Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Progress of Races and Games.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating the Progress of Races
and Games.
We, GEORGE HENRY CHAPPELL, Engineer, of 697 Broadway, and FRANCISCO
LAVANDEYRA, Chemist, of 571 Park Avenue, both of the City and State of New
York, United States of America, 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:-
Our invention has for its object to indicate or represent at a distance on a miniature
scale or track the progress of a horse race or other game taking place on a field or
track at any point.
The invention consists in an apparatus comprising miniature horses or other figures
adapted to move simultaneously or independently, a suitable motor or the like for
actuating said figures, and means for stopping or retarding the movement of one or
inore of said figures, either in unison or separately, and for starting one or more of
said figures, either separately or simultaneously, whereby the progress of a horse
race or other game can be clearly portrayed at different points by moving objects.
One of such apparatuses is preferably placed near the race track or field of other
game and other similar apparatuses are placed at other desired points; say in
suitable places in distant cities and connected to the apparatus at the race track
by suitable electrical wires or conductors or otherwise. The first mentioned appa-
ratus has connected to it suitable keys or make and break contacts by means of
which, and the electric current it and the apparatuses at a distance can be controlled.
The miniature horses or figures on the several apparatuses are numbered or lettered
to correspond with the horses participating in the race, and during the progress of
the race as one horse forges ahead or drops behind the operator of the apparatus
situated at the scene of action, by pressing on a corresponding key can cause the
figures on all the apparatuses, corresponding to said horses or to any horse or figure
to forge ahead or drop behind to follow the movements and positions of the con-
testants. By this means the operation or progress of a horse race or other game can
he portrayed or indicated on miniature tracks, at a distance from the race track, and
simultaneously with the progress of a race.
The invention also consists in the novel details of improvement and the combinations
of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification wherein
Figure 1, is a plan view of two apparatuses embodying this invention and connected
together in circuit, one of such apparatuses being partly broken away.
Figure 2, is a vertical cross section enlarged, on the plane of the line c c figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 are sectional detail views of the brakes applied; and
Figure 5, is a detail view of means for holding the gearing in check.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings the letter A indicates a suitable box
or casing within which we prefer to enclose the mechanism of our apparatus ;
B, B, indicate moving supports adapted to carry miniature horses or other figures D,
which supports B in the drawings are represented in the form of circular tracks
intended to indicate a race track.
Said supports or tracks B may be driven in any suitable direction, being turned in
a circular direction in the example shown, and they are preferably actuated
independently of each other so that one can move while the other is stationary.
They may be driven by a clockwork, electric motor or any other desired motive
power.
The means we have shown for driving the supports or tracks B, may be described

page_text: .
as follows:-E, is a rotary spindle guided to turn on its longitudinal axis, and suitably
supported within the casing A. Said spindle carries a gear wheel a, that meshes with
a similar wheel 6, of a train of gearing or clockwork F. Said train of gearing or
clockwork may be driven by a spring or weight in manner well known, or the
spindle E may be driven by an electric motor or by any other desired motive power.
The train of gearing F2, is provided with a fan or other regulator d to regulate
the speed of the spindle E, and thereby the speed of the figures D. The spindle E
carries a friction disk or projection e, upon which a plate or arm F, rests,, which
"latter carries a support or track B, as shown.
As the friction disk or projection e rotates it will carry the plate or arm F with it,
thereby turning the support or track B..
fis another friction disk or projection which is suitably connected with the
spindle E, say by slipping it over said spindle and securing it in any desired manner
so that it will turn with said spindle, and G is another plate or arm, like F,
carrying the other support or track B as shown. The friction disk or projection f
turns the plate or arm G, in manner described with reference to plate F.
By the above means both the supports or tracks B, B, can be turned in unison.or
separately.
It will be understood that the supports or tracks B and their supporting and
moving connections can be multiplied indefinitely whereby as many figures. D as
desired may be used and actuated; also that the connections between the figures D
. and the motor can be altered as desired.
In order to stop or retard one or more of the figures D when desired we
provide brakes H, H2, or other desired means; say one for each support or track B,
which brakes, when pressed against the supports or tracks B, will stop them, or
retard their movement. Said brakes H, H2 may be carried and actuated in any
desired manner.
We have shown them connected with the armatures g, g² of suitable electro
maguets h, 2. When the current passes through said magnets their armatures will
be attracted and thus the brakes will be moved to stop the supports or tracks B. The
magnet h² and its armature 92 are shown supported by the cover G2 of the casing A,
and the brake H2 in figure 3 is shown pivoted at a to the cover G³ so that the
armature g may actuate it. The magnet h and armature g are shown suitably
supported within the casing A.
