US1033077A - Motor-propelled ball. - Google Patents

Description

J. G. AYERS, R. MOTOR PROPELLED BALL.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 3, 1910 633,077. Patented July 23, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. G. AYERS, JR.

MOTOR PROPELLED BALL. APFLIQATI N FILED MAR. 21, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. G. AYERS, JR. MOTOR PROPELLED BALL. APPLICATION IILED MAR. 3, 1910. 1,033,077. Patented July 23, 1912.

4 SHEI ITSSHBET 3.

Hlll I IIIHHIH Jae 4 {yerq a J. G. AYERS MOTOR PRQPELLED BALL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

UNITED STAflTES PATENT OFFFCE.

JOSEPH GERRISH AYERS. JR... OF STEELTON. PENNSYLVANIA.

MOTOR-PROPELLED BALL.

To all whom it may. concern:

lie-it. known that l. JOSEPH (i. YERS, .liz,

av citizen of the United States, residing at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented c -r tain new and useful linproveiiients in Motor-Propelled Balls, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to movable toys, and the piililiiy object. is to, provide a self-propelled body or object. in which the propelling mechanism is concaled. so that when in operation. said toy will excite the interest and wonderment of a beholder, not conversant with the internal structure thereof.

A further and important object is to provide means for predetcriiiiiiing the path of movement of the object or body, in order that it may he caused to travel in a prescribed path, thus not only adding to the interest of seeing itin operation. but even making it appear extraordiiiaiy in its gy rat ions.

A general object is to providea toy of the above character thatcan be cheaply manufactured, and can also he eniploved for use in games if desired.

While the invention may be enibodied in various ways, in order to exemplify theview through still another inoi'lificatioii, in-

volving a structure which provides for caiising the sphere to describe the figure 8. Fig.

6 is asectional view through a toy enibodying the invention, and designed to travel in l a spiral path.

wherein is employed means for detei-min- Fig. 7 discloses a structure path is made variable. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a structure that will move in a t will .not thus turn. The proper weightcan 110 circle. Fig. i) is a diagrammatic vie\\ illustrating various paths of movement that the toy may have.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3. 1910.

inga path of movement for the toy, but said Patented Jiily23, 1912.

Serial No. 547.148.

Similar refeience numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of thei drawings.

Referring [ii-st to the embodiment dis- (l(ise(l in Figs. l-? inclusive, it will be noted that a rolling body or casing '01 shell it) is employed that is spherical in form, vi'/.., a hollow ball, though it will be evident thatit is not necessary to have a true 5 sphere. This casing may be made of metal, or other suitable material. that is light in iweiglit. and preferably comprisessections 11 and 12. secured together by an internal 'tlaiige orband 1 that bridges the joint bet-weeii said sections. A pair ofbrackets 14, or other suitable supports are arranged diametrically opposite to each other within the shell, and jouriialed in these. brackets. isz shaft 15. one-end of which preferably terminutes short of the casing wall. the other 7 end being angular in form, as shown at- 16, and disposed at an opening 17 formed in the casing wall. This opening is for the purpose ttf 'pt'l'tililiilig' a winding crank IS 30 or key to be fitted on to the angular end of the shaft. The opposite end portion of said shaft is provided with a ratchet wheel 15), the teeth of which are engaged by a (log 20 pivoted on the adjacent bracket.

Loosely g5 hung on theshaft 15 is a substantially U- shapedmotor frame 21, that is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft by any suitable means. as for instance, collars orenlargements 22 embracing one arm of the frame. spring motor is mounted in and itll'l'lttl with this frame. and in the form shown. ((ilii|)ii ashaft 23, .to which is, attached the inner end of ahelical spring 24, the outer end being connected by a pin to the frame. Secured tothe shaft agear wheel 16 that meshes with apinion 27 fasl upon theshaft 15. The operation of this structure is substantially as follows:--

plied to the angular end it; of theshaft 15 Land the shaft revolved thereby, it will be evident that thepinion 27 will be rotated, thus rotating the gear wheel '26 and windvio is that the tendency of llllfi tilXlttllOll will lie to turn the entire motor with its 5 frame around the shaft. but the motor and frame are made heavy enough so that they of course be determined by experiment. and i if the mechanism is not sufficiently heavy, r

