Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Duration of Treatment in Dyeing, Cooking, and other Operations.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL DI BUITIUATIOA
Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Duration of
Treatment in Dyeing, Cooking, and other Operations.
I, WILL ESPY CURTIS, Manufacturer and Vendor of Automatic Timers, of
718 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, State of Ohio, United States of America and
726 Broadway, New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device for controlling the length of time during
which an object or substance is subjected to treatment, such for example as
exposure to heat, or to the action of chemical solutions or vapours; etc. its object
being to provide apparatus by which, for example an object or substance-being
immersed for instance, in a heated liquid is, at an appointed time withdrawn from
the same without attention on the part of the operator.
It consists also in an extension of the constructive principle involved, to
apparatus adapted to receive and control the treatment of any number of objects
or substances with certainty of action and entire independence each of the other
or others.
The applications of the invention are numerous and important; for example, it
may be used for treating for a predetermined length of time
Textile and other fabrics in dyeing solutions, for subjecting materials or
substances to the chemical action of vapours, or liquid solutions
For treating food products, such as egge, fruit, and starcby substances in
boiling water;
For printing of photographs from negatives and for various other operations
where the time of immersion or treatment or the beginning or termination of
a given condition is important to be observed.
In this specification I restrict the description to an apparatus designed for use as
an adjunct to a water-boiler to regulate the time of immersion in the water of eggs,
fruit, oatmeal etc. which apparatus is specially applicable for use in hotels, hospitals,
restaurants, private dwellings etc., the invention however is not in any way limited
to this particular arrangement.
In one arrangement the apparatus comprises a shaft whose speed of rotation
under the influence of a weight spring or other motor agent is controlled by suitable
clockwork mechanism and one or more sustaining and lifting devices connected
independently to the shaft in such manner that when the shaft has made a given
number of revolutions or given increments of one revolution, the lifting device
will be released and permitted to act under the influence of a weight, spring or
other motor agent.
This constructive principle, it will be obvious, is capable of great extension, and
may be applied to movement in any desired direction;-
In carrying the invention into practice there is provided a frame of any suitable
construction, capable of attachment to the side of and extend above a suitable
boiler.
At the top, the frame is provided with a box-shaped cavity through which in
both directions extends a horizontal shaft hereinafter termed the "ratchet-shaft"
mounted in suitable bearings thereon.
A clock of ordinary construction is mounted on the frame immediately above the

page_text: box-cavity and in the present example is utilized for uniformly rotating the
"ratchet shaft," but any form of motor capable of chronometric regulation, or a
simple escapement or other device permitting a time-regulated rotation of the
"ratchet shaft" may be employed in lieu of the clock.
Upon the top of the frame are arranged at any desired distance apart, say four
sheaves carried in supporting bracketa attached to the frame. These constitute
parts of the suspending and lifting devices, which are identical and therefore the
description of one will suffice for all.
Over the sheave is passed a chain, cord or equivalent to one end of which is
suspended a vessel adapted to contain the substance to be immersed or treated and
to the other end a weight (or in lieu of such weight, the end of the chain or cord
may be operated on by a spring or equivalently controlled reel or drum).
At the front side of the frame, the cord or equivalent is provided with a suitable
adjustable stop adapted to engage with a fixed projection and thereby limit the
downward pull upon the chain and consequently the extent of engagement of the
chain at the rear side of the frame with the "ratchet shaft."
The adjustable stop is arranged upon a scale-bar to which the chain is connected
at the front side of the frame and it is provided with a rearwardly projecting eye
or loop guided on a vertical bar fitted at the top to the before mentioned bracket
and at the lower end in a horizontal ledge of the frame. The scale-bar upon
which the stop is adjustable has a rearwardly projecting eye forming a similar guide
connection with the bar and is provided with notches spaced apart and numbered
as desired as for example to represent half-minutes or other intervals of time (as
will more clearly appear later).
The adjustable stop may be constructed of a block of metal, recessed from top
to bottom at one side to accommodate the scale-bar on which it may be adjusted;
and this stop is provided in front with a projection or finger plate for convenience
of manipulation. In the recess of the block adjacent to the scale-bar is pivotted
a catch extending below into a finger plate for manipulation in convenient relation
to the other finger plate; by which means the stop may be released from the scale-
bar and moved up or down on the same (and upon the guide-bar) and re-engaged
at any point. When the catch is engaged with the rack-bar the finger plate of the
block is a means for depressing the chain or cord and lowering the vessel until the
lower rearwardly projecting eye ledge strikes the horizontal ledge of the frame.
