Improvements in Automatic Devices for Starting and Stopping Machinery, and performing like Operations, such as Blowing Whistles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
Improvements in Automatic Devices for Starting and Stopping
Machinery, and performing like Operations, such as Blowing
Whistles.
EDWIN TURNER COTTINGHAM, Jeweller, of Midland Road, Thrapston, Northampton,
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 consists of improvements in devices for starting and stopping
machinery, and peforming like operations such as blowing whistles.
In carring out my invention, I provide a lever a which is pivotted at b. This
pivot is adapted as a plug from which water is supplied from the water inlet
controlled by any suitable form of tap. e is a projection pivotally connected at 6 to
the lever a which is in turn pivotally connected at to the rod e which operates the
valve f g is a weight suspended to the end of the lever a. h is a vessel pivotally
suspended to the lever a & provided with the outlet cock i. The portion of the
lever a is hollow. The plug forming the pivot upon which the lever a rocks is so
arranged, that when in the position shewn by the dotted lines, water will flow along
the hollow portion of the lever, and will fill the vessel h. is an electro magnet,
7 being the armature. The arin m is pivoted at n to the support or plate o. p is a
projection carried upon the lever a. The action is as follows:-At the prearranged,
or required time, a current is passed through the electro magnet which thus
attracts the armature, and the weight g will cause the lever a to assume the position
shewn by the dotted lines. This position will allow the water to pass through the
plug b to the vessel h and when sufficient fluid has entered this vessel to overcome
the weight g the lever will take up its initial position. While in dotted position the
steam cock or valve f is opened, and the steam may be utilised for the purpose of
blowing a whistle or sounding other alarm or when used for starting or stopping
machinery can be used for this purpose. When the lever a again returns to its
initial position, it is retained there by the pivoted catchpiece, and the water emptying
out of the vessel the apparatus is then ready for another operation as soon as the
current is passed the outlet of the vessel is so arranged as to empty the vessel
slower that it is filled from the plug b and the amount of water allowed to pass
through this plug 6 will determine the time in which the whistle may be sounded, or
other work performed as until the vessel h has received the water sufficient to
counterbalance the weight g the lever a will remain in the position shewn by the
dotted lines.
It will be seen, that any suitable means of current may be employed for operating
the electro magnet and the circuit may be closed in any convenient manner, such
as by a cock arrangement at predetermined intervals or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In devices or apparatus for starting or stonning machinery and nonforming

page_text: like operations such as blowing whistles; the combined construction and arrangement
of the various parts substantially as described and illustrated herein and for the
purpose set forth.
2. In apparatus or devices for starting or stopping machinery, and performing like
operations such as blowing whistles, a lever pivotally carried upon a plug and having
at one end a vessel for the reception of water or other liquid supplied from the plug
through the interior of the lever thereto. A counterpoise upon the other end of said
lever. A catch or locking device released when required by means of an electro-
magnet said rocking lever operating a valve for the admission of steam or other agent
for the required purpose.
An outlet in the vessel aforesaid for the escape of the water
or fluid, substantially as described & illustrated herein & for the purpose set
forth.