GB206729A - Improvements in or relating to gravity railways or the like amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

206,729. Walker, J. R., and Pickard, A. H. Dec. 8, 1922. Tracks for recreation. -The cars or the like 1 for a gravity railway are pivotally connected to, or near to, one side of the track 2 at or near their front ends, and the track has one or more curves 5 round which the cars are swung by centrifugal force. As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the car or mat 1 is pivotally connected at 9 to a link 10, which is secured to a bar 11 carrying rollers 12 disposed between upstanding rails 14. Plates 15 prevent the rollers 12 from becoming disengaged and serve as rails for two or more pairs of rollers 16 carried by the bar 11. Rollers 21 may be secured to the sides of the car. A link 24 secured at one end to the car 1 and at the other to a sleeve 23 pressing against a spring 26 on a rod 22 ensures the car swinging inwardly after rounding a corner. Alternatively, a spring-pressed arm secured to the front of the car and carrying a roller which engages one of the rails 15 may be employed. In the modification shown in Fig. 9, an arm 32 carries a roller 31 which engages an outer rail of the track, a link 33 and spring 36 being employed to swing the car inwardly. The link 10 may carry a grooved roller 18 engaging plates 9 instead of the depending roller 12, and the rails 14 may be arranged horizontally and the wheels 12, 18 in a vertical plane. Laminated springs may be employed in place of the arm 32. A groove, preferably V-shaped, may be formed in the outer portion of the track to be engaged by a correspondingly shaped skid on the car, to increase the swinging at the curves 5. The car 1 may be freed from the rails 14 near the end of the journey, being engaged before or after reaching the elevated starting point, to which they are carried by hand or by an escalator 7. The body of the car may be rigid and provided with castors 3, or it may consist of a mat with a rigid periphery.