US1625877A - Amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aprll 26'1927 E. K. wooo ET AL AIUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1o. 1925 s Sheets-sheet 1 www April 26, 1927.

E. K. WOOD ET AL AIUSEIIENT APPARATUS Filed NOV; 10. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 fczwarczodd @n/@329er deceased,

4 l M atlnoqfa E. K. WOOD ET AL AMUSEMENT APPARATUS April 26, 1927. 1,625,877

Filed Nov. 1o. v1925 6 sheets-Sheet 3 ,gig/1 f z wf,

i r M tbnuap E. K. WOOD ET AL AMUSEMBNT APPARATUS April 26, 1927.

Filed Nov. 1o. 1925 e sheets-sheet 4 JZZ 26 1927. A Apu] E. K. wooo ET Al.

AMUSEMENT vAPPARATQS Filed NOVr l0. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 26, 1927. 1,625,877

v E. K. WOOD ET AL AMUSEMENTXPPARATUS Filed Nov. 1o. 1925 6. sheets-sheet 6 attenta@ Patented pr. 26, 1927.

entre!)v srArss EDV/'ARD K. WOOD, GF VJILIVIINGTON, AND JOHN PATENT OFFICE.

Mar/zona, DnonAsEn, LATE: oF

VENICE, CALIFORNIA; BY CONSTANCE I. METZ'GER, ADMINISTRATRIX, OF VENICE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS 'IO All-IUSEMENT ENGINEERING CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA, GF LGS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA.

AMUSEMENT Applieationvfrled November 10, 1925. Serial No. 68,077.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus olf' the type having a number ot arms mounted tor rotation around a con1- mon axis, and provid-ed at their outer ends with passenger-carrying devices.

An object of the invention is to malte provision for holding` the arms against beingswung outwardly by centrifugal force during acceleration of the passenger-carrying devices, and 'tor releasingl the arms so that centrifugal torce will swing` them, together with the passcnger-carrying devices, outwardly, thus giving` a sense' of relatively great lateral motion to the passengers on ioard.

Another object ,ofi this invention is to make provision for sin'iultaneously releasing` diametrically opposite arms otl the ap* paratus, thus to minimize. eccentric loading' ot the apparatus.

Another object is to provide 'tor effect-ive control ot the arm release means.

il. further object is to mahe provision for yieldingiy bringingthe arms to rest atthe inner ends of their arcs ot mmfement,4 or, in other words. when said arms more into position tor latching.

llther objects and advantages will app-ear in the sab'dioined detailed de iption.

'The accompanying drawings illustrate the in Vention li l is a side elevation ot an amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with the provisions ot this invention, somo ot the arms and their associated passengercarrying; devices being omitted, and those shown being in their latched positions.

2 is a diagranunatic view illustratine the tluid and electrical connections tor operating the various latches.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged edge view of the lower portieri of one ot the arms and the associated passenger-carrying' device, tolrather with the latch and a portion of the mechanism for releasing` said latch.

Fig. 4l is an enlarged fragmental detail ot' the latch mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Fi an enlarged plan view of a port the latch releasing mechanism shown in Fic; 3.

6 a sectional elevation on aline irulicatc-fl hy '5-G. Fig.

Fig. 7 is an end view left thereof.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the relay air control shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation on the line indicated by 9-9, Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevation of the electrically controlled air valve, the parts being in position to shut oit air from the air supply and 'to -exhaustair from the relay valve induction pipe.

Fig. l1 is a plan section on the line indicated by ll--l1, Fig. l0.

Fig. l2 is a tragmental sectional elevation .similar to Fig. lll, showingl the parts in position to admit air to the relay air valve induction pipe.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the tower.

Fig'. l/-l is an enlarged view ot the lower end portion ot' the standard showing the air line connections, a portion ot the standard being in section.

Fig. l5 is a plan view of the roller hearings and tlieii' inounting.

