IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING A SERIES OF THE SAME BY THE AID OF LETTERS PAT
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
'IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
OPERATING AND CONTROLLING A SERIES OF THE SAME BY THE AID OF
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
OPERATING AND CONTROLLING A SERIES OF THE SAME BY THE AID OF
PNEUMATIC PRESSURE AND ELECTRICITY.” À communication from abroad by
the "Compagnie Générale des Horloges Pneumatiques," of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING A SERIES OF THE SAME
BY THE AID OF PNEUMATIC PRESSURE AND ELECTRICITY." [A communication
from abroad by the "Compagnie Générale des Horloges Pneumatiques," of Paris,
France.]
A method heretofore employed for controlling a number of clocks from a common
centre is based upon the principle of employing compressed air or a vacuum for
effecting the transmission of inotion, this principle being carried into practice by
the combination of apparatus for storing compressed air, small quantities of which
are freed or released at each minute; this operation is regulated by a controlling
clock in the circuit in which the clocks to be operated are situated. The controlling-
clock is only a distributor, and is no longer used as in earlier experiments for
forcing the air into the pipes. Two chief and distinct operations are employed in
the method above named, that is to say, the production of a transmitting power by
a previous compression of air in a suitable reservoir, and the transmission of the
compressed air through the circuit by means of the said controlling clock.
According to the present Invention the same principle is adhered to, but I
improve the mechanism and add new parts thereto in order to render the operation
more certain than heretofore.
The present Invention is carried into practice as follows, that is to say:-The
distributing reservoir receives by a pipe the compressed air from a high-pressure

page_text: reservoir. The air arrives by a pipe, passes thence into another pipe, and then
reaches a three-way-cock shut off from the last named pipe but in communication
with two other pipes; the air then enters through the second pipe into another three-
way-cock which is open, and thence into two other pipes or tubes, passes through a
third three-way-cock, and descends into another pipe or tube, the other end of which
is closed, but which is furnished with another pipe communicating through the first
three-way-cock with the first named tube through which the air enters the
reservoir. Between two of the pipes and the second three-way-cock there are two
cocks, which are kept closed as long as the reservoir contains air at the normal
pressure (07 atmosphere). The reservoir is connected by a tube having a three-
way-cock with two manometers. Each of these two manometers which are
connected and form the pressure regulator, consists of a lower vessel to which is
connected a manometrical tube, each vessel being also connected with an upper
vessel in which works a float, each float being connected by a rod with one of the
cocks, so that if the pressure in the reservoir decreases, the pressure of the air in
the manometer also decreases, and the mercury in the exterior tube of the mano-
meter sinks, as well as that in the upper vessel, causing the float to sink with it.
This motion is transmitted to the cock, which opens partially so as to allow of the
ingress of compressed air into the reservoir. As the pressure of the air in the tank
increases so also does the pressure in the lower vessel increase; the floats rise and
close the cocks. The reservoir is also provided with a manometer, a tube for the
direct ingress of air at high pressure in case of need, and two tubes conducting the
air into the chest whence it enters the circuit pipes.
I also employ collapsible apparatus or bellows which consist of a number of
leather discs united at their external periphery, and inserted within copper rings.
At the lower part there is a copper disc having a nozzle or pipe to which is fitted
the compressed air pipe. The upper disc pushes the rod designed to operate the
clocks.
The compressed air operates the clocks as follows, that is to say :—
The air proceeding from the main-pipe enters a cylinder in which it operates a
piston, or the latter serves as a guide to a collapsible apparatus similar to that
above mentioned. The rod of this piston acts on a lever having a catch gearing in
a ratchet-wheel provided with 60 teeth, to the spindle of which wheel the minute
hand is attached. Every time compressed-air enters the cylinder or collapsible
device the ratchet advances one tooth, causing the minute hand to advance a notch.
