GB466855A - Improvements relating to amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

466,855. Amusement apparatus. BARTLETT, J. N. Dec. 5, 1935, No. 33712. [Class 132 (i)] The apparatus comprises a banked track traversed by a train of passenger vehicles fitted with castor wheels whereby all the vehicles can be simultaneously caused to move sideways up and down the banking. As shown, an annular banked track 1 surrounds a loading platform 4 to which passengers pass by stairs 3 to and from a spectators' gallery 2 surrounding the track and accessible from the ground by stairs 7. The train comprises a control car 24, passenger carrying cars 5 and driving cars 8 connected by universal joints, electric power being fed to the driving motors by a flexible cable carried by an articulated trailing frame 35 mounted on castors 36 and connected to an arm 37 through which current is fed from collector rings 38 beneath the platform 4. Car construction. Each driving car 8, Figs. 4, 5, comprises a body mounted on a frame 9 mounted on rear castors 10 and pivoted by a ball joint 11, Fig. 5, to the preceding passenger car 5. Frame 9 surrounds a frame 12 universally pivoted at 13 to the preceding car 5, the coupling 13 supporting the ball joint 11, and the frame 12 being supported at its rear end by a single central driving wheel 14 geared at 17 to the motor 16 carried on frame 12. Each passenger car 5 comprises a body mounted on a chassis consisting of a tubular shaft 20 having universal joints 13 at both ends for connection to other cars, and rigid therewith a cross-beam 21 at each end of which a pivotal beam 22 carries track castors 23, the ends of beam 21 being bent so that the castors 23 are perpendicular to the curved track. The car bodies preferably overlap the front of the following car as shown in Fig. 2, and therefore the pivotal connection therebetween. The front vehicle 24 is similar in construction to the cars 5 but is also fitted with steering gear and brake control gear for the whole train. Some of the castors 23, 10 of the vehicles 5, 8, are adapted to be turned for steering through links 26 by, for example, double acting pistons operating in cylinders 25, Figs. 4, 7 and the driving motors 16 are provided with brakes 18 actuated by pistons operating in cylinders 19. Guide rollers 46 on the train co-act with the loading platform as the train stops. The cars of a train may be connected together at each side by hinged arms 47, Fig. 7, provided with shock absorbing means to keep the cars substantially in line. Train operation. The steering and brake gear is operated by compressed air from a tank 29, Fig. 7, in the last car of the train, supplied by an electric motor driven compressor 28, and connected by a pipe 31 to valves 27, 40, 45. To start the train the driver opens valve 40 whereupon air passes through a pipe 41 to actuate a switch 42 to close the circuit of the driving motors 16 through cable 43. A known automatic control switch in the circuit ensures that the torque of the motors is increased in steps. The driver now by turning valve handle 27 one way or the other admits compressed air to pipe 32 or 33 leading to opposite ends of the cylinders 25 thereby turning all the steering castors 10, 23 one way or the other to steer the train, so that the train moves laterally as a whole. The train is stopped by turning off the valve 40 to open the motor circuits at 42, and applying the brakes 18 to the driving motors 16 by opening valve 45 to admit air through a pipe 44 to the brake actuating cylinders 19. Illuminating, scenic and other effects. Light projectors 48 project spiral light strips on the track, or spiral strips could be marked on the track with fluorescent paint and illuminated by ultra violet light from the projectors 48. Two or more series of projectors could be used successively further to create the illusion of speed. Loud-speakers 49 mounted on the cars and fed through the flexible cable, and speakers 51 may also be provided. Specification 427,684 and 453,396 are referred to.