Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th Oct., 1888
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London,
W.C., Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in or connected with advertising apparatus
whereby certain advantages are obtained.
In the Provisional Specification accompanying my Application for Letters Patent
dated 7th September 1887 and numbered 12,128 I describe the nature of an advertising
apparatus in which advertisements or announcements are successively displayed by
clockwork that is by a mechanical clock mechanism whose driving spring or weight is
wound up automatically by an electromotor. In this form of advertising apparatus
the spring or weight of the clock does the work of presenting changing and displacing
the advertisements.
My present invention differs from the above in that instead of employing the driving
weight or spring to do the work of presenting changing and displacing the advertise-
ments I employ an electromotor to do this work directly.
"
This electromotor hereinafter called the actuating electromotor " may be of any
convenient known type. For example I may employ a rotary or a step-by-step or a
vibrating or reciprocating electromotor.
I cause the electromotor to actuate the roller drum disc endless band or the like to
which the advertisements are attached by means of any convenient known transmitting
mechanism such for example as a driving chain a train of wheels a worm and worm
wheel a pawl and ratchet or the like.
To feed the electromotor I employ any convenient source or reservoir of electrical
energy such for example as a primary battery.
To call the electromotor into action when required to change the advertisement I
employ a clock or chronometric mechanism and this clock 1 cause to operate a circuit
closing device of any convenient known form serving to close the circuit and pass an
electric current through the electromotor at intervals as required.

page_text: In order to prevent a cessation of the action of my apparatus and the necessity of
winding up the driving spring or weight of the clock by hand I may employ an
electromotor to wind up the said driving spring or weight of the clock and this
electromotor I shall hereinafter for the purpose of distinction refer to as the
"clock electromotor."
The clock electromotor may be fed either by the source or reservoir of electrical
energy which feeds the actuating electromotor or it may be fed by a separate source
or reservoir of electrical energy.
The circuit through the clock electromotor may be closed by the same circuit closing
device which closes the circuit through the actuating electromotor or it may be closed
by a separate circuit closing device.
In some cases I may use a single electromotor both to wind up the driving spring
or weight of the clock and to present change and displace the advertisements suitable
transmitting mechanism being employed to transmit the movement of the said
electromotor to the said driving spring or weight of the clock and to the roller disc
drum endless band or the equivalent thereof serving to present change or displace the
advertisements.
I may when desired employ a form of brake or detent in order to grip and retain
the movable part of the electromotors or a part in connection therewith in any
convenient or desired position and also to prevent the relative positions of the movable
and fixed parts of the electromotors when at rest from being altered by jarring
concussion or the like.
In some instances I may employ reversed currents to actuate the electromotors.
When this is the case I employ a rheotrope either separate from or combined with the
circuit closing device.
To shield the electromotors from external inductive effects I may enclose it or the
whole mechanism in an iron case.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Advertising Apparatus.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London,
W.C., Consulting 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 or connected with advertising apparatus
whereby certain advantages are obtained.
In the Complete Specification filed in pursuance of my Application for Letters
Patent dated 7th September 1887 and numbered 12,128 I describe an advertising
apparatus in which advertisements or announcements are successively displayed by
clockwork that is by a mechanical clock mechanism whose driving spring or weight
is wound up automatically by an electromotor. In the said form of advertising
apparatus the spring or weight of the clock does the work of presenting changing and
displacing the advertisements.
My present invention differs from the above in that instead of employing the driving
weight or spring to do the work of presenting changing and displacing the advertise-
ments I employ an electromotor to do this work directly.
This electromotor hereinafter called the "actuating electromotor " may be of any
convenient known type. For example I may employ a rotary or a step-by-step or a
vibrating or reciprocating electromotor.
I cause the electromotor to actuate the roller drum disc endless band or the like to
which the advertisements are attached by means of any convenient known transmitting
mechanism such for example as a driving chain a train of wheels a worm and worm
wheel a pawl and ratchet or the like.
To feed the electromotor 1 employ any convenient source or reservoir of electrical
energy such for example as a primary battery.
To call the electromotor into action when required to present or change the
advertisements I employ a clock or chronometric mechanism and this clock I cause
to operate a circuit closing device of any convenient known form serving to close
the circuit and pass an electric current through the electromotor at intervals as
required.
In order to prevent the necessity of winding up the driving spring or weight of
the clock by hand I employ an electromotor to wind up the said driving spring or
weight of the clock and this electromotor I shall hereinafter for the purpose of
distinction refer to as the "clock electromotor."
