IMPROVED MEANS FOR ACTUATING AUTOMATON MECHANISM
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Nevil Maskelyne and
John Algernon Clarke at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 14th May 1875.
We, JOHN NEVIL MASKELYNE, of the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly, in
the County of Middlesex, Illusionist, and JOHN ALGERNON CLARKE, of
Sutton St. Mary, in the County of Lincoln, Farmer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS FOR ACTUATING
AUTOMATON MECHANISM," to be as follows:-
The chief object of this Invention is to set in action by an invisible
agency clockwork mechanism, or trains of wheelwork actuated by
weights or springs, and to increase at pleasure the speed of such
mechanism beyond what is due to the impelling force of the springs or
weights or to retard the action at will, the design being to imitate more
closely than heretofore the natural movements of human and other
figures.
As the controlling power we employ compressed air or gas, and we
may also use an exhaust in combination with compressed air. Supposing
that it is desired to control two arrangements of clockwork mechanism,

page_text: we fit each apparatus with a locking lever for engaging with a ratchet
wheel on the motive-power axle, and between these levers and near the
free ends thereof we set up a vertical sliding rod which is carried by a
piston. This piston works in a fixed cylinder which is open at bottom
to a trunk or chamber in connection with a compressed air or gas
receiver, or with an air pump or bellows. The piston rod carries a
tappet for working one of the locking levers in its descent, while the
other is worked by the head of the rod striking it while ascending.
When air is admitted to the under side of the piston from the trunk or
chamber, the piston will be forced upwards, and to effect the return
motion a coiled spring, or it may be a weight is employed which forces
down the piston and its rod when released from the upward pressure of
the air. The ascent of the rod to its full height will lift one of the
locking levers and allow the mechanism with which it is connected to
start into action.
If we require to quicken the action of this mechanism, we connect the
lever by means of a wire with a valve opening from the air trunk or
chamber, and so situate with regard to a fan wheel forming part of the
clockwork, that the valve when opened will cause a jet of air to impinge
on the fan blades, and thus give an impetus to the clockwork. If on 2
the other hand the speed is required to be retarded a counteracting jet
may be thrown upon the fan blades. Immediately the pressure of the
air is removed from the piston the counteracting pressure of the coiled
spring or weight will bring down the piston rod as before mentioned, an
escape being provided for the compressed air, and as the piston rod 2
descends its tappet will strike the free end of the locking lever of the
second arrangement of clockwork, and thereby set that mechanism in
action to produce a further and distinct movement of the automaton, the
first arrangement being simultaneously stopped by the descent of its
locking lever.
To provide for the tappet passing and re-passing the second locking
lever, we fit it with a jointed tail piece which will yield to the upward
movement of the tappet, and will present a rigid hearing surface to the

page_text: It will be obvious that the like impelling or retarding force may be
obtained by the use of an exhaust so applied as to induce an indraught
of air to act upon the fan blades.
This Invention admits of the use of a small pedestal highly charged
with compressed air or gas, and capable of being placed in any con-
venient position for controlling by the emission of jets of the compressed
air or gas, the action of separate pieces of mechanism a valve or stop-
cock in the pedestal being opened by means of an electrical or other
connection worked by the foot of the performer or an assistant.
This pedestal arrangement may also be used for the inflation of bellows
within an automaton figure, and for acting upon rotating fans and
wheels for the purpose of driving mechanism not actuated by weights or
springs.