Improvements in or connected with the Stands of used for Microscopical Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Stands of
used for Microscopical Purposes.
66
Condensers"
I, WILMOT TUNSTALL of Brook House, Meltham Mills, near Huddersfield,
Yorkshire, Fellow of The Royal Microscopical Society, and of The Society of
Arts and Manufactures, do hereby declare the nature of this invention' to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to the ball and socket joints of condensers employed
to collect or receive the rays of light and bring them to a focal point in the mirror
of a microscope or other surface for microscopical purposes, and consists of means
for preventing independent movement of the ball in its socket and therefore, of the
condenser, after the latter has been adjusted, notwithstanding its weight or the
distance it is moved away from the joint or pivot. Hitherto this has had to be
effected by packing or lining the bottom of the socket with leather or the like so
that on the ball being placed therein and secured by a cap screwed onto the socket,
movement of the ball without a little force or pressure being exerted would be
difficult; this packing however, only answered for a short time and fresh or
additional packing had soon to be introduced until, in many cases, the ball was so
far raised out of the socket as to require considerable pressure to force down the
cap and screw it onto the socket, the screw threads frequently stripping in the
Other constructions of
attempt and making the instrument temporarily useless.
joints and stands are in use in consequence of the inconvenience and annoyance
caused by the present ball and socket joint, but, although affording that certainty
of fixture of the condenser desired, possess disadvantages which more than
counterbalance such advantage; the ball and socket arrangement being easier to
manipulate and much better adapted for giving universal movement so necessary
for securing nicety of adjustment in receiving and focusing the rays of light than
any other joint or stand.
In order to carry out my invention I employ the ordinary ball and socket
condenser stand one side of the socket being enlarged to form a neck, or having a
piece let in, brazed, soldered, or otherwise secured to the socket. The said neck or
enlargement has a central opening provided with an internal screw thread adapted
to receive a screw which is sufficiently long to pass through the opening and
project into the socket. On the inner end of the said screw is or may be placed a
loose cap or shoulder having a concave or dished face adapted to engage with
the ball in the socket, said face being tipped with leather, cork, or other suitable
substance or material so as to prevent injury to surface of the ball, and also, if
required, to afford greater frictional surface.
The opposite or outer end of the screw is provided with a milled or other suitable
head by which it may be operated.
"
The enlargement or neck on the side of the socket is preferably formed opposite
the slot through which passes the short rod secured to the ball and carrying at its
outer end the tube in and through which works the arm carrying the "condenser
by which said parts, with the ball as a pivot, the "condenser
is moveable in any
plane at various distances from the joint.
"
When accurate adjustment of the "condenser " has been obtained in the usual
way, the screw is operated so as to force the loose cap or shoulder at the end
thereof against the ball in the socket which is thus tightly and firmly held between
the said loose shoulder and the socket and cannot easily be moved unless and until
the shoulder is released by unscrewing the screw, thereby preventing all inde-
pendent or accidental movement of the condenser when adjusted.

page_text: The opening in the enlargement or neck is preferably at an angle so that the
thrust of the screw shall be in an upward direction. Two or more screws may
be employed for one stand and duplicate loose shoulders tipped with leather or
cork may be kept so as to be interchangeable.
By the method and means above set forth no packing of the socket is necessary,
the cap can be easily screwed onto the socket without pressure being applied and
without danger of stripping the threads, the "condenser" can be carried to a
greater distance from the joint without fear of it slipping after adjustment, and
heavier and larger condensers can be used than is at present convenient.
Dated this 6th day of February 1892.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
66
Improvements in or connected with the Stands of Condensers"
used for Microscopical Purposes.
