GB262200A - Improvements in, and relating to game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

262,200. Walton, A. L. Sept. 18, 1925. Tug-of-war games, mechanical.-A game apparatus is provided with means whereby two opposing players or teams may retard or neutralize each others efforts to impart motion to an indicating device which shows the resultant differential motion. As applied to a " Tug-of-war " game, the figures are carried by a sliding bar a, Fig. 1, held in zero position by a weight b or springs and movable in either direction by a spiral gear f engaging a rack on the bar. The gear f carries the planet wheel g of an epicyclic gearing h, g, h<1>, the wheels h, h' being connected through shafts i, i<1>, bevel gearing j, j<1> and clutches l, l<1> to hand-wheels k, k'. The hand-wheels are turned in the same direction by opposing players, any difference of speeds causing a movement of the bar a. The clutches may be engaged by hand or coin-operated mechanism, and are disengaged when the bar reaches a predetermined position. In a modification, two or more pairs of hand-wheels are provided for opposing teams of players, the motions of the hand-wheels of each side being cumulatively transmitted through planetary gearing to the wheels h, h<1>. In another modification, Fig. 3, the bar a has a depending arm w engaging a collar u on a screwed rod v which is slidably keyed to a worm-wheel p<1> rotated by one hand-wheel shaft n'. The other hand-wheel rotates a worm-wheel p carried by a nut x engaging the screwed portion of the rod v. In a further modification, Fig. 4, the rod a is connected to floats 3, 4 arranged in vessels 5, 6 containing liquid and connected by a pipe 7 provided with a valve 8. Two further pipes 9, 11 with pumps 10, 12 are arranged to pump liquid in opposite directions from one vessel to the other. With the valve 8 shut, the pumps are operated by opposing players and any difference of level of the liquid in the tanks is indicated by the bar a. Air bellows, each having one end free to rise and fall, may be substituted for the liquid tanks and floats.