A stop-catch maintains the ratchet in position. The catches are pressed against
the ratchet by counterweights. On the spindle of the ratchet wheel is a toothed
wheel which actuates another wheel of the same diameter, the arbor of which is
fitted with a pinion controlling a wheel to which is connected the hour-hand.
When a collapsible device is used instead of a piston the upper disc-plate of the
device comes into contact with a red operating in a similar manner to that of the
piston on the lever.
To prevent tampering with the minute hands of large clocks I employ special
mechanism, which consists of a vertical lever forming part of a controlling lever;
on the said vertical lever is a projecting nose or lug which, when in its normal
position, that is to say, when the apparatus is not inflated, fit into a notch provided
for the purpose in the stop catch. In this position it is impossible to turn the
wheel having 60 teeth, and consequently the minute hand cannot be turned. When
the apparatus is inflated the controlling lever rises and draws the vertical lever
with it, which then releases the catch allowing one tooth to pass.
A tappet fixed
on and projecting from the base-plate of the works, with which the arm of one of
the counterweights comes into contact, also prevents the minute hand from being
put forward or tampered with.
I provide a balanced valve which controls the distribution of the air as follows,
that is to say-The compressed air issuing from the distributing reservoir through
a pipe enters the valve chest through an orifice, the chest having another orifice
through which the air enters the ducts and the exhaust pipe when the slide valve

page_text: is in its normal position; the exit orifice and the exhaust pipe communicate, and
the air in the ducts is of the same density as that of the atmosphere.
At the proper time the controlling-clock operates the rod of the said slide valve
by means of a connecting-rod and lever; the slide-valve then takes up a position
leaving the exit orifice open, but keeping the exhaust pipe closed, leaving the air
inlet orifice always free. The compressed air enters the exit orifice and passes into
the ducts to operate the clocks, the slide-valve then returns to its former position,
the exit orifices and the exhaust pipe are again in communication, and the
compressed air from the pipes is released.
To lessen the friction of the slide-valve on its sent it is constructed as follows,
that is to say-I provide a cylinder in which works a piston forming part of the
slide-valve; the rod of the said piston has fastened at right angles to it a roller
travelling on a cross-piece which is firmly fixed inside the valve-chest. Thus the
friction of the slide-valve on its seat is mainly transformed into rolling friction of
the roller on the cross piece. The friction of the slide valve on its seat is only that
caused by the pressure of the air on its surface, diminished by that of the piston,
that is to say, the friction is reduced to one fifth of what it would be had not the
slide-valve been balanced, as above described.
In some cases I may employ as a distributing apparatus a valve or cock in
connection with a certain number of pipes communicating with the circuit air-
pipes. Two different arrangements of this apparatus may be employed. These
two apparatuses resemble each other as far as concerns the structure of the valve
and the distributing device, and differ from each other only with regard to the
mechanism for transmitting the action of the controlling clock. The most important
part of this apparatus is a rod, having at its lower end a valve for opening
communication between the distributing chest and the compressed air reservoir,
and at its upper end the valves which open or close the discharge pipes.
In one case the closing of the pressure valve is obtained by means of the
callapsible apparatus operated by compressed air and governed by the controlling
clock.
The pressure valve may be closed by the clock itself.
Compressed air enters the apparatus by a pipe communicating with the dis-
tributing reservoir through a cock and pipe; the said cock is operated by a worm
wheel which is revolved by a worm operated by a wheel turned by hand when the
machine is to be started or stopped. From the said pipe the air enters a chest
serving as a reservoir in which is the seat of the valve. At intervals of one minute
the said valve is operated by a rod to which are attached counter weights whose
descent produces a sudden opening of the valve. The rod is connected at its upper
end to a lever governed by the clock. At ordinary times the lever is in gear
as required, that is to say, at each minute the lever is thrown out of gear by the
clock, the valve opens the cock suddenly and establishes communication between the
reservoir and the distributing chest provided with a pipe which is connected with the
several circuits. The air then enters the circuit pipes and operates on the clocks, a
few seconds later the discharge should take place. For this purpose the chest is
also furnished with tubes acting as discharge pipes. The number of the said tubes
is equal to that of the tubes communicating with the circuit, and are closed
by valves which are fixed to the rod and are so arranged that the closing of the
orifices of the discharge pipes is coincident with the opening of the main valve.
