GB2278291A

GB2278291A - Fairground equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2278291A
Application number: GB9410765A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Paul Sefton
Original assignee: MSI SUPERCAR LEISURE Ltd
Current assignee: MSI SUPERCAR LEISURE Ltd
Priority date: 1993-05-29
Filing date: 1994-05-27
Publication date: 1994-11-30
Also published as: GB9311181D0; GB9410766D0; GB9410765D0; GB2278292A

Abstract

Fairground equipment comprises a combined roundabout and seesaw. One embodiment includes a central rotatable column (43) on which a number of beams (42) are pivotally mounted. Each beam (42) has two arms and, at the ends of the arms, there are tracks (41) along which wheeled cars (40) are movable. The see-saw motion can be provided by suitable cam action or by the ride users pushing with their feet against a platform. <IMAGE>

Description

FAIRGROUND EQUIPMENT Field of the Invention This invention relates to fairground equipment. Its objects include the provision of improved forms of such equipment.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of novel forms of fairground equipment which provide interesting "family" rides.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided fairground equipment in the form of a combined roundabout and seesaw.

More specifically the invention provides fairground equipment in the form of a roundabout comprising a pedestal or like support member arranged for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and at least one seesaw lever mounted on the pedestal or like support member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal pivot axis so that a combined rotary and pivoting action is obtained.

There is preferably more than one seesaw lever mounted on the pedestal or like support member, with seat structures located at each end of each lever. The seat structures may be such as to accommodate more than one person, thereby providing "family" entertainment.

The pedestal or like support member may be arranged centrally of a platform which is itself arranged for rotation with the pedestal or like support member about said vertical axis by means of an electric motor or other prime mover.

The platform may be mounted either on a fixed base or, in the case of mobile fairground equipment, on a trailer.

In the case of trailer-mounted equipment, some of the seesaw levers may include pivots which enable the levers to be folded to form a close-packed arrangement for transport purposes. The seat structures of at least one of the levers may then be arranged for sliding movement relative to the lever between a normal, 'in use' position and a radially inward transport position. The platform may be formed in a plurality of sections arranged for folding for transport purposes.

The seat structures may be so mounted on the levers that, in use of the equipment, the seat structures remain fixed to the levers and do not move relative to the levers.

In an alternative arrangement, each end of each lever includes a track and each seat structure is in the form of a car, for example, a wheeled car, which is arranged for radial movement along its respective track. Each such track is preferably of curvate form with the arrangement such that, as the pedestal or like support member rotates and the levers pivot relative to the pedestal or like support member, each car will move radially inwardly or outwardly along its track. The occupants of each car will thus be subjected to unusual, but gentle, accelerations, thereby providing an interesting ride.

The pedestal or like support member may include relatively movable upper and lower portions, the levers being pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the pedestal or like support member and means being provided for effecting vertical movement of the upper portion of the pedestal or like support member relative to the lower portion thereof between a lower or loading position, in which access to the cars can readily be obtained by the users of the equipment, and a raised or operating position, in which pivotal movement of the levers relative to the upper portion of the pedestal or like support member can be effected by, for example, a hydraulic control system or by a rotary cam system.

The drive means for effecting rotation of the pedestal or like support member may be such that, once the pedestal or like support member is rotating at its "operating" speed, the rate of rotation will remain substantially constant. Alternatively, however, the drive means may be such that the rate of rotation is varied, for example, with a sinusoidal variation about a mean value.

In a further alternative arrangement, each seat structure is so mounted on its associated lever that it is capable of rotary movement relative to the lever about an upwardly extending axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lever. Each seat structure will then preferably be in the form of a generally cylindrical enclosure which contains seating for a number of people. As the pedestal or like support member rotates and the levers pivot relative to the pedestal or like support member, each seating enclosure will rotate about its central axis relative to its respective lever. The ride which is provided will thus be somewhat like a "waltzer" but with a gentler, varied motion.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of fairground equipment comprising a combined roundabout and seesaw, Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the equipment shown in Figure 1, showing the central column or pedestal, one of the levers or beams of the seesaw and the seats at the two ends of the beam, Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2 but of a second embodiment, Figure 4 is a perspective view, again similar to Figure 2, but of a third embodiment, Figure 5 is an elevational view of a fourth embodiment, shown in the loading position, and Figure 6 is an elevational view of the fourth embodiment in its "ride" position.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The ride shown in Figures 1 and 2 is mobile, for transport from one fairground site to another, and includes a trailer (not shown) on which a horizontal platform 10 is mounted for rotation relative to the trailer about a central vertical axis under the control of a motor or engine (not shown) mounted on the trailer.

