Improvements in or connected with Mechanism for Working Punkahs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1890
Improvements in or connected with Mechanism for Working
Punkahs.
We, SAMUEL ROBERT BAILDON, of 1 Whitefriars Street, and JAMES KERSHAW, of
97 Wood Street, City of London, Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has for object, improved methods, or mechanism for giving motion
to punkahs.
The invention consists of trains of wheels operated by weight or spring for giving
rotation to discs or arms to which the punkah pull cord or cords are attached for
producing a regular fanning, or oscillatory motion of the punkah, or an intermittent
rapid and slow movement from either, or from both sides of the hanging centre.
For producing the intermittent rapid and slow movement wiper lugs, push bolts,
paul and ratchet gear may be employed and in some cases, either in combination or
alone, slip ferrules on rods, or on hooks can be used, so that as the rotative device
passes a given point, the ferrule slides along, or becomes released for the return motion
of the punkah by gravity.
Flyers or vanes regulate or govern the speed of the gear's rotation.
As an example of the invention, a train of wheels is caused to rotate by a weight
and cord, and on one of the shafts a disc or bar is loosely mounted, this having a
projecting stud with the punkah pull cord attached. Above this a spindle and pinion
are arranged for operating the flyer or vane spindle.
The shaft has a ratchet wheel and during a portion of the rotation, a paul or pauls on
the disc or bar engage in the teeth and pull the punkah rapidly over a given distance
and slip during the remaining portion of rotation, the punkah then falling by its own
weight to bo again pulled back when the pauls re-engage.
By having two discs or bars on opposite ends of the shaft a rapid pull can be given
to the punkah in each direction from the hanging centre and a slow gravity movement
to said centre.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Samuel Robert Baildon and James Kershaw.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Mechanism for Working
Punkahs.
We, SAMUEL ROBERT BAILDON, of 1 Whitefriars Street, and JAMES KERSHAW, of
97 Wood Street, City of London, Gentlemen, 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 for object, improved methods, or mechanism for giving motion
to punkahs.
Our invention will be understood by the annexed drawings and from the following
description.
Figures 1 and 2 are side and front elevations of a double armed lever, the ends of
the arms being provided with hooks which automatically engage with a ring on the
end of the punkah pull cord for a somewhat slow action in one direction, and be auto-
matically released as the hooks in succession pass a given point during their circular
travel, the punkah then falling by gravity, or slow return action.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a punkah pull apparatus, by which the rotation of an.
Price 8.1

page_text: arm (or two arms) come into contact with and exert a pull upon the punkah for a
somewhat rapid action and release itself after passing a given point for the return slow
motion due to the weight of the punkah, the speed of such return being governed by
a counterpoise.
Figures 4 and 5 are side and front elevations of a punkah pull apparatus for giving
action to two punkahs or two half punkabs arranged end to end, or back to hack, the
two punkahs or the two half punkahs being simultaneously pulled in opposite directions
and return simultaneously by gravity due to their weight and then to be pulled again
by the apparatus, and so on.
Figures 6 and 7 are detail front and side elevation of a wiper and cam for effecting
the pull action for a part of the revolution on a punkah and a slip action during the
remainder part of the revolution for the return of the punkab.
Figures 8 and 9 are details of a single lever and più action on the arm of the pull
cord, whereby the alternate rapid pull and slow return of the punkah are effected.
Figures 10 and 11 show front and side elevation of a double lever with bar and a
sliding collar thereon for the alternate pull of a punkah and the release during each
revolution of the lever.
Figures 12 and 13 are front elevation and plan of reciprocating racks for gearing
alternately in segmental toothed wheels, through which the punkah has a pull action
in two directions from the central or suspension position.
Figures 14 and 15 show apparatus for drawing the punkah in one direction by a
bolt working in the thread of the screw and then released for the gravity fall of the
punkah.
The apparatus according to Figures 1 and 2 consists of two plates A, B, held at the
required distance apart by tie rods C, C. Between the plates A, B, at the lower part
is a drum or barrel D on which is wrapped a cord E with a weight suspended for
giving rotation to the drum or barrel D. The barrel has a rim of teeth on one end
in gear with a pinion G, which through the intermediate gear H, I, J, K, cause the
axle L to revolve and to carry the armis or levers M, M, round.
