how much the flush top facilitates the quick removal of such substances as well as the general cleanliness of the instrument. .It is also highly important to prevent so far as possible corrosive waters from getting into the interior of the compass-casing, and the flush top is distinctly advantageous in preventing this. Moreover, as the ring I) is held in place by friction only the glass cover may be quickly and easily removed without the use of tools for the purpose ofcleaning the interior of the compass-casing should any corrosive material find an entrance to the interior or whenever it is desirable to obtain access to the interior for any purpose-as, for example, to make a change in the style of division-numbering,as hereinafterexplained. The bottom of the compass-casingis provided with a threaded aperture 1), which is engaged by an adjusting-screw 0, having a milled head a, forming a shoulder to prevent overwinding of the screw. 'lhisscrew c is provided with a threaded central aperture, inwhich is located the threaded portions of the center pin d, which is provided with a milled head d and a shoulder d adapted to engage the screw 0 to prevent over-winding of the center pin. Within the com pass-casingis a revolu ble plate or disk 0, which I term for convenience of reference the clinometer-disk. This disk has a central bearing engaging the center pin d and resting upon the screw 0, and said disk is also provided with a peripheral vertical flange c ,terminating at its upper edge in a horizontal outwardly-projecting flange 0 The disk 0 is also provided at one point near its periphery with a weight 0 for use when the device is used in clinometer work. The weight a is attached to the disk 0 by means of ascrew c passing eccentrically through said weight. By loosening the screw and moving the weight slightly to one side or the other a very delior more styles of numbering, which may he made in different colors, if desired. The divisions on the vertical flange avoid errors of parallax in reading the needle, and the divisions on the flange of the disk facilitate the adjustment of the disk with respect to the quadrant-marks on the com pass-casing and also the clinometer-readings on the disk. By means of the screw 0 the disk C may be held from rotation by forcing it upward until the flange c is pressed into engagement with the glass cover B, or said disk may be released, so as to revolve upon the center pin, as will be readily understood from the drawings. It will be understood that the graduation or division numberings shown in Fig. 1 are incomplete, as will-be evident to those familiar with such instrument, different styles of numbering being illustrated on portions of the disk to avoid confusion.

D represents the magnetic needle, which is provided with an agate seat 01 engaging the center pin, the arms of the needle on each side of the center pin being curved, as shown in Fig. 2. By turning the center pin (Z the needle may be allowed to swing freely or may be pressed upward against the glass cover B to hold it from movement. By making the needle curved, as shown, with the curved portions extend ng slightly above the seat it will be seen that when the needle is raised the curved arms will engage the glass cover with a slight spring-pressure before the seat is raised into contact with the glass, and the shoulder d will prevent the seat from being brought into contact with the glass cover, thus protecting the point of the center pin. By making the disk 0, which carries the gradnations, revoluble within the compass-casing it will be seen that the disk can be adusted to set off the magnetic variations, so as to allow needle-readings to be taken from the true meridian, and by providingthe disk with the weight 0 it can also be used as a clinometer. By the mechanism above described both the needle and the clinometer-disk can be arrested without perceptible change of position, so as to preserve their readings, thus allowing readings to be taken from the arrested parts where it is difficult to obtain them at the time of making the observation or allowing readings taken at the time of observation to be checked by readings taken from the arrested parts. The disk 0 has a further advantage in that it. permits a variety of circle division-numherings being used without interfering with the principal division-lines, which are engraved or marked in any suitable manner upon the inner face and top of the flanges c and 0 respectively, preferably at intervals of five degrees. This result may be simply and cheaply secured by pasting or otherwise securing to the face of the disk an auxiliary disk of paper or other suitable material on which is marked the style of division-numbering which suits the particular userof theinstrnment. Asthepossiblestyles of division-numbering are limited in number, the manufacturer of the instrument can readily and cheaply supply a set of auxiliary disks, which will enable the owner of the instrument to use one or other of them at his pleasure.

To the rim of the compass-casing are pivoted on opposite sides the folding diopters E and F, each of which is provided atits upper end with a hook e and f, respectively, by means of which the compass may be hung upon a string or wire stretched between survey-stations after the manner of the German miners compass. Each of the diopters is provided at its lower end with bifurcated portions 6 and f, respectively, which permit of an unobstructed view between them. The diopter E is provided with a mirror 6 having a central vertical sight-line engraved or otherwise affixed thereon. The upper part of the diopter F consists of a vertical standard f which can be used as asight when desired. The diopters E and F may be folded down upon the top of the compass, as shown in Fig. 2, and they may also be swung over laterally and their points allowed to touch a table or other support when the apparatus is used upon a drawing board or table for the purpose of determining angles, as hereinafter described. The top of the compass-casing is preferably provided with a pair of detachable plates a (1, provided with perforated ears a a to receive the pivoted diopters, and said plates are detachably secured to the compasscasing by screws (1 (1 so that these plates and the diopters may be removed from the compass-casing, if desired.

