IMPROVEMENTS IN WHIRLIGIGS OR ROUNDABOUTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WHIRLIGIGS OR ROUNDABOUTS." A communication from
abroad by Henry Von Hartz, Machinist, and Dillingham Clark Washington,
Stockbroker, both of Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.
Sealed the 29th August 1879, and dated the 2nd July 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHIRLIGIGS OR ROUND-
ABOUTS A communication from abroad by Henry Von Hartz, Machinist, and
Dillingham Clark Washington, Stockbroker, both of Cleveland, Ohio, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to whirligigs or roundabouts for exercising and amusing
children, and comprises various novel features of construction and combination of
parts, as hereinafter set forth, and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in
which,―
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and
Figure 2 is a plan of a whiligig constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 3 shews a portion of the same detached.
Like letters refer to similar parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents a standard fixed in the top of a frame B, whereby it is secured to
the floor of a room or to the ground; C is a sleeve fitting loosely on the said
standard. In two opposite sides of this sleeve, the inner ends of the shafts D and
E have their bearings. The outer ends of the said shafts have their bearings in an
arm projecting from the chairs F and G, as shown in Figure 1.
The outer end of each shaft is provided with a crank E, within easy reach of
child seated in the chair, and whereby the shaft is turned for giving motion to the
whirligig. On the inner ends of each of the said shafts is loosely fitted a bevil pinion
I. These pinions are arranged to engage with a corresponding bevilled wheel J,
firmly secured to the top of the aforesaid frame B.
•

page_text: The pinions are made to revolve with their respective shafts by a clutch con-
sisting of a bolt a, sliding in a sleeve K fixed to the shaft. Behind the said bolt is
a spring b, Figure 3, whereby the bolt is forced out of the sleeve into a notch c
made in the side of a collar forming a part of the pinion. The said notch has a
square shoulder, and the end of the said bolt engages with this notch and carries
around with it the pinion. By the engagement of the pinion with the bevolled
wheel J, the whirligig is revolved on turning the shaft; Figure 3 shows the said
bolt in its engagement with the pinion, also the spring and a portion of the shaft.
L, Figure 1, is a cap to which are made fast by one end the radial arms 1, 2, 3,
4. The said arms are supported by the braces M, the lower ends of which are
secured in the sleeve C. The said arms are stayed sidewise by the braces N, O,
thereby making the structure or frame strong and secure for supporting the seats
or chairs.
The riding chairs or seats are suspended from the arms 1, 2, 3, 4, by hangers P
and the ends of the side braces, as shown in the Drawing. To the side of the sleeve
C are pivoted the rollers R, R. These rollers revolve upon the surface of the
-bevelled wheel J, upon which the whirligig is mainly supported, allowing the
pinions to revolve without undue weight upon them; hence there is no unnecessary
frictional wear of the gearing.
To prevent the upper end of the sleeve from wearing upon the standard I provide
the antifriction rollers e secured to the end of the sleeve and on four opposite sides
of the standard, so that the side pressure exerted upon the sleeve will bring the
rollers to bear upon the standard and rotate around upon it with little or no fric-
tional wearing of the parts.
The aforesaid cap L is also provided with anti-friction rollers d, thereby relieving
the standard from being pressed and rubbed upon by the cap as the whirligig
revolves.
The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood and is substantially as
follows: Four, or a less number of children take their places in the chairs. Those
in the seats near the cranks operate the whirligig by turning the said cranks which
set it whirling around with more or less speed according to the energy of the motion
applied to the cranks. If the children should stop turning, the whirligig will con-
tinue to revolve for some time until the shaft stops, hence, neither of the children is
in danger of being struck by the crank through the continued whirling around of
the said apparatus.
This stopping of the crank is due to the inclined plane of the notch, which, as the
pinion revolves, pushes the end of the bolt out of the notch into the sleeve, hence,
though the pinion continues to rotate and the whirligig to revolve, the shaft will be
at rest, and therefore the children are in no danger of being struck by the crank.
By reason of the spring at the back of the bolt, the said bolt is forced into the
notch each time the pinion revolves, bringing the notch to the bolt, but it is as con-
tinuously forced therefrom by the inclined plane so long as the shaft remains at
rest, but it will revolve with the pinion and rotate it when the cranks are turned.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it to be
understood that I claim,-
First. In a whirligig or roundabout, the combination of the shaft D or E, the
pinion, the bevelled wheel, the sleeve C and standard, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
Second. In combination with the said sleeve and standard, the rollers R and
anti-friction rollers e, as and for the purpose specified.
Third. In a whirligig or round bout, the shaft D or E, the sleeve K, the bolt and
the spring in combination with the pinion provided with a notch for the engage-
ment and disengagement of the said bolt, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Fourth. The cap provided with anti-friction rollers, in combination with the

page_text: standard, the arms, the braces, and the chairs, constructed and arranged substan-
tially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a whirligig or roundabout, the combination of the shafts D, E, the
pinions I, the wheel J, the sleeve C, the rollers R, and the antifriction rollers e, and
the standard, arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
LUX PORT LAKE