Improvements in Speed Indicators.
Year: 1884

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Improvements in Speed Indicators.
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jdove JPROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Na ovyoling
I JAMES MURDOCH NAPIER of York Road Lambeth in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED
INDICATORS "to be as follows: No
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My improvements refer to speed indicators such as, are described in the
Specification of my Patent dated 27th November 1875 N° 4125.
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The object of my improvements is to render theso instruments more convenient
and useful in their various applications and more simple, and perfect, in their
arrangement, and construction, so that their general utility may be completely
assured.
J Trebet
11.
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In those of my improved instruments which are arranged with a first motion or
driving spindle I make the bearing for the spindle in one piece with the frame both
in those which are designed to be open and those which are encased. In the latter
when the first motion spindle is to be driven from the front or back of the
instrument I uso the front of the case and the back plate of the case also to carry
bearings for tho spindle I make the upright for supporting the scale¹or
on which it may be painted or otherwise represented attached affixed by
preference of cast iron in one piece with the socket in which the glass indicating
tubo is fixed and cemented to the top of such upright being arranged so as to give
support to the glass tube at the top where a cap is fitted and cemented to the
tube. This cap fits in a hole formed in the upright referred to. The tube is thus
firmly fixed and supported in the. upright-I provide in the cap fixed to the top of
the glass tube a hole with means such as a screw and leather washer for closing it
against the escape of mercury which I prefer to use rather than other fluid when
the instrument is to be packed for carriage or transported. The screw can bé
unfastened when the instrument is to be used.
,
I make the horizontal, piece, to which the lower part of the scale upright is fixed
in one piece with the cylinder, which depends from it into the container; into a
lateral hole in this cylindrical piece the orifice pipe through which the mercury
passes into the glass indicating tube is fixed. Thus I avoid a joint where leakage
might occur.
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In order to close the container against the escape of the mercury when the
instrument charged with mercury is to be packed for carriage or transport I provide
a screw of other equivalent means by which the container can be forced up against
the horizontal piece or against a leather or other washer placed between the top of.
the container and the underside of the horizontal piece. This screw can be released
as soon as the instrument is to be fixed for use,

page_text: In those of my instruments which are encased I provide a screw
or other
analogous means conveniently arranged at the top of the case which can be operated
to close or open the aperture in the cap which is fastened to the top of the glass
indicating tube-closing it to prevent escape of mercury in case of packing for
carriage or transport and opening it when the instrument is fixed for use.
In encased instruments I also provide means for closing the container against
escape of mercury when it is to be packed for carriage or transported arranged so
that it can be easily got at without opening the case. When the instrument is
about to be fixed in position for use the container can be released and lowered into
its position for working.
I provide means to cause the air which passes out of the container when the
mercury returns into it during working owing to a reduction in the speed of
rotation, to be in a manner filtered through restricted passages before it escapes
from the container so that any fine spray of mercury mixed with it may be
prevented from passing out of the container which in certain cases it would be
liable to do if the air were allowed to pass out of the container directly and without
deviation or interruption.
As in certain cases especially when my instruments are used on railways to show
the speed of trains it may be desirable that they should be arranged to work in
either sense I provide an improved valve arrangement at the end of the fixed
orifice pipe which consists of a disc which passes to one or other side of the channel
in the pipe according to the sense in which the container is rotated and in so doing
leaves the aperture at one end of a cross hole at the end of the pipe, against which
the mercury acts, in communication with the longitudinal hole in the pipe while by
_coming_against a shoulder or seating the valve stops the passage of the mercury
through the cross hole and it passes through the pipe and into the glass indicating
tube.
When the action is reversed the valve changes its position and leaves the other
end of the cross hole open and the ingress and egress of the mercury free to and
from the glass indicating tube by that aperture through the longitudinal hole of the
pipe.
In cases where a short scale plate is desired and at the same time a good range
of indications of speed and a scale with divisions as equal as possible to indicate
the same differences of speed I form the container with a flat or it may be somewhat
conical top part and a coned lower part so as to be deeper at the centre and
shallower towards its circumference and I regulate the quantity of mercury so that
as it
passes into the glass indicating tubo out of the container the forces operating
are thereby reduced in effect as the container is being emptied so in conjunction
with the improved form of container the divisions on the indicating scale are
rendered more even or equal in distance for indicating the same differences of
speed.
When I use a float for indicating the rise and fall of the mercury and arrange it
to float on the mercury I provide it with a hole through its length opening out
wider at the top to permit of any mercury which may have got above the float
during transportation or otherwise returning with facility to the underside.
In combination with the improvements described and when a first motion or
driving spindle is used I connect the driving spindle with the upright spindle of
the container by means of a tangent wheel and screw the wheel usually being on
the driving spindle.

