US2255013A - Amusement apparatus - Google Patents

Description

H. F. MAY NES AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Sept. 2, 1941.

Filed Nov. 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNV ENTOR hymRMaynes,

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ATTORNEYS p 1941- I H. F. MAYNES 2,255,013

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS I F iled Ndv. 28, 1940 s Shets-Sheeg. 2

INVENTOR film? Maynes,

ATTORNEYS P 1941- F. MAYNEs I 2,255,013

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Nov. 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Kyla? Moyms- Y mvaaan ATTORNEYS Extended Sept. 2, i941 AMUSEMENT APPARATUS vHylla F. Maynes, North Tonawanda, N. Y., as

signor of one-half to Emma C. Maynes, North Tonawanda, N. Y.

Application November 28, 1940, Serial No. 367,586

Claims. (Cl. 272-7) This invention relates to amusement apparatus and has particular relation to apparatus wherein passenger carriages or cars simulating airplanes in design and appearance are mounted upon a framework for rotation with the latter about a vertical axis and also for vertical movements with respect to the framework.

The invention contemplates a substantially vertical track upon which each carriage may move vertically, the tracks being a part of a rotatable framework, and means controlled partially or wholly by an occupant of the carriage for eifecting or enabling the vertical movements of the carriage. One carriage may be ascending while another is descending, or they may move in the same direction, vertically, depending upon the whim of their occupants.

Further, the invention contemplates means whereby the nose of each airplane simulating carriage is tilted upwardly and downwardly, i. e., causing the carriage to assume a climbing or diving attitude, whenthe carriage is ascending or descending, respectively, upon the track.

It is still further contemplated that the means for causing the carriages to move vertically will be so arranged as to enable a relatively fast descent, so that when a carriage is in an elevated position it may be dived to a lower level, affording its occupant a sensation similar to that obtained by an occupant of an airplane that is dived.

According to the invention means are preferably provided to counterbalance each car for vertical movement whereby relatively little force is required to raise or lower it. The means for effecting such raising and lowering may include a vertical rack mounted upon the rotating framework and a pinion operated from drive means in a the car and engaging the rack to effect thevertical movement.

The means'whereby an occupant in each car may cause the airplane simulating car to assume a diving attitude simultaneously with the cars descending and to assume a climbing attitude simultaneously with its rising, may include a joy stick or similar control element in each car.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan View of the com- .pleteapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the complete apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through one of the cars;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View through the car; a

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the car;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of the portion of the structure for connecting a car for vertical movement upon the rotating framework; V

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of car structure in aplane parallel to that of Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram.

The apparatus may comprise a framework I2 suitably supported onwheels (not shown) for rotating about a Vertical axis upon circular track rail II, the framework including uprights consisting of channel members l3 whose outer flanges are connected by cross-brace members 14 and also upright members [5 adjacent the axis of rotation of the framework. An outer circular covering it may be carried by the rotating framework and may bear thereon a suitable scenic display H. The framework may be rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1 around the circular track I l by any suitable means such as by anelectric motor and a suitable drive, all as is well known in the art relating to roundabout amusement devices. a

Mounted for vertical movement between'each pair of uprights I3 is a truck consisting of a cross-head 18 having a plurality of rollers i9 for engaging the inner surfaces of the flanges of the channel members I3 and a plurality of rollers 2! for engaging the web portions of the members l3. Rigidly secured to each cross-head I8 and extending horizontally and outwardly therefrom is atubular member 22 which, adjacent its outer end 23, has an enlargement 24 constituting a transmission housing. Pivoted by trunnions 25 to the tubular member 22, 23 is the airplane simulating body of the car 26 which body may be of generally torpedo shape simulating an airplane fuselage and may be provided with wing simulating portions 2'! and 28. The latter, 28, may enclose the tubular member 22 and may extend from the body 26 into adjacency with the crosshead l8.

The car body 26 may be supported by a cable 3| which extends over a sheave 32 mounted on the outer end of a boom 33 carried by the framework l2 and may then extend over another sheave 34 mounted on the boom inwardly of the uprights E5, the inner end of the cable being secured to a counter-weight 35 which may be approximately the combined weight of the body 26, tubular member 22 and cross-head l8. The body 26 may have affixed thereto a suitable wheel 36 for supporting it when it is upon the ground or platform 31 and it may also have mounted thereon, preferably near the nose thereof, an electric motor 33 upon whose shaft 4| may be mounted a propeller 39. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 4! may be mounted a pulley 42. Extending over this pulley and over a pulley 44 mounted upon a shaft 45 are drive belts 43. Shaft 45 preferably extends beneath the floor 45 of the passenger compartment of the car which is provided with a suitable passenger supporting seat 41.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, the motors 38 may be connected by suitable conductors, such as flexible wires 65, to brushes 66 which may be carried by the rotatable framework l2 and may contact stationary conductor rings 6'! connected to suitable line wires 68 that lead to a suitable source of electrical energy.

