A Mechanical Device for Presenting Changing Surfaces for the Display of Advertisements.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1900-Accepted, 30th June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SIECIFICATION.
A Mechanical Device for Presenting Changing Surfaces for the
Display of Advertisements.
We, ALFRED RENÉ, UPWARD and ROBERT DALMER, both of 19, Old Queen
Street, Westminster, London, S.W., Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows;-
The object of this invention is the design and arrangement of a machine con-
sisting of pivotted bars or spokes, geared together and set side by side in a frame,
for presenting a succession of flat surfaces for the display of pictures and adver-
tising matter, the machine being selfacting and selfcontained, and driven solely
by clock mechanism of special design.
Intermittent circular motion is imparted to the geared bars or spokes, causing
them to present their different sides in succession, pausing or coming to rest for
a given number of seconds on each surface.
As the source of power being clock mechanism is very limited, and long. runs
of many hours is essential to the commercial value of such a machine, the special
gearing and mechanical design herein described is intended to offer the least
possible resistance to motion, although controlling the bars or spokes with cer-
tainty and precision.
Referring to the drawings hereto:-
Fig. 1, is a front elevation, shewing general arrangement of special gearing
and clock mechanism; S, S, are the pivotted bars or spokes arranged side by side
in the frame (which hars or spokes may be of any convenient form of cross section
preferably that of an equilateral triangle) to each bar or spoke is fixed a crown
wheel A, A, these crown whicels gearing into pin wheels B, B, which pin wheels
are rigidly keyed on to the shaft C, and revolve with it. One end of the shaft C,
is coupled to the spindle of the driving clock D, the other end of this shaft C,
being fitted with an arresting and releasing device E, this arresting and releas-
ing device being continuously actuated by the clock F.
The working of the mechanism may thus be described; the driving clock D;
is always exerting its driving power on the shaft C, the driving shaft C, however
remains at rest until liberated by the releasing and arresting device E, which
device is driven at a uniform speed by the "fly" controlled clock F.
"
It will thus be seen that the shaft C, has a step by step" or intermittent
motion (but always in one direction of rotation) imparted to it. The pivotted
bars or spokes S, S, are thus caused to present their various sides in succession
pausing a given interval of time on each different face. The measured "step by
step motion of the shaft C, is exactly that required to bring each surface as a
whole square to the front.
3:
Fig. 2, is a full size view of the design of open or free running gearing of the
bars or spokes to the shaft; and also shows the form of upper and lower pivots.
Fig. 3, is a plan and Fig. 4, an end view of the special form of arresting and
releasing device which consists of three pawls p, p, p, spaced at exactly even dis-

page_text: tances apart on the shaft C in the path of these pawls p, p, p, is placed (mounted
on bearings) the little cylindrical bar of steel Q, in the face of which are cut the
slots t, t, t, at even distances apart. The release driving clock 1', which actuates
this device Q, runs continuously and is not checked by any form of either pen-
dulum or balance-escapement; a very slow moving fly of large air resisting
surface (which is best constructed of two or more feathers as shown in the
drawing Fig. 1, F,) providing a uniform and slow motion with the least loss
of power; this slow moving fly being actuated by a comparatively "short train"
of wheels instead of a long train with a small fly running at a high rate of speed.
This form of fly admits of easy time adjustment by merely reducing the feather
surface.
It may be pointed out that a single clock might be used instead of the divided
clock D and F, but the divided clock design is a preferable mechanical form, as
it gives greater precision and certainty of action for a very slight additional
weight, the driving and time release being separate.
A Mechanical Device for Presenting Changing Surfaces for the
Display of Advertisements.
We, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD and ROBERT DALMER, both of 19, Old Queen
Street, Westminster, London, S.W., Engineers, do hereby declure 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:
―
This invention relates to apparatus consisting of a series of pivotted bars or
spokes, adapted by their form and operation for presenting a succession of flat
surfaces for the display of advertisements or pictures, and consists of a combi-
nation of mechanical means with the said series of pivotted spokes for the
periodic changing of such surfaces, the whole device being self acting, after
heing wound up, and being self contained in a convenient frame or casing.
Intermittent circular motion is imparted to the geared bars or spokes causing
them to present their different sides to the observer in succession, the bars paus-
ing or coming to rest for a given number of seconds with each surface presented
to the observer. The mechanical combinations hereinafter described are intended
to offer the least possible resistance to motion, with at the same time perfect cer-
tainty and precision of control. Since the motor employed is a spring motor,
the longest possible duration of run without re-winding or attention is of com-
mercial importance to the invention.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, broken as to width and depth, and
with partially broken covering frame.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detached detail of such spoke.
Figure 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 is an end view of the special arresting and releas-
ing device for the control the intermittent movement of the spokes.
S, S are the pivoted bars or spokes, which may be of any convenient form of
cross section, but as shown are preferably triangular, and equilateral in shape
but in any case must be of such shape that faces of adjacent spokes lie with their
edges close together so as to present a continuous surface to the observer, and yet
are free to turn, one to another, upon the central pivots of the spoke.
To each spoke S is fixed a crown wheel A, gearing into pin wheels B B

page_text: rigidly keyed to a shaft C, running horizontally, preferably above the tops of
the said spokes. One end of the shaft C is coupled to the spindle of the driving
spring motor D. The other end of this shaft is fitted with an arresting and
releasing device E, which is continuously actuated by the second spring motor F.
