Apparatus and Mechanism for the Display of Inscriptions, Pictures, and the like for the Purpose of Advertisement.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 26th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL
Apparatus and Mechanism for the Display of Inscriptions, Pictures,
and the like for the Purpose of Advertisement.
We, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD and ROBERT DALMER, both of 19, Old Queen Street,
Westminster, London, S.W., Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to us No. 6736 of the year 1895
we have described certain machines and apparatus for intermittently presenting
successive surfaces for carrying and displaying advertisements. In the present
invention we actuate these surface changing machines from a distant point by
means of electro-magnetic devices placed within the frame of the surface changing
machines, these electro-magnetic devices being energized and controlled from
a distant point, by wires carrying the necessary electric current.
no
con-
It is a feature of this invention, that there are no "make or break" contact
points in the electro-magnetic devices in the machines themselves, but these con-
tact points, together with the self-acting mechanism controlling them, are located
in a small case in a position of easy access near the ground; thus the surface
changing machine itself. (which by common practice would be erected on a wall
or other place at a considerable elevation from the ground) contains
mechanism which would need attention, such as cleaning of electric
tact points, maintenance, or even lubrication for long periods of a year or more.
It is also an important point in practical design, (on account of the considerable
length of rack used in these machines into which the pinion wheel of each spoke
is geared) that the driving power should be applied as a pull, and not as a thrust,
in other words the rack should be in tension, we therefore provide for the electro-
magnetic devices to act at each end of the rack, so that the latter can be pulled
from each end in succession as required.
In order to reduce the friction in these machines, (which is specially desirable
in order to minimise the electric energy needed to actuate them) the spokes,
instead of being pivotted, may be suspended or hung ou fibres.
Ocil
Naambar 1997
A. RÉNÉ UPWARD.
R. DALMER.
Apparatus and Mechanism for the Display of Inscriptions, Pictures,
and the like for the Purpose of Advertisement.
We, ALFRED RENÉ UPWARD and ROBERT DALMER, both of 19, Old Queen Street,
Westminster, London, S.W., Consulting Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
077

page_text: this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularl
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to us No. 6736 of the year 189
we have described certain machines and apparatus for intermittently presenting
successive surfaces for carrying and displaying advertisements. In the presen
invention we actuate these surface changing machines from a distant point by
means of electro-magnetic devices placed within the frame of the surface changing
machines, these electro-magnetic devices being energized and controlled from
a distant point, by wires carrying the necessary electric current.
no
It is a feature of this invention, that there are no make or break" contac
points in the electro-magnetic devices in the machines themselves, but these con
tact points, together with the self acting mechanism controlling them, are located
in a small case in a position of easy access near the ground: thus the surface
changing machine itself, (which by common practice would be erected on a wall
or other place at a considerable elevation from the ground) contains
mechanism which would need attention, such as cleaning of electric con
tact points, maintenance, or even lubrication for long periods of a year or more
It is also an important point in practical design, (on account of the considerable
length of rack used in these machines into which the pinion wheel of each spoke
is geared) that the driving power should be applied as a pull and not as a thrust
in other words, the rack should be in tension, we therefore provide for the electric-
magnetic devices to act at each end of the rack, so that the latter can be pulled
from each end in succession as required.
In order that this invention may be readily understood, we proceed to describe
a convenient design or form of apparatus constructed in accordance therewith.
without of course limiting the invention to minor details of arrangement of parts,
which would admit of slight modification:-
A solenoid and core, may be provided at each end of the rack which actuates
the spokes, the respective cores of the solenoids being coupled to opposite ends of
the said rack, each core being so placed as regards its own solenoid that when the
solenoid at one end has drawn the rack to the end of the stroke in that direction,
the core of the solenoid at the opposite end of the rack is in the true position for
the return stroke, thus providing for a backward and forward motion of the rack
as each solenoid in turn becomes energized by the electric current.
A detent, consisting of a pawl engaging the stop pin on the rack provides for
arresting the rack at the half stroke, this pawl being actuated by a smaller electro
magnet or solenoid, which by raising the said pawl, and thus releasing the rack,
allows the latter to complete its stroke.
"
One wire from each of the solenoids may be electrically connected to what is
technically known as a common return wire." the remaining wire from each
solenoid being separately insulated and carried away from the board to the distant
point whence the machine is actuated as referred to above. These wires are suit-
ably connected to a self acting circuit charger, which preferably we construct as
follows:
A wheel may be cut in boxwood with teeth of the form known as ratchet teeth,
a metal plate is attached to the face of the ratchet teeth. (it being of course pro-
vided that the various plates are insulated from each other), each insulated wire
(above referred to) coming from the distant board is connected to an insulated
plate on the ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel is preferably fixed or stationary, a
revolving arm carrying a contact brush connects the source of the electric current
with the insulated plates in succession. This contact arm may be continuously
revolved by a small hot air engine, turbine or other small form of.motor.
It will readily be understood that as this travelling arm successively applies the
electric current (which may be obtained from any of the well known sources) to
each circuit connected respectively to each solenoid in the distant surface changing

