US973105A - Amusement apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

W. P. CHAMBERLAIN, Jn. AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLIUAJTION FILED JANJ, 1910.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

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AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

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AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN.7. 1910.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

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WILSON P. CHAMBERLAIN, JR., OF KANE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MCCONNELL, OF KANE, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 191-0.

Application filed January 7, 1910. SeriaI No. 536,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVinsoiv P. CHAMBER- LAlN, J12, citizen of the United States, residing at Kane, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to amusementdevices, and particularly to amusement devices having the character of merry-go-rounds, wherein a series of supports are carried around a central post, the object of the invention being to provide an amusement device of this character, having a plurality of cars or vehicles, which are carried around upon an undulating track so that the vehicles will be given an undulating movement. lvlechanism is also provided whereby the track moves in one direction while the vehicle is moving in the reverse direction, thus apparently increasing the speed of the ve hicle, and in combination with the movements above described, the vehicle is given an individual rotative movement and is also oscillated from side to side. There is thus for each vehicle a revolution about a central point, a rotation about its own vertical axis, and a rocking movement. Means are also provided whereby the vehicle may be intermediat-ely rotated in opposite directions while rising and falling vertically and being carried around the central axis.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, and to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a general perspective view of my amusement device; Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the vehicles, showing the manner in which it is rotated and oscillated; Figs. 5 and 6 show modified forms of the vehicle illustrated in Fig. l; and, Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the drums and collars surrounding the central mast.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to these drawings, A designates a base of any desired character, having thereon the circular track rail B which is preferably triangular in section. Supported at the center of the base, and extending upward therefrom, is the central fixed mast 2 which is supported at its lower end in a socket 3 attached to the base in any desired manner. The upper end of the post is intended to support a tent, roof, or other covering structure, and is rigidly upheld by means of transverse braces 4 which extend out beyond the outer rotatable platform of the merry-go-round and are connected to the base in any suitable manner.

Rotatably surrounding the mast, and located beneath the socket 3, is the drum 5 carrying the projecting arms 6 supporting the outer rotatable platform. Bolted to the mast 2, above the drum 5, is the collar 8, and supported rotatably upon this collar and surrounding the mast is the upper drum 9 which has practically the same construction as the drum 5 and carries the radiating arms 10 for the uppermost platform. Each of the drums 5 and 9 consists of a cylindrical body supported on ball bearings and having a series of radial sockets in which the radiating beams or arms 6 and 10 are supported. The detailed construction of these drums and their ball bearings will be later described. The outer ends of the beams 6 support an annular platform 12, this platform, or the beams supporting it, being provided with supporting rollers 13 which engage with the track B. Thus, the platform 12 is movable in a circular direction on the track B around the central mast 2. Any suitable means may be used for driving this platform in a circular direction. I have shown no means for this purpose, as any one of a number of connections common to merrygo-rounds might be used. The beams 6 at their inner ends support a platform 14; which has upon its upper face the annular rack 15 adapted to engage with a toothed gear wheel 16, each gear wheel being mounted upon an arm 17 rigidly attached to the collar 8 by bolts which extend through the collar and through the mast. Thus, the arms 17 do not move around the central mast 2, but the platform moves relatively to the arms.

The drum 9 is supported upon antifriction bearings engaging with the upper end of the collar Sand carries the radially projecting beams 10 supporting a platform 20. The beams 10 carry upon their under side the annular rack 21 which is also engaged by the gear wheel 16. To this platform 20, or to the arms 10 which form part of the platform, the cars or other vehicles are attached by arms 22. It will be obvious that a rotation of the lowermost platform 14 will cause the gear wheel 16 to be rotated, thus causing a rotation of the upper platform 20, but in a reverse direction to the lower platform 14.

Supported onthe platform 12 is a substructure 23 which has an undulating upper surface. This undulating upper surface maybe either regular or irregular, as desired, so that cars or trucks moving upon the surface of the sub-structure will be given a rising and falling movement. The track supporting-structure 23 is provided upon its upper surface with the opposed tracks 24, with a longitudinal rail 25, and with a 1011- gitudinally extending rack 26.

