US2364699A - Amusement or instruction device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1944.. N. EASTMAN 2,364,699

AMUSEMENT 0R INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed June 28, 1941 rsheats-Sheet 1 H TTORNEY Dec. 12, 1944. 'N. EASTMA'N 2,364,699

AMUSEMENT OR INSTRUCTION DEVICE Q Filed June 2s, 1941 e sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR /Vddm/ 'ffmdlp ATTORNE Dec. 12, 1944. N, EASTMAN 2,364,699

AMUSEMENI oR INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed June 28, 1941' s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY N. EAsTMAN l AMUSEMNT OR INSTRUCTIN DEVICE e sheets-sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1941 .III

N Nm @i 1-,..

n INVENTOR. JVa/Zqme/ lashed/1,

ATTORN Y Dec. 12, .1944. N, EASTMAN AMUSEMENT 0R INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed June 28, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNvENToR. /Vdfam'fl iasiman/ BY @Mayu/My ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1944. N. EASTMANv Y 2,364,699

` AMUSEMENT 0R INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed June 28, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IVW I /191 161 A mel 15g 'Y f I 185. YV

ATTO NEY pied to any extent.

Patented Dec'. 12, 1944 I AMUSEMENT R INSTRUCTION DEVICE Nathaniel Eastman, New York, N. Y., assig'nor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Futura Amusement Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 28,1941, Serial No. 400,258

' 26 claims. (cl. 27g- 41) The present invention relatesto amusement or instruction devices of the roundabout type. I. Numerous amusement devices of the roundabout type are known. Some of 'them have been manufactured and put into operation. Such previous devices, however, generally offer passengers merely a ride. Some of these previous roundabout devices have utilized `vehicles or cars having surfaces operable by a passenger to obtain swinging of the vehicle. The attention of only a single passenger was thus occupied to a slight extent. If the devices carried more than one passenger, most of them merely sat passively during a ride; their attention was not actively occulimited to swinging a vehicle by vanesor otherwise and this was limited to the operator. After a ride or two the novelty generally wore oi and passengers had no desire for further rides since their interests'had not been suiciently occupied. The present invention aims to overcome the above and other objections'by providing a new and improved amusement or instruction device of the roundabout type adapted to carry a plurality of passengers and to actively occupy their attentions throughout a ride. The invention further aims to provide an effect or illusion whereby the passengers feel that they are taking active part in an air battle while riding in an aircraft. In addition, the invention contemplates the provision of adevice which may be used to educate aviators and gunners in the aiming and use 0f aircraft armament.

An object of the present invention is t0 provide4 a new and improved type of amusement or instruction device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved type of amusementor instruction device of the roundabout type.

Another objectof the invention isto provide an amusement device adapted to actively occupy the attention of passengers during a ride.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement or instruction device having an improved passenger carrying vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device adaptedto be used to simulate an air battle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an amusement or instruction device having passenger carrying vehicles with adjustably mounted aim registering devices adapted to similate firearms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved target means.

Any actual instruction` was Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved targetf means adapted to cooperate with an aim registering deviceon a vehicle to indicate the'correctness of aim;

A still further object `of the invention is vto provide a new and improved aim registering device. y l

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious-upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to he'rein willoccur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has l been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly broken away, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present device; l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device illus- -tratedinFig l;

Fig. 3 is'an kenlarged top plan view of an elevating arm shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an `end view of the elevating arm shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of an elevating arm shown in Figs. ,3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showingmeans for raising and lowering the elevating arms;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modified form of arm lifting means;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of another modied form 0f arm liftingl means. i i

Fig. 9 isaside elevational view of a preferred form of aeroplane type passenger vehicle;

Fig. 10 is a top planview of the passenger vehicle illustrated in Fig. 9. l

Fig. 11 is a sectional View showing avmodiiied form of 'seat and gun mounting construction for a passenger vehicle; v

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic sectional view through a photoelectric cell type of gun or aiming de- Fig, 16 is a sectional view taken along line I6-I6 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view showing a modit fled form of target and target moving means.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l and 2 thereof, there is shown an upright central shaft I having outwardly or` radially extending arms 2 located adjacent the upper part thereof. Rotation of the central shaft I turns the` outwardly extending arms 2. Passenger carrying vehicles 4 are attached to the l `outer ends of each of the rotatable arms 2 by,

cables 5 and are carried around the central shaft I by the arms during rotation thereof. Each vehicle 4 has controlling surfaces thereon representing the ailerons, rudder and elevators of an aeroplane and preferably carries two orY y during flight by means of controlling surfaces I3, I4 and I6. A substantially cylindrical wall or panorama cylinder I'F extends about the central shaft I and carries or guides thereabout a plurality of targets I9. means thereon adapted to effect actuation of the aim registering devices or electric guns Ill carried by the vehicles 4 when the guns I6 are correctly aimed at the targets I9. At the lower part of theA cylinder I1 below the targets I9 is located means 26 simulating a city, factories, or any other bombing objective.