If a winding device. as thecrank 18. is ap l l iiig the spring '34. l t will of coursebe obl or the spring has too much resistance, the frame can be suitably weighted. I-laving thus wound the spring, it will be evident that if it is released, said spring,- \Vill retract,

and thereby tend to rotate thegear wheel 26, consequently revolving the pinion 2? and the.shaft 15. This shaft, however, i!- now held against rotation with respect ti the casing by the dog and ratchetdevi j 1S and 20. Therefore, the casing is caused ti revolve, and if placed upon a liner, or othei surface, will roll thcreover. In the form o1 structure shown in Fig. 1, the sphere wil.-' roll in a straight line, inasmuch as the frame with the suspended motor is arranged cen trally on theshaft 15. To cause this sphem to IITove in a circle, it is only necessary tr' place the frame and motor near one cut of the shaft, as shown in Fig. The di ameter of the circular path of movement can 1 will therefore be-clear that the means for fined curved path of rolling the sphere or body also constitutes means for determining its path when. rolling, but in order to enhance interest in the device,said body or toy may he given a dea serpentine character. Thus in Fig. 4, disclosed aspherical casing 28 having the supporting, winding, and driving shaft 2!) journaled iliametrically therein, which shaft is provided at one end with a pawl andratchetconnection 30 with the casing, and has its other end angular, as illustrated at iii to receive a winding device. A fran'ie 32, hung from theshaft 29, supports thespring motor 3 :which geared, as shown at 3 1 to the shaft, so that the mechanism, as thus far described, operates as a propelling mechanism in exactly the same manner as that emlmdiment shown in Figs. 2, 3 and In this form (if the device, however, the means or determining the path of the body or: toy. is a'shiftingweight 35, preferably a lnall of lead or other heavy material, and this hall operates in a tunnel or guideway .36 formed within the casing. It will of course he understood that the guideway or "tunnel--t :a-n- :he arranged in .Varions ways. but'in auyevent, when the sphere isrollmg under the action of the motor, the ball will remain at all times in the lowermost portion thereof. At the same time\ it will be guided back and forth, thus Ecausing the toy causing a pendulum-like lateral swing for the casing, and hence determining a serpentine path for the same, as indicated in one of the diagrams of Fig. 9. The curvhture of such path is determined not only by the arrangement of the guideway 06, but also by the relative weight of thehall and-the. motor. In fact, a phiglity of said halls may he employed, so as to give a long scrpentine movement, or a-inovement in 'i'vhich the path is composed of closed or overlapping loops, as disclosed in Fig. 9. A slightly dili'erent means for securing this serpentine path of movement is shown 1n llig. o.

In this :form of structure, the spherical casing is illustrated at 37, and contains ashaft 38, on which is loosely mounted a frame'39 having anarm 40 extending therefrom. Theshaft 38 is journale'd' in ln'ackets 4.1, and one end of said shaft is squared, as shown at 42, to receive a key or other turning device.' Connected to this shaft, is amotor spring 43, and agear wheel 44 is also attached to said sliitft. The gear whcel t i meshes with apinion 45 on anarbor 46 journaled in the framefl l, and this arbor carries a gear wheel 47 meshing with apinion 48 fixed to one of thebrackets 41 and having a clearance over theshaft 38. The said arhor also has a beveled gear 49me'shing with abeveled gear 50 that is fixed to an augularly disposed shaft 51. journaled in the frame 3!), and carrying a curved sweep or arm 52, that has secured to its free end aweight 53. \Vith this i'nechanism, it will be evident that when theshaft 38 is turned by the key. thespring 43 will he wound, and preferably to avoid theturning of the frame and gearing, the casing has anopening 54, through which can he temporarily passed a holdiigg pin that engages apin 56 on thearm 0.

