Improved Apparatus for Illustrating the Mechanical Powers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Illustrating the Mechanical Powers.
I, HENRY FINCH RIX, of Finch Street, Beechworth, in the Colony of
Victoria, Inspector of Schools, 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 :-
Heretofore it has been usual to employ a number of different devices for
illustrating what are known as the mechanical powers, comprising the lever, wheel
and axle, pulleys, inclined plane, wedge and screw.
Now I have devised a simple and self-contained apparatus whereby any of these
powers can be illustrated at will.
I have also devised various improvements in different parts of this apparatus
whereby I am enabled either to facilitate the working out of problems or to
ensure the results being more accurate than with the ordinary apparatus.
Amongst these improvements, I support the pulleys from a piece of wire which
is flattened at its ends, and bent round at about the centre to form a loop whereby
it can be suspended from a hook or from the end of a length of string or cord, as
will be well understood, thus providing a simpler, lighter and yet stronger pulley
for the special purposes for which it has been devised, and having less friction than
those which have heretofore been used.
I have also devised a simple apparatus for illustrating the principle of the
compound lever.
The apparatus for illustrating the operation of the wheel and axle as well as the
screw are provided with clamping nuts on their ends in order to enable different
sized wheels to be fitted upon them so as to illustrate the effect of such different
sizes, and
I provide a set of grooved and serrated wheels which can either be
driven one from the other by endless belts or by frictional contact between their
peripheries.
The apparatus for illustrating the operation of the wedge is so arranged as to
eliminate to a large extent the friction between the wedge and the other parts of
the apparatus, whilst at the same time admitting of a weight being hung from
the lower end of such wedge and hanging down clear of the base of said apparatus.
The device for illustrating the operation of the inclined plane is provided with
adjusting notches which are arranged at such distances apart as to cause such
inclined plane to rise by regular intervals instead of as heretofore causing such
plane to rise unequally.
The weights used with my contrivances are made each with a transverse
projection on its upper surface, and a correspondingly shaped recess on its under
surface, said projection and said recess being arranged at right angles to the slot
which allows the said weights to be passed over the central wire supporting the
lowermost weight or base piece, thus holding said weights in position, as will
be well understood from the following description, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a front elevation,
Figure 1 a side elevation, and

page_text: Figure 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus which I have devised for
illustrating the operation of a pair of compound levers.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, and
Figure 4 an end view of an axle made with three different diameters, and
so constructed as that various sized wheels or pulleys can be fitted upon its end.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, and
Figure 5ª an edge view of a pulley constructed according to my invention.
Figure 6 is a detached view of a certain rod or support hereinafter described
upon which I hang certain parts of the apparatus.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus used for illustrating the operation
of the screw, and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a set of three grooved wheels of various
sizes adapted to be fitted upon the end of the compound axle and upon the upper
end of the screw-threaded spindle of the apparatus used for illustrating the
operation of the screw.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, and
Figure 8ª is a plan of a set of three wheels illustrating the manner in which
motion can be imparted from one to the other through the medium of endless
travelling bands or belts.
Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 84, but illustrating the wheels with their
serrated peripheries in contact with each other so as to illustrate the power
being transmitted from one to the other by means of the frictional contact
between them.
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the apparatus used for illustrating the operation
of the wedge.
Figure 94 is a view of three different wedges formed with different tapers, and
Figure 9 is a front elevation of one of such wedges illustrating the manner
in which the hook for supporting the weights is screwed into its lower end.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the lowermost weight used in the
experiments. whilst
Figure 10 is a similar view of a weight adapted to be placed upon said
lowermost one.
Figure 11 is a side elevation of the apparatus for illustrating the inclined
plane, and
Figure 114 is a vertical central section thereof illustrating the arrangement
of the notches in order to give an equal step by step rise to the inclined plane.
Figure 12 is a side elevation of the framing herein before mentioned, illustrating
same fitted with the apparatus for demonstrating the action of the wedge as well as
the compound lever.
Figure 13 is a similar view of said frame, but showing same fitted with a screw
and wheel and axle.
