An Improved Method and Means of Attaching and Suspending Electric and other Fittings.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of Attaching and Suspending
Electric and other Fittings.
I, FREDERICK JONATHAN DOWN of 824 New Bond Street London in the
County of Middlesex Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
The electric or other fitting, is fastened to flexible cord, wire rope, chain or
other suitable attachment (hereafter called the attachment).
The other end of the attachment is passed round and fixed to a drum which is
itself attached to a spiral or helical spring fixed to the axle on which the drum
rotates.
Attached to the baseplate to which the axle of the drum is fixed is a lever having
attached to it a spoon or roller break which can act on a periphery of the drum.
This break is controlled by the attachment in such a way that when the fitting
is either lifted or shifted nearer to the drum, the pressure of the break on the drum
is lessened and the drum therefore rotates by the force of the spiral spring and
coils up the attachment.
When however tension is again applied either by the weight of the fitting or in
some other way the break presses on the drum and prevents it rotating and thus
permits of a certain amount of the attachment remaining uncoiled.
In the case of an electric fitting connection is made through contacts on the side
or face of the drum.
Dated this First dow of October 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of Attaching and Suspending
Electric and other Fittings.
I FREDERICK JONATHAN DOWN of 82A New Bond Street, London in the
County of Middlesex Electrical Engineer 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 :-
My invention consists of a drum marked F (Drawing Sheet 1) which can rotate
around a spindle S to which it is connected by a helical or spiral spring M. S. in
such a manner as to prevent its rotating without putting a tension on this
spring.
To this drum is firmly secured a flexible cord, wire rope, chain or other suitable
attachment (hereafter called, the attachment) S. A. The other end of the
attachment is securely fastened to the electric or other fitting.
Working on the same base plate as the drum is a single or double lever P. S.
which has a spoon or roller break K attached to it so as to be able to press on the
periphery of the drum.
At the end of this lever is a moveable pulley P. over which the attachment
is passed in the manner indicated and then through a guide hole E in the
cover R.
The apparatus is so constructed that when the attachment is uncoiled from the
drum the spring M. S. is in tension & tends to coil it up again on the drum.
This is either prevented or allowed by the break, which is, itself, regulated by
the tension of the attachment.

page_text: When the tension in the attachment is lessened by lifting or shifting the fitting
closer to the drum the friction of the break is decreased & the drum is rotated by
its spring.
If tension is maintained in the attachment the drum will not rotate.
The working of the lever is regulated in some suitable way as shewn where A. S.
is a spring & M. H. an adjusting screw for altering its tension.
In uncoiling, the drum revolves against the friction of the break by means of the
extra pull given to the attachment.
Drawing No. 1 shews the arrangement in a form suited for an electric fitting and
has a contact ring C. R. and a contact rubber C. S. for connecting the flexible
wire SA with the source of electricity, the return current being conveyed by the
frame work.
Drawing No. 2 shews the apparatus in use with electric fittings and the use of
one or two of the machines for the same fitting thus providing for a very great
movement of the fitting.
In like manner this apparatus may be attached to any part of an electrolier so
that the arms body or any part may be moved.
In a gas fitting, a flexible tube would be used as the attachment, and for oil
lamps a chain or metal rope would be used.
The apparatus may also be used for suspending flower baskets, scales etc.
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. An improved method and means of attaching and suspending electric and
other fittings.
2. An apparatus whereby an electric or other fitting may be suspended or placed
at any distance from its point of suspension or attachment without any loose
attachment being visible.
3. An apparatus whereby an electric or other fitting may be suspended so that
the fitting may be raised by lifting or lowered by pulling the attachment and the
fitting will remain securely at the height it is put at.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of June 1891.
FREDERICK JONATHAN DOWN.