Improvements in Controlling the Oscillations of Cradles, Swings, Rocking Cots, and similar Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Controlling the Oscillations of Cradles, Swings,
Rocking Cots, and similar Apparatus.
GEORGE FORSYTH, Engineer, 11 Oakfield Terrace Headingley Leeds, and WILLIAM
SCOTT, Clothier, 122 Woodhouse Lane Leeds, in the county of Yorkshire do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Constructing and arranging the Mechanism connecting a Cradle, Swing, Rocking
Cot or similar Apparatus, to any motive power, by which they can be made to
oscillate or rock, and controlling the number, and length of the oscillations they shall
make per minute, by and through the pendulus motion of the Cradle, Swing, Rocking
Cot or similar apparatus-itself acting upon the driving power by means of specially
arranged mechanical appliances.
We connect the power to a train of wheels from which by using a rod or other
means a to and fro motion is communicated to a shaft. At each end of this shaft is
fixed a lever, with their outer ends connected to either side of a Swing or the ends of
a Cradle cot or other apparatus. The rod or other means used is also connected to a
spring lever fixed to the shaft, or to a disc put between two surfaces, one of which is
fixed to the shaft, and the other one held in contact with them by a spring capable of
adjustment to allow the shaft and the disc to yield themselves to any inequality of load
or movement, and to start the Swing Cradle or cot or apparatus, from a state of rest
gradually and smoothly and yet retain the full throw of the rod or other
means used.
To regulate and control the number & length of the oscillations of the swing
cradle cot or other apparatus, we connect a Pellet or Friction Wheel with the Gearing
and attach the Pellet by a lever and link to the shaft, tho to and fro motion of which
is thereby conveyed to and made to act upon the Pellet or Friction Wheel and the
length and number of the oscillations are regulated and controlled as required, by
the pendulous motion of the Swing Cradle Cot or other apparatus.
Dated this 30th day of June 1888.
GEORGE FORSYTH.
WILLIAM SCOTT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Controlling the Oscillations of Cradles, Swings,
Rooking Cots, and similar Apparatus.
We GEORGE FORSYTH, Engineer 11 Oakfield Terrace, Headingley and WILLIAM
SCOTT Clothier, 122, Woodhouse Lane both of Leeds, in the County of York, 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 :-
Constructing and arranging the mechanism connecting a Cradle, Swing, Rocking
Cot or similar engine to any motive power by which they can be made to oscillate or
rock and controlling the number and length of the oscillations they shall make per
minute by and through the pendulous motion of the Cradle, Swing, Rocking Cot or
similar engine itself acting upon the driving power by means of specially arranged
mechanical appliances.
We connect the power to a train of wheels from which either by using a crank (or
an eccentric by preference) a to and fro motion is communicated by means of a rod
to a spring lever connected to the end of a Cradle, Swing, Rocking Cot, or similar
engine, or to a shaft working in bearings at one or both ends of which levers are fixed

page_text: the outer ends of which are connected with spring ties to one or both ends of a cradle
or rocking cot or to both sides of a swing or similar engine.
The rod communicating the to & fro motion may be connected to the shaft and
levers by another method namely by means of a solid lever working freely on the
shaft but placed between two dises one of which is fixed to the shaft and the other one
is looso and held in contact with them by means of a spiral spring capable of adjust-
ment to permit the shaft and dises to yield themselves to any irregularity of loading
or movement and to start the cradle, swing, rocking cot, or similar, engino from a stato
of rest gradually & smoothly and yet retain the full throw of the crank, eccentric
or other means used.
To regulate and control the length and number of the oscillations of the cradle,
swing, rocking cot, or similar engine we provide for this by longthening or diminish-
ing the throw of the crank by shifting the pin further outwards or inwards, or slide
the eccentric on its plate out wards or inwards, and lengthen or shorten the suspending
rods of the cradle, swing, rocking cot or similar engine, and we connect a pellet or
friction wheel with the gearing and attach a pellet by a spring lever and link to an
eccentric and lavar on the shaft, the motion of which is conveyed and made to act upon
the pellet or friction wheel, and the length and number of the oscillations are
regulated as required.