Figure 14 is another similar view of said framing, showing same fitted with a
lever and a set of pulleys, and illustrating the employment of the wedge and wedge
flap, whilst
Figure 15 shows the upper part of said frame fitted with the inclined plane
apparatus and the grooved serrated wheels, the latter in this instance being shown
as communicating power from one to the other through the medium of endless
travelling bands or belts.
Figure 16 is a view of my improved apparatus or "set" illustrating the six
mechanical powers.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
▲ represents the upright rectangular wooden frame, along the front of which at
the top are placed a row of hookab from which the different systems of pulleys B
can be suspended, as illustrated by way of example in Figure 14. A hook 61 is
placed on the right hand side of the frame A a short distance from its upper end in
order that the end of the cord may be attached to it, whilst the several systems
of pulleys are being adjusted, and on the left hand side low down is another

page_text: hook 6" and opposite to this latter is another hook for a similar purpose. On the
other side of the frame at the top are two hooks c-c, the latter of which is com-
paratively long in order that it may project a certain distance from such frame so
as to support the wire rod C (vide Figure 6) sufficiently far from the frame A to
ensure the pulleys and weights which are intended to be supported from its end, as
illustrated in Figure 12, hanging clear. A short distance from the top of the left
hand side of the frame A is an eye d, and on a level with it on the opposite side of
such frame is a hook d' on which are suspended the compound levers D-D', as
clearly illustrated in Figure 12. In addition to this, said hook and eye d―d',
when required serve to support the wheel and axle E-E', as illustrated in
Figure 13. A hook and eye - placed similarly lower down may also be thus
used, as seen in Figure 16. Projecting from the left hand side of the frame A
below the eye d are a pair of hooks f- from which either of the levers For F
(Figures 2 and 24) can be suspended when illustrating the 2nd and 3rd orders of
levers respectively, the said levers being supported by the hook c, as illustrated in
Figure 14, when illustrating levers of the 1st order. A hook is placed between
the hooks d and from which to suspend a pulley when the wedge model is
clamped to side of frame, as shown in Figure 16.
With
The compound levers D-D' are mounted upon a base or board d', the upper
one D being fulcrummed upon a fixed centre projecting from the upper left hand
corner of said board, whilst the other D' is fulcrummed upon an adjustable
centre d' which can be slid along the slot d' cut in said board, and can be clamped
in any desired position in order to enable the hook d upon the inner end of the
upper lever D to be put into engagement with any one or other of the eyes d'
which are provided at intervals along the upper edge of the lower lever D¹.
this construction, the two levers being fulcrummed at about their centres are
always in equilibrium, and therefore do not injuriously affect the result of the
problems. If preferred, another lever can be added to this pair of compound
levers in order to illustrate the action of a triple set of compound levers. The
manner of employing these compound levers will be readily understood on reference
to Figure 12, where the base board is shown as supported upon the hook and
eye d-d, and from some point in the outer half or arm of the lever D is suspended
a set of weights G, whilst a cord g connected with the opposite end of the other
lever D¹ is passed over the pulley B supported from the pulley rod C and has
another set of weights G¹ hung on its end. This pulley B (as well as those
illustrated in Figure 14) is constructed as illustrated in Figures 5 and 54, that is,
its support is formed of a short piece of wire 64 bent into the form of a loop at its
upper end and fitted with a pin passing through the centre of the pulley at its
lower eud, thereby providing a light, cheap, strong, and freely moving pulley
which is particularly adapted for the purposes for which it has been designed.
The apparatus for illustrating the operation of the wheel and axle I prefer to
construct as illustrated in Figures 4 and 44, that is, I make such axle in three
different diameters, as shown, and I provide its end with a clamping nute whereby
a grooved wheel El can be fixed upon it, as illustrated in Figure 13, said wheel E¹
being one of a set of three, as illustrated in Figure 74, and each one having a
projecting pine to enable the end of a piece of string or cord to be readily
connected to and disconnected from it, the said cord being used to support &
weight e, as illustrated in Figure 13.
In order to illustrate the operation of this wheel and axle, it is mounted in the
hook and eye d-d, and it has a weight e hung by a cord from the wheel E',
whilst another weight 6' hangs by another cord from any one of the various sized
cylinders constituting the axle E, or when illustrating the differential axle from
a pulley B through which passes a cord wound in one direction round
one cylinder and in the opposite direction round another cylinder, as clearly
illustrated in Figure 13.
