IMPROVEMENTS IN RESERVOIR PENHOLDERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I THOMAS ALFRED HEARSON of 5 Westcombe Park Road Blackheath in the
County of Kent Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RESERVOIR PENHOLDERS" 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 for its object the construction of a reservoir penholder
capable of carrying a comparatively large supply of ink in the body of the holder
which ink shall be automatically fed at a proper rate during the act of writing to
anibbed pen which may be the ordinary pen of commerce made of gold steel or
other metal readily removeable and easily renewed.
A second part of the Invention consists of means for closing passages leading
from the ink reservoir so that the penholder may be carried in the pocket without
danger of spilling of ink.
The Drawings hereunto annexed shew on a scale about three times full size.
Figure 1 a section of the penholder as constructed for use at the desk.
Figures 1a 1b lc and 1d sections of parts of the same.
Figure 2 a section of the penholder as constructed to be carried in the pocket.
Figure 2a a side view of part of the same.
In order that the means whereby this Invention is carried into effect may be
most easily understood and the construction made most apparent I will at once
refer to the Drawings in which in Figure 1 is shewn the most simply manufactured
construction in which according to my Invention the automatic supply of ink to
the pen and accompanying corresponding admission of air to the body of the holder
is effected.
In Figure 1 the upper part or holder consists of a tube of vulcanite or other
suitable material closed at the upper end remote from the pen. This is the
reservoir for carrying the ink. The lower part or carrier which carries the pen
screws into or fits ink-tight to the reservoir holder at a. a. being made removeable
for the purpose of filling the holder with ink. The carrier is constructed in three
pieces 1 the piece A A Figure la plainly bored in the major portion of its length
but provided with a short length of screw thread at the end A' the diameter there
being somewhat smaller. Into this is fitted the piece B B¹ Figure 16 B B¹ is
provided at B¹ with a screw thread which screws tightly into A'. The plain part
of B B is of less diameter than the bore of A A' so that when inserted in A A¹ it

page_text: leaves a narrow annular passage for the reception of an ordinary pen. B B¹ is bored
nearly all its length by a parallel hole of somewhat large dimensions as shown but
at B a fine passage is provided by means of which ink is conducted to the nibs of
the pen to the lower side thereof. At a point b as shown a hole is bored through
the wall of B B¹.
Into the bore of B B¹ is thrust a tube C. C. which is shewn separately in
Figure 1c. This tube the bore of which has a diameter the capillary height of
which is about one fourth of an inch, very nearly fits the bore of B B¹ but one or
more flats being formed on its surface as shewn there being one flat in Figure 1d
which is a section of C. C'. and B B' one or more passages will be thus provided
between B B' and C. C¹. along which ink may flow from the holder to the nibs of
the pen.
The tube C. C. is closed at both extreme ends but side holes are drilled at b¹
and C¹ of diameter equal to that of the bore of the tube. When C. C. is inserted
into B B¹ the hole is made to coincide in position with the hole b and the hole
at C stands a short way above B₁ as shown in Figure 1. Further, at one or more
points in the length of C. C. where the flats are formed the tube is pierced with
fine capillary holes h small relatively to the bore of C. C¹.
When in use in the operation of writing what takes place is as follows. By the
action of the nibs and the surface tension due to the ink wetting the paper whilst
writing ink is caused to flow down the passage or passages between B B¹ and C. C'.
to the nibs of the pen and to take the place of the ink thus removed from the
holder air will pass in bubbles through b and b¹ up through C. C'. and into the
holder at C but whilst this is taking place.the-tube-C.-C-will-always remain more
or less filled with ink. Ink will be in continual circulation down the passage
between C. C. and B B¹ through h and up the tube C. C. carrying as it rises
a bubble of air to take the place of the ink which passes to the pen to do the
writing.
In this way the pen will have always a liberal supply of ink on which to draw
and be perpetually in the condition of a newly dipped pen for there will be no
discontinuity in the column of ink from reservoir to pen seeing that on account of
the smallness of the lateral holes h capillary action or surface tension will prevent
air passing through them.
At the same time there will be maintained a perpetual equilibrium of the column
of ink above the pen and the ink will not flow on its own account without the
inducing cause of the action of the nibs and paper.
To secure this the proportions of the parts employed should be approximately as
follows: The hole b should be at a height above the ink passage at B approximately
equal to the capillary height of the tube C. C'. about equal to inch and then if
the tube C. C. is full of ink the downward passage by which ink is supplied will
be longer than the upward passage by which air is admitted by an amount equal to
the capillary height of the air tube and the tendency to flow freely will be balanced
by capillary action or surface tension and the ink in the holder remain supported.
If by writing the ink were to be drawn out and by the admission of air the
tube C. C. were to empty itself the head would become more than the capillary
action of the tube C. C³. would be able to sustain and the ink would presently flow
out apace. But the small holes in the flats which form the downward passages
will prevent the emptying of C. C. for any commencement of emptying of C. C¹.
will be accompanied by an excess pressure in the down How passages on account of
which ink will overflow through to fill up C. C'."
Another cause tending to maintain C. C. full of ink is this:-The air bubble
which rises through C. C. will have a volume equal to that of the ink which has
flowed to the pen: As this bubble rises and especially after it has passed through C¹
into the holder it gets to a region of diminished pressure and expands somewhat
displacing a slightly increased volume of ink which partly is supplied to the pen
and partly if C. C. is at all empty overflows into it.

