US1082764A - Merry-go-round. - Google Patents

Description

T. W. PRIOR L F. A. CHURCH. MBRRY-GO-ROUND. APPLIOATIONVHLBD 111111.11, 1912.

1,082,764. Patented 1160.3(11913.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1. f7

T. W. 'PRIOR & P. A. CHURCH.V

MERRY-GO-ROUND. APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 11, 1912.

1,082,764. Patented Dec.30,1913.

a SHEETS-SHEET z. @a

T. W. PROR Gn F. A. CHURCH.

MBRRY-GO-ROUND.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.11, 1912.

1,082,764, i l Patented 1160.30, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

` a speciication.

Y ment, so that the outcome of the race in Y is displayed.

' merry-.gO-round. Fig. 5 is an enlarged, verumrnn srarns orrron.

THOLIASW. PRIOR ANVI) FREDERICK A. CHURCH, .0F VENICE, CALIFORNIA.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

Application led March 11,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that'we, THOMAS W. PRIOR and FREDERICK A. CHRCH, both citizens of the United States, residing at Venice, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Merry-Go-Round, of which the following is Our presentJ invention relates to merry-gorounds so constructed that a racing feature is embodied therein.

The invention more particularly relates to a merry-go-round having a revolving table or platform divided into a plurality of segments or sections, each segment or .section of which is provided with a group of rider supports, such as horses, so that the riders on the merry-go-round ride in groups, each segment of the table containing its own device for producing the' racing feature for the group of horses on that particular segeach group on the table is in doubt both to the contestant riders and to the operator of the I nerry-go-round until the finish signal One of the main objects of our invention is to produce a merry-go-round of the character described having a revolving table and a plurality of groups of rider supports, the rider supports of each .group being adapted to change their relative positions during the revolution of the table.

Another object of our invention is to produce a merry-go-round of the character described of simple form and .construction which may be operated with great sim\ plicity.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter fr0-rn the following specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only Figure 1 Vis a plan view o-f a 'merry-go-round showing the embodiment of a form of our. invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of the device shown' in Fig. 1, showing the horses on one segment only. Fig. 3 isa plan view, partly in sect-ion, of a portion of the table of theJmerry-go-round'. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a portion of the tical, sectional viewao the switch mechanism and electrical connections 4for one set of drums. 'Fig'. 6 is a side elevation of the switch mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. T is a sectional,plan View of the tracks for sup- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patenti-.ameno 1913.

1912. serial No. 683,126.

porting the rider supports on the table and operating means therefor. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the driving means.

Our invention consists of a revolving table 1 provided on the)underside with a series of inner and Vouter Wheels 2 and 3 adapted to support the table .on inner and outer circular tracks 4 and 5, respectively. Any desired means for revolving the table upon the tracks may be employed.' In the present instance we have shown a table provided with a groove 6 formed inthe outer edge thereof adapted to receive a cable 7' which passes around a driving pulley 8 mounted on a driving shaft 9, the cable 7 being kept under proper `tension by means of an idle pulley 10 mounted on a tension spring 11 secured at 12 to any stationary object.

Upon the ycommon forms of merry-go.-

rounds the rider supports, which consist in dierent instances of forms of birds and animals, are either fixed to the table or are so mounted on the table thatA a movement is given Ato the rider ysupports 'imitating the vrelative longitudinal posit-ion. This is accomplished in the following manner: The table 1 is provided with a plurality of groups of slotsl, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, the slots 21, 22, 23 and 24 in each group being arranged concentric to each other "within a segment of the table. Each slot is provided with a pair of channelbars 26 arranged longitudinally therein to form track means for a carriage 27 having supporting wheels 28 which engage the channel bars 26. Each carriage 27 has pivotally mounted thereon, by means of a pin 30, a supporting arm 31, the upper end of which is pivot-ally mounted at 32 to the body of the rider support, which, in the present instance, is shown as a horse 40, the lower end of the arm 31 being provided with a pin 33 eccentrically mounted in a supporting wheel or roller 34, which` roller 3-1 is adapted to travel on the floor 35 below the table. The roller 34 being eccentrically mounted on the end of the arm 31 imparts a longitudinal swinging 'movement to the horse caused by the lower end of the arm 31 rising and falling as the roller 34 travels upon the tloor 35. The natural movement of the horse in running is more closely imitated by pivotally connecting a link 36 at 37 to the horse, the other end ofthe link 36 being connected by means of a pin 38 yto the arm 31 below the pin 30 on the carriage 27, thereby producing a compound move,- ment or action of the horse.