The apparatus illustrated in Figures 8, 84, 8³, and 15 consists of three
wheels LL.1 Thinh the contra one Ll is mounted unon a fixed spindle.

page_text: whilst the other two L-L' are mounted each upon a block which can be
moved sideways, and be fixed in any desired positions by means of clamping bolt
and nut m, so as to either put said wheels in frictional contact with each other or
hold them apart so as to enable them to be driven by an endless travelling belt or
band, such as ', for instance, said wheels being provided with grooves to enable
such belts to be used, and also having their peripheries serrated, as shown, so that
they will engage and so communicate power one from the other.
The apparatus illustrated in Figures 11, 114, and 15 for showing the operation
of the inclined plane is so constructed that said inclined plane H is raised regularly
when the supporting piece is shifted from one notch to another, such notches h¹
being arranged as illustrated in Figure 114, at varying distances apart and said
distances being such as to give equal rises to said inclined plane. This apparatus
is so constructed that it can be clamped upon the upper end of the main supporting
frame A as illustrated in Figures 15 and 16.
The apparatus shown in Figure 9 for illustrating the operation of the wedge is
Intended to be clamped to the side of the frame A near the upper end thereof, as
illustrated in Figure 12. Said apparatus consists of a fixed bar or side piece 1,
and a bar I' hinged at its lower end provided with a small hook i at its upper
end to enable a cord passing over a pulley projecting from the upper right
hand corner of the frame A and having weights on its lower end to be connected
to it. A pair of anti-friction rollers are mounted at the upper end of the
two bars and thus reduce the friction against the sides of the wedge I'
whose lower end is provided with a hook 1º, as clearly illustrated in Figures 94
and 9, to enable a set of weights to be suspended from it the cord attached to
said hook being passed through a slot or opening in the lower part of the
apparatus, as illustrated in Figure 12. This hook is screwed into a recess
formed in the lower end of the wedge I, thus effectually preventing such hook
from being injured by coming into contact with any rigid object, as will be well
understood.
In order to increase the usefulness of my invention, I prefer to provide three
different wedges, as illustrated in Figure 94, but of course that is merely a matter
of convenience.
In order to illustrate the difference that friction makes in the result obtained
from the wedge, I hinge a flap I³ to the side of the frame A, as illustrated in
Figures 1, 14, 1º, 12, 13, and 14, and I arrange said flap I³ so that it can be raise!
up into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 14, when the wedge 1ª can
he inserted between it and the main frame and be weighted in any convenient
manner, so as to force said flap I' outward and so raise the weight or weights *
in a similar manner to when the apparatus illustrated in Figure 12 is used. By
this means the difference that the anti-friction rollers make to the friction,
and therefore to the efficiency of the apparatus will be made obvious.
The apparatus illustrated in Figure 7 is intended to be clamped to the side of
the frame A, as illustrated in Figure 13. It consists of a screw-threaded rod or
spindle J fitting into a correspondingly screw-threaded lug or bracket ; and
guided by another bracket or lug near its upper end. This spindle J is fitted
with a clamping nut whereby a grooved wheel of any desired size may be secured
upon it, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 16, whilst the lower end of said spindle is
formed with an eye to facilitate the connection of weights thereto. In operation
a cord is wound around and connected to the grooved wheel above referred to
and then passed over the fixed pulley on the upper right hand corner of the
frame A, whilst the lower end of said cord is weighted, as shown, to a sufficient
extent to raise the heavier weights suspended from the screw-threaded spindle J,
thus demonstrating the mechanical advantage obtainable from the employment of a
screw.
The weights I employ in conducting the different experiments are preferably
constructed as illustrated in Figures 10 and 10ª, that is, the lowermost weight is
secured upon a hooked rod or wire k, as illustrated in Figure 10, and is provided

page_text: with a ridge or projection across its upper surface, the other weights being
provided on their under sides with corresponding recesses, as well as with
corresponding ridges or projections ¹ on their upper surfaces, such recesses being
adapted to fit over the ridges or projections on the weights below. The upper
weights are each formed with a slot which can be slipped over the suspending
wire or rod & and which will moreover serve to keep said weights from slipping
in one direction, whilst the ridges and recesses serve to keep them from
slipping in the other direction.
