US438520A - bower - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. F. BOWERQ y GOIN GONTROLLED TESTING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS. No. 438,520.- Patented Oct. 14,v 1890.

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l J. P. POWER. G01N GONTROLLBD TESTING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS. No. 438,520. rvL13a/sented Oct. 14, 1890.

`5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

` (No Model.)

. J. F. BOWBR.- GQIN CONTROLLED TESTING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS. No. 438,520.

Patented Oat. 14, 1890.

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J. F. BOWER. GOIN CONTROLLBD TESTING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS. No. 438,520.

Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. E'. BOWER.

GOIN GONTROLLED TESTING AND DISPLAY'APPARATUS.-

No. 438,520. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

vunderstood from the subjoined description and the accompanying drawings.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOHN F. BOWER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOTVERS AUTOMATIC MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COIN-CONTROLLED TESTING AND DISPLAY APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,520, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed October 30, 1889. Serial No. 328,615. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. BOWER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Controlled Testing and Display Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

I have combined in this machine a lungtesting apparatus and ahealth-lift apparatus, also a kaleidoscope and a display mechanism, which are set in operation when the machine is used, and the latter of which is designed to render it attractive in appearance and interesting in operation.

An important 4feature of my invention is the combination, with a spring or equivalently-actuated display mechanism or device,

of connections between the same and the handle which operates the coin mechanism, whereby the user of the machine necessarily winds up Ior prepares for operation the display apparatus. The coin-controlling apparatus possesses several novel features, and is applicable to any coincontrolled machine.

The novel features of my invention will be The drawings show at Figures 1 and 2 respectively, a front and side elevation of afnachine embodying my present improvements, the latter partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical elevation of a portion of the machine with the back of the case removed. Fig. 4E is a vertical section of the coin-receiving devices. Fig. 5 is a section upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 arev sections upon the lines 6 6, 7 7, and 8 8, respectively, of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detail of the motor apparatus for driving the display mechanism. Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the lung-testing device, showing the parts thereof which receive the air-pressure. Fig. l1 is a detail section of the check-valve employed in the lung-testing apparatus. Fig. l2 is afront elevation, and Fig. 13 is a sectional view, of the apparatus for actuating the indicator-hand of the lower dial. Figs. la and 15 are detail views of the kaleidoscope and its actuating devices. Fig. 16 isa detail of the health-lift.

In said drawings, A represents the bed of the machine, and A2 a vertical casing applied thereto. Upon the bed A is a platform A', whereon the person intending to use the machine stands. The coinis inserted at the slot a, which delivers it upon a tilting platform B, intended to tilt when the coin reaches its lower edge, but having gravity sufficient to resist unless the coin is of the proper weight, a coin of less weight being insufficient to actuate the platform. Over this platform is a slotted guideway B. When the coin has traversed the guideway B and platform B, it is received between forked arms b, attached to a laterally-swinging lever B2, pivoted at h. As already stated, a coin of insufficient weight will be unable to tip the platform B, so that any such coin, even if it be of the proper diameter, will be detained between the point b2 at the crotch of the armsb and thelowermost point b3 of the platform B, so that it cannot fall into position to be used in releasing the various mechanisms of the machine. Such a coin will also remain in the fork formed by the arms b until the lever B2 is swung upon its pivot b', so as to carry the coin to the side of the platform B and allow the coin to drop out of the way. This swinging of lever B2 is brought about as follows: B3 is a shaft eX- tending to the front of the case A2 and provided with a handle B4. This shaft carries a cam b4, having a shoulder 20, as shown at Fig. 6, such shoulder engaging t-he point of an extension B5, attached to the lever B2. If now the shaft B3 be rotated by moving the handle BJX to the right, the extension B5 and lever B2 will be swung away from their normal position, and any inferior coin which may then be resting in the fork of arms b against the edge of the platform B will loe delivered at one side of but not into position to operate the devices which are intended to give control of the machine. If the coin be of the proper weight and size, it will tilt the platform B when it reaches the point at which the inferior coin was detained and fall from that point into the space formed between an arm b5, fast upon the shaft B3, and an opposing arm h6, supported from a sleeve B7, loose upon the shaft B8. The arm h6 .is shaped very much roc like the letter F, so that when no coin is interposed between it and the arm b5 thelatter may pass freely under the horizontal part of the arm b5. Said arm b5 is also provided with flanges 117, which serve to confine the coin at its edges. The coin when it has reached the point last described is in condition to effect the release of the various mechanisms embodied in the machine, and it is caused to do this by the rotation of the shaft B3 by means of the handle B5, such rotation extending through the major part of a rotation and stopping when the crank has reached the stop 128. In this rotation of -the shaft B3 the coin is carried with the arms b5 b5, and it may continue inl their embrace unt-il the return movement commences. In this return movement the shaft B5 moves first, in point of time, under the power of the retracting-spring b5, so that said coin-carrying` arms are separated. This allows the coin to drop to any proper receptacle-such, for instance, as the space inclosed between the front of the case, the upright Z115, and the floor A5. The dierence in point of time between the retractile movements of the shaft B3 and sleeve B7is obtained by detaining the sleeve momentarily by va device which I will now describe.

