A Mechanical Toy.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
A Mechanical Toy.
We, ROBERT ANTHONY THOMPSON, Clerk, of "Glenlyn," Effa Road, Wimbledon,
and WILLIAM JAMES FREEMAN, Sanitary Engineer, of 2, Kelmscott Road, Wands-
worth Common, both in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to toy engines or motors for various purposes and the
object thereof is to enable such engines to be worked without the aid of
steam oil spirit or gas thereby doing away with the risk of explosion and
rendering such toys safe in the hands of children and other inexperienced
persons.
Now according to this invention we provide a suitable cylinder having a
piston moving freely therein.
A connecting rod is hinged to the said piston as in gas engines at one end
the other end of the said rod engaging with the crank pin in the usual way.
A suitable bed plate supports the cylinder and the crank shaft bearings.
The usual fly wheel is provided which is counterweighted so as to normally
bring the crank into the starting position.
To the cylinder cover or 'to any other suitable part of the cylinder is attached
a flexible tube preferably indiarubber the other end of the said tube terminating
in or being attached to a collapsible. ball bellows or other suitable apparatus
for compressing air behind the piston.
On squeezing the ball closing the bellows forcing inwards the piston of a
condensing syringe or otherwise operating the compressing apparatus the air
in the connecting tube is compressed and the piston in the motor cylinder forced
outwards rotating the crank shaft and flywheel half a revolution.
When the ball is released the bellows opened or briefly when the action of
the compressing apparatus is reversed the air is exhausted from behind the
piston of the motor cylinder and the piston forced inwards by the air outside
it completing the revolution of the crank shaft and flywheel.
With a little practice anyone can keep the motor rotating continuosly and
reverse the rotation of same at will.
Motors constructed as hereinbefore described require no valve gear as the
alternate ebb and flow of the air in the ball bellows or other apparatus and
connecting tube ensures the reciprocating action of the piston
Motors so constructed may be used for propelling toy locomotives, traction
engines, tramcars, motor cars, screw or paddle boats driving toy cranes and
other similar purposes.
The same method of working is also applicable to toy steam hammers the
hammer being alternately depressed and raised by the variation of pressure
in the column of air above the piston.
Motors constructed as hereinbefore specified are easily and cheaply constructed
as may be applied to apparatus for playing various games such a "A Motor

page_text: Car Race" where two or more toy motor cars may be made to race across an
ordinary table and back again cach competitor propelling his car by means
of the ball or other apparatus for causing variations of pressure in the air column.
Dated this 7th day of December 1898.
T. E. HALFORD,
11, Furnival Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.
We, ROBERT ANTHONY THOMPSON, Clerk, of "Glenlyn,“ Effra Road, Wimbledon,
and WILLIAM JAMES FREEMAN, Sanitary Engineer, of 2, Kelmscott Road, Wands-
worth Common, both in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to toy engines or motors for various purposes and the
object thereof is to enable such engines to be worked without the aid of
steam oil spirit or coal gas thereby doing away with the risk of explosion and
rendering such toys safe in the hands of children and other inexperienced
persons.
Now according to this invention we provide a suitable cylinder having a
piston moving freely therein.
A connecting rod is hinged to the said piston as in gas engines at one end
the other end of the said rod engaging with the crank pin in the usual way.
A suitable bedplate supports the cylinder and the crank shaft bearings.
The usual fly wheel is provided which is counter-weighted so as to normally
bring the crank into the starting position.
To the cylinder cover or to any other suitable part of the cylinder is attached
a flexible tube preferably indiarubber the other end of the said tube terminating
in or being attached to a collapsible ball bellows or other suitable apparatus
for compressing air behind the piston.
On squeezing the ball closing the bellows forcing inwards the piston of a
condensing syringe or otherwise operating the compressing apparatus the air
in the connecting tube is compressed and the piston in the motor cylinder forced
outwards rotating the crank shaft and fly wheel half a revolution.
When the ball is released the bellows opened or briefly when the action of
the compressing apparatus is reversed the air is exhausted from behind the
piston of the motor cylinder and the piston forced inwards by the air outside
it completing the revolution of the crank shaft and flywheel."
With a little practice anyone can keep the motor rotating continuously and
reverse the rotation of same at will.
Motors constructed as herein before described require no valve gear as the
alternate ebb and flow of the air in the ball bellows or other apparatus and
connecting tube ensures the reciprocating action of the piston.
Motors so constructed may be used for propelling toy locomotives, traction
engines, tramcars, motor cars, screw or paddle boats driving toy cranes and
other similar purposes.
The same method of working is also applicable to toy steam hammers the
hammer being alternately depressed and raised by the variation of pressure
in the column of air above the piston.
Motors constructed as hereinbefore specified are easily and cheaply constructed
and may be applied to apparatus for playing various games such as a "A Motor

page_text: Car Race" where two or more toy motor cars may be made to race across an
ordinary table and back again each competitor propelling his car by means
of the ball or other apparatus for causing variations of pressure in the air column.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A toy motor or engine consisting of a cranks shaft supported in suitable
bearings a fly wheel (and if required a driving wheel or pulley) secured to the
crank shaft the said crank being connected by means of a suitable connecting
rod to a piston working within a cylinder supported by means of suitable frame
or bedplate formed integral with or secured to the crankshaft bearings the said
piston being caused to move backwards and forwards in the cylinder by the
compression and expansion of the air contained in a collapsible ball bellows or
syringe and a flexible pipe or tube connecting the same to the cylinder behind
the piston all substantially as specified and for the purposes stated.
2. Mechanical toys constructed as hereinbefore specified and adapted to be
set in motion by the variations in the pressure of a column of air contained in
a cylinder having a piston working freely therein a collapsible ball or bellows
or syringe and a pipe or tube connected to the said cylinder and ball bellows or
syringe and forming a means whereby the variation of pressure of the air in the
ball bellows or syringe is transmitted to the interior of the cylinder all sub-
stantially as hereinbefore specified.
Dated this 7th dox
1000
T. E. HALFORD,
82, Mark Lane, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.
T. E. HALFORD,
82, Mark Lane, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.