I consider the employment of the crown wheel A with serrated or coned teeth
of narrow width, operated by a pin pinion B, is of importance in my device, as
providing a form of gearing of minimum frictional resistance, leaving a chance
of slack motion when starting and not requiring lubricant for its easy working,
nor liable to clog or choke by dust or dirt.
The general working of the mechanism may be thus described :-
The driving spring motor D is always exerting its driving power on the
shaft C, which however remains at rest until liberated by the releasing and
arresting device E.
The prime spring motor D thus only exhausts itself during the actual revolv-
ing movement of the spokes S, and its energy is conserved during the period of
rest. The releasing and arresting device E is driven continuously by the spring
motor I, but the work done in the driving of the releasing and arresting device,
is so frictionless, and of so minute a quantity, that the operation of this con-
tinuously moving motor F, can be well sustained for a long period such as 12
hours with one winding up.
As
The arresting and releasing device E consists of three pawls or claws P, P, P,
spaced at exactly even distances apart on the shaft C. In the path of these
pawls or claws ppp is placed (mounted on bearings) the little cylindrical steel
bar Q, in the face of which are cut the slots t,t,t, at even distances apart, and
corresponding to the positions of the pawls or claws 7, P, P, on the shaft.
the bar Q, is uniformly revolved by the spring motor F, the pawls or claws PPP
successively pass the slots t, t, t, as they are presented to them respectively, and
the main shaft is thus permitted under the steady impulse of its driving
spring motor D, to make successive intermittent partial rotations, until checked
by the next pawl or claw ?, striking the surface of the bar Q. The measured
intervals of rotation are exactly graduated to bring the three faces of the equila-
teral spokes S linable in a continuous plane towards the observer. Sections of
different designs being upon the three faces of the spokes. present-successively
distinct complete designs to the observer.
The clock-work F, driving the release mechanism, is controlled, as to uniformity
of movement, by a slow moving fly G of large diameter, conveniently formed
from two or more feathers, providing a uniform and slow movement, driven by
a comparatively short train of wheels, rather than a high velocity fly, driven by
a long train of wheels, and is of easy time adjustment by merely reducing the
feather surface. The feather flies are used in preference to metal since a better
holl upon the air can be thus obtained with little weight upon the spindle and
small inertia.
In order to construct this clock mechanism F in the smallest space, we divide
one of the main supporting plates of the framing, bringing the upper portion
of the plates close together and shortening the axles of the upper driving train;
50 as to provide a space for the large feather fly G within the space required for
the spring drum.
The arrangement of a divided spring motor mechanism, in addition to the
economy of energy as regards the motor from which the greatest effort is required,
gives greater precision as to relative adjustment as to time, and certainty of
action, than would be the case with one motor only effecting both direct operation
and time control.
And the continuously running fly time-control rather than a reciprocating
pallet cscapement, offers manifest advantages, in prevention of possible and
irregular resistance to the time mechanism, and also enables immediate starting
of the apparatus without preliminary disturbance or rocking of the whole appar-
atus, which may thus be applied as a fixture.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1st. In combination in an advertisement, display device, a series of pivoted
spokes, situated side by side in a containing frame; a spring motor, contained
in said frame; connections between said motor and spokes to produce rotary
motion of the latter; and means to render said rotary motions intermittent,
with a time rest between said motions.
2nd. In a mechanical advertisement display device, the cambination of a
series of pivotable spokes having symmetrical flat-faced peripheries, rotating
gear therefrom to an actuating shaft; a spring motor constantly pressing said
shaft towards continuous rotation; a time control device connected with said
shaft; and a second uniformly rotating spring motor operating said control
device, to render rotation of said shaft partial and intermittent with time rests
between, substantially as described.
3rd. In combination in an advertisement display device, a series of pivotable
spokes having symmetrical flat faced peripheries, serrated crown wheels there-
on; pin pinions upon an actuating shaft engaging with said crown wheels;
means for constantly pressing said shaft to rotation; projecting pawls or claws
upon said shaft corresponding in number and spacing to sides of said spokes; a
counter shaft opposite to said claws on main shaft; slots through said counter
shaft in the path of said claws; and means for uniformly rotating said counter
shaft, substantially as and for the purposes described:
4th. In an advertisement display device having intermittently rotated dis-
play surfaces, a control device for checking the rotation of said display surfaces
and for making the same intermittent, consisting of claws upon the shaft caus-
ing the rotation of the display surfaces, corresponding in number and spacing to
the number of display surfaces on the rotating member, a counter shaft constantly
rotated at a uniform speed adjacent and parallel to the said rotating shaft, and
slots in said counter shaft in the path of said claws on rotating shaft, permit-
ting the passage or escape of said detaining claws, at the desired intervals of
time, substantially as described.
5th. In an advertisement display device, having intermittently rotated display
surfaces, the gearing for the transmission from a rotating shaft of rotation to
such surfaces consisting of a thin serrated crown wheel upon the axis of the
rotating member, and a pin pinion upon the driving shaft to afford a driving
gear not liable to becomic clogged and of little frictional resistance, substan-
tially as described.
6th. In an advertisement display device having intermittently rotated dis-
play surfaces, a time control clock mechanism in which the frame plate is divided
to permit a large fly within the space occupied by the dium, and the said fly
is a continuously running air brake, provided with radial feathers, substantially
as described.
Dated this 8th day of May
1008
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
FELL & JAMES,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.