Improvements in and relating to Vessels for Containing Liquids which are to be Removed in Small Quantities by a Pen, Brush, or the like, specially applicable to Inkstands.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Vessels for Containing Liquids
which are to be Removed in Small Quantities by a Pen, Brush,
or the like, specially applicable to Inkstands.
1, HENRY SELBY, HELE-SHAW of University College, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Professor of Engineering, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
-
My present invention relates to vessels for containing liquids which are to be
removed in small quantities by means of a pen, brush or the like and the object is
to enable the pen or brusli to be conveniently charged with the proper quantity of
liquid, irrespective of the quantity in the vessel; the invention is specially
applicable to inkstands.
Devices for this purpose are known in which the elastic pressure of imprisoned
air is used to drive or regulate the admission of the liquid into a dipping cup, but
difficulties are experienced from variations of temperature and barometric pressure.
In my present invention the action depends solely upon liquid pressure, and the
difficulties referred to are therefore avoided.
I provide a container of suitable shape, preferably formed with a shallow cavity
or well in the bottom, and having a central opening in the top or cover.
Within the container I place a concave elastic diaphragm, preferably of india
rubber; this diaphragm rests with its edge, which is slightly notched or cut
unevenly, on the bottom of the well of the container, the concavity being
downward.
The diaphragm is connected at its highest point by means of a rigid tube to a
dipping cup which stands above the highest level of the liquid in the container
and is guided concentrically by the opening in the top of the container, so that it
can be readily depressed a short distance by the pressure of a pen,,brush or the
like introduced through the said opening. The space below the diaphragm is
always filled by the liquid in the container which enters below the edge, and it
will be seen that on the depression of the dipping cup the centre of the diaphragm
will be forced down and some of the liquid below it will, as the readiest means of
escape, flow up into the dipping cup and charge the pen or the like; when
the pressure on the dipping cup is relieved, the liquid will retreat below the
diaphragm.
1
In the case of inkstands, I prefer to make the top of the container in the form
of a detachable cover, the central opening therein having a depending rim which
fits loosely within and guides the dipping cup; when a brush or similar article is
to be charged provide it with a flange or projecting arms adapted to bear upon
and depress the dipping cup; when the liquid is to be removed in measured
quantities, as for example in the case of medicines, a dipper holding the proper
quantity and which is of suitable size to be immersed in the liquid flowing into the
dipping cup is used, this dipper may have a projecting flange or arms for depressing
the dipping cup.
It is to be observed that so long as enough liquid to fill the space below the
diaphragm remains in the container, the charge given to the pen, brush or the like
will be practically independent of the variation of the quantity in the container;
and also that as some liquid escapes beneath the edge of the diaphragm when the
cup is depressed and other liquid is drawn in as it rises, the liquid in the dipping
cup is frequently mixed with the bulk of the liquid in the container, and so

page_text: preserves its freshness; this is a great recommendation when the liquid is ink, and
the mixing action is also of advantage in the case of medicines.
In some cases I find it advantageous to lead the tube into the side of the dipping
cup above the bottom thereof and to perforate the latter with a small hole through
which the liquid drains back into the container.
.
In this arrangement, the dipping cup does not empty so rapidly on its ascent, and
a more thorough mixing and circulation of the liquid is also ensured; and in
addition there is no risk of the liquid spurting up out of the dipping cup as it is
deflected downwards into the cup by the depending' rim of the cover.
Dated this 12th day of August 1891.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Vessels for Containing Liquids
which are to be Removed in Small Quantities by a Pen, Brush,
or the like, specially applicable to Inkstands.
I, HENRY SELBY HELE-SHAW of University College, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Professor of Engineering, 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:-
My present invention relates to vessels for containing liquids which are to be
removed in small quantities by means of a pen, brush or the like and the object is
to enable the pen or brush to be conveniently charged with the proper quantity of
liquid, irrespective. of the quantity in the vessel; the invention is specially
applicable to inkstands.
Devices for this purpose are known in which the elastic pressure of imprisoned
air is used to drive or regulate the admission of the liquid into a dipping cup, but
difficulties are experienced from variations of temperature and barometric pressure.
In my present invention the action depends solely upon liquid pressure, and the
difficulties referred to are therefore avoided.
In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate my invention,
Fig. 1 represents an inkstand ready for usc,
Fig. I represents an inkstand with the pen introduced and the dipping cup
depressed,
Fig. III represents an inkstand of modified construction,
Fig. IV represents the arrangement where the liquid has to be removed by means
of a brush,
Fig. represents the arrangement where the liquid has to be removed in
measured quantities, and
Figs. V and VII are detail views of the clastic diaphragm with the exception
of Fig. VII, which is a plan, all the views are diametral cross sections, and
throughout the drawings similar parts are indicated by the same reference figures.
I provide a container 1 of suitable shape, preferably formed with a shallow cavity
or well 2 in the bottom, and having a central opening in the top or cover.
Within the container I place a concave elastic diaphragm 3, preferably of india
rubber this diaphragm rests with its edge, which is slightly notched as shown at 9
or cut unevenly, on the bottom of the well 2 of the container, the concavity being
downward.
The diaphragm is connected at its highest point by means of a rigid tube 5 to a
dipping cup 6 which stands above the highest level of the liquid in the container

