IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATING APPARATUS."
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Conrad Edward Zimdars, of Red Lion Square,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATING
APPARATUS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Conrad Edward Zimdars
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th November 1872.
I, CONRAD EDWARD ZIMDARS, of Red Lion Square, Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATING
APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
These improvements have reference to pneumatic signalling apparatus
whether for repeating call bells, single strike bells, indicators, thief and
fire alarms, railway carriage signals, or for other purposes; and such my
improvements consist, -
First. In a moulded vulcanized rubber bellows, whether single,
double, treble, or otherwise; which bellows may when requisite have

page_text: Third. The construction of the air holders in the form of a moulded

page_text: °
When the apparatus is to be actuated by outside pulls I use the
aforesaid bellows with a spring inside to keep it distended, and a spindle
attached to one of its ends, so that upon pulling action being applied the
bellows may be collapsed and the bell rung, or gong struck by the
column of air thereby put in motion.
When ordinary bells hung upon a spring are required to be operated,
I adopt an arrangement consisting of the aforesaid bellows with a rod,
bar, or lever, pushing or pulling the spring of the bell, and thus ringing
the same.
For burglary alarums the apparatus may when desired be arranged to
act by means of a portion of the flooring being made so as to move
(when stepped or pressed upon), which when moving presses upon the
air holder, and thus puts the alarum in motion. Sometimes windows
and doors are so arranged that on being opened the apparatus may be
set in motion.
In cases where it is desired to signal by bell, gong, or otherwise at a
considerable distance, I place a valve or valves in the tube so that the
quick return of the air may be checked, and thus there may always be
sufficient air ready to operate upon the signal apparatus without delay
or loss of power.
To communicate between passenger and guard, and driver and guard,
I adopt an arrangement consisting of the aforesaid bellows with two
tubes; one at bottom in connection with communicating tube, and
another at top which contains a spindle surrounded by a spring, this
spindle penetrating the top of the bellows, and has a plate or valve
which is acted upon by means of the spring and the collapsing of the
bellows. Outside this tube is placed another spring acting against the
top of the spindle which assists the inflation of the bellows upon the air
from the pipe being admitted. At the bottom the bellows is provided
with a valve opening inwards which prevents the air entering the com-
municating tube when the bellows is collapsed by means of the lever.
The communicating tube is fixed along the railway carriage, and in each
compartment or outside as may be necessary a suitable arm with a tap
is fixed. Upon turning the tap the air is admitted through the tube to
the bellows which becomes inflated and sets the alarm in motion at the
same time the arm is made to appear projecting from the carriage, thus
indicating the compartment in which the alarm has been given; and on

page_text: the apparatus which may be placed in the guard's van a danger signal
appears, so that should the guard not hear the ringing of the bell he
cannot fail to notice the danger signal. After attending to the signal
the arm outside the carriage is to be pushed which shuts the tap. The
lever on the guard's apparatus is then to be pulled down which winds
up the alarm apparatus and reverses the signal, and also puts the
bellows and spring in working order.
The connections between the carriages are effected by means of
flexible tubes, so that in the case of any carriage getting detached from
the rest of the train or being uncoupled the flexible tube connection is
broken, and the alarm signal given. All the apparatus may be put in
operation by compression or rarefaction. Instead of india-rubber as
above-mentioned any similar flexible material may be substituted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Conrad Edward Zimdars in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CONRAD
EDWARD ZIMDARS, of Red Lion Square, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Conrad Edward Zimdars, Her special
licence that I, the said Conrád Edward Zimdars, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Conrad Edward
Zimdars, my 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
“IMPROVEMENTS IN PNEUMATIC SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATING APPARATUS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Courad Edward
Zimdars, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Conrad Edward Zimdars, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
These improvements have reference to pneumatic signalling apparatus,
whether for repeating call bells, single strike bells, indicators, thief and
fire alarms, railway carriage signals, or for other purposes. And such
my improvements consist,-
First. In a moulded vulcanized rubber bellows, whether single, double,
treble, or otherwise, which bellows may when requisite have springs
applied inside the same or otherwise according to the requirements of
the case.
Second. Improved arrangements of air holders in which provisions
are made for air-tight connection of the air pipe by means of a metal
tube passed through the opening in the air holder having a plate, disc,
or flat ring on the inside of the air holder, another similar plate, disc, or
ring outside the air holder, and the metal tube all screwed tightly
together by suitable screw-nut coupling.
Third. The construction of the air holders in the form of a moulded
bellows.
Fourth. The construction of press button mechanism or pushes in the
form of moulded bellows arranged to act in conjunction with a metallic
box air holder.
Fifth. The construction of coupling pieces and pushes, consisting of
a screwed ring or tube, which is passed through the rose of the push,
and a wood plate, which being flanged, an exterior nut screwed on to
the ring or tube connect the rose and wood plate, firmly uniting together
these parts even when china, glass, and wood or metal are to be con-
nected.
In applying my Invention to indicators for household and other pur-
poses I adopt arrangements consisting of the aforesaid moulded bellows

