IMPROVEMENTS IN RACE GAMES
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 1st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
WILLIAM SAMUEL OLIVER, Albert House St. Pauls Road Canonbury, N. Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN RACE GAMES to
be as follows:-
My invention consists of an improvement in the game where several horses or other
objects attached to the extremities of arms revolve round a common centre, by which
either it shall be impossible to set in motion the aforesaid horses or other objects until
a prearranged coin or coins or their equivalent shall have been dropped into the
machine, or the coin itself may automatically communicate motion to the horses or
other objects.
In the former case I preferably construct my apparatus as follows;
An upright spindle carries one above the other, a series of collars each carrying a
ballanced arm, to the extremity or extremities of which is attached a vertical rod
bearing a horse or other object these rods being of such a length that all the aforesaid
horses or other objects are on the same level. These collars to which the arms are
attached, can nove independently of each other and of the spindles aforesaid, but
motion can be communicated from the spindle to them by a ratchet wheel on each of
the aforesaid collars engaging a series of pawls carried by the spindle. The lower
extremity of the spindle carries a pulley, round which passes a cord, one end of which
is attached to a spring, and the other end to the end of a lever, which is actuated by
the coin movement, of which the following is a description.
A rod, or other similar device, terminating in a knob, or handle outside the apparatus,
moves freely within a tube the extremity of which engages and will communicate
motion to the lever aforesaid to which is attached the cord which communicates motion
to the pulley attached to the spindle. When however a coin is dropped into a slot
between the free end of the aforesaid rod and the open end of the tube in which it
slides, it acts as a connecting link between the two and communicates any motion
which may be given to the rod, to the tube and thence to the lever, pulling the cord
and thus communicating motion to the spindle and to the series of arms carrying
horses or other objects attached thereto. There is an arrangement for dropping the
coin from its position, consisting preferably of a catch, which will hold the tube until

page_text: the rod has made a certain portion of its return movement and thus allow the coin to
drop, this catch itself being raised by an enclined plane or other device on the rod
engaging it on a further movement of the aforesaid rod. The rod and tube are
maintained in their respective positions by springs, and the slot into which the coin
drops is of such size that if any other except à coin of the prearranged size is dropped
into the apparatus, it falls through and does not form the connection between the tube
and the rod. In some cases there is an arrangement for putting the horses & other
objects level before they commence to move, consisting preferably of a bar, which
rises, and against which all the arms come in contact, but which is again withdrawn
upon their further movement. The whole of the aforesaid mechanism preferably
enclose in a box or case with a glass top, so as to allow the motion of the horses or
other objects to be visible, and the horses & other objects themselves move above a
platform, in which is cut circular slots in which move the rods carrying the aforesaid
horses & other objects.
Instead of the aforsaid arrangement of cord & pulley I may use cogwheels, levers,
or other mechanical devices, to communicate motion from the pushpin to the spindle.
Or I may use power exerted by an electric magnet to raise a catch which prevents the
aforesaid spindle from being actuated, or the pushpin, moved. In this the coin is used
in any known way to close an electric circuit in which the aforesaid electromagnet is
placed and thus cause it to be actuated. Or I may use the weight of a coin itself to
raise the catch aforesaid, or may use it to form a connecting link between two portions
of the mechanism in some other manner than that mentioned above.
In the case where the whole arrangement is quite automatic [ preferably construct
my machine in one or more of the following ways.
I may communicate motion to the spindle, carrying the horses or other objects by
an ordinary clockwork train, the coin in this case releasing a catch in one of the afore-
said ways and allowing the spindle to make a prearranged number of revolutions. Or
I may get the motion of the spindle by the weight of sand driving a chambered wheel
or acting in some other well known way, or by use of compressed air, or the
momentum of tho falling of a weight, or I may use the weight of a person using the
apparatus to give the necessary motion it acting through the medium of a scale plat-
form on which the person stands. Or I may communicate the motion to the spindle
aforesaid by means of an electro-motor which is actuated when the coin that has been
dropped into the apparatus completes a circuit.