Means are provided for causin the horses 40 to move forwardly in thelr respective slots which consist of a cable 41, one end of which is secured to an eye 42 on the carriage 27, the other end of which is secured to a drum 43 mounted on a shaft '.44 carried' by any suitable supporting means on the underside of the table 1. Each shaft 44 is provided with a drum for each cargroup of slots on the table 1'. The drums 43 are loosely mounted on shafts 44 and are adapted in the present instance to` be rotated by the shafts 44 by means of a magnetic clutch 45 keyed to the shaft 44 -by means of a key 46, it being understood that any of the Well known forms of magnetic clutches may be used for this purpose, the magnetic clutch herein shown being indicated diagrammatically. VEach shaft 44 is driven by means of a sprocket w'heel 45 mounted thereon, which sprocket Wheel 45 is driven by means of a sprocket chain 39 driven from a sprocket wheel 47 mounted on the shaft 48 of one of the adjacent supporting wheels 3 of the table. Each carriage 27 is provided with an arm 50 which extends outwardly therefrom a suicient distance to engage projections or lugs 51 and 52 formed on the opposite ends of -a bar 53 slidably mounted in suitable brackets 54 secured to the underside of the table 1. The bar 53 is provided with a contact pin 55 adapted to enter between the blades 56 of aswitch 57 for the purpose of closing an electric circuit hereinafter described for the purpose of operating the magnetic clutches on'the shaft 44.

The table 1 is provided With a vseries of arms 60 extending inwardly therefrom for the purpose of supporting'a circular frame or support 61. Mounted on the support 61 is a plurality of bars 62, one for each group of rider supports on the table. To each bar 62 is secured a stationary arm 63 and a movable arm 64 hinged thereto at 64. Pivoted to the arm 63 is the link 65 ofa to-ggle 66, the other link 67 of the toggle being pivoted at 68 to the movable arm 64. Secured to the link 65 of the toggle 66 in any suitable manner is a make andbreak brush or blade 70 adapted to engage a circular contact rino' 71, of copper or other suitable materia, 'when the toggle is in the full line position shown in Fig. 6. The pin 72, by means of which the lower link 65 is pivotally mounted on the arm 63, is v4liked with relation to the link 65 and is provided with a pair of arms 73 and 74 extending 1n opposite directions therefrom for the purpose of breaking the toggle to either side of the 70 center line, the toggle being held in broken position by means of a coll spring 75, one end of which is secured to the arm 64 and the other end of which is secured to the arm 63. The arms 73 and l74 are operated by 75 means of spring blades 76 and 77, each having its inner end pivotally connectedat 78 and 79 respectively to the opposite ends of a lever 8O pivotally mounted at 81 in a bracket 82 secured in any'suitable Vman- 80 ner to a stationary support 83. -Handle means 84 is secured to the lever 80 for the purpose of rocking the same on the pivot ,-81 so as to bring the blades 76 and 77 into engagement with the respective arms 73 85 'and 74 on the pin 72. A-stop 85 is mounted on the arm 63 to limit the movement of the links of the toggle in the opposite direction, that is, inthe dotted line position shown in Fig.v 6. 90 Fixed to the arm 63 by means of blocks 86 of insulating material is a spring contact brush 90 adapted to ride on a circular ring 91, of copper or other suitable material, mounted on the support 83. The rings 71 and 91 are connected respectively to the opposite sides of an'electrie current supply by means of wires v101 and 102. The brush 70 is electrically connected through the toggle 66 and movable arm 64 by means 100 of a wire with the switch 57 of each magnetic clutch 45. Each bar 53 is connected by means of a wire 106 with its `as. sociated magnetic .clutch 45. Each magnetic clutch 45 is connected by means of a 105 wire 107 to a wire 108 connected to the brush 90.