C is a pivoted lever, the free end of which is depressed by the projection Z115 upon the cam b4. As soon, however, as the cam moves suiciently to carry the part 1915 beyond said lever the latter rises under the power of the spring Z115 and into position to engage a projection h on the rim of a pulley C, secured on sleeve B7, and thereby to stop said pulley and the sleeve from returning to their normal position until the cam returns and again depresses the lever C', thus releasing the sleeve from the detaining-power of said lever and allowing it to turn back .in obedience to spring c2, by which the sleeve is connected with one of the shaft-bearings, or other relatively-fixed part. In this manner I obtain the release of the coin from the grasp of the arms h5 b5 and liberty for it to fall into the coin-receptacle.

The shaft B3 carries a pulley blo, upon which a cord h is wound. This cord winds up a spring F, through which the display mechanism is actuated, as hereinafter stated. The shaft B5 also carries a pulley lf2, actuating the spring F, whereby the kaleidoscope G, constituting a secondary display device, is operated through the medium of a cord Z914. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) These cords are caused to wind up the springs when ever the shaft B3 is turned by the crank B4, except, however, that when once wound up said springs remain under tension until they have done their work of actuating the display apparatus, and any subsequent rotation of the shaft B3 will have no eect upon the springs prior to their performing their said function. Any such rotations of the shaft would only result in winding up the cords and unwinding them again when the shaft 1s retracted by its spring' U.

TheV sleeve B7 moves with the shaft B3 only when a coin is in position between the arms b5 and h5, the coin at such times receiving the power from arm b5 and transmitting it to the sleeve through the arm b5. This movement of the sleeve winds up the cords c and c on the pulley C, which is fastened to the sleeve B7, and as said cords are connected to locking-pawls or equivalent devices for normally locking the various testing and display apparatus embodied in the machine, when so wound up they elfect the release of such locking-pawls by drawing them away from their normal locking positions. Having performed this function, the cords are unwound from the pulley C when the sleeve is retracted by its spring c2, and the several pawls, being impelled by springs or gravity, will be free to resume their normal positions as soon as the various testing devices are used.

The lung-testing part of my machine consists of a cylinder D, open at one end and provided with a spring-depressed piston or head D', which is made by a suitable packing practically air-tight. The stem cl of this piston carries a collar d', and the spring (Z2 is conlined between this collar d and the bearing or guide d3. The stem d of the piston D is connected by a cord d10 to a weight D5such cord passing over a pulley CZ (see Fig. 3) upon the shaft c 25, carrying the indicator-hand dm, located at the center of a dial D7, so that when the piston-head D and stem d are raised the cord d10 is yielded toward the weight D5, which then causes the pulley d and indicator-hand to rotate, thus indicating by means of dial D7 and hand C112 the test made. The air is blown into cylinder D and under the piston-head D through the airtube D2; but it is compelled before reaching said cylinder to pass first through a checkvalve D3 and thence through a controllingcylinder D4. This latter cylinder has a piston-head D5, mounted upon a stem (Z5, carrying a collar d5. Said cylinder D4 is connected to the main cylinder D by a pipe (Z7. The air entering the apparatus is prevented from returning by the check-valve D3, or under some circumstances by the piston-head D5 in the controlling-cylinder D4. The air cannot reach the cylinder D without raising the piston-head D5 sufficiently to uncover the mouth of the pipe (Z7. The piston-head D5 when once raised, however, will remain above the pipe (Z7 until the user stops blowing, and the air is thus caused to actuate the piston D.