Splined to the shaft 45 for rotation therewith are a pair of connected friction drive wheels 48 and 49 which may be shifted longitudinally of shaft 45 by a shifter member having a collar portion 52 engaging between the wheels 48, 49,

the latter being alternately engageable with a driven wheel 53. When shifted forwardly, the wheel 48 will engage the driven wheel 53 and when shifted rearwardly the driven wheel will be engaged by drive wheel 49. The driven wheel 53 is fixed to a shaft 54 which extends axially of the tubular member 22 and carries at its end a gear wheel 55 in engagement with a rack bar 55 that extends vertically of the rotating framework, preferably being secured to the cross-brace members M which connect the upright channels IS. The shaft 54 may be mounted in suitable bearings, one of which is indicated at 51 in Fig. 4.

Depending from the floor of the car is a bracket 58 to which is pivoted at 59 a control or joy stick 5!. Beneath the pivot 59 an extension of the joy stick is pivoted at 62 to the shifter member 51, and, at a more remote point from the pivot 59, is pivoted at 63 by a ball and. socket connection to a link 64 which, as is best shown in Fig. '7, is pivoted by a ball and socket connection 65 to the housing portion 24 of the tubular support.

In operation of the device, with passengers occupying the cars 26, with the framework l2 rotating about its vertical axis around the track I l in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l, and with electric energy applied to the motor 38 in each car by any suitable means (not shown), the propellers 39 Will be whirling and throwing a stream of air rearwardly over the passenger carrying portion of each car. If the occupant will then pull the control stick or joy stick 6| rearwardly, this motion, through the link 64 and the pivot 59, will cause the car to move about the axis of the tubular support 22 in a counterclockwise direction, as the car is viewed in Fig. 3, that is, will cause the airplane simulating car to assume a climbing position. Simultaneously, the drive wheel 48 will be engaged with the driven wheel 53'causing the shaft 54 to be driven by the motor 38 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, so that the car body will be moved upwardly by reason of the engagement of gear wheel 55with rack 55. After the car body has risen to some extent, if the control stick is moved forwardly about pivot 59, this motion will cause the car to swing clockwise about the tubular support 22 as the car is viewed in Fig. 3, that is, to assume a diving attitude, and simultaneously will cause drive wheel 49 to engage the driven wheel 53, causing the shaft 54 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, so that the car assembly will descend relative to the rack bar 56. It will thus be seen that engagement of wheel 48 and wheel 49 with the driven wheel 53 will limit the downward and upward tilting of the carriage.

As each car, especially when loaded with one or more passengers, will be considerably heavier than its counter-weight 35, gravity will assist the motor 38 and drive means in causing the car to descend, and the resulting rapid descent Will simulate the diving of an airplane to the occupants and also to other persons observing the apparatus.

It is further contemplated that means may be provided, either in the form of brakes or snubbers, to prevent the carriages when descending from contacting the ground, at least from contacting the ground at a rapid rate of speed, which would subject either the carriages or their occupants to possible injury. Such means may include a snubber associated with the 'wheel 36, which wheel, whenit strikes the ground, will tend to cause the car to assume a climbing attitude by reason of the wheel being disposed for- 1vjvlaprdly of the axis about which the carriage may It will be understood that the apparatus herein disclosed is merely illustrative of inventive principles involved and that these principles may be otherwise embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In amusement apparatus, a rotating framework having substantially upright trackways, airplane simulating passenger carriages and means for mounting them upon said framework for substantially vertical movements on said trackways, said mounting means including means supporting the carriages for tilting movements about substantially horizontal axes to cause them to assume climbing and diving attitudes, and passenger controlled means for effecting such vertical movements of the carriages and for causing them to assume a climbing attitude when assending and a diving attitude when descending.

2. In amusement apparatus, a rotating framework having substantially upright trackways, passenger carriages and means mounting them upon said framework for substantially vertical movements on said trackways, said mounting means including means supporting the carriages for tilting movements about substantially horizontal axes to cause them to assume climbing and diving attitudes, passenger controlled means for effecting such vertical movements of the carriages and for causing them to assume a climbing attitude when ascending and a diving attitude when descending, said means including power operated means mechanically connecting each of said carriages and the framework for elevating the carriage upon its trackway.

3. In amusement apparatus, a rotating framework having substantially upright trackways, passenger carriages and means mounting them upon said framework for substantially vertical movements on said trackways, said mounting means including means supporting the carriages for tilting movements about substantially horizontal axes to cause them to assume climbing and diving attitudes, and passenger controlled means for mechanically efiecting such tilting movements and for mechanically raising the carriages upon said trackways when the carriages assume climbing attitudes.

4. In amusement apparatus, framework rotatable about a substantially upright axis, trucks mounted on said framework for vertical movements thereon, a passenger carriage mounted on each truck for tilting motion about an axis substantially normal to said upright axis, means for effecting vertical movements of the trucks and the carriages mounted thereon, and means reacting between the trucks and the carriages mounted thereon for producing tilting motions of the latter.

5. In amusement apparatus, a framework rotatable about a substantially upright axis, passenger carriages including supports mounted on said framework for vertical movements relative to the framework, means reacting between each carriage and its support for tilting each of said carriages about an axis substantially normal to said upright axis, means reacting between the framework and each carriage for efiecting vertical movement of the latter, and means operable by a passenger in each car for controlling the aforementioned means.

7 HYLA F. MAYNES.

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