Improvements in Fountains.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
IROYISIONAL
Improvements in Fountains.
We, ALBERT BARKER, of 5 New Bond Street, Silversmith, and HENRY
WILSON, of 10 London Terrace, Dalston, Watchmaker, both in the County of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out this invention we employ two flexible tubes (preferably india
rubber) placed one vertically above the other, and having their inner ends securely
attached to a cylindrical weight of smaller diameter than the tubes, and their outer
ends securely connected to two discs carried at opposite extremities of a tubular
column which surrounds and contains said tubes. The purpose of this column is
to maintain the rubber tubes in position and to prevent them from bursting. The
flexible tubes thus constitute two superposed collapsible watertight chambers of
equal capacities so arranged that when one is filled the other is empty. The top
of the upper chamber is in free communication with the bowl or basin of the
fountain, such bowl forming a reservoir for containing the liquid, while the bottom
of the lower chamber is in communication with a pipe of small diameter which
leads to the nozzle or rose of the fountain.
The cylindrical weight is formed with a longitudinal bore or opening provided
at its lower end with a suitable valve which only opens when the weight is raised.
A pair of arms carrying knobs project from said weight and protrude through
corresponding longitudinal slots formed in the tubular column so as to permit of
said weight being conveniently raised at the required times. Or other means may
be used for the purpose.
I may provide a strainer between the passage which connects the upper chamber.
with the bowl or basin, so as to prevent any dirt entering said chamber.
When said weight is raised, it allows the liquid contained in the upper chamber
to flow through its valve and enter the lower chamber, and when released said
weight acts as a piston, pressing upon the column of liquid in the lower chamber
and forcing it through the small pipe which leads to the nozzle or rose of the
fountain, thereby producing the jet or spray. As the weight continues to fall, the
liquid from the bowl or basin gradually fills the upper chamber, thereby always
keeping the liquid in the bowl or basin at the same level, and causing the jet to
always play the same height.
The weight, being, as already stated, of smaller diameter than the flexible tubes,
is able to sink down inside the lower one, and by so doing it draws with it the upper
end of this tube, thereby causing said tube to fold inwardly on itself and to enter
therein. It will thus be seen that no friction can arise by the rubbing of the lower
tube against the inside of the cylindrical column, and the weight is at liberty to
fall smoothly without any unnecessary obstruction.
Instead of two flexible tubes being employed, I may employ only one, the weight
being then secured thereto at or about its middle.
Dated this 1st day of August 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fountains.
We, ALBERT BARKER, of 5 New Bond Street, Silversmith, and HENRY
WILSON, of 10 London Terrace, Dalston, Watchmaker, both in the County of
London, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
In carrying out this invention we employ two flexible tubes, preferably of india-
rubber, placed one vertically above the other, and having their inner ends securely
attached to a cylindrical weight of smaller diameter than the tubes, and their outer
ends securely connected to two discs carried at opposite extremities of a tubular
column which surrounds and contains said tubes. The purpose of this column is
to maintain the rubber tubes in position and to prevent them from bursting under
the pressure to which they are subjected by the water and the weight. The flexible
tubes thus constitute two superposed collapsible watertight chambers of equal
capacities which are so arranged that when one is full the other is empty. The
top of the upper chamber is in free communication with the bowl or basin of the
fountain, such bowl forming a reservoir for containing the liquid, while the bottom
of the lower chamber is in communication with a pipe of small diameter which
leads to the nozzle or rose of the fountain.
The cylindrical weight is formed with a longitudinal bore or opening, provided
at its lower end with a suitable valve which only opens when when the weight is raised.
A pair of arms carrying knobs project from said weight and protrude through
corresponding longitudinal slots formed in the tubular column so as to permit of
said weight being conveniently raised at the required times. Or other means may
be used for the purpose.
When said weight is raised it allows the liquid contained in the upper chamber
to flow through its valve and enter the lower chamber, and when released said
weight acts as a piston pressing upon the column of liquid in the lower chamber
and forcing it through the small pipe which leads to the nozzle or rose of the
fountain, thereby producing the jet or spray. As the weight continues to fall, the
liquid which is forced from the lower chamber through the nozzle, is caught by
the bowl or basin and returned to the upper chamber which latter is consequently
kept full, and the liquid in the bowl or basin is always at the same level and there-
fore always of the same weight, thereby causing the jet to play evenly and at or
about the same height.
The weight being, as already stated, of smaller diameter than the flexible tubes
is able, in its descent, to enter the lower one, and by so doing it draws with it the
upper end of this tube thereby causing said tube to fold inwardly on itself and to
enter therein. Similarly when the weight is raised it is able to enter the upper
tube and draw with it the lower end of this tube. Thus no friction can arise by
the rubbing of either tube against the inside of the cylindrical column, and the
weight is at liberty to fall smoothly without any unnecessary obstruction.
We may provide a strainer between the passage which connects the upper
chamber with the bowl or basin, so as to prevent any dirt entering said chamber.