To overcome any irregularities of the revolutions of the crank or eccentric we
fix a fly-wheel on the shaft of the crank or eccentric or to another in gear with it.
We set the mechanism in motion by raising the cradle from a state of rest to a
point on the right or left of its centre of oscillation, from which point by virtue of
gravitation it is made to descend, on arriving at the centre of oscillation, the cradlo
will have attained a velocity coupled with the mechanical forco supplied sufficient to
cause it to ascend to an equidistant point on the other side of its centre of oscillation.
In descending to its centre of oscillation the cradle will have in addition to tho
mechanical force supplied, the assistance of gravitation, whilst in its ascent the
mechanical force will be its only active agency.
To balance this unequal state of matters we provide a counterbalance weight on each
lover of the cradle or a wheel with a heavy side working on a pin fixed to fraine
of cradle, the wheel in turn being connected by a link to the lever L on the opposite
side of cradle from gear box, the wheel being so arranged as to allow the heavy side
to overcome the irregularity of motion caused by gravitation, or in any other
convenient method. We now proceed to describe more particularly with
reference to the drawings accompanying this specification the manner in which it
is performed.
Fig. 1. shows the general arrangement as applied to a swinging cradle.
Figs. 2. 3. 4 & 5 shew more in detail the method we employ to control and regulate
the oscillations.
The cradle A is hung by the suspenders B or by any other means, from the cross
bar of the frame D living spread out feet E provided with castors. F is the box
containing the gearing connected with the motive power, which may be obtained from
a spring, a falling weight, an electric motor, or in any other manner suitablo, but is
here shown as being obtained from a spring coiled upon a drum I which gives motion
through means of gearing to drive a crank or an eccentric G, which communicates
by means of a rod 11 to a spring lover fixed on end of swing or to the shaft K or by
a lover working loose on the shaft. K on oach end of which the lovers Laro fixed
and these again connected to the cradle A by means of the spring links U. This
lover is free to move on the shaft K between two discs M one only being secured to
the shaft, the other one loose, on the end of this shaft is a spiral spring N and nuts P
to press the eye of the lever J between them for the necessary amount of grip
to convey the motion to the cradle A to allow for unequal loading of cradle and give
a gentle and easy start.
To overcome the irregularities of the crank or eccentric G we fix a fly-wheel X
either on the axis of the crank or at any other convenient part of the machine in
gear with it.

page_text: To control the length and number of oscillations of the cradle or other engine we
provide for this by lengthening or diminishing the throw of the crank by shifting
the pin further outwards or inwards, and lengthen or shorten the suspending rods of
the cradle or other similar engine and we connect a pellet or friction wheel Q with
the gearing and attach the pellet R by a spring lever S and link T to the eccentric V
on shaft W the motion of which is thereby conveyed to and made to act upon the
pellet or friction wheel Q and the oscillations are controlled by the pendulous motion
of the cradle.
In descending to its centre of oscillation the cradle will have in addition to the
mechanical force supplied, the assistance of gravitation, whilst in its ascent the
mechanical force will be its only active agency. To balance this unequal state of
matters, we provide a counterbalance weight on each lever L of the cradle or a
wheel with a heavy side working on a pin fixed to frame D of cradle, the wheel in
turn being connected by a link U to the lever L on the opposite side of cradle from
gear box, or in any other convenient method.
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 :-
1. The controlling of the oscillations by a pellet acting on a pellet or friction wheel
connected with the gearing and shaft.
2. The application of a fly-wheel to control any irregularity of crank or
eccentric.
3. The application of an eccentric or crank to give the motion required with the
provision made for the alteration of throw, and the application of spring connection
for easing the motion when applied to cradles, swings, rocking cots or similar
engines.
4. The application of a counterbalance on lever L or a wheel with a heavy side or
in any other convenient method to overcome the irregularity of motion caused by
gravitation.
Dated this 27th day of March 1889.
JOSEPH SMITH,
Agent.