US1336380A - Portable hygroscope - Google Patents

Description

C. SAMPIETRO.

PORTABLE HYGROSCOPE.

APPLICATION HLED AuG.9, 1919.

CORNELIUS SAMPIETRO, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE HYGROSCOPE.

Application filed August 9, 1919.

To ZZ 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS SAMPIE- TRO, subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Portable Hygroscope, of which the following is a full, clear, and enact description.

This invention relates generally to a hygroscope or weather indicator, and more specifically to a portabie device which may be conveniently carried upon the person without occupying a great amount of space.

It is not broadly new to provide a hygroscope or weather indicator, so no claim is broadly made thereto. However, in the device heretofore provided, the constructions have been large and cumbersome having certain delicate settings which were readily disarranO-ed, such constructions being adapted to be hung upon a wall or other position. They were not so arranged and constructed as would permit them to be used as a portable device or conveniently carried upon the person or to be attached t`o a pencil, pen or any other desired object.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a portable hygroscope or weather indicator of simple and compact construction which may be readily and conveniently carried upon the person.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weather indicator having its parts so arranged and constructed as to occupy but little space, so that the device may be readily attached to a pencil, pen or any other desired article.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a hygroscope having an adjustable compensating means which will permit the continued twisting or turning of the hygroscopic element, such as a twisted cat gut or other suitable material, after an indicator has reached its limit of movement, the said continued twisting movement of the cat gut being independent of further movement in the same direction, of the indicator. Such a means will permit a change in the atmospheric conditions to be registered by the indicator, without the hygroscopic element first having to be untwisted before the turning eii'ect or the twisting effort becomes effective, which would be the condition if no compensating n ,ieans were provided.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Y Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 316,291.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a hygroscope a means to maintain a relatively constant tension in the hygroscopic element, an indicating means being provided which is actuated by the said element, independent of gear 'and lever connections, and rotates about the axis of said element.

The above objects are accomplished byl providing a hygroscope having the mechanism thereof carried within a tubular member, the said mechanism comprising a hygroscopic element such as twisted cat gut extending longitudinally, having one end thereof yieldingly supported to permit longitudinal movement, but held against rotation, the other end of said element being connected with an indicator through a compensating device, the said indicator preferably being supported on a bearing in axial alinement with the said element so that the said indicator will be rotated about said axis by the turning or twisting effect of the hygroscopic element. The compensating devicecomprises, in the preferred form, a frictional connection between the said element, and the indicator, to permit continued movement of said element, after the indicator has reached its limit of movement. A,

compensating device of this character will permit the indicator to respond to a twisting or turning movement of the hygroscopic element in the opposite direction, as soon as such movement is eifected. If a permanent or Xed connection were formed between the indicator and the hygroscopic element, and said element were to continue the turning movement after the indicator had reached its limit of movement, before the indicator would respond to a reverse movement of the hygroscopic element, the said element would first have to be untwisted a certain amount. It is such an objection that the compensating mechanism overcomes.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings showing' one of the preferred forms of the invention.

Similar characters of reference desi ate like parts in the several views. In the awings showing one of the preferred forms of the invention,

Figure l is an elevational view of the in yention shown as applied :to

a pencil,

arrangement of the mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view looking 1n the direction of the arrows and taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows and taken on the line 5 5. 4

Fig. 6 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows and taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2'.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view looking 1n the direction of the arrows and taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, a preferred form of the invention is there shown as comprising a tubular member 1 having suitable -openings 2 therein. A hygroscopic element 3 composed of a twisted cat gut or -any other suitable material is positioned within the tubular member 1 and extends longitudinally thereof. One end 4 of the hygroscopic element is yieldingly supported so as to maintain a relatively constant tension therein, or to permit relative longitudinal movement of said element. The means for supporting the end 4 of the element also prevents 'a twisting or turning movement of. said element at this point. In the preferred form shown, the supporting means cmprises a device 6 fixed to the tubular member 1, and another device 7 connected to the end 4 of the hygroscopic element to move there.-

with, a resilient member such as a coil spring 8 being interposed -between the two devices. In the Fig. 2, the device 6 fixed to the tube comprises a tubular member having a shoulder 9 fixed thereto forming a seat for one end of the spring 8.

