US819609A - Self-propelling device. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAY I, 1906 B. SHORTHOUSE.

SELF PROPELLING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED Nov.27.19os.

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PATENT OFFICE.

BEN J AM IN SHORTHOU SE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SELF-PROPELLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1906.

Application filed November 27.1905.' Serial No. 289.285.

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Be it known that I, BENJAMIN SHORT- HOUsE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Propelling Devices, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a ball or cylinder which will roll along a horizontal plane or up an inclined plane without external aid and which constitutes a toy.

My said invention comprises a ball, cylinder, or like figure of revolution which has its center of gravity in or substantially in the axis of symmetry thereof and which has a pendulum or like suspended weight arranged therein so as to turn about said axis of symmetry, the weight being connected to the said ball, cylinder, or the like by a spring either directly or through a train of gearing, so that by turning the ball, cylinder, or the like or a part thereof relatively to the Weight energy will be stored in the spring and the weight will be gradually raised or swung up to one or the other side of its axis of oscillation. Since by reason of the lifting of the weight the center of gravity of the whole device is displaced to one or other side of the perpendicular plane containing the axis of symmetry, the said device will when placed on a level surface and released roll toward the side on which the weight is displaced until the said spring has become unwound or otherwise unstrained and the weight has returned to its lowerinost position beneath the axis of symmetry of the ball, cylinder, or the like.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, and Fig. 2 a transverse section on the line X X, Fig. 1, showing, by way of example, a hollow cylinFri'er 1g. 3 is a section of a ball, illustrating a slight modification of the invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections of cylinders, illustrating further modifications.

a, Figs. l and 2, is a hollow cylinder made as light as possible-for example, of tin-plate. The ends b b ofthe said cylinder are rovided on the inside with short central sha ts c c, on which hang loosely arms d d, connected at theirlower ends to a weight e, so as to allow the said weight to swing freely close to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder. To the inner ends of the shafts c c are respectively connected the ends of a spring f of any suitable construction-for example, a spiral spring or, asl shown in the drawings, a strip of indiarubber-and to the center of this spring the weight e is attached by means of an arm g, so as to enable the said india-rubber strip to be twisted when the cylinder is turned relatively to the pendulum formed by the arms d (Z and weight e. The short shafts c c are made hollow to receive the ends of the spring f, which are suitably secured therein-for example, by means of wedges h h. The mass of the weight e should not be sufliciently great to produce an injurious stress in the spring f when the center of gravity of the said weight is raised to the level of the axis of the cylinder-Ji. e., when the torque on the spring is a maximum. In this arrangement the spring is wound up by rolling or turning the cylinder in one d1- rection, and then when the cylinder is placed on a flat surface or even on a slightly-inclined surface and released it will roll backward until the spring becomes unwound.

In some cases the arms d d are omitted, and the weight is then suspended from the s ring.

In Fig. 3 the invention is shown applied to a ball and the arm g is shown inclined to the axis passing through the shafts c c, so that in this instance the ball instead of rolling on a great circle will roll on a small circle and the ball will describe a curved path instead of a straight one on the plane on which it rests.

In cases where it is desired to permit winding up of the spring without having to turn the ball, cylinder, or the like I connect the spring f, as shown in Fig. 4, at one end only to the said ball, cylinder, or the like through ratchet-wheel and pawl mechanism m n, operated through a squared shaft 0, whereby the corresponding end of the spring f may be turned relatively to the other end of the said spring, which is attached to the Weight e, or, if desired, the spring f, as shown in Fig. 5, may be attached at one end to the arm g and at the other end to the cylinder end b', which can be turned on the body a of the cylinder IOO for the purpose of Winding up the spring. to the endulum for controlling the move-- The friction between the flange of the end b ment o the latter. and the body of the cylinder is suoient to In testimony whereof I have hereunto set prevent slip of one on the other except When my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 5 Winding up the spring. nesses.

What I claim is- In a rotatable element, a Weighted pendulum suspended about one of the axes of the Witnesses: said element and Within the same, and a ten- GEORGE HARRISON, 1o sioning device connected to said element and HERBERT A. BEEs'rol\L2 B. SHORTHOUSE.

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