Improvements in Instantaneous Photographic Shutters:
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left,, 12th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Instantaneous Photographic Shutters:
We, THEODOR VILHELM JENSEN, Photographer, CHRISTIAN HANSEN,
Merchant, and SOPHUS JUNCKER JENSEN, Photographer, all of 5 Raadhusstraede,
Copenhagen, Denmark, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: :-
Our invention relates to improvements in instantaneous photographic shutters.
In carrying it into effect we provide two cylinders fitted with pistons. These
cylinders are connected by a tube, the piston rods projecting from the opposite
ends respectively. One of these rods is fitted with a handle thereby making it and
its cylinder a pump. The space between the two pistons is filled with fluid and
the outer ends of both cylinders left open, so that the piston of the second cylinder
repeats the motion of the pump piston. The rod of the second cylinder-is toothed
ard engages a pinion loose on the axis of a drum. The latter is geared to a second
drum, preferably, by a band the ends of which are fast to the said drums, respec-
tively. The second drum has an internal coiled spring which is wound up when
the band is wound off the said drum. The latter is furnished with an external index
to indicate the degree of tension in the spring and also an automatic and releasable
non-return device.
The pinion carries an axial projection which is slotted diametrically across its
outer face to engage, under the influence of a spring, a rod diametrically fast to
the axis on which the loose pinion is mounted. These slots are bevilled on one side
so that the pinion will disengage from the rod when it is rotated about the said
axis in one direction.
When the second or toothed piston is pushed out by pushing the pump piston in,
it rotates the pinion. The latter engages the rod and so rotates the first drum,
The said piston rod is
thereby winding up the coiled spring in the second. one.
pushed out far enough for the rack on it to pass the pinion.
There is a stud on the toothed piston rod which passes and trips a bell crank
lever fulcrummed on a fixed pivot, when the said piston rod is pushed out.
A returning device brings one arm of this lever back under the stud and the other
arm under the end of the rod above mentioned, the said lever thereby acting as a
two-armed detent. The shutter is connected to the mechanism above described in
such a way that it is opened by the above mentioned outward motion of the
toothed piston rod.
If the pump piston be pulled instead of pushed, the toothed piston rod is moved
downwards or inwards. The stud upon it then trips the bell crank lever and
releases the rod which is diametrically fast to the axis of the pinion. The coiled
up spring in the bottom drum rotates both drums, thereby closing the shutter.
The length of the exposure can be regulated by increasing the tension of the
coiled spring in the bottom drum.
If it is required to make the shutter give an exposure of definite length, the
outward motion of the toothed piston rod must be taken advantage of for opening
the shutter by pushing the pump piston, and it can then be kept open as long
as may be desired, after which time it can be closed by pulling the pump, handle.

page_text: To provide for the shutter being kept open, the pump is fitted with a suitable
detent adapted to hold it in any given position.
Dated this 12th day of May 1894.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Instantaneous Photographic Shutters.
We, THEODOR VILHELM JENSEN, Photographer, CHRISTIAN HANSEN,
Merchant, and SOPHUS JUNCKER JENSEN, Photographer, all of No. 5 Raad-
husstroede, Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in instantaneous photographic shutters
and the object of it is to obviate the necessity of the operator's standing in front
of the camera whenever the shutter has to be set or opened.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation:
Figure 2 is a side elevation; and
Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, front and end elevations of the rack pinion.
A cylinder A contains a piston, which can he moved backwards and forwards in
the cylinder by means of the grip E. By means of the strong flexible tube B, the
cylinder A is connected with a second cylinder C, which is also fitted with a piston,
the rod D of which latter is toothed at its upper end. The space between the
pistons of the cylinders A and C, as well as the tube B, are filled with some
suitable liquid, such as water, oil, or glycerine. On applying pressure to the
grip E, the motion given to the piston in the cylinder A is transmitted to the piston
in the cylinder C, whereby this latter piston, together with its racked bar D, is
driven upwards. A contrary effect is produced by pulling the grip E, whereupon
the racked bar D is again lowered.
