IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTION OF CHARGER OR MEASURE FOR POWDER FLASKS, CANISTERS, OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Henry Lomas, of Rodney Wharf, Church
Road, Parish of Battersea, County of Surry, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ACTION OF CHARGER OR MEASURE FOR POWDER FLASKS,
CANISTERS, OR OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 28th April 1868, and dated the 12th March 1863.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Edward Henry Lomas at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 12th March 1868, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HENRY LOMAS, of Rodney Wharf, Church Road, Parish of Battersea, County
of Surry, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE ACTION OF CHARGER OR MEASURE FOR POWDER FLASKS, CANISTERS, OR OTHER
VESSELS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and
have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor
thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Henry Lomas, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following state-
ment:

page_text: This Invention has for its object improvements in the action of chargers or
measures for powder flasks, canisters, or other vessels, and consists of the
following arrangements:-
Within the charger or measure, and near where it connects with or is
attached to the flask or other vessel, and at such distance from the outer end
as will give the capacity or measure required, shall be arranged two discs of
brass or other suitable metal, the one fixed and the other moveable, both discs
having openings so shaped that the spaces between the openings in the move-
able disc shall cover and close the openings in the fixed disc, but when the
moveable disc, which turns upon a central pin or axle, shall have been turned
round until the openings of both discs, which are made to correspond in shape,
come together, then a communication will be opened between the flask or
other vessel and the charger which will allow the gunpowder or other sub-
stance 'to be measured or discharged to flow into the charger, and when the
charger is filled the moveable disc will be brought back to its place by means
of a hoop spring of brass or other suitable material.
The turning of the moveable disc so as to open the communication
is accomplished by acting with the thumb or finger on the end of the said
spring, which is attached to the moveable disc by a pin or bar which works
through a slot in the side of the charger, the slot being of sufficient length to
allow the apertures in the discs to come opposite to each other by the moving
of the moveable disc upon its central pin or axle.
:
Another method of turning the moveable disc, and opening and shutting the
communication between the charger and flask or other vessel, is by means of a
straight bar or connecting rod, which attaches to the moveable disc near the
centre, thus giving it a greater throw or turn with less action outside of the
charger. The outer end of the said bar or rod is attached to an elliptic spring
of brass, or other suitable material, which when expanded keeps the moveable
disc in such a position that the communication between the flask and charger
is closed, and when by compressing the said spring the bar or rod is pressed
inwards, the moveable disc is turned so that the apertures come opposite, thus
opening the communication between the flask and charger. Owing to the
facility with which the moveable disc works in consequence of the easy central
action, this charger or measure may be adapted for grains or other suitable
substances where expeditious measuring is required, and owing to the simpli-
city of its construction it is not liable to be deranged, and therefore may be
permanently attached to such canisters or packages as are or may be used in
selling gunpowder or other substances that require to be withdrawn in
measured quantities.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature and object of my Invention, I will proceed to
explain more fully the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows an outside elevation of charger or measure; Fig. 2 is a plan
of ditto, showing two discs, one moveable, the other fixed. By pressing the
hoop spring a in the direction of the arrow, the openings of the two discs
are brought opposite; the said spring is connected to the disc through the
slot c in the side of the charger, the slot being of sufficient length to allow
the apertures to come opposite each other by the disc moving round the
central pin d.
Fig. 3 is a section of the charger on the mouth of a flask; the discs are
seen attached at the centre by the pin d.
Another method of opening and shutting is shown at Fig. 6. The elliptic
spring 6 being compressed moves the disc round by the connection e, e, which
passes through a small hole in the side of the charger.
Fig. 4 is a half elevation and half section and Fig. 5 a plan of charger or
measure, suitable for canisters, and which may be also attached to casks, boxes,
and other vessels for the purpose of expeditious measuring.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Henry Lomas, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
EDWARD HENRY LOMAS. (L.S.)