or other surface, it will be evident that thesha ft 38 will he rotated, thereby rotating the arhor 4-H, and as said arbor will rotate thegear 48. the casing will he turned and rolled over the surface on which it is placed. At the same time, the shaft 51 will be rotated, thus sweeping theweight 56 around in a circle and causing the sphere to have a double serpentine path of movement, and in fact causing the same to describe the figure 8, as shown in one of the diagrams of Fig. 9. As will .be understood, this form of the invention necessarily includes the usual pawl'and ra'tchetdevice '38, having the functions of the corresponding pawl and ratchet in all other forms of the invention.

In Fig. 6, mechanism is disclosed for to have a spiral path of movement. In this form of structure, the spherical casing is designated 57, and jour- Iialcd diametrically therein. is the usual shaft- 58, having an exposed angular end When the spring has thus been, wound. and the device is placed upon afloor 59, whereby it may be rotated. A dog and ratchetconnection 60 is provided bet-ween the shaft and the casing. Loosely hung from this shaft is aframe 61, carrying aspring motor 62, geared as shown at 63 to t e shaft. The said shaft is furthermore provided with aspiral groove 64, and aweight 65 having aprojection 65? engaging in the groove, is suspended from theshaft 59, and is of course moved along, the shaft, when'the latter is rotated. The parts are so arranged that when the spring is unwound, theweight 65 will be at one end of thegroove 64. Consequently when the shaft is turned to wind the motor, the weight will be caused to traverse the shaft to the other end of the groove. Upon placing the sphere or toy upon a surface and releasing theshaft 58, therefore itwill be obvious that said shaft will be held in a tilted position by theweight 65, and the sphere will travel in a curved path having a gradually varyingdiameter, inasmuch as the weight will travel along the shaft.

Finally, attention is invited to Fig. 7, wherein a structure is illustrated having means for determining a path of movement for the toy, yet making such path variable. Aspherical casing 66 is employed, in which is journaled theusual shaft 67, having a dog and ratchetconnection 68 with the casing, and hung from this shaft, is theframe 69 containing amotor 70 geared, as illustrated at 71,*to theshaft 67.

The path determining weight orball 68 is arranged loosely within the casing, and said casing has a series of inwardly extending fingers orprojections 69, which engage the ball upon the rolling movement of the casing, thus causing said ball to roll to different indeterminate positions within the easing, and causing constant variations in the.

path of the toy.

From the foregoing, construction, operation tages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, withit is thought that the and many advan-.

out further description, and it will hennderstood that various changes in the size,

and minor details 6f conshape, proportion,

resorted to without destruction, may be parting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my inven-' tion, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a toy of the character set forth, the combination with a spherical casing, of a shaft journaleddiametrically therein, a dog and ratchet connection between the shaft and easing, said shaft having 011;! end formed to receive, a key, a frame loosely hung solely from the shaft, a spring motor journaled in the frame, said frame and motor being held against rotation by their own weight and gearing con necting the motor and shaft.

2. In a toy of the character set forth, the

and being accessibh; to,

combination with a rolling spherical body,

of a rotary shaft journaled in the body, a motor geared to the shaft for rolling the body,

when rolled and means for preventing rotation of the shaft in one direction.

3. In a toy shaft journaled therein and having an. ex posed end for rotating it with respect to the body, a dog and ratchet connection between the shaft and body, a motor loosely hung from the shaft and geared thereto, means movably mounted within the body for de termining its path of movement when rolled, and means engaging said path determining means for governing the direction of movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH GERPJSH AYERS, JR.

\Vitnesses:

WALTON BoU'rnLLn FULLER, ANDREW ALFRED BAKER.

of the character set forth, the, combination with a spherical body, of a means other than the motor for determining the path of movement of the body

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