There is a vertical column or pedestal 11 extending upwardly from the platform 10 and this column 11 includes pivot mountings for three levers or beams 12, 13 and 14 each of which is pivotable relative to the column 11 about a horizontal axis.

As shown, the pivot axes of the beams 12, 13 and 14 are at three different positions vertically of the column 11 and are spaced 600 apart about the vertical axis of the column 11. Each beam 12, 13, 14 includes two arms extending radially of the column 11 and each arm includes a radially inner horizontal portion 12A, 13A, 14A and a radially outer horizontal portion 12B, 13B, 14B connected to the inner portion 12A, 13A, 14A by a crank portion 12C, 13C, 14C.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the radially outer portions 12B, 13B and 14B are all at the same horizontal level when the equipment is not in use, this being achieved by the use of crank portions 12C, 13C and 14C of different lengths and inclinations. Seat structures 15 are mounted at the ends of the beams 12, 13 and 14 and the heights of the outer portions 12B, 13B and 14B of the arms 12, 13 and 14 above the platform 10 are such that occupants of the seats can touch the platform 10 with their feet. Each beam 12, 13, 14 can thus function as a seesaw while the platform 10 as a whole, i.e. together with the column 11 and the beams 12, 13 and 14, is being rotated.

As shown, each arm of each beam 12, 13, 14 carries two seats each of which can accommodate two occupants so that the equipment as a whole provides rides for twenty four people at a time. A canopy 16 is provided at each end of each beam 12, 13, 14 to provide protection from the weather for each of the occupants of the seats and the pivot mounting of each beam 12, 13, 14 on the column 11 can include damping means (not shown) to avoid violent pivotal movements of the beams 12, 13 and 14.

For transport purposes, the canopies 16 are detachably mounted on the beams 12, 13 and 14 and the equipment as a whole is foldable. The seat structures 15 of the lowermost beam 12 are so mounted on the beam 12 that they can be moved between their normal, 'in-use' positions as shown and radially inward transport positions. They are normally locked in the "in-use" positions.

In the transport condition of the equipment, the column 11 is turned so that the lowermost beam 12 extends longitudinally of the trailer and the canopies 16 are all removed. The seat structures 15 of the lowermost beam 12 are then unlocked and displaced inwardly. The other beams 13 and 14 are so constructed that the crank portions 13C and 14C and the radially outer portions 13B and 14B can be turned relative to the radially inner portions 13A and 14A between the normal, 'in-use' positions as shown and transport positions in which the radially outer portions 13B and 14B have been moved through 900 about the axes of the respective inner portions 13A and 14A. In their transport positions, the radially outer portions 13B and 14B of beams 13 and 14 will be located adjacent and parallel to the radially outer portions 12B of beam 12.

The platform 10 comprises a central section which extends over the chassis of the trailer and side sections which extend beyond the chassis. The side sections of the platform 10 are folded upwardly, once folding of the beams 13 and 14 has been completed, so that the width of the platform 10 is reduced to about a third of its original width.

There are a pair of walkways 17 to provide access to the platform 10 and each of the walkways 17 is formed as a plurality of sections so that they also can be folded up for transport purposes. The equipment of Figures 1 and 2 is thus capable of being folded up for transport purposes and provides a mobile family ride for up to twenty four customers at a time.

Parents can sit with their children and a "family" ride is thus provided.

It is to be appreciated that, although the particular design shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes three pivotable beams, combined roundabouts and seesaws can be provided which have other numbers of pivotable beams. Each beam may, if desired, be formed as two sections which are joined together by a hydraulic boom which can be operated to move the beam sections relative to one another between an 'in-use' condition, in which the beam sections are in alignment, and a 'loading' condition in which the seat structures at the two ends of the beam are all lowered so that the occupants of the seat structures can all alight or enter at the same time.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 is such that the "seesaw" action is obtained by the persons in the seats 16 pressing down on the floor and pushing upwardly. In each of the other embodiments shown in Figures 3 to 6, the "seesaw" action, i.e. pivotal movement of the levers or beams, is obtained by operation of a suitable drive system which may include, for example, a rotary cam or a series of hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanisms.

Turning next to Figure 3 of the drawings, this shows a pivotable lever or beam 20 which is of similar configuration to the beam 14 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is intended to be the uppermost of three beams pivoted to the central vertical pedestal or column (not shown) of the equipment.

The beam 20 includes two radially extending arms each of which comprises an inner section 20A, an outer section 20B and an inclined connecting section 20C. Each outer section 20B carries a circular seating enclosure 21 which is rotatably mounted on the section 20B for rotation relative thereto about an upwardly extending axis at right angles to the axis of the beam 20. Each enclosure 21 contains a seating portion 22 of such size that it can accommodate a number of people, i.e. a "family" ride is provided.

Each seating enclosure 21 includes a surrounding wall 23 which is of varying height, as can be seen from Figure 3, and is highest around that portion of the enclosure 21 at which the seating portion 22 is located. The enclosure 21 also includes a cross-bar 24 positioned so that the occupants of the enclosure can hold on to the bar 24 if they so wish.

The central pedestal or column (not shown) is formed in two portions, i.e. an upper portion, to which the beams are pivoted, and a lower portion. The upper portion is movable between a lower or loading position, in which entry into the enclosures 21 can readily be obtained from ground level, and a raised or operative position, in which pivotal movement of the beams can be effected.

Once the upper portion of the central pedestal has been moved into its raised position, rotation of the pedestal as a whole is effected by, for example, an electric motor or other prime mover. At the same time as the central pedestal is being rotated, each of the beams will be caused to pivot gently about its horizontal pivot axis. As the beams are pivoted, each seating enclosure 21 will be free to rotate gravitationally about its mounting on the outer section of the respective beam.

The passengers will thus experience a gently reversing spinning motion coupled with a combined sinusoidal and rotary motion.

THe action will thus be analogous to that of a "waltzer" but gentler and more varied.

Turning next to Figure 4, this shows a beam 30 which is again intended to be the uppermost of three beams mounted on a central pedestal or column comprising a lower portion and an upper portion which can be raised relative to the lower portion for movement of the ride from its "loading" condition into its operating condition.

Seat structures 31 are provided at each end of the beam 30 and, as shown, each seat structure 31 includes two seats each of which can accommodate two people sitting side by side.

The seats are located one on each side of a slide block 32 arranged for sliding movement along a track afforded by a pair of guides 33 which extend for the length of each outer section of the beam 30.

The mode of operation of the equipment is similar to that which has been described above in that the central pedestal or column includes relatively movable upper and lower portions.

Once the passengers have occupied the seats, the upper portion of the pedestal or column is moved upwardly relative to the lower portion to bring the equipment into its "ride" or operating condition. The drive means is then operated to effect rotation of the pedestal or column and to cause the beams to pivot about their horizontal pivot axes.

As the beams pivot relative to the central pedestal or column, the seat structures 31 will move gravitationally either radially inwardly or radially outwardly. The acceleration to which the passengers are subjected is known as the Coriolis acceleration. The slope reversal caused by the seesaw motion of each beam ensures that the seat structures will move radially outwardly and then radially inwardly. The equipment is operated at a relatively low rotational speed and the seesaw action is also relatively slow so that the accelerations which are felt will be unusual but gentle thus providing an ideal "family" ride.

The drive means is such that, once the equipment has been started and reached its operating speed, the pedestal or column will be rotated at a substantially uniform speed. A further effect can be obtained by holding the beams against pivotal movement and causing the rate of rotation of the central pedestal or column to vary sinusoidally relative to a mean value. A slightly different effect can be obtained by arranging for variation of the rate of rotation as well as pivotal movement of the beams.

Turning next to Figures 5 and 6, these show a further embodiment of the invention in which the seat structures are in the form of wheeled cars 40 which are movable radially inwardly and outwardly along tracks 41 carried by the beams 42 as the beams 42 pivot relative to the central pedestal or column 43.

There are three beams 42 pivotally connected to the column 43 for rotation relative thereto about axes which are spaced apart vertically from one another and are spaced apart angularly by 600 from one another. The equipment is shown in Figure 5 in the loading condition in which the passengers can enter into or alight from the cars 40 and is shown in Figure 6 in the ride condition in which the beams 42 can pivot relative to the central pedestal or column 43.

