GB190908190A - Improvements in or relating to Recreative Apparatus of the Switchback or like Type. - Google Patents

Abstract

8190. Lavarack, A. Whitley-, and Greenwood, H. April 5. Railways for recreation; water-chutes. - In a railway for recreation, there is provided in the path of the vehicle a vertical descent down which the vehicle is allowed to drop. The car is hauled up a spiral track B by a chain B<2> provided with lugs B<3>, and is prevented from running backwards by a sprag C<3> which engages a rack B<4> arranged by the side of the track. The car consists of a boat C<2> resting on a wheeled underframe C which runs on the track. At the top of the spiral, the car enters a cage D, which is lifted into position to receive the car by a balance weight D<1>. The lifting-ropes D<2> carry bunches of lights D4 which travel in opposite directions to the cage and give the passengers the impression that they are travelling at high speed. When the car is safely inside, the cage is released and drops vertically until the bottom of it comes into contact with the head of a ram E<2>, by means of which the descent is arrested. The cylinder E<1>, in which the ram works, is connected with a cylinder E containing oil and a balance weight E* resting on the liquid. A valve G, arranged in the connecting-pipe, is operated by the ram. Just before the end of the descent, the boat is tipped off its undercarriage on to a chute F, which forms part of a water chute or switchback. The upper part of the chute is darkened, and contains mirrors K, which simulate a collision, and also switches L of electric lamps. After the boat has left the cage, this tilts the undercarriage into another cage H, which lowers it to a track J on which it runs into position to receive a fresh boat.