When the clock operates the rod by means of the lever for the purpose of shutting
the main valve the two other valves leave their seats, and the ducts in the chest
are placed in communication with the atmosphere through the said chest and
discharge pipes. In the apparatus just described the closing of the valve is
performed by the clock itself by means of the lever which is operated by the
direct action of the clock.
To avoid any inconvenience that might arise from this arrangement resulting
from the shock the clock must bear by reason of the sudden descent of the
counterweight communicated to it through the lever, the following arrangement

page_text: may be substituted, that is to say, the rod of the two aforesaid valves is connected
to a cross-bar on which the two counterweights are arranged, and are maintained
at the requisite elevation by the noses or lugs of two levers. At the desired time
the said levers are pulled by the clock by means of rods and excentrics. The nose
of the levers then no longer sustains the cross-bar and the counterweights descend,
and with them descends the main valve, thus directing the pressure into the pipes
and also closing the discharge pipes. Other excentrics operate three-way cocks
communicating with the chest through tubes with two collapsible apparatus
whose guide-rods raise the cross bar for the purpose of shutting the valve and of
opening the discharge pipes. The cross-bar then rests on the levers. The cock
then establishes a communication between the pipes and the atmosphere, and the
collapsible apparatus collapse and are ready to operate on the cross bar again the
following minute.
The compressed air coming from the reservoir or from the cock to the valve passes
through a tubo into a cast iron chest, to which cocks are connected; cach of the
said pipes is provided with a branched pipe to which other pipes are screwed, serving
as a general conduct, and to which are secured the tubes through which air is
applied to the clocks.
The controlling apparatus has a glass cylinder, into which is inserted the lower
extremity of a tube of the same material. The said cylinder contains mercury, and
is in communication with the air in the circuit through a cock and tube. One of
the poles of a battery is connected with the cylinder by a wire immersed in the
mercury contained in the said cylinder. When the circuit is in communication
with the distributing reservoir the pressure in the said reservoir is communicated
to the mercury in the regulator, and the said mercury rises in the tube; but when
the circuit is in communication with the escape or discharge pipes the mercury in
the tube descends into the cylinder. With this arrangement, should the pressure
in the circuit be too high, the mercury would continue to rise in the tube, and would
come in contact with a pointed piece of platinum permanently connected with an
alarm bell in the circuit of the battery. If however the clock circuit becomes inter-
rupted or broken through any cause whatsoever the mercury in the tube would
continue to fall. The cylinder would rapidly fill, and the mercury it contains
would rise and come in contact with another pointed piece of platinum in commu-
nication, as in the former case, with the alarm bell. The glass tube is closed at its
upper extremity by a cap constructed as follows:- -The platinum wire passes through
its centre, in which is adapted a stuffing-box. In the said cap are two orifices;
in the first orifice is inserted a screw-pin for the purpose of partially or entirely
closing the orifice, and allowing the atmospheric air to enter with more or less
freedom, thus causing the mercury to fall more or less rapidly. The flow can by
these means be regulated so as to rise and fall once each minute, the rise coinciding
with the pressure in the circuit pipes, and the fall with the escape or exhaust. In
the second orifice is a spring valve, allowing the air in the tube to escape quickly
whilst the mercury rises, that, is to say, whilst there is pressure in the circuit
pipes of the clocks. The play of the said spring valve is regulated by a screw.
Should the circuit be interrupted or broken the mercury in the tube will fall
continuously, as the external air would have free ingress into the said tube through
the orifice, and the mercury would tend to descend to the same level as that in the
cylinder.
