US1997940A - lundberg - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1935. c. E. LUNDBERG 1,997,940

- AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filgd July 5, 1934 2 shets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1935. c. E. LUNDBERG 997y940 AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed` July 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTQOFFICE 1,997,940 f AMUsEMENT DEvIoE Y oar1 `Edward Lundberg, Warden, N. Y.` Application July 5, 1934, serial No. 733,921

w ioclaims.- f (c1. 2721-43) I-t is an object of this invention to produce a mechanism which will propel vehicles, carriages,

cars or chariots, over a stationary platform ory track, in an undulatory path whereby the occupants ofYsaid cars will be amused, entertained` and thrilled as they pass speedily along the plat'- form in the cars describing the undulatory path across the platform. f Y

It is an object of this invention to providev a mechanism comprising a substructure of a stationary platform and a rotary central turntable including particular cooperating centering means located on said platform and turntable. Y

It is an object of this inventionto provide a particular guide means having swiveled connection with the rotary turntable for the individual bars which propel and control the movement of the cars. l

It is an object of this invention to provide a particular connection between the bars and cars including particularly related cooperatingbuffers.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a substructure comprising a stationary gear having a removable section whereby the cranks carried by thesmaller gears may be readily adjusted to a suitable sequence which may be variableand selective.

1t is also an object of this invention to provide suitable and specially supported bearing; construction for the small gears or pinions including their cranks as well as the centering means carried by the turntable. Y It is a further object ofthis invention to provide a mutilated stationaryy gear whereby the path of travel 'of the cars may be modified as well as produce the sensation or" something accidentally or erroneously released and running wild for a short interval of time which may be measured in seconds and/ or fractions thereof.

It is a stillV further object of this invention to produce a balanced driving means for the rotary turntable. l

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan of the majorrportion of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section `of the free end of the hollow bar with springs `or buffers andattaching means secured thereto.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the center of the invention showing the rotary turntable, stationaryV platform, and the gearing mechanism. 'Figl is an elevation of vthe swiveled guide for one of the tubular bars. Y f n y Fig. 5 is an Velevation of the swiveled guide showing the detachable side of the guide in initial position of assembling represented by dotted lines. Y Y Y Fig. 6 is a-modication in elevation of the stationary gearshowing amutilated gear, and

Fig v'7V is' a modified drive' gear providing for the application of balanced forces to the gear carried by the rotary turntable. Y

Thefstationarygear l isl secured to the stationary platform gbybolts passing through the ears Ib. The gear I has a main section anda detachable section la to permit adjustment lof the pinions 3 and cranks 4. The drive gear 9 is secured to the turntable 2 by-boltspassing through the-ears 9b and at least a portion of the turntable. The pinions, 3-are provided with cranks i and bearings of Abronze l1 located in the turntable 2 and the brackets lla respectively for supporting the spindles iaofthe pinions 3. The inner lower portion of gear l is provided with a smooth inner surface to forma guide and centering means for the rotary turntable 2. The guide and centering rollers 3f may be integral with the pinions 3 or they may be made as separate elements. The pinions 3 and the rollers 31' are mounted in superposedy relation respectively on their spindles ta. The swiveled guides 8 are mounted on the edge portion of the turntable 2 and they support and guide the bars 1 which extend through the guides $3;V The bars 'l are pivoted to the cranksV ll through the medium of Vwrist-pins 5. The rfree endof the bars 1 are provided with pivot bearings 1a and spring-bumpers 1b. rThe bearings 1c are supported in substantially U-shaped strap irons 'im secured in the free ends of the tubular bars 'i as indicated in Fig. 2 wherein both the springs lb, the strap iron 1.a, and the inserted portions thereof "id are secured-in position by aplurality of rivets or bolts' 1e. The chariots or cars 2% are provided with suitable castors which roll over .the stationary platform 6. The cars are also provided with cornerbuffers secured toYtheir front 'corners which are adapted to silently engage the spring buffers 1b on the bars l. The corner buffers are made of any suitable resilient means or material. Said cars are pivotally connected by a pivot bolt passingk thru an` arm 2i and the bearing 1c. A pair of apertured ears on the arms 2l are adaptedto receive the pivot bolt. The cars are made partly in imitation of a small automobile body including anY imitation radiator, hood and cowLYandthey each have a hand rail adjacent theZ cowl in convenient position for graspling by the occupants of the car. The seats of the cars are suitably cushioned 4as indicated.

vThe turntable 2 is supported on aplurality of rollers I 9, mounted in brackets I9a. The trackway for the rollers I9 is xedly secured to vertical supports of the stationary platform while the stationary gear I is fixedly secured to said trackway.

The brackets I8 are secured to the outer circomferential surface of the drive gear 9 and form bearing supports for the lower ends of the shafts 4a.

