Improvements in Markers for Indicating and Recording Instruments.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1891 -
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Markers for Indicating and Recording
Instruments.
1, EDGAR CONISTON MILLS, of No. 12, Victoria Buildings, Manchester,
Mechanical Engineer & Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
ion to be as follows
The object of my improvement is to produce a marker which has the following
In some recording instruments the marker is periodically withdrawn-auto-
matically or otherwise-from contact with the paper. In others it is constantly in
contact therewith.
""
At one end of a piece of small glass tube I form a very fine capillary tubular
point by means of drawing out the tube suddenly when hot. The diminuation in
diameter is rapid so as to preserve the strength of the point. The point is then
broken off to the desired length and ground or smoothed down and "arridged
by a stone. The other end of the tube may be enlarged to facilitate filling, or it.
may be made suitable to receive a flexible tube. The capillary end of the tube
may be straight or bent to any suitable angle, and in some cases I form a "U" or
syphon bend.
The glass marker is carried by the moving arm of the instrument in such a
For this purpose
way as to insure a slight but definite pressure against the paper.
I use a spring carrier or cradle formed so as to allow a small amount of spring
motion vertically to the plane of the paper, but no lateral motion other than that
given by the moving arm.
In instruments recording the movements of engines or other machines, the
moving arm retires to a zero when the machine stops. I take advantage of this
movement to cause the marker to dip into a well of ink at such times, guiding
it by inclined surfaces in such a way as to cease contact with the paper and enter
the well. This serves to recharge the pen and also to protect the point from the
atmosphere and so obviate "clogging." In order to preserve a uniform "head” of.
ink in the marker tube in some cases I form an opening in it at a desired level to
allow superfluous ink to escape. Or the tube itself may terminate at this point and
the continuation serve merely for the holder, or the holder itself may extend to and
grip the said short tube.
In the case of those markers which are constantly in contact with the paper, the
ink has to be periodically fed into the enlarged end of the tube, and in order that
"head" of ink -
a plentiful supply may be held and at the same time too great a
may be avoided I make an enlargement of the tube at the desired level, or this
said enlargement may itself form the end of the tube.
Dated this 6th day of December 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Markers for Indicating and Recording
Instruments.
I EDGAR CONISTON MILLS, of No. 12, Victoria Buildings, Manchester,
Mechanical Engineer, and Patent Agent,. 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:-
1.
When my invention is used in recording instruments in which the marker is at
intervals withdrawn from the paper-as is the case in speed recorders for engines
and other machinery-I form the marker as is shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, on Sheet 1
in which the marker is shewn applied to a recorder with a vertical surface to be
marked as is the case in my speed recorder for which Letters Patent No. 8010
were granted to me on the first day of June 1888, and also in other recorders for
similar purposes.
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, Fig. 2 is an inside elevation with the recorder
case assumed to be removed, and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the stem and guide.
In these views A is the travelling paper to be marked on, b is an arm or stem
deriving vertical oscillations by means of suitable mechanism from the engine's
motion and corresponding in direction and extent to the variations of such motion.
A bracket c is attached to it carrying a roller d which runs in contact with a
grooved guide e, contact being insured by the nature of the attachment of 6 at its
Tower end not shewn, a light spring or counter-weight giving the arm 6 a slight
pressure towards the guide.
The guide is formed with an incline at e¹ as shewn, and is supported by a
bracket m attached to any convenient portion of the frame or case.
At its upper
end the arm b carries the pen or marker P. It is made of glass, the upper part pl
and p' being merely for the purpose of attaching the clip holder which in turn is
carried by the curved spring g, arm h and bracket i. The lower portion marked p
of the glass pen P is hollow and contains the ink.. Its lower end is bent as a "U
and the end p is turned outwards and projects towards the paper A. This end is
drawn down to a fine capillary point and the end is carefully smoothed by grinding
and polishing. k is a vessel holding a supply of ink and supported by a bracket/
as shewn.
The object of the described method of attaching the pen to the rod b is threefold.
Firstly to allow the pen to dip into the ink vessel k as hereinafter described.
Secondly the form of the spring bracket ġ-which is made very thin at the top g¹
as shewn while allowing a slight pressure of the pen point upon the paper and
hence also allowing the pen to follow any irregularities on the surface of the paper
on the drum to which it may be affixed-prohibits any lateral motion by reason of
its width: thus elasticity is secured in a direction at right angles to the paper's
surface while no deviation from the vertical is allowed. Thirdly-the point of
attachment of the spring g being nearly vertically over the pen point prevents any
slight friction between the said pen point and the paper from thrusting the arm b
backwards when moving downwards.
The action is as follows:-During the ordinary running of the engine or machine
whose motions are being recorded the arm, roller, and pen remain on the average
about in the positions shewn in full lines on Sheet 1. When however the engine
or machine stops the arm descends to the position shewn in dotted lines. The
roller d running up the incline e¹ causes the pen to cease contact with the paper
and to retire sufficiently to allow it to enter the vessel k and to submerge the
portion p of the pen P in the ink. Here it remains until the engine or machine
starts again. Thus the pen is recharged and the fine point p is kept moist and so
prevented from clogging or choking. I prefer to use an ink having a glycerine
base, so as to avoid rapid evaporation.

page_text: On Sheet 2. Fig. 4 shews an angular elevation of the pen with clip and spring
holder, by which the form of the latter is more clearly seen.
Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively clevation and plan of a form of my invention used
when the marker remains in contact with the paper for long periods together as
for instance in recording the fluctuations of steam pressure of a boiler. In such
cases it is not possible to submerge the pen and therefore I provide a larger
reserve of ink carried by the moving arm. n is the said reservoir having the
tube o
extending from it and formed at its end into a capillary pen point o' as
previously described. The vessel n is carried by a clip attached by bolt r to
arms which is operated in any ordinary manner by the steam pressure, as for
instance by the motion of a "Bourdon" tube.
The clip is formed to serve as a spring at the portion g' so as to allow elasticity
normally to the paper's surface but no elasticity vertically or laterally.
Fig. 7 shews the arrangement of my invention when applied to recorders having
horizontal paper.
In this case the pen p is carried by clip f and arm & hinged as shown at t¹ to the
ordinary moving arm of the recorder, and it may be provided with a counter-
weight 2 or counter-balanced by a spring. The arm t is furnished with a roller u
at one side, which in the ordinary marking position is not in contact with the
guide V.
When however the engine or machine runs very slowly or stops, the
armt retreating to the right, the roller u comes into contact with the raised
portion of the guide as shewn dotted at and thus the pen is lifted off the
paper. Further motion of the arm causes the roller to drop down the curve V'
and thus the pen is lowered clear of the edge of the paper wand its drum, and is
submerged in the ink in vessel y.
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. The capillary glass pen drawn to a fine point and smoothed or polished for
use in recording instruments, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The capillary pen formed with an enlarged or bell-mouthed end to facilitate
filling.
3. The capillary pen whose motion when the engine or machine stops is guided
to cause it to leave contact with the paper and to be submerged in ink substantially
as and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. The roller and guide whereby the motions of the pen are controlled sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
5. The broad spring carrier or cradle so formed and attached as to restrict
lateral motion while allowing normal elasticity, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The enlarged reservoir for ink carried by the motion arm and formed with
the pen for use when markers remain in contact with the paper for long periods,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
7. The hinged lever and curved guide to control the motion of the pen in
instruments in which the record paper surface is horizontal, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 7th day of September 1891.