In the general arrangement of the apparatus the air proceeding from the pumps
enters the high pressure tanks or reservoirs. Each of the compressed air pipes
leading from the pumps communicates with the said reservoirs by means of three-
way-cocks adapted to pipes terminating in the said reservoirs. A pipe provided with
cocks connects the reservoirs together. To another pipe is jointed a pipe commu-
nicating with a three-way cock; the said three-way cock communicates with two
other cocks by pipes closed at one end, and having off shoot pipes conducting the
air to the slide valves. From the said slide-valves two pipes issue, terminating in
the circuit distributor. The said slide-valves are controlled by the general clocks.

page_text: The air issuing from the two reservoirs is conducted through a pipe leading from
another pipe, and enters the regulator apparatus, and thence proceeds into the
distributing reservoir through another pipe. Two other pipes communicate
between the two high pressure reservoirs, the former directly with the distributing
reservoir through a pipe, and the latter with the regulating apparatus through
another pipe. In ordinary working the third reservoir serves the purpose of a dis-
tributor, and the two others are used as high-pressure reservoirs. Cocks are opened
to establish communication between the two high pressure reservoirs. The cock of
the distributing reservoir is then shut. Other cocks are open, and the compressed
air enters the distributing reservoir, passing through the cocks and pipes.
If one of the two high pressure reservoirs be intended to act as a distributor in
in case of an accident occurring to the ordinary distributing reservoir, the said high
pressure reservoir should be connected to the two pipes which terminate at the slide-
valves; this connection is made by turning off one cock, and turning on another
cock; this reservoir should be connected with the pressure regulator.
By opening and closing other cocks the distributing reservoir might be made to
communicate with either of the high pressure reservoirs, the other one of these two
reservoirs then acting as a distributing reservoir.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said. William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
November 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS OR TIME-KEEPERS,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING A SERIES OF THE SAME
BY THE AID OF PNEUMATIC PRESSURE AND ELECTRICITY." A communication
from abroad by the "Compagnie Générale des Horloges Pneumatiques," of Paris,
France.
The controlling of a number of clocks from a common centre has been heretofore
effected according to a method based upon the principle of employing compressed
air or a vacuum for effecting the transmission of motion, this principle being carried
into practice by the combination of apparatus for storing compressed air, small
quantities of which are freed or released at each minute. This operation is
regulated by a controlling clock in the circuit in which the clocks to be operated
are situated. The controlling clock is only a distributor, and is no longer used as
in earlier experiments for forcing the air into the pipes. Two chief and distinct
operations take place in carrying into practice the method above specified, namely,
the production of a transmitting power by the compression of air in a suitable
reservoir, and the forcing of this air through the system or circuit controlled by the
action of the regulating clock, as described, for instance, in the Specification of
former Letters Patent, No. 530 A.D. 1877.
According to the present Invention the same principle is carried into operation
by novel and improved mechanism in order to render the operation of the system
more certain than heretofore, and it is the object of the said Invention to render
the whole of the improvements herein specified the means for carrying this principle
into practice, as described with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation representing the distributing reservoir and the pressure
regulating devices.
A is the reservoir made of any suitable material; it receives by means of the
tube B compressed air from the high pressure reservoir or reservoirs. This air
makes the following circuit:-It arrives by the tube C, passes thence through the
tube D, and there is stopped by the three-way-cock E, which is closed against the
tube D, but open to the two tubes F and B. The air is then by the tube D
conducted to the three way cock G, which is open, and from there to the tubes
H, J. It passes through the three way cock L, descends into the tube K (closed
at its other end) provided with a branch, which is connected with the tube F,
which is put in communication with the tube B by means of the valve E, which
tube B leads the air into the reservoir A. Between the tubes H and J are the
valves H, J, which are closed as long as the reservoir A contains air at the normal
pressure (07 atmosphere).
