GB2337944A

GB2337944A - Fairground amusement apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2337944A
Application number: GB9913009A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ward
Original assignee: NORTHERN AMUSEMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: NORTHERN AMUSEMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-05
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-04
Also published as: GB9913009D0; GB9811994D0; GB2337944B

Abstract

A fairground ride apparatus comprises a pier (11) from which a boom (16) extends and is capable of being raised and lowered between horizontal and inclined positions. A trunnion (17) carries a star-shaped arrangement of arms (18) on the boom, and each arm (18) mounts a further star arrangement of arms (20), each arm (20) carrying a group of seats (21), attached to the respective arm (20) by a pivot above the seats. Each star arrangement of arms (20), and of arms (18) is independently rotatable to produce an epicyclic movement of each seat, and further the boom (16) can be rotated to provide a range of alternative paths for the seats during a ride program.

Description

2337944 FAIRGROUND AMUSEMENT APPARATUS This invention relates to a

fairground amusement apparatus to provide a novel ride which is thrilling for the passengers, yet completely safe.

It is known to provide round-about based rides wherein a plurality of passenger seats, arranged singly or in groups, are equally spaced about the periphery of a circle, for rotation about the axis of the circle. The seats are disposed in a plane which is horizontal and close to the ground for taking on and letting off passengers, but can be tilted by rotating the seat carrying structure, about a second, inclined axis, to occupy successive inclined planes, up to a vertical plane, where the apparatus functions similarly to a Ferris wheel.

It is also known to mount multiple-seat cars for rotation about a horizontal axis located either above, or below, the passengers seated in the car, and motion may be provided for example as an additional feature of a single or multiple seat car Ferris-wheel type ride.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement apparatus which provides additional motion features to the first described known type of fairground ride.

In another type of ride, seats or groups of seats are carried on the ends of subsidiary multi-armed stars or spiders, each carried in turn on the ends of the arms of the main star or spider. The main star is rotated, while the subsidiary stars are also rotated three or four times each during each turn of the main star, to produce an epicyclic or cycloidal motions of the seats.

According to the invention, a fairground amusement apparatus comprises; first means defining a first axis of rotation; second means carried on said first means defining a second axis of rotation, orthogonal to said first axis of rotation; further means carried by said second means defining a plurality of axes of rotation symmetrically disposed with respect to said second axis of rotation and substantially parallel to said second axis of rotation, and seat mounting means for mounting a plurality of passenger seats symmetrically with respect to each of said plurality of axes of rotation, whereby said passenger seats may each be rotated about their respective one of said plurality of axes, and at the same time be carried around by rotation about said second axis of rotation.

Rotation of the second and further means on the first axis of rotation enables the entire assembly to move through a series of planes, at various inclinations to the ground.

Preferably the first means is capable of being raised or lowered to vary the inclination of the first axis of rotation in a range between a generally horizontal position, and a preselected maximum inclination, for example 450.

Means may be provided for pivotal movement of the seats with respect to the respective seat mounting means. The axis of such pivoting of the seats is preferably located at the top of each seat, above the passenger's heads. The seats may be provided in groups of eg. two or three on each respective seat mounting means.

Preferably, the first means comprises a pivot housing carried on a pier, mounted at one edge of a base plate. The pivot housing is preferably pivotable about an axis which connects the housing to the pier, and may carry a boom, rotatable about the first axis of rotation which boom carries a trunnion arrangement defining the second axis of rotation, and carrying a three or more armed star or spider, on the end of each arm of which is located further trunnion means defining the plurality of axes of rotation.

Each such trunnion means preferably carries a multi arm (eg. four armed) star or spider each arm of which carries a passenger seat, or group of passenger seats.

Each passenger seat preferably is provided with requisite safety restraints.

A preferred embodiment of a fairground amusement apparatus according to the inventions will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to the inventions, in its position for loading and unloading passengers; Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus according to the invention, also in the position for loading and unloading passengers; -4 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the apparatus in motion, the boom having been lifted to the operating position, but not yet rotated, so that the seats are rotated in an inclined plane, right-way up; is a view corresponding to Figure 3 showing the apparatus in motion, wherein the boom has been rotated through a half turn, so that the seats are rotated in an inclined plane, but inverted; and Figure 4 Figure 5 shows the apparatus, in a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing the boom rotated through a quarter-turn so that the seats are rotated in a vertical plane.

