GB2092460A

GB2092460A - Fairground apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2092460A
Application number: GB8203152A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Maxwell George & Sons Est 1849
Current assignee: Maxwell George & Sons Est 1849
Priority date: 1981-02-05
Filing date: 1982-02-04
Publication date: 1982-08-18

Abstract

A revolving type amusement apparatus or fairground ride has a plurality of elevator arms 10, each having a respective hydraulic piston and cylinder device 14 for raising and lowering the arms, and includes an "over- reach" inhibiting device for restraining movement of each arm to prevent imbalance. The device may comprise Servo guided slides coupled for movement proportional to the arms and each including a resistance winding, pairs of adjacent station windings being each electrically connected in series with a winding corresponding to a non adjacent station and in parallel to a pump control and make and break switches. As the arms rise and fall, the movement of the slides inhibits imbalance. Each piston rod may have an abutment within its respective cylinder which prevents the arm lowering the cars to a dangerous level and each arm may carry four rotatable cars in a "star" arrangement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Amusement apparatus This invention relates to amusement apparatus, in general to revolving fairground conveyances and more particularly whirligigs of the kind having carriages hereinafter called "cars" at least one and normally at least two whereof are rotatably carried on each of at least two and normally four or more elevator arms themselves rotatable about a central axis of a ground support.

The invention finds application in car rides of the kind mentioned having star arms carried to revolve on the elevator arms and four cars carried to revolve on each star arm. Whilst a hub revolves an operative controls actuators for lifting the elevator arms.

Centripetal force is increased at their pivotal points on the hub and at the actuator linkage when the elevator arms descend, increasing the radius described by their cars general revolution, their star arms additionally tilting and revolving, normally assisted by a sprocket and chain drive on the respective elevator arm, in the same plane and the cars at the same time revolving on pivoted couplings on the star arms.

Electric motors have been employed for driving the hub and actuators. An object of the present invention is to contain static electricity emission engendered in the environs of the heavy drive motor.

Not only may static electricity build up in dry atmospheric conditions with concomittant inconvenience from attraction of dust but aiso sparking discharge experienced with intermittent actuator operation gives rise to concentrations of ionized air emission exacerbating malaise occasionally experienced more especially by wearers of, for instance, cashmere sweaters, nylon pinafores and terylene trousers.

Additional objects, for example co-ordination of elevator arm movement, shall appear from the disclosure hereinafter set out.

According to the invention amusement apparatus of the kind mentioned is provided having hydraulic actuators coupled to a hub and respective elevator arms and an over-reach inhibitor as hereinafter defined.

The hub may be driven by an internal combustion engine or electric motor powered for example from a showmans or traction engine.

Piston and cylinder assemblies may be coupled to hub and each elevator arm and have retainers physically forming respective abutment face and stop, the latter remaining operative in the event of loss of power or leakage of hydraulic fluid to exert centripetal reaction on descendent elevator arms.

Over-reach may arise in the sense of imbalance, for example by an operative regulating half the elevator arms to descend and the neighbouring half to lift at the same time. No danger is here involved yet lateral stress on the main bearings of the hub is greater than would otherwise be the case.

By the term "over-reach inhibitor" is meant a device or devices for restraining each and every elevator arm in a group of two or more neighbouring elevator arms from closely approaching ground 1 level, for instance head height above the ground, yet not necessarily operative on all of the elevator arms at one and the same time.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an electrical resistor switch circuit for regulation lifting and descent of elevator arms.

Figure2 shows an additional optional dial resistor circuit for a group of cars, and Figure 3 is a plan of an amusement apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevation in partial section on line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Elevator arms ID are pivoted at their legs 11 to hut 12 and rotatably carry cruciform shaped star arms 13 on journals at their free ends.

Hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 1A ommitted from Figure 3 for clarity - are pivotably carried on the hub and linked to respective elevator arms. Each piston rod has an abutment within corresponding cylinder whose open end has cooperative reinforced face. face.

The doubleacting cylinders of assemblies 14 are powered by hydraulic pumps R, Figure 1 where reference numerals 1 to 6 correspond to like numerals denoting the stations of the arms, Figure 3.

Servo guided slides Pare coupled for movement in proportion to travel of arms 10 and comprise an electrical resistance winding 15 slidable in relation to contact 16. Pairs of adjacent station windings are electrically connected in series with a winding corresponding with a non-adjacent station and each is connected in parallel with an electrical current amplitude responsive pump control R and make and break switches S.

Passenger cars 17 are rotatably mounted on each branch of star arms 13. Additionally or alternatively to switches S, potentiometer controls D, Figure 2 may be carried in a car in each group or, as shown in series in each of the four cars 17 grouped on a star arm.

In use the elevator arms 10 rise and fall, corresponding proportional movement of servo slides P inhibiting imbalance. In the unlikely event of malfunction the lowermost car 17 is kept clear above head height by piston abutment with cylinder face.

In the event the operative wishes to move a particulay group of cars 17, corresponding switch S is opened and/or boost potential applied in accordance with the sense of movement, ie descent or lift, required.