Each magnet h, h² is connected by a wire or conductor i, 2 with a suitable key,
button or make and break contact j, 3, each one corresponding to a magnet or h³.
When said buttons are pressed the magnets will be actuated.
In order to stop the several trains of gearing or clockwork F' at any time, so that
all the horses or figures D will be arrested simultaneously we provide an electro
magnet 1, whose armature m carries or is connected with a finger or projection n that
is adapted to engage the fan or regulator d, or other part of the train which prevents
movement of said fan when in engagement therewith.
The magnet l, is connected by a wire o, with a button, or the like p, by means of
which the action of the magnet and finger n can be regulated. The several fans dor
the trains of gearing are normally held in check by a rod I, shown guided in the
casing A, which rod is shown connected with the armature J of a magnet L. A wire
or conductor v extends from the magnet L to a button or the like w, for closing the
circuit. When said button is pressed the armature J will be moved, thereby with-
drawing the rod I from the fan d and permitting the train of gearing to run.
course it will be understood that the several magnets are to be connected with suitable
batteries or other electrical generators in manner well known.
Of
Having now described the details of construction of the mechanism contained in
one casing A we would state that substantially the same mechanism can be contained
in the other apparatuses used in connection.
The several buttons or the like j, 1, p and w of the apparatus A³, are to be
also connected by wires or conductors r s t u and x with corresponding magnets, h h
1 L in the other casings, so that no matter how many apparatuses are connected

page_text: game.
One apparatus
with the apparatus A³, all the parts will act simultaneously when the different
buttons are pushed and the different trains of gearing permitted to run or stopped.
Having now described one means for carrying out our invention we will show how
the several apparatuses are operated to indicate the progress of a race or other
A2, is placed at a convenient point at a race course, and connected
by wires r s t u with one or more substantially similar apparatuses at distant points,
say in hotels or the like, the several trains of gearing being held in check by the
several rods I. The operator then preferably adjusts suitable field or other glasses to
his eyes to enable him to clearly distinguish the several competing horses or other
competitors. As soon as he ascertains the names of the borses to contest in the race
he telegraphs to the attendants at the several apparatuses in connection, such names
or suitable numbers or marks and he and said attendants then place numbers or names
on the figures D to correspond with the contesting horses. When the horses are
about ready to start he presses the button w, which causes the magnets L to draw the
rods I from the fans d whereby the several trains of gearing will be released and
ready to start. He then presses the button p, which causes the fingers n, to engage
with the fans d to hold the trains of gearing in check.
At the same time an electric bell M in circuit with the armature m signals to the
several attendants that the race is about to start, who immediately place all the
figures D in their proper positions. When the race starts the operator of apparatus A2,
at the race track releases the button p whereby the fingers n will be withdrawn from
the several fans d. The trains of gearing now being released the several spindles E
in the several apparatuses will be turned slowly, or at the desired speed, all the
figures moving in unison. Suppose now the horse corresponding to figure 1, forges
ahead. The operator immediately presses the button or buttons controlling the other
figures which causes the brakes for said figures to be moved to stop or retard said
figures, while the clockwork and figure 1 keep on moving, whereby said figure will
appear to advance ahead of the other figures D. When this is done said buttons are
then released, thereby permitting all or any of the horses or figures D to again move,
but in the altered positions as the case may be. And so on during the progress of
the race as one horse forges ahead or drops behind the operator presses the proper
buttons or keys to cause certain figures to advance ahead of the others or to drop behind
in manner before stated. When the race is finished the operator releases the button w
which causes the rod I to move to stop the fans and thereby the trains of gearing
and figures D, and by pressing on the button p the bell M will signal that the race is
finished. Thus a fac simile of a race is produced at different points and as soon as a
race is finished persons can ascertain the winning horse by merely looking at the
apparatus, and can also see the positions of the several horses, substantially the same
and at about the same time as if they were present at the race track.
Also during
the progress of the race persons can ascertain the positions of the several horses in the
race. As the operator at the race track has one apparatus in plain sight he can see at
a glance if the figures D are in the proper positions corresponding to the positions of
the participating horses or other contestants. As often happens horses or other
contestants have to be called back after starting for different reasons, and then start
again. By providing suitable means, such as cords or weights, springs, trains of
gearing, electro magnets, conductors &c. the figures D, after starting can be brought
back to the starting point, ready to start again, by the operator by merely pressing a
suitable button in circuit.
Apparatuses operated as above will be of great interest to persons desirous of
watching the progress of a race, or of ascertaining the names of the winners &c. as
soon as the race is finished.