The central shaft I which carries the arms 2 is preferably rotated by a suitable motor 22 through speed reduction gears, belts or chains 23, and a gear or pulley 25 secured to the lower part ofathe shaft I. Rotation 0f the central shaft turns the radially extending arms 2 which are operatively secured adjacent the upper end The targets' I9 have thereof. As the arms 2 rotate, they carry along ,A

with them the vehicles 4 which are secured to their outer ends bycables 5. Preferably eight arms are carried by the central shaft I and each arm carries a vehicle 4 around the shaft.' As` the arms are all similar in construction and operation a description vof one will suffice for all.

In order closely to simulate the takeoffs andf landing of aircraft, means are provided for lifting the vehicles into the air simultaneously with the movement thereof about the central shaft I. This may be achieved by providing each of the main arms 2 with an auxiliary elevating arm 26 atits outer end (Figs. 1 5). The elevating arm 26 carries a vehicle 4 at its free end by a cable 5 and is pivoted by a'pin 28 adjacent its be later described. When the central shaft I is stationary the elevating arms 26 are inclined downwardly (Fig. 1) so that the vehicle 4 rests ,7 5

on the ground within the circumference of the runway II. As the central shaft I starts to rotate, the elevating arms 26 are pulled upwardly by a cable 35 which is secured at one end to a pin 31 adjacent the free end of the elevating arm, passes over a,y guiding pulley 38 on the main arm 2, and over a cable guiding means 40 adjacent the upper end of vthe, central shaft I, and

may be attached at its other end to a collar 4I ing of the elevating arms 26 and the passenger f vehicles 4 connected therewith. The cable drums or reels 46 may be turned by a motor 41 through shafts 48, pulleys 49 and 50, and belts 5I. The operation of the motor 4'I may bevcontrolled by an operator. The above is one manner of raising and lowering the elevating arms 26; any other suitable means, for example, a cam and clutch mechanism, may be utilized. Each of the main radial arms 2 is provided with an elevating arm of similar construction which operates in asimilar manner.

Modified constructions for lifting and lowering the passenger vehicles 4 are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. As shown-in Fig. 7 the vehicles are attached directly to the outer ends of thev radial arms 2a by cables 5a and the radial arms 2a are secured directly to the central shaft Ia. The central shaft Ia is supported by a carriage '52 and vertical movement of the'latter lifts and lowers the central shaft la and the arms 2a and vehicles attachedthereto. The carriage 52 fits about and is attached to the central shaft Ia and has wheels 53 that rest on a riding platform 55. The riding platform 55 is adapted to'be raised and lowered by `a motor 56 through speed reducing means 58. shaft 59, gears 6I and 62 and eccentrics 64 and 65 mountedl on shafts v6'! and 68- Turning on the motor 56 causes the shafts, gears and eccentrics to rotate so as to raise or lower riding platform 55: The riding platform may be guided during raising and lowering thereof by guide rods 'I0 which t into sockets "Il, In this modification the entire central shaft Ia is raised and lowered and a bumper spring 'I3 may be utilized'to minimize possible jarring of the central shaft Ia as it comes to rest at its lowermost position. Also, the pulley or gear 25avwhich turns the central shaft Ia is preferably keyed to the central shaft so that the shaft may move vertically at the same time that itis being rotated.

The modified construction illustrated in Fig. 8 -is similar to the construction of Fig. '7, except that in this instance the central shaft Ib remains stationary and the radial arms 2b move vertically with respect to it. The radial arms 2b are secured to a sleeve member 'I5 that lits about rthe central shaft Ib. The sleeve member I5 is keyed to the central shaft Ib, so that it will rotate therewith, and is vertically movable along the central shaft. The sleeve member 15 is supported by a carriage 52b'having wheels 53h that rest o'n a riding platform 55h. Vertical movement of the sleeve .andycarriage along the ceny erably constructed lto simulate aeroplanes tral `shaft -Ibfraises and. lowers the farms :2b and the vehiclesv lattacl'ied..` to the outer .ends thereof; The riding platform. 5517,. carriage 52h andl sleeve 'I51'are adapted to be raisedfv and loweredfby eccentrics I/Ibv and 65h through mechanism similar to that describedin connection WithFig. '7.4 In Figs. 7 andk 8 the eccentrics areshown holding the riding platforms in raised position vso that the radial arms hold ther passenger vehicles-off the ground. Turning on the motor causes the shafts,

structions the supporting arms zafand 2b preferably have transversely extending vehicle supporting shafts mounted directly upon their ends. The elevating arms 2Sf described in connection with Figs-l and 2 are -not required in the modiications illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8.

