US2158073A

US2158073A - Amusement device

Info

Publication number: US2158073A
Application number: US48244A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wayland D Keith; Ronald W Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-11-04
Filing date: 1935-11-04
Publication date: 1939-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1956-05-16

Description

May 16, 1939. w. p. KEITH ET AL 4 2,153,073

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1 v Fjg 2 Wayland D. Keith Ronald WWalker INVENTORS.

- QQ/JBMWMZZ M ATTORNEY.

May 16, 1939. w. D. K EITH ET AL 2,158,073

AMUSEMENT DEVICE v Filed Nov. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wayland D. K ei t h Ron aid W Walker INVENTORS. 24 25 22 QJ Ufi/x JWW.

0d ATTORNEY.

?atentecl May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVIGE Wayland 1), Keith, Wichita Falls, and Ronald W. Walker, Meg'argel, Tex.; said Walker assignor to said Keith The invention is primarily designed to provide entertaining apparatus of the .riding car type in which the passenger is enabled to control the movements of the car within certain limitations to attain thrills and emotions out of the ordinary and not possible with mechanism having a predetermined movement.

In accordance with the invention the cars are pivotally mounted to travel in a variety of paths and each may be equipped with a power unit and passenger control whereby the occupant may obtain independent movement and experience a sensation and emotion not obtainable by devices of the nature aforesaid as ordinarily provided.

In general, the present invention embodies a pole, arms mounted on the pole and adapted to receive a twofold movement, the one to. revolve about the pole as an axis, and the other to turn about an axis prependicular to the axis of the pole, cars pivoted to the outer ends of the arms to normally maintain a given relative position, a power unit and passenger control for attaining an independent movement within the range of and capability of the car.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet specific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without. departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention, the base being in section and parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, the guys being omitted.

Figure 3 is a front View similar to Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged View on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, showing the parts on a larger scale.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, showing arrangement of bearings in arm and in car.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the .arms ll.

several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The machine, as shown, consists of a pole embodying sections Hie-Illa flanged and bolted at their abutting ends. and strengthened by trussed 5 braces I01). A hollow base 9 receives the lower end of the pole and uys 36 extend from a bearing 35 fitted to the upper end of the pole. A

mount 2 la within the base 9 is surmounted by a bearing 2| journaling the pole. A worm gear 10 I1 is connected to the pole and a worm I8 is in mesh therewith and is driven by a motor IS. A brake drum 20a (see Fig. 6.) fast upon the pole has a brake band 20 in cooperation therewith.

A pedal 20d mounted upon the base 9 is con- 15 nected by link 20.0 with lever 20b to which the ends of the brake band 20 are connected.

A horizontal shaft I3 is mounted intermediate its. ends in the pole section lila and has a pair of arms ll secured to each'end thereof. A gear 20 wheel IE on the shaft l3 and fast thereto is in mesh with a pinion l5 secured to the shaft of an electric motor 14 mounted on the pole. A brake 28, similar to the brake 20-401; is associated with the shaft I3 and is electrically operated by 25 an electromagnet 21 and lever 29. The arms H a of each pair are parallel and diagonally braced and pivotally support cars l2 between their adiacent outer ends. The cars 12 may be of any design and are pivotally journaled at (Fig. 'l) 30 on transverse shafts [2b, which shafts lZb are journaled in bearings Ila in the arms H. An electric motor 38 may be associated with each of the cars and is mounted on the inner one of the A worm 40 on the motor armature 35 shaft is in mesh with a worm gear 40a fixed to the shaft l2b. In consequence, when the motor 38 is running, the shaft i2?) is rotated and turns the brake drum 42 attached thereto forming a clutch on said shaft, as shown in Fig. 4. A brake 4o 'coacts with each of the cars l2 and consists of a drum 42 keyed at 43 to the shaft and a brake band 4| attached at its ends to a lever 44 connected by a link with an arm 44a fixed to a shaft xjournaled in the car 12, which shaft carries a 45 lever, the opposite ends of which are connected with pedals 45, readily accessible to the occupants of the car on seats '46, and when pressed upon, either of these pedals applies the brake 4| and holds the car in a fixed relation toshaft Ill). 50 If brake 4'! is applied while shaft [2b is being rotated by motor 38 car l2 will be rotated, and if said brake is applied while motor is not running car 12 will be held in fixed relation to shaft 121) and arms ll, relative rotation being pre- 55 vented by worm 40 and worm gear 40a. The motors 38 are included in circuits having switches 39a that may be conveniently positioned to be readily operated by the passenger of a car. These circuits also include ring contacts 30 secured by blocks 36a to the innermost arms H, and having cooperating brushes 3'! as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The circuit, with the exception of motor I9, has ring contacts 3| and cooperating brushes 32, the rings 3! being held by blocks 3|a secured to the pole section I (la as shown to advantage'in Figures 1, 3, and 6. The various circuits are designated by the numeral 23a and are shown diagrammatically in the drawings but will be evident to one skilled in the art, and include switches, indicated at 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 to admit of starting and stopping the several electrically actuated operating parts. The hollow base 9 is utilized as a housing for the motor l9, switches 22 to 26, ring contacts 3|, brushes 32, worm gearing l'l-I8 and brake 20, the top boards of the base serving as a loading platform.

