Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 6th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 25th Jan., 1887.
I ERNST HEINRICH, of 36 Mark Lane, in the City of London, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to tops and has for its object to construct the same so that they
may be made to spin by means of currents of air directed against their surfaces or
issuing from channels or passages in the same.
The said invention consists partly in roughening the surface, or a portion of the
surface, of a top in such a manner as to form indentations or projecting portions into
or against which a current of air, directed onto the top from the mouth by means of
a tube or blow-pipe or produced by a pair of bellows or by any other suitable means,
may act so as to produce the rotation of the top.
It also partly consists in providing the top with channels or passages communicating
with a hole or depression in the axis of the top; so that as a current of air which is
directed into the said hole or depression issues from the said passages it will cause the
top to rotate.
In constructing a top according to my invention I sometimes provide a horizontal
disc, through the longitudinal axis of which passes a pin or peg upon which the top
rotates.
.
The said disc may be of any desirable or suitable shape in its axial vertical section,
and upon its upper, lower or edge surface, or upon any or all of these it is roughened,
so that after being once started and when a current of air is directed upon either of
the said roughened surfaces and strikes the projecting portions the top will continue
to rotate.
The surface of the disc may be roughened by forming a series of radial grooves
therein, so that the portions of material between the grooves serve as projections
against which the current of air can impinge. The said grooves, instead of being
straight may be of curved or other shape.
The surface of the disc is sometimes roughened by forming a number of holes or
saw cuts therein; or it may be roughened like the face of a rasp or file.
If desirable the roughness may be produced by providing the surface of the top

page_text: with some ornamentation, the projecting portions of which are sufficiently high to
receive or catch the wind.
Instead of constructing the top to be rotated by a current of air directed upon the
surface of the same, it may be rotated by currents of air issuing from the circumference
of the same in an approximately tangential direction. For this purpose the said.
channels or passages are connected at their inner ends with a hole or recess around the
axis of the top.
By directing a current of air into this hole or recess so that it is caused to pass
through the said passages and issue therefrom at the circumference of the top in a
number of jets, the said top will be caused to rotate.
My improvements are applicable to tops generally, for instance to peg-tops, whip-
tops, humming tops or the like, so that when a top has been once started by the fingers
or in any other manner it may be caused to rotate as long as desired.
In applying my improvements to tops such as peg-tops, or whip-tops which it would
be difficult to start in a room or other confined space, I preferably provide the same
with a central hole into which a pin may be temporarily inserted so that the top may
be held and started by pulling a string wound around the same.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: In Figures 1 to 12, I have shewn different modifications of my invention applied to
a top which consists of a disc or circular piece a forming the body or main portion of
the top, and a spindle b fixed therein and pointed or tapered at its lower end.
In the top shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the disc a has formed therein a series of
radial slits or channels e which extend from its periphery to near the contral spindle b.
The said top may be set spinning by holding the upper end of the spindle b between
the thumb and fore-finger and rapidly rotating it. After it has been started in this
manner, it may be kept spinning for any desired length of time by directing a current
of air against the upper surface of the disc a by means of the tube or blow-pipe d, the
said tube or blow-pipe being held in the position indicated in the drawing. The air
thus directed upon the disc will enter the slits or channels cand impinge against one
side of each of the same, and will thereby impart successive impulses to the top and
rapidly rotate the same upon or about its axis; the sides of the said slits or channels
serving as the driving surfaces.
The top shewn in Figures 3 and 4 has its body or main portion a bevelled and
provided with curved slits or channels for the purpose above specified. In some
instances, I form the body a of the top, for this purpose, with radial angular projections e,
as shewn in Figure 11, or I form in the said body a holes or cavities f, as shewn
in Figures 5 and 6, or small projections and depressions like those on the surface
of a rasp, as shewn in Figure 12.
In some instances, instead of constructing the top in such a manner that it may be
rotated by directing a current of air upon the surface of the same as herein before
described, I provide the top with a central circular hole or cavity and with passages
tangential, or approximately tangential, thereto and extending therefrom to the
periphery of the body a. If a current of air is directed downward into the hole or
cavity g, it will pass through the passages h and will issue therefrom at the periphery of
the body a, in such a direction that the top will be rotated upon or about its axis.
h
In the top shewn in Figures 9 and 10, the passages communicate with the interior
of a hollow or tubular pin or peg 61 which is open at its upper end, so that a current
of air directed into the upper end of the said pin or peg will be caused to pass through
the said passages as above described and thus cause the rotation of the top.
In Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16, I have shewn my improvements applied to whip-tops.
In some cases, the desired result is attained by providing the surface of the top with
ornamentations the projecting portions of which are sufficiently high to be acted upon
by the air-current. Or I form the driving surfaces on the top in any other convenient
manner. For example I provide the top with a flange or rim which extends upwards
therefrom and is curved so that it will form a driving surface. The driving surfaces
need not be formed upon the body of the top. I sometimes apply such surfaces to the
top by attaching thereto cups, blades, or wings or the like.
In some instances, I employ separate discs or plates which are provided with grooves
or indentations or with projections in any desired manner, and are adapted to be
readily attached to the top by a screw or other suitable means.
In applying my improvements to tops such as peg-tops or whip-tops, which it would
be difficult to start in a room or other confined space, I preferably provide the same
with a central hole into which a pin may be temporarily inserted so that the top may
be held and started by pulling a string wound around the same. Or I provide the top
with other suitable means for starting it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. A spinning-top formed or provided with driving surfaces whereby, when the
top is started, it may be kept spinning for any desired length of time by directing
current of air thereon in the manner above set forth.
21

page_text: Second. The modification of my invention wherein the body of the top is provided
with passages extending from the centre to the periphery thereof, substantially as, and
for the purpose, above specified.
Third: The combination, with the body or main portion of a top, of a disc or plate
provided with the said driving surfaces and adapted to be secured to the body of the
top, for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The improved spinning-top constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications shewn in the accompanying drawings
for the purpose specified.
ERNST HEINRICH.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.ċ.,
Agents for the Applicant.