To prevent the operation of the lung-testing device without the prior insertion of the requisite coin in the machine, the piston D5 is kept normally locked by a spring-pawl tls, engaging the collar (Z5, and such pawl is controlled by the cord c, before referred to, such cord acting when the coin mechanism is properly operated to draw the pawl out ol' the path of the collar d and to cause its upper end to lift and engage with a pivoted and gravitating stop cl. In this latter condi- IOO IIO

'6119, traversing a dial D10.

tion of the apparatus the user is free to blow into the air-tube D2, and when he does so he forces the stem d5 upward and causes it to lift the stop dg, thereby allowing the pawl to return to its locking position as soon as the piston-head D5 falls to its normal position. The pawl d8 of course remains in the unlocking position until the lung-testing device is used. -When the user ceases blowing, the pistonhead D5 immediately drops to its normal position, shutting 0E exit by the air-tube D2; but the air which has been blown into the cylinder D is allowed to escape throughthe cylinder D4 and through a passage formed by 'the pipe dis into a third cylinder D8, (see Figs. '10, 12, and 13,) provided with a piston-head d, the stem dw whereof carries a rack d1,

which actuates a pinion d upon the shaft dis,

carrying at its outer end an indicator-hand A number of turns will thus be given to this indicator-hand d around the dial, and the user is thereby made 'aware of the expansive power of the air he has forced into the apparatus. A pawl d20 and ratchet d21 are employed to prevent any backward movement of the indicator-hand (119, and a iiy-wheel D9 may be applied to the 'shaft C118 of the indicator to prevent too quick rotation whenthe pressure of the air first comes upon the piston dm. Yescapes at the port Z22 in the cylinder D8.

The air iinally The health-lifting apparatus consists of the handles E, mounted upon the ends of verti- `cal rods E', located at each side of the plat- 35 vver E2, a plan View whereof is given at Fig.

form A and connected with a horizontal le- 16. This horizontal lever is pivoted in front at e, and at its rear end it` is connected to a vertical rod E2, which passes through and is connected to the upper end of a spring E4 It will now be seen that if the handles are lifted upon the horizontal lever will be raised at its inner end7 so as to lift the rod E2 and distend the spring. The extent of the movement thus communicated to the vertical rod E231 cause to be indicated by the hand C112 by providing said vertical rod E3 with a springpawl c', (see Fig. 10,) which will engage the collar d on the piston-rod d and raise said piston-rod, thus allowing the weight Dto descend and actuate the indicator-hand CP2, through the shaft C125, to a corresponding extent. The same hand CP2 is thus employed to indicate both the amount of air blown into the spirometer or lung-tester and the weight lifted, the lower hand C119 merely showing the force with which the compressed air returns from the spirometer. The dial D7 may be provided with one or more rows of numerals to indicate the number of pounds lifted, as well as the pressure exerted in the lung-testing apparatus. This vertical rod E3 is normally locked by a pawl e2, engaging with the projection e2 upon the rod, and the pawl is actuated by a spring and is withdrawn from the locking position by the oord cin the same manner as pawl d8. It is also provided with a pivoted gravitating-sto'p e4,'similar to the stop dg, whereby when it has been released by the coin-controlling mechanism it will be held in the unlocked position until after the health-lift has been used, such stop being lifted to release the pawl by the upward movement of the rod E2.

As already stated, the turning of the crank B4 winds up the cord bu upon pulley bw, and through said cord and pulley flo on shaft F10 winds up the spring F or equivalent actuating means, which actuates the display mechanism. The latter maybe a mechanicallyoperating imitation of an electro-motor, as shown. This spring gives movement to the ratchet F', and upon the same shaft with the ratchet is a gear F2, actuated in one direction by the ratchet through the spring-pawl f. (See Figs. 3 and 9.) Through this gear F2 and the pinion f movementisimparted to anumber of parts constituting the display mechanismdsuch, for instance, as the bevel-gear F3, the piniongears f2 meshing therewith,

the armatures f3 on the shafts of pinions f2, l

and the armature f4, driven from gear F3. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) These parts will .continue the movement until the power stored in the spring F is exhausted; but the spring is held under tension by the pawl f5, meshing with a second ratchet f6, until said pawl f5 is drawn out of engagement with said ratchet by the cord c when the coin is inserted in the machine, as already explained. The pinion f is connected to the gear F3 by a sleeve (not shown) loosely encircling the shaft (125 of indicator-head d12.