The cars upon my amusement device comprise platforms 27 having supporting wheels 28 of any suitable character which engage with the tracks 24. The platform 27 is designed to travel around upon the upper face of the sub-structure 23. The upper face of the platform 27 carries upon it the circular rack 29, and passing through the center of the platform 27 is the shaft 30, which shaft carries upon its lower end the pinion 31. Supported upon the rotatable platform, as will be later described, is the cup-shaped carriage 32 which has depending cars 33 at its middle which pivotally engage with the upper end of the shaft 30. It will thus be seen that while the carriage 32 will rotate with the shaft 30, at the same time it is allowed lateral oscillating movement. This is secured by connecting opposite sides of the cup-shaped carriage 32 by links 34 to crank pins upon the gear wheels 35. These gear wheels 35 are connected by a transverse shaft 36 so as to move together, the crank pins on the two gear wheels being oppositely set. It will thus be seen that as the cup is rotated,the gear wheels 35 will travel around upon the rack 29 and will thus cause the cupshaped body or carriage to oscillate as well as rotate.

As will be seen in Fig. 5, the rack whereby the shaft 30 is rotated is sometimes located on one side of the pinion 31 and sometimes on the other side of said pinion, and hence the direction of rotation of the cupshaped body 31 will change.

As a means for preventing the platform 27 from leaving the track 24, I provide the rail 35 whose head engages with guard rollers 36 carried upon depending arms 37 which are mounted upon the under side of the platform 27.' It will be seen that the platform 27 is held rigidly connected to the track, though moving upon the same, and

7 even though the carriage mounted upon the platform is in a condition of violent oscillation.

I may secure the oscillation of the carriage by other means than by means of the gears 24 and links 27 Thus in Fig. 5, I show the platform as being provided with an undulating track 38 which is engaged by the rollers 38 these rollers being carried upon the lower end of the depending rigid supports 39.

In Fig. 6 I show a construction which is practically like that shown in Fig. 4, but in which the gear wheels designated 40 are placed at an angle with the central Vertical axis of the carriage 32, thus taking up the swinging of the tub-like carriage.

In order to connect the carriages and their supporting platforms to the beams 10 or to the platform 20, I provide the rods 22 which are pivotally connected to the platform 20 to permit a movement in a Vertical plane, and are so connected as to move with the platform and to carry the carriage attached thereto along with the platform. Preferably I provide the platform with depending ears 41 within which is pivoted a sleeve 42 through which the rod 22 passes and slides, the extremity of the rod being provided with a head preventing the with drawal of the rod from engagement with the sleeve. The outer end of the rod 22 is attached to the platform of the carriage to permit the rod 22 to move vertically as the carriage rises and falls.

In order to add to the illusion conse- 100 quent upon the rapid movement of the cars in one direction, I preferably provide an annular screen 43 which surrounds and con ceals the platform 10. This annular screen 43 is supported upon standards 44 which are 105 attached to the sub-structure 23. These standards extend upward to a point above the cars or carriages, and then extend across the sub-structure, and carry depending rods 45 which support a ring 46 at their lower 11 ends. Canvas or other suitable scenic material 47 is supported upon these rods 45 and the ring 46, the outer face of the canvas being painted, as shown in Fig. 1, in any attractive manner. The screens 43 do not 115 extend down below the fixed platform of the carriage, and thus do not interfere with the free movement of the arms 22. The lower edge of the screen conforms to the undulations of the super-structure 23.

