Power by their Descent.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th May, 1887
Power by their Descent.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention has for object improvements in means or apparatus for automatically
raising weights the said weights being designed to generate motive power by their
descent and it relates to the employment of a fluid under pressure or of an electric
current acting on suitable mechanism at intervals which are determined by the rate
at which the power stored in the weight is given off. In order to render the nature
of the invention intelligible there is appended by way of example a sheet of drawings,
in which Fig. 1 shows an elevation, partly in section of an apparatus according to
this invention for automatically winding up counterweights, as applied to the Printing
Telegraph of Hughes. Fig. 2 is a detail drawing, showing a front elevation, in partial
section, of the mechanism for distributing the compressed fluid. In these figures, the
same letters refer to the same parts.
In the cylinder A there works a piston B, which is acted on, on one side only by
the pressure of the fluid, the other side being open to the atmosphere.
A three-way cock R distributes the compressed fluid to the cylinder A, and
exhausts the same fluid when it has acted on the piston B.
The plug of the cock is furnished with a hollow cross-bar T which is filled to about
one-third of its interior volume with mercury; this crossbar opens or closes the cock
at the desired moment. This being premised, the operation of the apparatus is as
follows:

page_text: The weight P, descends under the influence of gravity and gives motion to the
instrument which it drives. The two parts C C of the chain, descend with it, whilst
the parts D D of the same chain ascend, lifting the counterweight E, the sheave F
and the block G fixed on that sheave. This block G, in the form of an extended
ring, encloses one of the ends of the cross-bar T. When the weight P has nearly
arrived at the end of its travel, the block G in its upward movement, lifts the cross-
bar T; the mercury inside is gradually displaced by the lifting of the crossbar, and
when the latter has reached a point a little above the horizontal, it (the crossbar) is
operated by the weight of the mercury which has all gone over to the other end of the
crossbar. At this moment the cock is opened' to its whole extent, the fluid under
pressure supplied through the pipe M, passes through the pipe N into the cylinder A,
and acts on the piston B, forcing it to the other end of the cylinder. By means of
the rod H and a chain I, the motion of the piston is transmitted to a disc Ŏ keyed on
the shaft which carries the return sheave or wheel O' of the parts C and D of the chain
supporting the weight P. The sheave or wheel O' is driven in the direction of the
arrow, for winding up the weight P, by a catch or pawl carried by the disc O or the
shaft to which it is fixed return movement of the said sheave or wheel O', when
the piston B returns to its normal position being prevented by a catch or pawl
carried by a stationary part of the apparatus. The weight is thus brought back
(wound up) into its elevated position. But whilst the weight P is being wound up,
the block G descends and pulls, when P is at the end of its course, the crossbar T of
the cock back in the opposite direction to its first movement; the mercury again
exerts its tilting action, and places the crossbar in the position shown in dotted lines
on the drawing (Fig. 2).
At this moment the inlet opening of the cock is closed, and the escape pipe Lis
put in communication with the cylinder A, so as to afford an outlet for the fluid after
it has acted on the piston. When the weight P has again descended, the same
operations are repeated so that the winding up of the weight takes place automatically
and whenever required. V is a spring serving to bring back the piston to the front
end of the cylinder. This spring may be of any suitable shape, and may be replaced
either by the admission of the fluid to the other side of the piston, or by the employ-
ment of another cylinder with its piston. The admission of the fluid, acting on the
piston or pistons may be if desired regulated so as to take advantage of its expansion
and if it be condensible it may be condensed after it has filled the cylinder. In place
of fluid under pressure electricity may be used as the motive power the cock R being
replaced by a commutator which, according to the different positions it may take
up (Fig. 2), would establish or break an electrical circuit, and the cylinder and piston
by a magnet, solenoid or motor.
Dated this 29th day of June 1886.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Automatically Raising
Weights, the said Weights being Designed to Generate Motive
Power by their Descent.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Victor Popp, of 10 Ruo
St. Fargeau, Paris, France, Director of La Cie. des Horloges Pneumatiques) and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for auto-
matically raising weights the said weights being designed to generate motive power
by their descent and it relates to the employment of a fluid under pressure or of an
electric current acting on suitable mechanism at intervals which are determined by
the rate at which the power stored in the weight is given off. In order to render the
nature of the invention intelligible there is appended by way of example a sheet of
drawings, in which Fig. 1 shews an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus
according to this invention for automatically winding up counterweights, as applied
to the Printing Telegraph of Hughes. Fig. 2 is a detail drawing, showing
a front
elevation, in partial section, of the mechanism for distributing the compressed fluid.