The passenger vehicles 4 carried by the transversely extending shafts 2a and. cables 5 are pref- As illustrated, each of the vehicles comprises a body or fuselage I8 preferably having separate seats or compartments 1 and 8 arranged in tandem for a pilot and a. gunner. The body or fuselage is preferablymounted upon wheels A82 and Balocated adjacent the front and rear thereof,V respectively. The front wheels 32 spread or diverge outwardly for' a reason to be hereinafter described. Wings provided with .ailerons I3, and tail. surfaces including a rudder I4. and elevators I6 are also provided. The fuselageof each vehicle is connectedat spaced points l? and 'I9 with the respective ends ofthe cables which pass over the guide wheelsSI, 32 and `34 on .the transversely extending shafts 29 carried by main supporting arms 2. The vehicles face in the direction of rotation ofthe `radial arms 2 so that as thev central shaft and arms 2 rotate, the vehicles will be pulledy along andv passengers therein will obtain the effect of forward movement. The cables 5 which support each of the vehicles are freeto move longitudinally over the guide 'wheels- 3|-, 32 and 34 (Figs. 3 5). In this mannerv inclination of an aeroplanevehiclefis facilitated. When a passengerv in the pilots compartment 'l operates the controls toy move the elevators I6, the vehicle will point its nose upwardly or downwardly depending upon the direction in which the elevators are moved. Excessive inclination of the'vehiclesmay be prevented by stops 88 clamped or otherwise secured to the cables 5. These stops 80 limit the amount of cable 5-'that may pass over the guide wheels by abutting against the guide wheels when a desired lengtlrof cable has passed over them.' In this way it will be impossible for a passenger to incline a Vehicle to a dangerous degree and throw out the'passengers. This featureis alsofvery-desirable in connection with landing'the vehicles as the central shaft I and radial arms. 2 slow down. .The stops 8.0 insure either the front wheels 82 or the tail wheel83 cominginto contact with the ground or runwayfl I; If these 'fstopswere not .provided it l'Wo'uldb'e possible for 'apassenger to incline-"the wheels tosuch a degree'that veither the nosefor tail. of an'. aeroplane vvehicle .would first. strikethe ground and be dragged along.: Itwill also :be noted that the transverse.vehiclefsupporting shafts 29 are mounted in bearing surfaces 85 and 85 :carried by themain' supporting arms V2: This construction permits the transverse shafts to rpivot or turn about their longitudinal axes and facilitates movement of a vehicle suspended from the'arms 24, as will be hereinafter referred to.

In. Figs. `9 and 10"`there is'shoWnan aeroplane type passenger vehicle generally similarto that of Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 9'and 10 bring out details common to reach of the vehicles and also certain modifications over the vehicle of Figs.` 1'and"2. The. ailerons, rudders and elevators of each of the vehicles 4 are connected with a control Stick 881 or'rudder 'bar .89 located within the pilots compartment and may be controlled therefrom by-a passenger. (Fig. l0.)` Preferably the control stick and rudder bar connect with and 'control' the ailerons, rudderand elevators, similarly to an actual aircraft. In- Fig.10'there is illustrated` one manner of connecting the controlling surfaces.' The rudder Ma. `is connected by Wires BI vand V92' withthe respective ends of a rudder bar 89 pivoted at its center to the floor of the vehicle.V Moving the rudder bar to the righty -or left about its central pivot moves the rudder I 4a in acorresponding direction and tends to move the aeroplane vehicle 4 about-,a vertical axis. The elevators IBa are connected by wires 94 and torthelower part 'of the control stick 88 which may be pivoted at I. `Pulling the `control stick 88c toward the pilotlmovesthe elevators in none direction and pushing the control stick` away from the pilot moves the velevators in an oppositedirection.v This tends to move the aeroplane d'abouta transverse axis. The aileronsVV 13a carried by the wings may be connected by'cables faces connected therewith.' The controls and. surfaces vmay operate similarly to an actualaerof plane and tend to` make the passenger vehicle 4 simulate the movements of an actualaeroplane. By means of the rudder and v ailerons a passenger may cause the vehicle to move toward or away from the central panorama cylinder I1.

The pivoted connection of the transverse yaerol plane supportingshafts 29 with the radial arms 2,` described in connection with? Figs.'35 facilitates swinging of vthejaeroplanes 4 ytoward and away from-the panorama cylinder, as the shafts 29' are `thus enabled to turn in their bearings with A`a vehicle instead of resisting the movements thereof. Moving-the elevators up'or down causes the vehicles 4 to incline in a corresponding upward or downward direction since they are carried by the freely mounted cables 5.l Excessivefinclination is prevented by the stops 'secured tothe" cables '5 which. come into contact with the -pulleys '3I- org32 located at the ends of the transversel shafts'f29.

v semi-circular support or gear rack |01 secured to a wall |08 of the gunners compartment 8. The seat |04 may thus be swung about with the pivotally mounted upright member |05 in substantially a semi-circle at one side of the compartment 'la so that it may face in the same general direction in which the gun l is aimed. Foot supports |09 assist a passenger to support himself .when moving the seat and aiming a gun. Entrance and exit to and from the gunners compartment may be through a door in the side of the fuselage and a cover I8 made from some transparent molding material may be used `to close the compartment and protect aV passenger from wind during a ride.

