Popular Science Monthly 



263 



A Small Sand Spreader Is Useful 

 All the Year Round 



THE small two-wheeled bin device 

 shown below is particularly adapted 

 for spreading sand over small areas such as 

 icy cross walks in the winter or over oily 

 streets, or for scattering fertilizer in the 

 summer. The sand is spread uniformly 

 with no bare spots or large piles, 

 hence this is preferable to the 

 hand method. The device 

 also applicable to the spread- 

 ing of ashes over country 

 walks. 



The apparatus con- 

 sists of a funnel-shaped 

 bin mounted on an 

 axle with two wheels 

 and provided with 

 front and rear handles 

 so that it may be pushed 

 along from either end. 

 A vertical rectangular open- 

 ing is provided at the bot- 

 tom of the bin with a slide- 

 door through which the 

 sand or other material to be 

 spread drops upon a circu- 

 lar horizontal plate held in a 

 vertical shaft on a frame 

 attached to the axle. The 

 circular plate is directly beneath the bin 

 opening and is provided with curved 

 radiating fins. The plate is revolved 

 at a speed varying with that at which 

 the cart is pushed by means of a set 

 of bevel gears and a chain driven off a 

 large sprocket on one of the wheels. The 

 sand dropping on the plate is thrown off by 

 centrifugal force when the plate auto- 

 matically revolves as the cart is 

 pushed along. In this way the 

 sand or fertilizer, or whatever 

 may be the contents of the bin, 

 is distributed evenly whether the 

 cart is pushed slowly or rapidly. 



The Newest Child's "Pushmobile." 

 It Is Built on a Novel Principle 



A CHILD'S hand -propelled pushmobile 

 has been invented by Charles R. van 

 Horn of Aberdeen, Wash. The lower end 

 of the operating lever is coupled by two 

 connecting rods with the gearing that 

 drives the rear wheels and propels the 

 vehicle. The connecting rods are 

 attached to the lever at different 

 points; they also engage the 

 first gear wheel at different 

 portions. Hence, any 

 dead center is eliminated. 

 Whatever its position, 

 the lever will immedi- 

 ately start the vehicle 

 when any pres- 

 sure is exerted on 

 it. 



A child can drive this 

 ingenious vehicle with 

 one hand. The diagram 

 at the right explains 

 the principle involved 



Platform 



Drive sprocket 



Steering wheel 



The funnel-shaped bin with its circular plate 

 underneath, spreads the sand automatically 



A child can drive this machine with one 

 hand. The steering is controlled by a 

 rotatable handwheel mounted on the pro- 

 pelling lever. Two flexible cords connect 

 this steering-wheel with opposite portions 

 of a cross member attached to the mounting 

 of the front wheel. The propelling lever is 

 not tilted from side to side like a tongue but 

 always moves in a straight forward-and- 

 back direction lengthwise of the platform of 

 the pushmobile. In fact, this steering wheel 

 is operated likethatof an automobile, so that 

 the child in learning to drive the toy. push- 

 mobile is really trained to govern a big car. 



For coasting, the gearing can be shifted 

 out of operative connection with the 

 propelling lever, the coasting device being 

 regulated by the child's foot. 



As an exerciser, this form of vehicle leaves 

 nothing to be desired. Practically every 

 muscle of the child's body is brought into 

 action — notwithstanding the fact that the 

 operation is smooth and easy. Naturally, 

 the faster one wishes to go the more effort 

 must be expended. 