The reservoir A communicates with two manometers or pressure gauges M, M¹,
by means of the tube a and the three way cock b. These manometers or pressure
gauges which intercommunicate serve for regulating the pressure. Each consists
of a lower vessel or chamber, to which a manometrical tube is attached, which
lower vessel or chamber is also connected with an upper chamber in which a float
or piston works. This piston is by a rod connected with the cock H' or J' in such
a manner that when the pressure in the reservoir A diminishes (and consequently
decreases in the pressure gauges M, M', also) the mercury in the exterior tubes of
the manometers falls, as well as in the upper chambers of these latter, and causes
the floats or pistons to descend. This movement is transmitted to the cocks H'
and J¹, which are opened to a corresponding extent, and admit air from the high

page_text: pressure reservoirs to the reservoir A. As the pressure in the reservoir A increases
and raises that in the lower chambers of the pressure gauges the floats or pistons
are forced upwards and close the cocks H' and J'. The reservoir A is also
provided with a pressure gauge c of ordinary construction, and with a tube N, by
means of which compressed air can be directly introduced into the reservoir in
case of need, and the said reservoir is further provided with two tubes P, which
connect it with the valve chests which distribute the air in the pneumatic
system.
Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section of a collapsible apparatus or bellows,
which I employ in some cases, especially to operate the clocks in a circuit worked
by my Invention.
This collapsible apparatus or bellows consists of pairs of leather discs a¹, the
edges of which are united and enclosed in copper rings b¹. It terminates at its
lower end in a disc of copper, into which opens a tube c', which tube connects this
bellows with the pneumatic system. The upper disc of this bellows bears against
and actuates the rod which operates the clock or apparatus, to which power is to
be supplied by this device.
Figure 3 is an elevation, and Figure 4 is a plan of the movement of a pneumatic
clock constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 5 is an elevation illustrating a device which I employ in large clocks of
this class to prevent tampering with the hands of such clocks.
According to the part of my Invention illustrated in these Figures I introduce
the compressed air coming from the main conduit into a cylinder d, in which it
acts upon a piston, or the said cylinder may serve as a guide for an apparatus of
the kind above described, and shewn in Figure 2. If the latter device is employed
the upper disc thereof will strike a rod acting in a manner similar to that of the
piston on the lever e.
The piston rod acts upon the lever e carrying a pawl f, which gears with a
ratchet wheel with 60 teeth. Upon the axle of this wheel the minute hand is
fixed. Each time compressed air is admitted into the cylinder d (or into the
collapsible bellows working therein) the ratchet wheel g advances one tooth, and
the minute hand of the clock makes a corresponding movement. A stop catch in
the form of a pawl or detent h maintains the ratchet wheel in its proper position.
The pawls fand h are pressed against the ratchet wheel g by weights f¹ and h¹.
On the axle of the said ratchet wheel is also mounted a gear wheel i, which causes
another wheel j of the same diameter to rotate. Upon the axle of this last named
wheel is mounted a pinion k for actuating the toothed wheel & carrying the hour-
hand.
The device or mechanism to prevent tampering with the hands of large clocks
and shown in Figure 5, consists of a vertical lever m firmly attached to or
connected with the main lever e; the upper part of this lever m is provided with
a hook shaped lug or projection n, which, when in its normal position, that is to
say, when the cylinder is empty (or the bellows not inflated) enters a notch on the
pawl h provided for the purpose, and when it is in this position, it is therefore
impossible to rotate the wheel g, and consequently the hands of the clock. When
the bellows are inflated the lever e is raised and withdraws the lever m, thus
rendering the pawl h free to allow a tooth of the wheel against which this pawl
bears to pass.
A tappet t fixed on and projecting from the base or pillar plate of the works, and
against which the arm carrying the weight fl abuts, prevents the minute hand
from being moved forward.
Figure 6 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 7 a horizontal section of
a balanced slide-valve which effects the distribution of the compressed air.
This valve is constructed as follows, that is to say,-
The compressed air is admitted from the reservoir through the tube P into the
valve chest Q by the orifice or inlet R. The orifice or outlet through which the
air passes from the valve chest into the system of pipes is shown at S, and an

page_text: escape-pipe for the same at T. When the slide valve U is in its normal position,
that is to say, in that shown in the Drawings, the outlet S and the exhaust-pipe T
communicate, and the air in the conduit pipes of the system is at the same pressure
as the atmosphere.
