Improvements applicable to Beds, Couches, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Beds, Couches, and the like.
I, JOHN HOUSTON WALKER, of Hartwood, West Calder, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My invention consists in applying apparatus for producing a slow oscillating
motion, to beds, couches, and the like for the purpose of inducing sleep, or rest, or
an agreeable feeling, or hygienic action.
In carrying out my invention I have a rigid frame forming part of or carrying
the bed, or couch, or seat, mounted on journals or fulcra so as to be free to oscillate
as easily and as noiselessly as possible, the axis of oscillation being by preference
transverse. To produce the oscillation I, according to one modification, employ an
oscillating hydraulic cylinder or barrel having working in it a plunger or ram
connected to the bed frame, so as when water under pressure is admitted to the
cylinder to raise one end of the frame. The weight of the frame and parts carried
by it are arranged, or a suitable weight may be added, to force the plunger or ram
in again when the water is allowed to escape from the cylinder. Inlet and outlet
stop valves are arranged to be acted upon by tumbler mechanism which comprises a
rocking lever acted upon by a lever or link connected to the bed frame, and which
acts on the valve levers by means of slotted links. A groove or channel is formed
on the upper side of the rocking lever and in this groove there is placed a heavy
ball. As the oscillating bed frame reaches each end of its oscillating movement it
puts the rocking lever into such a position that its ball rolls from one end to the
other and depressing the end of the lever to which it rolls, causes it to complete
the reversing of the valves and thereby brings about the return oscillation of the
frame. There is on the water supply pipe a separate stop and regulating valve
which can be adjusted by hand to vary the speed of action of the apparatus or to
stop it when not required.
Instead of the moving apparatus herein before described any suitable known
hydraulic or other motor apparatus capable of imparting a slow reciprocating
motion may be employed.
When the apparatus is to be used in a hot climate a fan may be mounted at any
suitable part above or in the neighborhood of the bed and be operated by mechanism
from the oscillatory apparatus.
Dated this Thirteenth day of January 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent,
Per pro David Ferguson.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements applicable to Beds, Couches, and the like.
I, JOHN HOUSTON WALKER, of Hartwood, West Calder, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Gentleman, 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, that is to say :-
My invention consists in applying apparatus for producing a slow oscillating
motion, to beds, couches, and the like for the purpose of inducing sleep, or rest, or
an agreeable feeling, or hygienic action.

page_text: In carrying out my invention I have a rigid frame forming part of or carrying
the bed, or couch, or seat, mounted on journals or fulcra so as to be free to oscillate
as easily and as noiselessly as possible, the axis of oscillation being by preference
transverse. To produce the oscillation I, according to one modification, employ an
oscillating hydraulic cylinder or barrel having working in it a plunger or ram
connected to the bed frame, so as when water under pressure is admitted to the
cylinder to raise one end of the frame. The weight of the frame and parts carried
by it are arranged, or a suitable weight may be added, to force the plunger or ram.
in again when the water is allowed to escape from the cylinder. There is on the
water supply pipe a separate stop and regulating valve which can be adjusted by
hand to vary the speed of action of the apparatus or to stop it when not required.
The waste pipe is also by preference fitted with a regulating valve; and self-acting
appliances may be provided to compensate for changes in position of the person
upon the frame or couch.
Instead of the moving apparatus hereinbefore described any suitable known
hydraulic or other motor apparatus capable of imparting a slow reciprocating
motion may be employed.
When the apparatus is to be used in a hot climate a fan may be mounted at any
suitable part above or in the neighborhood of the bed and be operated by
mechanism from the oscillatory apparatus.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood, I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be
bereinafter referred to and representing apparatus as made according to one
modification of my invention.
