Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
I, ELDRIDGE REEVES JOHNSON, of No. 108, North Front Street, City of Camden, State
of New Jersey, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in spring motors; and it consists in
the devices hereinafter particularly described.
The object of my said invention is to provide an improved form of motor which
will be small and compact and of sufficient strength and power to run small machines
and particularly adapted to gramophones and other sound recording and reproducing
machines and the like.
A further object of my invention is to provide an improved governor brake
mechanism for increasing or diminishing the speed of the said motor as may be
desired, also providing an indicating device connected with the said governor brake
mechanism which may be located on the outside of the machine casing.
A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved form of brake
adapted to act on the periphery of the turntable which supports the record strip when
my invention is applied to gramophones.
With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction,
combination and arrangement of parts all of which will be hereinafter fully described
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to
make and use the same I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accom.
panying drawings which form a part of the specification and in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved motor showing it adapted to operate
a turntable such as is used in gramophones for holding the record disk.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 one end of the casing being
broken away.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken about on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing the
motor mechanisin in front elevation the turntable being removed and the lid of the
outer casing being shown slightly raised in dotted lines.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the exterior of the casing illustrating my improved
indicator which is attached to the governor brake mechanisın, also showing in
side elevation a peripheral brake for the turntable, one end of the said hox or
casing being broken away.
Fig. 5 is a detail section through the peripheral brake mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken longitudinally through the axis of the
spring drums.
Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified form of bearings for the
turntable spindle.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective of the face cam on the end of the governor
brake operating shaft.
In carrying out my invention I provide an outside box or casing, A, provided on its
bottom with a suitable base and on top with a hinged lid or cover, B. At one end

page_text: of the machine is located a horizontal shaft, C, having bearings in the side walls, c,
of a suitable supporting frame, the extending end of said shaft, C, having bearings
in a bearing plate, c¹, suitably secured to the inside wall of the casing, A. The
gear wheel, b, is rigidly mounted on the shaft, C, which meshes with smaller
gear, bl, rigidly mounted on a stub shaft, 62, journalled in the frame, A, and the
plate, c¹. The outer projecting end of the stub shaft, b², is reduced for the reception
of a crank, 63, which is provided with a suitable handle, bt, by means of which power
is transmitted to the shaft, C, for winding up the springs to propel the motor which
will be hereinafter described.
Located on the shaft, C, between the two side walls, c, of the supporting frame is a
drum, D, loosely mounted thereon and carrying in its interior a spiral spring, D¹, one
end of which is secured to the inner circumference of the drum and the other end to
the shaft, C. On one side of the drum, D, and rigid on the shaft, C, is a ratchet
wheel, d, adapted to be engaged by a pawl, d', located on the supporting frame, c, for
preventing the backward movement of the shaft, C, after the spring, D¹, has been
wound.
Formed on the periphery of the drum, D, is a worm wheel, E, which meshes with
a worm or screw, C¹, rigidly secured on the vertical shaft, F, which is supported in
bearings, G, H, provided in the supporting frame, c. This shaft, F, forms a turntable
spindle the upper end of which extends beyond the top lid of the casing, A, for the
reception of a turntable, I, which is adapted to carry the record disk used in gramo-
phones and may be rigidly secured to the said spindle, F, in any suitable
manner. I have illustrated the upper end of the spindle, F, as being reduced and screw
threaded for the reception of a lock nut, f, which may be screwed tightly down on the
turntable, I, clamping between it and the said table the record disk. The said turn-
table has on its lower side a hub surrounding the spindle, provided with a slot, i,
adapted to straddle a pin, i¹, which passes through the said spindle, F, for holding the
said turntable rigid and allowing it to revolve with the spindle, e.
Ball bearings are provided in the supporting frame, C, both at its upper and lower
ends where the turntable spindle passes through it, the upper one, G,
being composed of cup, g, provided in the said frame, c, around the opening, g¹,
adapted to hold a series of balls, 92;. a cone g³, is rigidly secured to the
spindle, F, and bears on the upper surface of the balls, g². The lower bearing, H,
comprises a cup or depression, h, adapted to accommodate a series of balls, h2; a
cone, h¹, is formed integrally with or rigidly secured to the spindle, G, said cone, h¹
being adapted to bear on the upper surface of the balls, h², substantially as illustrated
in Fig. 1 of the drawing.
