An Apparatus for Timing and Automatically Removing Eggs out of the Water in which they have been Boiled, Applicable for other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1888
An Apparatus for Timing and Automatically Removing Eggs out
of the Water in which they have been Boiled, Applicable for
other Purposes.
We, JOHN HOLT of Rifle Crescent, Victoria Road, Aston near Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Foreman of Works, and JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great
Charles Street Birmingham, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The principal object of our invention is to automatically raise or remove after
determinate, or fixed periods of time, eggs, from the water in which they have been
boiled or cooked, thereby rendering attention as to the time of boiling, or the removal
by hand, after the running down of the sand of an ordinary egg boiler, unnecessary;
and which said apparatus or means, may be used for automatically raising, lowering,
liberating, starting and blocking purposes generally.
We will first describe our invention in connection with a time apparatus, for the
raising of eggs, from the water in which they have been boiled for cooking.
The mechanism or means aforesaid, consists essentially of seven principal elements
or parts, viz :- 1st, a vertical upright or stand, with a foot at its lower end for keeping
the instrument erect. 2ndly, a basket or holder, wherein an egg or eggs are placed.
3rdly, the motive power, by means of which, a pre-determined period of time is
determined; and which said mechanism may consist either of clock work or chrono-
metric mechanism, by the running down of which, fixed periods of time may be
obtained. 4thly, winding and starting mechanism. 5thly, liberating and letting go
mechanism. 6thly, means for raising the basket or holder (or part to be raised or
lowered) on being liberated. 7thly, a brake device for preventing the too
precipitous rising of the basket, or holder (or other appliance) so as not to jerk out
the eggs.
The framing of the apparatus consists of two vertical pillars or uprights, one
working telescopically within the other, or upon the other; and at the bottom of the
lower one, is a horizontal foot, extending outwardly, in the form of a horse shoe, and
by which means, the instrument is kept in an erect position. The upper one, or the

page_text: upper part which is sliding, is provided with a handle or cross bar, for taking hold of
the apparatus, when placed into, or taken out of position.
At the top of the fixed and lower pillar or upright as aforesaid, a platform bracket
is situated, carrying an enclosing frame or cover, wherein the time and liberating
mechanism is situated ; and and which said mechanism, consists of a central and principal
axis, protruding through the front and back sides of the cover, and with a milled head
or turn secured upon its front side, and a small cam or excentric boss upon the other
side. The said milled head carries also a pointer or finger, which comes in front of,
a dial or a graduated scale on the front plate, or upon the front side of the enclosing
cover.
The central axis as aforesaid, carries a ratchet wheel, and at the back of it, a
toothed wheel, which latter is capable of turning in one direction only, upon the said
axis, and also gears with a pinion above it. The axis of this pinion carries a second
toothed wheel, which gears with a second pinion. This last named pinion axis carries
a scape wheel, and engaging with it, is the pallet of a verge, having suspended from it,
or from its axis, a pendulum, the oscillations of which, determine the rate at which
the mechanism shall be allowed to run down, whose motive power is directed from a
volute or other spring, surrounding and connected at its inner end to the main axis,
and to the outer end, to a fixed point.
Thus the turning of the milled head, winds up the spring, and carries with it
the ratchet wheel and pointer, but allows the toothed wheel, at the hack of it, to
remain stationary, while the connection between the said wheels, is effected by a pawl,
carried by the toothed wheel, and engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel; so
that after the time has been set, by the turning of the milled head, the two wheels
turn together.
At the back of the apparatus or enclosing case, is an upwardly directed arm, jointed
near its lower end, and having at its upper end, a hooked or standing out part, under
which, a stud or block, carried near the upper end of the movable part of the pillar,
catches or engages.
The foot of the arm has the free end of a spring pressing upon it, for the taking of
the arm into its normal position.
Situated within, or surrounding the lower part of the pillar or upright, is a coiled
spring, upon which the lower end of the movable top presses; and which said lower
end of the movable top, also carries a basket, frame or other carrier. This carrier is
preferably jointed to the connection, between it, and the sliding upright or top, by a
coiled spring, for the purpose of pressing a pulley or the like, on the end of an arm
carried by the basket, against the upright, so as to thereby make a brake, in order to
prevent the too precipitous upward movement of the basket containing an egg, or
the eggs.
The apparatus or appliance is used and set as follows.
Place one or more eggs in the basket, as may be desired to be cooked; then rotate
the milled head, until the finger carried by it, comes opposite to one or other, of the
figures, indicating the time which is to be allowed for the egg or eggs to boil, say
three minutes and a half; then press down the upper sliding portion of the
upright, which on the stud near its top, coming against the hooked upper part
of the arm, presses the said arm aside, and then snaps under the hooked end,
which thereby keeps the said sliding portion, and the basket at its botton (which
is now below the surface of the water) in a lowered and fixed position.