The central pedestal or column 43 is rotatable as a whole by means of a motor (not shown) and comprises a lower part 44 and an upper part 45. The lower part 44 includes a thick metal plate which is supported in bearings of a support structure 46 so as to provide positive support for the column 43 as a whole.

The upper part 45 is movable vertically relative to the lower part 44 by three hydraulic lifting cylinders 47 between the loading position of Figure 5 and the operating position of Figure 6.

The lower portion of the upper part 45 carries a series of bearings which engage with six external tubes 48 of the lower part to ensure stability of the column 43. The tubes 48 are not interconnected at their upper ends but are of such length that they are permanently engaged with their associated bearings. A circular cam 49 is contained within the lower portion of the upper part 45 and this circular cam 49 includes portions having different heights. The circular cam 49 is connected to a motor (not shown) which causes the cam 49 to rotate about the central axis of the column 43. Six followers 50 rest on the presented upper surface of the cam 49 and are connected by links 51 to connecting rods mounted on the radially inner ends of the beams 42 so that, as the cam 49 rotates, the beams 42 are caused to pivot sequentially about the horizontal pivot axes on the column 43.As shown, the links 51 pass through guides carried by a vertically movable collar 48A.

As each beam 42 is caused in turn to pivot, the cars 40 will movable radially inwardly and outwardly along the tracks 41 so that, as the column 43 as a whole rotates, the passengers in the cars 40 will be subjected to the Coriolis acceleration mentioned above. Each car 40 includes a bogie 52 having two upper pairs of wheels resting on the associated track 41 and two lower pairs of wheels engaging beneath the associated track. Each car 40 can again include two seats each of which can accommodate two occupants so that a total of twenty four passengers is possible.

The mode of operation of the equipment shown in Figures 5 and 6 will be readily apparent from the comments given above concerning the operation of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4. It will be appreciated that an interesting "family" ride is again provided.

Claims

Claims:

1. Fairground equipment in the form of a combined roundabout and seesaw.

2. Fairground equipment in the form of a roundabout comprising a pedestal or like support member arranged for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, and at least one seesaw lever mounted on the pedestal or like support member for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal pivot axis so that a combined rotary and pivoting action is obtained.

3. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 2, in which there is more than one seesaw lever mounted on the pedestal or like support member.

4. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 3, in which seat structures are located at each end of each lever.

5. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 4, in which each of the seat structures accommodates more than one person.

6. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 2, in which the pedestal or like support member is arranged centrally of a platform which is itself arranged for rotation with the pedestal or like support member about said vertical axis by means of an electric motor or other prime mover.

7. Fairground equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims mounted on a fixed base.

8. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 4 mounted on a trailer.

9. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 8, in which some of the levers include pivots which enable the levers to be folded to form a close-packed arrangement for transport purposes.

10. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 9, in which the seat structures of at least one of the levers are arranged for sliding movement relative to the lever between a normal, "in use" position and a radially inward transport position.

11. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the seat structures are so mounted on the levers that, in use of the equipment, the seat structures remain fixed to the levers and do not move relative to the levers.

12. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which each end of each lever includes a track and each seat structure is in the form of a car which is arranged for radial movement along its respective track.

13. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 12, in which each car is a wheeled car and each track is of curvate form.

14. Fairground equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 13, in which the means for effecting rotation of the pedestal or like support member is such that, once the pedestal or like support member is rotating at its "operating" speed, the rate of rotation will remain substantially constant.

15. Fairground equipment as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 13, in which the means for effecting rotation of the pedestal or like support member is such that controlled variation of the rate of rotation can be effected.

16. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which each seat structure is so mounted on its associated lever that it is capable of rotary movement relative to the lever about an upwardly extending axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the lever.

17. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 16, in which each seat structure is in the form of a generally cylindrical enclosure which contains seating for a number of people.

18. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 3, in which drive means is provided for effecting controlled pivotal movement of the levers relative to the pedestal or like support member.

19. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 18, in which the drive means includes a cam arranged for rotation about the axis of the pedestal or like support member.

20. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 3, in which there are three levers pivotally mounted on the pedestal or like support member, the pivot mountings being spaced vertically from one another and the pivot axes being spaced apart angularly by 600 from one another.

21. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

23. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

24. Fairground equipment as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.