Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th June, 1887
Complete Left, 17th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
Applicable as a p
I ALFRED JOHN READY of 287 Dashwood House, New Broad Street in the
City of London, Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to utilize the well known principle of capilliary or
cohesive attraction with the view of obtaining a register of time or for a toy or
game, such as for shewing the different speeds at which liquids will travel under
different or varying circumstances.
As applied to the indication of time, I take a strand, or several strands or threads
of cotton, silk wool, linen, worsted or other wick for example, more or less glazed
which are or may be weighted to keep the said strands in position if necessary and
vertical, these strands are connected at top in any convenient way, by a button for
example, to some porous substance, such as blotting paper and on which I provide
a scale or index, which latter is regulated or marked off according to the time or
speed at which the liquid will travel along the porous material, the index may be
over, at the side, or on the porous material, this being known the distance the liquid
travels indicates the time which can always be ascertained by comparing the liquid
marked with the point on index to which the liquid has arrived. The distance may
be arranged for six, twelve, or twenty four or any other convenient number of hours
and fractions of same.
The speed of the travel of the liquids is or may be varied as required so that
several liquids may be made or caused to travel along or through varying materials
at different speeds, and as different liquids are known to travel at different speeds
so I am able to employ such liquids, as for example mixtures of glycerine and
water, oil spirit or water, as may be most suitable to the purposes of my invention.
As applied to a game of chance the paper or other material may be chemically
prepared by aniline dye colours so that the liquids will travel along at various speeds
by this means a game of chance is produced because the liquid will for example
travel faster along a green line than along a red line or vice versa and so on for
any number of colours.
I do not limit myself to the use of cotton wool, linen, worsted or silk threads
as other strands or material by which liquid will travel may be used, and even the
porous paper may be used as a conducting upward medium for the liquid.

page_text: Applicable as a Scientific Toy or Game.
I, ALFRED JOHN READY of 233 (late of 287) Dashwood House, New Broad
Street, in the City of London, Chemist 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 :-
The object of my invention is to utilize the well known principle of capilliary or
cohesive attraction of fluid bodies with the view of obtaining a register of time,
or for a toy or game, such as for shewing the different speeds at which liquids will
travel under different or varying circumstances.
As applied to the indication of time I take a strand, or several strands or threads of
cotton, silk, wool, linen, worsted, or other material, for example more or less glazed,
which are or may be weighted to keep the said strands in a vertical position, these
strands are connected at top in any convenient way (by a perforated disc for example)
to some porous substance such as blotting paper or calico and on which I provide a
scale or index, which latter is regulated or marked off according to the time or speed
at which the various liquids will travel along the porous material, the index may be
over, at the side or on the said porous material having glass over or resting upon its
surface to avoid evaporation. The distance the liquid travels indicates the time which
can always be ascertained by the point on index to which the liquid has arrived. The
distance may be arranged for six, twelve, or twenty-four or any other convenient
number of hours and fractions of same.
The speed of the travel of the liquids is or may be varied as required so that
several liquids may be made or caused to travel along or through varying materials
at different speeds, and as different liquids are known to travel at different speeds so
1 am able to employ such liquids as for example various oils, spirit, diluted more or
less, water or other liquid, as may be most suitable to the purposes of my invention.
As applied to a game of chance the paper or other material may be chemically
prepared by aniline dye colours so that the liquids will travel along at varying speeds,
by this means a game of chance is produced because the liquid will for example travel
say faster along a green or yellow line than along a red line or vice versa and so on
for any number of colours.
And in order that my invention may be better understood I will proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a time piece made according to my invention and
which can also be used as a game of chance, and Figure 2 is a
section of same.
longitudinal vertical