The pressing down of the upper sliding portion as aforesaid, also compresses the
coiled spring.
The time mechanism now being in motion, the train of wheels give a slow rotary
movement to the main axis, which gradually brings the can, or the excentric boss
from its moved away or or set position, to the top hooked end of the releasing arm,
moving the said arm aside, and releasing the sliding upper part, which is pressed
upwards, by the expanding upwardly of the coiled spring, which thereby takes or
elevates the basket or frame and eggs from out of the water in which they have been
kept for a period of three minutes and a half, or during the period the eggs have been

page_text: timed, or the time mechanism has taken to run down, by the opening out, to a constant
degree, of the coils of the spring, which forms the primary means of timing, and also
motive power for releasing.
Although we have described that a period of time is determined by mechanism as
aforesaid, yet other equivalent devices may be substituted therefor; such for example
as a volute or coiled spring, encircling and attached at one end to an axis, upon which
a fly and brake is mounted, and which may be worked with, or without a
pendulum.
Or the opening out of the coils of a spring, may be regulated, by a balance wheel,
and check action. If necessary, the spring as a motive power, may be dispensed
with, and a weight substituted therefor.
Or the time and releasing means, may consist of an appliance in the form of a
barrel or tube, having working within it, a piston and piston rod; the latter carrying
a pointer, which moves in front of a scale, while the former has a coiled spring there-
under, for giving the return movement after the stem of the piston has been pressed
down for the setting. The piston has also an outlet valve, and within the said
cylinder, air or water is confined, and allowed to escape from the upperside of the
piston to the lower side through a small hole of a determinate size.
The pressing down of the piston for setting, compresses the spring, and takes the
water from the underside to the upper side, through the valve, which afterwards
closes, so that water or air can only get again to the lower part of the cylinder,
through the very small hole.
1009

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Timing and Automatically Removing Eggs out
of the Water in which they have been Boiled, Applicable for
other Purposes.
We, JOHN HOLT of Rifle Crescent, Victoria Road, Aston near Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Foreman of Works, and JoHN BOULTBEE BROOKS, of Great
Charles Street Birmingham, aforesaid, Manufacturer, 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 :-
The principal object of our invention, is to automatically raise or remove after
determinate, or fixed periods of time, eggs, from the water in which they have been
boiled, or cooked, thereby rendering attention as to the time of boiling, or the removal
by hand, after the running down of the sand of an ordinary egg boiler, unnecessary;
and which said apparatus, or means, may be used for automatically raising, lowering,
liberating, starting, and blocking purposes generally.
We will first describe our invention, in connection with an apparatus for timing,
and raising of eggs, from the water, in which they have been boiled, for cooking.
The mechanism or means as aforesaid, consists essentially of six principal elements,
or parts, viz-1st., a vertical upright or stand, with a foot at its lower end, for
keeping the instrument, erect. 2ndly, a basket or holder, wherein an egg, or eggs are
placed. 3rdly, the motive power, by means of which, a pre-determined period of
time is determined; and which said mechanism, consists essentially of chronometric
mechanism, by the running down of which, fixed periods of time are obtained.
4thly, winding and starting mechanism. 5thly., liberating and letting go mechanism.
6thly, means for raising the basket, on the stop mechanism being liberated.
The framing of the apparatus consists of two vertical pillars or uprights, one working
telescopically within the other, or upon the other; and at the bottom of the lower one,
is a horizonial foot, extending outwardly in the form of a horse shoe, and by which
means the said base of the instrument, is kept in an erect position. The upper part
which is sliding, may be provided with a handle, or cross bar, for taking hold of the
apparatus.
At the top of the fixed and lower pillar or upright as aforesaid, a platform bracket
is situated, carrying an enclosing frame, or cover, wherein the time and liberating
mechanism is situated; and which said mechanism consists of a central and principal
axis, protruding through the front and back sides of the cover, and with a milled
head or turn secured upon its front end, and a small time annulas, upon the other
end. The said milled bead, carries also a pointer or finger, which traverses a
graduated dial on the front plate, or upon the front side of the enclosing cover.
The central axis as aforesaid carries a ratchet wheel, and at the back of it, a toothed
wheel (with pawl, engaging with ratchet teeth) which latter is capable of turning in
one direction only, upon the said axis, and also gears with a pinion above it. The
axis of this pinion carries a second toothed wheel, which gears with a second pinion.
