Improvements in Clocks and other Machines Working Intermittently.
Year: 1886

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clocks and other Machines Working Intermittently.
I, JOHN WILLIAM GORDON of 2 Sunnyside Villas, Queensdown Road Lower
Clapion in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOCKS AND OTHER MACHINES WORKING INTER-
MITTENTLY, to be as follows:-
The object which in this invention I claim to effect is the production of an inter-
mittent stream of compressed air and the regulation of the periods of time during
which such a stream flows and intermits. "The stream of air so produced may be
applied to any purpose which it is adapted to subserve and it is particularly suitable
to the winding driving or controlling of a clock or system of clocks.
For producing intermittency I cause a stream of water to flow into a chamber
wherein a definite quantity of water can accumulate. When this definite quantity has
entered the admission of more water produces an overflow, the overflowing water
being caused to pass into an air-compressing machine of the kind described in my
specification No. 13509/84. The air thereby compressed, or some part of it is caused
to stream back into the chamber containing the accumulated water and to expel it.
This water, being conducted along the same course as the overflow water helps to
maintain and to accelerate the action of the air-compressor. Thus a stream of com-
pressed air is produced which continues to flow so long as water is passing from or
through the water chamber. When a sufficient discharge has taken place in this way
a passage is opened communicating between the chamber and the outer air thus
relieving the air pressure within and allowing the inflowing water to accumulate as at
first. This communication must of course be closed again before the arrival within
the chamber of compressed air for the purpose of producing a fresh discharge.
I do not limit myself to any particular mechanism for opening and closing com-
munication between the water chamber and the outer air; but I have devised the
following which I consider especially suitable to the purpose.
Through the top of the chamber I cause two small tubes to pass, which I will here
call the "locking tube and the "blow-off" tube respectively. These tubes must be
of so small bore that though standing vertically over a body of compressed air they
will be impervious to it so long as they contain a column of water of sufficient depth to
resist by hydrostatic pressure the upward pressure on its lower surface of the air. In

page_text: this respect they correspond to the small tube described and illustrated in my specifica-
tion No. 8451/85 to which for more precise description I refer. The locking tube
descends only to the level at or just above which I intend the water to stand when
overflow begins to take place and in its upper part it is narrowed so that a column of
water passing upward through it would necessarily undergo considerable elongation.
The blow-off tube is of uniform diameter throughout its entire length and may
descend into the chamber to a greater depth. Both these tubes are charged with
water from below when the chamber fills. The blow-off tube discharges though its
upper extremity when its lower has by the descent of the water become exposed to the
compressed air within the chamber and this latter has attained sufficient tension to
raise and drive out the intercepted column of water. The locking tube being intended
only to provide an exit for the air displaced by the introduction of the charge
of water into the chamber is so constructed as to remain impervious to the
air under the greatest pressure which it is expected to experience. It is cleared of
water by the falling back of its charge into the water chamber when the pressure is
relieved by blowing off.
For regulating the periods of time in which these processes shall take place I
have recourse first to the use of a regulated supply of water, which occupying a
definite and ascertainable time to charge the water chamber may be made to give
while doing this, any desired period of intermission to the stream of compressed air.
Similarly the period of flow may be determined by the automatic action of the air
compressor, which can be adjusted to occupy the desired time in producing the
blowing-off pressure. But as a further refinement, if this automatic action be not
sufficiently regular, I adjust the mechanism so as to produce, in this way, a more rapid
action than is intended and by means of a plug introduced into the blow-off tube and
periodically removed therefrom I delay the blowing off for such an interval of time as
suffices to correct the error. The plug may be worked independently and under the
control of a pendulum or other suitable regulator.
The intermittent stream of compressed air so obtained may be applied to any
purposes to which it is adapted and especially to those of winding driving and
synchronising clocks, or other timekeepers.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Clocks and other Machines Working Intermittently.
I, JOHN WILLIAM GORDON of No. 2 Sunnyside Villas, Queensdown Road, Lower
Clapton in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
The object which in this invention I claim to effect is the production of an inter-
mittent stream of compressed air and the regulation of the times during which such a
stream flows and intermits. The stream of air so produced may be applied to any
purposes which it is adapted to subserve, and it is particularly suitable to the winding
driving or controlling of a clock or system of clocks and to the actuating of the index
of some other kinds of meter of a water meter in particular.
