Year: 1897

page_text: I, THEODORE VAN HEEMSTEDE ODELT, of 140 Rokin, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom
of Holland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in that type of motor which consists of
a truin of wheels set in motion by the tension of a wound up coil spring or springs,
and has for its object to construct such motors so as to provide a perfectly smooth
and continuous motion, in combination with a suitable governor for regulating
the speed of same, which renders such motors according to my invention particu-
larly adaptable for driving phonographs, kinetoscopes, cineamatoscopes and the
like.
According to one method of carrying my invention into effect, I provide a
metallic frame, to which is connected or formed integrally therewith suitable
standards, for forming or carrying the bearings of a train of wheels arranged
substantially as follows.
A powerful coiled spring is mounted upon a shaft borne by a pair of bearings,
and enclosed within a preferably skeleton drum, and upon one end of the said
shaft is mounted a spur wheel, in gear with a pinion upon a spindle or shaft carried
in another pair of bearings, and provided with means for the reception of a key,
80 that the rotation of the said pinion would rotate the said spur wheel, and wind
up or place the said spring in tension, the usual ratchet tooth and pawl being pro-
vided in connection with the spindle of the said pinion for preventing the return
motion of the same.
The said drum carries a toothed wheel or a toothed surface upon its periphery,
which gears with a pinion upon a shaft carrying a spur, wheel in gear with a like
pinion upon another shaft, carrying a similar spur wheel, the latter wheel being
in gear with a like pinion upon another shaft carrying a toothed wheel, in the
teeth of which a central groove is formed circumferentially of the wheel, in which
I place and fix by cement, rivets or other suitable means a toothed surface, com-
posed of vulcanized rubber, vulcanite, celluloid, Xylonite, pegamoid, vulcanite
fibre, leather or other suitable resilient material, the teeth of which said surface
coincide with the teeth of the said wheel. The said resilient toothed surface
meshes with a pinion fixed upon a shaft, upon one end of which said shaft is fixed
a circular disc, having screwed or otherwise connected to its periphery, the one
ends of two or more plate springs, the opposite ends of which are in like manner
connected to the periphery of a second disc, having a broad flange, and sleeved
upon the said pinion shaft, and upon each of the said plate springs, and centrally
of their length, is fixed a leaden or other weighted block or knob, which recede
from the said pinion shaft and bow the said plate springs outwardly by centri-
fugal force, as the speed of the said shaft increases, the said weights thus serving
as a fly wheel for maintaining a steady and even motion, but in order that such
speed may be regulated at will, I mount in suitable bearings a short shaft, at right

page_text: angles to the said pinion shaft, the said short shaft having a projecting arm
carrying a resilient plug, which is caused to impinge against the flange of the
before mentioned sleeve, by the screwing home of a set screw, carried by the said
frame, and which impinges against one member of a bell crank lever fixed upon
one end of the said short shaft, and by regulating the said set screw the said
resilient plug is caused to bear more or less against the said flange and so by
friction regulate the speed of the motor or act as a brake for arresting the progress
of the same.
A suitable spring operates to keep the said resilient plug out of
contact with the said flunge as far as permitted by the said set screw, while a
suitable spring rod connected to the second member of the said bell crank lever,
and operated by a switch, also serves to place the said resilient plug in and out
of contact with the said flange for starting and stopping the motor.
The shaft of the last named spur wheel may carry suitable means for conveying
motion to where required, and assuming that my improved motor is employed for
driving a phonograph or the like, the said shaft may carry a grooved pulley or
sheave, so that motion may be conveyed therefrom by a band, strap, or cord, to a
like pulley or sheave upon the mandrel or its equivalent of the phonograph for
carrying the cylindrical recording surface.
