GB2344887A - Surveying navigation and astronomy instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

An instrument in the form of a cross with an attached scale C of degrees and centrally fixed, weighted plumb line or bar F that acts as an indicator.The cross piece B acts as a sight and the lower part of the perpendicular upright A acts as a fulcrum.Where the upper part of the perpendicular upright acts as a further sight line for observing angles horizontally. Used for construction projects,navigation,astronomy and art.

Description

2344887 1 Patent Application for SURVEYING ASTRONOMY AND NAVIGATION

INSTRUMENT By Crichton Edward McGregor Miller 33 Clover Close Boughton Vale Rugby CV23 OUA United Kingdom.

16/11/98 6/11/98 Crichton E M Miller 2 DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to devices known as a Traveller.Theodolite and Sextant for finding levels and angles in topography, construction, latitude and longtitude,star and planetary body positions.

A traveller is used in pipe laying for the finding of levels and is a T shaped device with a plumb line centred in the cross piece,which when the plumb line hangs at right angles to the cross piece this indicates a level gradient.

Theodolite are used to measure the angles of gradients with the use of mirrors and a scale measured in degrees and are combined with a sighting pole graded to indicate heights.

Sextants are similar in design to the theodolite and are used to measure the angles of planetary bodies and star positions in combination with a published almanac to find latitude and longtitude for the purpose of navigation.

Both the Sextant and Theodolite are expensive items requiring specialist training and operation.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- According to the present invention there is provided (see Figures 1 & 2) (A.) A vertical upright or bar to which is attached (B.) A cross piece functioning as a sighting device at right angles to the upright. The lower part of the upright must act as a fulcrum and be free for adjustment. The fulcrum may be mounted on an adjustable tripod,hand held or freestanding, (C.)Joining the upright and the cross piece is added a scale plate which may encompass 360o or any part thereof. (D.)At the centre of the cross piece is fixed a nut or bearing. (E.) Fixed to the nut or bearing is a plumb line or bar. (F) Attached to the end of the line or bar is a bob or weight which clears the scale plate (G.) Fixed to the scale plate is a scale measuring degrees,minutes and seconds of arc. This scale is reversible for separate applications. (Accuracy is dependent on the overall size of the device).

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the device Figure 2 shows a sectionall view with component parts Figure 3 shows the finding of elevations and gradients Figure 4 shows the finding of levels Figure 5 shows the finding of gradients at right angles to the observer.

Figure 6 shows the finding of latitude in navigation Figure 7 shows the finding of longtitude for navigation by measuring the movement of lunar,solar and planetary bodies against the background of the ecliptic. Astronomers may also measure the daily and seasonal variations of the ecliptic with the device

3 DESCRIPTION An observer may achieve several objectives with the use of this instrument (1) The instrument is used by looking along the sight line at a distant object and reading the angle marked off on the scale by the plumb line. (Figure 3) (2) By calculating the distance to the object the elevation of the object can be found with the use of simple geometry.

(3) With the addition of a measured pole and taking into account the overall height of the instrument an observer can measure gradients.

(4) Accurate levels are easily achieved by ensuring that the plumb line is vertical when sighting (Figure 4) (5) Gradients and other angles can be measured by turning the device through 90o so that the upright is in line with the angle of the object observed and the scale facing the observer.(Figure 5) (6) Navigators can find latitude by sighting the pole star and directly reading the degree of latitude from the instrument allowing for refraction. (Figure 6) A 90o scale of 50 centimetres will give an accuracy within 10 nautical miles.

(7) Ascension and declination can be found in astronomy by the same method of sighting the angle of any celestial body with the instrument. (Figure 7) (8) Consequently longtitude can be found by relating the known daily lunar movement to the azimuth of the ecliptic and deducting the difference in degrees.

(8) Distance made good can be calculated by adding or subtracting the difference in the predicted angle and converting to nautical miles,after taking into account the latitude of the observer.

4

Claims (8)

1. A n instrument in the form of a cross for measuring angles in degrees for construction, art, n avigation or astronomy.

2. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 with an attached scale in degrees.

3.An instrument as claimed in claims 1 & 2 with an attached plumb line or bar placed at the centre of the cross.

4. An instrument as claimed in claims 1 2 & 3 which has any weighted device to indicate the angle of degrees against the attached scale.

5. An instrument as claimed in claims 1 2 3 & 4 which is hand held, freestanding or mounted on a tripod or any other steadying device.

6. An instrument as claimed in claims 1 2 3 4 & 5 where the upright perpendicular to the cross piece is adjustable in height.

5. An instrument as claimed in any preceding claim which incorporates a simple sight or groove on the cross bar.

6. An instrument substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 7 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A measurement device, comprising a plurality of intersecting arms, disposed in a cross configuration, one arm deployable as either a sight line, for line-of-sight viewing longitudinally, from one end to another, or laterally, with one end as a pointer, viewed laterally from a remote offset viewing stance, in either case, upon alignment of a remote end of one arm, with a target object; one end of the other arm, opposite to the pointer end of the one arm, being disposed as a stabilising, fulcrum mount, about which to adjust sight-line orientation, inclination and/or elevation; a pendulum, or plumb line, freely suspended from the arm intersection; and a scale, interposed between the arms, and crossed by the suspended pendulum, or plumb line, to allow a scale reading, for determining sight-line inclination, or elevation, of a target object.

2.

A measurement device, as claimed in Claim 1, with arms deployable as alternative, or interchangeable, sighting, alignment reference, or fulcrum arms.

3.

A measurement device, as claimed in either of the preceding claims, with an adjustable fulcrum arm.

1 1 6 4.

A measurement device, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with a graduated, arcuate, scale, spanning the intersecting arms, and marked to allow direct reading of angular elevation, or inclination.

5.

A measurement device, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with a graduated, continuous circular, scale, spanning the intersecting arms, and marked to allow direct reading of angular elevation, or inclination.

6.

A measurement device, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with an arcuate scale, spanning the intersecting arms, with a portion to one side of a fulcrum arm graduated as a navigation and astronomy scale, and another portion, to another side of the fulcrum arm, graduated as a surveying scale.

7.

A measurement device, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with an arm incorporating a groove, to facilitate sighting.

8.

A measurement device, as claimed in any of the preceding claims, with differential length arms.

U tl