Improvements in Punkahs
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
Improvements in Punkahs,
I, SAMUEL ROBERT BAILDON, of 66, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in punkahs.
According to the invention I mount a series of wings or fans upon a rotating
shaft, the said fans being in different planes through the axis of the shaft and
also being displaced longitudinally with respect to one another in such a manner
that a current of air is induced in one direction in a practically continuous manner.
Each fan is advantageously constructed of a light framework which may be
made in a number of sections pivoted together in such a manner that they can
be folded up against one another or opened out so as to form fans of different
Jengths to suit requirements; means are also provided for securing the sections
in the two positions, for example I may employ pivoted arms adapted to be secured
to one section and to embrace or engage with the other in either the extended
or closed up position
Each punkah is secured to a sleeve which is loosely mounted upon the con-
tinuously rotating shaft, the said sleeve being provided with means whereby it
can be put into or taken out of gear with the said shaft. For this purpose I
may employ a spring pin which passes through the sleeve into a hole in the
shaft, and which can be put into or out of gear therewith, by means of an
eccentric mounted upon the said sleeve in such a manner that by rotating the
said eccentric the spring arm is forced out of engagement with the shaft or is
allowed to engage therewith, a stud being provided, if required, to limit the
movement of the said eccentric.
D
L
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, SAMUEL ROBERT BAILDON, of .66, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
Gentleman, 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 punkahs.
According to the invention I mount a series of wings or fans upon a rotating

page_text: shaft, the said fans being in different planes through the axis of the shaft and
also being displaced longitudinally with respect to one another in such a manner
that a current of air is induced in one direction in a practically continuous manner
but with varying degrees of pressure.
Each fan is advantageously constructed of a light framework which may be
made in a number of sections pivoted together in such a manner that they can
be folded up against one another or opened out so as to form fans of different
lengths to suit requirements, means are also provided for securing the sections
in the two positions, for example I may employ pivoted arms adapted to be secured
to one section and to embrace or engage with the other in either the extended
or closed up position.
Each punkah is secured to a sleeve which is loosely mounted upon the con-
tinuously rotating shaft, the said sleeve being provided with means whereby it
can be put into or taken out of gear with the said shaft. For this purpose I
may employ a spring pin which passes through the sleeve into a hole in the
shaft, and which can be put into or out of gear therewith, by means of an
eccentric mounted upon the said sleeve in such a manner that by rotating the
said eccentric the spring arm is forced out of engagement with the shaft or 18
allowed to engage therewith, a stud being provided, if required, to limit the
movement of the said eccentric.
In the accompanying drawing,-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a punkah constructed according to the inven-
tion:
Figure 2 is an end clevation of the punkah:
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are views of details hereinafter described:
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of part of the sleeve and shewing the spring
pin and eccentric operating the same; and
Figure 9 19 a transverse section on the line 9-9 Figure 8.
Figures 3 to 9 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
a is the punkah shaft which may be mounted horizontally or vertically and if
desired upon a portable structure and is arranged to be continuously rotated;
6 is one of the sleeves upon which the wings or fans forming each punkah are
secured, the said sleeve being loosely mounted upon the shaft.
The punkah wings or fans; which are here shewn three in number, comprise
a base or fixed frame section c rigidly secured to the sleeve b in different planes
through the axis of the shaft and displaced longitudinally with respect to one
another, as clearly shewn in Figures 1 and 2; and an inner frame section d
hinged to the lower bar of each rigid section c so that the said inner section d
can be either turned up into the position indicated in full lines in. Figures 1
and 2 or down into the position shewn in broken lines in the said figures thus
providing a fan the length of which is adjustable. The sections are covered with
the usual material To secure the two sections c and d of each fan in the open
position I may provide the device shewn in Figures 3, 4 and 5, Figure 3 being
a front view of a portion of the lower part of the frame having the device fitted
thereto, Figure 4 an end view thereof and Figure 5 a plan of the catch proper.
The said device comprises the spring arm e which is pivoted to the side bar of
the fixed section c and is formed at its upper end with a notched or recessed
piece the notch or recess being of sufficient breadth to embrace the side bar
of the pivoted section When the said section d is turned down into its lower-
most position, shewn in the broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, the spring catch
is also turned down and the notched piece f is sprung on to the section d, as
clearly shewn in Figure 1. The spring arm is held in this position by means of
, a lateral notch g which is formed in it and which engages a stud h projecting
from the section c the spring arm and the said frame being locked together,
when in engagement, by the wing nut & thus holding the two sections c and d
rigidly together.
To hold the pivoted section d in its closed or collapsed position I may employ

page_text: any suitable catch device, such as that shewn in side elevation and plan in
Figures 6 and 7 respectively. This device comprises a spring arm ; secured to
one of the side bars of the outer section c and provided at its upper end with a
notched catch k into which the pivoted section d is sprung when folded up
7 (Figures 8 and 9) is the pin which is secured to the spring arm l¹ and adapted
to pass through a hole in the sleeve b and into a corresponding hole a¹ in the
shaft a to lock the said sleeve and shaft together. m is the eccentric, the said
eccentric being loosely mounted upon the sleeve b underneath the spring arm 11
to which the pin is attached. By turning the eccentric through the medium
of the handle n the pin is raised out of engagement with the hole in the shaft a
or is allowed to be pressed thereinto by the spring arm according to the position
to which the eccentric is adjusted. o is the stop pin which is screwed into the
sleeve b for limiting the movement of the eccentric in either direction, the said
pin working in a slot p formed in the said eccentric.
My invention is particularly applicable to hospitals and other places where
a series of punkahs is employed as one or more only of the series can be working
whilst the others are at rest this being frequently desirable. Furthermore owing
to the relatively small space required for my rotating punkah it can be employed
in tents and other places which are too low to allow of the use of the ordinary
swinging punkah.
Although I have described the punkahs as loosely mounted upon the driving
shaft it will be obvious that, where desired, they can be directly secured to the
said shaft so as to always rotate therewith.
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. A rotary punkah comprising a series of wings or fans mounted upon a
rotating shaft in different planes, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein-
before described
2. In a punkah of the kind described in Claim 1 constructing each wing or fan
of a suitably covered light framework made in a number of sections hinged
together, means being provided for securing the sections in the opened out or
collapsed position, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3. A rotary punkah comprising a series of wings or fans secured to a sleeve
loosely mounted upon a shaft and means whereby the said sleeve can be keyed
to the shaft, substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
4 The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved rotary
punkah, herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 13th day of November 1899.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.