Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM RICHARDS, of 23 Romola Road, Norwood Road, in the County of
Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
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My improvements consist in making sliding gasaliers, or chandeliers, and
dispensing with the water hitherto used in the hydraulic joints. My improved
sliding gasalier like those hitherto employed has counterbalance weights, pulleys
and chains but instead of three concentric pipes there are but two, the inner one
which delivers the gas, being by preference as small as possible consistent with the
proper supply, in order to reduce the friction of the stuffing box hereafter mentioned.
At the bottom of this inner pipe is secured a flange which slides freely in the outer
pipe, and serves as a guide to the inner pipe and in the event of the chains breaking
prevents the body of the gasalier, from falling.
At the top of the outer pipe is a stuffing box, packed by preference with asbestos,
which requires no lubrication, is not affected by the gas and does not harden. To
the bottom of the outer pipe, the body is attached in the usual way.
In order to prevent the gas escaping from the cup and ball joint when in the act
of pushing up the gasalier I employ two different means. Firstly by making the
ball spherical with the upper part adjusted, so as to be gas tight, to the upper part.
of the cup or outer casing. Secondly and by preference I employ the ordinary cup
and ball joint in which the ball is adjusted to the lower part of the cup. In this
case on the uppermost part of the main descending pipe and above the brackets for
the pulleys or wheels over which the chains pass, is a flange, with its upper part
formed to the curvature of the bottom of the cup, this flange fits loosely on the
main descending pipe, and when in its position, rubs against the bottom of the cup.
At a short distance from the cup, is another flange fixed to the descending pipe, or a
long screw may be soldered to this pipe on which works the flange. Between these
two flanges is a spiral or other spring of sufficient power to counteract the friction
of the stuffing box when in the act of raising the body of the gasalier. The force
of the spring is capable of being arranged, by screwing the lower flange up
or down.
By the means explained the sliding gasalier, will rise and fall with almost the
same freedom as the ordinary hydraulic while the dangers attending the latter are
entirely avoided.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: °
WILLIAM RICHARDS of Romolo Road Norwood in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct improved sliding joints to gas
chandeliers, whereby I dispense with the ordinary hydraulic or water joint, and
Bubstitute therefor an improved method of packing, which does not require the use
of water; and whereby the defects inherent in the use of the water joint and the
danger of explosion arising therefrom are avoided.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a section of my invention shewing the parts of
a gasalier to which my invention refers, as shewn the ordinary ball and socket
joint is adopted; but I employ two, instead of three, descending tubes, the inner
one a being of brass or other metal, preferably of solid drawn tube, and may be
coated with tin or nickel plated. This tube is made as small as possible,
consistent with the proper supply of gas, in order to reduce the friction of the
stuffing box hereinafter mentioned. At the top of the outer tube 6 is a stuffing
box ac, packed with asbestos, to which may be added a portion of powdered soap
stone, which material requires no lubricant, is not affected by the gas; does not
adhere to the metal; is not affected by temperature, and does not harden, but, as
experience has proved, it retains its flexibility for many years.
At the lower end of the tube a is fixed a flange f¹, which works freely in the
tube b, and serves as a guide to the tube a.
To prevent the escape of the gas, when the body of the gasalier is being raised,
I fit a spiral spring 8, which is retained in position by the fixed flange f. The
spring presses against the loose flange h, the form of which is made to correspond
with the exterior of the cup. The lower flange f is adjustable, being screwed to
the tube t, by which means any degree of force can be given to the spring 8, in
order to prevent the ball of the gasalier rising, and allowing the gas to escape,
when in the act of lifting the body of the gasalier. This flange once adjusted is
permanently secured by soldering or other means..
are the usual lugs to which chains c c are attached passing round the
wheels pp, for supporting the balance weights. The body of the gasalier is
affixed to the screw gas usual. The gasalier maintains its vertical position, while
the escape of gas, when in the act of raising the chandelier, is entirely prevented.

page_text: 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 manufacture and use of sliding gasaliers, fitted with the stuffing boxx,
filled with asbestos and soap stone packing, spiral spring a and flanges f and h
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn on the
drawings.
2. The general construction combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in sliding gasaliers, sub-
stantially as herein before described, and shewn on the drawings.