A Self-acting Machine for the Display of Changing Surfaces for the purpose of Advertisement.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
A Self-acting Machine for the Display of Changing Surfaces for the
purpose of Advertisement.
We, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD, Consulting Engineer, and ROBERT DALMER, Manu-
facturer, both of 19, Old Queen Street, Westminster, London, S.W., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
In the specification of a former Patent granted to us numbered 6736 of
the year 1895 we have described certain apparatus and mechanism for the display
of inscriptions pictures and the like for the purpose of advertisement; our present
invention relates to a self contained and self acting machine performing the same
functions but of comparatively smaller dimensions than those contemplated by
our former patent above cited, and capable of being worked by a convenient source
of stored power.
In as much as these machines are made up of a very large number of moving
parts or elements, each adding its increment of friction, it is obviously of great
practical importance (for attaining the object now in view) that the method of
transmitting motion to each part or element should be as frictionless as possible,
so that the total power required to actuate the machine as a whole may be reduced
to a minimum.
The methods herein described not only effect this, but also render the working of
the machine comparatively noiseless, and further possess a decree of precision
in the motion of the spokes of such machines not attainable by ordinary gearing,
on account of a certain amount of play or clearance (which in practice is allowed
with ordinary gearing) to avoid undue friction and jambing.
We employ flexible line, cord or tape of any material but preferably silk thread
or cord, as a means of transmitting motion to the various parts, in place of toothed
gear wheels, racks or pinions and the like, and also the use of a system of individual
counter acting springs or weights applied to each spoke.
In order that this invention may be readily understood, we proceed to describe
a convenient design and arrangement of parts, without of course limiting the
invention to minor or variable details of arrangement of such parts.
Referring to the drawings hereto :-Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a spoke S (of
any form of cross section) mounted in position in the frame of the machine; Wis
a small drum or cylinder of say half an inch in diameter and three quarters of an
inch in height; around this drum or cylinder is coiled the flexible line, cord or
thread C, C the coiling and uncoiling of which, imparts the required circular motion
to the spoke. A long shaft R (supported on bearings or pivots on which it turns)
may run the length of the frame of the machine, one extremity of the line cord or
thread C from each spoke being so attached to the said shaft, that when the said shaft
turns, the line, cord or thread coils thereon, imparting rotary motion to the spoke,
by reason of its simultaneously uncoiling from the drum or cylinder W. When

page_text: +
the spokes have completed sufficient circular motion to successively present their
various sides, they may be brought back to the normal or original position by the
line, cord or thread C which when the shaft R (which being left free ceases to be
actuated by the driving mechanism) allows the said line, cord or thread C¹ to
reverse the motion by means of the reaction of a spiral or blade spring T to which
one of its ends is attached or the spoke may be brought back to the original or
normal position by means of the reaction of the helical spring H Fig. 2 attached to
the axis A of the spoke at one extremity, and to the frame at its other extremity.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the drum or cylinder W showing the preferable manner
of attaching the cords C, C¹ thereto so that they may work at a clear distance apart
on the drum or cylinder W; it will also be seen that the line, cord or thread
embraces the drum or cylinder W the maximum distance around practicable, avoid-
ing winding it on itself. The intermittent motion required to be imparted to the
driving shaft R is preferably effected by clock work, or clock work controlling
electro-magnetic circuits.
It may be pointed out that in certain sized machines, in place of the spiral or
blade spring T or helical spring H may be substituted a single roller, weight or
spring controlled, running the whole length of the frame of the machine, to which
roller the ends of the lines, cords or threads C¹ coming from each spoke may be
attached, the reaction of such roller bringing the spokes to the normal or original
position when the driving shaft R above described is freed.
A Self-acting Machine for the Display of Changing Surfaces for the
purpose of Advertisement.
We, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD and ROBERT DALMER, both of 19, Old Queen Street,
Westminster, London, S.W., Consulting Engineers, 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:-
-
In the specification of a former Patent granted to us numbered 6736 of
the year 1895 we have described certain apparatus and mechanism for the display
of inscriptions pictures and the like for the purpose of advertisement; our present
invention relates to a self contained and self acting machine performing the same
functions but of comparatively smaller dimensions than those contemplated by
our former patent above cited, and capable of being worked by a convenient source
of stored power.
Inasmuch as these machines are made up of a very large number of moving
spokes or bars each adding its increment of friction, it is obviously of great practical
importance (for attaining the object now in view) that the method of transmitting
motion to the moving parts should be as frictionless as possible, so that the total
power required to actuate the machines as a whole may be reduced to a minimum.
The methods herein described not only effect this but also render the working of
the machines comparatively noiseless, and further possess a degree of precision in
the motion of the spokes of such machines not attainable by ordinary gearing
on account of a certain amount of play or rattle (which in practice is allowed
with ordinary gearings) to avoid undue friction and jambing.
We employ flexible cord, line or tape (such as silk thread or twine) as a means

