Improvements in Apparatus for Transmitting Indications of Variations in the Level of Water.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Transmitting Indications of
Variations in the Level of Water.
I, HARRY WILLIAM CHARLES Cox, of 11 Galway Street Bath Street City Road
London Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transmitting variations in
the level of water, and consists of an axle mounted in two bearings, at one end of
which is a chain wheel, and at the other a metal disc. This disc has four holes round
the circumference in its face. In front of this disc an insulated flexible hand is mounted
on an axle which is distinct from the one first mentioned. This hand, which is normally
kept vertical by a counterbalance weight has a small pin fixed on its under side near
its end, which pin drops into one of the boles in the face of the disc when the hand
and hole and hand are opposite each other. When this takes place the hand is carried
round with the disc till it passes behind an insulated segment arranged on one side of
the top of the disc. It must be understood that there are two of these insulated
segments in the apparatus, one on each side of the disc, so that whichever way the
disc & hand move, the hand must pass under one segment or the other. The rotation
of the disc being continued, the edge of the hand engages in a notch cut in an oblique
direction in a small wheel which is mounted at right angles to the face of the disc. This
small wheel, which only turns partly round, is also, like the hand, kept in its normal
position by a counter balance weight. The disc still rotating, carries the hand farther
into the notch in the small wheel, which by its angular movement, forces the hand out
of the hole in the disc, consequently the hand instantly assumes a vertical position, but
in so doing, rubs against a platinum contact fixed in front of the said segment. After
making this momentary contact the hand returns to its vertical position, and is ready
to perform the same operation in the same, or a reverse direction, according as the
water rises or falls. The hand is itself connected, through the medium of a sinall
wheel mounted on its axis, and of a spring which rubs against the periphery of said
wheel, with a terminal on the base of the apparatus, whilst the contacts on the two
segments are connected to two other terminals. Two circuits are formed through a
centre, and one or other of two outer terminals; one circuit is connected with the
mechanism that propels the hand in one direction and the other with the mechanism
that propels it in the reverse direction, the battery being common to both.
As the apparatus works, so are the variations transmitted to a suitable indicator
placed any distance away.
The driving wheel is provided with a chain or wire and float, which rises and falls
with the variation in the level of the water.
Dated this 16th day of October 1889.
HARRY WILLIAM CHARLES COX,
11, Galway Street, City Road, London.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Transmitting Indications of
Variations in the Level of Water.
I, HARRY WILLIAM CHARLES Cox, of 11 Galway Street Bath Street City Road
London E.C. Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—
'
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transmitting indications of
variations in the level of water.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, I proceed to describe
the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved apparatus, and
Fig. a side view thereof.
In both views, similar letters refer to similar parts.
A represents an axle, mounted horizontally in two bearings B, B¹, at one end of
which is a wheel C, over which a chain or wire connected with a float and balance,
passes, and at the other end a metal disc P, which has four, or more, or less, holes
round the circumference, in its face. In front of this disc a flexible hand E is
mounted on an axle E¹ which has one bearing in the end of a screw F,
screwed
through a pillar G, and secured by a lock nut G and the other bearing in a hole in
the centre of the disc D. This hand which is normally kept vertical by a counter-
balance weight H, has a small pin H', fixed on its underside, near its end, which pin
drops into one of the holes in the face of the disc, when the hole and pin are opposite
each other. When the water rises or falls, the hand is carried round with the disc,
and passes behind one of two insulated segments I, I', arranged one on each side of
the disc, so that whichever way the disc and hand move, the hand must pass under
one segment or the other, according as the water rises or falls. J, J' are two pairs
of electro-magnets, one pair arranged on each side of the apparatus. K K' are
armatures moving in bearings L L at the end of the electro-magnets and provided
with contact pieces M M', the purpose of which will be hereinafter mentioned.
When the disc D moves, it carries the hand E round with it under one of the
segments, till the platinum wire E2, on the hand touches the contact piece M or M',
according to the direction in which the disc is revolving. When this takes place, the
armature is immediately drawn down by the electro magnet, by reason of an electric
circuit being completed through the apparatus. The arinature on being drawn down
moves the contact piece M or M' outwards, which forces the pin H' out of the hole in
the disc D. The hand thus assumes a vertical position, but in so doing passes in front
of the insulated segment I or I', thereby rubbing against a platinum contact N or N1
fixed in front of the said segment, and so passing a current down the wires 0, 0¹
away from the apparatus to the indicator which may be of any known or suitable
construction & does not form part of my invention. After making this momentary
contact, the hand returns to its vertical position, and is ready to perform the operation
in the same or a reverse direction, according as the water rises or falls. The hand
is itself electrically connected, through the medium of the pillar G, or spring Q, and
wheel R, with a terminal S, on the base of the apparatus, whilst the contacts N and N¹
on the two segments connect on to the two line wires leading from the terminals T,
to the indicator. The terminal S receives the wire from the transmitter battery for
passing the current into the hand, and the terminal S¹ receives another wire from the
transmitter battery for passing the current into the electro magnet J, through the
terminals S2, S3 into the electro magnet J¹. The purpose of the spring Q, and
wheel R, is to obtain a long, or a short contact, by reason of the power of the spring
being regulated by a screw R¹. The electro magnets are insulated by pieces of
insulating material J, Js, fixed on the base of the apparatus. U, U₁ are insulating
stop pieces screwed to the standard U2, and are for the purpose of limiting the rise
of the armatures K or K¹. V, V, are springs connected with the armatures for the

page_text: purpose of keeping them raised except when a current is passing. W, and W' are
ivory, insulators for the purpose of insulating the hand, should it, by accident stop at
one end or the other, of either of the segments.
The wheel C is provided with a chain or wire and float, and balance weight which
rises and falls with the variation in the level of the water.
It may be here stated that the armatures K K¹, and electro magnets J, J¹, are
substituted in place of the small balanced wheel mentioned in the Provisional
Specification as being used to throw out the pin in the hand, for the reason that they
act with great rapidity and far more certainty of action.
It must be understood that though both sides of the apparatus are of precisely the
same construction, I do not bind myself to the arrangements hereinbefore mentioned,
as it is obvious that I may modify the same without departing from the nature of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination with a disc D such as described in this Specification, of
a flexible metal hand E, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of the insulated segments I and I', together with the
flexible metal hand E, and disc D, substantially as described, and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The combination with the flexible metal hand E, of the contact pieces M or M¹
substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.
4. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts
constituting the improved apparatus for transmitting indications of variations in the
level of water, substantially as shewn and described, and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of July 1890.
HARRY WILLIAM CHARLES COX,
11, Galway Street, Bath Street, City Road, London.