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 :-
First. The herein described apparatus or "set" for illustrating the mechanical
powers consisting of a frame (such as A) provided with hooks and eyes (such
as b-f-d) and fitted with a lever or set of levers (such as D) a compound axle
(such as E) a pivotted flap (such as I) having its upper end connected by a cord
with a set of weights, two sets of pulleys (such as B and L) a screw-threaded rod
(such as J) and an inclined plane (such as H) the whole being constructed and
arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and
as illustrated in Figure 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Second. In an apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the combination
with a frame (such as A) of a series of hooks (such as 6) projecting along its
upper end at the front, an eye (d) and three hooks (f) being screwed
into one side of said frame and a hook (d') and two hooks (f-f³) into the
opposite side, whilst a pair of hooks (c-c) are screwed into the upper end of
said frame and project therefrom, the one (c) further than the other, a pulley
(such as being mounted on one of the upper corners of the said frame to admit
of a cord being passed over it, a wedge flap (I³) being hinged to the side of
the said frame, and the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in my
drawings.
Third. In an apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers the combination
with a pulley (such as B) of a piece of wire or thin rod (such as 6') bent into the
form of a loop and having the pin or spindle of said pulley supported by its
lower ends, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 5 and 5ª
of my drawings.
Fourth. In an apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment
of a stout wire or rod (such as C) supported by a pair of hooks (such as c-c¹)
projecting from a rectangular framing (such as A) and serving to support a pulley
(such as B) in any required position, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 6, 12, and 16 of my
drawings.
Fifth. In an apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the combination
with a base or board (such as d³) having a slot (such as dº) out longitudinally in
it, of a pair of compound levers (such as D-D¹) fulcrummed at about their centres
and provided, one with a hook (such as d) and the other with a series of eyes
(such as d) with which said hook can engage, the fulcrum of the second lever
being so constructed and arranged as that it can be shifted to and fro in said slot,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in Figures 3, 12, and 16 of my drawings.
Sixth. In an apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment
of a compound axle (such as E) consisting of three cylinders of different diameters
in one piece, and fitted with a clamping nut (such as e) at its end whereby various
sized grooved wheels can be secured upon it, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 4, 44, 13, and 16 of
my drawings.

page_text: Seventh. In apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment
of wheels (such as L--L-L) having grooved as well as serrated peripheries BO
that they can be driven one from the other either by frictional contact, or by
means of belts, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 8, 84, 8, 15 and 16 of my drawings.
Eighth. In an apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment
of a flap (such as 1) pivotted or hinged at its lower end to some fixed support
and having an anti-friction roller (such as ³) at its upper end, together with a
hook (such as i) to enable a cord passing over a suitably arranged pulley and
having a weight or weights on its end to be connected to it, a similar anti-friction I
roller being mounted upon the opposite side of the apparatus, and a alot or opening
(such as being provided to enable a cord connected with a wedge and carrying
a weight to pass through, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figures 9, 12, and 16 of my drawings.
Ninth. In apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment of 1
a wedge (such as I) having a hook (such as *) screwed into a recess (such as :)
formed in its lower end, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and explained and as illustrated in Figures 94 and 9% of my drawings.
Tenth. In apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers the combination
with a pair of brackets or projecting lugs (such as -¹) of a screw-threaded 2
spindle passing through same and having a nut (such as 7) at its upper end,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as
illustrated in Figures 7 13 and 16 of my drawings.
Eleventh. In apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment
of an inclined plane (such as H) having notches (such as h¹) formed in its under-2
side at such distances apart as to enable said plane to be raised a regular height
at each adjustment, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 11, 114, 15 and 16 of my drawings.
Twelfth. In apparatus for illustrating the mechanical powers, the employment
of a weight having a ridge or projection (such as ¹) across its upper surface and 3
a corresponding recess or groove (such as ³) across its under surface, a slot
(such as ) being formed at right angles to said ridge and recess, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and explained and as illustrated in
Figures 10 and 10ª of my drawings.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of August One thousand eight hundred and 3
ninety-one