The exterior of the compass-casing is provided with an annular revoluble ring G, (see Fig. 2,) to which is secured adjustably a level or bubble-tube g. (See Fig. 1.) I prefer to attach the tube g adjustably to the ring G by the following mechanism: The ring G is provided centrally with a pin g, which engages an aperture in the tube g, said aperture being made a little widerat its mouth than the pin g in the plane of the ring G. At each end the tube g is provided with a yoke adapted to receive an eccentric sleeve g between its bifurcated portions, said sleeve being held in place by an adjusting-screw g passing through the eccentric sleeve and having its head engaging the upper face of the yoke. Each of the sleeves is provided with'an aperture 9 in its side to permit the insertion of a tool for rotating the sleeve to adjust the tube 9 in a direction perpendicular to the face of the compass, and by loosening one of the adjustingscrews g and tightening the other the tube g may be adjusted in the plane of the face of the compass. The projecting pheripheral portions of the ring G are preferably milled to facilitate the turning of the ring around thecompass-casing, and the exterior of said ring is provided with four quadrant-marks, (see i, Fig. 3,) the milled surface being cut away to allow these marks to be plainly seen. These quadrant-marks can be brought into alinement with similar quadrant-marks on the top face of the compass-casing, which are also carried down onto the outer peripheral edge of the casing. This leveling-ring may be used for the purpose of leveling the face of the compass and may be also utilized when the device is used as a clinometer. The quadrant-points on thering G give readings on the circle division-line cut into the outside periphery of the compass-casing. For convenience in using the instrument in clinometer work and for other purposes another sight-line is provided, which consists of a heavy line b, which is engraved in the glass cover and blackened or otherwise treated to render it distinct. This line b is coincident with the sight-line of the diopters and in case.the diopters are removed will form the guiding line of sight for the determination of horizontal and vertical angles.

In order to illuminate the compass when it is used for underground purposes, I provide a gasolene-torch H, revolubly secured to the bottom of the compass and provided with a wick-tube H and a closing device H The interior of the body of the torch and the wick-tube are preferably filled with wicking which is saturated with gasolene or other suitable fluid, so that by lighting the portion of the wick projecting from the wick-tube which extends up slightly above the plane of the top of the compass the compass will be illuminated. The main body of the torch, which is of circular shape, is preferably provided with three or more supporting lugs or feet h, which will support the instrument when it is placed upon a table, when it will be seen that the compass-body may be rotated upon the torch. This construction is convenient when it is desired to use the instrument inv platting surveys, in which case the compass-casing can be turned easily and accurately into the desired position for the needle and the folding diopters may be swung over and downward until their points rest upon the paper. Byindicating these points In the construction shown in Fig. :2 it will be observed that the annular body of the torch H extends outward beyond the bottom of the ring G, so as to prevent the latter from being disengaged from the compass-casing. I may, however, provide the compass-casing with an annular groove (see Fig.5 and provide the ring G with four screws g projecting into said groove, in order to attach the ring to the compass-casing while permitting it to revolve thereon. In such case it will be obvious that the torchH could be removed from the instrument, if desired. In order to provide for the easy removal of the torch, I provide the annular body of the torch with a central circular aperture which engages an annular hub or boss a on the bottom of the compass-casing, said hub or boss being provided with a retaining-ring 6L5, secured thereto by means of screws 0., said retaining-ring engaging portions of the torchbody surrounding said hub and holding it in place. To remove the torch, it is only necessary to unscrew the screws a and remove the retaining-ring at.

