AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTERACTING THE WEIGHT OF PENDANT SLIDING CHANDELIERS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Turner and George Robert Rollason,
Chandelier and Fancy Gas Fitting Manufacturers, of Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTERACTING THE WEIGHT OF PENDANT SLIDING
CHANDELIERS."
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Turner and
George Robert Rollason at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 20th August 1873.
We, ROBERT TURNER and GEORGE ROBERT ROLLASON, Chandelier and
Fancy Gas Fitting Manufacturers, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTERACTING THE WEIGHT OF PENDANT SLIDING
CHANDELIERS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
Our Invention has for its object the superseding the use of balance
weights as a counterpoise for pendant sliding fittings for illumination,
such as chandeliers, vestibule lamps, and other pendant illuminating

page_text: fittings required to be raised or lowered; and we purpose effecting this
object by connecting the inner or smaller pendant tube with its ball
joint to a convex radial ceiling rose, within the concavity of which and
to the cup of the ball joint wc form a strong fixed circular box with a
concentric loose axis for connection with a flat helical spring, and with a
deep flange around its outer edge, so as to enclose the said spring within
it, as in a shallow box, securing the outer end of the spring to the outer
rim, and to this spring we by preference attach pendant chains, which,
being engaged with the out descending tube of the pendant, the same
will be held in check or counterpoised by properly apportioning the
thickness of the springs to the weight of the chandeliers or fittings it is
required to sustain, so that at the time the pendant fitting is fully
elevated the spring is exerting its contracting force to maintain the
fitting in that position, and the same contracting force will allow the
chandelier or pendant fittings to be lowered to its full range when
desired, the contracting force of the spring only exerting itself as an
auxiliary counterpoise when assisted by the attendant clevating or
adjusting the position of the lights, as desired; notwithstanding, a break
may be applied adjusted with a screw, that a truc adjustment may be
obtained, according to the weight of the chandelier, and the strength of
the flat or box spring used.
The mode of attaching the ceiling plate, or connecting the gas (if gas
is used) to the parts above the ball joint will be well understood by
skilled artisans accustomed to the manufacture of ordinary gas fittings;
and to permit the lights connected with the outer tube rotating on the
inner fixed pendant tube, we fasten the lower end of the pendant chains
to a loose collar held in position by an expanding flange around the top
of the lower tube, of sufficient strength to carry the weight of the
fittings, and sufficiently free to revolve within the collar, but this
provision would be unnecessary to the ordinary style of vestibule lamps.
Should the metal chain herein-before described break by the continuous
deleterious action on its metallic alloys by the pericious acids evolved,
consequent on the common use of impure gas, the pendant or sliding
part will only be permitted to descend to a certain range, by the inner
tube being provided with a projecting flange, which coming in contact
with a corresponding one fitted within the top part of tho outer tubo
will define the extent or range of descent, and prevent the fittings from
falling or becoming disconnected.

page_text: And although we have described our Invention in relation with the
use of a ceiling rose, other means may be adopted, whereby the
counterpoising effects of weights may be superseded by the use of a
spring or springs, as hercin-before described, and which are essentially
our Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Turner and George Robert Rollason in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
TURNER and GEORGE ROBERT ROLLASON, both of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Chandelier and Fancy Gas Fitting Manufacturers,
sond greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said Robert Turner and George Robert
Rollason, Her special license that we, the said Robert Turner and George
Robert Rollason, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as wc, the said Robert Turner and George Robert Rollason,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT FOR COUNTERACTING THE WEIGHT OF PENDANT
SLIDING CHANDELIERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Robert Turner and George Robert Rollason, by an instrument in
writing under our hand and scal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Robert Turner and George Robert
Rollason, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what

