Improvements in Inkstands.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1893-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1894
Improvements in 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 to be as follows:-
This invention relates to inkstands in which there is a dipping cup into which
the pen is dipped and into which, by the act of dipping, a quantity of ink is forced
from the supply of ink in the inkstand. In devices of this kind, as hitherto
constructed, various difficulties have been experienced due to variations of
temperature and atmospheric pressure and also due to spurting and to the fact that
the ink as it recedes from the dipping cup is very apt to withdraw the ink from the
pen, leaving the latter insufficiently charged, and the object of my invention is to
overcome these difficulties and to simplify and cheapen the construction of
inkstands.
According to my invention I construct inkstands as follows:-
I provide a containing vessel which is usually made of glass and which is fitted
with a cover also usually made of glass, the joint between the cover and container
being made preferably with a rubber ring. At the bottom of the container an
annular groove is formed in which the depending flange of an elastic diaphragm
fits. The diaphragm is made preferably of rubber and has a central flanged
opening adapted to fit over the lower end of a tube preferably made of glass the
upper end of which is cone-shaped and forms the dipping cup and is guided by a
recess in the cover. The lower end of the tube is reduced in diameter so as to
form a seating for a small ball which acts as a non-return valve; the tube has a
hole through the sido thereof just above the ball and the diaphragm also has a hole
through it, of less diameter than the diameter of the tube below the ball, or a non-
return valve opening inwards. The bore of the glass tube between the ball and
the dipping cup is constricted by internal projections which serve to moderate the
flow of ink and to limit the upward movement of the ball.
The action is as follows:-When the pen is dipped into the dipping cup it
depresses the tube and with it the central portion of the flexible diaphragm, with
the result that the ink below the diaphragm is expelled, the greater quantity being
forced up the tube into the dipping cup and some escaping through the hole or
valve in the diaphragm and the hole in the tube. When the pen is lifted the
diaphragm resumes its normal position but the ball forms a valve which prevents
the sudden withdrawal of the ink from the dipping cup as this would leave the pen
insufficiently charged. The ink drains away slowly from the dipping cup through
the hole in the tube and a fresh quantity of ink finds its way below the diaphragm
through the hole or valve therein as the diaphragm resumes its normal position.
It will be seen that in the construction described, a uniform dip is insured, the
tendency to spurt is checked and the action is independent of variations of
temperature and atmospheric pressure. The construction is also considerably
cheapened and simplified.
1
يمم
1000

page_text: Improvements in 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 and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to inkstands in which there is a dipping cup into which
the pen is dipped and into which, by the act of dipping, a quantity of ink is forced
from the supply of ink in the inkstand. In devices of this kind, as hitherto
constructed, various difficulties have been experienced due to variations of
temperature and atmospheric pressure and also due to spurting and to the fact that
the ink as it recedes from the dipping cup is very apt to withdraw the ink from the
pen, leaving the latter insufficiently charged; and the object of my invention is to
overcome these difficulties and to simplify and cheapen the construction of
inkstands.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. I is a sectional elevation of the inkstand ready for use and Fig. II is a
similar view showing the pen in position and the dipping cup depressed, and
Figs. III and IV show a detail.
1 is the containing vessel which is usually made of glass and which is fitted with
a cover 2 also usually made of glass, the joint between the cover and container
being made with a ring 3 of india-rubber; at the bottom of the container an
annular groove 4 is formed in which the depending flange 5 of an elastic
diaphragm 6 fits. The diaphragm is made preferably of india-rubber and has a
central flanged opening which is adapted to fit over the lower end of the tube 7.
The tube 7 is cone-shaped at the top and forms a dipping cup 8 which is guided in
the recess 13 formed in the cover. The diameter of the tube 7 is reduced at its
lower end so as to form a seating for the small ball 9 and the passage of the tube
is constricted above the ball by the internal projections 10 which serve to moderate
the flow of the ink and to prevent the ball 9 rising too high in the tube; a small
hole 11 is also provided in the tube above the ball. The tube is preferably made
of glass. The flexible diaphragm is provided with a non-return valve 12 which
may be conveniently made by cutting the rubber as shown in Figs. III and IV.
The action is as follows :-
When the pen is dipped into the dipping cup 8 it depresses the tube 7 and with
it the central portion of the flexible diaphragm, with the result that the ink below
the diaphragm is expelled, the greater quantity being forced up the tube 7 into the
dipping cup 8 and some escaping through the hole 11 and valve 12; on the pen
being lifted the diaphragm resumes its normal position but the ball 9 forms a valve
which prevents the sudden withdrawal of the ink from the dipping cup as this
would leave the pen insufficiently charged. The ink drains away slowly through
the hole 11, and a fresh quantity of ink finds its way below the diaphragm through
the valve 12 as the diaphragm resumes its normal position.
It will be seen that, in the construction described, a uniform dip is ensured, the
pen left properly charged, the tendency to spurt is checked and the action is
independent of temperature and atmospheric variations. The construction is also
considerably cheapened and simplified.
In place of a valve 12 a hole smaller in diameter than the bore of the tube 7
below the ball valve 9, may be substituted.
Instead of an annular groove 4 in the bottom of the container, the bottom of the
latter may simply be provided with a shallow well such as would be obtained by
dispensing with the inner wall 13 of the groove 4, in which case the diaphragm
may assume a more spherical contour than that shown.

page_text: I prefer also in some cases to arrange the cover 2 to fit inside the containing
vessel instead of outside as shown, a ring 3 being used as described to make the
joint between the outside edge of the cover and inside edge of the container.
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. The improvement in inkstands of the kind herein described, which consists in
constricting the area of the tube connecting the dipping cup to the underside of the
diaphragm and providing the said tube with a non-return valve and a small
drainage hole between the non-return valve and the dipping cup, whereby
spurting and the too sudden withdrawal of the ink is prevented, substantially as
described and illustrated.
2. In combination with an ink container 1, a flexible diaphragm 6 provided with
a non-return valve 12 and having a periphery adapted to fit against the inner
surface of the container and to enclose a portion of the ink therein below its
surface; a tube 7 having a hole 11 through the side thereof, the upper end of the
tube forming a dipping cup 8 and the lower end having its bore constricted and
being adapted to fit an opening in the centre of the diaphragm, and a ball valve 9
which normally closes the bore of the tube against the downward flow of the ink
substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In combination with an ink-container and tube 7, a flexible diaphragm 6
having a non-return valve 12 and a depending peripheral flange adapted to fit in an
annular groove formed in the bottom of the container substantially as described and
illustrated.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved inkstand
substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1893
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.