As shown in Fig. 7, each of the drums 5 and 9 comprises a body formed with a series of radiating lugs or division plates 45 between which the beams 6 and 10 are supported. The upper and lower ends of the 125 drums are covered by plates 46, these plates being held in position by bolts 47 which pass down through the plates and through the beams. The plates are also bolted to the body portion of the drum. Each of the 130 drums is recessed at its upper and lower I radiating beams rotatable around said mast ends, as shown in Fig. 7, and mounted in each recess is the bearing ring 50, the outer edges of which are formed with raceways for the reception of antifriction balls or bearings 51. The balls upon the lower bearing ring of the lowermost drum run in a raceway formed in the upper edge of the socket 3. The balls 51 in the upper ring 50 of the drum 5 run in a raceway formed in the lower end of the collar 8. The lower bearing ring of the uppermost drum has a raceway formed in. its lower edge, carrying the antifriction balls which bear in raceways formed in the upper end of the collar 8. The uppermost drum has attached to its upper end the gear wheel 53 which is flanged at its bottom and attached to the drum by means of bolts 54. This gear wheel. 53 may be used for driving a mechanical organ or like musical instrument. The upper end of the gear wheel 53 (which practically forms the upper end of the uppermost drum) is provided with the bearing ring 55 which is formed with a raceway in its upper edge, corresponding with a raceway formed in the lower edge of a collar 56 which is bolted or otherwise rigidly attached to the standard 2, Bearing balls are placed between the two raceways. It will be seen that this collar 56 holds all the different bearing rings in place upon the mast and that when this collar 56 is removed by removing the bolts, it may be lifted, the gear 53 removed, the upper drum raised, the collar 8 shifted, and the lower drum raised or removed, if desired. Antifriction bearings are placed between each of the drums and the mast 2. lVhile this is a preferable construction for the purpose of supporting the various platforms rotatably upon the mast or standard 2, I do not wish to be limited to this, as it is obvious that other constructions of like character might be used for the purpose.

The operation of my invention will be obvious. Motion being given to the platform It in one direction, an opposite rotation will be communicated to the platform 10, and thus while the undulating substructure 23 is carried in one direction, the cars will be c: rried in the reverse direction. As these cars rise and fall. upon the undulatory superstructure, they will be rotated and at the same time will have an oscillatory movement, thus the cars have four movements: a continuous travel in one direction; a vertical rise and fall; a rotation (which may be continually changed in direction by changing the position of the rack engaging the gear 31), and an oscillating lateral movement.

Having thus described the invention, what- I claim is:

1. In an amusement structure of the character described, a central mast, a series of and supporting an undulating track, a series of beams supported above said first named beams and rotatable around the central mast, means for giving to the two series of beams opposite rotative movements about the mast, and a series of cars moving upon the undulating track and connected to the upper series of beams.

52. In an amusement structure of the kind described, a central mast, a lower platform having an undulating upper surface, means for moving said platform in one direction, an upper platform rotatable around said mast, means for moving said upper platform in reverse direction to the lower platform, a series of cars supported on the undulating upper surface of the lower platform, connections between said cars and the upper platform to move the former upon the latter, and scenery supported by said lower platform and disposed between said undulating track and the central mast.

3. In an amusementstructure of the kind described, a central mast, a lower platform having an undulating upper surface, means for moving said lower platform in one direction around the mast, an upper platform, means for rotating said upper platform oppositely to the lower platform, a series of cars moving over the undulating surface of the lower platform, connections between said cars and the upper platform for moving the former upon the latter, supports attached to the lower platform extending upward and then over the upper surface thereof, a scenic screen hung from said supports and depending from said lower platform and the central mast and moving with the lower platform.

l. In an amusement structure of the kind described, a central mast, a rotatable platform having an undulating upper surface, means for moving said platform in one direction, an upper platform rotatably supported upon the lower platform, means for moving said upper platform in an opposite direction to the lower platform, a series of cars moving over the undulating surface of the lower platform, a vertically --movable connection between said cars and the upper platform whereby the cars shall be moved with the upper platform, and means on the lower platform for giving said cars a. rotary motion alternately in opposite directions.

5. In an amusement structure, a platform having an undulating upper surface, cars supported on the upper surface of the platform, means for moving the cars in an opposite direction to the movement of the platform, means engaging with the platform for rotating the cars in alternate opposite directions, and means on the cars for engaging the platform to prevent the cars leaving the platform.