I may furthermore use any of the aforesaid means of moving the spindle, in
combination with the push-pin aforesaid, or other device by which the operator can set
the machine in motion from without.
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page_text: Improvements in Race Games.
I WILLIAM SAMUEL OLIVER of Albert House, St. Pauls Road Canonbury, N.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 consists of an improvement in the game where several horses
attached to the extremities of arms revolve round a common centre by which either
it shall be impossible to set in motion the aforesaid horses until a prearranged coin or
coins or their equivalent shall have been dropped into the machine, or the coin itself
may automatically communicate motion to the horses.
In the former case I preferably construct my apparatus as follows; an upright
spindle carries one above the other a series of collars each carrying a balanced arm
to the extremity or extremities of which is attached a vertical rod bearing a horse,
these rods being of such a length that all the aforesaid horses are on the same level.
These collars to which the arms are attached can move independently of each other
and of the spindle aforesaid, but motion can be communicated from the spindle to
them by a ratchet wheel on each of the aforesaid collars engaging a series of pauls
carried by the spindle.
The lower extremity of the spindle carries a pulley round which passes a cord, one
end of which is attached to a spring, and the other end to the end of a lever which
is actuated by the coin or token movement, of which the following is a description.
A rod or other similar device terminating in a knob or handle outside the apparatus
moves freely within a tube the extremity of which engages and will communicate
motion to the lever aforesaid to which is attached the cord which communicates
motion to the pulley attached to the spindle.
When however a coin is dropped into a slot between the free end of the aforesaid
rod and the open end of the tube in which it slides, it acts as a connecting link
between the two and communicates any motion which may be given to the rod, to
the tube and thence to the lever pulling the cord and thus communicating motion
to the spindle and to the series of arms carrying horses attached thereto.
There is an arrangement for dropping the coin from its position consisting
preferably of a catch, which will hold the tube until the rod has made a certain
portion of its return movement and thus allow the coin to drop, this catch itself being
raised by an inclined plane or other device on the rod engaging it on a further
movement of the aforesaid rod.
The rod and tube are maintained in their respective positions by springs, and the
slot into which the coin drops is of such a size that if any other except a coin of the
prearranged size is dropped into the apparatus it falls through and does not form
the connection between the tube and the rod. In some cases there is an arrangement
for putting the horses level before they commence to move consisting preferably of
a bar which rises and against which all the arms come in contact, but which is again
withdrawn upon their further movement.

page_text: The whole of the aforesaid mechanism I preferably enclose in a box or case with
a glass top so as to allow the motion of the horses to be visible and the horses
themselves move above a platform, in which is cut circular slots in which move the
rods carrying the aforesaid horses."
Instead of the aforesaid arrangement of cord and pulley I may use cog wheels,
levers or other mechanical devices to communicate motion from the push pin to the
spindle. Or I may use the power exerted by an electro magnet to raise a catch which
prevents the aforesaid spindle from being actuated or the push pin moved. In this
the coin is used in any known way to close an electric circuit in which the aforesaid
electromagnet is placed and thus cause it to be actuated. Or I may use the weight
of the coin itself to raise the catch aforesaid, or may use it to form a connecting link
between two portions of the mechanism in some other manner than that mentioned
above.
In the case where the whole arrangement is quite automatic I preferably construct
my machine in one or more of the following ways.
I may communicate motion to the spindle carrying the horses by an ordinary
clockwork train, the coin in this case releasing a catch in one of the aforesaid ways,
and allowing the spindle to make a prearranged number of revolutions. Or I may
get the motion of the spindle by the weight of sand driving a chambered wheel or
acting in some other well known way or by the use of compressed air or the
momentum of the falling of a weight or I may use the weight of a person using the
apparatus to give the necessary motion it acting through the medium of a scale
platform on which the person stands. Or I may communicate the motion to the
spindle aforesaid by means of an electro-motor which is actuated when the coin that
has been dropped into the apparatus completes a circuit. I may furthermore use
any of the aforesaid means of moving the spindle in combination with the push pin
aforesaid or other device by which the operator can set the machine in motion from
without.
