Improvements in or relating to Automatic Cut Off Devices, prin- cipally Designed for Controlling the Flow of Fluids and of Electric Currents.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Cut Off Devices, prin-
cipally Designed for Controlling the Flow of Fluids and of Electric
Currents.
I, HARRY LIPPINCOTT GROOME, of 1402, North 23rd Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Machinist, 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:-
My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for controlling the
flow of fluids of any kind or the passage of electrical currents, and has for its
object to provide an apparatus of simple construction which may be adjusted to
effect the automatic stoppage or starting of the flow of fluid or current at any
predetermined time.
The device is intended principally for cutting off the flow of gas, steam, or
other fluid, or a lighting current in stores or factories at any desired time, such
as, for instance, after the departure of employees, but it may also be used to start
the flow, or may be employed to set off explosive charges, as in mines or marine
torpedoes.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an automatic controlling device constructed in accord-
ance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly in section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a similar view of a detail on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 represents the parts shown in Fig. 4 in slightly different position.
Figs. 6 and 7 are detached perspective views of details;
Fig. 8 is an elevation of a modified form of apparatus for effecting the closing
of a turn-cock instead of the disc valve shown in Fig. 1, and Figs. 9 and 10 are
diagrams illustrating modification of the apparatus.
Referring to the drawings, A represents a clock work mechanism which may
be of any ordinary construction but preferably is made much stronger than usual
in order to effect the driving of other parts to which the initial gear a is secured.
The balance wheel may also be larger and broader than usual, being subjected
to the contact of an automatic stop mechanism.
The clock work mechanism is secured on a vertically arranged supporting
plate B which also forms one bearing for a transverse shaft C, the opposite end
of which is supported in a vertical upright c extending from the base plate A¹.
On the shaft C, is rigidly secured a dial c¹ having on its outer face division
marks and figures similar to those of a watch or clock, but arranged in reverse
order and O being substituted for the Figure 12: an actuating disc D notched
at one point on its periphery: a small friction disc D', a ring D2 having
radiating spring arms d and a turning knob d; all these parts turning at all
times with the said shaft. The shaft also carries a loose gear wheel E held
between the friction disc D¹ and the spring arms d, said gear wheel normally

page_text: rotating, when the clock work is operating, by reason of the friction exerted by
the disc D¹ and spring arms d.
The gear wheel E intermeshes with a pinion e mounted on a shaft e¹ on which
is also secured a gear wheel E¹, the latter intermeshing with the initial gear a of
the clock work mechanism, so that such clock work will drive the shaft C and
all of the parts mounted thereon.
On the bed plate is secured a platform f, and an upper frame f¹, through
suitable openings in which passes a valve stem F', having at its upper end an
operating knob or handle F1 and at its lower end a valve g. On the stem is fixed
a collar g' between which and the frame f¹ is a helical compression spring / sur-
rounding the valve stem and tending at all times to depress the stem and close
the valve against its seat. The valve may be kept in the open position by a
sliding block fitted to the upper portion of the frame f¹ and capable of being
moved to a position between the top of the frame and the under surface of the
knob or handle F1, holding the stem permanently elevated and free from the
action of the clock and mechanism.
It may be here noted that the pipe H is shown as integral with the base
plate A¹. This pipe serves as the medium connection in the line of piping which
the device is to control and in order to prevent any displacement of the parts
such as might occur while coupling in the line of piping if the pipe were separate
from the base. The pipe may, however, be formed in a separate piece and
attached by clamps to the base.
The table F serves as a support for two arms K pivoted to the table and having
at one end a pair of jaws k which partially surround the valve stem at a point
below the collar g¹ when the valve is open, and serve to hold the stem in the raised
position. When these jaws are separated to permit the downward movement of
the collar g' between them the spring forces the stem down and closes the
valve. This movement of the jaws is governed by the notched actuating disc D
through the following mechanism.
Pivoted to a standard L is a lever M having at one end a tooth m adapted to
enter the actuating notch & in the disc D and at its opposite end having an
enlarged wedge-shaped head m¹ adapted to enter between the inclined faces at the
ends of the levers or arms K which latter are acted upon by a spring / normally
tending to force apart the outer ends of the arms to receive the wedge shaped
head m¹ and to close the jaws k. The lever M is connected to a spring which
normally tends to raise the head m but this movement is resisted, normally by
the contact of the toothed end m of the lever with the periphery of the disc, and
such upward movement of the wedge shaped head can only occur when, in the
travel of the disc, the notch & comes immediately under the tooth m. When this
occurs, the end m of the lever is raised from between the ends of the arms K,
and the jaws k are opened, permitting the spring h to act on the valve stem and
close the valve. The lever M is provided with an arm N carrying at its outer
end a spring arm n normally held a slight distance above the periphery of the
balance wheel. 6 of the clock work and so arranged that when the tooth m descends
into the notch of the disc D said spring will make contact with the balance
wheel and stop the clock work mechanism.
The length of time which must elapse before the valve can close is governed
by the adjustment of the dial c¹ and the actuating disc D, the two being turned
by the knob d until the notch, and the position of adjustment is indicated by a
fixed pointer n¹ secured to the standard c immediately in front of the dial c¹.
The gearing which connects the clock work mechanism to the dial is so arranged
that one complete rotation of the dial is effected. in the present instance, each
twelve hours, although of course, it may be varied considerably. The zero point
of the dial and the notch dare fixed opposite each other and never vary.
To effect the adjustment of the mechanism to close the valve g-say in two
hours from the time at which the adjustment is effected we will suppose that the

