US3365835A

US3365835A - Gyroscopic toy

Info

Publication number: US3365835A
Application number: US497843A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harlow B Grow
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-10-19
Filing date: 1965-10-19
Publication date: 1968-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 1985-01-30

Description

H. B. GROW Jan. 30, 1968 GYROSCOPIC TOY Filed Oct. 19, 1965 4 e 65 3 L 22 3.0 a & 5 2 m/ m 8}!\ 9 L INVENTOR, Her/o w 5. Grow ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,365,835 GYROSCOPIC TOY Harlow B. Grow, 16530 Chattanooga Place, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272 Filed Oct. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 497,843 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a gyroscopic toy and starter therefor wherein increased rotational speeds are obtainable for operation over extended lengths of time, and wherein a separable motor drive is cooperatively and releasably coupled to and initiates operation of the toy.

Gyroscopic toys as heretofore constructed have a rotor fixed to a spindle journaled at its ends in an open case. For safety, the rotor is of large diameter, to function at low speed so that if the fingers or hand should make contact with the rotor, the only result is to stop the rotary action. Consequently, such gyroscopic toys are quite limitedin use because of the relatively slow speed of the rotor. If the rotors are made to rotate at higher speed, such toys are dangerous and difficult to start.

The object of the present invention is to provide a toy having gyroscopic action which is not so restricted, but which may be safely operated at higher speed and for a longer period of time. This is accomplished by the provision of a high speed rotor and enclosing the rotor in a closed casing sufficiently strong to retain safely the rotor therein. It is obvious that such a rotor will be more difficult to start and to bring up to its operating speed, and therefore, the present invention also provides the toy with self contained means for transmitting power of an external force, such as an electric motor.

While it is to be understood that the invention is adaptable to various types of toys and the like requiring gyroscopic action, the invention is described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the form of a gyroscopic top, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a gyroscopic top incorporating the features of the present invention, and showing an external power means such as a motor equipped with a driver for connection with a means in the top to start the gyroscope, the gyroscopic top being illustrated in position ready to be engaged by the driving member on the motor.

FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view through the top, showing the driving engagement with the mechanism to rotate the rotor.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of the top and motor, showing a modified form of driving connection.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the driven mechanism in the top, in disasembled, spaced relation with respect to the driving member of the motor.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a gyroscopic toy in the form of a top containing a gyroscopic mechanism 2 which includes a wheel or rotor 3-having an annular rim 4 of considerable mass that is connected with a central hub 5 by spokes or disks 6. The hub 5 is fixed to a shaft or spindle 7 having pointed ends 8 and 9 to journal the shaft in bearings 10 and 11.

In accordance with the present invention the gyroscopic mechanism 2 is enclosed within a closed casing 12, preferably formed of plastic, and which in the illustrated instance includes

hollow cones

13 and 14 having diverging

walls

15 and 16 with their base pen'meters 17 suitably connected together, for example by an adhesive 18, to form a unitary casing having a chamber 19 for containing the gyroscopic mechanism.

3,385,835 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 The bearings 10 and 11 are preferably formed of a hard wear-resistant material and have

conical bearing sockets

20 and 21 to journal therein the pointed ends 8 and 9 of the shaft 7. The bearing 10 is bedded within the apical portion of the cone 13 by an insert 22 fixed to the material of the cone or forming an integral part thereof. The bearing 11 is of similar construction, but the exterior thereof is preferably cylindrical in shape, in that it is to be slidably retained in a support member 23 which also serves as an internal driving member to rotate the gyroscopic mechanism.

The member 23 has a cylindrical body 24 that is slidably and rotatably retained in a neck portion 25 of the cone 14 and Which is formed as a continuation of the wall 16 of the cone 14.

The neck portion has a through bore of a circumference 26 to slidably engage the cylindrical surface 26' of the member 23 and support the member 23 therein. The open end 27 of the bore is encircled by an annular inwardly extending stop flange 28 to prevent outward displacement of the member 23, but the flange 28 leaves ample opening to admit of a driving mmeber 29 of a motor 30. The innermost end of the cylindrical member has an axial bore 31 terminating in a seat 32 for the end of a coil spring 33 to support the bearing member 11 slidably in the bore in position to seat the pointed end 9 of the shaft 8 in the socket 21. The spring also supports the gyroscopic mechanism 2 and retains the pointed end 8 of the shaft 7 journaled within the socket 20 of the bearing member 10.

It is obvious that since the bearing 11 is slidable freely within the bore 31 of the member 23, and since the member 23 is backed by the flange 28, the weight of the gyrosopic mechanism is carried upon the spring 33. However, the spring 33 has sufiicient strength to retain the pointed ends 8 and 9 of the shaft 7 constantly journaled in the bearings 10 and 11. It is also obvious that the member 23 may be moved from its seat upon the stop flange 28 compressing the spring 33 to effect a driving connection with the gyroscopic mechanism, as now to be described.

The annular face 34 of the member 23 which encircles the bore 31 constitutes a frictional driving face to engage frictionally a face 35 on the disk member 36 that is rigidly connected with the shaft 7 in aligning registry with the annular driving face 34 to rotate the gyroscopic mechanism when the member 23 is displaced from its seating flange 28 by the driving member 29 on the motor 30.

The driving connection between the member 29 and the member 23 may be by friction or by a positive connection such as shown in FIG. 3. In the form shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the face 37 of the member 23 constitutes a friction face that frictionally connects with a complementary face 38 on the member 29.

In the modified form, the member 23 has a socket 39 provided with flat faces 40 to engage the flat faces 41 on the driving shaft 42 of the motor.