This last named pinion axis, carries a scape wheel, and engaging with it, is the pallet

page_text: of a verge, having suspended from it, or from its axis, a pendulum, or fly, the
oscillations or rotations of which, determine the rate at which the mechanism shall be
allowed to run down, whose motive power is directed from a volute or other spring,
surrounding and connected at its inner end to the main axis and at its outer end, to a
fixed point.
Thus the turning of the milled head winds up the spring, and carries with it the
ratchet wheel and pointer, but allows the toothed wheel, at the back of it, to remain
stationary, while the connection between the said wheels, is effected by a pawl, carried
by the toothed wheel, and engaging with the teeth of the ratchet wheel; so that after
the time has been set, in the turning of the milled head, the two wheels turn
together.
At the back of the enclosing case of the apparatus is a time annulas, with box like
sides, and wherewith, a catch like yielding stud, or cross pin, carried by the movable
part of the framing engages.
Situated within, or surrounding the movable upper part as aforesaid, is a coiled
spring, for raising the basket, wherein an egg, or the eggs are carried, on the said upper
and moveable part, being liberated.
We will now
proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in vertical section, and partly in side elevation, a
combined egg timer, and automatic raiser, constructed and arranged, according to
our invention. The combined apparatus is represented out of action, thus showing
the normal positions of the parts, when the apparatus not in use.
Figure 2 represents a vertical section, and side elevation, of the said apparatus,
when in use.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of figure 2, while figure 4 is a back view of the
chronometric mechanism, with the enclosing back casing plate removed. Figure 5
represents a front elevation of the yielding stud catch, and gapped time annulas.
The former is shown upon the inner edge of the latter, and just before the upper
movable part is released.
The same letters of reference, indicate corresponding part in the several figures of
the Drawing
a, b, is the framing of the apparatus, consisting of two vertical uprights or pillars,
the latter working telescopically within the former. The part a, is the fixed framing,
while the part b, is the movable framing, and which said lower and fixed framing, is
provided with a horseshoe shaped, foot a², by means of which the instrument is
supported, and kept in an erect position.
At the extreme top of the fixed lower part a, is a platform bracket c, carrying the
enclosing framing d, wherein, and upon the back, and front of which, the time and
liberating mechanism is situated.
This time, and liberating mechanism, consists of a time annulas e, secured upon the
back end of a main axis, which has a milled head or turn g secured upon its front
side. The said milled head g, carries a pointer or finger h, which comes in front of a
dial, with a graduated scale marked thereon, indicative of minutes, or parts of
minutes.
The axis besides carrying at its two outer ends, the milled head g, and the time
annulas e, which has a gap e² within it, as best seen in figure 4 and 5, but it also
carries a ratchet wheel, which is prevented from going back, by a pawl j, carried
by a toothed wheel k, at the back of the ratchet, and which said toothed wheel is loose
upon the axis and is capable of moving in one direction only. This wheel k gears
with the pinion above it, whose axis carries a toothed wheel, which in its turn
gears with a pinion m, whose axis has fast upon it, a scape wheel m², and with the
teeth of this scape well, the pallets of a verge ǹ engage; and connected to this verge,
or upon its axis, is a pendulum fly or fan o.
The oscillations of the pendulum or the fly as aforesaid, determine the rate at which
the mechanism shall be allowed to run down.
The motive power for the driving of the train of wheels as aforesaid, is preferably

page_text: effected by a ribband or clock spring p whose inner end is connected to the axes f,
while its outer end, is connected to the inner front side of the enclosing framing.
The turning of the milled head g in a forward direction, winds up the spring, and
carries with it, the ratchet wheel, but allows the toothed wheel, with the pawl
upon it, to remain stationary, while the backward movement of the ratchet wheel,
through the spring's tension, sets the train of wheels in motion, and causes the finger,
which is carried by the milled head, to traverse back, from the set position, to zero.
The movable upright & has near its top end, a yielding stud q, which on the movable
part being pressed telescopically into the lower fixed part, the head comes upon the
beveled outer side of the time annulas, and snaps under its overhanging or box like
edge, where it is detained, until the head of the stud, comes opposite the gap.
The yielding stud is kept in position by a spring q³, and within the interior of the
said movable top framing 6, is a coiled spring r, whose ends abut respectively upon a
rest, and a piston like end, carried by a wire », secured at its lower end, to the
box of the fixed pillar part a.
The lower end of the movable upper part b, carries a basket, or egg container s.
The head of the spring stud 9 is male preferably in the form of an anti-friction
roller.
The apparatus or appliance is used and acts as follows:-
Place one or more eggs in the basket s, then rotate the milled head g, until the
finger carried by it, comes opposite to one or other of the figures, indicating the
time for the egg, or eggs to be boiled; thus, say for example, three minutes and a half.