page_text: I JAMES MURDOCH NAPIER of York Road Lambeth in the County of Surrey
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED
INDICATORS"
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My improvements have reference to that kind of speed indicator in which fluid
is used in a container the rotation of which causes the fluid to pass in at a fixed
orifice near to the inner periphery of the container and towards the centre or axis
of rotation and so rise in a fixed indicating tube to such a height as is due to the
speed of rotation and they are designed to render such instruments more convenient
and useful in their various applications and more simple and perfect in their
arrangement and construction.
In those of my improved instruments which are arranged with a first motion or
driving spindle I make the bearing for the spindle in one piece with the frame
which supports the upright spindle and other parts of the instrument both in those
instruments which are designed to be open and those which are to be encased. In
the latter when the first motion spindle is to be driven from the front or back of
the instrument instead of at the side I use a bearing also in the front or back of
the enclosing case for the support of the driving spindle. I make the upright for
supporting indicating scale or on which it may be painted or otherwise represented
attached or affixed by preference of cast iron in one piece with the socket in which
the glass indicating tube is fixed and cemented and I arrange the top of such
upright so as to give support to the glass tube at the top where a cap is fitted and
cemented to the tube. This cap fits in a hole in the upright referred to.-The tube
is thus firmly fixed. and supported in the upright. I provide in the cap fixed to
the top of the glass tube a hole with means such as a screw and leather washer for
closing it against the escape of the mercury which I prefer to use rather than other
fluid, when the instrument is to be packed for carriage or transported. The screw
can be unfastened when the instrument is to be used.
I make the horizontal piece to which the lower part of the scale upright is fixed
in one piece with the cylinder which depends from it into the container-into a
lateral hole in this cylindrical piece the orifice pipe through which the mercury
passes into the glass indicating tube is fixed. Thus I avoid a joint where leakage
may occur.
In order to close the container against the escape of the mercury when the
instrument charged with mercury is to be packed for carriage or transported
I provide a screw or other equivalent means by which the container can be forced
up against the horizontal piece or against a leather or other washer placed between
the top of the container and the underside of the horizontal piece. This screw can
be released as soon as the instrument is to be fixed for use.
In those of my instruments which are encased I provide a screw or other
analogous means conveniently arranged at the top of the case which can be
operated to close or open the aperture in the cap which is fastened to the top of
the glass indicating tube-closing it to prevent escape of mercury in case of
packing for carriage or transport and opening it when the instrument is fixed
for use