By a second method of carrying my invention into effect, I employ two or
more coil springs, each contained in a separate drum, but all mounted upon oue
shaft, carried within a suitable frame, one end of which said shaft carries a toothed
wheel in gear with a pinion upon a shaft, adapted to receive a key for winding up
the said springs, and provided with the usual ratchet and pawl for preventing the
return motion thereof. One or more of the said drums carry a toothed wheel or
a toothed surface upon its or their periphery or peripheries, which gear with a pinion
or pinious upon a spindle carried by the said frame, the opposite end of which
said spindle extends beyond the said frame and carries a spur wheel, which gears
with a pinion upon a like shaft carrying a spur wheel, having a groove in its
periphery occupied by a toothed surface of resilient material, as mentioned in the
motor first described, and the teeth of the said resilient surface gear with a pinion
upon a shaft carried by a frame extending horizontally from the spring drum
frame, and upon the said latter shaft is mounted a fixed disc, to the periphery of
which is connected the one ends of two or more loaded plate springs, the opposito
ends of which are connected in like manner to a second disc having a broad flange
and sleeved upon the opposite end of the said pinion shaft, in the same way as
in the previous arrangement. A similar but preferably differently mounted bell
crank, and having a resilient plug, is caused, by the use of a set screw, to impinge
upon one surface of the said flange for regulating the speed, while a suitable
device operates to stop and start the motor. Motion may be conveyed from the
motor to where required by the means of suitable gear, but if in connection with a
phonograph, by the means of a band or cord upon a sheave or pulley upon the
end of the governor shaft, gearing with a like sheave upon the mandrel or its
equivalent of the phonograph as previously mentioned.
As a modification of the last described arrangement, I may dispense with the
fixed and sleeved discs upon the governor shaft, and the springs and weights
thereon, and in combination with a train of wheels substantially as described in
either of the foregoing arrangements, I fix upon the last or quickest shaft a
suitable fly wheel or its equivalent to which is loosely connected two or more
bulls or pear shaped weights, adapted to recede from the said shaft as its speed
increnses, the speed of the said shaft being regulated by frictional contact between
a padded lever and fixed disc, operated by a screw or lever, suitable means being
provided for conveying motion from the motor to where required, and for starting
and slipping the same.
In each of the foregoing arrangements I purpose placing all the wheels in such
a position that their shafts or spindles are in alignment with the spring barrel
or barrels, and to a greater or lesser extent with each other, but as a further
modification, I may employ such a train of wheels, the shafts or spindles of which,

page_text: instead of being at the end of the said drum or druns, are at the side or sides of
same and parallel therewith and with each other.
As a further modification I may find it convenient to employ any desired com-
bination of the foregoing arrangements without departing from the principle
involved, and when more than one spring and spring box is employed upon one
motor I may find it convenient to so arrange these that each spring has one con-
volution placed in tension in advance of the spring preceding it, which provides
that the combination of springs are at no time actually run down.
I, THEODORE VAN HEEMSTEDE OBELT, of 140 Rokin, Amsterdam, in the Kingdom
of Holland, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in that type of motor which consists of a
train of wheels set in motion by the tension of a wound up coil spring or springs,
and has for its object, to construct such motors so as to provide a perfectly smooth
and continuous motion, without jerk or jar, and with little noise or rattle, in
combination with a suitable governor for automatically regulating the speed of
same, my said improvements rendering such motors particularly adaptable for
driving phonographs, graphophones, kinetoscopes, cineamatoscopes and the like.
In order that my said improvements and the several manners in which I purpose
carrying the same into effect may be fully understood, I have hereunto appended
two sheets of drawings, of which:-
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional plan of a single spring motor according to my
invention takon upon the line A B of Fig. 2, which is a side elevation of same.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are details of a particular construction of wheel (according to
my invention) which forms part of the train of wheels of the said motor.
Fig. 6, Sheet 2 is a side elevation of the spring portion of such a motor, in
which three springs and spring drums or boxes are employed, each of the said
boxes or drums having a toothed surface operating upon a like number of pinions
upon a spindle or shaft.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of such a motor, shewing an alternative method of arrang-
ing the wheels, and in which two or more springs and spring boxes are employed,
only one of which has a toothed surface in gear with a pinion upon a shaft or
spindle.
Referring to Sheet 1 of the drawings, I have chosen to assume my improved
spring motor adapted for driving a phonograph or like instrument, and (according
to one arrangement) I carry my invention into effect by providing a metallic
frame A, a portion of which A' and As may be arranged to form standards adapted
to be connected to, and depend from the bottom plate B of a phonograph head,
the said standards being also conveniently employed to form bearings for certain
of the shafts or spindles of the train of wheels used.
