Improvements in Self-rocking Cradles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-rocking Cradles.
I, JOHN J. BUKOLT, of Steven's Point, in the County of Portage, and State of
Wisconsin, Manufacturer, in the United States of America, 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 has relation to cradles for children and more particularly to that
class of self-rocking cradles in which the tension of a spring is released by a step-
by-step movement to oscillate or rock the suspended cradle for an indefinite period
of time. The object of the invention is to produce a simple, cheap, and durable
device of this kind, and to this end the novelty consists in the construction, com-
bination and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described
and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an isometric view of my improved self
rocking cradle, Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section with the cradle and the
cover of the spring case removed, Fig. 3 is a front end elevation partly in section
showing the suspended cradle in dotted lines, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section.
Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation of the rear end of the cradle, Fig. 6 is
an elevation showing the escape wheel, oscillating shoe, and pawls in the first
position. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the second position of the same, Fig. 8
shows the third position, Fig. 9 shows the fourth position, Fig. 10 shows the fifth
position, and Fig. 11 the sixth position of the same parts. Figs. 12, 13 and 14
are detail views.
2 is a cradle body, the head and foot board being provided with bearing
brackets 3-3 by which it is suspended upon the knife edge arms 4-4, secured in
the upper ends of the standards 5-6 secured to the frame or stationary rectangu
lar base 7, so that the cradle will oscillate or rock transversely from side to side.
8 is a bed plate secured by screws 9 to the inside of the standard 5, and it is
formed with an integral circular stud 10, on which is mounted the hub 12 of a
shoe 13 extending upwardly and terminating in a rectangular socket 16, in which
is secured the light wooden arm 17, by the bolts 18, so that the arm 17 and shoe 13
are free to oscillate on the stud 10.
The upper end of this arm 17 is formed with an eye 19, and 20-21 are screw
eyes or studs secured to the head of the swinging cradle, approximately in the
same horizontal line with the eye 19. One end of a flexible cord 22 is fastened to
the stud 20, then passed through and secured to the eye 19 on the arm 17, and its
free end secured to the stud 21 on the opposite side. From this construction it
will readily be seen that if the arm 17 be oscillated on its bearing stud 10, the
oscillations will be transmitted to the cradle by the cord 22.
A pawl 23 is pivoted on the integral stud 24 of the bed plate 8, and a similar
pawl 25 is likewise pivoted on the stud 26, and these pawls alternately engage the
teeth 27 on the escape wheel 28, journaled on the stud 10. The hub 29 of this
escape wheel is formed with a circular flange 30, forming a central circular
recess 31 in which is secured a stud bolt 32, the collar 33 of which secures the
wheel in place, at the same time permitting it to rotate freely on the stud 10.

page_text: On the projecting cylindrical end 34 of the bolt 32 is journaled one end of a
shaft 35 in the recess 31 of the escape wheel, and the opposite end of said shaft is
journaled, in the same horizontal line in the standard 6 through which its square
end projects to receive a removable crank handle, 36.
A spiral spring 37 encircles the shaft 35, one end being secured to said shaft
near its bearing in the standard 6, and the opposite end of said spring is secured
to the hub 29 of the escape wheel 28. A collar 38 is rigidly secured to the
shaft 35, and it is formed with two oppositely disposed arms 39-40, the outer
ends of which terminate in a tooth 41, which alternately engage a detent 42 in
the free end of a gravity pawl,43, fulcrummed on a pivot, screw 44 secured to the
standard, and serving to limit the movement of said arms.
Mounted on the same stud with the pawl 23 is a plate 46.having an integral radial
arm 47, and on said plate, at an angle of about 45°, is a second integral arm 48,
bent outwardly at a right angle to the face of the plate, its angular edge 49 resting
against a shoulder 50 on said pawl. One end 51 of a coiled spring 52 engages the
angular arm 48 of the plate 46, and its other end, after being coiled once or twice
around the stud 24, is secured in an orifice 53 in the stud.. The office of this
spring 52 is to keep the angular arm 48 of the plate 46 in contact with the
shoulder 50 of the pawl, and consequently press the free end of said pawl in
engagement with the teeth on-the escape wheel.