For producing such an intermittent stream of air I cause a stream of water to flow
into a chamber wherein a definite quantity of water can accumulate. When this
definite quantity has entered the admission of more water produces an over-flow,
the overflowing water being caused to pass into an air-compressing machine. A
machine of the kind described in my specification No. 13509/84 is very suitable in this
connection, and is shown in the accompanying drawings in Fig. I and Fig. VI. The
air thereby compressed or some part of it is caused to pass into the chamber M con-
taining the accumulated water, and to expel it. This water being conducted along the
same course as the overflow water helps to maintain and accelerate the action of the
air compressor C. Thus a stream of compressed air is produced which continues to flow
so long as water is passing from the water chamber or through it. Such a chamber is
shewn in Fig. I and Fig. VI. and more particularly describeil hereinafter.
A sufficient quantity of water having in this way been discharged, the air pressure
is relieved by the opening either in the water chamber or in the system of air tubes
connected with it of a valve or other way through which the air may pass. This relief
while the chamber is refilled with water in order to prevent any
remains open
passage
premature increase of air pressure within the machine. In speaking here of "a valve
or other way I intend by the singular to import the plural if it be in any case con-
venient to use more than one valve or way for the various purposes indicated. To
serve these purposes I have devised a form of liquid valve which I term a "locking
tube of which three forms are shewn in Figs. II. III. and IV. respectively two of
them Figs. I and IV respectively being shown in situ in Figs. L. and VII.
For imparting the impulse of the compressed air to the mechanism which has to be
worked I use an air cushion of the form shewn in Fig. V.
I pass now to a description in detail of the drawings.
Fig. I. shews a section of the water chamber M in which the space intercepted
between the dotted planes is the space alternately occupied and vacated by the
successive charges of water. The chamber is shown to be fitted with a locking tube L
of the form marked IV in the drawing. This gives egress to the air during the
operation of refilling. The place of the locking tube might be occupied by any
suitable valve or other appropriate contrivance. The overflow tube O discharges into
a cup K on the top of the chamber M. from which the water passes into the com-
pressor tube which latter itself passes through the water chamber. This I consider

page_text: to be a very convenient arrangement of parts but not essential to the chamber which I
am now describing. The air tube A introduces into the chamber M. air which has
been compressed by the overflowing water and which displaces through the overflow
tube O the water accumulated in the chamber. This action of the compressed air is an
essential part of the action of the chamber which I am describing. The construction
and action of the water supply tube S need no description.
Figs. II, II, and IV. shew various forms of the locking tube already referred to.
It is necessary that for this purpose a small tube should be employed, that is to say, a
tube of so small bore that when it is charged with water the water may be supported
by air at a sufficient pressure in the space below it. In the upper part of my locking
tube the water way is narrowed either temporarily as in Fig. II or permanently as in
Fig. I or it is temporarily occluded altogether as in Fig. IV. The object of thus
obstructing the passage of the water will appear from what follows.
In Fig. It the obstruction is caused by the plunger pl. This does not necessarily
fit the tube since it acts by narrowing not by occluding the water way. For if any
part of the water charge in the tube passes up from the space below the plunger into
the space between the sides of the plunger, and the sides of the tube it must of course
become lengthened in so doing and will then transmit a proportionately increased
hydrostatic pressure to the foot of the water column. If therefore the force producing
motion be a slight excess of air pressure applied below the water charge this may be
counterbalanced by the increased hydrostatic pressure produced as just described and
thus a position may be found past which the water charge will not travel until the
plunger is withdrawn.
In Fig. III. the obstruction is caused by a change of bore in the tube which is of
course unalterable and acts therefore as an irremovable plunger would act in Fig. 11.
In Fig. IV. the obstruction is caused by a valve at the upper end of the tube
working independently or automatically as in Fig. VI. In this case the charge of
water serves any or all of the following purposes: i.c. it momentarily, at first, and
pending the closure of the valve, confines the imprisoned air by its own weight; it
reduces by its own weight the air pressure transmitted upward to the valve; and by
keeping the acting surfaces of the valve constantly weited it facilitates the making of
a light joint during closure.