The drive shaft 22 is mounted in bearings 24. The gear pinion 23 is in engagement with the gear 9. A pulley 25 is secured on the shaft 22 and is adapted to be operated by a belt driven by an electric motor (not shown) or other suitable source of power. The bearings 24 are supported preferably on concrete pillars for `posts 26v anchored in the earth or bed of concrete. The stationary platform 6 is supported on posts or pillars suitably and firmly anchored. v

One of the swiveled rollerguides 8 for the bars 'I is shown on an enlarged scale in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. The guide 8 comprises a frame having one removable side 8a which is shown in Fig. 5. The rollers or pulleys 8b are mounted on pins or spindles 8c. In'order to bring' thelast spindle 8c into locking position it is necessary to have an attachable side as 8a carrying a pulley and an attachable locking means comprising a bolt or rivet 8e. Said side 8a having a slot 8f to receive a spindle 8c.

It will be observed that when the removable side 8a. is properly secured in position all of the spindles or pins 8b will be effectively locked against endwise displacement. The lower side of each guide 8 is provided with a suitable swivel bolt 8d which is xedly secured to the turntable 2.

It is observed that the ends of the spindles 8c, are beveled, but attention is called to the fact that spindles having stepped ends instead of beveled ends, may be effectively substituted for the spindles 8e shown in the drawing. It is merely essential that the spindles shall be mutually locked against endwise displacement.

The guides 8 are also provided with outwardly flared filler pieces slidably engaging the bearing washers 8i. Said pieces are secured to the guide 8 preferably by brazing or welding. These pieces are secured in position and bear movably on the washers 8i and thereby prevent undue lateral tilting of the guides 8 when subjected to heavy pulls or pushes given to or received from the bars 1.

One of the filler pieces is provided with an aperture 8h for insertion of the lower spindle 8c through the guide frame a roller 8b and removable side 8a. The other spindles 8c are inserted in suitable succession until they are all in operative position except the last spindle 8c in the removable side 8a which is inserted 'and tilted into vertical position with said side thereby mutually locking all of said spindles against endwise displacement when the removable or attachable side 8a is secured in position by the bolt or rivet 8c.

It is to be observed that each guide 8 is a safety substantially foolproof, anti friction bearing and guide mechanism for the hollow sliding bars 1.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the stationary gear I b is mutilated so as to propel the pinions slightly more than I 80 so that the cranks shall have passed the dead center whereby the car or chariot so affected will give the sensation of running Wild at least it will be free to find its own position until the pinion engages another section of gear teeth on the mutilated stationary gear. 'Ihe gear Ib is provided with the same variety of centering and guiding surface as gear I, but it does not have a removable section since there can be no fixed relation of adjustments of pinions 3 and gear Ib.

The double drive, shown schematically in Fig. 7, is a modification in which the driving force for the turntable is applied in a balanced manner so that the device may run more smoothly and more nearly free from vibration especially when the mechanism is being started. The double or balanced drive gear, shown in Fig. 7 may be readily substituted for the single drive gear 23. In fact the shaft 22b may be shaft 22 extended through bearing 24 and collar 21 at the right end of said shaft 22 and thereby produce a triple drive instead of a single or double drive. This variation is deemed to be obvious in view of the various drives already `disclosed herein. In the double or balanced driving mechanism there are two shafts 22a, each carrying a pinion 23a engaging the gear 9. The adjacent ends of the shafts 22a are provided with bevel gears intermeshing with a driving bevel gear 25a which is propelled by the shaft 22b secured to said bevel gear 25a. The shafts 22a are supported in suitable bearings 24a. The shafts 22a and gears 23a and 25D carried by said shafts are maintained against longitudinal displacement by collars suitably located and secured on said shafts and engaging the innermost side surfaces of the bearings 24a. It is 'contemplated that shaft 22b will also be supported in position by suitable bearings (not shown). v

It is assumed that minor changes may be made in the structural details of the mechanism disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention as contemplated and hereinafter claimed.

The undulatory path defined by the cars, as well as the sensation of the occupants thereof, will be modified in accordance with different speeds of operation. In the disclosure of Fig. Vl the pinions 3 and cranks 4 may be adjusted to produce a rythmic and like motion simultaneously of all the cars, or they may be adjusted to produce a rythmic and like motion in rapid succession or sequence, or they may be adjusted to move promiscuously, i. e. not in rythmic simultaneousness or rythmic sequence. This variety of adjustment capacity is very important because it is selective and thereby a new sensation can result to the occupants of the cars with every variation of adjustment.

When using the mutilated gear Ib, of course there can be no adjustment of the pinions 3 and cranks 4 because the pinions and cranks are free to rotate as propelled by the bars l, when said pinions are out of engagement with the gear or toothed section of said gear I b. In the use of this gear the sensation of accidental release and of running Wild will vary greatly with the speed of the turntable. It is also to be noted that arrows have been placed on various rotating parts to indicate the relative direction of rotation of said parts. The directions of rotation may be relatively reversed by the use of a drive belt applied crossed to produce one direction of relative rotation or a belt Vnot crossed to produce the opposite variety of rotation. This selective quality of rotation is made possible by the fact that the features of the mechanism are symmetrical andtherefore capable of operation successfully in either direction.