At the opposite end of the cord or equivalent is suspended a fine-toothed rack-
bar carrying the weight. The cord passes down at the rear of the frame, outside
of and adjacent to the "ratchet shaft," at which point upon the shaft is a toothed or
ratchet wheel toothed to correspond with the rack-bar. As a guide to the chain
and rack-bar there is formed or attached to the frame opposite the toothed wheel,
a guide-loop through which the chain is passed. As this part of the chain is
drawn up, (by depressing the stop, as before described, at the opposite side of the
frame) the rack-bar is drawn into the guide loop and its teeth pointing downward,
and those of the ratchet wheel upward, the rack-bar readily passes the wheel when
moved in an upward direction; but in passing downward, its teeth engage those
of the ratchet-wheel being held in engagement by a resilient spring secured in the
guide-loop and bearing against the back of the rack-bar.
The parts are so proportioned that the extent to which the rack-bar is drawn
up into engagement with the ratchet wheel is determined with accuracy by the
adjusted position of the stop.
It will readily be perceived that the weight when engaged with the shaft, by
means of its rack-bar becomes a medium for causing its rotation; and indeed no
other means are required-the function of the clock or other motor device employed,
being merely to regulate such rotation chronometrically.
The before described "ratchet shaft" is connected with the clockwork or
controlling mechanism by a short vertical shaft, mitre-gear wheels, a short
horizontal oscillating shaft and a spur-pinion; the latter engaging with one of
the gears of the clock.

page_text: The vertical shaft is carried in a fixed bracket attached the frame and provided
at one side with an arm carrying one end of the oscillating shaft in a loose bearing.
The opposite end of the oscillating shaft is suspended by a swinging link from the
arbour of the clock wheel.
As the function of the clock in this connection is that of a retarding device and
as the rotative tendency of the "ratchet shaft" is in the same direction as that of
the clock connection, the retarding action of the clock tends to cause the spur-
pinion to travel backward upon the periphery of the clock wheel and thus, (by
means of the link) move the free end of a lever and cause the hereinafter described
operations to take place.
At the upper end of the vertical shaft is attached a cup-shaped wheel and above
this is placed a bell crank-lever with a bifurcated end, turned downward astride of
the outer flange of the cup. The free end of the bell crank-lever is attached by
a link to the corresponding suspended end of the shaft, and an adjustable stop-arm
attached to the bracket extends under it as a support. The lever is supported at
its bifurcated end upon an extension bracket, recessed to admit and retain the end
of the lever against displacement. Any travel of the gear upon the clock wheel
in the direction mentioned effects the movement of the free end of the lever and
the turning of the bifurcated end askew upon the flange of the cup wheel where it
acts as a brake or clamp and arrests its motion.
There is thus formed an exceedingly sensitive brake.
Undue backward motion of the lever is limited by the stop as an abutment
whose position is regulated by an adjustment screw, bearing against it. The
brake acts to check rotation of the "ratchet shaft" under the control of the clock.
The operation of the device as a whole is simple and has already been partially
indicated. The attendant proceeds by first setting the stop at the desired time of
immersion, and then by downward pressure pulls down the chain at the front side
of the machine and lowers the containing vessel into say the boiling water.
action raises up the weight correspondingly and its rack engages for a corresponding
portion of its length with the ratchet-wheel. The rotation of the latter gradually
lowers the rack bar, until its last notch is engaged, after which further rotation
releases it entirely when the dropping of the weight lifts the containing vessel.
clear of the water in the boiler.
This
In cases where a considerable excess of weight is employed, to insure certainty
of action, a brake device may be used with advantage to regulate the lifting action.
In the present case, the bucket is utilized for this purpose; as, when lifted full of
water surrounding the confined objects, its weight so nearly approximates that of
the motor weight, as to retard the movement. Apertures at the bottom of the
bucket permit the water to flow out as the vessel rises and the rapidity of the
movement thus gradually increases.
A clutch device may be interposed between the ratchet shaft and the clock
mechanism; for instance it may be fitted between the spur-pinion and the horizontal
shaft on which it is mounted.
As a substitute for the adjustable stop and rack-bar, the guide-bar may be made
adjustable in vertical guides and connected to the chain and the stop device may
It is operated by
have indicating cross marks and time-figures at the upper end.
depressing the bar until the proper mark registers with the projection, the rack-
bar engaging correspondingly with the shaft."
As a mechanical equivalent of the clock a drum X may be employed containing
perforated vanes and mercury, the last named adapted to pass through the perfora-
tions, the speed of rotation of the drum depending upon the speed at which the
mercury is capable of passing through the perforations.
den of Al 1806
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Duration of
Treatment in Dyeing, Cooking, and other Operations.
