Untitled record

Application filed January 29, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, George W. Melville, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and 5 State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Horizons; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in io the art to which it.appertains to make and use the. same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. _x

My invention relates to improvements in artificial horizons, having for its object to facilitate and assist the measuring of the altitude of the celestial bodies; and it consists, essentially, of an ornamental box or recepta20 ole provided with a bag of mercury, and a compression-screw and slide which is adapted to compress the bag containing the mercury and force a portion of its contents into an upper reservoir or receptacle of novel construc25 tion, which is provided with an inclosing glass frame, to prevent the surface of the mercury from being disturbed by currents of air, all as ' will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically designated in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my complete invention, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section thereof. .

Similar letters of reference indicate like 35 parts in both figures.

In carrying out my invention the box or receptacle A is preferably of a rectangular shape, and provided with a lid or cover of pyramidic form, which is composed of two hinged sec40 tions, B B', which abut against each other when closed. At the upper and outer end of each of the sections B B' is provided an overlapping metallic shield or plate, a, having an upwardly-projecting ring, δ, as shown, the 45 one end of a suitable handle, C, being securely attached to one of the said rings on one section, while the opposite end of the handle is provided with an open loop or hook to adjust in the ring upon the opposite section, to hold the 50 two sections together when closed, as also to afford a convenient means for carrying the complete apparatus.

In the upper part of the box or receptacle A is adjusted a block or plate, D, having a cup-shaped cavity or reservoir, d, upon its up- 55 per surface, and is provided with a central hole or opening, e, in which is fitted a screwthreaded tube, the lower end of which projects below the bottom of the block or plate D, and around which the mouth of the rubber 60 or leather bag E, containing the mercury, is securely fitted.

Beneath the block or plate D, and at one end of the box or receptacle A, is arranged a slide, F, which is adapted to be moved by the com- 65 pression-screw G, which is journaled in one end of. the box or receptacle A, and provided with a milled disk or thumb-piece, g, upon the outer end thereof, as shown. A screw-plug, H, is adapted to fit within the central open- 70 ing, e, to prevent the escape of the mercury when the apparatus is not in use. Above the block or. plate D, and fitting within a recess or groove around the same, is provided a removable metallic frame, K, of a shape corre- 75 spending to that of the lid or cover, and which is provided upon its two sloping sides with glass panels k, as shown.

The construction of my invention being as described, it will be observed that in the op- 8c eration of the same the double lid or cover is thrown open, the glass frame K lifted off, and the screw-plug Ξ removed. The glass frame K is then adjusted in its former position, and the compression - screw G, being 8; turned in a given direction, causes the slide F to move forward and compress the bag E, thereby discharging the mercury contained therein up through the central opening, e, into the cup-shaped cavity or reservoir d upon the 9c upper surface of the block or plate D, to form a mirror for the measurement of the altitude of the celestial bodies, in the usual manner, the glass frame K preventing the disturbance of the surface of the mercury by currents of 9/ air. After the apparatus has been used for the purpose stated, the compression-screw is turned in the opposite direction, causing the slide F to recede from the bag E and allow the mercury to return to the same through the ic

294,653 central opening, e. The screw-plug II may then be adjusted in place and the apparatus be closed for future use.