When the motor I!) is running, the pole turns about a vertical axis and causes the arms H and cars l2 to revolve in a horizontal plane. Upon starting the motor l4, the horizontal shaft I3 is rotated and revolves the arms I l and the cars I2, which are pivotally mounted on the arms II in vertical planes. Under normal conditions the cars l2 maintain a level position. By applying the brake 4| the car is held fast to the shaft [2b and moves therewith when said shaft is rotated by motor 38 as indicated at I2a in Fig. 1, producing a thrill due to the travel of the car in a circular path. By alternately applying and removement in addition to the orbital travel, producing an additional excitement. By starting the motor 38 the shaft [2b is rotated freely in bearings l2c with no effect on rotation of the car until brake 4| is applied, and by applying the brake 4| the car will be held fast to the shaft 12b and rotated therewith. Thus the car and passenger receive a three-fold movement, one about the shaft [2b, the other around the shaft I3, and the third in a horizontal plane about the pole ID as an axis. The additional thrills are under control of the passenger through the instrumentalities associated with the brake and the motor, as will be readily appreciated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising a vertical standard, a horizontal shaft mounted intermediate the ends of the standard, driving'means for turning said'standard, independent driving means on the standard for rotating the horizontal shaft, supports fixed to said horizontal shaft, passenger cars pivotally mounted on said supports, a bearing mounting a lower portion of said standard, a second bearing mounted on the upper portion of the standard above the horizontal shaft, and guying means connected with the upper bearing.

2. An amusement device of the character specified comprising a vertical standard, a horizontal shaft mounted on the standard intermediate the ends of said standard, driving means for turning the standard, independent driving means on the standard for rotating the horizontal shaft, supports fixed to said horizonal'sh'aft, passenger cars pivotally mounted on said supports and having braking means associated therewith in. position for operation by passengers in the cars, a bear- "ing mounted on an upper portion of said standard,

and guying means above the horizontal shaft and connected with the upper bearing.

3. An amusement device of the character specified comprising a vertical standard, a horizontal shaft mounted on the standard intermediate the ends of said standard, driving means for turning the standard, independent driving means on the stanlardfor rotating the horizontal shaft, supports on said horizontal shaft, passenger cars pivotally mounted upon said supports, said supports having motors for rotating said cars on their respective axes, a bearing mounting the lower portions of said Standard, a second bearing mounted on the upper portion of the standard above the horizontal shaft, and guying means associated with the upper bearing.

4. In an amusement device of the character specified, supporting means mounted to turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, a car pivotally mounted on said supporting means, a power unit carried by the supporting means for imparting an independent rotary movement to the car, manually operated holding means for securing the car to the support to prevent independent movement, a control on the car for actuating the manually operated holding means and for causing turning movement of the car by the power unit.

5. In an amusement device of the character specified, supporting means mounted .to turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, a car pivotally mounted on said supporting means, a power unit carried by the supporting means for imparting an independent rotary movement to the car, and a control on the car for the power unit and operable by a passenger,

6. In an amusement device of the character specified, a support mounted to turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, a car pivotally mounted on said support, a power unit for imparting an independent rotary movement to the L.

tating the shaft, a brake mounted on said horizontal shaft, means for controlling said brake and independent driving means from a remote point, passenger cars, supports pivotally mounting the cars on said horizontal shaft, and passenger controlled means for imparting an independent movement to the cars.

8. An amusement device comprising a pole, a horizontal shaft mounted intermediate its ends on the pole, driving means for turning the pole, independent driving means on the pole for rotating the shaft, passenger cars, supports fixed on the horizontal shaft and pivotally mounting the cars, driving means on the supports for imparting an independent rotary movement to the cars, and passenger controlled means'for throwing the driving means into and out of action.