The display mechanism may consist of any number and such variety of parts as may be deemed desirable.

The kaleidoscope G is mounted upon a journal G', passing through the front of the vertical case. Said journal carries a spring g, which is connected by a pulley g10 and cord i914 to pulley 1912, as already stated, and is Wound up by said cord when the user turns the crank B4. The tension thus secured in the spring is held by the spring-pawl g upon a disk G2, engaging the ratchet g2 upon the shaft G. A kaleidoscope preferably requires IOO IIO

an intermittent movement to allow the partioperation is substantially as follows: Supposing the spring F to have been wound up, drawing upon the cord c will Withdraw' the end of the pawl G3 (shown to be in engagement with the projection g3 of the disk G2 in Figs. 3 and 15) away from such engagement,

thereby allowing the spring to carry the disk around until the stop g3 reaches the hooked end of the pawl and engages therewith. The kaleidoscope will now be held until the cord c is slackened. This allows the spring h to draw the hooked end of the pawl away from the disk, and another half-rotation is imparted to the kaledioscope, stopping when the tooth g3 again reaches the position shown in Fig. l5.

The check-valve Dis not a necessity in the apparatus, and may be omitted therefrom.

- l claim- 1. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination of a horizontal shaft rotatable by the user and provided with an arm b5, asleeve loose upon said shaft and carrying an arm opposing said arm b5, a pulley rigid with said sleeve, devices which normally prevent the use of the machine connected with said sleeve, and a coin-chute delivering the coin between said arms, substantially as set forth.

2. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination of the horizontal shaft B3, having an operating-handle and rotatable by the user and provided with an arm b5, a sleeve loose upon said shaft and carrying an arm b, the latter arm being fashioned like the letter F, ianges 57 upon one of said arms, and a chute delivering the coin between said arms, substantially as set forth.

3. In a coin-controlled machine, a horizontal shaft having an external operating-handle and rotatable by the user, and a sleeve loose upon said shaft, both shaft and sleeve carrying arms adapted to seize the coin between them in a position parallel with the arms and shaft and forming a receptacle above and in line with the shaft, in combination with a locking device for normally locking the apparatus contained in the machine, and a mechanical connection between the sleeve and locking device, whereby the sleeve may release the apparatus, substantially as set forth.

Ll. In acoin-controlled machine, a shaft having a handle and rotatable by the user, a sleeve loose upon said shaft, means upon said shaft and sleeve for seizing the coin and causing the sleeve to move with the shaft, and separate springsllfor retracting both said shaft and sleeve, substantially as set forth.

5. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination of a lung-tester, an indicator for the same, display apparatus having an actuatingspring and wi nding mechanism therefor, means for controlling said lung-tester and display apparatus to normally prevent their use, coin-controlled mechanism for releasing said lung-tester and display apparatus, and connections from the winding mechanism of said spring to said coin-controlled mechanism, whereby said spring may be wound up, substantially as set forth.

6. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination of a testing apparatus, indicator for the same, display apparatus having an actuating-spring, means, such as pawls, for controlling said testing and display apparatus to normally prevent their use, coin-controlled mechanism having an external handle and connected with and adapted to release said testing and display apparatus, means, such as a pulley and cord, for winding up the spring of said display apparatus by the operation of the handle of the coin-controlled mechanism, and means, such as a pawl, for retaining the tension on said spring until released by the coin-controlled mechanism, substantially as set forth.

7. The coin-controlled machine consisting of health-lift device, lung-testing device, in dicators for the same, display apparatus having an actuating-spring and winding mechanism therefor, means, such as pawls, for controlling said health-lift, lung-tester, and display apparatus to normally prevent their use, and the coin-controlled mechanism having an external handle and connected with the Winding mechanism and with said controlling means,whereby said actuating-spring is wound up and the various devices are released, substantially as set forth.