page_text: In encased instruments I also provide means for closing the container against
escape of mercury when it is to be packed for carriage or transported arranged so
that it can be easily got at without opening the case. When the instrument is
about to be fixed in position for use the container can be released and lowered into
its position for working.
I provide means to cause the air which passes out of the container when the
mercury returns into it during working owing to a reduction in the speed of
rotation to be in a manner filtered through restricted passages suitably contrived
before it escapes from the container so that any fine spray of mercury mixed with
it may be prevented from passing out of the container which in certain cases it
would be liable to do if the air were allowed to pass out of the container directly
and without deviation or interruption. The means referred to also prevent the
escape of mercury from the container when the instrument is subjected to shakings
or joltings such as it may be liable to when it is attached to locomotives or railway
cars or carriages.
As in certain cases especially when my instruments are used on railways to show
the speed of trains it may be desirable that they should be arranged to work in
either sense I provide an improved valve arrangement at the end of the fixed orifice
pipe which consists of an elongated disc or short cylinder which passes to one or
other side of the channel in the pipe according to the sense in which the container
is rotated and in so doing leaves the aperture at one end of a cross hole at the end
of the pipe against which the mercury acts in communication with the longitudinal
hole in the pipe while by coming against a shoulder or seating the valve stops the
passage of the mercury through the cross hole and it passes through the pipe and
into the glass indicating tube. When the action is reversed the valve changes its
position and leaves the other end-of-the-cross-hole-open-and the ingress-and-egress-
of the mercury free to and from the glass indicating tube by that aperture through
the longitudinal hole of the pipe.
In cases when a short scale plate is desired and at the same time a good range of
indications of speed and a scale with divisions as equal as possible to indicate the
same differences of speed I form the container with a flat or it may be somewhat
conical top part and a coned lower part so as to be deeper at the centre and
shallower towards its circumference and I regulate the quantity of mercury so that
as it passes into the glass indicating tube out of the container the forces operating
are thereby reduced in effect as the container is being emptied so in conjunction
with the improved form of container the divisions on the indicating scale are
rendered more even or equal in distance for indicating the same differences of
speed. When I use a float for indicating the rise and fall of the mercury and
arrange it to float on the mercury I provide it with a hole through its length
opening out wider at the top to permit of any mercury which may have got
above the float during transportation or otherwise returning with facility to the
underside.
In combination with the improvements described and when a first motion or
driving spindle is used I connect the driving spindle with the upright spindle of
the container by means of a tangent wheel and screw the wheel usually being on the
driving spindle.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: and 4 A represents a portion of the back of the case in which the instrument
may be enclosed and which should have a glazed face.
B is the upright for the indicating scale in one piece with the socket B¹ and the
top of the upright B gives support at B to the glass indicating tube C at the top
where cap b' is fitted and cemented to the tube and fits in a hole in the upright B.
c is a hole in cap b with screw c¹ and leather washer c shown in Figures 1 and 2
for closing it. The screw has a small hole c³ up its centre as high as the shoulder
part of the screw and a saw cut c' reaching into the hole so as to leave a channel
for air when the screw is slightly released.
In Figures 3 and 4 the screw co for the same purpose is shown attached to the
upper portion A³ of the enclosing case. In Figure 3 this screw is shown up leaving
the opening c free while in Figure 4 it is down closing the opening.
The horizontal piece D is shown in one piece with the cylinder d which depends
from it-and into which the orifice pipe e is fixed: This is shewn clearly in Figure 2
and in the enlarged view Figure 5.
To close the container E against the escape of mercury under the conditions
referred to the screwed step piece fis provided, shewn in Figures 1 and 2 by un-
screwing which the container E is raised and the top of it is forced against the
piece D or against the leather g so closing the container.
In Figures 3 and 4 the screwed step for closing the container is shewn
elongated downwards with a milled head on the end so that it may be conveniently
got at when the instrument is encased.
Figure 2 illustrates in section an arrangement for causing the air in escaping
from the container E to pass through restricted and indirect passages for the
purposes referred to. This arrangement is however more clearly shown in the
enlarged section of the parts in Figure 5 and in Figures 6 and 7 where a ring h is
shown fixed in a circular groove made in the upper part of the container E. The
upper portion h¹ of this ring where it fits in the container has grooves h³ while the
lower part of the ring h reaches down to within a convenient distance from the
orifice pipe e.
Within this lower part of the ring a cannelured ring is placed
which has angled cuts right and left through the cannelures. This ring i is fitted
freely on the cylinder d which depends from the horizontal piece D and is also of
such an outer outer diameter as to leave sufficient space between it and the ring h
to allow of the return of mercury to the container having regard also to the size of
the cuts in the cannelures. As the ring i is free on the cylinder d it may rest on
the orifice pipe e for support but it may be fixed on the cylinder & if desired.
In arranging my instruments to work in both senses for the purposes explained
the orifice pipe e is formed in the manner shown in Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 is
an external view of the pipe e showing the orifice e'. Figure 9 shows another view
or plan of the pipe in section. When the container and the mercury in it travels
towards the orifice e the valve or short cylinder e will occupy the position in
which it is now shown closing the orifice e³ and leaving the orifice e¹ in free
communication with the channel & through which the mercury passes to the
indicating tube C. The valve e³ resting against the ring seating e. When the
container and mercury rotate in the opposite sense the pressure of the mercury
acting through the orifice e' on the valve e³ will cause it to move and rest against
the opposite ring seating closing the orifice e¹ the mercury being caused to pass
through the channel to the indicating tube C as before-Figure 10 shows in plan
the lower part of the container E which in the Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 is represented
with a coned lower part for the purposes described the upper part being flat.
Figures 11 and 12 represent a float the dotted lines Figure 12 indicating the hole
which is made through it for the purpose described. In Figure 11 the hole is
indicated in plan.
Figure 13 represents in plan a section of the upright B at Y Z Figure 3.
In Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 the screw or worm F and tangent wheel & show the
arrangement for driving to which I have referred when a first motion spindle is
used in combination with the other improvements described,

page_text: 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 as respects speed indicators in which the rotation of a 'containing vessel
causes liquid to pass in at a fixed orifice and towards the centre or axis of rotation
to rise in an indicating tube
and
1
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(1). The construction of the frame of the instrument the bearing for the first
motion spindle being in one piece with the frame which supports the upright
spindle.
1
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(2). The upright carrying scale in one piece with the socket receiving the lower
end of the glass and with a guide supporting the glass at the upper end.
(3). The cap at the upper end of the glass with aperture and valve for closing
the same..
ני
.:
1
"
(4) The horizontal support for the scale upright, combined in one piece with the
cylinder which depends into the container and carries the orifice pipe.
(5). The means provided for closing the container consisting of a screw or
equivalent instrument by which it is raised and made to close up to the horizontal
support with a tight joint.
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(6). The means for preventing loss of mercury by using restricted deviating or
interrupted passages as described.
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ויזי
!;
(7). The means for providing, for the reversal of direction, the orifice "pipe being
provided with a tee head with an orifice at either end and with a valve able to
move freely within the tee head and having a seating at either end of the head.
(8). The means for equalising the scale divisions by forming the container deeper
at, the centre and more shallow towards the circumference,
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$
(9), The float perforated with a hole from end-to-end opening-out-wider-at-the-
top..
[1]
(10). My improved speed indicators substantially, as described and indicated by
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