1, WILL ESPY CURTIS, Manufacturer and Vendor of Automatic Timers, of
718 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, State of Ohio, United States of America, and,
726 Broadway, New York, United States of America, 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 invention relates to a device for automatically regulating the length of time
during which an object or substance is subjected to treatment-such, for example,
as exposure to heat, chemical solutions or vapors etc.,-its object being to provide
an apparatus and mechanism by which, for example an object or substance being
immersed, for instance, in a heated liquid is at an appointed time withdrawn from
the same without further attention on the part of the operator.
It consists also in an extension of the constructive principle involved to an
apparatus adapted to receive and care for in like manner any number of objects or
substances with certainty of action and entire independence of each other.
The applications of the invention in the arts are quite numerous and important
for example, the immersion of textile and other fabrics in dyeing solutions,
subjection of products to chemical action of vapours or liquid solutions treatment
of food products, such as eggs, fruit, and starchy substances, by boiling water,
printing of photographs from negatives, and various other cases where the time of
immersion or treatment or the beginning or termination of a given condition is
important to be observed.
In the present illustration of my invention I have selected its application to
culinary purposes, and exhibit in the drawings an apparatus designed for use as an
adjunct to a water-boiler to regulate the time of immersion of eggs, fruit, oatmeal,
etc., for the use of hotels, hospitals, restaurants, private dwellings etc.
A typical illustration of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
exhibiting a culinary apparatus for hotel use.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front or face perspective view of an apparatus intended for the use
named, exhibiting four independent submersion-vessels adapted to be engaged with
a common shaft, each being independent of the other, but controlled by the same
mechanical appliances;
Figure 2 a partial rear perspective view showing certain detail of the same;
Figure 3 a vertical cross-section exhibiting one of the lifting devices on an
enlarged scale, showing constructive features in detail;
Figure 4 a front perspective view of the setting device Figure 5 a plan view
of same sectioned through the scale-bar.
Figure 6 a detail elevation of the shaft-regulating mechanism showing its
relation to the mechanism of a clock or other device for regulating its movement;
Figure 7 a plan view, and
Figure 8 a second elevation partly sectioned of the last-mentioned mechanism
exhibiting and illustrating the functions of the friction brake.
Figure 9 is a detail of the mode of suspending the oscillating shaft.
Figure 11 is a detail showing the clutch mechanism for preventing a backward
rotation of the operating shaft from iujuring the regulating devices also intended
to permit the operation of the clock independently of the use of the apparatus;
Figure 10 exbibits a modification of structure.
It may facilitate an understanding of my invention to state at the outset that the

page_text: mechanism employed is of simple character, that shown in the present instance
embodying a shaft in rotation at a time regulated speed and any desired number
of sustaining and lifting devices independently attachable thereto in such manner
that when the shaft has made a given number of revolutions or given increments
of one revolution the lifting device will be released therefrom and permitted to act
normally by independent means, such as weight, spring, or retractile force of any
kind, employed for this purpose. This constructive principle, it will be obvious,
is capable of any extension and may be applied to movement in any desired
direction.
Referring now to the drawings, and to the apparatus illustrated therein showing
provisions for four sustaining and lifting devices connected to the same shaft,
A designates a frame of any suitable construction, presenting substantially, a
support of vertical and longitudinal extension capable of attachment to a suitable
boiler to extend above the same at one side. Centrally at the top the frame A
is enlarged into a box-shaped cavity a through or below which in both directions
extends a horizontal shaft B in or parallel with the horizontal general extension
of the frame A and held in suitable bearings thereon.
A clock C of ordinary construction is shown mounted on the frame A immediately
above the box-cavity a and in the present case is utilized as a regulating device
for permitting a constant and chronometric rotation of the shaft B; but any form
of motor capable of chronometric regulation or a simple escapement or other
device permitting a time-regulated rotation of the shaft B may be employed in
lieu of the clock C.
Upon the top of the frame A are arranged in any desired distance relations four
sheaves e carried in supporting brackets c attached to the frame. These constitute
parts of the suspending and lifting devices, which are identical and therefore the
description of one will suffice for all.
Over the sheave e is arranged a chain or cord of any suitable description
suspending at one end a vessel y or holder of any kind containing the substance to
be immersed and at the other an overbalancing weight W, (or in lieu of an over-
balancing weight the end of the chain or cord may be wound upon a retracting
reel actuated by a spring).
At the front side of the frame A the chain or cord is provided with an
adjustable stop of any suitable character to engage against a fixed projection
and limit the downward pull upon the chain a to determine the extent of engagement
of the chain at the rear side of the frame A with the shaft B.