Fig'. 16 is an enlarged detail ot one ot the roller supporting; beams and its rollers and a fragment of the race that rides upon said rollers.

lle'lri,i'iiuijv to the drawings, there is provided a suitable tower or frame which is indicated in general by the character 2l. In this instance, the tower or trame l is mainly ot' structural steel or iron with a central vertical tubular standard or meinv bei' 29 'from which radiate members L3., 2l ot the trame, -The outer ends ot the arms 23 arc tied together by members 25 arrange-d in the form of a hexagon. The trame also comprises braces Q6 secured at their lower ends to the tubular standard 22, and eX- tending aslant upwardly and outwardly and secured at their outer ends to the members The tower also has other cross braces Ql.

Hinged to the members 23 are arms 2T which may be of latticed steel construction so that they will be relatively light and strong. The arms 27 are hinged so that their upper ends are positioned alongside ot the members 25. Thus, in this instance, there are six ot the arms Q7' and said arms are of Fig. 5 Jfrom the oit the upper end arranged in pairs consisting oit diametrically opposed arms. rlhis position of the arms 27 is preierred so that diametrically opposed arms 27 will balance each other and not produce eccentric strains on the tower.

The tower is rotatably mounted and driving mechanism is provided to rotate `the tower, all oi which will be described more in detail hereinafter.

From the foregoing it will appear that when the tower Ll is rotated the arms 27 will turn with the towerl and centrifugal force will tend to swing the arms Q7 outwardly. Pivot-ally suspended vifromthe lower ends of the arms QT are passenger-carrying devices or carriages 23, there being, in this instance, one such carriage associated with each arm 27. Because ot the pivotal connection between the carriages E23 and the arms 27, said carriages can swing at different angles relative to the arms 2f? and will remain horizontal when the tower is stationary and will. tend to swing into alineinent with the arms when the tower is turned. In this particular instance the carriages 28 are preferably in the form ot' aeroplanes.

Alleleasable latching means are provided for holding the arms against being swung outwardly by centrifugal torce when the tower is rotating, and such means are constructed, in this instance,ras follows: The latehing means for the different arms are alike and, therefore, only one ot such means will be described in detail. Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and t, the arm 27 carries a pivot Q9 on its outer tace and connected with the pivot 29 is a. latch arm or arms 30 which are longer than the thickness of the arm Q7, so as to project inwardly past the inner face of the arm. The latch arms 30 have downwardly projecting shoulders 31 near their inner ends adapted to be respectively engaged by the arms 32 ot latching levers which are -lfulcruined at 33 on a bracket 3l bolted or otherwise s=cured to the tower. Each ot said levers also comprises an arm 35, and means are provided to operate the arms 35 into position to `latch or unlatch the latching arms 30.

In this instance the means for operating the levers 32. is constructed as follows To each of the lever arms 35 is pivoted at 36 a connecting rod 37, and the connecting rods are pivoted by pins 3S to a cross-head 39 on the outer end of a plunger i-0. The plunger worlrs in a cylinder l1 and is hollow so as to contain a fluid 4t2. preferably a liquid such as water. The interior of the plunger Ll.) communicates through a tubular member 413 with a stand-pipe ill, said stand-pipe supplying the hydrostatic head against which the. plunger ll0 must be driven on its out stroke. The outer end ot the plunger 40 is provided with a packing gland to minimize leakage between the tubular member supported by a bracket 48 which is secured to one of the members of the tower 2l.

The latch operating mechanism just described is provided for each latching lever 32, 35, six in this instance, and the air supply pipes 4T ot the cylinder 4l communicate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, with relay air valves, respectively, which will now be described. The relay air valves are ot' like construction and, accordingly, only one oi them needs to be described in detail. Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, the pipe ai' communicates with a port df) in a cylinder 50. At opposite ends ot the cylinder 5U are ports 5l, 52, rc

spectively controlled by valves Fiel. tipi-ings o5 tend to close the valves 53, 54.