As shown in the drawings, fairground amusement apparatus comprises a base plate or structure 10 with a pier 11 provided at the centre of one edge of the plate 10. A pivot housing 12 is carried by the pier 11 and is pivotably mounted to the top of the pier by an axle 13 which enables the housing 12 to be tilted by a ram 14, connected to the housing 12 by a bracket 15. The housing 12 carries an end of a boom 16, so that the boom 16 can be rotated in the housing 12, and may be driven by a respective coaxial motor or gearing (not shown).

Boom 16 carries at its outer end a further trunnion housing 17, which carries three symmetrically arranged arms 18, in a star or spider array. Each arm 18 carries a respective yet further trunnion housing 19, which in turn carries four symmetrical arranged arms 20. Each arm 20 carries a group of three seats 21, each pivoted at their respective tops to the end of the respective arm 20. Each seat has associated safety restraints 22, for securing a passenger safely into the seat.

The motions which are carried out by the apparatus are; - The boom 16 and housing 12 can be raised and lowered about the axis of horizontal axle 13; - The boom 16, is rotatable on an axis 23, which is at right angles to axle 13; - The arms 18 rotate on an axis 24, at right angles to the axis 23 of the boom 16; - The arms 20 rotate on the axes of housings 19, which are parallel to the axis 24; - Each chair 21 can be tilted on a pivot 25 relative to the respective arm 20, between a lowered position as in Fig. 2 and a raised position as in Figure 3 or 4.

The chairs 21 describe an epicyclic path about the axis 24, due to the combined rotation of arms 18 and 20. This path may be a precessing epicyclic path, as the loops may not recur at the same angular position relative to a point of reference such as the pier 11.

The chairs are also swung out after loading, on their pivots 25, so that the occupants are looking toward the ground in Figure 3, or inverted in Figure 4, as apposed to a normal seated position in Figure 2. Whilst each passenger is secured by restraints 22, the passengers are principally retained in their seats by centrifugal inertia forces caused by the complex rotation of the seat, and whilst the apparatus is in use, forces of up to over 3.G can be comfortably sustained and more than counteract gravitational pull on the passengers. The restraints 22 however are necessary in case of failure of the drive leading to the apparatus coming to a halt.

Each of the rotation axes of the arms 20, arms 18, boom 16 and chairs 21 may be provided with a separate electric drive motor, or other suitable arrangements made for constant or intermittent drive. The chairs may be tilted on axis 25 by a hydraulic vane motor for instance acting between fixed end positions, or may be effected passively by centrifugal force.

The chair 21 may have any desired number of seats.

The apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the features of the preferred embodiment described above, and details may be varied, such as the number of arms on each spider, e.g. all may have three arms, or all may have four arms or more.

3.

4.

Claims

1 A fairground amusement apparatus comprising first means defining a first axis of rotation; second means carried on said first means defining a second axis of rotation orthogonal to said first axis of rotation; further means carried by said second means defining a plurality of axes of rotation symmetrically disposed with respect to said second axis of rotation and substantially parallel to said second axis of rotation, and seat mounting means for mounting a plurality of passenger seats may each be rotated about their respective one of said plurality of axes and at the same time be carried around by rotation about said second axis of rotation. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first means is capable of being raised or lowered to vary the inclination of the first axis of rotation in a range between a generally horizontal position and a preselected maximum inclination. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein means are provided for pivotal movement of the seats with respect to the respective seat mounting means, the axis of such pivoting of the seats being located at the top of each seat, above the passengers' heads. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the seats are provided in groups of one or more on each respective seat mounting means. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first means 6.

-8comprises a pivot housing carried on a pier which is mounted at one edge of a base plate, the pivot housing being pivotable about an axis which connects the housing to the pier and comprising a boom which is rotatable about the first axis of rotation.

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the boom carries a trunnion arrangement defining the second axis of rotation and carrying a two or more armed star or spider.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein further trunnion means is located on the end of each said arm of the star or spider, said further trunnion means defining said plurality of axes of rotation, and each carrying a multi-armed star or spider, each arm of which carries a passenger seat, or group of passenger seats.

8. A fairground amusement apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.