[t is understood that each group of riter supports and its associated drums and magnetic clutches are controlled by an elect-ric 110 circuit -as just described and that each group of rider supports is independent of the other groups .of rider supports. -The only portibn of the electric circuit common to all theI groups consists of the motor 100 and'115 wires 101 and 102 which connect the motor to the rings 71 and 91 respectively.

fIhe operation is as follows The table is revol fed in the direction shown in Fig. 1 through` the medium of cable 7 land the driv- 120 ing pulley 8. The horses40 in the position. shown in Fig. 1 are'in the position which theyl occupy at any time Aduring the ride. Before the ride has started and when the riders are mounting their respective horses, 125 the horses in each group are at the rear end of their respective slots in the table. The operator then starts the table revolving by any of the well known forms of mechanical controlling means; at the same time mov- 189 ing the operating line position shown in Fig. 6, thereby bringing the contact blade 7 0- thereof into engagement with. the ring 71 which closes an electric circuit through ring 71, wire 101 tol the motor Aor source of electric energy 100, thence through wire 102 to ring 91., thence through blade 90, wire 108 and wire `107 Ato the respective magnetic clutches 45, thence through wire 106 to bar 58, the bar 53 being in the position shown inl Fig. 7. Electric current passes through contact pin 55, switch 57, wire 105, thence through movable arm 64, toggle 66, make and break blade 7() to the ringv 71, thereby completing the circuit. .The electric circuit when close n as just described, draws the magnetic clutch into engagement with the drum'43, and as the table revolves forwardly in the direction indicated by arrow in Fig. 1 the drums 43 on the respective shafts 44 are rotated by means ofthe respec-` tive magnetic clutches 45 to slowly wind the respective cables 41 on therespective drums 43, thereby slowly pulling the carriages 27 and the respective horses thereon forwardly in the channel bars 26'in the respective slotsin the table. Ars-the slot 21 of each group is shorter than all of the other slots in the group', the carriages 27 in the slots 21 reach the forward end of the slot prior to the time that the carriages in the slots 22, 23 and 24 reach the respective forward ends of the slots. reaches the forward end thereof, the contact on the carriage strikes the lug 52 on the bar 53 and moves the same forwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. '7, thereby moving the contact pin out of engagement with the blades 56 of the switch 57, thereby breaking the electric circuit heretofore described. The carriage then being 4carried forward with the table by the friction `of the rollersV 28 in the channel bars 26 in the table, is retardedbyY the friction of the roller 34 on the floor 35, Ywhich causes 55 thereon to lag or drop behind the movement of the table, which lagging behind of the horse 40 continues until the carriage 27 reaches the rear end of the slot in the table; at the same time unwinding the cable 41 from the amm is on the Sharan. when the carriage 27 reaches the rear end ot the slot the contact 50 carried by thel carriage comes in contact with the lug 51 on the rear end of the bar 53 and moves the bar 53 back intoits original position with the contact When the carriage 27 in any slot' 'ward' movement of the carriages in their respective slots in the table is repeatedA a number of timesy during the ride, and as the rel speetive slots in each group of slots 1n the tabl-eare of different length,s, uthe position of the horses inthe respective groups of slots onl the table is infdoubt until the make and break brushy 70 is moved out o engagementv f withA the contact ring 71.- This is done by movingthe operating arm 84 to bring the blade 76 into engagement with the arms 73 or' the-respective toggle switch mechanism as they pass the finish line to break vthe toggle into the dotted' line ositien shown in Fig; 6', thereby movingA the rush or blade 7 G into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6,