page_text: valve is open and is held in the open position by the movement of the block i
under the knob F. The jaws k of arms h are in the closed position and the
head of lever M is raised above the open outer ends of said arms; the tooth m
is in notch 2 of disc D, and the spring arm is in contact with the balance
wheel k and the clock-work mechanism is stopped.
The dial c and disc D are turned, with shaft C by the knob d', to the left and
the gear wheel E remains stationary while its friction clamps slide. The first
effect of the movement will be the contact of the curved wall of the notch a²
with the tooth m, effecting the raising of the tooth and the depression of the
head m between the inclined faces of the outer ends of arms K, and also effect-
ing the raising of the spring arm n from the balance wheel and permitting the
starting of the clock movement, the parts then assuming the positions indicated
in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. As the dial and disc are turned the various Figures 11, 10,
9, 8, &c., will gradually pass the indicator n until the desired figure, 2 in this
case, is reached. The clock work will in rotating two hours travel the dial and
disc in the same direction over the remaining two spaces from 2 to 0 when as
reaches the indicator. or pointer, the notch d² will pass under the tooth m.
lever M will then be elevated by the spring 1, raising the block m¹ from between
the outer ends of the arms K, which latter will then be closed by the compression
spring which opens the jaws k, and so permitting the passage of collar gon
the valve stem and closing the valve, it being understood that the permanent
holding block i has previously been slid from under the knob F, or from the
position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. At the same time spring
arm will descend on the balance wheel and stop the clock movement, although
this is not absolutely necessary, as the clock may run permanently and arm N
be altogether dispensed with.
The
The dial adjustment described may be for any space of time within the limita-
tions of the dial.
All of the parts are enclosed in a suitable casing P for protection against
injury.
The disc closing valve shown in Fig. 1 may be replaced by a turn cock gas
shown in Fig. 8 and normally held open by a lever Q having an adjustable
weight by means of a projecting fingers on a pivoted lever S. The upper end
of this lever is engaged by the inclined end of a lever M having its tooth m
adapted to enter the notch of disc D), and acted upon by a spring normally
tending to depress the tooth into the notch. When this occurs, the outer arm
of the lever is raised, leaving the lever S free when the weighted lever Q will
immediately disengage itself from the fingers and fall, effecting the closing of
the cock.
It is of course obvious, that if the flow of liquid is to be started, the cock g³
is held normally closed and the dropping of the lever opens the same, thus
starting the flow.
a-
As a further modification, where the device is used to cut off electrical currents;
x, represent line wires of a circuit terminating respectively in contact
plates t, which are normally connected by a switch plate u on a guided bar U.
A lever M2 is fulcrumed to a fixed point and at one end is connected to the bar U
and at its opposite end has the tooth m adapted to enter the notch in dial D.
When this occurs, a spring 13 raises the lever and moves the bar U in such
manner as to break electrical contact between the plates t, and thus shut off
the current.
To start the flow of electric current, switch plate on bar U is normally held
out of contact with the contact plates t. t. When tooth m enters notch in
dial D the spring I raises the lever and moves the bar U in such manner as
to start the flow of the electric current.
Various other modifications of the structure herein described may be made
without departing from the spirit of my invention, as for instance as shown in
Fig. 10 by substituting a rack bar D¹ for the actuating disc 1) and employing

page_text: pinion driven from the clock work mechanism in the manner heretofore
described.
...j
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 combination of a clock work mechanism, an auxiliary train of gears
operated thereby, a shaft on which one of such gears is mounted, friction devices
for holding the gear wheel to its shaft, a notched disc, an indicating dial and a
turning knob all secured to. said shaft, a stationary pointer in front of said dial,
a lever having a toothed end adapted to said notched disc and mechanism con-
necting said lever to the device to be controlled, substantially as specified.
2. The combination of the clock work mechanism, a shaft C, a gear wheel held
frictionally thereto, gearing connecting said gear wheel to the initial gear of the
clock mechanism, a dial c', a notched disc D and a turning knob d'all rigidly
secured to said shaft C a lever M having a toothed end adapted to said notched
disc, and mechanism connecting said lever to the device to be controlled, sub-
stantially as specified.
3. The combination of the clock work mechanism, a shaft C mounted in an
auxiliary frame, a gear wheel E loosely mounted on said shaft, a friction disc D¹.
secured to the shaft at one side of and in contact with the gear wheel, a ring D³
also secured to the shaft at the opposite side of the gear wheel, spring arms d
carried by said ring and adapted to force the gear wheel into contact with the
friction disc, a notched disc D, a dial c¹, and a turning knob d all rigidly secured
to the shaft C, a lever M having a toothed end adapted to said, notched disc, and
nechanism connecting the lever to the device to be controlled, substantially as
specified.
4. The combination of the valve, its stem, a collar on said stem, an actuating
spring adapted to move said stem, pivoted arms having jaws adapted to be closed
and opened to hold or release the valve stem, a lever M controlling the movement
of said jawed arms, and a rotatable disc for actuating said lever, with means for
adjusting said disc, substantially as specified.
5. The combination of the valve, a spring pressed valve stem, a collar on said
stem, pivoted arms adapted to be opened or closed to release or hold said stem, a
lever adapted to enter between the opposite ends of said arms, an adjustable
notched disc for actuating said lever, and clock work mechanism for rotating said
disc, substantially as specified.
6. The combination of the valve, a spring pressed stem carrying the same, a
guiding frame f¹ for said stem, a knob F and a collar g' secured to the stem a
block adapted to slide on the frame to hold the stem in an elevated position,
pivoted armis having jaws adapted to engage and release said stem, and mechanism
for opening and closing said arms, substantially as specified.
1
LT
9th dox of Tu 1899
HARRY LIPPINCOTT GROOME,
1,402, North 23rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
Hosaltino Lake & Co
HARRY LIPPINCOTT GROOME,
1,402, North 23rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
Hocaltina Lake & Co.
ampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.