In View of the clear disclosure of applicants invention, as set forth in the specification and drawings, the operation thereof appears to be clearly obvious. It is therefore deemed unnecessary to recite in further detail the specic operation of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. An amusement device including a stationary platform forming a support for vehicles and provided with a trackway and gear fixed thereto, a cutaway portion in said platform, a turntable located in said cutaway portion and having supporting rollers engaging said trackway, said turntable having a gear secured to the central portion thereof and depending therefrom, said turntable having bearings, receiving shafts, pinions secured on said shafts and meshing with the teeth of' the stationary gear, said shafts having cranks on their upper ends, swiveled antifriction guides mounted on the edge of said turntable and extending upwardly therefrom, bars articulately connected to said cranks and extending through the guides, vehicles movably supported on said platform and articulately connected with said bars, cooperating centering means located on said shafts and said stationary platform gear, means to drive said turntable and thereby to propel said pinions, cranks, bars and vehicles whereby said vehicles are caused to travel in an undulatory path over said platform imparting to the occupants of said vehicles both amusing and thrilling sensations.

2. In an amusement device, the substructure, including a stationary platform supporting a vehicle, a rotary turntable centrally mounted in said platform, a swiveled antifriction guide mounted on the edge of said platform and extending upwardly therefrom, said guide having one pair of vertical rollers and one pair of horizontal rollers,

a bar extending through said guide and engaging said rollers and articulately connected to said vehicle, cooperating resilient buffers symmetrically mounted on both said bar and vehicle, a crank carried on the edge of said turntable and articulately connected with said bar whereby rotation of said crank and turntable in either direction, will propel said vehicle over said platform in an undulatory path symmetrical to said platform.

3. In an amusement device, the substructure comprising a turntable, a swiveled guide mounted on the edge of said turntable, said guide comprising a frame having a vertical pair of rollers and a horizontal pair of rollers, said rollers being mounted on mutually locking spindles whereby each spindle is maintained against endwise displacement, said frame also having flared filler pieces engaging a wear plate or washer located on said turntable.

4. In an amusement device, the substructure including a stationary platform having a stationaryV gear fxedly secured thereto, a rotary turntable supported by said platform, said turntable having a depending gear engaging a train of driving mechanism, said turntable having roller centering means supported on shafts extending through said turntable, said stationary gear having a smooth cylindrical portion engaging said roller centering means, pinions xedly mounted on said shafts and enmeshing with said stationary gear, said shafts having cranks located above said turntable and flxedly secured to said shafts.

5. In an amusement device, in accordance with claim 4, in which a plurality of gears of said train of gears, engage the depending gear, whereby balancing forces may be applied to said depending gear and turntable.

6. In an amusement device, according to claim 4, in which said train of gears is providedwith three gears in engagement with said depending gear, whereby balancing forces may be applied to said depending gear and turntable.

7. In an amusement device, according to claim 3, inY which the guide has one removable or attachable side swiveled on one of the spindles, said side carrying a roller and spindle and having a notch slot or recess adapted to receive another spindle as said side is tilted or swiveled to position and means to secure said side in assembled position.

8. In an amusement device, a stationary platform having a stationary gear secured thereto a rotary turntable having pinions enmeshing with the stationary gear said pinions having shafts provided with cranks, said stationary gear having a main gear section and a removable and attachable gear section whereby the pinions and cranks may be adjusted relatively to the stationary gear when said attachable gear section is removed, cooperating centering means on said turntable and said stationary gear.

9. In an amusement device a stationary platform having a stationary gear secured thereto, a rotary turntable supported by said platform, said stationary gear having toothed gear sections, pinions carried by said turntable, said pinions having shafts provided with cranks, said pinions adapted to engage the toothed sections, cooperating centering means on said turntable and said stationary gear.

10. In an amusement device, a stationary platform having a stationary gear secured thereto, a rotary turntable supported by said platform, cranks and shafts having pinions carried by said turntable ycooperating centering means on said shafts and stationary gear, a gear secured to and depending from said turntable brackets secured to said depending gear and having bearings for the lower ends of said shafts, bearings in said turntable for the upper ends of said shafts, antifriction guide frames swivelly mounted on the edge of said turntable and extending upwardly therefrom, bars extending through the guide frames, one end of each bar being articulately connected to said cranks and the opposite ends connected to vehicles located on said platform, symmetrically arranged buffers on both the vehicles and the bars and means to drive said turntable pinions, cranks, bars and Vehicles, whereby said vehicles are propelled about the platform in undulatory paths. n Y CARL EDWARD LUNDBERG.

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