On the lower end of the spindle, F, is rigidly secured a large gear, J, adapted to
mesh with a small pinion, J', rigidly secured on the lower end of the governor
spindle L. This governor spindle, L, has bearings in the frame, c, at its upper and
lower ends and carries on its lower portion a sleeve, l, loosely mounted thereon
provided on its lower end with a disk, l, which is formed integral with said sleeve.
On the upper end of the governor spindle is a sleeve, 12, rigidly secured thereon and
connected to the said sleeve, 12, and the sleeve, l, are the governor arms, 13, in the
centre of which are secured the governor balls, 14.
The governor brake mechanism comprises a bell crank lever, M, pivoted to a lug, m,
provided on the interior of one of the side walls of the frame, c, the longer arm, m³,
of which is adapted to bear at its end on the disk, 1, of the governor spindle, L, a
rubber lug or, toe being provided on the said end which is in frictional contact with
the said disk, l¹. A horizontally disposed shaft, M¹, is provided, one end of which is
journalled in the side walls, c, in the supporting frame and the other end in the
casing, A. On the inner end of the shaft, M¹, is the disk, N, having on its outer end
an inclined face cam, n¹, which is adapted to bear against a lug, n², formed on the
upper end of the arm, n³, of the bell crank lever, M. On the outer projecting end of
the shaft, M¹, is rigidly secured by means of a set screw, or otherwise, a spring
pointer, O, provided at its upper end with a small handle, o, the upper end of said
pointer being adapted to bear against a segmental indicator plate, o¹, secured to the

page_text: outside casing, A, by means of screws, or otherwise. On this indicating plate are
engraved or stamped the words very slow, slow, medium, fast and very fast, or other
terms suitable to music to designate the character of the pieces which may be on the
record and the speed of the motor being thereby regulated. The handle or pointer, O,
must be so arranged with relation to the cam, N, as to have the greatest amount of
pressure exerted on the friction disk, l, when the pointer is at the words, very slow,
and as it is moved forward the friction of the disk, l, is gradually decreased and the
speed of the motor increased.
P designates a spring lever, secured at its lower end to the casing, A, and having
at its upper end a leather or rubber teat, p, adapted to bear against the periphery
of the turntable, I. Located about midway of the spring, P, is a bracket, p¹, secured
to the casing, A, in the side arms of which are journalled a bent rod, the part, p² of
which is cut away, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, thus forming a cam,
while the part, p³, is bent at substantially right angles and forms an operating
handle. Thus it will be readily seen that when the handle, p³, is inelined upwardly
the spring, P, is away from the disk, I, but when the said bandle, p³, is thrown
down in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, the rod, p², acting as a cam forces the
spring in frictional contact with the said disk, I, thus forming a simple and efficient
brake.
In Figs. 3 and 6 I have shown two additional sets of driving springs, more clearly
illustrated in Fig. 6. The shaft, C, is divided and on each side of the division is
a reduced portion, 3, over which is fitted a sleeve, c4, pinned to that part of the
shaft, C, which carries the drum, D, the other end being free and the shaft, C,
turning loosely therein. Loosely mounted on the shaft, C, straddling the division is
a cage, R, consisting of two disks, r, r¹, connected by means of suitable tie bolts, ³.
A spiral spring, R¹, is located in the said cage, R, at one side having one end
connected to the shaft, C, and its outer end secured to one of the tie rods, 3. On
the other side of the cage, R, is a similar spring, R2, having its inner end connected
to the sleeve, ct, which is pinned to the left hand portion of the shaft, C,
heretofore described. The outer end of this spring, R2, is secured to one of the
tie rods, 3, of the cage, R, about diametrically opposite to that of the
spring, R¹.
Thus when the handle, 63, is operated and the shaft, C, revolved the spring,. R¹,
will first commence to wind from the centre imparting a rotary movement to the
cage, R, which movement will wind the spring, R2, which in turn imparts rotary
movement to the other, or left hand, end of the shaft, C, through the medium of its
sleeve, ct, which is pinned thereto. This causes the spring, D', of the drum, D, to
wind up, and impart movement to the drum, D.
The drum, D, carries on its periphery the worm gear, E, which meshes with the
worm, C, on the turntable spindle, F, causing it to rotate, as before described.
