Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
M. a. brake to stay motion.
I propose to give automatically an easy natural undulatory motion to a child's
cradle similar to the effect induced by rockers, springs or other like contrivances
whether by hand, foot or other power and to be applicable to cradles of all
descriptions mining or otherwise. I effect this object by having a frame A or
support on or in which a cradle can be placed. Such frame being supported at
either end by an axle B B¹ resting on or in connection with vertical standards or
supports CC. Such standards being braced together at required distances apart
as D D
The axle rod B at one end of the frame A passes through an arm or lever E
which can be engaged to the axle by a thumb screw F or like contrivance by
pressing on a spring G fixed in the engaging arm or lever aforesaid.
When the thumb screw presses on the spring, the spring causes the arm or lever
to hold by friction to the axle rod B so that any unevenness of weight either on
one side or the other in the cradle is adjusted at once and regulated by the counter-
balancing weight I and friction on axle B and will not effect the rocking of the
cradle itself through unequal equilibrium.
"
By a contrivance of cog wheels acting in conjunction with pinion. wheels K in
the manner of an ordinary clock an eccentric or crank like motion is obtained-
and the power thus produced is exerted by connecting rod L to the arm or lever E
aforesaid and thus an undulatory motion to the cradle is given. The upward or
downward movement of the cradle is determined by the distance the arm or lever
is engaged by the connecting rod from the fulcrum or axle in connection with the
frame.
.
I prefer to get the necessary power by the winding up of a spring though the
power may be obtained by weight pullies or other like means.
The whole arrangement of the power for rocking may be attached to the cradle
itself or to the frame or standards or be made to operate independently of either
as substantially set forth.
Dated this 26th day of September 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Rocking Cradles.
I, DANIEL WHITBURN, of Morrinsville, Provincial District of Auckland,
Colony of New Zealand, British Subject, Platelayer, 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 :-
This invention is applicable to all kinds of cradles whether for children, mining
or otherwise.
Figure 1 is an end elevation and Figure 2 a side elevation of a cradle to which
my apparatus is applied. Figure 3 is a part end elevation (with the casing of the
driving mechanism removed) and Figure 4 a part side elevation, these two figures
being to a larger scale.
A is the cradle supported in a frame B mounted on trunnions C, C¹ working in
bearings D carried by the standards E. The end of the trunnion C is received in
a hole or slot at the upper end of the arm F which is supported by the trunnion
and has at its lower end the weight F. The trunnion and cradle are caused to
move with this arm by the friction of the spring G whose pressure can be
regulated by the screw G'. H is a rod connecting the arm F to a crank pin on
the disc J which is driven by the clock train K and spring L. M is a brake
which can be pressed against the disc J to stop the clockwork.
As the disc J revolves the arm F is caused by the connecting rod H to oscillate
and the cradle is rocked the friction of the spring G being sufficient to prevent
the trunnion C from turning in the arm F. If however the child or other.weight
in the cradle changes its position the cradle adjusts itself upon the arm so as to
keep the centre of gravity of itself and the weight in it when at rest always
directly beneath the line of the trunnions and oscillating equally to one side or the
other when in motion.
In place of the clock train any other motive power may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Connecting the trunnion of a cradle to an oscillating arm by a friction
arrangement which causes the cradle to follow the motions of the arm but allows
it to slip and readjust itself when the weight in it is moved.
2. In apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim the combination of the
trunnion, an oscillating arm slotted to receive the trunnion and a spring pressing
upon the trunnion.
3. Apparatus for rocking cradles substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of June 1892.
3
DANIEL WHITBURN.