(3. In an amusement structure of the kind described, a central mast, a series of radiating beams rotatable around said mast and supporting an undulating track, a series of beams supported above said first named beams and rotatable around the central mast, rack bars supported by both sets of beams, pinions interposed between said racks and fixedly supported, and a series of cars supported upon the said undulating track and connected to said superposed beams to rotate therewith.

7. In an amusement structure of the kind described, a central mast, a lower platform rotatable around said mast, a series of arms fixed to said mast and projecting above the lower platform and having each a pinion attached thereto, an upper platform rotatable about said mast, annular racks on the adjacent faces of the upper and lower platforms and engaged by said pinions, a vert-ically undulating track supported to ro tate with the lower platform, and a series of cars moving on said track and connected to the upper platform to move therewith.

8. In an amusement structure of the kind described, a track, a wheeled truck supported on said track, a central vertical shaft passing through the truck, means 011 the track engaging said shaft to rotate it, a carriage supported on the shaft to rotate therewith, said carriage having also a rocking engagement with the shaft, and means mounted on the carriage and engaging with the truck for giving the carriage a rocking movement.

9. In an amusement structure, a track hav ing parallel rails, a truck having wheels e11- gaging with the rails, a carriage above the truck, a central shaft passing through the truck, to the upper end of which the carriage is pivoted, said shaft having a pinion, a rack on the track engaging with the pinion to rotate the shaft and carriage, a circular track on the upper face of the truck, and means carried by the carriage and engaging with the track to give the carriage a lateral oscillation.

10. In an amusement structure, a track having parallel rails, a truck having wheels engaging with the rails and movable along the track, a central shaft passing through the truck, carrying a pinion at its lower end, a carriage pivotally connected to the upper end of the shaft to rotate therewith, means for causing a lateral oscillation of the carriage relative to the shaft, a rail on the track, and guards engaging said rail to prevent the truck from running off the track.

11. In an amusement structure, a t 'ack having parallel rails, a truck having wheels engaging with the rails and movable along the track, a central shaft passing through the truck carrying a pinion on its lower end,

a carriage pivotally connected to the upper end of the shaft to rotate therewith, a circular track carried upon the truck concentric to the central shaft, and arms depending from the carriage and engaging said track for oscillating the carriage, simultaneously with its rotation.

12. In an amusement structure, a track having parallel rails, a truck having wheels engaging with the rails and movable along the track, means for holding said truck to the rails, a central shaft passing through the truck, means on the track for giving a rotary movement to the central shaft, a carriage pivotally connected to the upper end of the shaft to rotate therewith, a track carried upon the truck and concentric to said central shaft, said track having a toothed face, arms depending from the carriage on opposite sides thereof, and crank wheels with which said arms are connected engaging with said track to oscillate the carriage.

13. In an amusement structure, a central mast, a drum surrounding the lower portion of the mast and having a series of radial pockets formed in the circumference, radiating arms projecting from said pockets and supporting a lower platform, bolts connecting said arms in the pockets, anti-friction bearings located between the drum and the central mast, a sleeve detachably mounted between the upper end of the drum and the central mast and having ball hearings in its upper end, a sleeve surrounding the mast and fixedly engaging therewith, said sleeve having ball bearings in its lower end and engaging with the ball bearings of the first named drum, a drum surrounding the mast above said sleeve and having platform supporting arms projecting therefrom, ball bearings between said drum and the mast and between the drum and the sleeve, said drum being provided with a raceway in its upper end, and a sleeve surrounding the mast and detachably fixed thereto, said sleeve having a raceway formed in its lower end and acting to hold the upper drum in place upon the lower drum.

14. In an amusement structure, a mast, a series of drums surrounding the mast and rotatable there around, said drums supporting a series of superposed platforms, the upper drum holding the lower drums in place, and a sleeve detachably connected to the central mast above the uppermost drum, and holding the drums in place upon the mast, said sleeve being provided with ballbearings in its lower end.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILSON P. CHAMBERLAIN, JR.

Witnesses STELLA V. SLAUGENHAUPT,

IV. A. BAKER.

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