In Fig. 11 a modified form of gun and seat construction is shown wherein a seat |0411. is operatively connected with a gun |0a so that movement of the seat moves the gun and assists in aiming it. The aim registering device or gun !0a is pivotally mounted by me'ans of a universal joint or the like on the upper end of a supporting post located at the side of the compartment opposite to'the seat |04a. Thel gun post has a wheel or gear ||2 adjacent its lower end adapted to ride on a track or gear rack I3 to facilitate movement of the gun and post about a semi-circle and is connected with the upright seat supporting member |05a byan extension I4. The extension ||4 is iiXedly secured to the seat support |05a-at its free end so that as the seat |0441 and support |05a rotate about a pivot llthis will swing the extension ||4 connected therewith so that the gun post and gun |0a will be in line with the direction in which the gunner is facing. As the extension Il!! swings ,in its path it moves'the wheel ||2 and gun post along the track ||3. In addition, the gun Illa may also be swungy about a vertical axis by means of the pivotal connection and maybe directed up and down about a horizontal axis I9.

While the aeroplane type passenger vehicles have been described with reference to single seats arranged in tandem for a pilot and a gunner, it will be clear that any other convenient seating arrangementcould be utilized. For example, two gunners seats could be used so that each passenger could -obtain instruction or amusement in aiming at targets during movement of the vehicles.

Each of the aeroplane type vehicles preferably has a propeller |20 driven by an electric motorZl mounted in the vehicle. A two horsepower motor is suitable for this purpose. This propeller |20 may thus be used to provide additional speed, power, and maneuverability for each 35, or the main supporting arms are raised by the n modiiied construction of Figs. '7 or 8, and the vehicles tend to ride up onto the inclined runway Finally the wheels are lifted from the inclined runway and the vehicles are in the air. The reverse procedure occurs as the device slows down and the supporting arms lower the vehicles to the ground.A The runway contributes considerably toward smoothing the take off and landing of the aeroplane type vehicles. The stop members B0 secured to the vehicle supporting cables 5 limit the amount of inclination of the vehicles even though they are inclined when slowing down to land on the runway ||;V the iront wheels or rear wheels will be the first parts to touch the ground. If the vehicles are inclined as they land, the touching of thewheels and weight of the vehicles will cause them to level out without any assistance from a passenger.

, The photoelectric cell gun l0 (Figs. 12 and 13) comprises an outer casing |25 having a lightsensitive photocell |25 mounted therein and adapted to be affected by light rays emitted by targets. The targets will be later described in detail. The photocell |26 is connected with a trigger |23, suitable amplifying relays |29, and

a pin or marking means |3| for making perforal tions in or printing on a record sheet |32` which may be moved past the ypin by a motor or any other suitable driving meansii. The gun |0 preferably has the circuit through the photocell hook-up interrupted approximately 500 times per minute to simulate the firing of a machine gun. This may be done by the motor |34 or any other satisfactory means. rA similar result could be achieved by 'mounting a motor driven shutter in front of the photocell adapted to open and close approximately 500 times a minute to simulate the iiring of a machine gun. It will be understood that any desired speed of interrupting the circuit or opening and closing the shutter may be utilized. By thus periodically causing the photocell to be ineffective, the hits and misses of an actual machine gun will be closely simulated, for if the gun is pointed at a target light when the current is interrupted or the shutter is closed,

no hit will be scored;` if the photocell gun isnot correctly aimed at atarget when the circuit is closed, there will still be no hit scored.A

Pulling the trigger |28 closes operating switch |36, starts the motor or other device |34 which intermittently opens and rcloses the circuit through the photoceu or, in the modieatin, opens and closes the shutter in front of the photocell. As shown in Fig. 13, themotorvturns a wheel |39 having aconducting portion |41! and a non-conducting portion |42. Brushes |44 and |45 are in contact with the wheel and current Hows through them only when the conducting portion of the wheel is in contact with both brushes. If nolight from a target strikes the photocell |26 nothing happens and no hit is scored. When the photocell' |25 is correctly directed ata target, the light therefrom passes through a lens |37 to the photocell |28 and amplifying relay |29 connected therewith causes a solenoidI 40' tomove thepin'orrother recording means:

I3I by thev motor |34 through gear |46; chain:

|41, sprocket |48 and rollers-|50'. connected tothe shaftof sprocket I48. Therecord-strip |32xpro' vides a permanent record .which the: passenger. may detach and take with him after aride; Preferably thephotocell casing I 25.contains;red electricy bulbs I 54- and .I 55`-that .flashen every timeithe circuit throughthe photocellv I26fis. interruptedy or. 'the shutter in front of f the photoce-ll i's-aopen;

The red lights flashing4 on and olimay, bepseen: through apertures |53 irrtl'iercasing*andcf'urtherrl enhance the realistic effect for. they simulate. the flashes '.of rer which accompany the :firing @of an actual machine gun. Current for operatingthe.

electricV gun may be'.` supplied through electric cables lfIwhichconnect with a collectingirng..`

I 58:1turned by the central .shaft I i The .collecting ring: has .currentz supplied to it;by an avail ablepowerzline (not shown).