During a portion of its movement, the racked bar D engages with the pinion F
which is mounted loosely on the axle G. This pinion is continually pressed towards
the apparatus by means of the spring a. The side of the pinion F facing the
apparatus, has a cylindrical prolongation in which there are two triangular
incisions and 2-see Figures 3 and 4. The axle G carries an army which
traverses the axle and locks into the incisions 1, for which purpose they are
shaped in a suitable manner at the point of impact or locking.
To the axle G there is attached a cylinder H, which is connected with a second
cylinder K by means of the pulley straps M and N in such a way that the straps
oll up off one cylinder on to the other. In the cylinder K there is a coiled spring.
The cylinders H and K are connected in some suitable manner (by gear wheels,
friction rollers or the like) with the mechanism for closing the apparatus. When
the rack bar D is driven upwards quickly by pushing the piston of the cylinder A
inwards, the pinion F is made to revolve in the direction of the arrow,-Figure 2-
thereby actuating the axle G and cylinder H by means of the arm: g.
This movement is transmitted to the cylinder K by the straps M and N whereby 4
the coiled spring in its interior is wound up. During this movement, a stud d on
the rack bar D passes one end of a bell crank catch P at the same time as the
arm g is brought under the opposite end of this catch, which latter is pressed to the
stop by means of the flat spring p. The closing mechanism of the apparatus has
been opened during the said movement, and closed again, it then standing in the 5
position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cap can now be removed from the camera
so as to expose the sensitive plate.

page_text: If the grip E is now drawn out a little, the rack bar D will move downwards.
The stud d will then actuate the bell crank P, whereby the arm g is released. The
spring in the cylinder K now causes the cylinders H and K to revolve rapidly as,
owing to the shape of the incisions f¹ and f³, the arm will not be prevented from
rotating in the direction of the arrow, as the pinion F is moved a little to one side
by the resistance of the spring a.
The closing mechanism of the apparatus corresponds with this movement,
whereby the sensitive plate is exposed for a short time.
The length of the exposure can be regulated by increasing the tension, more or
less, of the spring in the cylinder K by means of the grip E. The ratchet b and
the catch e prevent the spring in the cylinder K from unwinding. A toothed
wheel and pinion with an indicator, register the strength of the tension on the
said spring. By pulling the grip still further, the rack bar D is moved back to
the point of exit, whereby the pinion F alone is moved, whilst, owing to the shape
of the incisions fand f, the axle G remains unaffected.
To enable the closing mechanism to be kept open during the focussing of the
picture, the cylinder A is provided with a stop m which engages in an incision
mide in its piston rod at a suitable point.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1. An instantaneous shutter characterised by the employment of two cylinders A.
and each with a piston, and connected one with the other by means of a tube,
the space between the two pistons of the said cylinders being filled with liquid in
such a way that by pushing the piston in cylinder A a similar movement is
imparted to the piston in cylinder C, said piston being suitably connected with
the closing mechanism whereby the latter can be actuated without the photographer
being compelled to place himself before the apparatus.
2. In an instantaneous shutter of the nature described in Claim 1, the applica-
tion of a rack bar D to the piston in cylinder C, said rack bar looking into a
pinion F the movement of which is transmitted by means of a moveable arm g to
a cylinder H, which cylinder is connected with a second cylinder K by means of
straps (M and N), as a coiled spring is attached thereto in such a way that the
worm spring is wound up during the upward movement of the plunger whereby the
shutter is actuated, the cylinders H and K being connected with the closing
apparatus by some suitable means.
3. In an instantaneous shutter, of the nature described in the preceding claims,
the application of a prolongation on the pinion F provided with triangular
incisions of such a nature that the arm g and the pinion F can move inde-
pendently of each other in one and the same direction, so that the instantaneous
shutter can operate freely when released from the arm g.
Dated this 19th das of Fahria 1905
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.