In this arrangement I provide a powerful coil spring, the inner convolution of
which is mounted upon a shaft C, carried in bearings upon, or formed in, the
standards A and a portion A³ of the frame A, the suid spring being preferably

page_text: enclosed within a drum D, having skeleton or non-solid ends, and upon the end
of the shaft C, extending beyond the standard A³, I mount a spur wheel E, in
gear with a pinion F, fixed upou a spindle or stud, carried by the standard A³,
the said stud or spindle being constructed at its outer end a for the reception of
a key, so that the rotation of a by the said key may rotate the spur wheel E, and
wind up or place in tension the spring contained in D, an ordinary ratchet toothed
wheel and pawl being provided, in connection with the pinion F, for preventing
the return motion of the same.
The drum D carries a toothed wheel or a toothed surface c, upon its periphery,
which gears with a pinion d upon a shaft e, borne by the standards A and A',
the said shaft also carrying a spur wheel or wheels G, in gear with a pinion or
pinions f, upon another shaft g, which may conveniently be carried by the
standard A, and portion A of A, the said shaft 9 extending through A¹ carries
upon its end a spur wheel II, in gear with a pinion h fixed upon a shaft j, one end
of which may be borne by the standard A', while its opposite end is carried in a
suitable bearing mounted upon or formed integrally with a frame A+, bolted or
otherwise connected to the standard A, and extending horizontally therefrom. The
said shaft also carries a toothed wheel J (the special construction of which is
more graphically illustrated by Figs. 3, 4 and 5) in the toothed periphery of which
a central groove & is formed, circumferentially, as shown in Fig. 4, in which I 2
place and fix by cement, rivets, or other suitable menus a toothed surface (Fig. 3)
which may be made of vulcanized rubber, rubber-composition, vulcanite, celluloid,
xylonite, pegamoid, vulcanite-fibre, leather or other suitable resilient material, the
teeth of which said surfaco coincide with the teeth in J, when this is placed and
fixed in the said groove & as illustrated by Fig. 5.
The teeth of the resilient surface 7, mesh with the teeth of a pinion m, fixed
upon a shaft n, carried by bearings on the frame A', and the standard A', and upon
the said shaft is mounted a fixed circular disc o, to the periphery of which is
screwed or otherwise connected the one ends of two or more plate-springs o³, the
opposite ends of which are, in like manner, connected to a second disc o, having a
a brond flange o, and sleeved or loosely mounted upon the shaft o, so as to be
capable of sliding to and fro thereon, and upon each of the said springs o, and
centrally of their length is fixed a leaden or other weighted block or knob p
which recede from the said shaft n and cause the said springs to bow outwardly
(as shown by dotted outline in Fig. 2) by the action of centrifugal force, as the
speed of the shaft n increases, the said weights thus serving as a fly wheel for
maintaining a steady and even motion to the train of wheels, and consequently
the phonograph or the like driven thereby, and such bowing out of the said springs
would cause the loose disc o to slide along the shaft ; and approach the fixed
disc o, as indicated by dotted outline in Fig. 2, and it follows, that any suitable
adjustable device capable of arresting at any predetermined point such travel of
the sliding disc o', would adjust the extent of the bowing out of the springs o³,
and so prevent excessive speed in the shaft, and consequently the train of wheels
as a whole, and although the said arrest of the disc o may be effected in many
ways, I prefer to attain this by mounting in suitable bearings a pin or short
shaft Fig. 2) at right angles to the shaft n, and adapted to carry a bell crank
lever, the lower member r of which carries a resilient plug which is caused to
impinge against the flange o³, of the disc o, by the screwing home of a set screw
which impinges upon the second member of the said bell crank lover, and the
said set screw may conveniently be arranged that its head extends through, so as
to be operated from above the plate B, as shewn, and it will be understood that
by regulating the said set screw, the said resilient plug may be caused to press
more or less upon the disc o', or in other words, that the more the member r³ is
permitted to rise, as indicated by dotted outline, the more the disc o may be per-
mmitted to approach the disc o, and by these means I attain perfect control over
the speed of the motor. A suitable spring operates to keep the plug rout
of contact with the flange o³ of o¹, as far as permitted by the screw. The screw-

page_text: ing home of the screw may also serve as a brake for arresting the progress of
the disc o', and stopping the motor, but as this would entail the readjustment of ³
each time, for again regulating the speed; I prefer to provide a vertical rod s
connected to the bracket carrying the hell crank lever, and extending up through
the plate B, and there, provided with handle or lever head s', the lower end of
which said rods may be curved or bent as shewn, and thereat provided with a
resilient plug so that by operating the lever s the said curved lower end of s
may be caused to impinge upon the flange o³ of o¹ and so arrest its progress, the
handle or lever thus acting as a switch for starting and stopping the motor,
while the screw operates for governing the speed of the same.