A second coiled spring 54 has one end 55 likewise secured to the angular arm 48
ef the plate 46, and after being coiled around the stud, its other end is secured in
an orifice in the underside of the pawl. The office of this spring is to keep the
shoulder 50 of the pawl in contact with the angular arm 48 of the plate 46 without
reference to the position of the plate on the stud 24.
A similar pawl 25 is pivoted on the stud 26 on the face of the shoe 13, so as to
oscillate with it, and a plate 57, also mounted on said stud, is formed with a radial
arm 58 and an angular arm 59, which bears against the shoulder 60 on the pawl.
One end of a coiled-spring 61 is secured to the angular arm 59, and its other end
is secured to the shoe. This serves to press said pawl down so that its free end
will engage the teeth on the escape wheel. A second spring 62 has one end, 65,
likewise secured to the angular arm 59 of the plate 57, and its other end is secured
in an orifice in the under side of said pawl, and it serves to keep the shoulder 60
of the pawl-25 in contact with the underside of the arm 59 of the plate without
reference to the position of the plate on the stud 26.
A stationary stud 64 on the bed plate 8 projects into the path of the radial
arm 58, and a similar stud 63 on the shoe 13 is alternately projected against and
withdrawn from the radial arm 47 on the plate 46.
One end of a spring 66 is secured to a screw 'stud 67 on the standard 6, as shown
in Fig. 5 and the body of the spring is then coiled two or three times around a
flanged spool 68, secured by a screw 69 to the base of the standard 6, and its free
end terminates in an eye 70to which is secured one end of a flexible cord 71,
which passes three or four times around a flanged drum 72, loosely mounted on
the shaft 35, thence over a pulley 73 on the base of the standard, and its end is
secured to the free end of a foot lever 74 fulcrumed on the standard base.
Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the spiral
spring 37 is exerting its tension to rotate the escape wheel in the direction of the
arrow. The pawl 23 is in engagement with the tooth a of the escapement wheel
and in the position shown in Fig. 6. Now if the shoe 13 be moved to the left to
the second position shown in Fig. it will be seen that the stud 63 has pressed
against the radial arm 47 of the plate 46 and raised its angular arm 48 from
contact with the shoulder 50 on the pawl, the strain on the tooth a in the mean-
time being taken up by the pawl 23. If the shoe he moved a little farther to
the left, the awl 25, will come in contact with the tooth b of the escape wheel,
taking the strain thereof from the pawl 23 and pressing the escape-wheel back-
ward just far enough for the tooth a to release the pawl 23, which is instantly
"
."

page_text: arried up by the spring 52 until its shoulder 50 strikes against the angular
rm 48 which is the upward limit of the play of the pawl and also the limit of the
movement of the shoe in that direction, which is the third position of the parts
s shown in Fig. 8. The shoe now starts on its return movement, being given a
resh impulse by the momentum of the cradle and the tooth b, acting on the
awl 25 of the shoe. As the shoe starts on its return movement to the right its
stud 63 is withdrawn from the radial arm 47 of the plate 46 and the spring 52
presses the angular arm 48 against the shoulder 50 of the pawl, which forces its
end down until it comes in contact with the back of the tooth a, the point of the
tooth having passed under the line of the end of the pawl by reason of the shoe
having moved a sufficient distance to the right carrying the escape wheel with it
far enough for the point of the tooth a to clear the end of the pawl, and which is
the fourth position as shown in Fig. 9. The shoe continuing to move to the
right next assumes the fifth position, as shown in Fig. 10. On moving further to
the right, the stud 64 on plate 8 presses the radial arm 58 of plate 57 carrying its
angular arm 59 away from the shoulder on the pawl 25, which is still in contact
with the face of the tooth b. A little further movement of the shoe 13 in the same
direction causes the face of the tooth a¹ to come in contact with the pawl 23, and
it takes up the strain of the spring 37. As soon as the end of the pawl 25 has
passed beyond the face of the tooth the spring throws said pawl upward until
its shoulder comes in contact with the angular arm, which position is the limit of
the upward play of the pawl and the limit of the movement of the shoc in that
direction, as shown in Fig.11, and is the sixth position of the parts. As the shoe
starts on its return movement the stud holds the radial arm up until the end of
the pawl 25 has cleared the point of the tooth b, and the rawl then
the
descends and rests
the back of said tooth in
first position
shown. This finishes one complete oscillation of the cradle and shoe, and it will
be seen!inat it only takes the movement of one tooth to accomplish this.