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a section, and a plan with the lid open, of a
modification of my invention. Figures 5 and 6 are respectively vertical side section,
and front elevation of another modification shewing an arrangement whereby the
liquid is made to travel in a vertical plane instead of in a horizontal plane, and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an arrangement of apparatus somewhat similar to
that shewn at Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
b
The first arrangement as shewn at Figures 1 and 2 shews my timepiece arranged
in the form of a desk or box in which a is the reservoir (for containing the liquid),
made of glass or other suitable material, is the conductor by which the liquid is
raised by means of capilliary or cohesive attraction. The said conductor & may be
made of a thread or threads of cotton, silk, worsted, or of any suitable and convenient
material and is weighted at the bottom by shot to keep the said conductor 6 in the
liquid in the reservoir also to preserve it in a vertical position and to prevent the
conductor from touching the sides of the reservoir a. The said conductor passes
through a button or perforated disc c so that it, the conductor, is exposed at the upper
part of the said perforated disc c, a pin or cross piece is passed through loop at the
top of the conductor 6 and above the disc c whereby the conductor can be easily
raised or removed from the reservoir a when required. The disc e is supported in a
recess c¹ in the bed plate d which runs the full length of the apparatus; e is the
receiver plate on the upper side of which is laid a piece of blotting paper or other
suitable inaterial bent or folded round to the underside of the plate e so that the
blotting paper rests on the upper end of the conductor b where it passes through
the disc is the glass to prevent evaporation, on which the index or scale
for measuring the time is cut or otherwise made. The working of the timepiece is
as follows:
By means of the conductor the capilliary action is maintained and the liquid
rising through the said conductor communicates with the blotting paper or receiver/ƒ
on the underside of the plate e. The liquid travels along the blotting paper on the
underside of the plate e towards the end of the plate e round which it is bent. The
liquid soon turns this bend and travels along under the glass on which the index
or time gauge g¹ is marked darkening the receiver as it advances as shewn at
Figs. 1 and 2.
The darkening of the receiver f advances along under
the time as it advances.
the index g¹ so indicating
When the timepiece is not being used the conductor together with the disc c can
for convenience be removed and suspended in the spare reservoir a¹. There is a
dial on which the time may be marked by a hand or hands h' when the apparatus is
started. I also place a glass in the lid so as to be able to see the time without having
to open same and I sometimes have a slide or shutter so as to shut off or open to
view the time as indicated by the index g¹.
At Figures 3 and 4 a modification of my invention in a more compact form is
illustrated, the action of which is as follows"
-
The liquid rises by means of the conductor 6 through the disc c and is absorbed by
the receiver on which it makes a small circular spot which enlarges as the liquid
rises in the conductor. In this arrangement the index g' is on the plate e which in
this case is placed above the receiver f, and the glass g is above the plate e so
preventing evaporation from the receiver. As the circular spot enlarges it indicates
the time on the index by the junction of the wet and dry paper. Instead of the
shot or bead weights at the lower end of the conductor I in this case use buttons
covered with cloth, silk or other porous material which hold the liquid in themselves.
A hole k is made in the bottom of the casing for inserting the finger to lift out the
reservoir.
As shewn at Figures 5 and 6 the upper part m is removable from the lower part
and is kept in position by a rectangular weight which may or may not be fastened
to the lower part. The upper part m carries the receiver f and index g'. The
receiver is brought down one side of the upper part m, it is then bent under so

page_text: that it comes in contact with the top of the conductor above the disc c and then
up the other side as shewn in Figure 5. A glass cover is in this arrangement
placed over the whole of the upper part to prevent evaporation from the receiver.
The liquid travels along the receiver under the base of upper part, turns the corner
and rises up behind the index g' so indicating the time. In the upper part of this
timepiece is a bottle or flask with lid n' which bottle or flask can be used as a
receptacle for keeping various things or to place a flower in water. A bell glass
cover g placed over the upper part to prevent evaporation from the receiver.
Figure 7 is a slightly modified form of my invention in an oval case.
The index
in this arrangement is marked on the plate e under the glass g but it could easily be
marked on the glass 7 and so dispense with the plate e.
9
The rate of speed or flow of the fluid on the receiver can be varied to any required
extent in various ways such as by increasing the density of the fluid if it is required
to flow more slowly or if it is required to flow more quickly I decrease the density of
the fluid, or another method is to increase the number of strands in the conductor
when it is required to flow more quickly, or if the reverse is required I reduce the
number of same.
Porous receivers of varying thickness may be used as a thick one would take longer
to saturate than a thin one.
I can also print various things, such as circular spots, on the receiver at places
where it is required to increase the speed as the places printed upon do not absorb
the liquid consequently the said liquid travels over the part not printed upon faster.
The speed may also be varied by altering the weight of the glass g by more or
less pressure on the conductor and the disc.
In cases where it would be preferable to have a more marked distinction between
the wet and dry parts of the receiver I place a certain quantity of colour or aniline
dye in the liquid, or I make the weight or weights of a colour-giving material, such
as wooden balls or beads having been previously coated with coloring material,
aniline dye preferred. In some cases I use certain oils, spirits, water, glycerine and
water. Glyceroles, chemical salts, (the latter deliquescent preferred) the specific
gravity of which may be to a limited extent above or below that of water such as
almond, nut, olive or colza, oils, either with or without the addition of perfumes
(essential oils) mixed (when compatable) or otherwise and similar oils of light specific
gravity the preference being given to non-congealing or non-freezing or crystallizing
sorts such as pure almond oil, also solutions of aniline dyes preferably those soluble
in water also in some instances those soluble in spirit are preferred.
The spirit may be proof or underproof with or without coloring matter (aniline or
vegetable dyes or caramel). The glycerine not anhydrous but to contain from
10% to 75% of water.
Water may
be used either alone or with the addition of aniline dyes, glycerine,
(Glyceroles) certain acids, alkalies, chemical salts, the latter more or less deliquescent
and non crystallizable or neutral in a similar way for the same results.
Also
solutions of tea, coffee, or similar products tending to give fluidity and coloring
matter combined and which are inoffensive in use may be employed.
When salts are employed, the neutral salts are preferred also the acids of a non-
destructive nature, say citric, tartaric, phosphoric or other acids that will not attack
the fibres of the spun or woven fabric of the conductor or the paper or other porous
receiver. According to the admixture or separate use of the above fluid bodies so is
the rate of speed of the capilliary flow upwards or along the receiver more or less
rapid or governed. When oils of light specific gravity together or separate are used
say olive, nut, almond, or colza, then a paper receiver of a less porous nature can be
used such as any ordinary good unglazed or printing paper (soft Demy's Royal
Hands for example) which would tend to cheapness and the reduction of speed in
the flow when required.
The admixture of the various fluids may consist of water with about 10% of pure
glycerine to keep it from freezing when the temperature is unusally low although
for more or less retarding the rate of speed or How. I can also employ various