The power of the motor may be conveyed to perform useful work by suitable
gearing, but for the purposes assumed I prefer to mount upon the shaft ; as at
Fig. 1, or the shaft n as at Fig. 2, a grooved pulley or sheave such as s³, so that
motion may be conveyed therefrom by a band, strap, or cord, passing upward
through a slot in the plate 13, to a like pulley or sheave upon the mandrel, carry-
ing the recording surface, or other convenient part of the phonograph or the like.
By a second method of carrying my invention into effect, as illustrated by Fig. 6,
I employ two or more coiled springs each contained in a separate drum D, but
all mounted upon the shaft C, one end of which carries a spur wheel E, operated
by a pinion F, (not shown) and key as described in the method illustrated by
Fig. 1. In this arrangement the spring drums 1 may be connected to each other,
so that one only may need to carry a toothed surface c, in gear with one pinion d
upon the shafte, but when such springs are very powerful, in order to equally
distribute the pull of these over the whole length of the said shaft, I prefer that
each drum may be disconnected from its neighbour, and each be provided with a
toothed wheel or toothed surface c, which gear with a like number of pinions d
upon the shaft e, the said shaft carrying a spur wheel H, in gear with the pinion h
upon the shaft j, carrying a toothed wheel J, in gear with a pinion m, upon a
shaft n, with governor and its accessories substantially as in the previous arrange-
ment.
In each of the foregoing arrangements I purpose placing most of the wheels in
such a position that their shafts or spindles are in the same plane or nearly so
us that of the axle of the spring barrel or barrels or drums, and to a greater or
lesser extent with each other, but as a further modification, in order to accommo-
date space, or the configuration of such space, or and other conditions, I may
arrange such a train of wheels the shafts of which are parallel with the drum or
drums substantially as at Fig. 7. In this arrangement I provide a rectangular or
other shaped frame such as K, having suitably disposed standards such as L, by
means of which the said frame may be suspended beneath the plate B of a
phonograph or like machine.
The said frame may have cross stays such as M, arranged in any suitable
manner, and adapted to form or carry plummer blocks or plates such as N, operat-
ing as bearings for the ends of the several shafts, or spindles of the train of wheels.
In this arrangement I illustrate tho employment of two or more coil springs con-
tained in separate drums or barrels D, all mounted upon one shaft or spindle C,
carrying a spur wheel E in gear with a pinion F, upon a shaft 11 constructed at a
for the reception of a key, and provided with a ratchet wheel and pawl b, in the
usual way, the rotation of a and F by the said key serving to rotate the wheel E
and so wind up the springs in D D.
In this arrangement I may employ a toothed wheel or toothed surface c, in con-
nection with, or upon one only of the said drums as shewn, this being in gear
with a pinion d upon a shaft e', the said shaft also carrying a spur wheel or
wheels G, in gear with a pinion or pinions H, upon a shaft, carrying a wheel J,
having a resilient surface 7, in gear with a pinion m upon a shaft n, carrying a
governor composed of fast and loose discs o and o', connected by plate springs o
carrying kuohs or weights p, as in the previous arrangements.
