GB190225010A - New and Improved Apparatus for Moving Boats and Passengers along Waterways and Falls and Improvements in Boats for same used for Amusement. - Google Patents

Abstract

25,010. Morgan, L. Nov. 14. Switchback railways; water shoots.-Relates to water shoots for amusement, and to boats for use therewith. A general view of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. Undulating channels A start from an elevated reservoir B. Each channel in its downward course makes a complete sweep, as shown at a<1>, and terminates in a dam a<4>. Water is discharged along the channels A, to act as ballast for the boats E and as lubricant, but in no way buoys the boats. When the boats have completed the journey, they pass one at a time to a boat hoist D, and are returned to the reservoir B. The construction of a boat E and channel A is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The boat E has curved bows e<8> and a tapered stem e<9>. It has an airtight compartment e'‹, and beneath this a water-carrying compartment e<13>, in which overflow holes e<14> are formed. Shoes e<6> on the boat run in guides a<10> on the channel. At various parts of the channels, water-falls C, Fig. 10, are placed. At each fall, a trap a<6> is formed in the channel A, and an unequally-balanced tilt j<2>, pivoted at j<1>, is arranged as shown. When a boat bears on the tilt j<2>, it inclines it to the position shown in the dotted lines, so storing water behind it, which rushes down the channel after the boat when the tilt returns to its original position. At each fall C, guides K, Fig. 4, are formed on the sides of the channel A, and guide-wheels e<3>, e<4> mounted on the boat E are adapted to engage therewith. The boat hoist D consists of four endless chains F connected together in pairs by rods f Fig. 14. Arms f<3>, Fig. 13, carrying boat-supporting blocks f<4> are freely pivoted to the rods f<5>. Guide-rods f <6> are rigidly connected to the arms f<3> . Rollers f<7> are carried at the ends of the rods f<6>, and run in guides G. The upper ends g<1> of the guides G are shaped as shown, thereby causing the arms f <3> to deflect and so allow the boats to fall into the reservoir B or on to a platform. The passengers are taken up to the starting-stage by a lift of ordinary construction, and pumps are provided to raise water to the reservoir B. In some cases, at the commencement of the sweep a', the channel A may be arranged with a moving bottom, and may revolve horizontally on a central axis.