An Improved Trough for use in Washing Photographic Prints, Photographic Negatives, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1890-Accepted, 27th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trough for use in Washing Photographic Prints,
Photographic Negatives, and the like.
I, PERCY ELLIS, The Manor House, Wallington, Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of a trough for washing photo-
graphic prints, photographic negatives and the like, which shall be simple in
construction and shall automatically empty itself when filled or nearly filled with
water or liquid.
The trough is shaped or formed as follows:-
Three of its sides and the bottom are rectangularly disposed with respect to each
other. The fourth side is joined to and inclined upwards from the bottom of the
trough and outwards or away from the side to which it is opposite, thus leaving an
angular space between the inclined or fourth side and the surface on which the bottom
of the trough rests. Two of the three sides of the trough, which as already mentioned
are rectangularly disposed with respect to each other, are prolonged so as to join the
inclined or fourth side. Thus it will be seen that a side elevation of the trough would
be a figure formed of a rectangle joined to a right-angled triangle, the hypothenuse
of the latter forming the fourth side of the trough, and one of the sides of the right
angle being continuous with the top of the trough.
The trough is weighted at that side or part opposite to the inclined or fourth side
in such manner as to cause it to stand upright or on its bottom when' empty or
partly filled, and also to allow it to automatically turn over and empty itself when the
trough is nearly or entirely filled or the height of the water has exceeded a certain
limit. When the water has been emptied to the requisite amount the weight will
cause the trough to return to its normal position with its bottom on the surface on
which the trough rests.
1 provide the trough with a false bottom which may be removeable, if desired, upon
which I place the photographic prints to be washed, when the trough is to be utilized
for this purpose; and I fix a wiro or other reticulated partition to the trough at the
middle or other part of the fourth side, to prevent the photographic prints from being
washed away when the trough empties itself.
When the trough is to be utilized for washing photographic negatives, the negatives
are inserted in a holder and the holder placed in the trough. The latter may bo
provided with supports for bearing the said holder.
By the construction of trough above described, which automatically empties itself,
I am enabled to dispense with the siphon arrangements used for that purpose.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Trough for use in Washing Photographic Prints,
Photographic Negatives, and the like.
I, PEROY ELLIS, The Manor House, Wallington, Surrey, Gentleman, 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 has for its object the construction of a trough for washing photo-
graphic prints, photographic negatives and the like, which shall be simple in

page_text: water or liquid.
In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I have appended the
accompanying sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view of the trough in a position
ready to be filled.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the trough emptying itself.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the trough.
Figs. 4 and 5 are views of a photographic print holder, adapted for use with my trough.
The trough is shaped or formed as follows:-
Three of its sides A, B and C and also the bottom D are rectangularly disposed
with respect to each other. The fourth side E is joined to and inclined upwards from
the bottom D and outwards or away from the side to which it is opposite, thus
leaving an angular space between the inclined or fourth side E and the surface G on
which the bottom 1 of the trough rests. The sides A and B are prolonged so as to join
the inclined or fourth side E. Thus it will be seen that a side elevation of the trough
would be a figure formed of a rectangle joined to a right-angled triangle, the
hypothenuse of the latter forming the fourth side of the trough and one of the sides
of the right angle being continuous with the top of the trough.
The trough is weighted at the side C which is opposite to the inclined or fourth
side E in such manner as to cause it to stand upright or on its bottom when empty or
partly filled and also to allow it to automatically turn over and empty itself, as shown
in Fig. 2, when the trough is nearly or entirely filled or the height of the water has
exceeded a certain limit. When the water has been emptied out of the trough to the
requisite amount the weight will cause the trough to return to its normal position with
its bottom on the surface on which the trough rests.
The water for washing may be supplied by a tap such as H.
When the tap has been once turned on the trough may be left to itself for any
desired length of time, and it will automatically empty itself each time the weight of
the water in it overcomes the weight attached to the side C or overcomes the combined
weight of the objects being washed, the holder, and the said attached weight.
I prefer to make the trough of thin sheet metal, as indicated by the accompanying
drawings, in which the thickness of the same is somewhat exaggerated for the sake of
clearness.
I fix a rod or wire I to the sides A and B of the trough and cross the upper part
of the same.
When the trough is to be utilized for washing photographic plates I provide a
holder, such as J, Figs. 1 and 3, which fits between the weighted side C of the trough
and the wire or rod I and is shaped like that part of the trough in which it fits or
rests. The two ends j, of the plate holder Jare provided with corrugations j in 4
which the plates are placed. The end j is cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow of
the free passage of the water. The holder is provided with handles, ³.
When the trough is to be utilized for washing photographic prints I provide a holder,
such as K, which consists of a rectangular box, the front side of which is made of
wires or of openwork so as to allow of the passage of the water. The plate holder 4
is provided at each side with hooks k³, and is placed between the weighted side C and
the wire or rod I.
The plate holder and the print holder are both made out of sheet metal, like the
trough.
The wire or rod 1 prevents the plato and print holders from falling out of the trough 5
when the water is emptied therefrom.
When the trough is to be utilized solely for washing photographic prints I may adopt
the following arrangement.
I provide the trough with a false bottom, which may be removeable if desired, upon
which I place the photographic prints to be washed. I fix a wire or other reticulated 5
partition to the trough at the middle or other part of the fourth side, to prevent the
photographic prints from being washed away when the trough empties itself.

page_text: By the construction of trough above described, which automatically empties itself,
I am enabled to dispense with the siphon arrangements usually employed for that
purpose.
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
(1). The improved trough for washing photographic plates, photographic prints and
the like, consisting of the two sides A and B, the weighted side C, the bottom D, and
the fourth side E inclined to the bottom 1, substantially as described herein
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2). The photographic plate holder J and the photographic print holder K, adapted
for use with my improved trough, as described herein and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day at Trata. 1900
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.