The: targets I9 whchcarry lights for actuatingthephotocell |26 of an electric' gun. are. illus tratedtmore particularly inFigs. 14-to.l6.. ach

of these targets.: I 9: preferably comprises :a mem ber..|59 shaped to'v represent an' aeroplane'. and

having an aperture' |6Iftherein.preferably,V covered by'a lens. |62. Located behindzeachzofY the targets. andzwithin. a casingfor reflector' |64 is A.an electricbulb .I 65; Current '.mayLbesupplied tothe f bulbs aI (i5-:by wires |61. Light .rays -from the light.

source |65:2 pass through the aperture in. thel targetl member I 59 andthrough the lensA carried: thereby. Whenthe photoelectric. cell'mountedz in'a'gunV is :correctly aimed-.ata lens andaperture, a' hit Willberegisteredron'the record sheet? orrany'other; suitable scoring means connected?` therewith..

. 'Bhe-:targets I9*V travelV around .the substantially cylindrical wall I1 that extendsV about: the. cen-v tralshaft I: In the preferred: embodiment the targets |91 are.' carried; by a. chain or cable; |68v that extends around the circumference. of the cylinder: I1 'and is moved by sprockets `or' pulleys pairof spaced conductors |12` and |13 located'. below the. target driving chain|68-l and. connected. with an. available power-line are' adapted to supply current` to the bulbs:` |65 through brushes I-'I5'and:Wire's\I61. ThedrivingVv sprocket I 10 maybe turned .by gears |16rand drivel shaft:.l='|1, the latteribeingA turned. by any 'suitable driving'means (not shown). Preferably the'target' carryingchain is carried byidler.Y sprocketsin its course about the cylinder I1 an'd.the id1eri sprockets are at different heights 'above the ground so vthat as. a target .I9 -travels around the cylinder itwill vary its vertical positionandincrease the amount of skill required4 by agunner inorder to obtain a hit i 'Ihespeeds-oftravel of the targets. may: bel varied .by controllingA the speed ofthe motor which turns thedriving sprocket |10'. Also,; any; number of additional rows of itargets lmay bev carried at dilerent heights than the. rstrow; For example,note thetarget conveying chain IIS-8a.,r sprocket |10a andzgears |16a which are-drivenI by `thesame.- shaft |11 which drives the rst described: row of targets.-

To. furtherrincrease therelement of skill required in order to hit a target. with anzelectric gunthe targets'may be caused to passat inter vals behind obstructions |18.- madev to. simulate clouds.` These obstructionssmayhave irregularly;

and-.turned by-A thev central shaft Y I. sumiortingrods.` I BIJ-.maybe prevented -from swingtion by brackets bolted to =the cylinder wall I1'. The targets I @passy at intervals,y between .the outside ,of :the cylinder Wall rand fthe' rear4 ofthe .cloud obstructions... vPreferably the sprockets which drive. and .support the target.. chain are located.

behind ,these simulated clouds.A p

In Fig'..,17 there-is\shown.-a.modied form of targetmovingfmeans. Inthis embodiment tar.-

'getsf I9a.- are carried around thecylinder I1-by supporting rods |8Il-which extend downtheout-y sideof. the` cylinder: I1. The target supporting outwardly extending arms IBI connected'A with The target ing-.outwardly by providing their lower ends .with

rollers |82 Whichfollow; a trackWayI83.y Electricity maybe supplied to the-target bulbs v by a cable VI connected. therewith and. carried byeach of f the y supporting j; rods I 8u 1 and horizontal arms I8I. 'ITlne'innery end of.` the-cable may connect Withfa collectorring` |86` on thecentral shaft. I.

Preferably theltargetsare caused to confuse the;aim.;of=a..gunner vand to increase the element of-skill by varying their verticalpositions during. travel'about the cylinder. This maybe achieved byfprovidingthe upperend ofithe cylinder I1 with Ianiirregulartracklonwhich rides aroller. |89

the-bombing objective. comprises a city located` beneath thepathsv overv which the target. planes.

travel.A The; buildings, factories, Warehouses,

docks,,etc., which represent thecityfmay. becut.

from,- painted or otherwise formed on wallfstructures I 9| which are spaced from'and extend about theloWerpart of the .panorama .cylinder ITL- Intermediate the spacedwall? structures ISI and. the panoramacylincler I'I may be locatedfcolored spotlights I 92. and steam jets .I 93I The spotlights and` steam jets are connectedwith operating.`

means.V locatedfwithin. the. interior of the main panoramacylinder I Tand.' are intermittently operatedv to. releasesteanfil and.' produce red, blue, green. or. other colored flashes of light. y The flashesof lightandrelease of "steam simulate lires, smoke and .explosionsin the metropolis. The lei?- fectmay be further enhanced'by utilizing sound effectsandby. searchlights that shine upwardly from..between. the Wall structures I6I andthe panoramacylinder II. y j i Inhperatio'n, both seats on al1 Vofthe aeroplanes are occupied, p. that is, one passenger acts as. a pilotandanother passenger asagunner for. each.

