Improvements in Photographic Washing Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Washing Apparatus.
FRANK ALSTON 211 Ladypool Road Sparkbrook Birmingham Tool Maker do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to thoroughly wash photographic prints and plates
in an ordinary bucket or other domestic utensil.. It consists of a straight tube with
a taper nozzle fixed at a right angle to the bottom of it and a syphon the short
arm of which is just over a small hole in the upper side of the nozzle while the
long arm hangs down outside and the spring holds it firmly in position when the
tube is connected with the water supply by a piece of rubber tubing most of
the water rushes out at nozzle and causes water in bucket to revolve whilst a fine
stream from the hole causes water in tube to rise above levil of that outside;
when this reaches top, it flows down long tube and starts action of syphon. If
however the water falls too low in the bucket the air is admitted through the hole
and the action ceases untill the water rises to a sufficient height to restart it: the
bottom of the tube is surrounded by a piece of perforated zinc which prevents the
prints being drawn into the syphon.
10th utanha 1000
FRANK ALSTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Photographic Washing Apparatus.
I, FRANK ALSTON, of 211 Ladypool Road, in the City of Birmingham, Mechanic,
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:―
This invention relates to an automatic apparatus or means for agitating, or
promoting the circulation of water employed in the washing of photographic
prints, plates and the like, and also in the removal of the contaminated washing
water sub rata with the supply, or sub rata with the water conducted into a washing
vessel.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a syphonic washing or water
circulating and withdrawal apparatus constructed, arranged and fitted with improve-
ments made according to my invention.
The said apparatus or appliance is shown in action, and with the same mounted
upon and over and attachedly connected to one of the sides of a vessel, in which the
washing is to be conducted.
The said apparatus consists essentially of two principal component members,
viz., an inlet supply pipe, terminated at its lower end by a jet or jets, or a nozzle
or nozzles, and a legged syphon, the shorter member of which comes within the
inside of the vessel, and forms the exit conduit for emptying, whilst the other and
longer legged member forms the discharge pipe.
Figure 2 represents partly in longitudinal vertical section upon the dotted
lines A B Figure 5 (as hereinafter described) and partly in elevation, the said
apparatus upon an enlarged scale to that of Figure 1.
The said section is taken through the short legged member of the syphon and the
inlet supply pipe.
Figure 3 represents the said appliance partly in longitudinal vertical section upon
the dotted lines CD Figure 5, and partly in elevation.

page_text: This said section is taken through the long and short legs of the syphon.
Figure 4 represents a front view of the apparatus.
Figure 5 represents a topside plan and section upon the dotted lines E F
Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a part transverse horizontal section upon the dotted lines G H
Figure 2, and Figure 7 is a transverse section on the dotted lines 1 J Figure 2,
looking downwards.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
The apparatus or contrivance consists of three primary members, viz., an inlet
supply pipe a, an exit or withdrawal pipe b, and a discharge or outlet pipe c.
The first named member a, consists of an inside disposed vertically depending
tube or passage, surmounted at its upper end by a tail end or mouth piece a²,
preferable with an inside bore greater than that of the tube itself, and having
attachedly connected thereto, a flexible pipe a'. The other or lower end of the
said tube is terminated by a conical-shaped nozzle or delivery spout a³, having
upon its top side, a jet hole a', from which a jet issues, and lifts (as hereinafter
described), a column of water located within the short leg of the syphonic
apparatus.
a,
The second named member 6, consists of an inside located and depending length
of tubing, open at its lower end 12, and terminating at its upper end 3, in a
hollow crown d, which leads to, and forms the channel from, the other and longer
leg member c.
The mouth entrance 2, to this said short legged member b, comes immediately
over, and at a short distance from, the jet or squirt-hole a', and with the axis
of the said leg coming coincident with the said hole, so that the force or energy
given out by the jet forces the column of water within the syphonic arrangement
over the bend, and thereby automatically starts the syphon by the displace-
ment of the confined air within the crown, through the medium of the lifted water
column.
The other or third member e, consists of an outside and depending tube member,
of a longer length than the depending member 6, with the outlet or lower end c²,
open, and with the upper end e', connected with a hollow crown d.
The apparatus or device may be provided with a spring clip e, consisting of a
looped tail end e², and looped coils e, and is for the purpose of attachedly connecting
the instrument to a vessel or washing pan, bucket or the like.
Surrounding the entrance to the lower part of the member b, and also
surrounding the jet hole a', of the nozzle or spout a³, is a perforated screen or
guard, arranged to prevent the articles being washed from choking the passages
thus surrounded.
The leg b, has near its upper end, an air vent hole 4, which stops the syphonic
action when the water in the vessel falls below it.
OPERATION.
Assuming that the vessel g, (upon one of the sides of which the instrument
is hung) to be filled with water to a height a little above the vent hole 6, in the
short leg b, and that the prints to be washed are placed within the water in the
said vessel.
The water supply or service, which is under pressure, is then turned on, and
passes down the inlet supply pipe a, and through the outlet of the nozzle a³, with
considerable force and velocity under the water within the vessel, which becomes
agitated or set in motion thereby, the said motion consisting of a whirlpool-like
current or currents which stirs up the washing liquid and also gives the prints a
whirling motion and brings the same continuously in contact with fresh water,
hence their thorough cleansing or washino.

page_text: rate as clean water is admitted by the vertical jet or squirt h, rising or projecting
itself upwards from the nozzle a³, through the jet hole a', and then impinging upon
the underside of, and lifting, the column of liquid contained within the short
leg b, until the same flows over the bend or through the hollow crown d, and down
the discharge pipe. Syphonic action is thus set up or started and continues so long
as washing water is passed under pressure, and the same is at a height within the
vessel above the vent hole 4, but immediately the liquid within the vessel falls
below the said vent, then the syphonic action ceases.
It will be understood that the pressure of the supply will be of sufficient force to
lift a column of liquid within a tube to a height corresponding to the distance
between the said vent and the hollow crown.
In case the pressure of the water supply is considerable, a shorter column of water
coming within the path of the jet may be lifted and the automatic starting of the
syphon effected. In this event, the internal lifted column itself closes the vent
hole, on the same rising above the height of it, and up to and over the bend covered
by the hollow crown.
Instead of employing one nozzle, I may employ two, disposed in varying directions,
and with only one of them having the jet hole or water column lifter. The amount
of inflowing water is regulated by a tap or cut-off at the supply, consistent with the
amount of liquid being sub-rata withdrawn.
If necessary, the lifting jet may not proceed directly from the nozzle, but may
proceed from an independent tube.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. In a photographic washing apparatus having a syphon adjunct, auto-
matically starting or setting up the syphonic action by or through the medium
of a lifting jet, acting upon or under a column of liquid resting within the short leg
or member of the said syphon adjunct, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. In a photographic washing apparatus having a syphon adjunct, the
combination with a lifting jet issuing from a hole in the water washing delivery
nozzle, of a vent hole a', within the short leg of the syphonic adjunct, substantially
as described and set forth.
Thirdly. In a photographic washing apparatus having a syphon adjunct, the
general construction, arrangement and combination of the parts, (other than the
clip e,) substantially as described and set forth.
71
FRANK ALSTON,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.