Fig. V. shews the air cushion already referred to. It is made air-tight and of
some flexible fabric for example of India Rubber tissue. It has on its free surface a
metal disc which acts as a piston and is actuated by the compressed air admitted to its
interior. But I make no claim in respect of this air cushion.
I will now describe by way of illustration a system of synchronised clocks con-
structed on my plan. Such a system is shewn in Fig. VI. The cursive letters used
in this Fig, and in Fig. VII. refer to parts corresponding to those to which corre-
sponding capital letters are applied in Figs. L. The driving water flows first into the
tank in which a constant level is maintained by means of a ball tap or other regulator.
From thence it flows through the supply tubes into the water chamber me which it fills.
This operation of filling consumes approximately one minute. The water then over-
flows into the cap and passes thence into the air compressor c.
this imbe it takes with it air which is separated from it in the separator p and passes
In its passage down
thence under pressure into the air tube a "a" &c. which sends off various branches
to all the various parts of the mechanism that have to be supplied with com-
pressed air.
The action is as follows. The air compressor e being started by the overflowing
water from injects compressed air into the system of tubes a "a" &c. The valve
which is constructed to work at a very low comparative pressure will be immediately
brought down upon its seat and will close the passage through until relief is other-
wise gained by the compressed air. The continued action of the air compressor
accelerated by the water displaced by the compressed air which has now begun to find
its way into the water chamber m speedily raises the air pressure in the tube system
"¹² &c. to such tension. as suffices to work the pneumatic apparatus by which
the clocks 1, 2, 3 &c., are driven. At this point therefore the pressure will remain

page_text: P
while the expansion of the pneumatic machines takes up the new product of compressed
air. But when the work is done and the machines have expanded to their full capacity
the air pressure will further increase and the water level will correspondingly fall in
the separator and the locking tube chamber g. p. Thus the compressed air is brought
under the foot of the locking tube y as shewn in the enlarged drawing of this part of
the apparatus given in Fig. VII. The air compressor c is so adjusted to its work as
that this condition of things may be brought about a few seconds before the expiration
of the second minute from the commencement of the cycle of operations. The slight
increase of pressure which takes place during these few seconds may cause the water
charge to move up from the foot of the locking tube g and assume some intermediate
position but it is quite easy so to adjust the plunger pl that the water charge cannot
thus be blown out. But when the normal clock (1) allows the plunger pl to be
suddenly withdrawn the length of the water charge being instantaneously diminished
and the pressure consequently reduced below that of the subjacent air the water charge
is at once expelled and the air pressure throughout the whole system relieved.
This relief would be only momentary if no other way of egress were provided for
the confined air than through the locking tube g, for when the air pressure within the
chamber is relieved the inflow of water from the reservoir gr causes an almost
instantaneous closing of the tube y by a fresh charge of water. The admission of water
into the chamber m would of course in these circumstances cause an increase of
pressure by the compression of the confined air. But this is prevented by the opening
of the valve e which rises as soon as the air pressure is relieved and permits the charge
of water into fall back into the chamber m which now contains air at only atmos-
pheric pressure. Through this tube therefore a free communication is made with the
outer air and this cannot he obstructed until the chamber m has been filled with water
and the operation of air compressing is about to recommence. Immediately after the
withdrawal of the plunger pl we thus have all the conditions reproduced with which
we started and the cycle of operations recommences exactly as it began.
Having thus described the use of the appliances herein described in this one con-
nexion I do not consider it necessary to state particularly how I propose to apply any
of them to a water meter or other machine in which they may be put to analogous
uses. .
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 special application to the purpose of driving winding or controlling a clock
or system of clocks or dials of the several appliances herein described under the
designations water-chamber and locking-tube.
2. The special application to the purpose of actuating or controlling the index of a
water meter or meter of any other kind not being a time meter of the same several
appliances in the preceding paragraph mentioned.
2. The said several appliances hereinbefore described by the names water-chamber
and locking tube or appliances substantially identical with them as applied to any
purpose whatsoever.
T TI CORDON