page_text: proportions or ratios up to 75% of glycerine or of the same specific gravity as the
lighter oils, which are found to flow easily in a like manner and for a like purpose.
I can also employ certain chemical salts, preference being given to those having the
highest affinity for water deliquescent in nature and non-crystallizable such as the
carbonates of potash or soda, sulphate of magnesia neutral salts or such as do not
attack the material of the porous receiver or used in the proportions below such
an effect also may be obtained in a like manner by aniline dyes such as
also Helvetia Green (as manufactured by the Society of Chemical Industry at Basle
preferred). When Fluorescine is added to water other shades are preferred such
as Rose Bengale, Erythrosine, Azo Yellow, Auramine, Phenylene Brown, Negrosine,
(soluble in spirit in water).
As applied to a game of chance the paper or other porous receiver has various
colours such as aniline dyes either in strips or figured designs at various distances
apart preferably leaving a space of uncoloured paper between each colour, the
coloured stripes being of say red, green and yellow or of any number of colours
or admixtures of colours. A stencil-plate having a certain number of lioles or
various designs cut out so as to leave more or less of the receiver hidden from view
at intervals the last hole in the stencil plate is the winning post or finish. As the
liquid travels along the receiver under the stencil plate the colours run into each
other, coming into view only at the holes in the stencil plate. The last colour being
hidden under the stencil plate just before the finish is at last reached by the liquid
which if the said colour is printed in spirit the liquid carries the colour which it
has last passed over with it through the one printed in spirit without touching the
colour in spirit and carries it into the finish so winning.
For testing colours I place a certain quantity of either water or spirit in the
reservoir together with a certain quantity of the colouring matter to be tested.
I then place a new conductor in the reservoir suspended as usual from the bed-
plate and also a new receiver on the receiver plate which receiver is preferably
white. The liquid starts instantly up the conductor and along the porous receiver
thus displaying the shades of the dyes exactly as they can be obtained.
Children may also be taught the different colours by the before mentioned
arrangements.
I do not limit myself to the size of the conductors as they may be composed of
as many strands as is thought necessary, which strands may be of any suitable
material, even the paper of the receiver may be employed as the conductor. Nor do
I limit myself to the substance of which the receiver is made as almost any porous
material will serve as a receiver.
By my invention paper, calico, or other material may be more uniformly saturated
than heretofore with perfume or other liquid as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The application of the principle of capilliary or cohesive attraction for various
useful purposes such as to the measurement of time, a game of chance, the testing or
teaching of colours and for the more uniformly saturating porous material generally
all as herein before described.

page_text: 2. The reservoir a, the conductor b, the perforated disc c, the bedplate d, the
receiver plate e, the receiver f, the glass g and the index g all for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings together with
any mere modification or modifications thereof.
3. The particular arrangements as shewn at Figure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 all acting 5
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.