AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DAMPING PADRES LADELO עוז החזזAA ADELD
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Owen Rowland, of Lloyd Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR DAMPING PADRES LADELO
עוז החזזAA
ADELD"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Owen Rowland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
June 1854.
I, OWEN ROWLAND, of Lloyd Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR DAMPING PAPERS, LABELS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in fitting a sponge or other like porous material to
the mouth or orifice of a flexible waterproof vessel, such a vessel, for instance,
as is now used as a syringe.
In order to charge this vessel, it is compressed, and the sponge inserted in
water; on withdrawing pressure, water will be drawn into the vessel, and the
sponge will be kept constantly damp by applying slight pressure to the vessel,
when required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Owen Rowland in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OWEN
ROWLAND, of Lloyd Square, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS, Her most Excellent Majesty. Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Owen Rowland, Her special licence that I, the said Owen Rowland, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others, as I, the said Owen
Rowland, 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, shoul! 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 APPARATUS FOR
DAMPING PAPERS, LABELS, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Owen Rowland, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, 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 Owen Rowland, 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 state-
ment thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that
is to say :-
My Invention consists of a flexible waterproof vessel or reservoir, with a
sponge-or-other-like-porous material fitted to the mouth or orifice thereof. In
order to charge this vessel, it is compressed, and the sponge inserted in water;
on withdrawing pressure, water will be drawn into the vessel, and the sponge
will be kept constantly damp by applying slight pressure to the vessel, when
required. In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shewn the manner in
which I construct my improved damping apparatus.
Figure 1 is an external view,- and Figure 2a section, of an apparatus
adapted to the damping of copying papers, to cleaning paintings, mirrors, and

page_text: other articles. A is the reservoir, which is composed of vulcanized india-
rubber, or other flexible waterproof. substance; B is a metal case or frame,
which is open at the top. This frame contains the sponge, or other suitable
porous material; it is united water-tight to the reservoir A, by means of the
thin discs of metal a, b, soldered to the hollow stem or tube c, which is also
connected by soldering or otherwise to the bottom of the frame. Communi-
cation is thus established between the frame and the interior of the reservoir.
A hole is cut in one part of the reservoir, and the disc so inserted therein,
that the edges of the hole can be introduced between the discs, as shewn in
Figure 2. A tool is then brought to bear upon the under side of the disc (the
flexibility of the reservoir admitting of such), pressure is applied until the
india-rubber is held firmly between the discs. The reservoir is filled with
water or other desired liquid; by collapsing it and inserting the sponge in the
liquid, as before explained, when the damper will be ready for use. Instead
of a sponge a brush of fine hair may be inserted in the frame or case B,
whereby the damper would be adapted to artistic or other purposes; where
water or other liquids, such as dissolved gum or varnish, is desired to be applied
by a brush.
Figure 3 represents a damper, with a different shaped frame or casc, for
holding the sponge or other porous material. The damper with such a frame
is more suitable for holding gum or other adhesive compounds, and is provided
with a metal cap or cover, Figure 4, for protecting the sponge from dust aiid
dirt when not in use.
Figure 5 is another damper, which may be used for containing water or
other suitable liquid for damping labels, postage stamps, and other like articles;
and also for cleansing wounds in surgery and other purposes, where a damping
sponge or such other porous material, as, for instance, lint, may be required.
In Figure 6 I have shewn in elevation, and in Figure 7 in longitudinal section,
the mode in which I construct my damping apparatus, suitable for offices and
other places, where a damper is much used. A, A, is a box or case, composed
of wood or other suitable substance, firmly fixed to a base B, of iron or other
metal, in order to render the apparatus steady; C is the reservoir, for con-
taining the water or other damping liquid; D is the frame or case for holding
the sponge or other porous substance, the hollow stem a of which is made suffi-
ciently long to pass through the front of the box A. In order to compress the
reservoir C, for the purpose of filling it, or for moistening the sponge, I make
use of a rod E, passing through a nozzle F, and furnished with a button G at
its inner end, the outer or opposite end terminating in a knob, on which the
necessary pressure is applied; the rod E is free to slide backwards and for-

page_text: wards through the nozzle F. In some cases I move the rod E backwards and
forwards by means of a screw working through a nut in the nozzle or back of
the box A, whereby a constant pressure can be maintained upon the reservoir,
and the sponge or other porous material can be kept saturated. H is a cover
or case for protecting the sponge from dust and dirt.
Although I have shewn in the Drawings the reservoir as of a spherical
shape, yet I do not confine myself to such shape, as it may be made oval or
oblong, or of any other desired form. The shape of the frame for containing
the sponge or other porous material may be also varied, to suit any purpose to
which it may be desired to apply my damping apparatus.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the improved
apparatus for damping papers, labels, and other like articles, consisting of a
flexible waterproof vessel or reservoir, fitted with a frame or case containing
sponge or other like porous material, in the manner herein-before described
and represented in the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Owen Rowland, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of December, One thousand eight hun-
dred and fifty-four.
OWEN ROWLAND. (L.S.)