Leading from the port fil) to the ports 51, is a duct 56. Both ot the valves 53, open outwardly and close inwardly, and the duct 56 communicates with the outer end of the port 51 and with the inner end ot the port The valves 53, 5st are provided with valve stems 57, 58 which extend toward each other, and the inner ends of the stems are spaced apart on opposite sides of a plunger 59 which works in the cylinder 5l). 'lhe plunger 59 is provided with two pressure areas, a lower pressure area 60 and a higher pressure area. (il. That is to say, the area 61 is greater than the area (S0. The pressure area ($0 works in the smaller cylinder chamber 62, and the larger pressure area (31 works in the larger cylinder chamber 63. Communicating with the cylinder chamber G2 is an air inlet Get with which communi- Cates a compressed air supply pipe (i5 that extends to a suitable source ot' supply. Communicating with the cylinder chamber 63 is an air inlet 66 with which commuuicatcs an air supply pipe (57.

From the foregoing it will appear that the air pressure is constant iu the air chamber ($2 against the smaller pressure area (il), thus tending to move the plunger 59 to the right in Fig. 9 and holding 'it in the position shown in said ligure, thus permitting the valve 54 to close and opening the valve 53. Opening of the valve 54E permits air to pass from the chamber (Si through the port 52, duct 56, port l0 into the pipe il?. Preferably, the fluid in the pipe e7, at least in part, is a liquid such as water and the air thus admitted to the pipe 47 will create pressure against the `liquid and thus produce pressure in the associated cylinder Llil so as to actuate the plunger 42 to the left in Fig. (3 to thus release the latch arm 30 from the lever arm 32 to free the arm 9.7.

In order to operate the plunger Gl to the lett in Fig. 9 so as to open the valve 54 and permit closing of the valve 53, the admission loo lll:

of air to the chamber 63 is effected by the following described means, said means, in this instance, consisting of an electrically operated valve 68 shown in detail in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. In Fig. 2 it will be observed that each pair of relay valves is connected to one of the electrically operated valves 68. F or this reason the pipes 67 of each two relay valves connects with one of the electrically operated valves 68. It will be seen in Fig. 2 that each pair of relay valves associated with a single electrically operated valve is arranged so that theA relay valves of each vpair control the operation 'of diainetrically opposite latch operating plungers so as to effect simultaneous release of diametrically opposed arms 27.

Since all of the electrically operated valves 68 are of like construction, only one need be described in detail, and the construction is as follows: The pipe 67` communicates with a port 69 opening into a valve chamber 70 in which is a. slide valve 71 adaptedv when moved upward in Fig. 10 to open the port 69 and admit air from the valve chamber to said port and to open another port 72 and admit air through the port 72 to the valve chamber 70. Communicating with the port 72 is an air supply pipe 73. lVhen the valve 71 is in position to close the port 69 from the valve chamber 70, as in Fig. 10, a port 74 in the periphery of the valve 71 communicates with the port 69 and with another port 75 that opens to the atmosphere. When the valve 71 is in the position shown in Fig. 12, air is passed to the associated relay valves so as to simultaneously operate said relay valves. When the valve 71 is in the position shown in Fig. 10 pressure is released from the chamber 63 of each of the associated relay valves through the pipe 67, ports 69, 74, 75 to the atmosphere so that the air pressure can throw each relay valve plunger 59 into position to shut off the air from the pipe 47 and permit air to exhaust from the pipe 47 through the port 49,duct k56, port 51, chamber 63 and thence to the atmosphere through a port 751 in the cylinder 50.

Downward movement of the valve 71 in Fig. 10 is effected by reason of a stem 7 6, the said valve heilig connected with an armature 77 operated by a solenoid 78. Upward movement of the armature 77 compresses a coil spring 79 that rests at one end against a shoulder 8() on the stem 76, and at its other end against a shoulder 81 of a bracket 82 which is secured to a housing 88 enclosing the solenoid 78. lVhen the solenoid is denergized, expansion of the spring 79 will move the valve 71 into its closed position.

