Improved Apparatus for Blowing Glass by Mechanical Means.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1887.
Complete Left, 10th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th July, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Blowing Glass by Mechanical Means.
We RICHARD EDWARD DONOVAN of 7 Ormond Road Rathmines Gentleman,
FRANCIS HAZLETT of 1 O'Connell Avenue Dublin Accountant and JAMES JOHNSTON
of 50 Fleet Street Dublin Merchant, all in the County of Dublin Ireland do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to an improvement or modification in certain
Apparatus for blowing glass by means of compressed air for which an Application
accompanied by an Complete Specification was filed in Her Majestys Patent Office in
the names of the said Richard Edward Donovan Francis Hazlett and James Johnston
on the twenty second day of January of the present year. The said application being
numbered 1015.
The improvement or modification herein referred to consists in modifying the
construction of the Apparatus described in the above recited Application so as to
utilize ordinary atmospheric air for the purpose of blowing glass.
To this end we dispense with all valves used in the said Apparatus and we
substitute for the solid piston a disk piston attached to a prolonged plunger so as to
enable the said disk piston to move vertically in the chamber.
When this piston is raised the chamber as well as the pipe will naturally contain a
column of atmospheric air which will be sealed up immediately the end of the pipe is
loaded with the molten glass whereupon a slight pressure on the handle of the
plunger drives the air into the glass bulb to the extent required.
Dated 2nd day of March 1887.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
10, Leinster Street, Dublin,
Agents for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Blowing Glass by Mechanical Means.
We RICHARD EDWARD DONOVAN of 7 Ormond Road, Rathmines, Gentleman,
FRANCIS HAZLETT of 1 O'Connell Avenue Dublin, Accountant, and JAMES JOHNSTON
50 Fleet Street Dublin Merchant all in the County of Dublin Ireland do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention has reference to an improvement, or modification, in certain
apparatus for blowing glass, for which Her Majestys Letters Patent bearing date the
twenty second day of January of the present year and numbered 1,015 were granted
to the said Richard Edward Donovan, Francis Hazlett, and James Johnston.
The improvement or modification herein referred to, consists in modifying the
construction of the Apparatus described in the above recited Letters Patent so as to
utilize ordinary atmospheric air, for the purpose of blowing glass.
To this end we dispense with all valves used in the said apparatus and we substitute
for the pump piston, a disk piston, attached to a prolonged plunger, so as to enable
the said disk piston to move vertically in the chamber.
When this piston is raised the chamber as well as the pipe will naturally contain a
column of air which will be obviously sealed up, immediately the end of the pipe is
loaded with the molten glass, whereupon a slight pressure on the plunger, or piston
rod, drives the air into the glass bulb, to the extent required.
For the purpose of facilitating the free ingress, and egress, of air during the
progress of a single operation in the act of blowing glass bottles, or other articles,
means are provided which we will describe in connection with the accompanying
drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2, a longitudinal axial section of our
modified apparatus; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of external end of piston rod and
tubular air cap; and Fig. 4 a view hereinafter more fully described.
An elongated chamber a, is attached to, and forms part of, the ordinary blow pipe
or tube b, and from the top of the chamber rises the cylinder c, in which slides the
hollow rod, or plunger d, carrying the piston e, which is pierced in the centre to
admit of the flow of air through the rod or plunger to the chamber and vice versa
according to requirements.
On the external end of the rod a tubular cap f, is mounted the top of which is
closed by the wooden knob g secured by the transverse pin g', and underneath the
knob is placed a disk of india rubber, leather, or other suitable material g³.
This cap
slides freely on the rod, or plunger and is limited in its movement by the
slot h, working on the stud h³, while around its upper portion are pierced several holes
for the free passage of air as presently described.
The action of the apparatus is as follows
The piston being raised in the chamber the operator takes up the molten material
on the end of the pipe whereupon he presses down the tubular cap thus sealing up the

page_text: air in the Apparatus. The pressure being continued, the piston descends and drives
the air into the glass bulb at the end of the pipe.
At the moment of completing the necessary pressure to mould the glass vessel
under treatment, the operator removes his hand from the knob, whereupon the
compressed air, having its tension increased by the heat of the molten material
instantly lifts the tubular cap, and escapes through the holes round its side. By the
same means when the vessel is cooling, air is admitted to the interior and the
occurrence of a partial vacuum prevented.
On the other hand should the operator be engaged in blowing a glass bottle or
other article requiring a greater quantity of air to complete the operation than is
afforded by one stroke of the piston, he can re-charge the apparatus by raising the
cap which being followed by the rod or plunger, the air rushes into the chamber
through the holes in the cap when the downward stroke is repeated as before. An
aperture i, is provided in the upper part of the chamber to allow the air to enter and
escape.
Another method whereby we may provide for the escape and supply of air at the
moment of completing the formation of the glass bottle, or other article under
treatment is illustrated in Fig. 4.
Around the base of the chamber an annular recess is formed in the collar K which
communicates with the interior of the chamber by means of two rows of holes spaced
vertically.a little more than the depth of the piston packing, so that when the stroke
of the piston is nearly completed, and sufficient pressure has been exerted to mould
the glass, the piston passes the first row of holes (as shown in the drawing) and
allows the compressed air to escape from front to rere of same. Air is also free to
pass, in, the reverse direction to supply the contraction of the air in the glass vessel
when it cools. In this case the rod or plunger d', is solid, and the aperture i,
admits of the free ingress and egress of air according to the motion of the piston.
Thus by either of these arrangements the escape of compressed, or expanded, air at
the moment of completing the glass under formation is provided for, and also the
equalization of pressure on the inside, and outside, of the glass bottle when cooling
after its removal from the mould.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
we would have it understood that modifications may be made in the details without
departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the Invention.
What we claim is
1st. In apparatus for blowing glass the combination formed by the chamber a, the
pipe or tube b, piston e, and hollow rod or plunger d, with the tubular cap f, for
providing for the free ingress and egress, of air; and for the repetition of the stroke
of the piston in the manner substantially as herein specified and set forth.
2nd. In apparatus for blowing glass, the combination formed by the chamber a, the
pipe or tube b, the piston e, and the solid piston rod d¹, with the arrangement for
allowing the free ingress and egress of air in the manner substantially as illustrated in
Fig. 4 of accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of June 1887.