Instead of two flexible tubes being employed we may employ only one, the
weight being then secured thereto at or about midway of its length.
And in order that our invention may be readily understood we proceed to
describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken at right angles
to Fig. 1, of one construction of fountain made in accordance with our invention,
and suitable for a table.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section, Fig. 4 a cross section on line A. A of Fig. 3, and
Fig. 5 a cross section on line B B illustrating a modified construction of fountain.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a plan of the valve box for use with this construction, and hereinafter
described.
In all the figures like letters indicate similar parts.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a a² are the two flexible tubes constituting chambers,
the inner ends of which are securely attached to the weight b, and the outer ends
connected respectively to the two discs or caps a², c². These two discs or caps are
connected one to each end of a cylindrical or tubular column d which surrounds
the flexible tubes and serves to maintain them in place and also to prevent them
from bursting, as already stated. The upper disc or cap a² is furnished with a
short tube a having a flange at upon which the bowl or basin & rests, and is kept
in place by a muta. The lower disc or cap e' is provided with a tube c³ which is
led up outside the tubular column d and through the short tube a³ where it ter-
minates in a screw threaded portion 4, furnished with a flange or collar The
screw threaded portion is for the purpose of receiving the nozzle piece which is
made in two portions and, the portion screwing on to the portion and
containing the strainer g while a tight joint is obtained by means of the washer g³.
is the nozzle which may, if preferred, be replaced by a rose. The weight is
formed with a longitudinal bore and at the lower end is furnished with a float
valve, consisting preferably of a cork disc covered with chamois leather, or other
suitable material, and carrying two pins h,, (see Fig. 2×) entering staples h², h
which are sufficiently long to permit of a slight movement of the valve to and
from the weight. 62, 62, are two knobs or handles secured to the weight and pro-
jecting through two longitudinal slots d¹ formed in the tubular column d, one of
which is seen in dotted lines at Fig. 2.
of
When the weight is raised by means of these knobs or handles the liquid con-
tained in the upper flexible tube or chamber a is forced through the bore
the weight, presses the valve downwards and enters the lower flexible tube or
chamber a. On releasing the weight the valve at once closes and effectually
prevents the liquid from returning through the bore into the upper chamber, and
the weight gradually descending forces the liquid through the tube c³ into the
nozzle piece and out through the nozzle y in the form of a fine jet. The liquid
from the jet falls into the bowl or basin e and returns to the upper chamber a
through the opening e¹ and short tube a³. The fountain continues playing with an
even jet until the weight reaches its lowermost position when this latter can be
again raised and the fountain will again commence playing. In consequence of
the liquid forced from the lower chamber finding its way back to the upper one, as
the weight continues to descend, the height of the jet never decreases but has a
tendency to increase on account of the additional weight of the liquid contained
in the upper chamber acting on the weight.
In the modified construction shewn by Figs. 3 to 6 we multiply the arrange-
ment before described, employing in this instance four tubular columns d instead of
one, so as to cause the fountain to play for a longer period, and we lead the tubes c³
coming from the lower ends of the tubular columns up to a valve box i containing
flap valves ¹³, *, which cover the extremities of the four tubes c³, and this
valve box is in connection with the nozzle piece by means of the tube . The
weights are so arranged that they can all be lifted at one and the same time by
means of the bar (see Fig. 5) carrying the handles and cross bars ² which
support the studs standing out from the weights and protruding through the
longitudinal slots d' in the tubular columns d. When the weights are raised and
again released they do not all descend together, but one at a time in succession, by
reason of the flap valves 1, 2, 3, which open successively as each weight
approaches the completion of its descent. In this construction the top cap piece
is formed of a disc provided with openings and flanges for the reception of
the top end of the upper flexible tubes. This disc forms part of a chamber 1³
which is in communication with the liquid in the bowl or basin by means of the tube /',
thus, whichever of the weights is acting the liquid can readily flow from the basin
or bowl into that flexible chamber above the weight which is then acting.

page_text: We do not confine ourselves to the use of four sets of flexible chambers and
weights, as it will be evident that any other number may be employed to suit
requirements.
If desirable, we can increase the pressure acting on the liquid in the lower
chamber and thereby increase the height of the jet, by placing additional weights
or heavy rings or collars around each of the tubular columns; and these rings or
collars can rest upon the studs projecting from the weights.
Having now described the nature of our invention and in what manner the same
may be performed, we claim :
1. A fountain in which flexible tubes or chambers are employed together with a
weight so arranged that when said weight is raised the liquid in the tube or chamber
above it will enter the chamber below, and on the release of said weight the liquid
in the lower chamber will be forced out in the form of a jet or spray through a
suitable orifice and return again to the upper chamber, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. The improved construction of fountain in which the pressure of a weight
descending in a flexible tube containing liquid is caused to produce the jet or spray,
substantially as described and shewn with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed
drawings.
3. The modified construction of fountain substantially as herein before described,
and as shewn with reference to Figs. 3 to 6 of the annexed drawings.
DIM... 1901
ERNEST DE PASS,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicants.