AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING COM- PRESSED AIR TO MOVING MACHINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sydney Pitt, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING COM-
PRESSED AIR TO MOVING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by
Thomas Fitch Rowland, of Green Point, in the City of Brooklyn, in the United
States of America.
Sealed the 18th January 1878, and dated the 28th September 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Sydney Pitt at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 28th September 1877.
SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING COMPRESSED AIR TO MOVING MACHINES." A
communication from abroad by Thomas Fitch Rowland, of Green Point, in the City
of Brooklyn, in the United States of America.
My Invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for transmitting com-
pressed air to moving machines.
It has been found desirable in transmitting power to machines moving over short
distances to convey such power, whether it be steam or compressed air, through
flexible tubing, and the Invention relates to an apparatus which is designed to
facilitate the necessary connections between the stationary source of the power and
the moving machine which utilizes the power. It consists in an automatically
moving druin carrying a flexible tube, through which power is communicated, and
an apparatus for automatically winding and unwinding such tube.
My Invention is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which Figure 1 represents
a general perspective view of my Invention; and Figure 2 a cross section through
the supporting pivots.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in both the Drawings.
A represents a drum, preferably hollow, around which is coiled the flexible tube B,
and also the unwinding cord C. This dium is supported on a centre pivot E, which
is hollow, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. This pivot is supported by the beam

page_text: D, D, D, D, and ends in a solid rod, as shown at F. The pivot tube E after entering
the drum turns at a right angle, and is carried to the periphery of the drum by
means of the tube P. To the end of this tube P a flexible hose B is attached. The
other end of the tube E carries a packing sleeve J, through the centre of which
passes the stationary tube R in such a way as to make a tight joint between the
revolving tube E and the stationary tube R, while at the same time it allows the
tube E to revolve freely around the tube R. This tube R is connected to the
apparatus supplying the compressed fluid, which fluid passes up the tube R, thence
through the packing ring J into the revolving tube E, thence through the elbow
and tube P to the flexible bose B, which hose is connected to the moving machine,
where the power is utilized, and it will be seen that this tube B can be wound and
unwound upon the drum A without disturbing the tight connection at J.
In order that there need not be too much strain in drawing the flexible tube B
from the drum I wind around the said drum a cord C, having an equal number of
convolutions with the hose B, and I allow the hose B to be loosely attached to the
moving machine that is to be attached in such a manner that there is a certain
amount of slack between the drum and the machine. The cord C is likewise
attached to the moving machine, and it is evident as this machine begins to move
away from this drum that, acting upon the cord C, it will unwind the drum and
allow the hose B to convey the compressed air to the moving machine without being
itself subjected to the strain of unwinding the drum. I attach likewise to the
spindle B a druin O, having a cord N winding around it in the opposite way from
that of the cord C. To this cord N a weight W is attached, which weight has
sufficient power to wind up the tube B upon the drum A whenever the cord C is
slack.
By placing this apparatus over the centre of the traverse of the moving machine
it is evident that a hose may be employed which is only half the length of the
entire traverse of the machine. I find this very useful for connecting power to such
machines as are employed to deposit and remove the coal from gas retorts, but it
can be usefully employed to communicate power to any other moving machine
which does not traverse any very extended distance.
What I claim is,--
First. The improved connection between a stationary source of power and a
moving apparatus which uses such power, substantially as described.
Second. I claim a drum having upon its periphery a flexible pipe B, which pipe
is connected with the central spindle in such a manner that compressed air being
forced through the central spindle will escape through the tube at the periphery of
the drum, substantially as described.
Third. I claim the combination of the tube B, drum A, hollow spindle E, and
packing joint J, substantially as described.
Fourth. I claim the combination of the tube B, unwinding cord C, and reverse
unwinding cord and weight W, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of a drum carrying upon its periphery a flexible tube,
and supported on a hollow spindle connected with the flexible tube, and through
which power is communicated, and a cord upon such drum, or a similar drum,
wound in the contrary direction to that in which the flexible tube is wound, and
having attached to it a weight, whereby the tube will be automatically wound upon
the periphery of the drum whenever the winding weight and cord are allowed to
operate, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sydney Pit, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.