IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FOUNTAINS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Needham, of Hammersmith, in the County of
Middlesex, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PORTABLE FOUNTAINS."
Scaled the 10th November 1876, and dated the 31st May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Needham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1876.
JOSEPH NEEDHAM, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FOUNTAINS."
My Invention consists of the combinations or arrangements of parts of portable
fountains herein-after described whereby great simplicity and durability in their
construction and efficiency in action are secured.
"I make the body or case of the portable fountain of a hollow cylinder con-
stituting the reservoir of the fountain, and an inner hollow cylinder sliding in the
said body or case. The body or case is open at top and closed at bottom, the
open top being expanded into a pan form for receiving the liquid falling from the
fountain, and the bottom is supported on a base or foot. The inner cylinder is
closed near its top, and in the said top is a valve opening upwards, and pressed
down by a spring. Below the closed top of the inner cylinder, and extending
about one-third down the said cylinder, is a water chamber supplied with water
through the valve described. The part below this water chamber forms an air
vessel. In the said water chamber is a vertical pipe or pipes, the lower ends
opening into the air vessel and the upper ends into the water chamber near the
top thorcof.
In the axis of the water chamber is the delivery pipe or jet of the
fountain which projects above the closed top of the inner cylinder and opens into
the water chamber near its bottom. The bottom of the inner cylinder rests on the
bottom of the body or case, but the said bottom of the inner cylinder is perforated
and hence there is a free communication between the two cylinders.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The inner cylinder forming the
water chamber and air vessel being depressed or pushed home in the outer
cylindrical case the latter is filled with water, the level of the water being above
the closed top of the inner cylinder. By now raising the inner cylinder in the
case, and at the same time opening the valve, the water above the said inner
cylinder passes through the said valve, and fills the water chamber. The valve
being allowed to close the inner cylinder is pressed to its full extent into the outer
[Price Gd.]

page_text: case. The air in the air vessel is thereby compressed, being prevented from
escaping by the water which fills the outer cylinder or case and the lower part of
the inner cylinder. The compressed air passes by the air tube or tubes described
to the top of the water chamber, and pressing upon the water therein forces it
through the central delivery pipe or jet of the fountain, the fountain being main-
tained in action so long as there is water in the water chamber. The water in
the water chamber being exhausted the valve of the water chamber is opened and
the inner cylinder raised in its case and again depressed to its full extent. The
water chamber is thereby refilled and the air compressed in the air vessel and the
fountain put into operation, as before described.
Instead of depressing the water chamber and air vessel in the case after the
water chamber has been filled the said parts may be allowed to gradually descend
by their own weight. The action of this modification is essentially the saine as the
arrangement first described, excepting that the jet or delivery pipe and the parts
carried with the inner cylinder change their level.
Or instead of the water being forced through the delivery pipe or jet of the
fountain by compressed air, as described, I employ a cylindrical case or reservoir
containing the water in combination with a packed or tightly fitting weighted
piston, the said piston as it descends in the case forcing the water below it
through a central or side pipe in connection with the delivery pipe or jet of the
fountain.
"
My Invention may be used for delivering a jet or spray or jots or sprays of
scented spirits or perfumes as well as for delivering jets or sprays of water and
other liquids.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Needham in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 24th November
1876.
JOSEPH NEEDHAM, of Hammersmith, in the County of Middlesex, Gun Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE FOUNTAINS."
My Invention consists of the combinations or arrangements of parts of portable
fountains herein-after described whereby great simplicity and durability in their
construction and efficiency in action are secured.
I make the body or case of the portable fountain of a hollow cylinder constituting
the reservoir of the fountain, and an inner hollow cylinder sliding in the said body
or case. The body or case is opened at top and closed at bottom the open top
being expanded into a pan form for receiving the liquid falling from the fountain.