I, WILMOT TUNSTALL, of Brook House, Meltham Mills, near Huddersfield,
Yorkshire, Fellow of The Royal Microscopical Society and of The Society of
Arts and Manufactures, 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 has reference to the ball and socket joints of condensers or
instruments used for microscopical purposes, and consists of means for preventing
independent movement of the ball in its socket and therefore of the instrument
after the latter has been adjusted, notwithstanding its weight or the distance it has
been moved from the joint or pivot. Hitherto this has had to be effected by
packing or lining the bottom of the socket with leather, cork or the like so that on
the ball being placed therein and secured by a cap screwed onto the socket,
movement of the ball without a little force or pressure being exerted thereon would
be difficult; this packing, however, only answered for a short time and fresh or
additional packing had to be introduced until, in many cases, the ball was so far
raised out of the socket as to require considerable pressure to force down the cap
and screw it onto the socket, the screw threads frequently stripping in the attempt
and making the instrument temporarily useless. Other arrangements and con-
structions of joints have been brought into use in consequence of the inconvenience
and annoyance caused by the present ball and socket joint, but, although affording
that certainty of fixture of the instrument desired, they possess disadvantages which
more than counterbalance such advantage, being more difficult to manipulate and
not so well adapted for giving universal movement, so necessary for, securing nicety
of adjustment, as the ball and socket joint.
In carrying out my invention I employ a ball and socket joint of ordinary
construction. The socket is provided with a neck or enlargement tapped centrally
with a screw thread adapted to receive a screw, on the end of which is, or may be
placed, a shoulder or cap adapted to engage with the ball in the socket or cup and
when tightly forced against same to hold it in any position to which it
may have
been moved and prevent independent or accidental movement of the instrument
after adjustment.
Such being the nature and object of my invention I will now describe the same
more fully, reference being hereinafter had to the accompanying drawings forming
a part of this Specification, wherein :-
Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of the ball and socket joint of a condenser or instru-
ment used for microscopical purposes with my improvements added thereto, and
Fig. 2 is elevation of same looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.
The ball and socket joint consists of ball a secured within socket or cup 6 by
means of a cap or cover c screwed thereon, being constructed and operating in the
b

page_text: ordinary manner. One side of the socket or cup 6 has an enlargement thereon
forming a neck d which may be cast or screwed, brazed soldered or otherwise
secured to the socket, said neck having a central opening e therethrough which is
tapped to receive a screw fadapted to screw into the socket. The screw is
provided with a milled or other suitable head f¹ and on the end of said screw is or
may be placed a loose cap or shoulder g having a concave or dished face which is
covered or tipped with leather, cork, or other suitable substance or material h
so as to prevent injury to the surface of the ball a and also to afford greater
frictional surface and grip.
The opening e is preferably formed at an angle so that the thrust of the screw f
shall be in an upward direction or towards the centre of the ball a, and it is
arranged opposite the slot through which passes the short rod j secured to the
ball and to the tube j¹ in and through which works the arm carrying the condenser
or instrument k by which said parts, with the ball a as pivot, the instrument is
moveable in any plane at various distances from the joint.
When accurate adjustment of the instrument has been obtained in the usual way,
the screw is screwed through the opening e so as to force the end thereof, or the
loose shoulder 9 against the ball a which is thus tightly and firmly held between
the said shoulder and the socket or cup and cannot be easily moved unless and
until the shoulder g is released by the unscrewing of the screw f. By this means
all independent or accidental movement of the instrument after adjustment is
entirely prevented.
Instead of only employing one screw, two or more may be used in conjunction
with the ball and socket joint, and if a loose shoulder is used, duplicate loose
shoulders with leather or cork tips may be kept so as to be interchangeable.
The ball and socket joint fitted with screw or screws for holding the ball
immoveable in any position as herein described is applicable for the various
instruments used for microscopical purposes, said instruments being carried by the
short stem or rod j as shewn.
By the method and means above set forth internal packing in the socket is
entirely dispensed with; the cap can be easily screwed on and off the socket without
pressure being applied and without danger of stripping the threads; the condenser
or instrument can be carried to a greater distance from the joint without fear of it
slipping after adjustment, and heavier and larger instruments can be used than is at
present advisable, and give less trouble in adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
Firstly. In condensers or instruments for microscopical purposes having ball and
socket joints, the combination therewith of means for securing or locking the ball in
position after adjustment in the manner and for the purposes substantially as herein
shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination, with a screw or screws such as f and opening or
openings e in the socket b, of a loose shoulder or shoulders such as g tipped with
leather, cork, or other suitable material substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 7th day of November 1892.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.