plane... While the pilot and gunner are havingtheir. safety, belts strapped in positionthey'are also. given instructions for maneuvering .the plane and working the electric. guns.. A' siren beginsA to .blow to announce the approaching, on the. city oli-1` enemy aeroplanes.v The` target(v aeroplanes which represent. the.. enemy. aeroplanesf emerge from .-b ehind the. clouds. andbegin .to move .around shaped-.cloud outlines and: may be held. in'posi-b modified.`r

the cylinder wall I1. Simulated explosions are made to occur in the city by means of the colored spot lights and steam jets mounted behind the lower cylindrical walls.

radial arms 2.

increasing their speeds; this carries them up onto 1 'the inclined or banked surface of the runway II and the elevating arms nally lift them off the` runway. As the speed continues to increase the aeroplanes swing outwardly away from the cylindrical walls I'I due to centrifugal force. The pilots must then attempt to maneuver their ships closer to the cylinder Wall I'I and vary the inclinations thereof to obtain the best positions for a gunner to shoot at the target aeroplanes. The gunner aims at the aperture of. a target through which the light may be seen and pulls the trigger of his photoelectric cell gun 1. When the gun is correctly aimed at a target aperture, the light rays therefrom cooperate with the photocell and indicating mechanism to indicate hits on the paper strip which passes through the gun. After the simulated battle has progressed for a desired time, for example three minutes, the central shaft slows down and the speed of the passenger aeroplanes begins to decrease. As the speed continues to decrease the passenger aeroplanes move 1n- While this occurs the central shaft I begins to rotate and turn the The passenger aeroplanes com` mence to move around the cylinder I1 for a take wardly toward the cylinder I1, approach the inclined runway Il, and finally land thereon and taxi to a stop.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved roundabout type of amusement or instruction device forV closely simulating an aerial battle between rival areo` planes. The passenger vehicles which represent aeroplanes take off smooth and evenly and land in a similar manner, thus realistically imitating actual aeroplanes. Each passenger carried by the aeroplane vehicles actively participates in a simulated battle with enemy bombing aeroplanes. The device may be used to instruct aviators and gunners in the maneuvering of aeroplanes and the aiming and firing of aircraft armament. Since no bullets are used by the electric guns, the cost of instruction in aiming and firing the guns is minimized. There is no danger of wild shots going astray toinjure nearby persons or property. If desired, the device may be constructed of suiicient size to support and rotate actual aeroplanes about the` target cylinder and aviators and gunners may then ob-` tain instruction in the actual aeroplanes which they are to fly. The improved photoelectric cell guns on the aeroplane vehicles and the targets on the cylinder Wall may be caused to move with respect to each other to further increase the realistic effect and the element of skill required for obtaining hits. The simulated clouds add still another hazard and realistic effect.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacricing any of its advantages, it is to be understoodthat all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Y Having'thus described my invention, I claim:`

1. An amusement device of the class described comprising, in combination, a central shaft,

rotatable vehice supporting arms vadjacent the adjustably mounted aim registeringl device.

,portionsv of said targets.

upper end of said shaft, vehicles carried by said arms adapted to be moved about a circular path upon rotation of said arms, a substantially cylindrical wall located interiorly of the path dened by said vehicles during said circular movement thereof targets movably mounted on said cylindrical wall to travel about said cylindrical wall, and means for moving said targets relative comprising, in combination, a central shaft, rotatable vehicle supporting arms mounted adjacent the upper end of said shaft, vehicles carried by said arms adapted to be moved about a circular path upon rotation of said arms,

cable-like supporting and guiding means ex-V tending about said central shaft, and movable targets carried by said means and devices for moving said vtargets about said shaft at a different rate of speed than said vehicles.

4. An amusement device of the class described comprising, in combination, a central shaft, a rotatable vehicle supporting arm mounted adjacent' the upper end of said shaft, a vehicle carried by said'arm adapted to be moved about a circular path upon rotation of said arm, `an

carried by said vehicle, a substantially cylindrical wall extending about said shaft'and a target adapted to travel around said wall and to effect actuation of said aim registering device when said device is directed at certain portions of said target.