1. AWhirligig fairground conveyance or the like amusement apparatus having cars at least one thereof being rotatably carried on each of at least two elevator cars themselves rotatable about a central axis of a ground support, characterised in that hydraulic actuators are coupled to respective elevator arms, to a limb and to an over-reach inhibitor as hereinbefore defined.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Amusement apparatus This invention relates to amusement apparatus, in general to revolving fairground conveyances and more particularly whirligigs of the kind having carriages hereinafter called "cars" at least one and normally at least two whereof are rotatably carried on each of at least two and normally four or more elevator arms themselves rotatable about a central axis of a ground support. The invention finds application in car rides of the kind mentioned having star arms carried to revolve on the elevator arms and four cars carried to revolve on each star arm. Whilst a hub revolves an operative controls actuators for lifting the elevator arms. Centripetal force is increased at their pivotal points on the hub and at the actuator linkage when the elevator arms descend, increasing the radius described by their cars general revolution, their star arms additionally tilting and revolving, normally assisted by a sprocket and chain drive on the respective elevator arm, in the same plane and the cars at the same time revolving on pivoted couplings on the star arms. Electric motors have been employed for driving the hub and actuators. An object of the present invention is to contain static electricity emission engendered in the environs of the heavy drive motor. Not only may static electricity build up in dry atmospheric conditions with concomittant inconvenience from attraction of dust but aiso sparking discharge experienced with intermittent actuator operation gives rise to concentrations of ionized air emission exacerbating malaise occasionally experienced more especially by wearers of, for instance, cashmere sweaters, nylon pinafores and terylene trousers. Additional objects, for example co-ordination of elevator arm movement, shall appear from the disclosure hereinafter set out. According to the invention amusement apparatus of the kind mentioned is provided having hydraulic actuators coupled to a hub and respective elevator arms and an over-reach inhibitor as hereinafter defined. The hub may be driven by an internal combustion engine or electric motor powered for example from a showmans or traction engine. Piston and cylinder assemblies may be coupled to hub and each elevator arm and have retainers physically forming respective abutment face and stop, the latter remaining operative in the event of loss of power or leakage of hydraulic fluid to exert centripetal reaction on descendent elevator arms. Over-reach may arise in the sense of imbalance, for example by an operative regulating half the elevator arms to descend and the neighbouring half to lift at the same time. No danger is here involved yet lateral stress on the main bearings of the hub is greater than would otherwise be the case. By the term "over-reach inhibitor" is meant a device or devices for restraining each and every elevator arm in a group of two or more neighbouring elevator arms from closely approaching ground 1 level, for instance head height above the ground, yet not necessarily operative on all of the elevator arms at one and the same time. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an electrical resistor switch circuit for regulation lifting and descent of elevator arms. Figure2 shows an additional optional dial resistor circuit for a group of cars, and Figure 3 is a plan of an amusement apparatus according to the invention. Figure 4 is a side elevation in partial section on line IV-IV of Figure 3. Elevator arms ID are pivoted at their legs 11 to hut 12 and rotatably carry cruciform shaped star arms 13 on journals at their free ends. Hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 1A ommitted from Figure 3 for clarity - are pivotably carried on the hub and linked to respective elevator arms. Each piston rod has an abutment within corresponding cylinder whose open end has cooperative reinforced face. face. The doubleacting cylinders of assemblies 14 are powered by hydraulic pumps R, Figure 1 where reference numerals 1 to 6 correspond to like numerals denoting the stations of the arms, Figure 3. Servo guided slides Pare coupled for movement in proportion to travel of arms 10 and comprise an electrical resistance winding 15 slidable in relation to contact 16. Pairs of adjacent station windings are electrically connected in series with a winding corresponding with a non-adjacent station and each is connected in parallel with an electrical current amplitude responsive pump control R and make and break switches S. Passenger cars 17 are rotatably mounted on each branch of star arms 13. Additionally or alternatively to switches S, potentiometer controls D, Figure 2 may be carried in a car in each group or, as shown in series in each of the four cars 17 grouped on a star arm. In use the elevator arms 10 rise and fall, corresponding proportional movement of servo slides P inhibiting imbalance. In the unlikely event of malfunction the lowermost car 17 is kept clear above head height by piston abutment with cylinder face. In the event the operative wishes to move a particulay group of cars 17, corresponding switch S is opened and/or boost potential applied in accordance with the sense of movement, ie descent or lift, required. CLAIMS

2. Amusement apparatus according to claim 1 wherein respective piston and cylinder arrangements are coupled to said hub and to each elevator arm, each have retainers forming a respective abutment face and stop, the latter remaining operative in the event of loss of power or leakage of hydraulic fluid to exert centripetal reaction on descendant elevator arms.

3. Amusement apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a piston rod of each piston has an abutment carried within the corresponding cylinder cooperative with a reinforced cheek at the neighbouring end thereof.

4. Amusement apparatus according to any of the preceeding claims comprising four elevator arms, each carrying four passenger cars on the end thereof, each car being mounted on one of four star arms at said end of said lifting arms.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2wherein serve guided slides are coupled for movement in proportion to the travel of the elevator arms and each comprise an electrical sensor winding slidable relative to contact pairs of adjacent station windings being each electrically connecting in series with a winding corresponding to a non-adjacent station and in parallel with an electrical current amplitude responsive pump control for a hydraulic pump connected to the hydraulic actuation, and with make and break switches.

6. Amusement apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each car or a car in each group has a potentiometer control, an override control being provided for the attendant.

7. Whirligig type amudement apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.