page_text: machine, the latter will successively present the different surfaces of the revolving
spokes of which it is formed, the round of changes occurring continuously.
The drawings hereto represent a convenient and compact design of the machine
and apparatus, the invention including such combination and general disposition
of parts, but not being limited thereto, a feature of this invention being the
actuating of the particular machines referred to in the specification above cited
by electrical circuits fed from a source of electric current remote from the machines
themselves, and further of having no make or break electrical contact
points on the machines themselves, for the reasons above set out.
"
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a surface changing advertising machine the work-
ing of which is as follows:-electric current is first passed along circuit No. 1,
this would energize the solenoid C which will attract its core, which by means
of the cord passing over the pulley 1" will draw the rack R through a distance
until its motion is arrested by the pawl N coming into contact with the stop
pin Q, this motion having caused the bars or spokes S, S, S, to turn on their axis
through a part of a circle and thus present a succeeding surface; after a convenient
interval of time say 5 seconds, the electric current is now diverted and passed along
circuit No. 2 which energizes the solenoid C (the core of which acts on the draw
bar on which the stop pin Q is fixed) thus releasing the rack R, the solenoid C¹
once more acting (receiving its current through solenoid C as will be seen from
the circuit connections) and drawing the rack R to the end of the stroke, thus
rotating the bars or spokes S, S, S, and presenting a succeeding surface; after
another interval of time, this circuit No. 2 is now disconnected. The stop pin Q
by virtue of the spring T is brought to its original position. The electric current
is now diverted and passed along the circuit No. 3 which by energizing the
solenoid C draws the rack R by means of the cord passing over the pulley 1 to
its original position, thus completing the round of changes, which round of changes
it will readily be seen has exhibited in succession each of the 3 sides of the tri-
angular spokes S, S, S.
The gauge of covered wire with which the solenoids are wound will of course
be determined by the voltage of the electric current at disposal from the source
of supply.
"
Z is the common return to which the outgoing wires of the solenoids are
connected, this "common return" Z, is of course joined to one pole of the source
of electric supply, the other pole from the supply being connected to the surface
changer described below.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a form of circuit changer for producing the electric
circuit changes required for actuating the arrangement set forth in Fig. 1. The
cut wheel A may be of hard wood about one inch in thickness, alternate teeth
being shod with brass plates Nos. 1, 2, 3 as shown, these plates being each
separately connected to the circuits Nos. 1, 2, 3 in Fig. 1 of the distant machine.
The cut wheel A is fixed or stationary. B is a travelling arm mounted on a
spindle and bearing at C, and carrying a contact brush D. which contact brush
is in constant contact with one pole of the source of supply, this contact being
established from the terminal screw E, thence through the pillar F, small contact
brush G, and collecting ring H, this collecting ring being in one casting with the
travelling arm B. It will readily be seen that as the travelling arm B carrying
the contact brush D is slowly rotated, the contact brush I will in succession make
electrical connection with each of the brass plates Nos. 1, 2, 3 and thus with the
circuits connected with them Nos. 1, 2, 3. in the distant machine. The inter-
mediate wooden teeth (being of course insulators) providing a pause or period of
time after each step motion or surface change of the distant machine has been
produced. It will be understood that the two contact brushes D and G are mounted
on a hinged holder provided with a spiral or other spring which tends to keep or
throw their contact end down. It will be noted that the cut teeth of the stationary
wheel A cause the necessary rapid "make" or "break" of the electric circuit as

page_text: the travelling contact brush D jumps from the edge of one tooth to the face of the
next.
It will, of course, be noted that the other pole coming from the source of electric
supply which is not connected to the terminal screw E Fig. 2, is carried away to
the common return" of the circuits Z Fig. 1.
The motive power (from whatever source) is applied to the spindle C by means
of a pulley or other well known device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is-
(1) A surface changing machine for exhibiting advertisements, formed of
revolving bars or spokes placed side by side and geared together, actuated from a
distant point by means of electromagnetic circuits.
(2) The combination of parts and details of construction as herein described
and set forth.
Dated this 26th day of September 1898.
A. RENE UPWARD.
R. DALMER.