In this motor, as in the preceding ones, I may employ in each train more thau

page_text: one wheel having a resilient toothed surface such as 1, and I may employ other
wheels in between the drum D), and the compound wheel J, if necessary, according
to the speed or power desired, and I may mount the sheave or pulley, upon the
shaft n as shewn, or upon the shaft j', as may be most convenient.
In this arrangement I may provide for the regulation of the speed of the
governor by pivotally mounting upon the frame K a bell crank lever, the one
member of which r carries a resilient plug adapted to impinge upon the flango
of the disc o, a suitable spring serving to keep out of contact with o' as far
as permitted by a sot screw, adapted to make adjustable contact with the second
member of the said bell crank, in substantially the same manner as that described
and shewn in the motor, illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, while a rods having a curved
end or foot w, and operated from above the plate B, may serve as a brake for
stopping and starting the motor as in the manuer previously described.
In motors where more than one coiled spring is employed, as in Figs. 6 or 7:
I may so arrange the said springs, that each may always have one convolution
placed in tension in advance of its neighbour, which provides that the combination
of springs, is at no time actually fully run down.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a clockwork motor the combination of one or more power springs, all
mounted upon the one shaft, and each arranged with one coil wound in advance
of each other, the said train having one or more wheels provided with resilient
teeth, the speed of the whole being regulated by an adjustable governor, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
2nd. In a clockwork motor, the combination of a frame such as A, A², A³, A³
and A, bearing a shaft C, carrying a coil spring or springs contained within a
drum or drums such as D, with means for placing the said spring or springs in
tension, and provided with one or more toothed wheels or surfaces such as c, in
gear with a like number of pinions d upon a shaft e, imparting motion to a train
of toothed wheels such as G, f, II, h and J, the latter linving in its periphery a
circumferential groove k, occupied by a fixed toothed surface 7, of any suitable
resilient material, the said surface / meshing with the teeth of a pinion m, upon a
shaft, carrying a fast disc o, and sliding disco, connected by spring plates o³,
carrying weights such as 7, the said discs and weighted springs serving as a
governor, with means for regulating the speed of same such for instance as that
of an adjustable screw, impinging upon one member, of a bell crank lever,
the second member of which carries a resilient plug adapted to impinge upon
the sliding disc o', with means for stopping and starting the said motor, such as
that of a rod s, operated by a handle s', and having a curved end or foot s³, adapted
to impinge upon the disc o', with means such as a pulley or sheaves, upon one
of the shafts, for conveying motion to where required, the whole connected com-
bined and operating substantially as herein described and shewn by Figs. 1 to 6
of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In a clockwork motor the combination of a frame such as K, having feet
or suspension rods such as L, the said frame being adapted to form or receive
bearings such as N, suitable for carrying the shafts or spindles of the train of
wheels, consisting of a shaft C, carrying a coil spring or springs contained within
a drum or dums D, with means for placing the said spring or springs in tension,
the said drum or drums having a toothed surface or surfaces in gear with, and
imparting motion to, a pinion or pinions d, upon a shaft e¹, carrying a spur
wheel G, in gear with a pinion H, upon a shaft j, carrying a wheel J, the latter
having on its periphery a groove k, occupied by a fixed toothed surface 1, of any
suitable resilient material, the said resilient surface meshing with a pinion m
upon a shaft n, carrying a fast disc o, and sliding disc o, connected by weighted
plate springs o, the said discs and weights serving as a governor, with means for

page_text: regulating the speed of same, such as an adjustable screw r³, impinging upon one
member of a bell crank lever, the second member of which r carries a resilient
plug adapted to impinge upon the sliding disc o¹, with means for stopping and
starting the said motor, such as that of a rods, having a head s, and curved foot s³,
the latter adapted to impinge upon the disc o', with means such as a pulley
upon one of the shafts for conveying motion to where required, substantially as
herein described and shown by Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In a clockwork motor, the employment of a toothed wheel or wheels, each
having in its periphery a circumferential groove occupied by a toothed surface
such as 7, of any suitable resilient material, substantially as and for the purposes
stated, and shown by the appended drawings.
Dad thi C41
& Dha
1907
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street, Buildings, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street, Buildings, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.