page_text: and is guided concentrically by the opening in the top of the container, so that it
can be readily depressed a short distance by the pressure of a pen, brush or the
like introduced through the said opening. The space below the diaphragm is
always filled by the liquid in the container which enters below the edge and it will
be seen that on the depression of the dipping cup the centre of the diaphragm will
be forced down and some of the liquid below it will, as the readiest means of
escape, flow up into the dipping cup and charge the pen or the like; when
the pressure on the dipping cup is relieved, the liquid will retreat below the
diaphragm.
In the case of inkstands, I prefer to make the top of the container in the form
of a detachable cover 7, the central opening therein having a depending rim 8
which fits loosely within and guides the dipping cup 6; when a brush or similar
article is to be charged I provide it with a flange or projecting arms 10 adapted to
bear upon and depress the dipping cup as shown in Fig. IV; when the liquid is to
be removed in measured quantities, as for example in the case of medicines, a
dipper 11 having a cup 12 at its lower end holding the proper quantity and which
is of suitable size to be immersed in the liquid flowing into the dipping cup is
used, this dipper may have a projecting flange or arms 10 for depressing the
dipping cup as shown in Fig. V.
It is to be observed that so long as enough liquid to fill the space below the
diaphragm remains in the container, the charge given to the pen, brush or the like
will be practically independent of the variation of the quantity in the container;
and also that as some liquid escapes beneath the edge of the diaphragm when the
cup is depressed and other liquid is drawn in as it rises, the liquid in the dipping
cup is frequently mixed with the bulk of the liquid in the container and so pre-
serves its freshness; this is a great recommendation when the liquid is ink, and the
mixing action is also of advantage in the case of medicines.
In some cases I find it advantageous to lead the tube 5 into the side of the
dipping cup above the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. III and to perforate
the latter with a small hole 15 through which the liquid drains back into the
container.
In this arrangement, the dipping cup does not empty so rapidly on its ascent, and
a more thorough mixing and circulation of the liquid is also ensured; and in
addition there is no risk of the liquid spurting up out of the dipping cup as it is
deflected downwards into the cup by the depending rim 8 of the cover.
The construction of the elastic diaphragm is shown in Figs. VI and VII; the
diaphragm is attached to the tube 5 by the rim 4, and in some cases instead of
unevenly cutting the bottom edge of the diaphragm or forming the notches 9, I
prefer to cut non-return valves 14 in the material of the diaphragm as shown.
When the liquid in the container is volatile the brush or dipper is provided with
a flexible washer 13 which retards evaporation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1). In vessels for containing liquids which are to be removed in small quantities
by a pen, brush or the like, the combination of a dipping cup 6 and a flexible
diaphragmn such as 3, the dipping cup being rigidly connected to the diaphragm
and communicating directly with the highest part of the space below the diaphragm
which is always filled with the liquid, so that on the depression of the dipping cup
a charge of liquid is forced thereinto without the intervention of air pressure,
substantially as described and illustrated.
(2). In vessels such as are set forth in Claim 1, the use of a dipping cup with a
small outlet in the bottom and receiving its charge of liquid at a higher level,
substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. III.
(3). In vessels such as are set forth in Claim 1, the use of the depending rim 8

page_text: for the purpose of guiding the dipping cup and preventing spurting, substantially
as described and illustrated in Figs. I, II and III.
Dated this Third day of November 1891.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant: