A NEW AND IMPROVED MUSICAL TOP
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JOHN DOBSON of 271 Vauxhall Bridge Road in the County of
Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW
AND IMPROVED MUSICAL TOP and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is the production of a spinning top provided with
means for causing its rotation and with a music producing apparatus that is set
into operation by the rotative movement of the top.
The invention consists in a spinning top having within its interior a driving
mechanism for propelling it, a mechanical musical instrument and a governing
device operated by the rotation of the top to control the action of the musical
instrument.
It also comprises combinations of mechanical devices as hereinafter specifically
pointed out.
Figure I represents a vertical, diametrical sectional elevation of the top with its
interior in clevation.
Figure II represents a winding key.
Figure III represents the interior mechanism in elevation tho view being at
right angles to that of Figure I.
Figure IV represents a vertical section of the driving devices and
Figure Va horizontal plan view of the pawl and ratchet connected with the
driving shaft.
The various parts of the top are sustained by means of a central metal disc L
the outer portion of which is expanded to form a heavy rim R at its periphery to
which rim are secured the upper dome like shell K and the conelike lower shell K.
The upper shell K is secured by its outer flange to the rim R and is provided
centrally at its upper end with an opening that forms a bearing for the driving
shaft S.
The lower shell K is secured by its outer flange to the rim R and at its lower
end is provided centrally with a foot or spinning point Q.
The two shells in connection with the disc L thus form a hollow conoidal body
that provides a casing and support for the mechanisms.
"

page_text: The driving mechanism consists of a main spring M a driving shaft S and a
clutching device by which the shaft may be secured in any position of its rotation.
The main spring is contained in a circular housing N that is supported by legs N¹
rising from the disc L and a bridge piece T that embraces the shaft S. The main
spring is attached at one end to the shaft S and at the other to the housing N and
winds up to the shaft S inside of the housing, its wound condition being secured
by means of a clutching device consisting of a ratchet wheel 2 fast at the lower
end of the shaft and a pawl 3 pivoted to the bottoin plate of the housing N and
held to duty by a light spring 4. The winding up of the spring is effected through
the driving shaft which is provided with a stud E that may be engaged by the
spiral slot 10 in the neck P of a winding head.
The mechanical musical device consists of a music box mechanism made up of a
comb A a bariel B with pins and incans for rotating the barrel composed in this
instance of a coiled spring U fixed at one end to a pin V and attached at the other
to the shaft of a driving wheel J which through a suitable train of wheels properly
rotates the barrel and drives the regulator fan D.
In connection with said regulator fan a delicate plate spring 5 with a heavy
head C is arranged in such position that in its normal state the spring will sustain
the head C within the range of movement of one blade of the regulator fan and
thus prevent the musical instrument from operating.
The propelling spring U of the musical instrument is wound up by means of
a wheel W connected with the shaft of wheel J by a pawl and ratchet and meshing
with a wheel H that is provided with a shaft 6 that is slotted to receive a winding
key G. The wheel H is mounted to turn in the housing N by means of its short
shaft 6 that is journaled in a circular seat 7 rising from the bottom of the housing N
said shaft being secured in place by a collar 8. This scat 7 also serves as a bearing
for the shaft S as seen in figure IV.
The disc Lits rim R and the housing N may all be cast in one piece or made in
separate parts as may be desired and the shells K and K may be of metal or any
other suitable material.
When the parts are assembled as in figure I the winding head O is secured to
the shaft S by means of a hollow screw-cap F that is inserted into the threaded
upper end of the shaft S but the key G is recessed as at 9 so as to admit of its
vertical play for a purpose to be explained.
The shaft S is hollow and the cap F is perforated to admit the passage of the
key G to enter the shaft 6 The musical instrument having been wound up by
turning its shaft 6 through the key G its mechanisms will be prevented from
operating by means of the head C being held in position to intercept the regulating
fan and suspend its movements by the spring 5.
The propelling spring M of the top is then wound up by pressing the winding
head downward and turning it so that its slot 10 shall engage the stud E
whereupon the shaft S will be turned to coil the spring M about it and the
ratchet 2 and pawl 3 will secure the wound condition of the spring.
To apply the spring and cause the rotation of the top the winding head O is
drawn outward the opening 9 permitting such movement and thus disengages the
ratchet 2 from its holding pawi 3 whereupon the spring M will apply its resilient
force through the housing N to the top body and cause it to spin rapidly the inertia
of the heavy body and rim R continuing the movement for a considerable time.
The moment a rapid rotation of the top is attained the centrifugal force will
cause the heavy head C of the spring 5 to move away from the regulating fan D
thus releasing the same and permitting the musical instrument to operate. The
instrument will play so long as the top spins and its centrifugal force holds the
head C clear of the fan but when the top ceases its rotation the spring 5 will bear
the head C into contact with the fan D and suspend the music.
The structure of parts is such that an effective cheap and automatic musical toy
top is not only produced but its mechanisms are so combined housed driven and
controlled as to be preserved intact and not to be liable to displacement or injury,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A musical top the body whereof contains a mechanical musical instrument its
operating mechanism and a driving mechanism for propelling the top, substantially
as described.
2. A musical top the body whereof contains a mechanical instrument its
operating mechanism a driving mechanism for propelling the top and a governing
device operated by the rotation of the top to control the action of the musical
instrument substantially as described.
3. A Top the driving spring whereof is controlled by a reciprocating shaft and
a clutching device connecting said shaft to the body of the top substantially as
described.
4. In a musical top the combination with the hollow shaft S of the spring U
wheel J and its shaft wheels W. H. and winding shaft 6 substantially as described.
5. The combination with the body of the top of the housing N spring M
reciprocating shaft S ratchet 2 and pawl 3 substantially as described.
6. The combination with the body of the top of the housing N spring M hollow
shaft S bearing 7 and shaft 6 substantially as described.
7. The combination with the winding shaft S and its stud E of the winding
head O having a spiral slot 10 substantially as described.
8. The combination with the reciprocating shaft S and its stud E of tho
recipr. eating head O and its plate F substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of November 1884.
-

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ALFRED JOHN DOBSON of 271 Vauxhall Bridge Road in the County of
Middlesex Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW
AND IMPROVED MUSICAL TOP and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is the production of a spinning top provided with
means for causing its rotation and with a music producing apparatus that is set
into operation by the rotative movement of the top.
The invention consists in a spinning top having within its interior a driving
mechanism for propelling it, a mechanical musical instrument and a governing
device operated by the rotation of the top to control the action of the musical
instrument.
It also comprises combinations of mechanical devices as hereinafter specifically
pointed out.
Figure I represents a vertical, diametrical sectional elevation of the top with its
interior in clevation.
Figuro II represents a winding key.
Figure III represents the interior mechanism in elevation tho view being at
right angles to that of Figure I.
Figure IV represents a vertical section of the driving devices and
Figure Va horizontal plan view of the pawl and ratchet connected with the
driving shaft.
The various parts of the top are sustained by means of a central metal disc L
the outer portion of which is expanded to form a heavy rim R at its periphery to
which rim are secured the upper dome like shell K and the conelike lower shell K.
The upper shell K is secured by its outer flange to the rim R and is provided
centrally at its upper end with an opening that forms a bearing for the driving
shaft S.
The lower shell K is secured by its outer flange to the rim R and at its lower
end is provided centrally with a foot or spinning point Q.
The two shells in connection with the disc L thus form a hollow conoidal body
that provides a casing and support for the mechanisms,
-
>

page_text: The driving mechanism consists of a main spring M a driving shaft S and a
clutching device by which the shaft may be secured in any position of its rotation.
The main spring is contained in a circular housing N that is supported by legs N'
rising from the disc L and a bridge piece T that embraces the shaft S. The main
spring is attached at one end to the shaft S and at the other to the housing N and
winds up to the shaft S inside of the housing, its wound condition being secured
by incans of a clutching device consisting of a ratchet wheel 2 fast at the lower
end of the shaft and a pawl 3 pivoted to the bottom plate of the housing N and
held to duty by a light spring 4. The winding up of the spring is effected through
the driving shaft which is provided with a stud E that may be engaged by the
spiral slot 10 in the neck P of a winding head.