page_text: To communicate between passenger and guard and driver and guard I
adopt an arrangement consisting of the aforesaid bellows with two tubes,
one at bottom in connection with communicating tube and another
at top which contains a spindle surrounded by a spring, this spindle
penetrating the top of the bellows and having a plate or valve which is
acted upon by means of the spring and the collapsing of the bellows.
Outside this tube is placed another spring acting against the top of the
spindle which assists the inflation of the bellows upon the air from the
pipe being admitted. The bellows inside is provided with a valve
opening inwards which prevents the air entering the communicating
tube when the bellows is collapsed by means of the lever. The com-
municating tube is fitted along the railway carriage, and in each
compartment or outside, as may be necessary, a suitable arm with a tap
is fixed. Upon turning the tap the air is admitted through the tube to
the bellows, which becomes inflated and sets the alarm in motion, at the
same time the arm is made to appear projecting from the carriage, thus
indicating the compartment in which the alarm has been given, and on
the apparatus which may be placed in the guard's van a danger signal
appears, so that should the guard not hear the ringing of the bell he
cannot fail to notice the danger signal. After attending to the signal
the arm outside the carriage is to be pushed, which shuts the taps. The
lever on the guard's apparatus is then to be pulled down, which winds
up the alarm apparatus and reverses the signal, and also puts the bellows
and spring in working order.
The connections between the carriages are effected by means of
flexible tubes, so that in the case of any carriage getting detached from
the rest of the train or being uncoupled the flexible tube connection is
broken and the alarm signal given.
For communicating messages and even for conveying small parcels
between different places I use the bellows arrangement adapted and
applied as herein-after particularly described.
For signalling or communicating the position and occupation of
workmen, watchmen, and others, I use the bellows arrangement applied
in communication with a clock, as hereafter particularly described.
For communicating the action of the hand to open the lock of a
door I use the bellows arrangement applied in connection with certain
mechanism, as herein-after particularly described.

page_text: Bellows arrangements similar to those above mentioned and hereafter
particularly described could be applied to signal the placing of letters or
parcels in a letter box or receptacle.
Having thus far in general terms described my said Invention, I now
proceed to describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying
Drawing.
First. With regard to the improved arrangements of air holders
Figures 1, 2, 3; the air holder a is composed of moulded india-rubber
kept inflated by the spring b, and provided at the bottom with an
opening c, which comes exactly over the hole in the box d connected
with the tube. For certain air-tight connections I use the coupling
piece e, Figure 1.
The air holder may also be constructed of leather or any other soft
material, as shewn in Figure 5; it is composed of two pieces and joined
by the brass ring a; it is kept inflated by the spring b.
The moulded inflated india-rubber bellows, Figure 6, is made air-tight
by means of the plates a, b, on the top screwed by the nut c, and on the
bottom by the plates d, e, connected with the communicating tube.
The ends of the bellows are held firmly between these plates. This
bellows may also be constructed of leather or other soft material in
which the edges are made of brass rings pressed together to obtain air-
tight junctions, as shewn at a, Figure 5.
With regard to the construction of press buttons or pushes, Figure 7
shews coupling piece for joining china, wood, marble, or other roses
against the box and air holder, as shewn Figures 1 and 4. The rose f
is kept by the said coupling piece against the box, and the push h
passing through the coupling piece is for collapsing the air holder in
the box.
With regard to indicators for household and other purposes I adopt
the arrangement shewn by Figures 8 and 9. The bellows are shewn
at a, a, a; the levers 6 support the tablets c; d is the rod for setting the
clockwork e in motion, and is acted upon by the double levers ff; the
rod and spring 9, 9, are for putting back the tablets by means of the
double levers h, h, h, h; the rod d is also for winding up the clockwork
by means of the cross piece i.

page_text: Figure 10 shews single strike bell; a is the aforesaid bellows acting
against the sliding bar which lifts the hammer from the point; d the
spring c is for putting the hammer in its place after the bell e has been
struck;
the spring is to assist the return of the sliding bar b.
Figure 19 shews repeating bell; a is the aforesaid bellows acting upon
the lever which sets the wheels c, d, e, f, in motion and thus rings the
bell by means of the escapement g.
The apparatus for communicating between passenger and guard or
guard and driver is shewn on Figure 11; a is the aforesaid bellows
which is inflated by the spring 6 and spindle c; d is the valve connected
to spindle c opening inwards. By pulling down the handle the
bellows a is collapsed and the clockwork g wound up. The spring h
is for the purpose of inflating the bellows when the air is admitted
through the tube i. The clockwork g is put in motion by the rod j.
When the bellows is inflated the tablet k rises when the bell is rung and
indicates a colored danger signal k.
For the purpose of transmitting written messages or small parcels I
use the aforesaid bellows on a larger scale in order to obtain a powerful
current of air. The bellows a, Figure 12, I enclose in a suitable case b
and connect with a handle c, c, c, in order to collapse or inflate it.
On collapsing the bellows a the air is forced through the tube d,
carrying at the same time the box in which the messages or parcels are
contained.
I insert the box a, Figure 13, in the tube d, Figure 12, by means of
an opening a, Figure 14, same length as box, cut half through the tube
and which is closed by a second tube b, Figure 14, sliding over the said
opening in order to prevent the air escaping. In the end of the tube
where the box is received a similar opening is cut a, Figure 15, so that
the box may be taken out. The box a, Figure 13, is composed of brass
drawn tube, with portions cut out to lighten it, and to give space for
inserting messages, &c. The end of the box is provided with an india-
rubber disc b which fits the tube d, Figure 12, tightly, so that if the box
is to be sent upwards the said disc prevents it falling on collapsing the
bellows a second or third time, as may be necessary.
In order that the sender may know when the box has arrived and also
to call the attention of the receiver, I fix a small tube about two feet
from the receiving end of the despatch tube connected with two pneu-