The large gear, J, on the end of the spindle, F, being in mesh with the pinion, J',
on the lower end of the governor spindle causes that spindle to revolve, and the
governor connected to said shaft, heretofore described, equalizes and insures the
steady and regular running of the motor.
The governor brake mechanism heretofore described permits of the regulating of
the speed of the motor, and the indicator, also fully described heretofore, notifies the
operator of the speed that the motor is running so that he may be enabled to change
the same to accommodate the character of the records..
While I have shown and illustrated a series of springs on the winding shaft, C, it
will of course be understood that a single spring would answer just as well, the only
change necessary would be to have the shaft, C, solid as shown in Fig. 2 of the
drawings.
The addition of the extra springs does not increase the
simply prolongs its time of running, as for example where
springs the motor will run three times as long as with one
reproduce a larger number of records without rewinding.
power of the motor, but
applicant has shown three
spring, and consequently

page_text: In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form of bearing for the
lower end of the spindle, F, which consists of a pivot point, S, formed on the end of
said spindle, F, adapted to fit in a correspondingly shaped socket formed in a
transverse base plate, S¹. A countersunk or cup shaped opening, s¹, is formed around
said socket forming a receptacle for oil, or other suitable lubricant.
The lower end of the governor spindle is formed in this manner, and a cup shaped
opening, t, formed around its socket opening in the base plate, T. This base plate, T,
is adjustably secured to the frame by means of screws, t, passing through enlarged
opening, 2, in the said plate, T. This will enable the governor spindle and its pinion, J',
to be adjusted with relation to the gear, J, so as to always permit of the perfect,
meshing of the two gears,
and J¹.
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. In a spring motor, the combination of a winding shaft, a spring propelled drum
located on said shaft, a worm gear carried by said drum, a driving shaft having a
worm formed thereon adapted to mesh with said worm gear, a governor spindle
suitably geared to the driving spindle, and means for regulating the speed of said
governor spindle, substantially as described.
2. In a spring motor, the combination of a winding shaft, a drum loosely mounted
on said shaft, a spiral spring connected at its inner end to the winding shaft and at
its outer end to the drum, a worm gear carried by the said drum, a driving shaft
having a worn formed thereon adapted to mesh with said worm gear, a governor
spindle suitably geared to the driving shaft, and means for regulating the. speed of
said governor spindle, substantially as described.
3. In a spring motor, the combination of a winding shaft, a series of springs
suitably connected to said shaft for imparting motion thereto, a spring propelled
drum carried by said shaft, a worm gear carried by said drum, a driving shaft having
a worm or screw formed thereon adapted to mesh with said worm gear, a governor
spindle suitably geared to said driving spindle, and means for regulating the speed of
said governor spindle, substantially as described.
4. In a spring motor, the combination of a supporting casing, a winding shaft
journalled therein, a spring propelled drum carried by one of said shaft, a division
in said shaft, a sleeve coupling covering said division pinned to the drum carrying
shaft, a spring and cage carried on the other end of the divided shaft adapted to be
wound up by the rotation of said shaft, a second spring attached to the coupling of
said shaft and adapted to be wound up by the rotation of the cage, a worm gear
carried by the spring propelled 'drum, a driving shaft having a worm or screw formed
thereon adapted to mesh with said worm gear, a governor spindle suitably geared to
said driving spindle and means for regulating the speed of said governor spindle,
substantially as described.
5. The combination of a winding shaft, a spring propelled drum carried thereby, a
worm gear formed on said drum, a driving spindle having a worm or screw formed
thereon adapted to mesh with said worm gear, a supporting frame for said driving shaft,
ball bearing for said shaft at its upper end, a speed governor suitably geared to said
driving shaft and a brake mechanism for regulating the speed of the governor spindle,
substantially as described.
6. The combination of a winding shaft, a spring propelled drum carried thereby, a
worm gear formed on said drum, a driving shaft having a worm or screw formed
thereon adapted to mesh with said gear, a supporting frame for said driving shaft,
ball bearings provided in said supporting frame for the shaft at its upper and lower
ends, a governor spindle suitably geared to the driving shaft and a brake mechanism
for regulating the speed of the governor spindle, substantially as described.