page_text: :
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
Our Invention has for its object the superseding the use of balance
weights as a counterpoise for pendant sliding gas or other fittings for
illumination, such as chandeliers, vestibule lamps, and other pendant or
sliding illuminating fittings required to be raised or lowered. And we
purpose effecting this object by connecting the inner or smaller pendant
tube with its ball joint to a convex radial ceiling rose, within the con-
cavity of which and to the cup of the ball joint we form a frame carrying
a strong circular box with a concentric loose axis for connection with a
flat coiled spring, the said box being fitted with deep flanges around its
outer edges, the said springs being enclosed within the hollow space
between them as in a shallow box, securing the outer end or ends of the
spring or springs to the outer rim. And to this outer rim we by preference
attach pendant chains, which being engaged with the outer descending
'tube of the pendant the same will be held in check or counterpoised by
properly apportioning the thickness of the spring to the weight of the
chandeliers or fittings it is required to sustain, so that at the time the
pendant fitting is fully elevated the spring is exerting its contracting
force to maintain the fittings in that position, and the same contracting
force will allow the chandelier or pendant fittings to be lowered to its
full range when desired, the contracting force of the spring only exerting
itself as an auxiliary counterpoise when assisted by the attendant
elevating or adjusting the position of the lights, notwithstanding a
break may be applied regulated by means of a screw, so that a true
adjustment may be obtained according to the weight of the chandelier
and the strength of the flat or box spring or springs used.
The mode of attaching the ceiling plate and connection with the gas
way will be well understood by skilled artisans accustomed to the fixing
and manufacture of ordinary gas fittings. In order to permit the lights
connected with the outer lower tube rotating on the inner fixed pendant
tube when required we fasten the lower end of the pendant chains to a
loose collar held in position by an expanded flange around the top of the
lower outer tube of sufficient strength to carry the weight of the fittings
and sufficiently free to revolve within the collar, but this provision would
be unnecessary to the ordinary style of vestibule lamps.
'
Should the metal chain (herein-before described) break by the
No text detected.

page_text: of Sing part win omly be permitted to descend to a certain range by
the inner tube being provided with a projecting flange or collar, which
coming in contact with a corresponding one fitted within the top part of
the outer tube will define the extent of range of descent and prevent
the fittings from falling or becoming disconnected, and thereby preventing
escape
of gas.
all
And although we have described our Invention in relation with the
use of a deep ceiling rose for partially covering or obscuring the spring
box, or such ceiling rose may be of the ordinary shape or altogether
omitted, or other means may be adapted, whereby the counterpoising
effect of pendant weights are superseded by the use of a central revolving
box spring or springs, as herein-before described, as essentially forming
our Invention, and which will be clearly understood by referring to the
Drawings hercunto annexed and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, observing that the same letters of reference are used to define
the same part as they occur in both views (that is to say) :-
Figs. 1 and 2 represent as much of a pendant chandelier necessary for
illustrating our Invention. A is the ordinary ball joint for forming an
attachment with the gas way or ceiling fitting, but which is not arbitrary
to our arrangement, although this common mode of connection will
doubtless be found most convenient for general use. The gas descends
through the pipe B, and passing at a right angle descends through
the lateral tube C entering the pipe D and descends centrally through
the tube E, which tube is represented broken off for the con-
venience of space. The small lateral tube C is supported by a strong
frame marked a, a, a, a, as defined at Fig. 2, the top and bottom of
which is strengthened or formed with a hollow collar, as at F and D,
and to which the angular lateral tube or gas way is secured. The frame
(before referred to) is continued and made complete by a detachable
front marked G, shown in front view at Figure 1, and edge at Figure 2,
marked with the same letter, and this plate is secured to the angles of
the frame top and bottom by screws marked b, b. Underneath the
crown of the frame strong arms are secured marked H, H, for carrying
the pulleys J, J. And centrally with the pendant line we place within
the frame the spring box K, K, within which the flat voluted spring or
springs are placed, the outer end being secured to the periphery of the
box, while the inner end of the spring is secured to the axis on which