The clock electromotor may be fed either by the source or reservoir of electrical
energy which feeds the actuating electromotor or it may he fed by a separate source
or reservoir of electrical energy.
The circuit through the clock electromotor may be closed by the same circuit closing
device which closes the circuit through the actuating electromotor or it may be closed
by a separate circuit-closing device.

page_text: In some cases I may use a single electromotor both to wind up the driving spring
or weight of the clock and to present change and displace the advertisements suitable
transmitting mechanism being employed to transmit the movement of the said electro-
motor to the said driving spring or weight of the clock and to the roller disc drum
endless band or the equivalent thereof serving to present change or displace the
advertisements.
I may when desired employ a form of brake or detent in order to grip and retain
the movable part of the electromotors or a part in connection therewith in any
convenient or desired position and also to prevent the relative positions of the movable
and fixed parts of the electromotors when at rest from being altered by jarring
concussion or the like.
In some instances I may employ reversed currents to actuate the electromotors.
When this is the case I employ a rheotrope either separate from or combined with
the circuit closing device.
Figure 1 diagramatically represents the several parts which in most instances I find
it convenient to employ in carrying my invention into effect. T is the advertisement
bearing device. U is the actuating electro-motor which serves when an electric
current is passing through it to drive or actuate the advertisement bearing device.
V is the circuit closing device which completes the circuit at intervals through the
actuating electro-motor. W is the source or reservoir of electrical energy which feeds
the actuating electro-motor. ✗ is the mechanical clock mechanism which drives the
circuit closing device V. Y is the electrical self-winding mechanism for periodically
winding up the mechanical clock mechanism. Z is the source or reservoir of electrical
energy which supplies current to the electrical self-winding mechanism. It is possible
instead of having a separate actuating electro-motor U to cause the electro-motor of
the electric self-winding mechanism Y to drive the advertisement bearing device by
suitable transmitting mechanism but I find it preferable to employ a separate electro-
motor for this purpose as shown in the diagram. It is also possible to employ the
same source or reservoir of electrical energy to feed both the actuating electro-motor
and the electrical selfwinding mechanism but in practice I find it preferable to employ
separate sources or reservoirs of electrical energy for this purpose. The reason for
such preferance as I have just mentioned is that in the majority of cases the power
required to actuate the advertisement bearing device is greatly in excess of that
required to wind up the mechanical clock mechanism. It will be seen that X and Y
together constitute what is known as an electrical selfwinding clock. The circuit
closing device V is conveniently mounted on a separate arbor of the mechanical clock
mechanism.
Figure 2 illustrates a simple case where the advertisements are upon an endless band
passing over two rollers B B. In this diagram the endless band A A constitutes the
advertisement bearing device, the advertisements being displayed through the
window F. The electromotor symbolically represented at E actuates the advertise-
ment bearing device in any suitable manner, as for example by being mounted on the
same axis as one of the rollers, or by transmitting rotation thereto by means of a
driving chain or belt or by gearing (as in the figure) or the like. C represents an
electrical self-winding clock (consisting of a mechanical clock mechanism and an
electrical self-winding mechanism) to which is attached a circuit closing device serving
to periodically close the circuit from the battery D through the actuating electro-
motor E as required. The electrical self-winding clock C may be of any convenient
type as for example of one of the types set forth in the Complete Specifications
accompanying my Letters Patent Nos. 8751 and 8896 of the year 1886, or in the
Complete Specifications filed in pursuance of my Applications for Letters Patent
Nos. 10,785 and 11,938 of the year 1887, but preferably of one of the types specified
in the two last mentioned Specifications. Such electrical self-winding clocks are
sufficiently described in the above cited Complete Specifications and elsewhere and
require no further description here.
In figure 3 I diagrammatically represent the electrical self-winding clock (consist-
ing of a mechanical clock mechanisin and an electrical self-winding mechanism as

page_text: hereinbefore referred to) with the circuit closing device which serves to complete the
circuit through the actuating electromotor when the latter is to be brought into action
for the purpose of presenting or changing an advertisement. The form of circuit
closing device herein shown is one which is well known and therefore need not be
further described.
