Improvements in the Means of Imparting Motion to Projectiles and Tee-to-tums or Spinning Tops.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of Imparting Motion to Projectiles and
Tee-to-tums or Spinning Tops.
We JAMES HOWE SHACKLEFORD of 19 Alleyn Park Dulwich in the County
of Surrey Secretary of a Limited Company and HARVEY EZRA BROWN of
18 Ballater Road Clapham in the County of Surrey Engineer 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 relates to an improved apparatus for propelling or imparting
motion to a projectile or for imparting rotary motion to tee to tums spinning tops
or similar articles.
Our improved apparatus is in two parts which are shown in the accompanying
drawings and are there distinguished by the Figures 1 and 2. A form of projectile
and a form of tee to tum or spinning top which can be used with our improved
apparatus are respectively shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 1 which we call "the rod" represents a coarse pitch screw or a rod made
of any hard metal regularly and symmetrically turned or twisted so that its outer and
inner surfaces form a coarse pitch male screw; one end of the rod is bent so as to
form a handle by which the rod can be grasped
or fixed.
Figure 2 which we call "the button" is made of wood or metal, it has a smooth
circular hole drilled through its centre marked C" slightly larger in diameter
than the diameter of the rod so that the button can pass freely up and down the
rod over the edges of the screw forming the outer surface of "the rod."
Figure 3 represents a projectile for the projection of which our improved apparatus
is suitable. This projectile consists of a metal ring with three radii or spokes all of
which proceed from the centre of the ring and join the ring at equal distances from each
other; each radius or spoke has between the centre of the ring, and the point where
it joins the metal ring a vane or thin flat disc of the same or other similar material ;
the radius or spoke passes through the diameter of the disc or vane which is bent
at an angle of about thirty degrees to.the radius or spoke. In the centre of the
projectile is a hole through which the rod can pass. This hole is of such a size
and shape that when the rod is passed through it, the sides or some part of the sides
of the hole, touch the rod which thus fits, but not tightly into the hole so that when
the projectile is pushed along the rod, the projectile revolves.
Figure 4 shows a tee to tum or spinning top which may be used with our improved
apparatus. Figure 4 we call the "spinning top." It consists of a circular disc of
metal, having on one side, a projecting tube at its centre concentric with a hole
through the centre of the disc. This latter hole and, the inside of the tube are
drilled or turned so that a screw is formed which is a female screw to the male
screw on the rod (Figure 1).
To use our improved apparatus for propelling or imparting motion to a projectile
such as Figure 3, the rod (Figure 1) is held or fixed with the handle downwards,
the button (Figure 2) is slipped over the rod down to the handle so that the rod
passes through the button, and, finally, the projectile (Figure 3) is screwed or
allowed to fall down to the button until the projectile rests lightly upon the upper
or outer end of the button. The button is grasped and pushed or pulled smartly
up off the rod. In so doing the projectile acquires a circular motion, and also a
forward motion which motion, when the projectile leaves the rod, carries the
projectile rapidly up into the air or in a direction following that in which the rod
was held.
When our improved apparatus is used for imparting rotary motion to a tee to
tum or spinning top such as Figure 4, the rod is held or fixed with the handle

page_text: upwards, and the button passed up the rod to the handle and then the spinning top
is screwed up the rod to the button, the tube of the top being farthest from the
button, the button is then smartly pushed down and off the rod and the top is
forced down to the ground where it spins in a rotary and proceeds-in-and-with-a
linear motion.
It is obvious that projectiles tee to tums or spinning tops of different forms to
those shown in Figures 3 and 4 but having holes or projecting tubes through
which the rod may pass in manner aforesaid may be used with our improved
apparatus as long as they are not too heavy to be actuated by it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
The use substantially as herein described of the apparatus aforesaid consisting of
the rod and button aforesaid for the purpose of propelling or imparting, motion to.
a projectile such as that shown in Figure 3 or for imparting a rotary motion to a
tee to tum or spinning top such as that shown in Figure 4.
Dated this 10th day of November 1893.
JAMES HOWE SHACKLEFORD...
HARVEY EZRA BROWN.