Now referring more particularly to Fig. 2. it will be seen that the wires 84, leading from each solenoid connect respectively other contacts 91 of the relay switches are connected by wires 92 to a main line 93 which receives the electric current from a source indicated at 94, said source being` also connected by a wire 95 to brushes 96 that engage the rings 87. The coils 97 of the relay switches are connected by a wire 98 to a source of electric current 99 and the coils 97 are connected by wires to manual switches 101 which are mounted at any desired location outside of and free from the tower. The switches 101 are connected by a wire 102 to the source 99 of electric current.

The mounting for the tower 21, whereby it may rotate, is constructed as follows: The lower end of the tower 21 is provided with a race 103 which rests upon rollers 134, 105. In this instance the rollers 104 are mounted in pairs on beams 106, and the rollers 105 are mounted in pairs on the beams 106 intermediate of the rollers 104. In this instance there are six beams ,106 arranged at the corners of a hexagonally shaped support 107. Preferably the beams 106 are rockably supported at their centers as indicated at 108. The advantage of this construction is that, when the apparatus is rst constructed, the rollers 105 are temporarily omitted so that the race 108 rides only on the bearings 104, the race 103 is so large in diameter that it does not have a true bearing face when first installed and the tower will be rotated while a cutting tool is held in position to make a cut in the race so as to true it. During,r this` truing operation, the rollers 104 will be accommodated to the irregularities in the race by rocking of the beams 106. After the race has been thus trued the rollers 105 will be installed. It is to be noted that the rollersl 105 are preferably rotatably mounted in boxes 109, which rest upon the beams 106, and that the clearance between the upperI face of said box and the race 103 is very slight so that if breaking down of the bearing occurs at any point, the race will drop upon one of the boxes 109 which thus prevents such tilting of the tower as might tend to cause it to upset.

The race 103 is provided on its periphery with a gear 110 which is in mesh with a pinion 111 on a shaft 112. The shaft 112 will be driven by any suitable power and.. since this is well understood in the mechanic arts, it is not necessary to describe in detail the connections between the shaft 112 and the prime mover, not shown.

New referring more particularly to Fig. 2. there. is an air compressor, indicated at 118, and a valved pipe 114 connects said fili' -Sll compressor with a compressed air receiver 115. Connected with the pipe 114tis a valved pipe line 116 which extends through a portion ol the hollow standard 22 and which connects at its upper end with a circular manifold pipe 117 to which are connected the pipes, 65, 73. The circular pipe 1.1.7 is suitably secured to the standard 22 and rotates with the tower.

'lhere is provided a, butler ior each ot' the arms 27 to yieldingly limit inward swinging ot' said arms, and since the butters are all of the same construction, only one ot theni need be described in detail. lflach butter is constructed as follows: There is provided a cylinder 122 which is con nected with the bottom olIv one of the boxes 18. ln the cylinder 122 is a plunger 123 which projects beyond the outer end ot the cylinder in position to engage the arm 2T when said arm swings inwardly toward the hitched position shown in Fig. 1. The arm engages the plunger`123 prior to engagement ot the latch arm' 5:30 with the latchir-.g lover arm The plunger 123 works through a stuliingbox 124- at the outer end ot the cylinder, and the rear end ot the plunger 123 projects into an enlarged portion 12a ot the cylinder. The cylinder cham` ber 125 is provided with a body of water 126, and said chamber 125 is in communication with an extension 12T ot' the pipe (i5. iiuce the pipe 65 connnunicates with the compressed air supply,l it will be clear that. the water body 126 is backed by compressed air so as to yieldingly hold the plunger 123 outwardly as in Fig. 6.

The standard 22 turns in a bearing 128 and the standard. extends belowthe level ot the race 103 and is provided below said l aring with a reduced portion er shaft-129 on which the ring' contacts 86, 87 are mounted. The pipe line 116 passes through the shaft 129 and is provided with an elbow 1230, a stutling box 131 on they elbow 130 permittiue` relative rotation between diil'erent sections oll the pipe line 116.