The end 10 of the tubular member 6 is contracted, and slotted forming spaced tongue membersll, the ends 12 thereof being turned inward. The other device 7 connected to the end 4 of the hygroscopic element is shown as comprising a tubular member having projecting lugs 13 guided within the slotted end portion of the device or tubular member 6. One end of the device or tubular member- 7 is slotted forming pointed forked portions 14 which are bent inwardly to engage the hygroscopicelement 3, a knot 15 preferably being formed at the end of said element to prevent accidental withdrawal' from the tube 7. The tubular member 7 is guided within the device 6 by the shoulder 9, and the inwardly projecting ends 12. The lug portions 13 carried by the tubular member 7, serves as a seat for the other end of the spring 8. It is to be observed, that in use when the device is properly adjusted, that the lugs 13 will be substantlally mid-way between the inwardly extending ends 12, and the other @11d 0f the contracted slotted portion 10 of the device 6. It is thus seen that a certain longitudinal movement of the end 4 of the hygroscopic element 3, is permitted. It is understood that any suitable means may be provided for yieldingly supporting one end of the hygroscopic element, this invention not being limited to the construction shown. The device 6 is shown as threaded within the tubular member 1, but any suitable means may be provided for securing the said device in position.

\ Any suitable means may be provided for using the hygroscope as a pencil holder, p en holder or the like. In the form shown, a tubular member 16 is provided having one end'thereof secured in any suitable manner to the tubular member 1, the other end being open and adapted to receive a pencil 17 or anv other desired article.

The other end of the hygroscopic element is connected to a'mechanism which permits a rotary or turning movement of the hygroscopic element, which turning movement would be caused by a change in atmospheric conditions. In the preferred form shown, an indicator hand 18 is rotatably supported on a bearing point 19, in axial alinement with element 3, the bearing point 19 being carried by a bearing or support arm 20 carried by the tubular element. It is understood however, that any suitable construction may be provided for rotatably supporting one end of the hygroscopic element 3. A compensating means 21 is-provided, to permit a continued turning movement of the element 3, after the indicator hand 18 has reached its limit of movement in either direction. In theconstruction shown, a longitudinal extending arm 22 is connected with the hand 18, and is provided with a bent end portion 22 having an opening 23 therein. The compensating mechanism 21 is shown in Fig. 1 in elevation as a T shaped member,and comprisesl a disk 24 and a stem 25 connected therewith, and extending through the opening 23, the end of the hygroscopic -element 3, being connected to the stem in any suitable manner. In operation, the hygroscopic element will transmit its twisting or turning movement to the indicator hand through the compensating mechanism 21, which essentially is a relatively loose frictional drive connection. It is thus seen that as the indicator hand 18 is turned in one direction, the turning of the hand will be limited by the extending arm 22 butting against bearing arm 20. When such a limit of movement is reached in'either direction, a continued turning or twisting movement of the hygroscopic element is permitted because the disk 24 may move relative to the bent arm 22 on which the said disk is supported. By the provision of such a compensating mechanism, it is seen that as soon as the atniospheric conditions are such as to cause the hygroscopic element to eXert a turning effort in the opposite direction, the indicator hand will immediately respond thereto. Such would not be the case if the hygroscopic element were secured to the indicator hand through a fixed or rigid connection.

A suitable graduated annular disk 26 may be provided to coperate with the indicator hand to indicate4 atmospheric conditions. The said disk may be provided with suitable letters such as D for dry, R for rain and C for clear which letters will be properly arranged on the disk. In the preferred form shown, the graduated annular disk is positioned below the indicator hand 18, and is held in position by a cap 27 having a transparent covering 28 therein, the said cap being secured in the tube by a threaded connection or any other suitable means.

The cat gut which is preferably used as the hygroscopic element, is composed of a number of pieces of twisted cat gut. lf there is a considerable quantity of moisture in the atmosphere, there will be a tendency for one end of the cat gut to twist or turn in one direction, movingthe indicator hand l parting in the same direction. The indicator hand 18, would under such conditions, point to that part of the graduated disk corresponding to rain. if the atmosphere contained but little moisture, the element 3 is drawn in the opposite direction, moving the indicator hand 18 therewith, the said hand pointing under said conditions to that part of the graduated disk designating dry or similar atmospheric conditions.