One example of my invention is represented in the annexed drawings Figure 1
being a longitudinal section view of the box or case A in the upper part of which
(enclosed by glass) is a platform B provided with circular slits and connected by
bars C to keep the portions of the platform on the same level and also to form
passages between which the horses on the extremity of rods D can pass said rods being
connected two distinct bosses E, E, mounted loosely on a spindle F and provided with
ratchet teeth by which an impulse is given to the rods when the pulley G is suddenly
rotated by means of the cord H which is wrapped round it on a pull from the finger
ring 1. One end of the cord H is attached to a spring J and the other to the rod K
so that after the pull by the finger ring I, the spring J returns the cord to its normal
position the horses continuing their travel. The impetus given to the horses by the
pull of the cord H causes the inner circle of horses to travel at a greater speed than
the outer ring of horses but the outer horses by the reason of the additional length
of the rod D move round for a longer period but in the travel of the horses they
appear to pass and repass one another so that the operator cannot tell which horse
is likely to stop at a winning post.
The jackets of the jockeys are preferably in separate colours and as they travel
round the colours intermix and form a pleasing amusement for children.
The rod K is in connection with a double ratchet bar L the teeth of which look in
opposite directions, one set of teeth being for the reception of a paul M which acts
as a stop paul to prevent the finger ring being pulled and the horses operated unless
a coin or token be first dropped down the shoot N, said coin or token then falling
into a receptacle P which is on the end of a balance lever Q to upset the balance
of the counterpoise R so that the back end Q¹ of the lever becomes tilted as
indicated in the detail view Figure 2, a pin S on said lever then acting on the
tail end T of the paul M to release said paul from the tooth of the ratchet bar L
the paul being lifted sufficiently high by the pin S for a claw U on its upper end
th engage in the tooth of a free hanging paul V to retain it in that position, the
coin or token having fallen from the receptacle P into the till W.

page_text: It is while the paul M is out of gear with the ratchet teeth I, that the finger ring [
can be operated, the pull of which draws the ratchet L for a given distance and
another paul X to ride over the reverse set of teeth of the ratchet bar.
When the finger ring is let go, after giving the horses the spin, the spring J returns
the rack and pull ring to the position indicated at Figure 1 and during this travel of
the rack the paul X which is suspended from a lever Y, seen more particularly in
Figure 3, slips over the teeth which gives the lever Y a series of jolts and this jolting
action by means of the spur Z gives a series of blows to the paul V until its tooth
is disengaged from the tooth U of the paul lever M which allows the paul M to drop
into its tooth and relock the apparatus until a fresh coin or token be dropped down
the shoot N.
a is a plate for the lever Q, Q¹, to rest upon the tail end T of the paul M coming
down upon the pin S for the next operation.
If desired the receptacle P may be provided with two contact plates upon which
the coin (supposing a coin to be inserted) may fall for completing circuit with an
electro magnet within range of the tail end T of the paul M which tail piece T, as
an armature, would then be attracted to the coil and the paul M. released from the
tooth of the ratchet bar L to allow of the finger ring to be operated on.
The shoulder 6 of the tube c acts as a stop when pulled against the casing A and
prevents the cord H and spring J being over strained.
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
1. The combination of appliances which by the insertion of a coin or token a
paul is released from a ratchet bar to permit of horses travelling in circular channels
under the impetus of a pull of the rod K, cord H and pulley G said horses continuing
their motion as and for the purpose described.
2. In combination with the releasing paul M. and ratchet bar L. the claw U, the
paul V and pivoted lever Y and the spur Ź all acting as and for the purpose described
whether said paul M. be withdrawn from the ratchet bar L by a tilting of the
lever Q, Q, as described with reference to the annexed drawings or be effected
electrically as set forth.
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