At the proper time the controlling clock actuates the rod of the valve by means
of the connecting rod V and the lever X, and the slide-valve is thereby so operated
that it uncovers the outlet S whilst covering the escape-pipe T, but without
covering the air-inlet R. The compressed air then enters the outlet S, penetrates
into the conduit pipes, and actuates the clocks in the circuit. The slide-valve then
returns to its original position, the orifices S and T are put in communication, and
the compressed air in the system escapes.
To diminish the friction of the slide valve upon its seat I construct the same as
follows, that is to say, I provide the slide U with a cylinder U¹ in which a piston
U2 works; upon its rod Ỷ I mount a roller Y¹ travelling upon a cross bar Z firmly
fixed in the interior of the valve chest; thus the friction. of the slide upon its seat is
to a great extent transformed into rolling friction by the action of the roller Y¹ upon
the cross bar Z. In practice the friction of the slide upon its seat will be found to
be no more than that caused by the pressure of the air upon its surface diminished
by that of the piston, that is to say, it is reduced to one fifth of what it would be if
the slide were not balanced by the arrangement above described.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of another apparatus which I employ in some
cases for distributing the compressed air, and which would also serve as the head of
the system of pipes; it consists of a number of tubes and valves which communicate
with the various conduit pipes.
Figure 12 is an elevation of a modification of this apparatus. This modified
apparatus is similar to the former one, so far as the construction of the valves and
distributing arrangements is concerned, and differs therefrom only in the mechanism
by which the action of the controlling clock is transmitted to it.
Figure 14 shows in section on an enlarged scale, details of construction of a valve
used in that form of this apparatus which is illustrated in Figure 12.
The most important part of the apparatus, shown in Figure 13, is a rod having
at its lower end a valve which controls the communication of the distributor chest
and the reservoir, its upper part being provided with valves which control the
discharge pipes.
Figure 12 represents that form of this apparatus in which the closing of the
pressure valve is effected by means of bellows actuated by compressed air and
controlled by the controlling clock, whilst in the form shown in Figure 13, the
closing of the pressure valve is effected directly by the clock. The compressed air
is admitted into the apparatus, shown in Figure 13, by the tube A communicating
with the distributing reservoir by means of the valve B and the pipe C. The valve
is, as shown, actuated by the worm wheel C', which is operated by means of the
screw C and the hand wheel C³ when the operation of the system is to be
started or stopped. From the tube C the air is admitted into the chamber D,
which serves as a reservoir, and is furnished with a seat E for a valve F. At every
minute the valve is actuated by the rod G carrying the weights H; the fall of these
weights H causes a sudden opening of the valve F. The upper part of the rod G is
jointed to a lever J actuated by the controlling clock.
At ordinary times the lever J is in gear. Each minute it is thrown out of gear
by the clock, and the valve F suddenly opens and allows communication of the
reservoir D with the distributing chest K, which communicates with the system by
means of the pipes L, L; the air then enters the system and acts upon the clocks.
A few seconds afterwards the discharge is to take place. For this purpose I provide
the chamber K with the tubes L', which serve as discharge-pipes, their number
being preferably equal to the number of the tubes L. The tubes L' are closed by
valves M on the rod G so arranged that the discharge-pipes L' are closed simul-
taneously with the opening of the valve F. When, by the action of the clock upon
the rod G (by means of the lever J), the valve F is closed, the valves M are moved

page_text: from their seats, and the pipes L opening into the chest K are free to communicate
with the open air by means of the discharge-pipes L' of the chest K.
In the last described apparatus the valve F is closed by the clock itself, by means
of the lover J upon which it acts directly; but to avoid the inconvenience which
will be caused by the clock having to bear the shock produced by the sudden fall
of the weights H (the shock being transmitted to the clock through the lever J)
the arrangement represented in Figure 12 may be employed.