8. The coin-controlled machine consisting of health-lift devices, lung-testing devices, indicators for the same, display mechanism having an actuating-spring and winding mechanism therefor, a second displaydevice, such as a kaleidoscope, means, such as pawls, for controlling said health-lift, lung-tester, and display apparatus to normally prevent their use, and coin-controlled mechanism having an external handle and connected with said winding mechanism and with said second display device and adapted foi releasing said devices and winding up said spring, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the gravity-platform B and swinging forked lever B2, of the cam b4, and the shaft of the controlling mechanism, whereby said lever is swung, substantially as set forth.

10. In the controlling mechanism of a coincontrolled machine, a shaft rotatable by the user, and a sleeve mounted on said shaft, both shaft and sleeve having arms for seizing the coin, and springs for retracting both the shaft and sleeve, in combination with dcvices for holding the sleeve momentarily against retraction, substantially as set forth.

11. In the controlling mechanism of a coincontrolled machine, a shaft rotatable by the user, and a sleeve mounted on said shaft, both shaft and sleeve having arms for seizing the coin, and springs for retracting both the shaft and sleeve, in combination with lever C and projection 1117 on pulley C, substantially as set forth.

12. In the controlling mechanism of accincontrolled machine, a shaft rotatable by the user, and a sleeve mounted on said shaft, both shaft and sleeve having arms for seizing the coin, and springs for retracting both the shaft and sleeve, in combination with lever IOO IIO

C', projection i917 on pulley C, ,and cam b4, having projection 515, substantially as set forth.

13. The shaft B3, having an external handle rotatable bythe user of the machine and carrying a pulley connected to and winding up the spring of a display apparatus, said apparatus and spring, a locking device therefor, a sleeve looseupon said shaft, carrying a device, such as a pulley, connected to said device, which normally locks said apparatus, and means upon said shaft and sleeve for receiving the coin and transmitting power from one to the other thereby, in combination with said apparatus, substantially as set forth.

14. The shaft B3, having an external handle rotatable from the outside of the machine and carrying a pulley connected to and winding up the actuating-spring of a display apparatus, said apparatus and actuating-spring, means for retaining the tension thus put upon the spring, and a spring for retracting said shaft, in combination with said apparatus and its actuating-spring, substantiallyas s'et forth.

15. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination of health-lift devices, an indicator for the same, means, such as pawls, for controlling said devices, a display mechanism having an actuating-spring, a shaft carrying an external handle and an arm b5 and connected to and winding up the spring of said display mechanism, a sleeve mounted upon said shaft, having an arm opposing said arm b5 in seizing the coin and connected with and adapted to release both said controlling means and the spring of said display mechanism, a coin-chute adapted to deliver the coin to said arms, a receptacle to receive the coin, and means for retracting the shaft and the sleeve, substantially as set forth.

16. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of a normally-locked lung-testing apparatus having a piston-stem, an indicator for the same, a dial-hand, means for carrying motion from said piston to said dialhand, a normally-locked health-lift apparatus connected to the same indicator, a shaft rotat-able by the user, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, arms on said shaft and sleeve for seizing the coin between them, and springs for retracting both said shaft and sleeve, both mouth-tube, of apparatus for indicating the expansive power of the air from said lungtesting apparatus, a valve between said mouth-tube and lung-testing apparatus and having locking devices, the coin-controlled mechanism having an external handle and shaft rotatable by the user, an air-pipe leading from the .casing of and'adapted to be closed by said valve and connected with the expansion-indicator, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, arms on said shaft and sleeve, adapted to receive the coin between them, and springs for retracting bothsaid shaft and sleeve, substantially as set forth.

18. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination, with a display apparatus and actuating means therefor, of a coin-controlled mechanism, an operating-handle for the latter, and connectionsbetween said handle and said actuating means of the display apparatus, whereby the actuating means is Wound up or prepared to actuate the said display apparatus by the act of operating said coincontrolled mechanism, substantially as set forth.

19. In a coin-controlled machine, the combination, with a display apparatus having an actuating means and a controlling means, of Y a coin-controlled mechanism having an operating-handle and comprising two movable parts between which the coin is adapted to be received, the one part being connected with the said controlling means of the display apparatus and the other part being connected with the operating-handle and adapted to move the irst-mentioned part through the medium of the coin, and connections between said handle and the actuating means of the display apparatus, whereby the actuating means is wound up or prepared to actuate the said display apparatus by the act of operating said coin-controlled mechanism, substantially as set forth.

JOHN F. BOWER.

Witnesses:

EDW. S. EvAR'rs, EMMA HACK.

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