The mechanical musical device consists of a music box mechanism made up of a
comb A a bariel B with pins and means for rotating the barrel composed in this
instance of a coiled spring U fixed at one end to a pin V and attached at the other
to the shaft of a driving wheel which through a suitable train of wheels properly
rotates the barrel and drives the regulator fan D.
In connection with said regulator fan a delicate plate spring 5 with a heavy
head C is arranged in such position that in its normal state the spring will sustain
the head C within the range of movement of one blade of the regulator fan and
thus prevent the musical instrument from operating.
The propelling spring U of the musical instrument is wound up by means of
a wheel W connected with the shaft of wheel J by a pawl and ratchet and meshing
with a wheel H that is provided with a shaft 6 that is slotted to receive a winding
key G. The wheel H is mounted to turn in the housing N by means of its short
shaft 6 that is journaled in a circular seat 7 rising from the bottom of the housing N
said shaft being secured in place by a collar 8. This scat 7 also serves as a bearing
for the shaft S as seen in figure IV.
The disc L its rim R and the housing N may all bo cast in one piece or made in
separate parts as may be desired and the shells K and K may be of metal or any
other suitable material.
When the parts are assembled as in figure I the winding head O is secured to
the shaft S by means of a hollow screw-cap F that is inserted into the threaded
upper end of the shaft S but the key G is recessed as at 9 so as to admit of its
vertical play for a purpose to be explained.
The shaft S is hollow and the cap F is perforated to admit the passage of the
key G to enter the shaft 6 The musical instrument having been wound up by
turning its shaft 6 through the key G its mechanisms will be prevented from
operating by means of the head C being held in position to intercept the regulating
fan and suspend its movements by the spring 5.
The propelling spring M of the top is then wound up by pressing the winding
head downward and turning it so that its slot 10 shall engage the stud E
whereupon the shaft S will be turned to coil the spring M about it and the
ratchet 2 and pawl 3 will secure the wound condition of tho spring.
To apply the spring and cause the rotation of the top the winding head O is
drawn outward the opening 9 permitting such movement and thus disengages the
ratchet 2 from its holding pawl 3 whereupon the spring M will apply its resilient
force through the housing N to the top body and cause it to spin rapidly the inertia
of the heavy body and rim R continuing the movement for a considerable time.
The moment a rapid rotation of the top is attained the centrifugal force will
cause the heavy head C of the spring 5 to move away from the regulating fan D
thus releasing the same and permitting the musical instrument to operate. The
instrument will play so long as the top spins and its centrifugal force holds the
head clear of the fan but when the top censes its rotation the spring 5 will bear
the head C into contact with the fan D and suspend the music.
The structure of parts is such that an effective cheap and automatic musical toy
top is not only produced but its mechanisms are so combined housed driven and
controlled as to be preserved intact and not to be liable to displacement or injury.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A musical top the body whereof contains a mechanical musical instrument its
operating mechanism and a driving mechanism for propelling the top, substantially
as described.
•
2. A musical top the body whereof contains a mechanical instrument its.
operating mechanism a driving mechanism for propelling the top and a governing
device operated by the rotation of the top to control the action of the musical
instrument substantially as described.
3. A Top the driving spring whereof is controlled by a reciprocating shaft and
a clutching device connecting said shaft to the body of the top substantially as
described.
4. In a musical top the combination with the hollow shaft S of the spring U
wheel J and its shaft wheels W. H. and winding shaft G substantially as described.
5. The combination with the body of the top of the housing N spring M
reciprocating shaft S.ratchet 2 and pawl 3 substantially as described.
•
6. The coinbination with the body of the top of the housing N spring M hollow
alinft S bearing 7 and shaft 6 substantially as described.
•
7. The combination with the winding shaft S and its stud E of the winding
head O having a spiral slot 10 substantially as described.
8. The combination with the reciprocating shaft S and its stud E of the
recipr. cating head O and its plate F substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of November 1884.
A