In this arrangement the valvo rod G is connected with a cross bar G¹ provided
with weights H. This cross bar (and thereby the valve-rod) is supported at a
convenient height by nose-pieces or projections n of two levers N.
At the given
time the levers N are drawn upon by the clock by means of connecting rods N¹
and excentrics O. The projections n on the levers N then cease to support the
cross bar G', and the weights H carry the valve F downward, whereby air under
pressure is admitted into the conduits and the discharge pipes are closed.
By other excentrics P the three way cocks R are caused to communicate with.
the chamber K by the tubes 1, and by the tubes with two bellows S, the rods S¹
whereof raise or lift the weighted cross-bar G¹, and thus close the valve F and open
the discharge pipes. The cross bar G₁ is then engaged by the projections n on the
levers N. The three-way cocks R cause the tubes to communicate with the
open air, the bellows cease to be inflated and their operation upon the bar G' is
repeated the next minute.
The construction of the three-way cocks R is clearly indicated in Figure 14,
which represents a transverse section of the same.
Figure 8 illustrates the arrangements by which the air is led to the various parts
of the system or apparatus.
The compressed air coming from the reservoir or from the distributing apparatus,
enters through a tube m into a chamber or reservoir n, preferably made of cast
iron, with which chamber valves or cocks o communicate; from these valves
pipes p branch off, and to these branch-pipes are screwed or otherwise attached the
pipes which lead the air to the clocks.
Figure 9 represents in elevation a controlling or safety device for the purposes of
this Invention.
Figure 10 shows in section a. part of the said device drawn to an enlarged
scale.
?'
This device consists of a glass vessel 7 into which the lower part of a tube 8 (also
of glass) extends. This vessel contains mercury, and communicates with the air in
the system of pipes by means of the valve t and the tube u. One pole of a battery
is connected with the vessel by means of a wire which dips into the mercury in
the said vessel. When the vessel is connected with the distributing reservoir, the
pressure in the latter is transmitted to the mercury in the safety device, and the
mercury rises in the tube s; when however the safety apparatus communicates
with the escape pipe, the mercury falls in the tube and descends into the vessel.
The tube s has at its upper end a hood or cap, shown in section in Figure 10,
constructed as follows, that is to say :-
A piece of platinum x packed in a suitable bushing passes through its centre;
the said cap is also provided with two orifices y', y. In the former is inserted a
screw-plug forming a valve by which the orifice can be more or less opened, to
afford a more or less free passage for the outer air, so that the mercury is allowed
to fall more or less rapidly. The flow can by these means be so regulated that the
mercury will fall once in every minute, its rise corresponding to the pressure in the
conduits, and its fall to the escape of the compressed air therefrom. In the second
orifice y a spring-valve z¹ is placed, and allows the air to escape rapidly when the
mercury rises in consequence of pressure in the air circuit. The extent of
movement of this valve z¹ is regulated by the screw z³.
It is clear that if the circuit be broken the mercury would continually fall in the
tube 8, as the air is always free to enter through the orifice y', and the mercury
would tend to assume the level of that in the vessel r.

page_text: If therefore the pressure in the system should become too great the mercury
would rise in the tube s and would make contact with the platinum point x, which
is permanently connected with a suitable electric signal bell in the circuit of the
above mentioned battery.
Should the air circuit become broken or interrupted by any cause the mercury
column would continually descend, fill the vessel 7, and make contact with another
platinum point x, which is also connected with the signal bell.
Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the general arrangement of the apparatus,
forming one system or circuit.
The air coming from the pumps 1, 1, is admitted into the high pressure
reservoirs 2, 3; each pipe from the pumps communicates with both reservoirs by
three way cocks 4, 4, connected with tubes 5, 5, opening into the reservoirs 2 and
3; the two reservoirs 2 and 3 are connected by means of a tube 6 provided with
cocks.
