GB722633A - Improvements in or relating to rotating tracks for public amusement vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

722,633. Amusement apparatus. HUHN, R., and GAMROTH, G. Sept. 8, 1952 [Sept. 6, 1951], No. 22562/52. Class 132 (1). A rotating track for amusement vehicles with passenger controlled brakes, which vehicles may be self-propelled or may move only as a result of the rotation of the track, comprising a turntable which rotates about an inclined axis and has an upper surface a major portion of which slopes upwardly towards the circumference when the track is rotating. As shown, a troughshaped turntable 1, having a safety strip 12, is rotatably mounted in a fixed inclined bearing 2 by its pivot shaft 3. The turntable is driven by motor 4 through articulated shaft 5, 6 and a friction disc 7 on the end of shaft 6 held in engagement with the underside of turntable 1 by a spring 9. Vehicles are moved from a platform structure 11 to turntable 1 via a chute 10 which may be moved upwardly out of the way when the turntable is rotating. Two, preferably rubber tyred, supporting wheels 13, 14, Fig. 2, may be provided carrying brake drums 15, 16 for a braking arrangement which may be operated electromagnetically, pneumatically of mechanically. Alternatively, the turntable may carry wheels or rollers round its outer edge which run on a track, Fig. 3 (not shown). The turntable may be mounted in a housing 23; Fig. 4, arranged to be rocked from the horizontal to an inclined position, as shown, by a telescopic jack rockable about a shaft 33 mounted on the ground and pivoted to a pin 35 in a bearing 36 on housing 23. The turntable pivot pin 3 is mounted in a bearing 29 and the edges of the turntable are supported by rollers 27. Alternatively, in a similar arrangement, pivot pin 3 is mounted in a thrust bearing and the inside of the turntable is frusto-conical instead of troughshaped. The vehicles may comprise, Fig. 7, a freely rotatable back axle 39 carrying wheels 42, 43 one of which 42 may be rigidly connected to axle 39. Wheels 42, 43 are provided with brake drums 44, 45 so that they may be braked independently by pedals 46, 47. The steering operates on the front wheels 49. Stirrups 50 may be provided to stabilise the vehicle. In the modification shown in Fig. 9, an electromagnetic brake acting on both rear wheels and operated by remote control is provided. The controlling current is supplied from wire netting 55, Fig. 4 to a pole 53 carried by the vehicle 37. A hand lever on the vehicle releases this brake.