If desired, another tube v29 may be proelement to maintain relatively constant tension therein an indicator connected to the other end of said element, a Acompensating frictional connection between said element and said indicator, and a bearing support to permit said indicator to be actuated by twisting effect of said hygroscopic element about the axis thereof.

3. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pencil holder or the like, comprising a tubular member, a hygroscopic element extending longitudinally thereof, a resilient means including a spring carried by said member, yieldingly supporting one end of said element to permit longitudinal movement thereof, an indicator secured to the other end of said element through a frictional connection, a bearing support for said indicator in axial alinement with said element, whereby said indicator may turn about thel axis of said element, and a scale carried by said member and cooperating' with the indicator to show relative movement thereof.

4. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pencil holder or the like, comprising in combination, a tubular member, a hygroscopic element, including a twisted cat gut, and extending longitudinally of said member, means connected to one end of said element, to hold the same against rotary movement, but to permit longitudinal movement thereof, an indicator connected to the other end vided spaced from the tubular member 1, to

form a covering for openings 2. Such a covering while concealing the hygroscopic element from view, will permit the air to come in contact with the vhygrcscopic element.

While but one of the preferred forms of the invention had been shown herein, it is understood that the invention is not tobe limited to the details ofconstruction shown herein, but that certain changes and modifications may be made thereof without defrom the spirit and scope of this invention. v

Claims:

1. A hygroscope comprising a tubular member, a hygroscopic element, one end of said element being carried by a yielding means including a resilient member, an indicator connected to the other end of said element, and a means supporting said indicator to permit movement about the axis of said element.

2'. A hygroscope comprising in combination a tubular member, a hygroscopic element extending longitudinally of said member, a resilient support .for one end of ysaid of said element, and a bearing for said indicator in axial alinement with said element, whereby said indicator is actuated by a twisting or turning effort of the cat gut due to a change in atmospheric conditions.

5. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pen, pencil holder, or the like, comprising in combination a tubular member having openings therein, a twisted cat gut extending longitudinally of said member, means for yieldingly supporting one end of said element, said means including a device'fixed to said member, another device connected to one end of said element, to hold the same against rotaryv movement, and a resilient member including a spring interposed between said devices, means connected to the other end of said element and rotatably supported, to permit a twisting movement of said end, said means including an indicator in axial alinement with said element, and a relatively loose driving connection between one end of said element and said indicator.

6. A hygroscope adapted to be used as af pen or pencil holder, or the like, comprising a tubular member having openings therein. a hygroscopic element including a twisted cat gut, a spring support for one end of said element to permit longitudinal movement thereof, said means including a device fixed to the tube, a second device fixed to one end of said element, a shoulder fixed to Said first device, and another shoulder fixed to said second device, a spring interposed between said shoulders, means for rotatably supporting the other end of said element, said means including an indicator comprising an indicator hand extending transversely of said element, a member connected with said hand and extending longitudially of said element, and an arm having ali a means carried by the casing for yieldingly opening therein connected to the end of said member, a bearing arm for said indicator hand carried by the tubular member, and having the bearing point thereof in axial alinementwith said twisted cat gut, a frictional compensating device connecting said indicator to one end of said cat gut, an indicating scale carried by the tubular member, and coperating with the indicator hand.

-7. A device of the character described, comprising a casing, a hygroscopic element` means arranged within the casing to provide a yielding support for one end of the hygroscopic element, means rotatably supporting the other end of said element, said turning movement of the hygroscopic element and independent of the movement of the indicator. n

8. A hygroscope adapted to be used as a pencil or pen holder or the like, comprising an outer casing', a hygroscopic element,

supporting one end vof the hygroscopic element but restraining said end from rotary movement, a means supporting the other end of said element to permit a turning movement thereof, said means including an indicator hand, a stop to limit the rotary movement of said indicator hand, and a compensating means connected between the end of the said element, and the indicator hand, for permitting continued rotary movement of the said element, after the indicator hand has reached its limit of movement. A

CORNELIUS SAMPIETRO.

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