page_text: I prefer that the holo b by which the air is admitted should be turned towards
the hollow of the pen so that if by a shake ink should be spilt it will drop into
the pen.
3
In this I have described the character of the 1st part of my Invention relating to
the automatic supply of ink to the pen and air to the holder and the essence of the
Invention is that two distinct passages are provided one for the downflow of the
ink the other for the upflow of the air and that these passages are joined by
smaller lateral holes or passages.
The same effect may be obtained by modified construction as for example the two
passages mentioned may be separately bored in the carrier side by side or the air
supply passage may be an annular passage surrounding the downward ink supply
passage but the principle of action will be the same in each the two passages being
joined by lateral holes.
The second part of my Invention relates to means for closing the passage or
passages leading from the ink reservoir to the pen. If intended for use at the desk
only, this part of the construction may be omitted and the holder made simply as
previously described and shewn in Figure 1 but in order that the pen holder inay
be carried in the pocket without danger of spilling ink the following addition and
modification is provided as shewn in Figure 2.
The air supply tube C. C. is provided with an enlargement E E immediately
above the hole C' so that when it is thrust down as shewn in Figure 2 the
enlargement will seat itself on the top of B B and form an ink tight valve shutting
off the passages for ink from, and air to, the reservoir. To raise the tube C. C'. for
the purpose of writing and to thrust it down to close the holder it is attached to, so
as to form the continuation of a rod R which passes air tight through the top of
the holder.
One way by which an air tight joint and a thrusting down action to close the
holder may be readily secured is shewn at the top of Figure 2 in which a short
length T T of stout rubber tubing is interposed between a collar G. G. secured to
the rod R and the top of the cavity of the holder the rubber tube T T being in
compression.
To lift the rod R and maintain it lifted for the purpose of writing it is secured
to a cap H. There is a pin P P passing through both the cap H and the rod R.
In the diminished head K of the holder over which the cap H fits and which is
shewn also in Figure 2 with the cap H removed a slotway is cut in which tho
pin P P fits: a ledge L is formed at the top of the slotway so that when the cap H
and with it the pin P P and rod R are withdrawn a little from the holder and a
slight twist given to them the pin P P will rest on the ledge and the tube C. C¹.
remain open for writing. When released from the ledge the compressive force of
the rubber will close the valve E. E.
The raising and lowering of the rod R may be effected in other ways namely by
forming a screw thread inside H and outside K. so that by screwing the cap the rod
may be raised and lowered the rod being made to pass through an air tight stuffing
box in K.
In Figure 2 there is shewn a shield S to protect the pen when carried in the
pocket.
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
First The employment in a reservoir penholder of two distinct passages
leading from below upwards into the reservoir one for the downflow of the ink the
other for the upflow of the air which passages are joined by one or more lateral
passages of small dimensions substantially as herein described,
Second The rod R working air tight through the top of the holder and
carrying the tube C which in its movement closes the passages by the enlarge-

page_text: ment E and also removes the hole b¹ from coincidence with the hole b substantially
as described.
Third. My improved reservoir pen holders substantially as described and shown
by the annexed Drawings.