071
As the mainspring 37 extends the whole length of the cradle one winding will
keep the cradle in motion for an indefinite period.
A pawl 75 is pivoted to the side of the drum 72, the recessed end 76 of which is
forced outwardly by a spring 77 against a pin not shown in the side of the drum,
and said end 76 rotates with the drum in the path of the pins 79 secured to the
side of the arms 39 and 40 on the collar 38 secured to the shaft 35.
onl
It will be seen that if the outer or free end of the foot lever 74 be forced down-
or three times, and
ward, the flexible cord will rotate the drum 72 two
with
come
said drum will
in contact
the end 76 of the pawl 75
the pins 79, and rotate the shaft 35 a corresponding number of times,
thereby winding up the spring. When the pressure is released from the foot
lever the spring 66 and flexible cord 71 will restore the drum and foot lever to
their normal positions the spring 77 allowing the end 76 of the pawl 75 to spring
inwardly from the pins 79 on the return movement of the drum.,
A soft rubber button 80 is secured to the underside of the free end of the foot
lever, where it comes in contact with the floor, and serves to deaden the sound
at this point.
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. A self-rocking cradle, comprising the standards 5-6 the cradle body 2
O suspended in the upper ends of said standards, the shaft 35 journaled in said
standards, the spiral spring 37 mounted on said shaft and having one end secured
thereto, the escape wheel 28, to the hub of which the opposite end of said spring
is secured, a pawl 23 pivoted on a stationary stud on the bed plate 8, the oscillating
shoe 13, pivoted to the bed plate, the pawl 25 pivoted on said shoe, said pawls 23
5 and 25 alternately engaging the teeth on the escape wheel, in combination with
the oscillating arm 17 secured to said shoe, and the flexible cord 22 connected to

page_text: the free end of said arm, and the cradle body at a point below that from which the
body is suspended, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A self-rocking cradle, comprising the standards 5-6, the cradle body 2
suspended in the upper ends thereof, the shaft 35 journaled in said standards, the
spiral spring 37, mounted on said shaft and having one end secured thereto, the
escape wheel 28, to which is secured the opposite end of said spring, the oscillating
shoe 13 mounted on the bed plate 8, and provided with the projecting stud 63,
the pawl 25 having shoulder 60, plate 57 having a radial arm 58, and an angular
arm 59, and coiled springs 61-62, in combination with the projecting stud 64,
the pawl 23, having shoulder 50, the plate 46 having a radial arm 47 and an
angular arm 48, the coiled springs 52 and 54 mounted on said bed plate 8, the
oscillating arm 17, and the flexible cord 22 connecting the said arms and suspended
cradle body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A self-rocking cradle, comprising the main spring 37 and shaft 35, the
collar 38 formed with the integral arms 39-40 and teeth 4.1, the standards 6,
the gravity pawl 43 formed with an integral detent 42 and pivoted to said
standard, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A self-rocking cradle, comprising the standards, the cradle suspended there-
from, the shaft 35 and main spring 37, and the escape wheel mechanism sub-
stantially as described, in combination with the spring 60, secured to one of said
standards, the foot 74, the flexible cord connecting said spring and foot lever,
the drum 72 loosely mounted on the shaft 35, the pawl 75 mounted on said drum,
and the arms 39 and 40, provided with pins 79-79 and formed integral with the
collar 38 located in the path of the pawl 75, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.