Of course the mechanism for operating the several figures can be altered from that
shown and described without departing from the spirit of our invention, as for
instance instead of the figures travelling in a circle they can be made to travel in an :
ellipse, or a straight line, or in other desired directions. A suitable starting post can

page_text: be placed in position, and posts or points indicating the fractions of a mile can be
placed near the line of movement of the course so that the exact position of the con-
testing horses can be ascertained and portrayed.
It is evident that the mechanism can be so adjusted or altered that any other race
such as boat races, or any other suitable game desired can be indicated or portrayed
substantially in the manner before specified.
Of course we do not wish to confine ourselves to the use of the electric current for
stopping or retarding and starting the several figures, but we prefer to use the same
for obvious reasons.
By making the supports B B in the form of circular tracks they present the
appearance of race tracks at all times although they may happen to be moving when
seen.
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. An apparatus for indicating or portraying the progress of a race or game,
comprising one or more imitation horses or other figures D, means substantially as
described for actuating the same and means substantially as described for starting
and stopping or retarding the movement of said figure or figures, substantially as
specified.
2. In an apparatus for indicating or portraying the progress of a race or game,
one or more miniature horses or figures 1) and means substantially as described for
actuating the same, and for starting and stopping or retarding the movement of said
figure in combination with a similar apparatus at a suitable distance from said first
mentioned apparatus and with wires or conductors connecting the stopping or starting
devices of one apparatus with the corresponding devices in the other apparatus,
whereby the corresponding devices in both said apparatuses will be actuated
simultaneously and in unison, substantially as specified.
3. In an apparatus for indicating or portraying the progress of a race or game,
one or more figures D, and means substantially as described for supporting the same,
a motor for actuating the same and frictional connections between said motor and
said figure, and means substantially as described for stopping and starting said motor
and for stopping or retarding the movement of any figure D substantially as
specified.
4. In an apparatus for indicating the progress of a race or game, figure D, and
means substantially as described for actuating the same, combined with a brake for
stopping or retarding said figure, and an electro magnet and connections for actuating
said brake substantially as described.
5. In an apparatus for indicating the progress of a race or game, a figure D, a
motor for actuating the same and connections between said figure and motor, in
combination with a rod, finger or the like for stopping said train of gearing, and the
magnet and connections for actuating said rod or finger to stop or release said train
of gearing, substantially as described.
6. A figure D, a motor for actuating the same, a brake for stopping or retarding
said figure, and a magnet and connections for actuating said brake combined with a
rod or finger for stopping the motor and a magnet and connections for actuating said
rod or finger to stop or release the motor, substantially as described.
7. The figure D support B plate or arm F friction disk or projection e, and a
motor for actuating the same combined with means substantially as described for
stopping or retarding the figure D, substantially as specified.
8. The figure. D. support B plate or arm F friction disk e, and a motor for
actuating the same, combined with a rod or finger for stopping and holding in check
the motor, and a magnet and connections for actuating said rod or finger, substantially
as described.
9. The figure D. support B. plate or arm F. friction disk e, and a motor for

page_text: actuating the same, combined with means substantially as described for stopping or
retarding the figure D, and for stopping or holding in check the motor substantially
as described.
10. The combination of the figures D, supports B plates or arms F, G, friction
disks or projections e, f, a motor for actuating them and means substantially as
described for stopping or retarding each of said supports independently, substantially
as specified.
11. The rotating supports B B in the shape of tracks or circles adapted to rotate,
combined with means substantially as described for actuating them, substantially as
specified.
12. The support B and means substantially as described for actuating the same,
combined with the brake H, armature 9 carrying the same, magnet h, and
connections for said magnet to actuate the armature g and brake H, substantially as
described.
13. The support B and means substantially as described for actuating the same
combined with the brake H', pivoted as at a³ and adapted to bear upon the support B,
armature, adapted to actuate the brake H³, magnet h² and connections,
substantially as described.
14. The support B, plate or arm F, disk or projection e, spindle E carrying the
same, gear wheel a, on said spindle and a train of gearing or motor having a wheel b
meshing with the wheel a, and a fan or regulator d combined with a rod or finger
for stopping said train of gearing or motor, and a magnet and connections for
actuating said rod, substantially as described.
15. The support B, plate or arm F disk or projection e, spindle E carrying the
same, gear wheel a on said spindle and a train of gearing or motor having a
wheel J meshing with the wheel a, combined with a brake H, armature g for
actuating the same, and a magnet and connections for actuating said armature,
substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of January 1890.
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.