which breaks the eetl-'ic circuit withl the motor so. that the magnetic clutch for each drunuon the table moves out of engagement, with its respectivey drum and all of lth, horses throughy the medium of the ric'tional:v

contact of the rollers 34 with the floor Salla behind the movement of the table until e horse has reached the rear end of the slot at the time thetable has stoppedits revolution due to thel momentum of the table after the power'has been shut ofi'- therefrom. Theend Y' o1 the race takes place at the time the operator breaks the circuit by moving the brushvIO out of engagement with the contact ring 71, this being indicated tothe rider by a signal connected by means of a link with the operating arm 84 and a signal box 116 on a standard 117 on the support 83. The signal marks the finish line, being at the point where the operating arm 84 is placed, and as each group of horsespasses'thereby the leadiiig horse of each group wins the race for that particular group. Any form of signal may be used for this urpose, in the present instance the words tart and Finish being shown, the word Start lbeing uncovered when the race starts, and the carriage 27 andthe horse 40 carried' the word Finish being uncovered, by operating the link 115, when the operator moves the arm 84 to break the circuit through the brush 470 and the`ring 71.

While we have shown and described .the particular form of mechanism for causing the horses to assume different relative posi tions during the revolving movement of the table of the merry-go-round, it is understood that we dov not limit our invention to the particular form of operating devices herein shown and described, but our invention of the table.

covers a revolving table having groups of rider supports thereon and means for causing change in the relative position of the rider supports in each group.

The blades 76 and 77 heretofore described are constructed of spring metal of suiiicient strength to throw the operating arms of the toggle switch, but are so arranged that after throwing the arms the bla-des assume their original position in the path of the falling operating arms of the respective switches.

What we claim is 1. A merry-go-round comprising a single table, means for revolving the table, a pluralit-y of groups of rider supports on said table, means for limiting the rela-tive rotative movement of each group with the table, and means for changing the relative rotative position of the rider supports in each group on said table during the revolution of the table.

2. A merry-go-round comprising a table, means for revolving said table, a plurality of groups of rider supports on said table, and means for causing each of said rider supports to travel faster than said table to change the relative position of the rider supportsin each group during the revolution 3. A, merry-go-round comprising a table, means for revolving said table, a plurality of groups of rider supports on said table, and means for causing each of said rider supportsy to travel alternately faster and slower than said table to change the relative position of the' rider supports in each group during the revolution of the table.

4s. A merry-go-round comprising a table, means for revolving said table, a plurality of groups of rider supports on said table, each rider support consisting of a carriage longitudinally movable with respect to said table, a seat mounted on said carriage, means for moving each of said carriages during the revolution of said table, and meansv for limiting the movement of said carriages to change the position of the carrlages 1n each group during the revolution* of the ent lengths, means for revolving said table,

a rider support mounted in each slot in said table, means for independently movlng each weaves of said rider supports in its respective slot during the revolution of the table to change the relative position of the rider supports in each group during the revolution of the table.

7. A merry-go-round comprising a table having a plurality of groups of slots therein, the slots in each group being of dilierent lengths, means for revolving said table, a rider support mounted in each slot in said table, means for independently moving each of said rider supports in its respective slot alternately faster and slower than the table to vary the relative position of the rider supports in each group during the revolution of the table.

8. A merry-go-round comprising a floor, a table supported above said floor having a plurality of groups of slots therein, means for revolving said table, a rider support mounted in each slot, releasable means for independently moving each of said rider supports faster than the table, and means on each rider support adapted to engage the floor to cause its associated rider support to move slower than the table when said releasable means is in inoperative position.