page_text: .
the box revolves, and which axis being shouldered and squared at the
ends is passed through the front and back of the frame, one end of which
is only shown in the Drawing marked c, Figure 1. On one side of the
box containing the spring a projecting collar is formed marked d, d,
with a sunken groove around it to take a clip or other equivalent means
for retarding or regulating the contracting or expanding force of the
spring according to the weight it has to sustain. This break or clip may
be fitted and adjusted as here shewn, or other equivalent means may be
used. The part marked ƒ may be of steel or other metal, one end being.
tapped and secured to the lower part of the frame as at g, while the
other end passes through a hole in the frame and enters an adjustable
thumbscrew marked , by which pressure is removed or applied to or
from the projecting collar above referred to.
L, L, is a hollow water cup or spreading flange of the stuffing box
secured to the outer tube M, which for convenience is represented
broken off. With this general description we will suppose that suitable
chains have been attached to the water cup L, L, passing over the lateral
pullies J, J, and around the periphery of the spring box K within. tho
flanges, and that the contracting force of the spring has made the box
revolve, thereby winding up the lower tube to its fullest height as
represented; and our imagination may be further extended to the
carrying down of the tube M terminating at the bottom or other part in
any ornamental style with two or more radial brackets or arms with the
usual burners and globes, the weight being proportionately regulated
according to the strength of the spring box and counteracting parts:
herein described, the said pendant or lower part may be lowered or
raised at pleasure, notwithstanding when massive and heavy chandeliers
are required the counterpoising force may be increased by increasing
the thickness of the box and using two or more springs, the chains and
lateral pullies being increased in number or proportion accordingly.
We have not thought it necessary to elaborate the Drawing by
exhibiting an ornamental ceiling rose for wholly or partially obscuring
the counteracting mechanism, as a skilled operative accustomed to the
production of general gas fittings will well understand how to adapt and
give effect to such an arrangement.
Fig. 3 represents sufficient for illustrating our Invention as adapted
and arranged for a nendant vestibule or hall lamn which we have done
E

page_text: by representing the parts immediately below the frame, box, clip, and
ball joint, as described above the water cup L, L, Figures 1 and 2, (that
is to say) the chains N, N, passes up over lateral pulleys and around
the periphery of the box containing the spring, which in this case may
be comparatively light, as it is only required to counterpoise the lower
half of the globe P, P, and some small amount of friction attendant on
the sliding boss Q and friction pulleys attached triangularly or otherwise
(according to the number of pendant chains used, to the periphery of
the metal seat or basil R, R, in which the top part of the globe S, S,
rests, and which metal rim is connected by a suitable number of arms
to the main tube T, the gas being permitted to pass through one of the
said arms to the burner U, by which general arrangement the said
burner and tap may be rendered easily accessible for lighting or extin-
guishing by the yielding or counterpoising quality of the box spring
before referred to, permitting the lower half of the globe to be pulled
down or elevated at pleasure.
And in like manner we purpose applying our Invention to the raising
and lowering of branch and side lights by fitting one or more branches
to a lower outer tube, having an inner or gas way tube passing down its
contre, as described at Figures 1 and 2, and fitting to the top of the said
inner tube or box, frame, spring, and pulley or pulleys modified from
Figures 1 and 2 so as to adapt the said parts for fitting against a wall,
plaster, or partition, and by being thus fitted and adapted such branch or
branches will possess the quality of allowing the light or lights to be
raised or lowered as desired, thus providing a want often felt in places
of worship, reading and coffee rooms, and other places of public resort.
.
Having thus sufficiently exhibited our Invention and described its
general details and purposes of use, it will be obvious to practical minds
accustomed to designing and arranging gas fittings and their attendant
parts that the same may be generally varied without effecting the
character and object of our Invention; but what we claim and wish to
protect by these our in part recited Letters Patent is the construction of
sliding pendant gas or other illuminating fittings as herein described and
set forth, whereby we are enabled to dispense with the use of counter-
poising pendant weights, the same effected by the use of a flat spring
or springs coiled up and secured in a suitable box, which box we
place centrally at or near the top of the pendant fitting required to be

page_text: sustained or counterpoised, and being thus placed and arranged with the
attendant parts forms the essential quality of our Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said Robert Turner and George Robert
Rollason, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Seventeenth
day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.
Witness,
ROBERT TURNER.
(L.S.)
GEORGE ROBERT ROLLASON. (L.S.)
FREDERICK COCKINGS,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.