In these figures, the same letters refer to the same parts.
In the cylinder A there works a piston B, which is acted on, on one side only by
the pressure of the fluid, the other side being open to the atmosphere.
A three-way cock R distributes the compressed fluid to the cylinder A, and exhausts
the same fluid when it has acted on the piston B.
The plug of the cock is furnished with a hollow cross-bar T which is filled to about
one-third of its interior volume with mercury; this cross bar opens or closes the
cock at the desired moment. This being premised, the operation of the apparatus is
as follows:-
:-
The weight P, descends under the influence of gravity and gives motion to the
instrument which it drives. The two parts C C of the chain, descend with it, whilst
the parts D D of the same chain ascend, lifting the counterweight E, the sheave F
and the block G fixed on that sheave. This block G, in the form of an extended ring,
encloses one of the ends of the cross-bar T. When the weight P has nearly arrived
at the end of its travel, the block G in its upward movement, lifts the crossbar T ;
the mercury inside is gradually displaced by the lifting of the crossbar, and when the
latter has reached a point a little above the horizontal, it (the crossbar) is operated
by the weight of the inercury which has all gone over to the other end of the cross-
bar: At this moment the cock is opened to its whole extent, the fluid under pressure
supplied through the pipe M, passes through the pipe N into the cylinder A, and acts
on the piston B, forcing it to the other end of the cylinder. By means of the rod H
and a chain I, the motion of the piston is transmitted to a disc O keyed on the shaft
which carries the return sheave or wheel O' of the parts (and D of the chain
supporting the weight P. The weight is thus brought back (wound up) into its

page_text: elevated position. But whilst the weight P is being wound up, the block G descends
and pulls, when P is at the end of its course, the crossbar T of the cock back in the
opposite direction to its first movement; the mercury again exerts its tilting action,
and places the cross bar in the position shown in dotted lines on the drawing
(Fig. 2).
At this moment the inlet opening of the cock is closed, and the escape pipe L is put
in communication with the cylinder A, so as to afford an outlet for the fluid after it
has acted on the piston.
V is a spring serving to bring back the piston to the front end of the cylinder.
This spring may be of any suitable shape, and may be replaced either by the
admission of the fluid to the other side of the piston, or by the employment of another
cylinder with its piston. The admission of the fluid, acting on the piston or pistons
may be if desired regulated so as to take advantage of its expansion and if it be
condensible it may be condensed after it has filled the cylinder.
When the piston is making its return stroke the pulley O revolves idly on the shaft
to which it is connected by a pawl and ratchet wheel. The power given off by the
descending weight P is taken off from either the shaft 03 or the shaft O³, or from both
of them. In case it is only taken off from one of them rotation of the other pulley in
the direction caused by the descent of the weight P is prevented by means of a pawl
pivotted to a fixed part of the framing and taking into a ratchet wheel attached to
the pulley. The pulley through which the power is transmitted is keyed to its shaft.
If the power be transmitted entirely through the pulley O¹ this pulley may be made
to rotate the pulley O to draw back the piston. In this case the cross bar T can be
moved by tappets on the piston rod. When the weight P has again descended, the
same operations are repeated so that the winding up of the weight takes place
automatically and whenever required.
In place of fluid under pressure electricity may be used as the motive power the
cock R being replaced by a commutator which, according to the different positions it
may take up (Fig. 2), would establish or break an electrical circuit, and the cylinder
and piston by a magnet, solenoid or motor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed in apparatus
for automatically raising weights designed to generate motive power by their
descent is :-
1. The combination of a cylinder and piston with a three way cock having a handle
or cross bar partly filled with mercury, the said handle being moved by the descent
of a weight to cause the three-way cock to distribute compressed fluid to the cylinder
at the required times substantially as described.
2. The combination of an electric motor with a handle or cross-bar partly filled
with mercury, the said handle being moved by the descent of the weight to adjust the
brushes on the commutator of the motor in order to set the motor in action and to
stop it at the required times substantially as described.
3. The combination of apparatus such as referred to in claims 1. or 2 with Hughes'
Printing Telegraph apparatus.
4. I also claim the improved apparatus for the automatic accumulation of power,
constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to the
drawings.
DL 1 1007
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.