The inner cylinder is closed near is top, and in the said top is a valve opening
upwards and pressed down by a spring. Below the closed top of the inner cylinder
and extending about one-third down the said cylinder is a water chamber supplied
with water through the valve described. The part below this water chamber
forins an air vessel. In the said water chamber is a vertical pipe or pipes, the
lower ends opening into the air vessel and the upper ends into the water chamber
near the top thereof. In the axis of the water chamber is the delivery
pipe or jet of the fountain which projects above the closed top of the inner cylinder
and opens into the water chainber near its bottom. The bottom of the inner
cylinder rests on the bottom of the body or case, but the said bottom of the inner
cylinder is perforated and hence there is a free communication between the two
cylinders.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The inner cylinder forming the water
chamber and air vessel being depressed or pushed home in the outer cylindrical
case the latter is then filled with water the level of the water being above the
closed top of the inner cylinder. By now raising the inner cylinder in the case,

page_text: and at the same time opening the valve, the water above the said inner cylinder
passes through the said valve and fills the water chamber. The valve being
allowed to close the inner cylinder is pressed to its full extent into the outer case.
The air in the air vessel is thereby compressed, being prevented from escaping by
the water which fills the outer cylinder or case and the lower part of the inner
cylinder. This compressed air passes by the air tube or tubes described to the
top of the water chamber and pressing upon the water therein forces it through
the central delivery pipe or jet of the fountain, the fountain being maintained in
nction so long as there is water in the water chamber. The water in the water
chamber being exhausted the valve of the water chamber is opened and the inner
cylinder raised in its case and again depressed to its full extent. The water chamber
is thereby refilled and the air compressed in the air vessel and the fountain put into
operation, as before described.
Instead of depressing the water chamber and air vessel in the case after the
water chamber has been filled the said parts may be allowed to gradually descend
by their own weight. The action of this modification is essentially the same as
the arrangement first described, excepting that the jet or delivery pipe and the
parts carried with the inner cylinder change their level.
Or instead of the water being forced through the delivery pipe or jet of the
fountain by compressed air, as described, I employ a cylindrical case or reservoir
containing the water in combination with a packed or tightly fitting weighted
piston, the said piston as it descends in the case forcing the water below it
through a central or side pipe in connection with the delivery pipe or jet of the
fountain.
My Invention may be used for delivering a jet or spray or jets or sprays of
scented spirits or perfumes as well as for delivering jets or sprays of water and
other liquids.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe with
reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in which the same is to be
performed.
Figure 1 represents in vertical section, and Figure 2 in plan, of upper sido a
portable fountain constructed according to one of the arrangements of my Invention.
a is the cylindrical case or body of the fountain supported on the foot b. The
bottom of the said case or body is closed but the top a is open and expanded into
a pan form for receiving the liquid falling from the fountain; c is the inner cylinder
sliding in the outer cylindrical case a. The bottom of the said inner cylinder is
perforated and rests on the bottom of the case u so that there is a free communi-
cation between the inner cylinder c and outer case a. The inner cylinder c is
closed near the top, and in the said top is a valve d opening upwards and pressed
down by the spring e. The valve dis fixed on the bottom of one of the handles f,f,
by which the inner cylinder c is raised and lowered. The upper part of the inner
cylinder c is made into a water chainber g, the said chamber being supplied with water
from the upper part or pan a² of the case a through the valve d. The space between
the water chamber g and the lower part of the inner cylinder c constitutes an air
vessel or chamber; i, i, are vertical pipes in the water chamber g, the lower ends of
the said pipes i, i, opening into the air vessel h, and their upper ends opening into
the water chamber near the top, as represented. is the delivery pipe or jet of the
fountain, the said pipe being supported by the cross plate. The said delivery
pipe or jet is carried to any desired height above the top of the water chamberg,
and its lower end opens into the said water chamber near its bottom, as seen in
Figure 1. The pipe may terminate in any required kind of jet.