Figure, 1, of the drawings is a sectional side elevation, Figure, 2, is a plan as
with a part broken away and Figure, 3, is an end elevation. In these drawings the
same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
For receiving a bed or couch cushion I provide an oblong rectangular frame, A,
which may be of wood or metal, and which is supported by means of angular
trunnions or fulcra, A 1, fixed to about the middles of the two long sides of the
frame, on standards, A 2, which may be of wood with metal top bearing plates for
the fulcra, Al, or of metal and of any convenient or ornamental form. The
frame, A, is shown as provided with cross strips, A 4, of metal to carry the bed or
couch cushion, but may be arranged in any other convenient known way.
:.
The oscillation motor consists of a vertical hydraulic cylinder, B, of small
diameter, of which the ram or rod, B 1, is at its upper end jointed to a cross
bar, B2, fixed to the underside of the frame, A, at a convenient distance from the
axis of oscillation of the frame. The cylinder, B, oscillates from its bottom end to
a small extent to accommodate the movement in an arc of the connection with the
frame, A. The bottom end of the cylinder, B, is jointed on a piece, B 3, which is
in communication with an inlet water supply pipe, B4, and with a discharge
pipe, B5, these inlet and discharge pipes being both fitted with distribution
valves, C, D, and also with regulating valves, C1, D1, which latter are moved by
levers, C2, D2. The lever, C2, of the inlet regulating valve is connected by a
link, C3, to a lever, C4, which is connected by a link, C5, to a hand lever, Ć 6,
and to the last link, C 5, is also connected the lever, D2, of the discharge regulating
valve. The lever, D2, is formed with a slot near its end in which acts a pin which
is adjustably fixed in a slot in the link, C 5. I have found it of advantage to open
the discharge regulating valve, D 1, to a greater extent than the inlet regulating
valve, C1, and in order to vary the proportion the link, C5, is connected to the
outer end of the intermediate lever, C4, and that lever is made with a slot in
which the joint pin of the link, C 3, can be adjustably fixed the relative movement
transmitted by the link, C 3, to the inlet regulating valve lever, C 2, being thereby
variable as may be found best in practice. The motive water employed may be
derived from any convenient source yielding adequate pressure, and where
sufficient pressure is not available by gravitation an accumulator of any convenient

page_text: kind may be used, such accumulator being charged by pumping by hand or
otherwise.
When water under pressure is admitted into the cylinder, B, it raises up one end
of the frame, A, into the position shown in Figure, 1; and at the same time the
descending end of the frame, by a link, E, the attachment of which to the frame
may be made adjustable at a greater or less distance from the centre of oscillation,
depresses one end of a long lever, E 1, centered on a standard, E 2, beyond which it
extends. The further end of the lever, E 1, is made with a fork, E 3, within which
extends a rod, F, fixed to a tumbler lever, F 1, centered on a standard, F 2, the
space of the fork allowing the lever, E1, to move a certain distance from either
extreme position before it begins to act on the tumbler lever, F 1. The tumbler
lever is by links, G, G 1, connected to levers, G2, G3, which move the distribution
valves, C, D. The tumbler, lever, F 1, is made either with a shallow groove along
the top, or consists of two bars with space between them, and a heavy ball, H, runs
in the groove or on the bars from one end to the other accordingly as the lever is
inclined one way or the other. To prevent noise leather is fixed along the top of
the lever, F 1, for the ball, H, to run on; and stops, F 3, are provided at the ends,
these stops being covered with leather and curved over to slightly grip the ball and
prevent recoil.
When the frame, A, moves in either direction, it, on approaching
the end of the stroke, shifts the tumbler lever, F 1, sufficiently to cause the ball, H,
to begin to roll towards the opposite end, and the weight of the ball on reaching
the opposite end completes the movement of the lever and effects the reversal of
the valves, C, D.