5. An amusement device of the class described" comprising, in combination,y a central shaft, rotatable vehicle supporting arms mounted adjacent the upper end of said shaft, vehicles carried by said arms adapted to be moved about a circular path upon rotation ofv said arms, adjustably mounted aim registering devices simulating fire-arms carriedA by said vehicles, means for guiding a plurality of targets in a .substantially circular path about said shaft and a plurality of targetsv an said guiding meansadapted to effect actuation of said aim registering devices when said devices are directed at certain 6.v An amusement device of the class described comprising, in combination, a central shaft, rotatable vehiclesupporting arms mounted adjacent'the upper 'end of said shaft, vehicles carried by said arms adapted to be moved about a circular path upon rotation of said arms, adjustably mounted aim registering devices carried by said vehicles, a substantially cylindricalv wall extending'around said central shaft, aplurality of targets adapted to travel about said wall andl adapted to effect actuation of said aim registerwithinthe ,vehicles'for varying the movements thereof during rotation of said rotatable meansf.

adjustably mountedaim registeringVv devices carried by said vehicles,- a-substantially cylindrical wall extending about saidshaft having means thereon for moving moving means each havingA rneansA thereon adapted to effect actuation of said aim register'- ing devices when the latter are directed at certain portions of said targets.

A targets about said wall anda plurality'of targets on said targetvvv 8. An amusement device of the class'deslcribed,

comprising, in combination; a central shaft,

rotatable vehicle supporting arms mounted adjacent the upper end of said shaft, "vehicles carried bysaid armsr adapted'to be moved Vabout aicircular path upon rotation of said arms, ad-

justab'ly mounted aim registering devices carried by said vehicles, a substantially cylindrical wallv extending around said central shaft, a plurality of targets adaptedto travel about said Wall and adapted to eectactuation of said aim registering' devices when they are directed'v at certain portions of said targets and means spaced from said-wall for intermittently hiding said' targets from view of said vehicles and the air registering devices carriedlthereby.

9; An amusement device of `the`class-described comprising, in combination, acentral shaft, rotatable vehicle supporting arms'mounted adjacent the upper end ofsaid shaft, vehiclesY carried by said arms adapted to be "moved about a circular path upon rotation of said arms, adjustablyl mounted aim registering devices simulating firearms carried by'said vehicles; a pluralit-y of targets adapted to effect actuation of riedby` said armsV adapted to be vmoved about a' circular pathupon rotation` of said arms, `adjustably mounted faim registering devices carried-4 by saidfvehicles, a substantially cylindrical wallA extending about said central shaft having an irregular track-surface thereon, and a'plurality of targets supported by arms and travelling on metropolis rotatable Vehiclef su'l'ariortingl arms adjacent the upper end of said shaft, vehicles carriedby said arms adapted to be'moved about'arcircular'path upon rotation `of said'larms; adjustablymounted aim yregistering" devices fcar'ried 'byi said L vehicles, a :substantially cylindrical wall ext'ending'-around:4 said-.central sha-ft, apl'urality of-targets'sha'ped tofrepresent aircraft' adapted to travel aboutsaid wall :and adapted to effect actuation `of said' aim registeringy v"devices when"4 said '2 devices 1- are-f directed? at ycertain` portions"v of saidA targets; means-adjacent'the lower partof said'fwallbe' low'. the paths of travel of said targets=simulat ing,y a metropolis, and means adjacent said* adapted to represent# explosions.. therein?.YV y y 131i An 'amusementfdevice of the' classr described* comprising; inf' combination, a= central shaft,

rotatable supporting'armsy adjacent the upper'A Awend ofv said shaft', vehicle supporting means`4` mounted' on-said supporting arms including al:

pair of I pulleys, vehicles tiltably suspended from said pulleys and adapted to move aboutvaAc-irculary path; andto simultaneously move out- Ywardly'due tocentrifugal force upon'v rotationl of saidarms, andfan-inclined runway adapted to. support fsaid lvehicles during partlof the move-v mentsl thereof.

l-Anl amusement device: of theclassdescribed comprising, in combination, av centralv shaft;

l rotatablearmsadjacent the upper end of said said irregulartrack surface and adapted to have their heights varied thereby, each of said'targets having means thereon adapted to effect actuationof said aim` registering devices when saiddevices are directed at' certain portions of said targets.

1l; An amusement device of the class described comprising, in combination, a central shaft, rotatable vehicle supporting arms adjacent the upper end of said shaft, vehicles carried by said arms adapted to be moved about a circular path upon-rotation of said "arms, adjustably mounted aim registering devices carried by said vehicles, a substantially cylindrical wall extending around said central shaft, `a plurality of targets shaped to simulate aircraft adapted to travel about said wall and adapted to effect actuation of said aim registering devices when said devices are directed at certain portions of said targets, and means adjacent the lower part of said wall below the paths of travel of said `targets simulating a metropolis.

l2. An amusement device of the class describedcomprising, in combination, a central shaft,

shaft; elevating-arms-secured to said rotatable arms rope-like members suspended from saidL elevating' arms; vehicles carried by saidr rope- 4like'-memb'ers'adaptedito move about Ia circular" path'iand `to simultaneously move outwardly due to centrifugal force upon rotation-of said arms, means for'A raising said elevating arms and said ropeLlikem'emb'ers to lift` the vehicles carried:

thereby, and a runway extending about saldiV central shafthaving an inclined cross section adapted-to support said vehicles during part of theY movementthereof. l

15.' Adevice of the class described comprising, ini combination, a central shaft,` rotatable supportingfarms adjacent the upper end of saidsl'iaftiextending` outwardly therefrom, and elevatingl arms each secured adjacent one end thereof. to said supporting*` arms, a downwardly depending'rope-like'member adjacent the other end` thereof, andv apassagecarrying vehicle -atf tached'ftol the lower-v end of. each of said rope-v like!` members; said elevating'V arms lbeing adapted tobe'lraised'and'loweredfto vary the'height's of saidipassenger vehicles.