I shall now describe generally the action of my invention, and for the purpose of
such description I shall assume that there is only one source or reservoir of electrical
energy used to supply the current of electricity required it being conveniently placed
as shown in figure 2 and that two circuit closing devices are used, one (hereinafter called
the clock contact) for the purpose of completing the circuit through the clock electro-
motor, and the other (hereinafter called the actuating contact) for the purpose of
completing the circuit through the actuating electromotor, these two electromotors
being distinct. The actuating contact is driven by the mechanical clock mechanism
and serves to complete the circuit through the actuating electromotor at intervals so
as to put the actuating electromotor into motion which motion is transmitted to the
advertisement bearing device for the purpose of presenting or changing the advertise-
ments. To keep this mechanical clock mechanisin in continual action so as to obviate
the necessity of winding by hand the electrical self winding mechanism is employed
and it effects its object by winding up the spring or weight as for example in the
manner set forth in my said previous specifications. As therein set forth the clock
contact is operated by the mechanical clock mechanism.
In figure 2 an endless band is shown as constituting the advertisement bearing device
the said band passing tightly over two rollers and being driven by an ordinary form of
rotary electromotor. It is obvious however that in such a case only a small number of
advertisements could be used. In figure 4 I illustrate diagrammatically a part of a con-
venient form of my apparatus in which an advertisement bearing device suitable for a
large number of advertisements is shown. In this advertisement bearing device a long
endless band is employed that part which is opposite to the window being kept tight by
means of the double set of rollers shown and the part at the back slack and arranging itself
in folds somewhat after the manner represented. In this figure the self-winding clock is
not shown. The actuating electromotor may be assumed to be mounted on the same
axis as the lower of the two upper rollers.
As will be understood the circuit through the actuating electromotor is only com-
pleted during the period of changing the advertisements it being found convenient to
keep the endless band in a fixed position for a certain time displaying one
advertisement then moving it rapidly until another advertisement is displayed then
leaving it in position for a certain period and so on. If the endless band could always
be relied upon to move a definite distance during a given time then a single actuating
contact as before referred to would be sufficient but inasmuch as with a continuously
rotating electromotor this cannot be relied upon (for the reason that the speed of the
electromotor (and therefore the length of endless band moved in a given time) will
vary with the current and with the load) I find it convenient to use another circuit
closing device which for convenience I shall term an auxiliary contact. One con-
venient form of such a contact is illustrated in figures 5 and 6 in which figures A A is
the endless band as before B one of the rollers and K a stud or projection attached to
the said endless band. L1 L2 are contact springs forming part of the said auxiliary
contact to each of which are attached contact points 12. Extending from the
spring L is the extension piece 13 against which the stud K presses when in the
position shown in figure 5. The action of this part of my invention is as follows.
The contact points being in their normal position as shown in figure 5 that is to say
during the period when the actuating electromotor is at rest the actuating contact
will at the end of this period of rest close the circuit through the actuating electro-
motor which immediately begins to move causing the endless band to travel in the
direction of the arrow until the stud K has passed from under the extension piece 13.
The actuating contact need not now continue to keep the circuit closed through the
actuating electromotor as the contact points will now be in contact (it being
understood that the auxiliary contact is in multiple arc as regards the actuating

page_text: contact) so that the current will continue to flow through the actuating electromotor
and the endless band continue to travel until another stud mounted thereon has come
under the extension piece 1³ so as to separate the contact points and break the circuit
through the actuating electro-motor at which instant the endless band will be brought
to rest and a new advertisement be displayed.
There is sometimes a liability if the current is strong and there be little friction on
the moving parts of the advertisement bearing devices for the momentum of the parts
to carry the stud last mentioned beyond the extension piece 13 in which case the
circuit would be again closed through the electromotor and the action be so to speak
continuous. To obviate this I find it convenient to employ a brake either upon the
electromotor or upon the advertisement bearing device. This brake also serves the
purpose of preventing the parts being moved out of position by concussions or jars.
A form of brake which I find convenient is that diagrammatically illustrated in
figures 7 and 8, the former of these two figures illustrating the parts in their normal
position that is whilst the actuating electromotor is at rest and the latter figure
representing the position of the parts when the actuating electromotor and the
advertisement bearing device are in motion. In these figures M is a brake wheel
over which passes the brake band N attached to the lever 0 which acts as an
armature to the electromagnet P. The eletromagnet P is connected, up in series with
the actuating electromotor so that when the electric current is traversing the latter it
is also traversing the former and thus the armatnre O is attracted towards P so as
to slacken the brake band on the brake wheel and allow free movement of the
actuating electromotor and of the advertisement bearing device. When however the
circuit is broken as before mentioned the spring Q pulls the armature 0 away from
the electromagnet P and so tightens the brake band N upon the brake wheel so as to
bring the parts to rest in their desired position.
