Metallic Barometer


This instrument, the invention of M. Bourdon, has a great resemblance to the aneroid, but is much simpler in arrangement. The inventor has applied the same principle to the construction of metallic steam-pressure gauges. We are here, however, only concerned with it as constructed to indicate atmospheric pressure. It consists of a long slender flattened metallic tube, partially exhausted of air, and hermetically closed at each end, then fixed upon its centre, and bent round so as to make

the ends face each other. The transverse section of this tube is an elongated ellipse. The principle of action is this: interior pressure tends to straighten the tube, external pressure causes it to coil more. Hence as the atmospheric pressure decreases, the ends of the tube become more apart.



This movement is augmented and transferred by a mechanical arrangement of small metallic levers to a radius bar, which carries a rack formed on the arc of its circle. This moves a pinion, upon the arbour of which a light pointer, or “hand,” is poised, which indicates the pressure upon a dial. When the pressure increases, the ends of the tube approach each other, and the pointer moves from left to right over the dial. The whole mechanism is fixed in a brass case, having a hole at the back for adjusting the instrument to the mercurial barometer by means of a key, which sets the pointer without affecting the levers. The dial is generally open to show the mechanism, and is protected by a glass, to which is fitted a moveable index.



This barometer is very sensitive, and has the advantage of occupying little space, although it has not yet been made so small as the aneroid. Both these instruments admit of a great variety of mounts to render them ornamental. The metallic barometer can be constructed with a small clock in its centre, so as to form a novel and beautiful drawing-room ornament.



Admiral FitzRoy writes, “Metallic barometers, by Bourdon, have not yet been tested in very moist, hot, or cold air for a sufficient time. They are dependent, or secondary instruments, and liable to deterioration. For limited employment, when sufficiently compared, they may be very useful, especially in a few cases of electrical changes, not foretold or shown by mercury, which these seem to indicate remarkably.”



They are not so well adapted for travellers, nor for measurements of considerable elevations, as aneroids.





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