Device for Measuring Distances. Page: 2 of 3
[1], 3 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this patent.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
UNITED
STATES
PATENT OFFICE.
JAMES W. FARRAND, OF EL PASO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO
ATHANASE PROUSSALY, OF SAME PLACE.
DEVICE FOR MEASURING DISTANCES.
SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,566, dated November 1, 1898.
Application filed Jtine 23, 1897, Serial No, 641)966, (No model.)To cdl whonu it mnay conce l:
Be it known that I, JAMES W. FARRAND, of
El Paso, in the county of El Paso and State
of Texas, have invented certain new and use-
5 ful Improvements in Devices for Measuring
Distances; and I do hereby declare the follow-
ing 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
1o make and use the same.
rihis invention relates to a device for assist-
ing the naked eye in ascertaining the distance
of an object from a certain point; and it con-
sists, essentially, of a triangular box with an
15 open eyepiece at its apex and containing ad-
j stable hairs or black wires, one of which is
an object-sight and the other a distance-gage
and respectively coacting with scales repre-
senting feet and yards. %
20 The invention further consists of the de-
tails of construction and arrangement of the
several parts, which will be fully hereinafter
described and claimed.
The object of the invention is to provide
25 means for assisting civil engineers, army offi-
cers, artists, sportsmen, and others to quickly
and accurately determine the distance of an
inanimate object from a fixed point and used
by the naked eye in a simple and effective
30 manner to dispense with mathematical cal-
culations, triangulations, or methods of com-
plex mensuration.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is
a perspective view of the device embodying
35 the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the
device looking toward the side opposite to that
shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sec-
tion on the line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a de-
tailed elevation of one of the sights and a part
40 of the coacting devices. Fig. 5 is a diagram-
matic view illustrating the appearance of an
object at various distances when gaged by
the operator.
Referring to the drawings, wherein similar
45 numerals of reference are employed to indi-
cate corresponding parts in the several views,
the numeral 1 designates a triangular box
having an open eyepiece 2 at its apex and a
longitudinal partition 3 dividing the said box
5o into two compartments, one of which contains
the working mechanism and the other thesights by which the observations are taken.
At or about the center of the box a transverse
rotatable rod 4 is mounted and has project-
ing therefrom a pair of parallel arms 5 of equal 55
length and supporting at their outer ends a
fine hair or black wire (. On the right end
of said rod 4 an exteriorly-situated milled
button or head 7 is fixed, and on the opposite
end an indicator 8 is secured and mounted 6o
over a scale 9, secured against the adjacent
portion of the outer surface of the box. On
said rod 4 a gear-wheel 10 is secured and
meshes with an adjacently-situated pinion 11,
the said parts acting to sustain the rod 4 and 65
the arms and sight carried thereby in adj usted
position, the pinion controlling the indicator,
which has to travel over more space than the
arms. Also the scale-plate with which the in-
dicator 8 operates is divided and marked to 70
represent yards, and in advance of the sight
just described and located in the upper part
of the box is another rotatable rod 12, also
extending transversely across the box and
having engagement with gears 13 and 14 at 75
one end for sustaining its adjustment, and
in this instance also the opposite end is pro-
vided with a milled button or head 15 and
an indicator 16, attached by gear to the rod
12 and adjustable over a scale 163 on the 8o
left-hand side of the box and representing
feet. The rod 12 is also provided with a
pair of parallel arms 17, supporting a fine
hair or black wire 18 at their free ends and
constructing a sight similar to that hereto- 85
fore described. The first sight further con-
stitutes a gage to determine the number of
yards distant an object may be, and the sec-
ond sight is an object-sight fixed at the known
altitude of the object being observed. The 90
gears in connection with the rods 4 and 12
are located between the partition 3 and the
farther side of the box, and thereby entirely
covered. On the under side of the box is at-
tached a supporting-handle or grip, which con- 95
sists of a bar or strip 19 of suitable material,
pivotally attached at its front end on a sup-
port 20, having a spring in connection there-
with coacting with said bar or strip similar
to a clasp-knife, and at its rear end the said ico
bar or strip is formed with a projection 21
for convenience in opening the same and ar-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This patent can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Patent.
Farrand, James W. Device for Measuring Distances., patent, November 1, 1898; [Washington D.C.]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth514553/m1/2/: accessed July 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.