9. An amusement device comprising a pole,.a horizontal shaft mounted intermediate its ends on the pole, driving means for turning the pole, independent driving means on the pole for rotating the horizontal shaft, passenger cars, supports fixed on the horizontal shaft and pivotally mounting the cars, driving means on the supports for imparting an independent movement to the respective cars, passenger controlled means for throwing the driving means into and out of action, manually operable holding means for securing the cars to the supports, and passenger controlled means for releasing and throwing the holding means into action.

10. An amusement device comprising a pole, a horizontal shaft mounted intermediate its ends on the pole, driving means for turning the pole, independent driving means on the pole for rotating the shaft, arms fixed to the ends of the horizontal shaft, transverse shafts loosely mount ed in the outer ends of the arms, cars loosely mounted on the transverse shafts, driving means on the arms for rotating the respective trans verse shafts, a brake for each of the transverse shafts, means under control of the passenger for throwing the driving means into and out of action, and passenger controlled means for setting and releasing the brake as desired.

11. An amusement device comprising a hollow base, a pole mounted therein, an electric motor in the base geared to the pole to effect turning thereof, a brake coacting with the pole and dis posed within the base, a horizontal shaft mounted intermediate its ends on the pole, an electric motor mounted on the pole and geared to the horizontal shaft, an electrically operated brake mounted on the pole for controlling the movement of the horizontal shaft, arms fixed upon the ends of the horizontal shaft, transverse shafts mounted in the outer ends of said arms, cars pivotally mounted on the transverse shafts, an electric motor for each car geared to the supporting shaft thereof, passenger controlled means for the motor of each car, a brake for the transverse shaft of each car, and passenger controlled means for the brake.

12. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a central support, means for rotating said central support about a vertical axis, a transverse support journaled intermediate its ends on said central support, means for rotating said transverse support relative to the central support and independent of the rotary movement thereof, and passenger carrying means supported at opposite ends of the transverse support.

13. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a central support, means for rotating said central support about a vertical axis, a transverse support journaled on said vertical support and extending in opposite directions therefrom, means for rotating said transverse support independently of the central support and relative thereto, arms carried on opposite ends of said transverse support for rotation thereby, and cars journaled on said arms.

14. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a central support, means for rotating said central support about a vertical axis, a transverse support journaled on said central support and extending in opposite directions therefrom, means for rotating said transverse support independently of the central support and relative thereto, arms carried on opposite ends of said transverse support for rotation thereby, cars journaled in said arms, and means for securing said cars rigid with the arms for bodily rotation therewith, about the axis of the transverse support.

15. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a central support, means for rotating said central support about a vertical axis, a transverse support journaled intermediate its ends on the central support and extending in opposite directions therefrom, means separate from and independent of the first-mentioned driving means for rotating the transverse support relative to the central support, car supporting means mounted on opposite ends of said transverse support, and cars journaled on said supporting means for swinging movement upon rotation thereof.

16. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a central support, means for rotating said central support about a vertical axis, a transverse support journaled intermediate its ends on the central support and extending in opposite directions therefrom, means separate from and independent of the first-mentioned driving means for rotating the transverse support relative to the central support, car supports mounted on opposite ends of said transverse support, cars journaled on said car supports for swinging movement upon rotation thereof, and means for rigidly fixing the cars to the car supports for bodily turning of said cars with said car supports.

17. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of car supporting means, means mounting said car supporting means for rotation about a horizontal axis, a car journaled on the car supporting means for swinging movement about an axis extending approximately parallel with said horizontal axis, and frictional means for selectively securing said car rigidly to the car supporting means for bodily turning thereof with the car supporting means.

18. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of car supporting means, means mounting said car supporting means for rotation respectively about vertical and horizontal axes, one or more cars journaled in the car supporting means, and frictional means for selectively securing the car or cars rigidly to the car supporting means for bodily turning movement therewith.

19. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of car supporting means, means mounting said car supporting means for rotation respectively about vertical and horizontal axes, a car journaled on the car supporting means for swinging movement relative thereto about an axis extending approximately parallel with said horizontal axis, and frictional means having an operator within the car for selectively securing said car rigidly to the car supporting means for bodily turning movement thereof with the car supporting means.

20. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a vertical pole, means for turning said pole about a vertical axis, a transverse support, bearings spaced laterally from the pole and carrying the transverse support, and truss braces connected with opposite end portions of the pole and with the bearings.

21. In an amusement device of the character described, the combination of a vertical standard, means for rotating said standard, truss braces connected with opposite end portions of the standard and extending laterally therefrom at an intermediate portion, bearings carried by said truss braces and fixed thereto, and a transverse shaft journaled in said bearings.

WAYLAND D. KEITH. RONALD W. WALKER.