Each arm or lever M is provided with a book N near the outer end, said hook being
at such an angle that the ring P of the punkah cord Q which lies in its path is caught
by it and carried slowly over, say, one third of the arms circular travel and then
suddenly released, the punkah dropping with a flopping motion which disturbs the air
rather violently, and then as the punkah continues to fall by gravity the air is less and
less disturbed, so that by the time the punkah gets to a position of rest, the next hook
engages the ring P and draws the punkah up again. The ring P of the pull cord Q
is guided in the slotted arm R, the lower end of which has a roller $ to reduce
friction.
The speed at which the punkah shall be drawn by each hook can be regulated by
the angle at which the flyers T, T, are sot, their rotation being effected by the
gear U, U, from the axle L.
According to Figure 3, the arm M of the driving mechanism is single but it may
be double and in its rotation it bears against a block V fastened on the pull cord Q
and having exerted a pressure upon the block V to pull the punkah X it slips pass
the punkah falling slowly by gravity under the resistance of the counterpoise Y.
In the arrangement shown at Figures 1 and 2, a double ended arm M is on one end
of the shaft L for working a single punkah but by arranging another arm on the
opposite end of the shaft L, two punkabs arranged end to end, or back to back could
be operated by one set of gear. This will be understood by reference to Figures 4
and 5, two punkahs being here shown back to back and operated simultaneously away
from each other by the arms M, M, said arnis M, M, being forced round for a portion
of their circular travel by the pauls Z, Z, engaging in the teeth of the ratchet wheel a
for a certain distance and then to become released for the punkahs to travel back by
gravity.
The two punkahs, if arranged back to back, as shown at Figure 5, are moved away
from each other at the same time, but if arranged end to end, they can have any
desired notion according to the arrangement of the arms M, M, and of the pullies.

page_text: Instead of the paul and ratchet appliances, the wiper lever b, Figures 6 and 7, may
be employed, or the lever M may have a rod d with a collar e sliding on it, as at
Figures 8 and 9, or the pin lever c, Figures 10 and 11.
The lever M is fixed upon the driving shaft L and a rod d bent at the ends is
affixed to said lever M. This rod has a loose sliding collar on it, to the pin of which
the pull cord is attached, so that as the lever travels round with the shaft over a
segment of a circle, a pull is put upon the cord, and the punkah vibrated in one
direction thereby, and when the collar with the lever has moved over to about rd of
its travel, the pull ceases and the punkah recedes and exerts a pull upon the collar,
which as the lever continues to travel round, causes the collar to run slack on the rod d
to the opposite end of the rod ready for a fresh pull at the punkah and so on at each
rotation of the lever.
With regard to Figures 10 and 11, the lever M is mounted loosely on the shaft 1,
and as the lever c which is fast on the shaft, is rotated, its projecting pin comes into
contact with the lever M and forces it round a given distance and then the pull of the
punkah in commencing its reverse travel pulls the lever over the remainder of its
travel and there remains until the pin comes against it again for a fresh pull.
According to Figures 12 and 13, a single punkah X is pulled alternately to either
side of the vertical suspension line by racks ff, which are drawn down alternately by
the wheels g,g, one of which is on a sleeve / encircling the shaft i both of said wheels 9, 9,
turning in the reverse direction by the mitre gear j, j, under the action of the driving
shaft L.
With regard to Figures 14 and 15 a single punkah may be worked in two directions,
or in one direction only according to the number of the screw appliances employed.
The screw appliance k in this arrangement is constantly running to draw the collar e
downwards when the bolt is thrown into gear by its lever m striking against the fixed
pin n, the punkah being drawn down by the bolt until said bolt travels to the bottom
of the scrow thread, the lever m simultaneously striking against the lower fixed stop p
to draw the bolt clear of the screw thread, as at Figure 15, the punkah X then falls by
gravity drawing the collar up with it.
If two of these screw apparatus be fitted on either side of a building, the down
travel of one collar will not only draw the punkah down but also the collar of the
opposite screw which is out of gear, the bolts of both appliances being simultaneously
acted upon by their fixed stops.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of mechanism shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed
drawings for operating a single punkah by a draw and slip hook, as described.
2. The draw and slip arrangement of the lever M and block V described with
reference to Figure 3 of the annexed drawings.
3. The double punkah operating mechanism with the slip paul arrangement described
with reference to Figures 4 and 5, also the modified arrangement described with
reference to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the annexed drawings for the purpose
set forth.
4. The double motion punkah arrangement of mechanism described with regard to
Figures 12 and 13.
5. The single or double motion punkah mechanism described with reference to
Figures 14 and 15 of the annexed drawings.
The 16th day of October 1840
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said S. R. Baildon and J. Kershaw.