New or Improved Means for Opening the Discharge Valves of Baths Automatically at a Given Time.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 19th May, 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Means for Opening the Discharge Valves of Baths
Automatically at a Given Time.
I, JOHN SIMPSON, of 2, Wilton Place, Hawick, North Britain, Engineer and
illwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
he same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
y the following statement:-
"3
This invention relates to new or improved means for opening the discharge
alves of baths automatically and is specially applicable to public baths, where
t is required to allow the occupant of the bath a certain time for bathing.
In accordance with my invention the discharge valve is connected by a cord or
other means to a disc or drum which rotates under the influence of a coiled
spring, or weight, when the snug which normally keeps the disc stationary, is
released; the disc in its rotation or partial rotation exerting a pull upon the
or stop against which the snug
cord, thus opening the valve. The "keep
of the disc abuts is moved out of the snugs path by an arrangement of toggles,
consisting of two vessels having a com-
levers or links actuated by a." tumbler
munication between them so arranged that a fluid, or fine material, with which
one of the vessels is filled can flow into the other until the weight of the second
preponderates and the equilibrium of the whole is disturbed thus causing the
tumbler to tilt and actuate the toggles or links before referred to. The rate
of flow of the fluid or other material from one vessel to the other can be regulated
by means of a cock so that the period required to disturb the equilibrium of the
Or other means may be em-
tumbler can be shortened or lengthened at will.
ployed for the same purpose.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation and
Fig. 2 a plan shewing one method of carrying out my invention.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are part elevations of three modifications.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the said drawings, I employ a disc or drum A
O mounted upon a stud a secured upon the baseboard B. A snug C, preferably
fitted with a roller c projects from the periphery of the said disc and abuts
against a keep D pivoted at. d, the coiled spring being so arranged as to exert
its force against that of the keep.
In order that the said keep may be moved out of the path of the snug C when
5 it is desired to open the valve, I employ a tumbler consisting of a vessel G of
cylindrical or other shape connected to a similar vessel G¹ by a stem g so shaped
that the vessels are at right angles to each other and cored to form a passage or
communicating port g¹ between them. The upper vessel G is filled with a viscous
fluid such as glycerine, or it may be a material such as fine sand, which will
40 flow slowly from the one vessel to the other, the said flow continuing until the
equilibrium is disturbed and the tumbler overbalances. The said movement
of the tumbler causes a snug H cast or otherwise formed upon the sleeve h of the

page_text: tumbler to elevate the toggle J which is mounted loosely on the central pivot
or stud a, distend the lever J¹ and give a side movement to the keep. The disc
being then freed rotates under the influence of the spring and pulls the cord K
which leads to the discharge valve, thus opening same. A stop K limits the
extent of rotation of the dise which is preferably about that of a semicircle.
In order that the time elapsing before the equilibrium of the tumbler is
disturbed, may be altered, I employ a cock L to control the flow of fluid or
material from one vessel to the other through the passage g the said cock being
preferably operated by a handle M mounted on the stud a and fitted with
a pin m engaging with a slot in the pointer N which is keyed
to the plug of the cock. A graduated indicator may be carried by the
handle M so that the tumbler can be set to actuate the keep at say periods varying
in duration from five to 20 minutes:
Stops may be employed for regulating the travel of the tumbler which is
preferably such as to elevate the toggle J and link to the position shown in dotted
lines, so that when the whole of the fluid has passed from the higher into the
lower vessel, the tumbler can be rotated until the lower vessel G¹ is vertical, or
takes the position of the vessel G in the drawing, in which case the snug H¹ on
the sleeve will depress the toggle J when the equilibrium of the tumbler is
again disturbed.
Fig. 3 is a part elevation of a modification. In this case the cock on the
communication passage between the vessels is dispensed with and the time
elapsing before the tumbler acts varied by securing to the back of the keep a
link P fitted to a plunger p working in a cylinder and acted upon by a spiral
spring 2. The force of the said spring can be varied by compressing the spring
through the screw 23 so that an increased amount of fluid. must flow from one
vessel to the other to overcome that force. An indicator is also fitted to the
cylinder to enable the tumbler to be timed to act correctly.
Also as a further modification I may, as shewn in Fig. 4, mount the tumbler
upon a pivot or stud apart from that of the disc or drum and employ a sliding
keep Q actuated by links or toggles in a manner similar to that first described,
the periods at which the tumbler acts being varied by either of the methods first
described.
Fig. 5 illustrates a still further modification the spring actuated disc being
dispensed with and a sliding piece R substituted. The said sliding piece is actuated
by a weight arranged in a casing r¹ and may be formed with notches R¹ into
which a sliding keep S enters; the said keep being withdrawn by an arrangement
of links or levers actuated from the tumbler, in a manner similar to that first
described. T is a handle, the cord of which passes over the pulley t and is
attached to the discharge valve cord, thus affording means by which the weight
can be raised to its normal position. The slide R may also be actuated by a
spiral or other spring in lieu of a weight.
The dise or drum A Figs. 1 to 4 is also formed with a groove in order that a
weight may be employed for effecting its rotation in lieu of the spring, if found
desirable. As will be seen from the several figures, the tumbler is so arranged
as to act alternately to the left and to the right.
The foregoing illustrates a few methods by which my invention may be carried
into practise but I desire it to be understood, that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein before described as it is obvious that the same may be
varied in many ways without departing from the scope of my invention.
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 general arrangement, construction and combination of parts con-
stituting the means for opening the discharge valves of baths automatically, at

page_text: a given time, substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accom
panying drawings.
2. In means for automatically opening the discharge valves of baths at a given
time, the employment of a disc or drum revoluble under the influence of a
coiled spring or weight when released, thus pulling the valve cord to which it is
attached and opening the valve, as shewn in Figs. 1 to 4; or the modification
thereof consisting of a weight or spring actuated slide, Fig. 5, all constructed and
arranged substantially as herein before described.
3. The employment of a tumbler composed of two vessels, the equilibrium of
which is disturbed by the flow of a fluid or fine material from the one vessel
to the other, having snugs upon its carrying sleeve arranged to distend the toggles,
links or levers of a pivoted or sliding keep or stop whereby the latter is moved
out of the path of the snug in the rotating disc, or notch in the slide, enabling
the disc or slide to operate the discharge valve cord, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. Providing the communication passage or port between the vessels of the
tumbler with a cock and graduated operating handle, whereby the rate of flow
of fluid or fine material from one vessel to the other can be regulated, enabling
the period of time required to disturb equilibrium of the tumbler to be lengthened
or shortened as desired, substantially as herein before described and shewn in
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The modified means whereby the period of time elapsing before the disturbance
of the equilibrium of the tumbler takes place may be varied, consisting of a
link pivoted to the keep and acted upon by a spring contained within a cylinder,
the force of which can be varied by varying the compression of the spring, sub-
stantially as herein before described and shewn in Fig. 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
1000