7. In a spring motor, a supporting casing, a winding shaft journalled therein, a
spring propelled drum carried by one end of said shaft, a division in said shaft, a
sleeve coupling covering said division pinned to the drum carrying shaft, a spring and

page_text: cage carried on the other end of the divided shaft adapted to be wound up by the
rotation of said shaft, a second spring attached to the coupling of said shaft and
adapted to be wound up by the rotation of the cige, substantially as described.
8. The combination of a supporting casing, a winding shaft journalled therein, a
spring propelled drum located thereon, a worm gear carried by said drum, a
driving shaft having a worm formed thereon adapted to mesh with the worm wheel,
a continuous arched frame for said driving shaft provided with ball bearing journals,
an overhanging arm formed on the upper part of said frame to form a bearing for the
upper end of the governor spindle, an adjustable base plate for the lower end of said
governor spindle, suitable gearing between the driving shaft and the governor
spindle and means for regulating the speed of the said governor spindle, substantially
as described.
9. The combination of the spring propelled drum, a driving shaft, a worm gearing
connecting said drum and driving shaft, a supporting frame for the driving shaft,
ball bearings for the said shaft, a pivot end for said shaft, a base plate provided with
a socket adapted to receive the said pivot end, a countersunk cup surrounding said
pivot bearing, a governor spindle suitably geared to said driving shaft, and a brake
imechanism for said governor spindle, substantially as described.
10. In a spring propelled motor, the combination with the driving mechanism, of
a speed governor geared thereto, a disk on said governor spindle connected with the
governor, a bell crank brake lever one arm of which is adapted to brake on the said
disk, an inclined face cam adapted to engage the other arm of the bell crank,
and means for operating the cam to regulate the speed of the motor, substantially
as'described.
11. The combination, with the speed governor of a spring motor, of a disk, a bell
crank lever pivoted to the frame, one arm of which is adapted to bear on the said
disk, a face cam mounted on an operating shaft, adapted to engage the other arm of
the bell crank, a spring handle for said cam shaft, and an indicating device,
substantially as described.
12. The combination with the speed governor of a spring motor, a disk connected
to the governor mechanism, a bell crank lever pivoted to the supporting frame, one
arm of which is adapted to bear on the governor disk, a horizontally disposed shaft,
a wedge-shaped face cam on one end of said shaft adapted to engage the free arm of
the bell crank lever, a spring pointer secured on the outer end of the cam shaft, and
an indexed segment in engagement with the said spring pointer, substantially as
described.
13. The combination with the spring actuated motor, a turntable carried by the
driving shaft of the same, of a brake for said table comprising a spring arm secured
at one end to the motor casing, having a brake shoe at its upper end adapted
to bear against the periphery of the turntable, a bracket secured to the casing,
surrounding the said spring arm, and a cam lever journalled in said bracket,
whereby the said spring arm can be thrown into or released from frictional contact
with the turntable, substantially as described.
14. The combination of a spring motor having a vertically disposed actuating
shaft, a casing or boxing surrounding said notor comprising a base and enclosing
vertical walls, a hinged top having a slot in the same substantially in the centre
thereof for the passage of the said vertically disposed actuating shaft adapted to
protrude therethrough, substantially as described.
15. The combination of the spring propelled drum, a driving shaft geared thereto,
a supporting frame for said driving shaft, a governor spindle geared to the driving
shaft having its upper end journalled in the supporting frame, a base plate in which
the lower end of said governor spindle is journaled, set screws for securing said base
plate to the main frame, and enlarged openings in said base plate for the reception
of the set screws, whereby the said governor spindle may be adjusted with relation to
the motor mechanism, substantially as described.
16. In a spring moto.
combination with the motor mechanism, of a speed
governor, a disk, l, connected to the governor mechanism, a bell crank lever, M,

page_text: pivoted to the motor supporting frame having an arm, m³, carrying a teat adapted
to bear on the said disk, l, a horizontally disposed shaft, M', mounted in the
supporting frame and casing, a cam, N, rigidly secured to the inner end of said
shaft, M', having an inclined or wedge shaped face, n³, an arm, n³, having a wedge
shaped lug, n, adapted to co-operate with the cam face, n¹, a spring pointer, 0, 1
rigidly secured to the outer end of shaft, M¹, and an indicating plate, o¹, against
which said pointer bears, substantially as described.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.