16:,A1deviceof the class vdescribed comprising,-

incomb`in`ation,l alcentral shaft, rotatable sup` pcrtingfarms-- adjacent'` theupper end of said f shaft and extending outwardlytherefrom, ele-g vating: arms; secured to' said supporting armsr having cross arms adj acent f one end thereof with f cablesf. suspendedv from Athe endsl thereof adaptedj to facilitate movement of a passenger vehicle i carried thereby, and passenger vehicles operatively connected with said cables and tiltable with respect to said elevating arms.

17. A device of the class 'described comprising,

in combination, a central shaft, rotatable sup-v adjacent the upper end of said effective upon the inner ends.

` adapted lto' be rotated to raise and low'erjsad targets thereabout and a mounted on saidy target moving means each having arms and longitudinally inclinable' with respect to said elevating arms. f

18. A device of the class described comprising' in combination, a centralshaft, rotatable supporting arms adjacent the upper end of said shaft, transversely extending cable vvsupporting members secured to said arms adjacent the outer @ends thereof, spaced pulleys on said transversely extending members, a cable extengng over said varying the movements pulleys with depending ends, and .passenger vehi- 4 cles carried by the depending ends o'ifsaid cables. 19. A device of the class describedfcomprising, in combination, a central shaft, rotatable supporting arms' adpjacent the upper end of said shaft, transversely extending cable supporting members secured to said arms andfhaving pulleys adjacent the outer ends thereof, cables extending over said |pulleys and adaptedAV to move With respect thereto to facilitate inclination of a vehicle carried thereby,4 and a longitudinally inclinable passenger vehicle carried` by eaclmof said cables.

20. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a central shaft, rotatable 'supporting arms adjacent the upper end of. said shaft, transversely extending cable supporting v.lli

members secured to said arms andk having l guidel ways for cables adjacent the outer ends'th'erel of, cables movably supported in said guidevvays of each of said transversely extending members and adapted to move withrespect thereto tof' facilitate inclination of a ried thereby, l senger vehicle carried by said cables, Vand means for limiting the amountr of inclination 'of said passenger vehicle.

21. A device of the class radiating outwardly from the upper end of said shaft, passenger carrying vehicles suspended from said ysupporting arms, and aneccentric supporting arms and the'passenger carrying vehicles suspended from theouter ends thereof. f

22. An amusement device'of the class described comprising, incomb'ination, rotatable means and elevating means for Y g plurality of vehicles in ,fiight-simulating condi--y y by sa1d cables.

raising and supporting a tion, aircraft-simulatingvehicles carried by said rotatable means and said elevating means havvarying the movements 'thereof having means thereon for passenger vehicle car- 1 aY longitgudinallyl inclinable pas-1 f 41.35

described comprising, in'combination, a central shaft, Supportingfarms of said arms and ing means thereon adapted to effect actuation` 'ing members carried by y'varying the movements of said .rotatable arms,

comprising, in combination, rotatablearms having elevating arms mounted thereon adjacent the outer ends thereof for raising and supporting a plurality of vehicles in flight-simulating condition, aircraft-simulating vehicles carried by said elevating alims having controlling surfaces operable from Within the vehicles for thereof. during rotation of said rotatable arms, adjustably mounted aim registering devices carried by said vehicles, and a plurality of movable targets each having means thereon adapted to effect actuation of said aim registering devices when the latter are directed at certain portions of said targets by an operator located within theaircraft simulating vehicles.

24. An amusement device of comprising, ing elevating arms mounted thereon adjacent the outer ends thereof for raising and supportinga :plurality of vehicles in night-simulating condition, .transversely extending cable-supportthe class described facilitating longitudinal inclination of an aircraft-simulating vehicle,v aircraft-simulating vehicles suspended fromsaid` transversely extending cable-supporting members having controlling surfaces-- operablefrom within the vehicles for thereof duringrotation y adjustably mounted'aim registering devices .carried bysaid vehicles, and a plurality of movable targets each having means thereon adapted to effect actuation of said aim registering devices When the ylatter' are directed at certain portionsl of said targets.

25. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a central shaft, outwardly eX- tending members adjacent the upper end of said gitudinally. inclinable 26. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, 'a centralshaft, means having rotatable supporting arms thereon radiating outpassenger carrying vehicles ends thereof.

NATHANIEL EAs'IMAN.

in combination, rotatable arms havsaid elevating arms for'

Images