Instead of the water which has operated in the cylinder, B, being allowed to
immediately run to waste, it is utilised for automatically compensating for change
of position of the load on the frame, A. For this purpose the water is led by the
discharge pipe, B 5, into a suitably elevated cistern, J, from which it finally passes
by an overflow pipe, J 1, into a waste pipe, J2. The discharge pipe, B5, is
connected to a spherical valve box, K, the top of which is in immediate communi-
cation with the cistern, J, but which has a horizontal diaphragm with a port the
underside of which communicates with a pipe, K 1. The port in the diaphragm is
fitted with a valve connected by a cord or wire to a lever, L, which is weighted by
a ball, L1, this ball, L 1, being partly counterbalanced by an adjustable weight, L 2,
which is hung on the lever, L, by a looped link. The pipe, K 1, is connected to a
vertical pipe, K 2, extending up through a pipe in the cistern, and extending down
to a spherical valve box, K 3, connected on one side to the pipe, J 1, and on the
other side to a pipe, M, which through a flexible pipe, M 1, connects to a pipe, M 2,
fixed to the frame, A, and leading to a box or tank indicated by dotted lines, M 3,
at what may regarded as the upper end of the frame, A, or that near which the
head of a person lying on the bed or couch will be. It may here be mentioned that
as shown in the drawings the parts are arranged so that the head end of the frame
does not descend below the level position; this arrangement may, however be
altered if desired in any case. The valve box, K 3, is like the valve box, K, and
the valve in it is connected to the opposite end of the lever, L.
The compensating action takes place in the following way. If the person on the
bed or couch moves so as to increase the weight towards the head end, the ram, B 1,
will rise less rapidly or not at all, and the effective pressure in the cylinder, B, will
become somewhat greater owing to not getting away so rapidly as in the normal
condition of matters. This increase of pressure will act through a small pipe, N,
proceeding from one of the pipes, B 4 or B 5, between the cylinder, B, and either
valve, C, or D, and connected to a flexible pipe, 'N 1, fixed at one end and having
the other end, which is closed connected by a cord, N 2, to the lever, L. The
increased pressure tends to straighten the flexible pipe, N 1, and thereby pull down
the cord, N 2, making it lower one end of the lever, L, and raise the further end.
The valve in the valve box, K 3, is consequently lifted, and allows water to pass to
the waste pipe, J 2, from the tank, M 3, at the head end of the frame, A, it being
understood that this tank contains more or less water when the action just described

page_text: takes place, and also that a small air pipe, M 4, extends up from it. The opposite
action takes place if the weight towards the head end of the frame, A, is lessened,
the valve in the valve box, K 3, being shut (having become closed on the action
that has been described bringing the disposition of the weight on the frame to the
normal condition) whilst the valve in the valve box, K, opens and allows water to
pass from the cistern, J, into the tank, M3, at the head end of the frame, A. The
adjustable weight, L 2, on the lever, L, besides modifying the action of the
weight, L 1, prevents the lever, L, from too quickly opening the valve in the valve
box, K, when that in the valve box, K 3, closes, the said adjustable weight L 2,
being hung on the lever with a looped link, and the weight resting on the cover of
the cistern except when there is sufficient difference of internal pressure in the
cylinder, B, and pipes N, N 1, to cause the main weight L 1, to overcome the other
weight, L 2.
The hand lever, C6, for adjusting the regulating valves, C 1, D1, may be
connected to clockwork arranged to vary the action of the apparatus in any desired
manner, as, for example by very gradually and slowly closing the valves. Thus a
person lying on the bed or couch can have a comparatively rapid motion at first
with a gradual diminution of the motion during any desired number of hours.
At the foot end of the frame, A, there is fixed or formed a box, A 5, in which
weights may be put for adjusting the balance of the frame to suit the person using
the apparatus.
In Figure, 1, one mode of arranging a punkah, P, is shown. The punkah is made
to vibrate about an axis, P 1, by means of a rod, P2, adjustably jointed to it and
connected to a crank, P 3, on a shaft having on it a pulley, P 4, over which passes
a cord, P5, attached to opposite parts of the frame, A.
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 :-
Combining with a bed, couch, or the like, apparatus for imparting a slow
oscillating motion, substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1893.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.