The apparatus described `above operates as follows:

Assuming that passengers have entered the carriages 28, that the arms 27 are latched to the tower, power will be applied to the shalt 112 so as to rotate the tower and with it the arms 27 and carriages 28. At any time thereafter at the will ot the operator.I he will eltect release of the arms by operat ing one or more ot' the switches 101. Preterably the switches 101 will be operated in succession so as to minimize strain on the tower when the arms are released and fly outwardly. Assuming then that the operator closes one ot the switches 101, this will energize one of the relay switches so as to supply an electric current to one ot' the eleotrically operated valves 68, thus moving the slide valve 7l from the closed position in Fig. 10 tothe open position in Fig. 11. This permits compressed air to tlow trom the pipe 73 through pipe 0T to the pair ot' relay valves associated with said electrically1 opcrated valve. The air admitted to the chaur ber 63 ot' each relay valve causes the plunger 59 to slide to the lei't in Fig'. 0 so as to open the valve 511, thus permitting' compressed air to tlow tromy the pipe (55 into the pipe 17. The air pressure in the pipe L17 is admitted to the cylinder 11, thus driving' the plunger Ll0 to the lett in Fie: (i to rock the lever arm 32 from the full line position in Fig, l to the broken line position, thus releasing.v the .latch arms l0 as sociated with two ot the diametrically opposed arms 2". (,lenlritupal torce. inst-.rullil swings the arms 27 outwardly and upwardly, carrying the carriages with them. The carriages will swing' on their pivots so as to remain upright, though they will tilt at ditl'erent angles to the horizontal according lo the speed of rotation and the mitward swingingI ot the arms.

litter the operator has closed the switch 101 to etlect the results just described. he will open or allow said switch to open, thus cutting oti the electric current from the electrically operated switch, and the springl 7 9 will operate to close the valve 71, thus exhausting; air from the chaniber (i3 through the pipe G7. rl"his permits the plunger all to more tothe right so as to close 'the valve 54 and open the valve 53, as in Fig. 9, whereupon air will exhaust from the cylinder Ll1 through pipe L17, Jort 4:9, duct 56, port 5l, chamber (S3 and the port 751 to the atmosphere. As soon as the air exhausts 'from the cylinder 41, the water pressure forces the plunger 12 to the position shown in l? G. thus moving the lever arm to the latching position. The other arms 2T will he rt leased in the same manner by operating;r thc other manual switches. preferably one at :i time.

After the apparatus has been operated as lone' as the operator 'lesires, he will gradually reduce the speed of the prime mover so as to slow down the rotation ol' the tower and the other rotatingT parts, whereupon the arms 27 will be caused to swing down wardlir and inwardly by gravity until, engaging the plungers 123, they i'orce said plunnei's inwardly against the water bodies 120 which gradually yield so that the plungers 123 can retract to positions that will permit the latch arms 30 to ride over the lever arms 32 and become hitched asrainst said lover arms. Preferably the pipes L1l connect, as shown in Fig. 2, with the manifold air pipe 117 so that a pressure greater than atmospheric: is upon the water in the pipes il.

le claim:

1. An amusement apparatus comprising lll) a rotatably mounted frame, means to rotate said frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a carriage swingingly suspended 'from the arm, releasable means to latch the arm against swinging when the frame is rotating, and means to release the latching means while the trame is rotating including fluid pressure actuated mechanism and electrically operated mechanism controlling the fluid pree--rure actuated mechanism.

2. iin annu-:ement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame, means to rotate said traine, an arm hinged to the frame, u carriageconnected with the arm, releasable ucans to latch the arm against swinging when the trame is rotating, and means to release the laehing means while the frame is rotating includingfluid pressure actuated mechanism and electrically operated meclanism controlling the fluid pressure actuatcd mechanism.