page_text: matic bells, one near the sender and one near the receiver. On the
arrival of the box the air is compressed and forced through the small
tube and rings the said bells. When the box is required to be returned
through the same tube I employ the said bellows at each end.
The aforesaid air holder or bellows may be connected to a timepiece,
so that the movements may be indicated upon a sheet or cylinder of
paper which is pierced by points as it revolves, and is useful for the
control of rounds in workshops or other establishments. The object of
this application is to ascertain at stated hours the position of the
workmen in the places to which they are appointed whatever may be
the distance separating them from the controller. The mechanism of
this apparatus Figure 16 consists of the combination of the movement
of an ordinary pendulum with a wheel plate a, gearing with an hour
wheel and having the same number of teeth; upon this wheel a mitre
wheel is placed serving as the connection to five other mitre wheels
c, d, e, f, g, in order to transmit by the aid of three rectangular shafts
x, x¹, x¹¹, the movement of a copper cylinder M covered with a sheet
of paper graduated with the fractions of 24 hours; several steel points
h, h, corresponding in number with the points to control are arranged
vertically beneath, and follow the same scale of the cylinder, each of
them rivetted upon a little metal disc i, i, placed upon the aforesaid
bellows n if my system fixed at the end of a tube with a column of air
terminating at a press button containing air holder, the volume of
which is sensibly larger than that of the bellows; this press button in
order to be sheltered from unauthorized manipulations is generally
enclosed in a box of cast iron fastened to the wall or wedged in the floor
at the fixed station for the round, so that the man charged for this
service provided with a key stops at each station at the stated hours,
and opening the box compresses with the hand or the foot the air
holder it contains, which lifts the corresponding point h, which then
pricks the paper of the cylinder m, thus producing a trace of the passage
of the man or sentry appointed to the place to be watched.
The application I have made of my improved system to opening door
and other locks will be readily understood on reference to Figures 17, 18;
in this application the bellows a receives the compression of the interior
air and acts upon a spring lever b, which in turning round its axis c, d,
causes the square lever g to oscillate through the intermediation of a
pin which it carries; the latter in oscillating in the direction of the

page_text: arrow withdraws the nose h, and allows the lever i to escape while
turning round its axis x, x, under the impulse from the spring k; the
lever i which terminates behind the staple by an arch-shaped projection
Z holding the bolt or moveable panel of the door in oscillating causes the
projection to enter into the staple, and allows the bolt to escape and
the door to open in consequence under the action of a strong spring
hidden in the rebate; a simple pressure therefore made upon the india-
rubber air holder which terminates the column of air is sufficient to
make all these levers oscillate and to make the door open of itself under
the action of the spring; when the door is closed all the mechanism
returns to its first position.
All this apparatus may be put in operation by compression or rare-
faction of the air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the
said Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried into practice, I hereby declare that I claim in regard thereto,―
First. Improved air holder a, Figure 3, with opening at bottom and
no neck, and with spring inside.
Second. Air-tight coupling piece e, Figure 1, in connection with the
air holder.
Third. Construction of air holder (shewn at Figure 5) as herein
described.
Fourth. Construction of air holder (shewn in Figure 6) in the form of
bellows, as hercin described.
Fifth. Coupling piece, Figure 7, in connection with pushes Figures 1
and 4.
Sixth. Roses in connection with coupling piece, pushes, and box,
shewn in Figures 1 and 4, as herein described.
Seventh. Mechanical arrangement of indicator shewn in Figures 8
and 9, as described herein.
Eighth. Mechanical arrangements shewn in Figure 10 of single strike
bells, as described.
Ninth. Mechanical arrangement of apparatus for communicating
between passenger and guard, and guard and driver, as described in
regard to and shewn at Figure 11.

page_text: Tenth. Application of the aforesaid bellows arrangement to a pneu-
matic communicating or despatch tube, and its herein-before described
appliances in connection with pneumatic bells, as described with regard
to and shewn in Figures 12, 13, 14, 15.
Eleventh. Application of the aforesaid bellows, Figure 6, to control
apparatus, as described and shewn, Figure 16.
Twelfth. Application of bellows, Figure 6, to repeating bells, as shewn,
Figure 19.
And, lastly. The application of aforesaid bellows, Figure 6, to pneu-
matic door lock, as described and shewn, Figures 17 and 18.
In witness whereof, I, the said Conrad Edward Zimdars have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
C. E. ZIMDARS. (L.S.)
Witness,
THOMAS MORGAN,
Secretary Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
S.W.