IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS COURTS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Julius Boult at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1883. A communication
from Douwe D. Williamson of New Brunswick New Jersey, United States of
America
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex.
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MARKING LAWN TENNIS COURTS AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES [a communication from Douwe D. Williamson of New
Brunswick New Jersey, United States of America]
"
Heretofore it has been found unpracticable to mark Lawn Tennis Courts and
other like places with dry powder or pulverized material with accuracy and
despatch
This invention consists of feeding to the surface being traversed a dry powder
or pulverized material continuously and in certain measured and regulated
quantities the invention also consists in the apparatus therefor and the various
contributions hereinafter specified
The apparatus which has been found well adapted for the purpose of carrying
out his invention is constructed as follows. A box or trough made of wood or
metal having a a rounded or sloping bottom downward toward the centre
Beneath the centre of the box is a case or shield arranged lengthwise of the box
within the case at or near the the front end thereof is arranged a wheel or pulley
havings the bearings of its axle within sides of the case
The bearings of the axle are preferable in slots so that the pulley may be
adjusted therein this adjustment may be accomplished by cotters which pass
through the top and bottom of the extension of the case and bear one side against
the case and on the other against the axle and force it back and forth in the slots
as the pins may be driven in or withdrawn. A continuous belt or chain passes
over the two pulleys are made with a slight groove on their periphery sufficiently
deep to receive about half the thickness of the chain or belt
The pulleys are so arranged in the case that the belt or chain passing around
ander them will pass over and nearly in contact with the bottom of the trough or
box, holes are arranged at each end of the box so that the belt or chain may pass
in and out of the box above the bottom

page_text: The second case is extended over the pulleys and chains excepting for a short
distance near the first pulley so that any powdered material on the chain and
pulleys may be protected from the wind.
The box and case are mounted on an axle and wheels are free to revolve on the
axle.
The box being mounted on wheels as stated the first pulley encircled by the
chain rests upon the ground.
The mode of operation is as follows. The box being filled or partially filled with
powdered or granulated material the operator takes hold the handles bearing down
upon them raises first pulley and chain from the ground and moves the machine
to any convenient place when raising his hands and the handles the chain and first
pulley are brought in contact with the ground and by the fiction or traction of
the pulley and chain on the ground the pulley revolves and the chain is drawn
through the box or trough carrying with it a certain amount of powdered or
granulated material from the box and leaving it on the ground it comes in contact
with making a clean sharply defined line