GB205139A - Improvements in or relating to amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

205,139. Lane, C., and Hamilton, B. T. June 10, 1922. Amusement apparatus. - Relates to amusement apparatus of the kind in which the movements of a moving floor or platform are communicated to one or more cars carried by the platform. The floor comprises a series of tables A, arranged to revolve in opposite directions as far as practicable and driven from shafts S from a motor M. These shafts carry rollers R on which the tables A rotate and also bevel pinions P engaging crown wheels D arranged concentric with but independent of the tables. The drive is thus communicated to the tables through the rollers R. In a modification the tables are driven by ropes or belts engaging pulleys secured to the underside of the tables, a jockey pulley being, provided to take up slack. The moving parts of the floor may be augmented by straight-running tracks mounted on suitable guides or rollers, and the revolving tables instead of presenting a flat surface may be formed conically or have such a contour that the complete floor present a series of hills and valleys or waves. A fence limits the outward movement of the cars on the platform. The cars are preferably circular in plan and are provided with spring or other buffers F' to prevent shock. Each car is mounted on castors C having freely turning forks C<1>, and means are provided, such as a brake to each castor or a pad to grip the floor, so that a pivot may be formed around which the car can revolve to give it an erratic motion. A brake is shown in Fig. 6. The brake-block C<3> is mounted on a lever C<12> carried by the revolving sleeve C<10> and operated by a vertical rod C' passing through the stem of the fork C<1>, which are prevented from turning in the sleeve C<10> by interengaging lugs on the fork-stem and the sleeve. A spring C<5> keeps the brake C<3> normally out of engagement. Journal and thrust blocks are fitted round the sleeve C<10>. An alternative method of making a connection with the floor is shown in Fig. 7 The brakes or pads are operated as shown in Fig. 4 by a hand lever H passing through a gate H<1> in the shape of a cross so that the movement of the lever may be forwards or backwards or to either side, so operating the corresponding pad. The lower end of the rod H is pivoted at its lower end to links H<4>, R<5> and to a rod H<2> mounted in a tubular bearing H'. By the parallel linkage formed, the link H<4> moves in accordance with the movement of the lever H and engages the inner ends of the rods H<6> which are mounted on links H' and operate the bellcrank levers C<4> connected to the operating spindles C<5>. of the brakes or pads.