9. A merry-go-round comprising a floor, a table above said floor having a plurality of groups of slots therein, the slots in each group being of dii'erent lengths, means for revolving said table, a rider support mountedin each slot, propelling means mounted on said table for independently moving each rider support forward in its respective slot, means for releasin said propelling means, and means carrie on each rider support adapted to engage said'fioor to cause. each of said rider supports to move rearwardly y when said propelling means is in inoperative position. i

-10. A merry-go-'ound comprising a fioor, circular rails secured to said floor, a table having a plurality of groups'of slots therein, the slots of each group being of different lengths, a series or supporting wheels mounted on said table adapted to engage said rails, means -for revolving said table, a rider support mounted in each slot in said table, a shaft mounted on said table at the forward end of each group of slots, a plurality of drums loosely mounted on each shaft, a cable connecting each rider support to one of said drums, a plurality of clutch means on each shaft adapted to independently drive each drum from the shaft, means operated by each rider support to operate its respective clutch to drive its respective drum from said shaft to cause the rider 'said rails,

11. A merry-go-round comprising a Hoor, a pair of lcircular rails secured to said floor, a table having a plurality of groups of slots therein, the slots of each group being of dif ferent lengths, a series of supporting wheels mounted on said table adapted to engage said rails, means for revolving said table, a carriage mounted in each slot, a seat on each carriage, an arm extending downwardly from said carriage, a roller on said arm adapted to engage the floor, a shaft mounted on said table at the forward end of each group of slots, a plurality of drums loosely mounted on each shaft, a cable connecting each carriage to one of said drums, independent clutch means on each shaft for each drum thereon adapted to drive the respective drums from their respective shafts, means on each carriage for placing its respective clutch in operative and inoperative position, means vfor consecutively placing the clutches oneach shaft in operative or inoperative position, and means for driving each shaft. y f,

12. A merry-go-round comprising a floor, circular rails secured to said ioor, a table having a plurality of groups of. slots therein, the slots of each group beging of different lengths, mounted on said tableada a carriage mountediri each slot-,'aseat above each carriage, anarmhav1ng its :upper end pivotally connected tol saidseat, means for. pivotallyconnecting an intermediate por tion offsaid arm to said carriage, a roller mounted on the' lower end of f aptedto engage the-oor, a link-f eccentricall t said arma pivotally connected to said seatat its upper end` and 'pivotally connected Vat its lower end to said arm below said carriage,` a shaft moiuited yon said table at the forward end of each, group of slots, a plurality of drums looselymounted on each shaft, a cable connecting 'each carriage to one of said drums, independent clutch means on each shaft for each drum thereon adapted' to drive the respective drums from their respective shafts, means whereby each carriage places its respective clutch means in operativeI position when said carriage is at the rear end of the slot, means whereby each carriage places its respective clutch means in a series of supporting wheelsv 4 l pted to engagev means for revolving said table, f

Y table, table,

inoperative position when the carriage is at the forward end of the slot, means for placing all the clutches on each shaft in opera plurality of longitudinal slots A plurality of drums loosely mounted on said shaft, a cable connecting each of said rider supports with one of said drums, independent clutch means on said shaft for each drum, an electric circuit, means in said electric circuit operated by the respective rider supports to place the respective clutchesin operative position when the rider support is at the rear end of its respective slot and to place the clutch in inoperative `osition when the rider support is at the orward end of the slot, means for open-ing and closing said circuit to simultaneously place all ,ofsaid clutch means 1n operative or lnoperjative posltion, and means on each of said 'rider'supports adapted to engage the Hoor and cause the riderv support to move from @ont 4to thepreartof-lthe--slot when the ted clutch means ,"irifinoperative on." A merry-gomound comprising a sinrgl revolubl1el. table, means for revolving the a group of lrider supports on said means for changing therelative rotative position ofthe rider supports in said group during the revolution of said table.

and imeans for limiting the relative rotative movement between said rider supports and said table.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Venice, California, this 4th day of March, 1912.

THOMAS W. PRIOR. FREDERICK A. CHURCH.

In presence of ANNIE J. PRIOR, FRANK M. PRIOR.

Copies 'of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the l Commissioner of Patenti,

. Washington, D. C.

Images