As my invention is designed to work automatically without supervision for long
periods it is sometimes advantageous to give a part of the apparatus, notably the
battery feeding the actuating electro-motor, a rest, for example at night. I therefore
find it convenient to employ what I may term a "dormant contact" which is a
circuit closing device placed in series with the actuating contact. This dormant
contact may be of any convenient type. I find a suitable form to be one of the well
known type shown in figure 3 rotating once in twenty four hours and with only one
conducting segment of such size that it keeps contact made during the whole day or
other working period as may be desired. The result is that when the actuating contact
completes the circuit during the working period as aforesaid the actuating electro-
motor is brought into action but should it make contact during the non working
period that is to say whilst the dormant contact maker is not making contact the
actuating electro-motor will not be called into play, and the battery feeding it will
have a rest. The dormant contact is driven by the mechanical clock mechanism and
I prefer to mount it on a separate arbor_thereof.
When I employ a dormant contact I prefer to have the battery which actuates
the actuating electro-motor distinct from the battery which actuates the clock
electro-motor.
It is not necessary for the dormant contact to be separato and distinct from the
actuating contact as a single contact may fulfil the functions of both. Thus assuming
that the working period is to be sixteen hours out of the twenty four if we make a contact
of the form shown in figure 3 with no conducting segments throughout one third of
the periphery and as many conducting segments on the remaining two thirds of the
periphery as there are to be contacts made during the working period the device
would act but except under exceptional circumstances this would be objectionable on
account of the large size and cost of the contact.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular form of
actuating electro-motor as by employing suitable transmitting mechanism between
the said ac
tuating electro-motor and the advertisement bearing device any form of
electro-motor will act. I however generally prefer to use a continuously rotating
electro-motor unless the advertisements are of very small size in which case a

page_text: step-by-step electro-motor or a vibrating electro-motor or even the simple form of
electro-motor employed in ordinary electric bells may be convenient.
Nor do I confine myself to any particular form of electrical self-winding
mechanism to wind up the spring or weight of the mechanical clock mechanism
though I prefer to use one of the forms set forth in the Complete Specifications filed
in pursuance of my Applications for Letters Patent numbered 10,785 and 11,938 of
the year 1887. Nor do I limit mys If to any particular form of clock contact or of
actuating contact or of auxiliary contact or of dormant contact though 1 prefer to
have these separate and distinct and to employ as clock and actuating contacts circuit
closing devices of the kind illustrated in figures 14 and 15 of the drawings
accompanying the Complete Specification loged in pursuance of my application for
Letters Patent numbered 10,785 of the year 1887. The type shown in figure 3 of
the accompanying drawings is preferable for the dormant contact.
contact shown in figures 5 and 6 is the form I prefer to use for the auxiliary contact
when the advertisement bearing device is an endless band or the like. For other
forms of advertisement bearing device this form of contact may be slightly modified.
In practice I prefer to use Leclanché cells to furnish the electric current required.
One of these is generally sufficient for the clock electro-motor while the number
required for the actuating electro-motor will of course vary with the size and weight
of the advertisement bearing device and other parts.
The form of
By mechanical clock mechanism I mean the parts constituting an ordinary
mechanical clock as generally understood.
By the electrical self winding mechanism I mean the clock electromotor and the
parts connected therewith and also the clock contact these being the devices which
serve to bring about the winding up of the driving spring or weight of the
mechanical clock mechanism.
It is not always necessary for the clock contact to be separate and distinct from the
actuating contact as a single contact may act both as clock contact and actuating
contact. In most cases however this plan is not to be recommended as it is not
generally desirable to wind up the clock at the same moment as the advertisements are
being changed and as the period required to wind up the clock electromotor is seldom
the same as that required to alter the position of the advertisements.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular form of
brake or detent. I find that form illustrated in figures 7 and 8 to be a very convenient
brake for a revolving device whilst a detent of the form shown in the drawings
accompanying the Complete Specification filed in pursuance of my application for
Letters Patent No. 10,785 of the year 1887 is convenient for such a movement as is
therein referred to.
Though in the drawings annexed hereto I have only represented one kind of
advertisement bearing device namely an endless band I desire it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to such a form of advertisement bearing device. Any of the
usual advertisement bearing devices at present employed in other advertising apparatus
may be employed in accordance with my invention care being of course taken to connect
the same to the actuating electromotor by means of suitable transmitting mechanism.