The casing 12 may be provided with vent openings 43 if required. Such openings may be relatively small, since their only purpose is to allow air to pass into and out of the casing.

In assembling the top as described, the spring 33 is inserted in the bore 31 of the member 23 to engage the seat 32, after which the bearing member 11 is inserted in the open upper end of the bore 31 to seat on the spring 33. The assembly is then inserted in the bore 26 of the cone 14 through the open base thereof prior to application of the other cone 13. In seated position, the member 23 engages the stop flange 28 so that it is supported thereby. The gyroscopic assembly, including the wheel or rotor 3 and shaft 7 with the friction disk 36 fixed thereto, is inserted through the open base of the cone 14 so that the point 9 on the shaft seats within the socket 21 of the bearing member 11. The cone 13 with the bearing member fixed therein is inverted over the perimeter 17 of the cone 14 so that the

walls

15 and 16 are in abutting registry to be secured together by the adhesive 18. After assembly, the gyroscopic mechanism is journaled in the bearings 1t and 11 with the spring 33 taking up any play and retaining the points 8 and 9 of the shaft journaled in the

sockets

20 and 21. The gyroscopic mechanism is now free to turn within the chamber 19 when it is started by the motor 30.

In starting the gyroscopic mechanism, the top is grasped in the hand and positioned with the open end 27 of the neck in axial registry with the driving member 29 on the motor shaft, so that the open end of the neck 25 passes over the driving member 29 of the motor to engage the face 37 of the member 23 with the face 38 of the driving member on the motor. With downward pressure applied to the casing, the neck 25 thereon starts to slide on the member 23 to compress the spring 33 and bring the annular driving face 34 thereof into contact with the friction face 35 of the disk 36.

With the motor in operation, the driving member 29 rotates the member 23, and the member 23 rotates the disk 36, to start rotation of the gyroscopic rotor or wheel. The shaft 7 will turn in its bearings 10 and 11, since the proper support pressure is maintained by the spring 33. The bearing 11 may or may not turn during the time the power is applied. When the motor 30 has brought the rotor up to speed, the top is withdrawn from the driving member 29, whereupon the member 23 moves downwardly under the action of the spring 33, to again seat on the stop flange 28, where it is retained during normal operation of the gyroscopic mechanism.

Itis to be noted that the bearing 11 does not move in relation to the shaft during the starting operation or during return of the member 23 to seated position after the gyroscopic mechanism has been brought up to speed. When the member 23 is in its seated position, with the gyro wheel 4 turning, the member 23 will not be in rotation. The bearing 11 will also be at rest. if desired, the bearing member 11 may be slidably keyed within the the member 23.

If desired, the driving connection with the motor shaft may be of a positive type, as disclosed in FIG. 3, wherein the motor shaft 42 is caused to enter the socket 39 with the fiat sides 41 engaging the flat faces of the socket.

Since the casing formed by the

cones

13 and 14 completely encloses the gyroscopic mechanism, it is impossible for the operator to make contact with the rotating wheel or interfere with rotation thereof. Also, should there be a failure because of bursting of the rotating wheel, parts cannot fly outwardly to do damage, because they will be retained within the casing 12. By this arrangement, a wheel of higher speed can be used.

What -I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power, said gyroscopic toy including a casing having an entrance opening to admit a rotary driving member of an external power means,

a gyro rotor in the casing,

a shaft carrying the gyro rotor,

a bearing fixed within the casing in axial alignment with the entrance opening for journaling one end of the shaft,

an internal driving member within the casing in registry with said opening and having a seat on a part of the casing and adapted to be unseated by the driving member of the power means when said driving member is projected through said opening to rotate the internal driving member,

a bearing slidably carried in the axis of the internal 4 driving member for journaling the other end of the shaft, and

a driven member fixed to the shaft and driven by the internal driving member when the internal driving member is actuated by the driving member on said external power means.

2. A gyroscopic toy as described in claim 1,

and including a spring between the last named bearing member and the internal driving member for yieldingly supporting said last named bearing member and for disengaging the internal driving member for driving contact with the driven member on said shaft.

3. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power as described in claim 1,

in which the casing provides a top.

4. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power,

said gyroscopic toy including a casing having an entrance opening to admit a rotary driving member of an external power means,

a gyro rotor in the casing,

a shaft carrying the gyro rotor,

an internal driving member slidable and rotatable within the casing in registry with said opening and having a seat on a part of the casing and adapted to be unseated by the driving member of the power means when said driving member is projected through said opening to rotate the internal driving member,

a bearing slidably carried by the internal driving member for journaling the other end of the shaft,

a spring having one end engaging a seat on the internal driving member for resiliently supporting said last named bearing and for yieldingly retaining the internal driving member on its seat, and

a driven member fixed to the shaft in spaced relation with the internal driving member to be rotatably engaged by the internal driving member when the internal driving member is unseated by the driving member of said external power means.

5. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power as described in claim 4,

in which the internal driving member has a frictional face contacted by a frictional face on the driving member of said external power means.

6. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power as described in claim 4,

in which the internal driving member has a positive connection for connection with the driving member of said external power means.

7. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power as described in claim 4,

wherein said casing includes a neck portion having a through bore to provide said insert opening and the internal driving member is slidably and rotatably contained in said bore of the neck portion.

8. A gyroscopic toy to be started by external power as described in claim 4,

wherein the internal driving member has an axial bore for containing the spring whereby the internal driving member moves over the spring supported bearing for limiting thrust on said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1962 Poticha 4650 X 3/1963 Hellman 46-243