3. An amusement apparatus comprising` a rotatably mounted tower, means to rotate the tower, an arm hinged to the upper part of the tower, a carriage connected with the arm, cooperating means on the arm and on the lower part of the tower to latch the arm against swinging when the tower is rotating, fluid pressure mechanism mounted on the tower operable to release the latching means, an electric switch positioned outside ot and free from the tower, and electrically operated means on the tower operable to release the latching means and electrically.

connected "ith the switch.

t. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted trame, means to rotate said frame. arms hinged diametrically opposite each other to the frame, a carriage connected with each arm, releasable means lo latch each ot' the arms against swinging when the frame is rotating, and means incliiding a single manually operated member to simultaneously release the latching means for both arms.

5. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame, means to rotate the frame. arms hinged to the frame, there being a plurality of' pairs of said arms and the arms of each pair being positioned dianicefically opposite each other, a carriage connected with each arm, releasab means to hold each of the arms against swinging, and means including a single manually opi erated member for each of said'pairs of arms to successively release the late-hing means for the arms of different pairs.

(5. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame. means to rotate the frame, arms hinged to the frame, there being a plurality of' pairs of said arms and the arms of' each pair being positioned diametrically opposite each other, a carriage connected with each arm, releasable means to hold cach of the arms against swinging, and means including a single manually operated member for each of said pairs ol arms to simultaneously release the latching means for both arms ofone pair independently of another pair of the arms.

7. An amusement apparatus comprising` a rotatably mounted frame, means to rotate the frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a farriage connected with the arm, a cylinder mounted on the frame, a plunger in the cylinder, means to produce fluid pressure in the cylinder on one side ot the plunger to move the plunger in one direction and to thereafter relieve said pressure, means to move the plunger in the opposite direction when the pressure is released, a latch member on the arm, a second latch member to releasably engage the first mentioned latch member, and means operably connecting the second latch member to the plunger.

8. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted trame, means to rotate the frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a carriage connected with the arm, a latch member on the arm, a second latch member to releasably engage the first mentioned latch member, fluid pressure operated means operably connected with the second mentioned member, means operated by fluid pressure to control the flow of fluid to the lirst mentioned means, and electrically operated means to control the flow of' fluid to the second mentioned means.

9. An amusement apparatus comprising a rotatably mounted frame, means to rotate the frame, an arm hinged to the frame, a carriage connected with the arm, a latch member on the arm, a second latchmember to releasably engage the first mentioned latch member, fluid pressure operated means opcrably connected with the second mentioned member, valve means to control the flow of fluid to and from the first mentioned means, a cylinder, a plunger in the cylinder to operate the lirst mentioned valve means, valve means to control the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder, an armature to operatc the second mentioned valve means, and a solenoid to operate the armature.

l0. An amusement apparatus comprising a support, rollers mounted on the support, a tower having an axial standard and having a race resting on the rollers, a bearing on the support for the standard to rotate in, means to rotate the tower, means to convey compressed air through the standard, a manifold pipe mounted on the tower connected with said means, arms hinged to the upper portion of' the tower, a carriage connected with each arm, means to releasably hold each arm against swinging when the tower rotates, an air operated means on the tower operably connected to each of the lll arm-holding means, and a plurality of elec trcally controlled valve means on the tower connected with the manifold pipe, each otl the electrically controlled valve means controlling the flow of air to and from a plurality of the air operated means. Y

1l. An amusement apparatus comprising` a rotatably mounted frame, means to rot-.ate

the frame, an arm hinged to tlie frame, a rarriage connected with the arm, releasable means to latch tlie arm against outward swinging' when the frame rotates5 and means yieldingly resisting the arm as it swings inward into lateliing position.

l2. An amusement apparatus comprising a support, beams rockably mounted at in tervals in a circle on the support. rollers rotatablymounted on each beam,a frame having a circular race resting on the rollers,

EDVARD K. VOOD. CONSTANCE I. METZGER. flclme'aszfmtr of the Estate of John Metzger, Deceased.

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