When I employ an endless band as shewn in figures 2 and 4 I find it convenient to
perforate one or both edges of the said band with perforations through which pass teeth
or projections mounted upon one or more of the rollers. By this means I prevent the
band slipping or working out of position. I find tracing linen to be a suitable material
for a stretched band as represented in figure 2 whilst for the slack band represented in
figure 4 I find what is known as sample cloth or other loose open textured canvas to
be convenient.
When a source of light is employed in connection with a transparent advertisement
bearing device or transparent pictures or printed matter composing the said advertise-
ments care must be taken to so arrange and place this source of light that the heat
therefrom or the products of combustion shall not lessen the insulation of the electrical
devices or otherwise deleteriously affect the apparatus.

page_text: When I employ electrical self-winding mechanism of the kinds specified in my
Letters Patent Nos. 8751 and 8896 of the year 1886 I employ reversed currents for
the same but except for such electrical self-winding mechanism I prefer in all cases
where they are applicable to use continuous currents.
The advertising machines or apparatus which I have hitherto referred to in this
Specification may be termed self-contained advertising machines inasmuch as each
machine contains the necessary parts for successful operation in accordance with my
invention but in some cases for example where a number of advertising machines are set
up in proximity I may employ what I may conveniently term system advertising machines
inasmuch as each of such advertising machines forms one of a system. These differ
from the self contained advertising machines only in that the whole of the essential
parts or elements necessary to make up a self contained machine in accordance with
my invention are not present in each. Thus for example I may employ one source or
reservoir of electrical energy to supply the currents for both the actuating electro-
motors and the clock electromotors of a number of machines the said electromotors
being suitably coupled up in circuit with the said source or reservoir of electrical
energy. Or I may employ two sources or reservoirs of electrical energy one for
working the clock electromotors of all the system machines and the other for working
the actuating electromotors of all the system machines the said machines being suitably
connected with each other by wires for conveying the currents as required. Similarly
I may economise the number of clock contacts of actuating contacts and of dormant
contacts in which case the single clock contact actuating contact and dormant contact
employed are conveniently driven or actuated by the mechanical clock mechanism of
the master machine that is preferably the one which is nearest to the source
reservoir or sources or reservoirs of electrical energy. I may still further economise
by having a self-winding clock in the master machine only this machine containing
also a dormant contact for the complete system. Different forms of system clock and
methods of connecting up the same are diagrammatically shown on sheet 6 of the
accompanying drawings the diagrams in which will be readily understood without
further description here.
ΟΙ
Self-contained advertising machines and master machines need not necessarily contain
sources or reservoirs of electrical energy in their containing cases or frames. An
electrical connection with a source or reservoir of electrical energy will suffice.
I prefer to enclose my apparatus in iron cases to shield the electrical devices from
external inductive effects.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
1. The improvement in advertising apparatus consisting in a self contained
advertising machine wherein an advertisement bearing device is actuated by an
electromotor the said electromotor being periodically called into action by a contact
actuated by a mechanical clock mechanism the driving spring or weight of which is
periodically wound up electrically.
2. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in a
system advertising machine wherein an advertisement bearing dee is actuated
by an electromotor the said electromor being periodically call into action by
a contact actuated by a mechanical clock mechanism the driving spring or weight
of which is periodically wound up electrically-the said advertisement bearing
device and electromotor actuating it forming part of the said system advertising
machine and contained in its case but the actuating contact and the electrically wound
mechanical clock not being necessarily so contained.
3. The improvement in advertising apparatus consisting in the combination of an
advertisement bearing device an actuating electromotor a mechanical clock mechanism
an electrical self-winding mechanism and a source or reservoir of electrical energy
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 4. The improvement in advertising apparatus consisting in the combination of an
advertisement bearing device an actuating electromotor and an electrical self-winding
clock.
5. The improvement in advertising apparatus consisting in the combination of the
parts named in claim 3 but having a single electromotor acting both as the clock
electromotor and the actuating electromotor.
6. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in the
employment of an electrical self-winding clock to periodically call into action an
electromotor serving to actuate an advertisement bearing device substantially as set
forth.
7. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in
the employment of an auxiliary contact substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
8. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in the
employment of an auxiliary contact substantially as and for the purpose set forth with
reference to figures 5 and 6.
9. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in
the employment of a dormant contact substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
10. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in
the employment of a brake substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in
the employment of a brake substantially as and for the purpose set forth with reference
to figures 7 and 8.
12. The improvement in or connected with advertising apparatus consisting in
the employment of an actuating contact substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.