This turning of the axis from right to left brings the ungapped part of the time
annulas e, to the top, and with the gapped part considerably removed from its former
position, as represented in figures 2 and 5; then press down the upper sliding portion b,
telescopically into the lower portion a, when the spring stud, or bolt like fastener q,
snaps over the box like edge of the time annulas e, and with the head q² of the spring
stud, resting upon the inside inner edge of the said time annulas, as represented in
figures 2 and 5. This engagement of the head of the stud q2 under the box edge of
the time annulas, keeps the sliding portion b, and the basket carried by it (which
latter is below the surface of the water in the vessel, wherein an egg or eggs is or are,
being cooked) in a lowered and fixed position.
The time mechanism now being in motion, the reduction train of wheels give a
slow rotary movement to the axis f, and time annulas e, which latter is slowly
re-rotated, until the gap e comes uppermost, so as to allow the head of the yielding
stud or bolt to pass out there through, as represented in figures 1 and 4 which
releases the sliding upper part b, and is pressed upwards, by the expanding outwardly
of the coiled spring r, thereby elevating the basket S. and egg or eggs contained
therein, from out of the water in which they have been boiled and cooked.
It is thus observed, that the releasing of the basket is effected by the disengagement,
or passing of the head of the stud or bolt q², through the gap in the time annulas, on
the said gap, being presented, in a vertical line, with the upward movement of the
movable part. The finger / rests at zero on coming against the stop i².
Although we have described that a period of time is determined by mechanism as
aforesaid, yet other equivalent devices may be substituted therefor; such for example
as a volute or coiled spring, encircling and attached at one end to an axis, upon which
a fly and brake is mounted, and which may be worked with, or without a pendulum.
Or the opening out of the coils of a spring, may be regulated, by a balance wheel,
and check action as is the case with ordinary time-keepers without pendulums. If
necessary the spring as a motive power, may be dispensed with, and a weight substi-
tuted therefor.
Where the weight of falling sand is employed as a substitute for chronometric
mechanism, I carry the time annulas upon à double armed lever the shorter one of
which projects outwardly upon one side and is marked with figures indicative of
minutes and parts of minutes with a weight like that of a steelyard sliding upon it.
The other and long arm of the lever is directed outwardly in a reverse direction and
with its end having resting upon it a sliding or false bottom of a sand hour glass.

page_text: The hour glass consists of a double funnelled like body part, contracted at its middle
and with movable or freely sliding ends thus making as it were an hour glass with
extending ends. This appliance is pivoted about its middle on a frame so as to admit
of being reversed.
When in use one of the movable ends rests upon the long arm of the lever and
after the instrument has been set agoing the sand falls and gradually depresses the said
long arm until the gap in the time annulas comes in front of the spring stud or bolt
when the movable part of the apparatus to which the basket is connected rises
vertically and so thereby lifts the egg or eggs from the water as aforesaid.
Although we have described that the chronometric time machinery is used in
connection with an egg raiser yet the said machinery may be used alone as an egg
timer and in and in this case the spring stud or bolt is used in conjunction with the
clapper of a bell for striking.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
First. The means herein described, of automatically lifting eggs from water, after
boiling or cooking, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. The combination with time apparatus as herein described, of automatic
egg-lifting means, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly. An egg raiser or elevator, consisting of a fixed and movable part, the
latter carrying a basket or receptacle, and lifted upwardly by a spring, substantially as
described and set forth.
Fourthly. The chronometric or time mechanism, (with either pendulum, fly or fan)
alone or in combination with releasing and setting mechanism, as described and set
forth.
Fifthly. The releasing and setting mechanism or means e, e², e³, q q4² q³, of a
combined egg timer and lifter.
Sixthly. In combination with chronometric mechanism, of a milled head g, pointer h,
and dial.
Seventhly. The combination of the chronometric mechanism, and enclosing casing
as herein described and set forth, with a milled head g, pointer h, dial i, time
annulas e, e, and spring bolt q for an egg timer only as described.
Eighthly. Combining with the axis, of a volute spring p, milled head g, and time
annulas e whereby the rotation of the said milled head, for bringing its pointer into
position, winds up the spring, and takes the time annulas into a determinate position.
Ninthly. An egg timer and egg raiser, constructed as herein described, and set forth
in the several figures of the drawing.
Tenthly. The combination with an egg basket, or an egg receptacle of chronometric
egg timing, and lifting mechanism, as herein described and set forth.
Eleventhly. An egg timer and raiser, in which the gravitating effect of sand is
employed, for timing, substantially as described.
Lastly. The automatic mechanism herein described and set forth, for raising,
lowering, liberating, starting and blocking purposes, as set forth.
Dated this Fifteenth day of December 1887.