The manifold uses to which the instrument may be put need not be particularly described herein, as they will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. I will, however, indicate two ways in which the instrument maybe used in clinometer work. According to the first the instrument is held in a vertical position. The sightline of the instrument, which is given by the line on the glass cover or the diopters, is alined with the eye and the next station-point. Thering G is then rotated about the com pass-casing so as to bring the bubble-tube g to the top, and the ring is then carefully adjusted to bring the bubble in the center of the tube, (indicated bya mark on the glass,) at the same time retaining the alinement with the eye. The index-points on ring G will then be read on the graduations on the exterior of the casing to give the angles of departure of the sight-line from the vertical and horizontal. The ring Gr will be held by friction from movement on the casing unless it is carelessly handled or moved purposely. It is sometimes desirable to take observations while facing the instrument, in which'case it is held with the glass cover facing the observer and the sight-line on the cover is made to coincide with the line the inclination of which is to be determined. Ring G is then revolved on the casing and the bubble centered in the bubble-tube, and readings are taken, as before described. A more rapid though less sensitive clinometerreading can be taken from the disk 0. The alinement of the sight-line is effected as before described. The disk 0 is releasedand the weight will seek the point directly below the center of the disk, swinging the disk into position, so that the observer may take readings therefrom. In order to enable the observer to keep his eye at the sight-line, it is preferable to arrest the disk when it has adjusted itself and take readings from the ar rested disk.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. The combination with a compass-casing, of a graduated disk revolubly mounted upon a central spindle within said casing, the casing inclosing said disk at the bottom and sides but being open at the top whereby the entire upper face of said disk is exposed to View, a magnetic needle revolubly mounted above and independently of said disk, and adapted to read over the entire upper face of the disk at all times, and arresting devices for said disk, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a compass-casing, of a graduated disk revolubly mounted upon a central spindle Within said casing, the easing inclosing said disk at the bottom and sides but being open at the top, whereby the entire upper face of said disk is exposed to view, a magnetic needle revolubly mounted above and independently of said disk, and adapted to read over the entire upper face of the disk at all times, arresting devices for said disk and independent arresting devices for said needle, substantially as described.

3. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a pivotally-mounted disk within said casing, provided with portions adapted to engage the top of the casing to arrest said disk, an adjusting-screw for raising said disk to bring said portions into engagement with the top of the casing, a center pin having a threaded portion passing through said adjusting-screw, and a needle mounted on said center pin above said disk whereby said center pin may be adjusted to raise the needle into contact with the top of the casing, substantially as described.

l. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a pivotally-mounted disk within the casing provided with a vertically-disposed flange terminating at its upper end in a horizontal flange, and provided with a scale of divisions on the disk proper, the inner face of said vertical flange and the upperface of said horizontal flange, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk and independent devices for arresting the disk and needle, substantially as described.

5. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a pivotally-mounted disk within the casing provided with a vertically-disposed flange terminating at its upper end in a horizontal flange, and provided with a scale of divisions on the disk proper, the inner face of said vertical flange and the upper face of said horizontal flange, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk and independent devices for arresting the disk and needle, and a weight secured to said disk eccentrically thereof, the compass-casing being also provided with division-markings, substantially as described.

6. In a compass, the combination with the compass-casing, provided with sighting devices, of a revoluble disk pivoted centrally within said casing, a weight secured to said disk eccentrically thereof, and an adjustable securing device passing eccentrically through said weight, whereby said weight may be adjusted with respect to said disk, substantially as described.

7. In a pocket-compass, the combination with the compass-casing provided with sighting devices, of a revoluble disk mounted in said casing, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk, independent arresting devices for said disk and needle, and a weight secured to said disk adjacent to its periphery, constructed to cause that portion of said disk to swing beneat-h its center, when the casing is held in a vertical position, whereby the device may be used as a clinometer and the disk arrested for reading, substantially as described.

8. In a compass, the combination with the circular casing, of a needle mounted in said casing, a ring revolubly mounted on the exterior of said casing, and a level secured to said ring, substantially as described.

9. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with sighting devices, of a ring revolubly mounted on said casing, a level secured to said ring, devices for adjusting said level in the plane of said ring and independent devices for adjusting said level perpendicularly to the plane of the ring, substantially as described.

10. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with sighting devices, of a ring revolubly mounted on the casing, a level provided with bifurcated portions at each end, sleeves engaging said bifurcated portions of the level and provided with eccentric apertures therethrough and adj usting-screws passing through said sleeves threaded into said ring and having portions engaging the bifurcated portions of said level, whereby said level can be adjusted in the plane of the ring and also perpendicularly to the plane of the ring, substantially as described.

11. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with sighting means and with an annular scale of divisions and a needle mounted in said casing, of a ring mounted revolubly on said casing and provided with index-marks, adapted to register with the divisions of said scale on the casing, and a bubble-tube or level secured to said ring, substantially as described.

12. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a ring revolubly mounted thereon, a level or bubble-tube secured to said ring and a torch pivotally secured to said casing IIO and having a wick-tube extending to the top of the casing, whereby said bubbletnbe may be rotated about the casing and said bubbletube and the compass illuminated at any point, substantially as described.

13. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a rotary disk mounted in said casing, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk, independent arresting devices for said disk and needle, folding diopters hinged to said casing and provided at their lower ends with bifurcated portions and at their upper ends with hook portions terminating in indicatingpoints, each of said diopters being provided with a sight-line, coinciding with its said indicating-point, substantially as described.

14. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a rotary disk mounted in said casing, a needle mounted in said casing and adapted to rotate independently of said disk, independent arresting devices for said disk and needle, folding diopters, hinged to said casing and provided at their lower ends with bifurcated portions and at their upper ends with hook portions terminating in indicatingpoints, each of said diopters being provided with a sight-line, coinciding with its said indicatingpoint, one of said diopters being provided with a mirror above its bifurcated portion, substantially as described.

15. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with a needle, of a support below said casing, pivotally connected with said casing, folding diopters pivoted to said casing, and adapted to be swung over and downwardly into the plane of the said support and provided with indicating-points, whereby the compass-casing may be revolved upon said support, the indicating-points of said diopters allowed to rest upon a paper and points taken directly therefrom in platting, substantially as described.

16. In a compass, the combination witha casing, of a disk revolubly mounted therein, a weight secured eccentrically to said disk, a glass cover secured to said casing, flush with the upper surface thereof and a permanent sighting-line marked upon said glass cover, substantially as described.

17. In a compass, the combination with the casing, ofa center pin threaded into the bottom thereof, a transparent cover for said casing, a needle revolubly mounted on said center pin beneath said cover, and having parts adapted to engage said cover to arrest the needle when the center pin is turned to raise the needle, said center pin having a part for engaging a part connected with the casing to prevent overwinding and thereby protect said center pin, substantially as described.

18. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with a cover, of a vertically.- adjustable center pin, and a needle havinga bearing engaging said pin, said needle having lateral spring portions" eit ending above the said bearing, and adapted to engage the said cover before the said bearing, whereby the needle can be arrested without injury to the center pin or pivot-cup, substantially as described.

19. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of a rotary disk mounted within the casing and provided with a' central bearing, a support for said bearing threaded into said casing, a center pin threaded in said disksupport, and extending through said disk,

and a needle mounted upon said center pin and adapted to revolve freely, independently of said disk, substantially as described.

20. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with a transparent cover, of a rotary disk mounted Within the casing below said cover and provided with a central bearing, an adjustingscrew threaded into the bottom of the casing adapted to support the central bearing of said disk, and to raise said disk into contact with said cover to arrest said disk, said screw having a shoulder for engaging the casing to prevent ovcrwinding, a center pin threaded into said adjusting-screw and extending through said disk, a needle mounted on said center pin and adapted to revolve freely, said needle having parts adapted to engage the said cover when the needle is raised by said center pin,to arrest the needle, said center pin havinga shoulder to engage said adjusting-screw to prevent overwinding, substantially as described.

21. In a compass, thecombination with the casing provided with a transparent top or cover, of a center pin having a threaded portion, and a shoulder to prevent overwinding and a needle having a central bearing engaging the center pin, and lateral spring portions extending therefrom and curved upward above the plane of the top of said hearing, substantially as described.

22. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of an annular torch-body, pivotally secured to the casing and provided with an upwardly-extending wick-tube, substantially as described.

23. In a compass, the combination with the casing, of an annular torch-body detachably and pivotally secured to the bottom of said casing and provided with a vertically-extending wick-tube, substantially as described.

24. In a compass, the combination with the casing provided with a transparent top or cover, of a disk pivotaily mounted at its center within said casing, a needle in said casing, a revoluble ring on said casing, a level secured to said ring, folding diopters secured to said casing, and an annular torch pivotally secured to the bottom of the casing, forming a support therefor and provided with a vertically-extending wick-tube, substantially as described.

25. In a compass, the combination withthe casing provided with a vertically-adjustable center pin from injury, substantially as delo center pin, extending through the bottom of scribed.

said casing, a needle on said center pin, an In testimony whereof I affix my signature annular torch-body pivotally secured to the in the presence of two witnesses. 5 bottom of the casing provided WUh a wlek- CHARLES C. RUEGER.

tube extending above the top of the casing, said torch being provided with depending Witnesses:

feet forming a support for the wick-tube and J. A. RUEGER, casing and protecting the outer end of the ALFRED HAHN.

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