The limiting stop e as shown in the present drawings is arranged upon a scale-
bar d to which the chain a is connected at the front side of the frame A and is
provided with a rear projecting loop el embracing as a guide a vertical barf which
is connected above to the overhanging top e of the bracket c' and seated below in
horizontal ledge a' of the frame A. The scale-bar d upon which the stop e is
adjustable, has a rear projection e' forming a similar guide connection with the barf
and is provided with notches spaced apart and numbered as desired-in the present
case to represent half-minute intervals (as will more clearly appear later)-of which
the alternate notches, indicating even minutes are numbered on the front face as
shown in Figure 4.
The stop e is a block of metal recessed from top to bottom at one side to admit
the scale-bar d over which it slides as indicated in Figures 4 and 5 and projecting
in front, as at into a finger rest for convenient manipulation. In the recess of
the block adjacent to the scale-bar is pivotted a catch g extending below into a
ledge g for manipulation in convenient relation with the finger rest e by which
the stop may be released from the scale-bar and moved up or down on the same
and upon the guide bar and re-engaged at any point. The catch a being
engaged, the finger rest is a means for depressing the chain or cord and
lowering the vessel until the rear ledge e' strikes the horizontal ledge a' of the
frame A.
At the opposite end of the chain or corda is suspended a fine-toothed rack bar A

page_text: carrying the weight W. The cord or chain passes down at the rear of the frame A
outside of and adjacent to the shaft B, at which point upon the shaft is a rack
pinion toothed to correspond with the rack bar h. As a guide to the chain and
rack bar A there is formed or attached to the frame A, opposite the gear i a guide-
loopj through which the chain is passed. As this part of the chain is drawn up
(by depressing the stop e as before described at the opposite side of the frame A)
the rack har is drawn into the guide loop; and as its teeth point downward and
those of the ratchet-wheel i upward the rack-bar readily passes in an upward
direction past the wheel; but in passing downward its teeth engage those of the
ratchet-wheel being held in engagement by a resilient spring secured in the guide
loop and bearing against the back of the rack bar.
The parts are so proportioned that the extent to which the rack bar is drawn.
up into engagement with the ratchet wheel i is determined with accuracy by the
adjusted position of the stop e.
It will readily be perceived that the over weight W, when engaged with
the shaft B by means of its rack bar h, becomes a motor for causing its
rotation and indeed no other means are required, the function of the clock or
any other motor device employed being merely to regulate such rotation
chronometrically.
The regulating connection of the shaft B with the clock mechanism is
illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11, and consists of a short intervening vertical
shaft having a miter-gear connection with the shaft B and a similar gear
connection with a short horizontal oscillating shaft m engaged by means of a
spur-gear m¹ with one of the gears C' of the clock C, in this instance the "third
wheel."
The vertical shaft k is carried in a fixed bracket o attached to the frame A,
extended at one side into an arm n carrying one end of the oscillating shaft m in
a loose bearing. The opposite end of the oscillating shaft m is suspended by a
swinging link m³, Figures 8 and 9, from the pintle of the third wheel C. As the
function of the clock in this connection is that of a retarding device and as the
rotative tendency of the shaft B is in the same direction as that of the clock
connection, the retarding action of the clock tends to cause the gear m to
travel backward upon the periphery of the gear C and thus by means of
the link p draw the free end of the lever p to the right as viewed in
Figures 7 and 9 and operates as follows:-At the upper end of the vertical
shaft is attached a cup-shaped wheel and above the same is placed a bell-
crank lever p with a bifurcated end p' turned downward astraddle of the outer
flange of the cup k', Figures 6, 7, and 8. The free end of the bell-crank lever p
is attached by a link p to the corresponding suspended end of the shaft m and
an adjustable stop-arm a attached to the bracket o extends under it as a support.
The lever p supported at its bifurcated end upon an extension-bracket of recessed
to admit and retain the end of the lever against displacement. Any travel of the
gear m' upon the third wheel C' in the direction indicated carries the free end of
the lever and turns the bifurcated ond askew upon the flange of the cup-wheel
where it acts as a clamp and arrests its motion. There is thus formed an
exceedingly sensitive brake. An undue backward motion of the lever is limited by
the stop as an abutment, whose position is regulated by an adjustment screw
bearing against it. The brake acts to check rotation of the shaft B, corresponding
by the onward movement of the clock C.
The operation of the device as a whole is simple and has already been partially
indicated. The attendant proceeds by first setting the stop e at the figured notch
corresponding with desired time of immersion, and theu by.downward pressure
pulls down the chain at the front side of the machine and lowers the containing
vessel into the boiling water. This action raises up the weight W correspondingly
and its rack engages a corresponding portion of its length upon the ratchet-
wheel of the shaft B. The rotation of the latter gradually lowers the rack bar h
until its last notch is engaged and further rotation releases it entirely when the

page_text: dropping of the overweight W lifts the containing vessel clear of the water in the
boiler.