A second tube 7 is connected with a tube 8 terminating in a three-way cock 9,
which communicates with two other cocks 10 and 11 by short tubes attached to
branch pipes 12 and 13, which conduct the compressed air to valve chests 14 and 15.
From these valve chests pipes 16 and 17 lead into the distributor 18 of the system.
The valves in the aforesaid valve chests are operated by controlling clocks placed
at 19. The air from the reservoirs 2 and 3 passes through the tube 20 branching
from 21 to the regulator apparatus 22, and flows into the reservoir A through the
tube 23. Two other tubes 24 and 25 cause the reservoirs 2 and 3 to be connected,
the former directly with the reservoir A by the tube 26, and the latter with the
regulator apparatus by means of a tube 27.
In ordinary working the reservoir A serves as a distributor. The reservoirs 2
and 3 are then used as high pressure reservoirs. The cocks 34 and 39 of the tube 6
are in that case open, and the reservoirs 2 and 3 in communication. The cock 9 of
the reservoir A is then closed; the cocks 37 and 42 of the tube 21 are open, and
the compressed air passes to the reservoir A through the cocks 37 and 42, the tubes 21
and 20, and the cock 22; the air also flows through the cocks 29 and 30 of the
pressure
regulator, thence to the cock 28, the tube 44 (the cocks 38 and 43 being closed)
through the cock 31 and the tube 23. The cocks 35, 40, 36, 41, and 9 being closed
there is no direct communication between the reservoir A and the reservoirs 2
and 3.
If the reservoir A is injured, and one of the other reservoirs 3 for instance is to:
serve as distributor, this reservoir will have to be connected with the tubes 12 and
13 which communicate with the valve chests. This would be done by closing the
cock 35 and opening the cock 40 of the connecting tube 7. The reservoir 3 would
in that case also have to be connected with the pressure regulator, which would be
effected by closing cock 42 of tube 21 and opening cock 37, and closing 31 and
38, whilst 43 on tube 25 is opened.
It is evident that by means of the cocks 4 the necessary interruption of the
connection between the pumps and the reservoir 3 may be effected, and that the
cocks 34 and 39 on tube 6 may also be closed.
The air would then circulate as follows, that is to say -From reservoir 2
through cock 37 into the tubes 21 and 20 through the cocks 22, 30, and 29, the
tubes 45 and 46, the cock 28 through the tube 27, tube 25, and cock 43, and into
reservoir 3. From thence it would pass into tube 7 through the cock 40 (35 being
closed), thence into tube 8 through 9 and tubes 12 and 13 to the valve chests 14
and 15; the cocks 10 and 11 being closed. It will thus be seen that by opening
and closing certain of the valves the reservoir A may be connected with one or the
other of the reservoirs 2 and 3, one of which may be made to serve as a high
pressure reservoir, while the other one in this case serves as the distributor.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction of the above
described apparatus, which may be varied, or within certain limits in any manner

page_text: which will not impair its efficiency for the purpose of the said Invention, and I
claim,
First. The distributing reservoir with the regulator formed of two connected
pressure gauges whose floats or pistons operate the valves through which air is
admitted into the distributing reservoir.
Second. The collapsible apparatus or bellows consisting of leather discs connected
by copper rings, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The apparatus for pneumatic clocks consisting of ratchet wheel mechanism
and two pawls, one for imparting motion and the other serving as a stop, as and
for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The balanced slide valve, which has a cylinder fitted with a piston upon
which air-pressure is exerted for the purpose of diminishing the air-pressure upon
the slide valve, as above set forth.
Fifth. The devices for distributing air into the various conduit pipes,
substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The safety apparatus consisting of a mercurial pressure gauge in which
the level of the mercury in the tube or that in the vessel actuates an electric bell,
as set forth.
Seventh. The apparatus with its various parts arranged in the manner indicated
by the diagram, Figure 11.
Eighth. The mechanism or apparatus embodying the whole or all of the essential
parts of the said improvements, or any mere modification thereof, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hr dred and eighty.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)