The action of the fountain is as follows:-In Figure 1 the parts of the fountain
are represented in the positions which they respectively occupy when the water in
the water chamber has been exhausted, and the said water chamber is ready to
be refilled, the cylindrical case a and the lower part of the inner cylinder c being
illed with water. To put the fountain into operation the inner cylinder c is raised
n the outer cylinder or case a by means of the handles f, f, the valve d at the

page_text: same time being lifted from its seat. The water above the inner cylinder c passes
through the said open valve d and fills the water chamber g. The valve & being
allowed to close the inner cylinder c is pressed home in the outer case, as represented
in Figure 1. By this depression of the inner cylinder c the air in the air vessel /
is compressed, the said air being prevented from escaping by the water which fills
the outer cylinder a and the lower part of the inner cylinder c. This compressed
air passes by the air tubes i, i, to the top of the water chamber g, and pressing upon
the water in it forces the said water through the central delivery pipe or jet k,
the fountain being maintained in action so long as there is water in the water
chamber g. By again raising the inner cylinder c, opening the valve d, and after
the filling of the water chamber g again depressing the inner cylinder c in the
caso a, the fountain is again put into operation.
Figures 3 and 4 represent vertical sections, and Figure 5 a plan of another port-
able fountain constructed according to my Invention, Figure 3 representing the
fountain ready for working, and Figure 4 the same in the act of being made ready
for working. In this fountain the arrangement for filling the water chamber is
different from that already described. In place of a valve at the top of the water
chamber g through which the water passes I fill the said water chamber by the
pressure of the column of water in the outer case or cylinder a. For this purpose
I provide one of the hollow or tubular handles marked , by which the inner
cylinder c is raised and lowered with a stop cock or valve m, the inner of the
said hollow or tubular handle opening into the top of the water chamber
The
air pipe i by which the compressed air from the air vessel is conveyed to the
surface of the water in the water chamber g is prolonged through the diaphragm ².
After the fountain has been exhausted to recharge the water chamber g it is only
necessary to open the stop cock or valve m, so as to empty the said water chamber
of air. As the air escapes from the water chamberg the water from the outer
cylinder or case a rises in the air chamber h, and passing through the air pipe i fills
the water chamber with water. The tap or valve being now closed the inner
cylinder c is raised in the case a above the water level in the said case a, as illus-
trated in Figure 4; the said inner cylinder c is then depressed in the outer case to
the position represented in Figure 3. The air in the air vessel is thereby com-
pressed, the compressed air passing to the water chamber g through the pipe i, the
action of the fountain being the same as that herein first described.
The parts of the fountain, Figures 3, 4, and 5, which I have not described, arc
constructed as herein before described with respect to Figures 1 and 2, and corre-
sponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in vertical section arrangements of my Invention in
which the water is forced through the delivery pipe or jet by a weighted piston.
a is the cylindrical case or reservoir of the fountain, and b is the weighted piston,
constructed as herein-after described, fitting tightly in the case a. In Figure 6 a
central pipe c in connection with the jet d is used, and in Figure 7 two side pipes c, C,
in connection with the jet d are used. The bottoms of the pipes c, c, c, open into
the bottom of the case or reservoir a. When the weighted piston b is allowed to
descend in the case a it gradually presses the water below it through the central
pipe c or side pipes c, e, to the jet d of the fountain. The weighted piston is raised
in the case a by cords or chains f. f, passing over pulleys. In order to readily raise
the weighted piston it is made in two parts, namely, of the piston proper marked b
and a separate weight , which acts as a valve, the said weight being connected to
the piston b by a stem and cross head at i. When the piston descends the valve
or weight seats itself on the elastic bed or seat h and prevents the water passing
over the piston. When, however, the piston is raised in the case a the valve or
weight his first lifted from its seat , thereby opening communication between the
upper and lower sides of the piston, and the further motion of the valve or weight h
carries the piston b with it, the water as the piston is raised passing to its under
side through the opening between the two parts of the piston, as will be understood
by an examination of the Drawing.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention. But I claim as my Invention-
First. The combination or arrangement of the parts of portable fountains herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing;
also the modification herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5
of the accompanying Drawing for filling the water chamber of the portable
fountain.
Secondly. The combinations or arrangements of the parts of portable fountains
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying
Drawing in which the ascent of the water in the fountain is produced by the
descent of a weighted piston.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Needham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.