page_text: of transmitting motion to the various spokes or bars in place of toothed gear wheels,
racks and pinions, worm wheel gear or the like, and also the use of a system of
individual counteracting springs or weights applied to each spoke spindle or roller
shaft.
In order that this invention may be readily understood we proceed to describe a
convenient design and arrangement of parts of a machine without of course limit-
ing the invention to minor or variable detail of arrangement of such parts.
Referring to the drawings left with the Provisional Specification Fig. 1 is a side
elevation of a spoke (of any form of cross section preferably triangular) mounted
in position in the frame of the machine. W is a small drum of say half an inch
in diameter and three quarters of an inch in height; around this drum is coiled
the flexible line, cord or thread, CC1 the coiling and uncoiling of which impart's
the required circular motion to the spoke.
A long roller shaft R (supported on bearings or pivots on which it turns) may
run the length of the frame of the machine one extremity of the line, cord or
thread C from each spoke being so attached to the said shaft that when the said
shaft turns, the line, cord or thread coils thereon imparting rotary motion to the
spoke by reason of its simultaneously uncoiling from the drum or spindle W.
When the spokes have completed sufficient circular motion to successively present
their various sides they may be brought back to the normal or original position by
the line, cord, or thread C1 which when the roller shaft R (which being left free
ceases to be actuated by the driving mechanism) allows the said line, cord or
thread C1, to reverse the motion by means of the reaction of a spiral or blade-
spring T, to which one of its ends is attached; or the spokes may be brought back
to the original or normal position by means of the re-action of the helical spring H
Fig. 2 attached to the spindle A. of the spoke at one extremity, and to the frame at
its other extremity.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the drum or spindle W showing the preferable manner
of attaching the cords C and C1 thereto so that they can work at a clear distance
apart on the drum or spindle W. It will also be seen that each cord C, C 1 embraces
the drum or spindle W the maximum distance around practicable avoiding winding
it on itself.
The intermittent motion required to be imparted to the driving roller shaft R is
preferably effected by clockwork, or clockwork controlling electro-magnetic
circuits.
A simple design and arrangement of parts for this controlling and actuating
mechanism may be as follows, the invention of course not being limited to such
design.
The core or armature of a solenoid or electro-magnet may be attached to a cord,
which cord is coiled around the roller-shaft R so that when the solenoid or electro-
magnet attracts its core or armature this cord will cause the roller shaft R to
revolve through a part of a circle.
A clear distance away from this, another or second cord may be coiled around the
roller shaft R, but in the opposite direction, so that when this cord is pulled the
roller shaft R would be turned in the opposite way, this second cord being con-
trolled by one or more separate solenoids or electro-magnets which may be super-
posed and so adjusted as regards their armature or core that each draws the cord a
measured space so as exactly to bring into position the successive sides of the
spokes S, as each solenoid or electro-magnet in turn comes into action.
The method of actuating each of the solenoids or electro-magnets in turn (as
required to bring about the successive changes) may be very simply effected by an
ordinary commutator slowly driven by clock work, the commutator closing in
succession the circuits of each solenoid or electro-magnet, with a small primary or
secondary battery, thus producing the intermittent step by step motion above
described.

page_text: 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. A self contained and self acting machine consisting of a number of pivotted
or movable spokes or bars set side by side in a frame, the intermittent motion of
such bars or spokes being effected by stored power within the frame of the machine
itself for displaying successive advertisements executed on the different surfaces of
such bars or spokes.
2. The application and use (to the particular machines referred to) of a flexible
connection such as line, cord or tape as the means of transmitting motion to the
various parts of such machines substantially as described.
1000
A. RENE UPWARD.
R. DALMER.