In cases where a considerable excess of weight is employed to insure certainty of
action, a brake device may be used with advantage to regulate the lifting action..
In the present case the bucket y is utilized for this purpose as, when lifted full of
water surrounding the confined objects, its weight so nearly approximates that of
the overweight W as to retard the movement. Apertures at or near the bottom
of the bucket permit the water to flow out as the vessel rises, and the rapidity of
the movement thus increases.
The clutch device r referred to (shown in Figure 11) is interposed between the
shaft B and the clock mechanism. In the present instance I have shown it placed.
at Figures 7 and 8 constituting the means of attachment of the spur-gear m¹ with.
the horizontal shaft m.
As a substitute for the adjustable stop e and rack-bar I have shown by way of
modification in Figure 10 the guide bar made adjustable in guides vertically
and connected to the chain in lieu of the stop device. The bar has indicating-
cross-marks and time figures at the upper end. It is operated by depressing the
bar until the proper mark registers with the bracket projection c¹ the rack bar h-
engaging correspondingly with the shaft B.
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. Regulating chronometrically the treatment of substances substantially as.
described.
2. In an apparatus for regulating chronometrically the treatment of substances
the combination of an attachment or holder for an object to be moved or with--
drawn; a moving or withdrawing device; a chronometrically operated detent and
means for engaging the detent with the withdrawing device during a given
period of its movement and releasing the same at the termination of such period
substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with apparatus for the treatment of substance chrono-.
metrically of mechanism for withdrawing the holder of the substance treated; a
detent for restraining the movement of said mechanism and a time mechanism
connected with and adapted to move the detent said withdrawing mechanism
having means extending a portion of its length for engaging the detent substantially
as set forth.
4. In combination with a shaft or other moving element acting as a detent
a plurality of withdrawing devices engaged therewith independently in desired
relations so
as to be released by the continued movement of the detaining
element according to their relations of engagement and means for automatically
regulating the movement of the shaft or detaining element substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of a cord or chain suspending at one end a substance to be
treated and at the other connected to a normally active retracting device with a
shaft in chronometric rotation and means for engaging the cord or chain with the
shaft during any desired number of increments of the shaft rotation and releasing
it when said increments are completed substantially as set forth.
6. The combination of an extended shaft constituting a detent and provided with
means for its chronometric rotation a series of cords or chains adjacent thereto
connected at one end to a substance to be treated and at the other to a normally
active retracting device and means for connecting any or all of said cords or chains
independently and at will to said sbaft as a detent for any desired number of
increments of the shaft rotation and releasing the same when the said increments
are completed substantially as set forth.
7. The combination of a shaft provided with means for its chronometric rotation
a ratchet fixed thereon a cord or chain adjacent to said ratchet and connected to a

page_text: substance to be treated or object to be moved and to a retracting device and a rack
bar interposed in said cord or chain adapted to be drawn for a predetermined
distance into engagement with said ratchet to hold the cord or chain against the
action of the retractile device until in the normal rotation of the shaft the
engagement of the rack bar is exhausted and the cord or chain released substantially
as set forth.
8. The combination of a shaft provided with means for its chronometric rotation
a ratchet fixed thereon a cord or chain adjacent to said ratchet at one side and
connected through a ratchet bar to a retractile device a rack bar at the opposite
terminus of the chain an adjustable stop upon said rack bar and an independent
extension of the cord or chain attached to the stop and connected to the object to
be treated substantially as set forth.
9. A device for the treatment of objects as specified comprising a frame adapted
to be attached to a boiler or similar object a clock or other chronometric regulating
device a shaft whose rotation is controlled thereby a series of pulleys carried by
the frame above the shaft a series of cords or chains suspended by said pulleys and
extending down at both sides of the supporting frame connected at one side to
retractile devices and having rack bars adapted to engage to a greater or less
extent with the ratchet teeth upon the shaft stops upon the cord or chain adjustable
in relation thereto and vessels suspended therefrom for the reception of the objects
to be treated substantially as set forth.
10. In an apparatus of the character indicated in combination with the clock
or other chronometric regulating device a shaft whose rotation is controlled thereby
and the suspending and lifting device adapted to be engaged therewith and thereby
connect its retractile device operatively with the clock or regulating mechanism
an automatic friction brake interposed in the train of connecting mechanism
operating to resist undue stress of the retractile device upon the shaft regulating
mechanism substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.